Captain America: Alive and well in 1984

Hello. Hello. It's Sunday again and I STEVERINO

have returned from the Big Box with an old friend.

Good ol'

CAPTAIN AMERICA

Vol 1, No. 296, August, 1984

"Things Fall Apart"

Writer:J.M. DeMatteis  Penciler:Paul Neary 

Inker:Sam DeLarosa  Colorist:Bob Sharen  Letterer:Diana Albers

This book is obviously part (2nd) of a storyline that once again pits

Cap and his current side-kick (Nomad) against the Red Skull

and his current band of no-goodniks

(daughter Synthia known as Mother Superior

and her Sisters of Sin, and Baron Zemo) In a battle designed

to kill Captain America by making him old, weak and crazy

before the fight. The crazy part seemed to work best on Nomad.

By this point we've seen the Falcon doped

and taken in by the sisters as Wasp and Starfox discover

a vanished Berine Rosenthal (Caps chick)

and set off to assemble the Avengers.

We don't see the latter two again this issue.

After a bout with the robot of Caps missing buddy Arnie

Cap and Nomad (brought here in the previous issue)

set out to find the Skull and Zemo. 

They find the aged corps of Skulls right-hand man Horst. 

Our two heroes now realize how much Cap has aged himself.

They press on and come upon a

Berlin style lounge full of Arnie look-a-likes

and Mother Superior singing away until Nomad realizes what's

 been eating away at him. Posing as Scarlet (in issues 287-88)

Mother S brain washed him with a kiss or two.

Nomad has been dosing Caps drinks with a chemical

that reversed the effects of the

Super-Soldier Serum that made him Captain America.

"I'm the one who made you old!!" Nomad passes out.

He'll always be a side-kick.

A now old Captain sees his buddy Arnie on stage and

can't get to him right away. Arnie's mind pops as Cap reaches him.

Mother Superior appears and takes on a weak Captain America.

 

Cap is beat about the head and face

but decides to reason with her. Why not. 

She does not buy it. The Skull has raised her well.

Mother shows her cards, displays the captives and stabs

Captain America in the back as he looks on in horror.

More drugs. Cap is down.

Is it Zemo time yet?

It is indeed. Who is that boney looking dude behind him?

In the end we see Zemo and friend show up to finish

the job. It doesn't look good for the good guys.

I think they get out of this one. That fight was 26 years ago.

This Android did like the comic and will try

real hard to pull issue 297 out of The Big Box.

The issue had a good story, a sweet cover and great art.

I do wish they made Cap look as old as advertised

and Nomad (for some reason) annoyed me at first but 

by the end of the mag I liked how he balanced out Captain America.

Good stuff. I hope I pull one just as good next Sunday.

See ya.

Is he a made up hero?

Is he a real live Superhero?

I think he's both.

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Out of the Big Box again

Steverino your android buddy brings us:

Cool Covers from Comics gone by

Let's start with this: Marvel's EXILES

Vol 1, No. 23, May, 2003

Cover art by: Kev Walker

It's the concept that helps this cover into the cool category. Simply put: It's  Ironman in Doctor Dooms cape.
This looks to be a canvas painting and that gives it a nice feel. Add a pissed off Ironman with beat up armor and put him in an old dirty cape and hood and you can't miss.The art under this cover is just as strong. I likey.

Moving on I bring you: DC's SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL
No. 44, May, 1995

Cover art by: Bogdanove & Janke
What do you say? It's in your face fun, lots of color, and wierd.
Check it out. Take a good look. It never gets dull. "3 D Kent". I did not know that was his address. Cool. I like our perspective looking up the door, past the big "S" logo, thru that scary knife, and into the mouth of that goofy head. Any cover (post 1970's) that can pull off goofy to me = cool. The good cover makes me want to read on. I think I will.

How about a back cover: Innovation's LOST in SPACE ANNUAL 
Vol 1, No. 1, 1992

Back cover art by: J.C. Palmer & Q Kmoore
Well, this is one of the best pieces of LIS art I have seen. Check the large view of this illustration. The resemblance to the actors us uncanny. I have seen a lot of bad Dr. Smiths.  The artwork has it all. The Jupiter 2, the Robot, and the Chariot. Do I see Debbie the Bloop inside?  I'm glad I pulled this book. Inside art is just good. It is not helped by a weak story. Lots of extras though . Front cover...just, ehh. Read this one back to front.

No really: Kitchen Sink Comix: YARN MAN
No.1, Oct, 1989

Cover art by: Don Simpson
He's MEGATON MANS pal. I'll have to look him up folks.... oh yea, him. There he is on the back cover. The front cover is so warm and fuzzy I ......nodded off. It is cool fun.
Simpson must have had a blast painting this. The solid yellow and strong type round out a sweet cover. I want to feel his tongue.

Lets wrap it up with a masterpiece: Marvel's FANTASY MASTERPIECES
Vol 1, No 7, Feb, 1967

I've gotta include one oldie. This book reprints stories from the golden age. This cover is a fine example of old printing with classic design form and great colors. I really like the preview boxes in the lower right. Old school. Cool.

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STEVERINO'S REVIEW "INFINITY INC." #1

Steverino here. I have been programmed to review the human diaries known as "Comic Books". Every Tuesday I'll be grabbing random issues out of the "big box" and reviewing them for you the reader!

This week we're going to review a book from 1983 by the DC Universe; 'Infinity Inc. #1'. The series is a Roy Thomas, Jerry Ordway, and Mike Machlan creation that focuses on the descendants of iconic heroes in the DC Universe. Keep in mind this all takes place on Earth 2 - pre-crisis.

An ordinary meeting between the JSA is interrupted by some punk kids who want to join. Without asking any questions the Green Lantern says to the rest of the JSA "let's handle the party crashers". Of course their idea of handling party crashers is to lasso them all up and then let them go four panels later.

"There, now you've learned your lesson party crashers! Teach you to interrupt our meeting! Now tell us your names and origins for 14 pages... we'll finish our meeting later.

The four wannabe heroes are turned down and on their way out the door as two other heroes enter to try and gain acceptance. For some reason the first four decided not to have the common courtesy to let them know the JSA isn't hiring and we see the same exact fight. To no surprise they are also turned down. (The second two are actually Green Lantern's kids; Jade and Obsidion.) He doesn't know that yet even though he vaguely remembers some sort of past event, possibly conceiving children but then again that's really a memory not worth holding on to is it?

Two members of the JSA; Huntress and Power Girl are offended by the notion that maybe the JSA doesn't need more youngsters and they leave. The Star Spangled Kid wanted to revolt with the two JSA women but he left his spine in his locker. As the issue ends the villain Brain-Wave enters through a wall leaving readers with a cliff hanger until the next issue.

This book has great artwork that is highlighted by the costume choices (especially the Robin suit). This being the first issue seems to serve as a building block for the rest of the series. I am the android known as Steverino - I am partial to heavy doses of action. This was around a 56 issue series so I am as optimistic as a robot can be.

I leave you now with a quote from the book by the Earth 2 Green Lantern: "I'm -- not sure I know what you MEAN -- but I'd know if I had a family, I'd know about it, wouldn't I?"

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Comic Fans Rejoice

Be happy, all you carbon based lifeforms. Earth has yet another interpreter of it's history.

Diaries known as "comic books" will be reviewed right here by the android known as Steverino.

Steverino will pull chapters of these diaries and give a quick summary to benefit all mankind.

Read on Steverino The Earthlings are waiting.

Stay tuned for "DC's Infinity Inc." #1 from 1983.

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