Iulius!

It looks to be a hot summer, and I can think of no better way to endure it than to hide in my hovel and read books. This month the Dojo will take a look at the Marvel Comics work by Neal Adams. Adams wasn't with the company very long, but he made a big impression on books such as The Uncanny X-Men and The Avengers among others. He created a number of fantastic covers for Marvel in the Silver and Bronze Ages and most if not all of those will get a glimpse. Later work by Adams will get an examination as well. 

Captain America gets a good look as well, given that this is the month we celebrate the nation's birthday in arguably the most important year to the nation's internal welfare since the Civil War. I want to revisit some of my very favorite Cap yarns by Jack Kirby, Steve Englehart, and Sal Buscema, stories which speak to what has made the nation strong. 

Also, in the works this month are some posts about the vintage hero The Green Hornet. The Green Hornet broke into my world via the short-lived 60's TV show that, among other things introduced the world to the late great Bruce Lee. 

Created by Fran Stryker and George Trendle for radio, The Green Hornet shares a universe with the great western star The Lone Ranger. It's pretty obvious that given the success early 30's success of the Ranger, that Stryker and Trendle just took that formula and moved into a modern setting. A doughty and mysterious white hero assisted by an ethnic sidekick proved to be a formula that rang the bell for quite some time in decades past. While it's lost its cache for good reasons, there's no denying its legacy. Look for both the Hornet and the Ranger this month. 

July will see the finale of my looks at the Avon novel starring "The Ghost Who Walks". Lee Falk's creation knows worldwide success and these novels have been both entertaining and informative as to  what makes the Phantom so exciting and enduring. There will also be some reviews of the Phantom's brief but impressive stay at DC Comics. 

Likewise, we will put a wrap on The Wizard of OZ novels by L. Frank Baum. Baum found success with the OZ books and went back to them time and again because the audience wanted them. But his early death brought a stop to his work on the books, though the novels continued to be produced by various writers into the 1960's. I'll be stopping with Baum's books. And I'll be taking a glimpse at some of Baum's other fantasies as well. 

There might be time for another thing or two such as my ongoing look at the Atlas-Seaboard line, but that's a pretty hefty schedule. If this blog were not so much fun, I think I'd quit this job. But that's not in the cards anytime soon. Enjoy. 

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