This Week in Comics
My Pull List for March 12, 2025 & and maybe it IS the thought that counts
Over the Holidaze I wrote a post pondering if it really is the thought that counts. Basically it’s me curmudgeonly grumbling about when family sends you thoughtless “corporate” gifts from a catalog instead of just a card or something that actually shows they know you. Basically what I called the “obligation gift.” A gift that sends the heartfelt message of “it’s a holiday and consumerism says I need to send you something so I picked this generic gift worth sending to a faceless client and am sending it to you to show you how much I think of you- Which isn’t much.” They checked it off their to do list- they “thought” of me. I appreciate it, but about not as much as a simple note.
I still feel that way, but I also want to go a bit on the other side. My dad knows I am a comic book geek. He makes a valiant effort to show he cares by sending me comic book related stuff usually in the form of books. When I was growing up I remember picking up anthologies of super hero stories from the Gold and Silver Age. This was where I cut my teeth and learned about the various heroes who were still popular. This also got me to branch out when I finally could drive and pick up more comics including those with forgotten heroes who would make a comeback later on when DC or Marvel needed them. My dad, as I said, tries and that effort makes me feel as if he cares, but also makes me scratch my head sometimes.
You see in my family many times money equated how much you were loved. My parents for a long time tried to keep things pretty even. If my brother got something- I would get something similar. As we got older and married this morphed into not giving us things, but showering the grandkids with stuff. Not having kids- you get the picture. My mother saw it as being a good grandmother, not giving one son more than the other. Since grandkids arrived after I was officially thrown out of the family (Yes, it did happen) I went on living within my means as much as possible, and not expecting any economic assistance. Something showered upon the grandkids. When I got it, I was happy, but I never got used to it- since it could and would be pulled without notice. Kinda like the current political situation if you aren’t grateful enough or doing what you were told (even in your 30’s or 40’s) forget it- you were cut off. Calls tended to be my mother telling me all the stuff she had sent my brothers via their kids.
When my mom passed away things shifted. Unfortunately, I was the logical one thinking that my dad needs the money to live more than I need stuff. I recall visiting once and taking him to Stuart Ng’s bookstore. He pointed to a bunch of books and I chuckled and told him in my best Monty Python accent “We’ve already got one!” in some cases that was true, in other cases, I just didn’t want him spending money he would need later. He’s one who wants to show he cares through gifts. So I would end up with Folio Society books- and I would continue to tell him “no, thank you.” First of all in my mind The Folio Society is like the Columbia House of books… they talk about this great author, or this great illustrator and reprint stuff at a terrible mark up. For many people it’s the cost that translates to value. Get this copy of (insert title) for (insert high price). For comics it’s get this collection of stories curated by (insert name of someone from the industry here). I’ve gotten a number of volumes from my dad who was thinking they were collectible. They aren’t, but here’s where I take a step back and have to say- at least he tried.
Most recently I received a Folio Society copy of Superman stories curated by Jenette Kahn (former President & Editor in Chief of DC Comics). It was a nice selection of stories (some I actually do own.) Many of the Golden Age stories (I don’t own those) were a fun time machine. All the stories pushed on the idea of Superman embodying Hope. Many were before the retcon that the “S” was the crest for the house of El, or the Kryptonian symbol for “Hope.” I recall reading a story in which we saw the other designs for Superman’s “S” drawn up by Ma Kent (that story did not make the cut). it was nice to read the commentary preceding the reproduction of the curated stories, but this volume was definitely not worth the price of admission. I’ll review the volume below along with this week’s comics.
Again, I appreciate the thought, but I really feel the money should have been spent for other things (like food or rent).
My Comics
Folio Society Superman - As I said previously this has some great stories and some definitely iconic ones. The first appearance of Mr. Mxyztplk and the last appearance of Superman.The time when a computer determined after analyzing all the data that Clark Kent was Superman… Lex Luthor didn’t believe it. Of Course “Doomsday” which is the one that it seems everyone bought and proudly claim to have in their collection. Again som great Superman stories. My favorite? is a story from Superman issue #400- which doesn’t have Superman in it at all. It sadly foreshadows what could be our future. Dystopian world and the legend of Superman inspires a revolution. If only it was that easy.
The slipcase book came with a copy of Superman #1. Please note when it comes to reprints- Comics have multiple sizes- Golden Age, Silver Age, Modern Age & Magazine. The current reprints are done in modern age size. Ummm… Urban Legend, DC comics released a reprint and it was resold by nefarious folks as a high quality original copy. Buyer beware.
Assorted Crisis Events #1 - I saw this title along with a suggestion to read something new and different. This was something that for a long time happened when I would get comics pulled for me just because my friend Dan thought I might like them.
This comic tells the story of a world in which things are… weird- all from the point of view of Ashley- who just wants her clock fixed. Curious to see what issue two will bring.
Star Trek #30 - Kahless now goes through his trials which leaded us to Lore War and maybe the return to the normal Star Trek Universe.
Detective Comics #31 - I’m not much into the proliferation of reprinted issues. I actually roll my eyes at some of the stuff they reprint. Then again, when you been collecting comics for over 50 years you don’t need many reprints. I made an exception with this one. You see when Detective Comics first came out it was an anthology- filled with multiple stories about the adventures of many different detectives. Batman didn’t show up until issue 27. However one detective who showed up in issue 1 was Bruce Nelson. While I would love to purchase an actual copy of a Golden Age Detective Comics with Bruce in it… I am but a simple retired school teacher. So this will have to do it for me. Shortly after this Batman became more and more of the lead, but for now we’ll always have Bruce’s adventures.
This issue included Bruce Nelson and Batman. It also had Slam Bradley written and drawn by those guys who brought you Superman. Along with a western and a spy story to mix into all the other detective stories. These reprints also include all the advertisements which make them a time machine taking you back to 1938.
Deadpool #12 - A crossover with Miles Morales: Spider-Man. Unfortunately, now with Anansi involved I’m getting to like this about as much as Spider-Man and his multiple deaths. Why can’t my heroes be “neighborhood” again? Like Spectacular Spider-Men, I like that title.
Amazing Spider-Man #69 - The many deaths of Spider-Man except this time he’s really dead, but since he isn’t Uncle Ben how long will that last?
Rogue Sun #25 - It’s never a Happy Birthday when lawyers are involved.
Batman and Robin #19 - Memento strikes again as Batman has to deal with his relationship with Robin while still under the influence of
Action Comics #1084 - Superman fights the group who has been sucking the hope out of the super villains of Metropolis. How does this create a gray area for Superman? Hmmm…
Huge Detective #4 - things start coming together as we get to find out through flashbacks the motivation of our bad guy and what their plan is… let’s not forget a ginormous skeleton is crashing into the Earth.
Absolute Superman #5 - What happened to Krypton? You now find out.
Flash Gordon #7 - Flash has escaped Ming and is now in the hands of the Hawkmen. Here we learn about what happened to Mongo and the cast of characters. Oh things didn’t go well.
Life #1 - Another try something different to expand your horizons comic. Two stories one on one half of the book, the other flipped. Are they connected? Science a fiction in a far flung future with suspended animation used for long interstellar travel. First one I read covers a criminal fresh out of jail and being convinced to do one more job before he retires -even though he just wants to retire. The job, go to a deserted prison planet and grab what treasure the corrupt warden had squirreled away.
The other story- about the murderers sent to a prison planet to live out their consecutive life sentences.