From Claremont to Claremont, Episode 2i - Wizard: The Guide to Comics #3 (1991)

From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast

Episode 2I

Wizard: The Guide to Comics #3 (November, 1991)

Cover Price: $2.50

Today we wrap up Episode 2 of From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast with our final segment, during which Adam (@hojukoolander) and I take a look at all the X-Bits fit to print in the pages of Wizard: The Guide to Comics #3!  Take a trip with us back to late 1991... and join us in the Gestalty goodness!

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From Claremont to Claremont, Episode 1i - Wizard: The Guide to Comics #2 (1991)

From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast

Episode 1I

Wizard: The Guide to Comics #2 (October, 1991)

Cover Price: $2.50

In our final segment of From Claremont to Claremont, Episode 1 - I am joined by my friend Adam (@hojokoolander) from Wizards: The Podcast Guide to Comics (@WizardsComics) to discuss all the X-News that was fit to print back in Wizard: The Guide to Comics #2 (October, 1991).

In it, we'll look at the earliest sales charts for this era of X-Books, as well as some deep-diving on the Price Guide.  Most notable about this issue, however, is that it might just have been the first place where X-Fans learned that Chris Claremont was no longer going to be steering the line.  It's an awesome little time capsule, and we had a great time chatting it up!  We hope you join in on the conversation! 

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@acecomics / @cosmictmill / weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

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From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast, Episode 2 - November, 1991

One week ago today, I was supposed to deliver the third episode of From Claremont to Claremont... though, in a far superior timeline, I'd have been putting out the fourth.  That didn't happen... and, I probably should apologize to the folks who were both looking forward to listening, and those looking forward to participating.

It's been a pretty conflicting time for me of late, and I suppose over this past month, I suffered a bit of an "emotional relapse" of sorts.  I will be making an official "statement" (if you want to call it that) regarding all of my projects in the next couple of days.  I have received a handful of questions regarding the future, which I very much appreciate... and I apologize for dragging my feet on answering.

From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast, Episode 1 - October, 1991

In a far better timeline, today (the first Saturday of the month) we would have released the third episode of From Claremont to Claremont: An X-Men Podcast.  Due to the circumstances of this past month, we are not.  I apologize to anyone who was looking forward to it.  We were all looking forward to it as well.  The next episode is now set to drop the first Saturday of July... so, look forward to that, if... ya know, you are one who would look forward to that sort of thing.

In the meantime, however... and in the interests of "consolidating" the audio output of the Chris and Reggie Channel onto this here humble site, here's the first episode!  It's ten-hours long... so, if this is the first you're hearing about it (and you care to listen to it)... you've got plenty of audio to catch up on before the third episode hits.

Hourman #1 (1999)

Hourman #1 (April, 1999)
"Through the Hourglass"
Writer - Tom Peyer
Penciller - Rags Morales
Inker - David Meikis
Colorist - John Kalisz
Separations - Digital Chameleon
Letterer - Kurt Hathaway
Editor - Tony Bedard
Thanks - Grant Morrison, Mark Waid & Dan Raspler
Cover Price: $2.50

Today we're going to discuss a book that went completely under my radar when it first came out... however, has intrigued me ever since!

Unfortunately it's not a series that I come across all that often "in the wild"... and whenever I do, it's never the first (or first few) issues.

Yesterday... St. Patrick's Day... I guess I had a little of the Luck of the Irish when I ventured down to a local shop, and plopped my happy self in front of their discount bins... because lo and behold... I found myself a grip of Hourman.

And today... we're going to finally "meet" him.

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We open with an introduction to our new Hourman from the 83rd Century... with some narration from... well, that'd be telling.  We jump to the JLA Watchtower where Hourman is pleading with the team to allow them to jump ahead 20 minutes.  The rest of the team hasn't the foggiest idea what he's going on about.  He claims that there will be much awkwardness afoot over the next half hour or so, and he'd prefer to skip it altogether.  He spoils who's going to win a will-construct video game between Wally and Kyle... and then infers that Kyle will eventually make a... sorta-kinda, but not really sexist comment.  This annoys Huntress who berates Kyle as though he'd actually said anything at all.  It's really much funnier than I'm explaining it to be!

Hourman's even more confused at this point... not grasping how dangerous his knowledge of the future might be to those around him... but he goes on anyway.  He claims that Flash will make a remark about Hourman's need to socialize... and so, he wishes to go speak with the JLA's resident authority on... dating.  You're gonna love this.

The League hops to and heads out to chat up... Batman.  Unfortunately, he is currently preoccupied... he's dealing with the Mad-Hatter... and at the moment, his head is stuck in a guillotine.  Hourman swoops in, ages the wooden guillotine to the point where it turns to dust... and de-ages the Hatter and his gang.  Batman isn't pleased.

Batman insists he re-age the Hatter crew... and attempts to instill in Hourman that precognizance is not the same thing as actual experience.  With that, Hourman decides to "absorb" the entire history of the Justice League of America.

Now, knowing exactly what he must do, Hourman takes off.  The League follows him to the Mad Yax Cafe in Happy Harbor, where we meet our obnoxious mysterious narrator... Snapper Carr!

Snapper greets Hourman, or "Tyler" as he calls him... and the pair leave to meet up with a woman named Bethany.  The rest of the League remains, kinda dumbfounded... just staring at one another wondering if they ought to follow.  Zauriel suggests in Snapper, Hourman might've just found his "Guardian Angel".

On the walk to Snapper's pad, Carr tells Hourman everything he knows about him.  He's from the year 85,721... and his Miraclo Geneware is a dupe of Rex "Tick Tock" Tyler's DNA... hence why he's calling him "Tyler".  Hourman attempts to return the favor by telling Snapper everything he knows about him.  Snapper responds to each guess with a "Bzzzt!".  Snapper's house, by the way, is a dump.

Inside, Snap heads over to a corner of his disgusting living room (right next to the cinder-block bookcase) and fetches a thumbdrive... were those around in 1999?  If not, this book might actually be prescient!  Anyhoo, Hourman gets one sniff of it and says it "smells like... ten years.".  Y'ever look back at pictures from the 1970's or something... and think, "Man that decade must've smelled bad!"... I wonder if that's what Hourman means here.

What it actually is is... a little piece of the Android Adam... the first android ever created... the Mighty Amazo!  If I ever get around to building an android... I bet most of the time I'd be working on giving it the perfect Widow's Peak.

Anyhoo, Hourman... though annoyed that Snapper swiped this little bit from the JLA trophy room... really wants to chat up the first of his kind, and so... he summons him!  Amazo instantly recognizes Snapper for the irritating little tool that he is, and lashes out.

Hourman responds by sending Amazo "back".  Moments later, there's a great explosion... and Amazo has returned!  This time, however, with one-half of Hourman's own (infinite) power!  I can't claim to understand any of this... but it's pretty cool nonetheless!

At that moment, Bethany arrives at Snapper's (who I really want to call "Rick Jones" every single time I type it) hovel.  She winds up getting blasted by an errant time-shot... thing, and is de-aged into a tiny tot.

Back inside, Hourman splits into various Hourmen of the past and future... I think.  Amazo responds by building his own army of Amazos (or Timazos) from throughout time.  Again, I don't understand it... but it makes for a great visual.

Hourman claims to have made preparations for something like this and proceeds to count down from five.  At zero, Amazo... disappears.  Hourman reveals to Snapper that in order to "do away" with the disparate Amazos, he had to reknit time... changing the future to affect the past... I think.  At this point, Hourman realizes that Batman was right... there is a difference between power and experience.  He wonders what to do about his omnipotence... to which Snapper suggests he "chuck" it.

And so, Hourman does just that.

We wrap up with Hourman passed out on Snapper's bed (I swear I typed "Rick" again)... while Bethan-ita plays in traffic.

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This was... a blast!

Definitely had more fun than I expected from this issue... I really didn't know what to expect going in.  As mentioned above, this is a character I have almost no knowledge of... he seemed to fly just under my radar back in the day, and didn't "rank" high enough for be to drop two-dollars and two-quarters on every month.  Looking back at some of the absolute garbage I paid that much (and more) for back then really compounds what a sin that was.

I mentioned that I kept wanting to refer to Snapper as "Rick" during the synopsis... that reason is twofold... first, I mean... duh, Rick Jones and Snapper Carr aren't terribly different... and second, I'm getting very strong Captain Marvel (the Peter David run) vibes from this.  It's equally humorous, and the hero-dynamic feels quite similar.

I was afraid there would be a lot of Hourman backstory from DC One Million that I'd have to have a "working knowledge" of before popping in here... and though, it might've helped a bit, it certainly wasn't a requirement.  It's been... yikes, twenty years since I read DC1M... can't remember a lick of it!

What we have here is a proper introduction to the character... his inexperience and naivete are the focus... and by the end, he has a newfound motivation to gain the experience to match his former omnipotence.  The series is given a "hero's journey" kinda format... and for a character such as this, it's a really cool idea.  He's discovering the "present" while at the same time learning more about himself.  Can't give that a big enough "thumbs up".

Another thing I wasn't expecting... this book is funny.  It's not often I chuckle (or even smirk) when reading a comic... but that bit at the beginning where Huntress is haranguing Kyle for a sexist remark he hadn't yet made?  Very funny!  Also, Batman as the League's "Resident Expert of Dating"?  C'mon... that's just great!

The "time powers" he wields... are a bit confusing to me... though, that might be intentional.  I really can't claim to follow much of what went down during the Amazo/Timazo fight... but again, I think (hope?) it was written that way to illustrate how truly powerful Hourman is... just how incomprehensible his powers are to us normies.  Messing around with time is never something I'm able to wrap my noggin 'round anyway... so maybe it's just me!

The art here is fantastic.  It's been awhile since I'd seen turn-of-the-century Rags... but, it's pretty great!  Also love the Scott McDaniel cover... it gives the character a "chunky" feel... almost like an action figure.  Really dig it!

Overall... if I haven't made it obvious, this book gets a high recommendation.  I can't (yet) speak for the rest of the series... however, if it's half as fun as this issue, I think we're in for a good time!  Unfortunately, it doesn't look like this series has made it's way to DC Digital yet.  Worth the hunt!

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The Making of Hourman:

A Wizard Magazine Free-Insert which shows preliminary sketches for Hourman... his costume... his mask... and his cast!  Check out the ridiculous Snapper Carr!

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America's Best Comics Preview (1999)

America's Best Comics Preview (March, 1999)
Story - Alan Moore
Pencils - Chris Sprouse
Inks - Al Gordon
Colors - Tad Ehrlich of WildStorm FX
Letters - Todd Klein
Editor  - Scott Dunbier
Editorial Director - Jim Lee

Yesterday we discussed the Divine Right Preview... and I thought it was a pretty fun time.  So I decided to (in between bouts of back spasms) rummage through the longbox maze I laughingly call my "front room" and look for some similar "ephemera".

What I found was... well, if the title of this blog post didn't spoil it already, the America's Best Comics Preview that came packed with Wizard: The Comics Magazine #91 (March, 1999).

Feel like this one is actually somewhat topical... what with the relatively recent additions of Promethea and Tom Strong to the DC Universe proper.

So, join me as we meet them all again... for the first time.

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We open with our main man Timmy Turbo delivering a news report about... America's Best Comics.  He introduces us to America's Best Letterer, the mighty Todd Klein.  He then takes us inside the offices, where we meet... a living carpet made up of beautiful women!  It's not what it sounds like... okay, maybe it is.  They're apparently part of Alex Ross' contract.  He is America's Best Cover Artist, after all.

Timmy takes us into the make-up room, and we meet Future American and his partner the U.S. Angel, who will have a strip in Tomorrow Stories.  Future American feels like he looks "too retro" and asks the make-up artist to remove the "Kirby squiggle" from his chin.  When they see Terrible Timmy lurking nearby they give him the boot.

Next stop, Set Design... where we can see Gene Ha and Emil Castenada putting together the set for the City of Neopolis from Top 10.  Mr. Ha is rather stressed, and Timmy decides this might not be the nook of the building to linger in.

We are next introduced to Timmy's favorite superhero, Tom Strong!  Tom has his own dressing room, and is chatting up his gorilla pal, King Solomon.  Tom immediately recognizes Timmy as "Strongmen of America Member #2059", which is pretty cool.

Outside in casting, editorial is looking to fill the role of Cobweb for Tomorrow Stories.  Timmy's excited to report that he doesn't think she has underwear.

Off to the garage, where Timmy meets up with un- er, subconscious artist Rick Veitch.  He is going to be working on the Greyshirt feature in Tomorrow Stories.  He reveals himself to be... well, rather banged and bandaged up.  He's been hard at work world building the gas-powered Indigo City... which has led to rather a few explosions!  Tentative Timmy... slinks away.

Next, Timmy actually takes us on set... where Jack B. Quick is "filming" a scene from his Tomorrow Stories strip.  This is a pretty fun bit... Jack delivers his lines perfectly, but they need to "redraw" the scene because the boom mic got into the shot.  Then, an irritated Jack lights a cigarette and complains that he's losing his motivation (and patience with director, Kevin Nowlan).

Then, the Sound Stage... where they're hard at work "dubbing" an issue of Promethea.  It's another pretty fun scene... and the look on Timmy's face is really something else.

Finally... a visit to the office of the man himself, Alan Moore.  Timmy makes his way through the creepy door (with smoke pouring out from beneath it) to find... a couple of monks?!  They appear to be praying to Alan Moore... which is pretty funny.  They explain to Timmy that "The Perfected One" has moved to a plane beyond that of the material world.  On the nose, but still pretty funny.  Especially considering Alan Moore is actually writing this.

Terrified Timmy feigns that he hears his mom calling, and beats a hasty retreat.  We wrap up our visit to the America's Best Offices with (talkative) Timmy closing out his news report.

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Another really fun "time capsule" type piece.

Ya know, I've heard a little bit of hooting and hollering online about DC deciding to bring some of these characters into the "mainstream" fold.  I guess it's cool to feel however you want... but I'm actually pretty excited about the idea.  You know me, I'm a fan of the "everything matters" approach to comics.  I feel like, the more the merrier.  Whether it's pulp heroes like Doc Savage in that FirstWave line a few years back, the Watchmen characters... or the ABC crew!  Hell, even over at Marvel... I can't say I'd be too torn up if they cross Miracleman over for a spell.

I think we've got some cool characters here, though I'll concede many of them are completely new to me.  Back around the turn of the century, my comics buying habits were... well, out of control.  I was spending upwards of a hundred bucks... a week.  I actually received a Christmas gift from my local shop one year, he told me I alone paid about four-months worth of his rent.

So, I had plenty of stuff (and crap) to read every week... and just didn't have the time nor budget to fit in the America's Best line.  I picked up a handful here and there... and I've got a few Tom Strong trades... but that's about it.  I probably ought to prioritize them as a target in my cheap-o bin dives!

With all of that out of the way... the issue itself?  Fun!  It doesn't really do much insofar as "previewing" the kind of stories we're in store for, but it was a decent enough introduction to the "heavy hitters" of the line... at least visually.  Some of the gags were a bit on the nose, but if nothing else, shows that Alan Moore has a sense of humor about how folks in (and out of) the biz might view him.

Ya know, of late I've really been diving into old comics news mags... Wizard, Amazing Heroes, Heroes Illustrated... even Diamond Previews!  Just about anything I can get my hands on.  While my motivations were initially podcast-research related, I couldn't help but to get lost in them.  A lot of folks (myself included) give Wizard a lot of crap for the way they delivered news... the way they depicted their audience... the way they'd repeatedly attempt to steer the marketplace... ya know, all that stuff.

But, then I think about the fun things they did.  I think of the pack-ins like this (and skatey-eight hundred AOL discs) and realize that so much was lost in the industry shift to digital.  Today this "issue" would almost certainly just be something on the DC Comics web-site.  I feel like it loses something that way.  It becomes "just another preview" or "just another news item" rather than something that is sitting in somebodies longbox just waiting to be rediscovered.

I feel like it being physical gives it a measure of "value"... it's somewhat less "disposable".  The digital shift in entertainment, and the "blink and you miss it" world we live in now really doesn't lend to little pieces of ephemera such as this.  So, hey Wizard... Thanks!

Now... would I recommend tracking this down?  Yeah maybe.  It's really fun... and I have come across it many times in my bin-trawls, so I know it's out there.  This story has been reprinted in America's Best Comics Special (64-Page Special) #1 from 2001, so you might be better served grabbing it there.  All's I know is reading this made me add the ABC's to my "looky list".

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Et-Cetera:

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