Look What's New! Diamond Previews, March 2021

Marvel Vehicles

Spider-Man has his webs, Thor his hammer, Captain Marvel flies (as do a lot of other Marvel Comics heroes) and some swim from location to location.

But what about the other heroes?  How do they get around?

In Insight Editions new book by Alex Irvine: Marvel Vehicles Owner’s Workshop Manual, readers are given a first-hand look at their different modes of transportation.

The book looks back over the decades to various versions of famous vehicles like the Avenger's Quinjet or the X-Men’s Blackbird.  There’s even an examination of the Spider-Mobile!

The book is broken down into the following categories:

X-Vehicles
Helicarriers
Aircraft
Gliders
Spaceships
Cars & Vans
Motorcycles

Each section provides full color art, schematics and lots of fun and informative text.  It also includes some historical background on the vehicles along with their importance and relevance to Marvel Comics characters.

Think of it as mechanics’ guide to the coolest land, air, sea and space vehicles ever imagined!

Spider-Man and Deadpool

Before you have a coronary the cover of Marvel Comics'  Amazing Fantasy #15 seen is not of the original issue. 

It is a reproduction of the original that was given away free in the color comic’s section of newspapers back in the early 2000’s promoting the Spider-Man movies.

A number of the early Spider-Man issues were produced and remarkably many are now going for respectable prices.  Currently an issue #1 costs about $10.

If you can’t afford the six to seven figure price of an original mint copy then this reprint is just the ticket.

What can be said about Deadpool The Merc With A Mouth that hasn’t been said?

After a few guest appearances Deadpool finally received his own series in 1997.

The premiere issue was oversized and featured the art of fan favorite Ed McGuinness.

Joe Kelly provided the dialogue and stories and is to be credited for fine tuning Deadpool’s sarcastic sense of humor and sometimes bizarre behavior.

It’s one of the few comic books stating it is a collector’s item that actually lives up to the hype.

A raw copy sells for about $35 and a slabbed copy graded a 9.6 goes for around $100.  Prices continue to rise.

Alexia

Sometimes a toy line comes out based on a movie property that is just plain scary.  Palisades Toys Resident Evil CODE: Alexia is one such toy line.  

Four figures came in the set.  I’ll be reviewing Alexia Ashford, the daughter of the original recipient of the T-Virus.

Starting with the packaging. This is a clever piece of plastic packaging.

The figure and accessories are encased in a plastic cocoon and covered by extruded piece of plastic with a small side panel displaying the other figures in the set with the enclosed figure panel printed darker and more predominant.

Behind the small panel is the tailpiece that can be attached to the figure.

Along the top are the large words “RESIDENT EVIL” printed in red.

On the lowered right corner is a Alexia name tag.  

The back of the hanging bubble pack is a photo of the mutated Alexia Ashford, along with small spot photos of the other Series 2 figures in the set.  A brief description about Alexia is also provided.

The Alexia figure is just over 6-inches tall.  Her skin is primarily light.   gray/green.  The figure is nude with its more private parts covered by green plant matter of vine and foliage.  The foliage covers her right shoulder, arm and hand and most of her hip area and left leg and foot.

Coloration is striated in black, deep green and green.

Her face is almost entirely covered by her plant hair that hangs in clumps.  Only her yellow eye and green lips show.

An additional pop-on head is included that has long hair that which is swept up away from her face.  The right side of her face is plant matter.  Her remaining face peeks through.

Also included with the figure are two large wings of brown and green that look similar to dragonfly wings.  They attach to her back by two pop-in balls.  The support structure of the wings are plant matter, with thorns-that also cover part of her body, and the wings themselves are thin brown tree bark.

A long serpentine tail of plant matter in gray, green and brown can be attached to her lower back.  It is segmented as if prehensile.

A Resident Evil stand is included with dull red letters against a red/brown brick background.

The figure is articulated with swivel, ball and socket and hinge articulation points.

Color separation is clean with no rough edges and distinct areas easily identified.

The sculpting of the figure is of high quality and is hihgly creative and cleverly articulated with movement points hidden by bodylines and textures.

It is an extremely impressive figure which is well done and designed.

The Former Herald of Galactus: The Silver Surfer #34

What distinguishes issue #34 of the second series of The Silver Surfer comic book is that is the first time that The Silver Surfer and Thanos meet.

For millennia The Silver Surfer has not slept.

He decides to stop at a nearby planet and catch a few winks.  He dreams of Death and her resurrection of Thanos so he can strike a balance of life in the universe by killing 50% of all living things.

Touted as the ‘1st Issue Of A New Era Of Greatness’ the issue lives up to the hype in a big way.

It spotlights the return of Thanos, a true revelation of Death and an epic confrontation between good and evil.

Up to this point The Silver Surfer had always been a tragic, stoic and honorable character.  He primarily dealt with personal struggles and demons and made for a sounding board about the state of mankind.

In this one issue The Surfer is transformed into a beacon of good, a symbol of what is right with the universe and a personification of the light side of existence as opposed to the dark side.

Jim Starlin provides a powerful story and artist Ron Lim turns out some great art packed with symbolism and disturbing images.

This comic book represents the baptism of The Silver Surfer into the battle between good and evil.

From its epic cover to its last panel revealing Thanos the story delivers on every page.  It deserves to be a classic and a true turning point inn the life of of The Silver Surfer and a key event in the Marvel Comics Universe.

Currently a raw copy will cost you about $15 and slabbed round $75 in near mint condition

Classic Horror! Friday The 13th Part VII-The New Blood

Creepy-that’s the best word to describe the Jason figure in Sideshow Collectibles Friday The 13th Part VII-The New Blood boxed figure.

A large picture of Jason’s hockey mask decorates the cover of the flip lid box. Inside the figure and accessories are nestled in their clear plastic cocoon with a clear plastic viewing sheet.

By far the most striking features of the figure is Jason’s head and face.

His dead gray skin covers 3/4th of his head.  The skin is pulled back over his nose making it appear as two nose holes as seen on a skull.

His puffed and misshapen kips partially cover his large white teeth that are crooked and misshapen.  

The left side of his cheek is open revealing the row of teeth beneath and the left side of his skull shows thorough at the left eye socket sans an eyeball.

Pock marks and scars cover his skin and his malevolent right eye stares out from under his heavy brow.

Two large scars run the full length from his hollow eye socket across the back of his skull.

Like Jason the figure is scarred, decaying and in several areas the bones underneath the skin are showing through, predominantly on the hands and feet.

The figure is dressed in a torn and tattered pair of green/gray pants and shirt.  The shirt has several buttons still remaining and has torn and shredded pockets with flaps and cuffs with buttons,

 The frayed trousers hang loosely in shreds over Jason’s black boots.

Included with Jason is his white hockey mask with red forehead symbol.  It is pierced by holes and is shattered on its left side.  When worn Jason’s skeletal face is seen through the shattered and missing part of the mask.  It fits snuggly over the head of the figure.

Jason comes with several weapons including a bloody axe with wooden handle, a metal spike, a large machete with a black handle and a curved sickle with riveted wooden handle.

The figure’s hands are made to hold each weapon.

Also included is a circular black base with the Friday The 13th Part VII The New Blood logo and a support wire for the figure.

The figure is also held in place by several strips of clear plastic.

The most striking features of the figure are its face, hands and feet.  The weapons are in scale, look completely authentic and Jason’s trademark mask looks just as terrifying in miniature form as its larger version.

The figure poses easily with or without its stand, moves smoothly in its tattered cloths and once posed with its weapons looks very imposing.

Fearless and Fantastic!

Superheroines have always existed in comic books almost from the beginning of the Age of Heroes.

While for decades superheroes dominated the medium, slowly and methodically woman superheroines have come into their own.

In fact, they are some of the most popular characters around and have garnered their own titles, TV shows and movies.

Marvel Comics (ever since its creation in 1961 beginning with Fantastic Four #1) made it a point to showcase women as more than mere damsels in distress.

In Fearless and Fantastic! Female Super Heroines Save The World readers are introduced to the Mighty Women of Marvel!

A special personal comment: While I applaud the depiction of strong independent women the comic book industry has the tendency to overplay everything.

Marvel and DC in particular show strong women but often downplay the feminine side of the gender.

It’s one thing to be strong and independent it’s quite another thing when that independence is a detriment to and a put down of the opposite gender.

There’s nothing wrong with a woman character being strong and courageous while at the same time being compassionate, tender and fully feminine.

Despite what might be said in the media there are differences between the genders.  That does not make one better than the other.

Men simply cannot think and feel like a woman and the reverse is true.

Identity politics delivers a mixed message.  The truth is if an individual is not happy with whom they are no amount of surgery, counseling or SJW will change that.

Where does it say that certain characteristics are exclusive to certain genders?

Back to the book.  It is a slightly larger than normal paperback filled with color art of several dozen super heroines of the Marvel Universe.

Included with each full-page illustration is a short history of the characters and a famous quote from them.

It’s a nice addition to any Marvel Comics fan’s library.

Outlaw and U.S. Marshall

The Old West.  Of all of the historical periods of the United States The Old West has been the most romanticized, written about and made popular.

Novels, movies, TV shows, comic books, toys-The Old West has been memorialized in a plethora of pop culture items.

In the early 2000s the toy company Dusty Trails put out two series of 6-inch action figures.

One of the figures from its Action Series 2 was a U.S. Marshall Tombstone from the Old West.

Subsequently in the Action Series 1 an Old West Outlaw was produced and released.

The Outlaw has minimal articulation.  It’s more of a miniature statue than action figure.

The figure is poised in a shootout position with legs spread, its left arm extend behind it for balance and the right hand set forward with fingers set for brandishing the silver revolver.  

It wears blue/gray pants and jacket with a light blue long sleeve shirt with large buttons and a red bandana around its neck.

The Outlaw also wears a red cloth waistband, a gun holster with a large buckle and slots for bullets, wide leather spat spurs and black boots. 

His face sports a mustache and lower lip beard, deep set eyes, heavy brows, a sharp chin and nose and close cropped black hair.

His jacket is open and furled back as if The Outlaw was shifting to draw and heavy wrinkles and creases are on his pants and other garments denoting extended arm and leg movement.  He wears a black hat with the lid slightly turned upward on its right front.

He comes packaged in a bubble pack with an inner form-fitting cocoon, a large The Outlaw logo, a large photo of the figure from the waist up and a base that looks like a section of an Old West road complete with pebbles and rocks.

Color application is smooth, well defined between flesh and clothing with no slopover edges or missed areas.

The color application, sculpting and plastic cocoon are similar as The Outlaw with the Marshall.

The U.S. Marshall figure stands posed wit hi right arm slightly raised with his left arm more to his side.  Both hands are positioned to hold the twin revolvers that come with the figure.

Dressed a round rimmed hat, a white shirt, red bowtie, dark gray vest with button and a watch fob, a dark gray long coat with silver Marshall badge on it lapel, dark gray trousers with a brown belt/holster with silver buckle and two gun holsters and dusty black boots it makes an imposing figure.

The face has a mustache, is angular, has short crop hair and a long straight nose.

Its long coat appears to be swirled back as if The Marshall is about to fire.  The figure’s legs are spaced with the right leg forward and the left back.

Because it is a Series 2 figure it includes not only a base that looks like a boarded sidewalk but the front of a saloon with twin swinging louvered doors and a partial logo and wood frame with wood slats.

Have Gun-Will Travel

Recently I picked the entire First and Second Seasons on DVD of the classic TV Western Have Gun-Will Travel.

The series starred Richard Boone as the dandy turned investigator/gunslinger that lived in plush hotel in San Francisco. 

He spouted poetry and classic literature and hunted down murderers, etc.

For a price Paladin (as he was known) would contract with individuals to bring criminals to justice or right a wrong.

His calling card was a knight chess piece accompanied by the words Have Gun-Will Travel.

The series could both dramatic and funny.

Occasionally he would fight against his employer if he or she were in the wrong.

During the entire series Paladin’s real name was never revealed.

Running from 1957 to 1962 the series was extremely popular. 

When it ran on TV the series always ranked in the top 10 and in the top three of Westerns (Gunsmoke and Rawhide were the other two).

What made the series so good is that actor Richard Boone had his hand in the production and demanded top rate shows.

It showed. The scripts were thought-provoking, tackled delicate subjects (a daring move considering the time period the show was shown) and it featured a number of appearances by up and coming superstars such as Charles Bronson and many others.

Boone employed an impressive returning cast of actors who could play a wide range of roles.

As was typical at the time many character actors appeared that also guest-starred on other TV series-especially Westerns.

Filmed in black and white the show took advantage of the format to give it a real Old West feel.  

It is by far my favorite Western TV series and each week day beginning at 8AM I watch two episodes back-to-back.

The collected First and Second Seasons episodes from CBS/Paramount also include character profiles and some interesting episode information.

The series still holds up today almost 60 years after it left the air.

Credit Card Survival Kits

It’s easy to become complacent and comfortable in our modern society.

Safe in our houses or apartments, with heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer we thrive on artificial environments never concerned about the weather outside.

Most of us have plenty of food, water, nice cloths, all the conveniences of modern life and more.  We’ve become fat and sassy and far too entrenched in our ways.

But, what if that were not so?

What if you found yourself in the middle of nowhere with no way to contact the outside world?  What if your vehicle breaks down, your bike develops a flat, you get lost hiking or camping or worse yet should a natural disaster strike.  Are you ready for a quick evacuation?

It’s so easy to settle in and forget that conditions can change in an instant.

I believe in being prepared as much as possible.  That’s why I carry an emergency survival backpack in the trunk of my car, a miniature survival kit when I’m biking and a small kit in my wallet.

I never take for granted the conveniences and comforts God has provide my family and I.

I like being prepared and that's why I got excited when Readyman provided several of their wallet size survival/emergency cards for me to review.

Carry in them your wallet, purse, put them in you glove compartment, carry them in your bicycle repair kit and take them with you when you're camping or hiking.  It’s a comforting feeling when you don’t feel totally helpless and at least stand a chance of surviving.

Readyman provided five samples.  All are made in America, are constructed of 301 Stainless Steel and are extremely light.  Be careful because some edges are extremely sharp.

Individual components are easy to detach and use.  I suggest you keep a small container or bag to keep them in once you detach them.

They’re rugged, reliable and a great value for the money-just under $13 each. 

The Medic Kit contains the following tools:

2 Tweezers
4 Needles (2 strait and 2 hook)
3 Bandage & Cloth Clips
6 Safety Pins
2 Serrated Blade
1 Tick Fork / Nail Scraper
1 File

The Dog Tag Survival Card includes:

    2 Double Fishing Hooks
    2 Long Fishing Hooks
    2 Arrow Heads
    1 Fishing Lure
    1 Band Saw

The  Fisherman's Survival Card includes 22 different tools:

9 Single Hooks (Small Medium and Large)
3 Double Hooks (Small Medium and Large)
1 Treble Hook
1 Quad Hook
5 different Lures
1Fish Scaler
1 Saw

The Hostage Escape Card (Kidnap Escape) lets you defeat handcuffs, cut through rope, tape, wood, zip-ties and even pick locks.  Readyman has a video for its members to watch about picking locks and other escape procedures.  Just look at what you get:

1 Saw
1 Handcuff Shim
1 Rake
1 Tension Wrench

The Wilderness Survival Card is the ultimate set of tools and devices that keeps you in control and ready for the worst.  Here’s what you get:

9 Fishhooks
5 Arrows
4 Snare locks
1 Awl
2 Sewing Needles
3 Saw blades
1 Tweezers

I plan on keeping each set with me wherever I travel.  All are sheathed in clear plastic and with the handy zip bag provided I can keep them all together.

Be prepared, be safe and get Readyman.

Robby The Robot and The Iron Giant

Two of my all-time favorite science fiction movies are Forbidden Planet and The Iron Giant.

Forbidden Planet was released the same year I was born: 1953.  It was a live action movie from MGM and was considered cutting edge and innovative for its time.

Visual and practical effects were extremely well done and for the first time an electronic soundtrack was used.

The story centers around a group of space explorers sent to a distant planet to check in on a scientist and his daughter.  It was a loose interpretation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest set in outer space.

When they arrived a robot met them: Robby The Robot.

It is estimated that the cost of building the robot took a considerable chunk of the movie’s budget and it shows.

Robby was a technological marvel for the time with working lights, a voice synthesizer, full mobility, with switches and buttons and more. His head swiveled as did his torso and his design was very futuristic.  

So futuristic that it even stands up today.

Goldlox Toys has created a Walmart exclusive Robby The Robot toy that collectors and kids are sure to love.

The Goldlok (with assist by Trendmasters) Robby The Robot is a mechanized marvel.  For only $20 you can own this impressive figure that stands close to 12-inches tall.

Packaged in a colorful open-front, heavy paper stock box Robby is held in place with small plastic wires and is snug in a form-fitting plastic cocoon.

A small strip of plastic extends out from the right of the box stating, ‘Try Me!’.  Push it and Robby sounds off.

A large Forbidden Planet logo cutout is at the bottom of the front and on the sides and back.

On the back is a short synopsis of the film and information about Robby.

Additional photos of the Robby figure demonstrating his functions are also included.

Push the yellow button on Robby’s waist and he spouts phrases and sound effects from the movie and his twin waist lights flash and his voice box modulates in light with his voice.

Inside his clear plastic dome head additional lights flicker. Contacts click and flash and the circular modules of his brain emit a steady light.

Details on the body are first-rate with clear delineation lines between sections.  Robby's body is smooth with few sharp angles.

Robby’s head is a large tapered cone with a clear plastic panel in the front.  Inside are diodes and switches and a light emitting brain of circular components.

The dome fits on a black neck unit with a clear, striated voice box on the front.

The neck swivels on the large chest.

On the side of the ‘head’ are two circular attenna, twin blue sensors and clear segmented ‘ears’.

On the barrel chest are twin front lights and two inset areas that hold the powerful arms-much like a shoulder joint.

The arms have circular shoulder joints that move and rotate when posed. Stationary flanged elbows and three-finger segmented hands also rotate.

The entire torso can twist and move at the waist.

The lower abdomen also has two circular 'inset areas' where the leg ‘hip’ joints attach to them.

The legs consist of three circular sections allowing for movement and with large splayed feet that have wheels underneath them (along with battery compartments) that allow the robot to move when a hidden switch is thrown.

Robby’s body is solid black.  Sculpture details recreate the robot to perfection right down to his highly detailed head and torso.

Articulation points are solid with ease of movement and well hidden.  

Robby is put together solidly with no open gaps or unsightly flashing or loose joints.

It’s an absolutely exact miniature duplicate of the famous robot.  Collectors and kids are sure to love the lights and especially the mobility of the toy.

When activated Robby walks, his legs move back and forth and his torso turns.

It's on of the best recreations of Robby I've ever seen, especially for the price

The Iron Giant was a movie that combined traditional cell animation with the newest animation technology: computer generated animation and effects.

It featured a giant robot discovered by a young boy and they become friends. The robot was damaged and lost most of its memory.
 

Set during the Cold War era the film examines the paranoia of the time.

When the boy is injured the robot converts to a powerful, destructive machine.  Ultimately the robot saves a nearby town from a nuclear attack and sacrifices his life-or so it seems.

Like Robby the Robot, The Iron Giant has a marvelous retro/futuristic design and is considered a classic character and favorite cult movie today loved by fans.

Walmart stocks an exclusive The Iron Giant toy created by Goldlok Toys. It stands over a foot tall.

The large box it comes in is partially open in the front allowing perspective toy buyers to test the ‘Try Me!’ button that activates The Iron Giant’s green light up eyes and one of two sound effects.

The figure is cradled in a plastic form-fitting plastic cocoon with additional plastic straps.

The box features a large cutout The Iron Giant logo on the front with additional logos on the sides and back.

Photos of The Iron Giant toys are on the back demonstrating his various functions.

The figure is mostly gray with some darker gray and black accent areas around the waist, chest, legs and arms.  Surfaces look very angular as one would expect of a robot from that era.

Identical to its large cinema namesake The Iron Giant figure has a dome head with a protruding lower jaw, large circular eyes and a single fin running from its forehead to the back of its head.

A massive chest has arms extending out from underneath shoulder flanges.

The chest cavity opens revealing a large dark gray circular section with a large green light in the middle and a string of lights around its circumference.

When the switch on the back is activated the chest lights up just like the chest weapon the Giant used in the movie.  It also emits threatening sounds.

The hinged chest plates open easily and snaps into place with well-hidden seams.

The two large arms have circular shoulder joints, thin upper arms and large tapered rectangular lower arms.  They remind me of Popeye's forearms.

Four finger hands that twist and turn are on their ends.

The arms move and rotate as does the lower arms and wrists.

The large chest attaches to a recessed waist with a small hip area.

The leg hip joints are oversize and taper into small upper legs and large lower rectangular sectioned lower legs.  

The large flat feet swivel slightly at the ankles when the robot shuffles forward aided by the wheels on its feet.

The batteries are hidden under the feet soles.

Details are spot-on with lots of rivets, recessed and angular sections and with realistic looking articulation.

The joints are fitted to move with no looseness.

Parts fit together snuggly with no gaps, flashing or rough edges.

Details extend to the back as well.

When the chest weapon is activated the eyes of The Iron Giant flash red and when he walks additional sound effects activate.

Both Robby and Iron Giant are very stable when they walk with no tipping over.  Kids can easily activate the walking and other effects.

Both Robby The Robot and The Iron Giant are superbly crafted figures at a great price.  The figures have proven especially popular and are already popping up in the secondary market.  Batteries are included with both figures.

Should you see them in your local Walmart buy them before they are gone.

I plan on displaying mine in my man cave.  I can't wait to show them to my friends.

Blazing Vortex

Watch out for the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game from Konami, it's armed and dangerous!  With nine Cards per pack and 24 Packs per Box there’s enough mayhem and fighting as gamers can stand.

Blazing Vortex pulls it all together in a swirling, twirling and tornado of a ruckus in some of the wildest game play ever witness in YGO.

Just look at what you get:

100 new Cards to play.
A reimagining of Chazz Princeton’s “Armed Dragon” Cards.
A Brand-new version of Armed Dragon.
19 World Premiere Cards.
A new combat-crazed World Premiere.
A new Continuous Trap.
New Cards for themes introduced in 2010, 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2019.
A New version of an iconic Spell.

The Blazing Vortex Booster Set contains:

50 Commons
26 Super Rares
14 Ultra Rares
10 Secret Rares

No matter how you look at it things just got a lot more dangerous, exciting and loaded for bear!

The Avengers Times Three

I’m back again with three more comic books that I believe contain pivotal stories in comic book history--specifically Marvel Comics history.

Without a doubt the Avengers movies are hugely successful,

The last Avengers movie bumped out Avatar as the #1 grossing movie of all time.

Three Avengers books that should be apart of any Avengers fan’s collection come from the Bronze and Silver Ages.

Issue #43 from the Silver Age contains the first appearance of the U.S.S.R.’s answer to Captain America: The Red Guardian.

It just so happens that he is the Black Widow’s estranged husband.

This issue promises to escalate in value, as The Red Guardian is in the upcoming Black Widow movie.

Also for the Silver Age is The Avengers #83 which features the ’first’ appearance of Valkyrie.

It turns out she is really the Enchantress in disguise, but hard-core collectors still consider it an unofficial first appearance.

You remember her: she appeared in the last Thor movie.

Last, but certainly not least is the Bronze Age Giant Size Avengers #4 that celebrated the marriage of the Scarlet Witch and the Vision.

Considering that the human and android couple star in an upcoming the WandaVision TV series this issue is sure to be big with fans.

There you have it: three Avengers titles that are ’must-haves’ for any true Avengers fan.

Kansas City, Zits and JumpStart

The Bunker and Kurt Scholla (along with Andrews McMeel Publishing) present the pride of Kansas City’s baseball team with a stunning blue, soft, leather-like journal embossed with the Kansas City logo with golden crown and a golden-colored ribbon.

Whether you’re a baseball fan or someone who likes to keep notes (other than stats) this small journal makes the perfect choice for a fun gift for a Kansas City fan.

Filled with blank pages it makes for great note-taking, scribbles, small drawings or whatever else you can put down on paper.

I plan on carrying mine around as a small drawing pad.  You choose your use for it.

From Jeremy Scott and Jim Borgman comes the Zits Sketchbook No Ten: Pimp My Lunch.

If there is one thing the star (Jeremy) (along with his friends) of Zits loves is eating.

Ask his mom and dad.  They barely have enough time to unload the groceries from their car before Jeremy gobbles them all up.

Jus try sitting at a meal with him.  You better be fast or - presto! - there’s no food left.  He’s a veritable food vacuum cleaner!

In this book his parents deal with Jeremy’s appetite, growing facial hair, summer reading lists, studying, dating, chores and much more.  

Throw Jeremy’s friends in the mix and watch the sparks fly.

Having raised two kids ourselves my wife and I certainly sympathize and identify with Jeremy’s parents.

JumpStart comic strip writer and artist Robb Armstrong celebrates the 30th anniversary of his comic strip in a brand new On A Roll! A JumpStart Treasury.

JumpStart is truly a multi-racial comic strip starring probably the most diverse group of characters ever seen in a comic strip.

Check out the roster at the beginning of the book for a character lowdown.

Inside readers are treated to a hilarious collection of strips inspired by everyday life as experienced by people from different ethnic backgrounds.

From home to office to school both the new and old strips offer a taste of life and some downright funny moments.

Kids to grandparents will enjoy reading A JumpStart Treasury for the insightful gems it holds.

Marvel Firsts The 1970s Volumes 1, 2 and 3

I’m not a big fan of trade paperback graphic novel reprints.  There are exceptions of course such as Marvel Comics Essentials and DC Comics Showcase Presents.

Both reprint key early comic books in black and white in inexpensive compilations that usually consists of 10+ books.

Marvel Press has released a series of three trade paperbacks that I enjoy.

The Marvel Firsts The 1970s Volumes 1, 2 and 3 reprints important Bronze Age stories-many of which are out of most collector’s budgets.

Volume 1 reprints in full color:

Amazing Adventures #1 (The Inhumans)
Savage Tales #1 (Man-Thing)
Marvel Spotlight #1 (Red Wolf)
Marvel Feature #1 (The Defenders)
Marvel Spotlight #2 (Werewolf By Night)
Amazing Adventures #11 (The Blue Beast)
Marvel Premiere #1 (Warlock)
Hero For Hire #1 (Luke Cage)
Combat Kelly And The Deadly Dozen #1
Outlaw Kid #10 (The Origin)
Marvel Spotlight #5 (Ghost Rider)
Gunhawks #1
Cat #1
Shanna The She-Devil #1
Monster Of Frankenstein #1
Amazing Adventure #18 (The War Of The Worlds)

Volume 2 Reprints in full color:

Vampire Tales #1 (Morbius)
Supernatural Thrillers #5 (The Living Mummy)
Strange Tales #189 (Brother Voodoo)
Marvel Feature #1 (The Thing)
Jungle Action #6 (Black Panther)
Vampire Tales #2 (Satana)
Marvel Spotlight #12 (The Son Of Satan)
Astonishing Tales #21 (It)
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (The Sons Of The Tiger!)
Marvel Premiere #15 (Iron Fist)
Creatures On The Loose #30 Man-Wolf)
Astonishing Tales #25 (Deathlok)
Haunt Of Horror #2 (Gabriel: Devil Hunter)
War Is Hell
Giant-Size Man-Thing #4 (Howard The Duck)
Giant-Size Invaders #1
Giant-Size X-Men #1 (The New X-Men)

Volume 3 Reprints in full color:

Skull The Slayer #1
Champions #1
Marvel Presents #1 Bloodstone)
Black Goliath #1
Marvel Preview #4 (Starlord)
Marvel Presents #3 (The Guardians Of The Galaxy)
Omega The Unknown #1
Nova #1
Ms. Marvel #1
Marvel Spotlight #32 (Spider-Woman)
What If #1
Devil Dinosaur #1
Machine Man #1
Hulk #11 (Moon Knight)
Savage She-Hulk #1

Each book features issues reprinted in full color that cost a fraction of what the actual comic books do. The books are a great way to enjoy classic Marvel Comics Bronze Age tales that collectors are clamoring for.