My Comic Book Collection: Weird Mystery Tales (1996)

I recently stumbled upon this small promotional comic book for DC Comics’ Weirdoverse line of books from 1996. I believe the Weirdoverse titles were DC’s attempt to reinsert some horror back into the DC Universe after Swamp Thing and his ilk fled to the Vertigo imprint. Characters from Night Force and Scare Tactics were featured in this ashcan.  As a fan of the original Night Force comic in the ‘80s, I happily sampled an issue or two of the rebooted effort, but I remember being underwhelmed by the book. I think I grabbed an issue of Scare Tactics from a dollar bin once. I wasn’t too impressed by that one either. I guess there’s a reason the Weirdoverse didn’t last that long.

Weird Mystery Tales belongs to DC Comics.

My Comic Book Collection: Evel Towels

From a comic ad in Marvel Comics' The Human Torch # 6 (July 1975).

My Comic Book Collection: Roger's Super Skittle Bowl

From a comic ad in DC Comics' Wonder Woman #201 (July-August 1972).

My Comic Book Collection: GrooGram or GrooGranny?

My letter to Groo: Friends and Foes made the letter page in issue #8. Naturally I talked a lot about Irene Ryan.

My Comic Book Collection: Groo vs. Conan #4 (2014)

  Here's a letter I sent to Mark Evanier and it ended up in the letter column for Groo vs. Conan #4.     It made my day!   The cover of Groo vs. Conan #4 is by Sergio Aragones and Thomas Yeates. Groo was created by Sergio Aragones. Conan the Barbarian was created by Robert E. Howard. Dark Horse Comics

My Comic Book Collection: Bliss Alert

  Imagine my surprise as I was reading Astro City #14 when I stumbled upon a possible Pam Bliss sighting! And is that Mr. Sharkipede (a.k.a. Nick Bliss) standing by her side?   From Astro City #14 (October 2014). Written by Kurt Busiek, art by Brent Eric Anderson, lettering and design by John G. Roshell and Jimmy Betancourt, colors by Alex Sinclair and Wendy Broome, and edited by Kristy Quinn. DC Comics

My Comic Book Collection: Close to Home #2

  It was a pleasant surprise leafing through Sergio Aragones Funnies #12 and finding a letter by my friend (and super cartoonist) Dale Martin on the letter page! Dale's letter shared my exact feelings upon finding out that SAF was ending its run. How fitting that they published Dale's missive in the last issue. Fortunately, it sounds like Sergio Aragones Funnies will return in the near future at another publisher. Something for me and Dale to look forward to, I'm sure!   Tiny toon figure by Sergio Aragones. Bongo Comics

My Comic Book Collection: Close to Home #1

  Captain Peachfuzz takes Rocky and Bullwinkle to Muncie, Indiana (My hometown!) in Rocky and Bullwinkle #1 by Mark Evanier (Writer), Roger Langridge (Artist/Letterer), Jeremy Colwell (Colorist), and Sarah Gaydos (Editor). Of course, with Evanier's work with Garfield's Jim Davis and Paws, Inc., he should be well familiar with the charms of the East side of Muncie!*   *Davis's Paws, Inc. is located in Albany, Indiana which is a few miles East of Muncie.   Peachfuzz, Rocky and Bullwinkle were created by Jay Ward. IDW Publishing

My Comic Book Collection: Here's the Skinny!

  From a comic book ad found on the back of Scary Tales #38 (May 1983) by Charlton Comics.

My Comic Book Collection: Where's My Swagger Stick?

  From a comic book ad in DC Comics' Weird Mystery Tales #10 (Feb-Mar 1974)

My Comic Book Collection: American Splendor Special: A Step Out of the Nest #1 (August 1994)

  Last night I was in a sour mood. Before going to bed, I reread this issue (My very first Harvey Pekar comic book from 1994!) and it ended up cheering me up for some reason. I guess good comic books can do that for you when you're feeling low every now and then. The older I get, the more I find Pekar to be an inspiration. I guess I can sympathize with a working class artist who wasn't too happy with his job and just wanted more out of his life. Yeah, I can relate to that.

My Comic Book Collection: The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man (1983)

  Remember when you were a kid and you wrote to major food companies and they sent you a free comic book? Yeah, neither do I, but apparently I did something like that once because I have this issue of The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man as proof. Published by Marvel Comics with Dan DeCarlo serving as the penciler, this four-color corporate propaganda follows the beloved company mascot as he fought the Thirsties, sunburst-like creatures that worked to keep kids thirsty (And I though my job at Touchy Feely Fotos was meaningless!). As someone who rarely drank Kool-Aid, I don't know why or how I got this particular comic, but it proudly remains in my collection. Oh, yeaahh!   On a slightly-related-or-slightly-not-related sidenote, as a kid, I always thought the main branch of the Muncie public library smelled like warm grape Kool-Aid.

My Comic Book Collection: Sugar and Spike #68

  I really should throw this away. The cover has tears, wrinkles, and a scribble from a blue ballpoint. It's missing some pages. Someone actually cut out half a page (Perhaps for the pint-size, do-it yourself X-Mas cards?) and three pieces of tape appear to be holding the book together. It looks like somebody stepped on it and gave it to a small dog as a chew toy. However, it's the only issue of Sugar and Spike I own and I'm keeping it.

My Comic Book Collection: Fat Albert #5 (1975)

  For some reason I own two copies of Fat Albert #5 and I don't remember why. The cover to this copy is the best one of the two. Please note the handwriting on the lower right side corner. Apparently I left it near the phone and my mom decided to use it to jot down some sort of note to herself. Yet another reason you should always put away your comic books, kids!

My Comic Book Collection: Batman Family #9 (1977)

Catfight! Catfight! Well, actually it's more of a batfight or, to be fair, a bat-and-woman-in-Joker-drag fight (Joker drag fu?). No matter what you call it, Batgirl and The Joker's Daughter are locked in battle on this simple, but dynamic cover from Ernie Chua. Of course, I thought Barbara Gordon got her brown belt in judo, not hairpulling. Dirty pool, Babs!

I'm currently trying to write my first superhero comic in a long while and decided to dip into my comic book collection for some inspiration. I stumbled upon some of Bob Rozakis's Batman Family run and became reunited with his lighthearted, but fun storytelling. The type of comics I'm aiming for in my next project. Is it sad I miss the days when Batgirl wore high heeled boots to fight crime and Two-Face was old enough to have a teenaged daughter? Perhaps, but it would be cool if Bob Rozakis was still writing enjoyable comic books today. I know I would buy them!