Justice League - The Filmation Adventures!

The first time The Justice League of America came to the small screen (or any screen for that matter) was in the rockin' 60's as a relatively small part of the Filmation Studios effort to put the DC heroes on TV. Filmation, a fledgling upstart company actually made its bones by landing (with some degree of chicanery it must be admitted) the rights to do a Superman cartoon. Off of the success of this came Aquaman and later Batman among others.

The League members in this trilogy of cartoons is comprised of Superman, Flash, Green Lantern, Atom, Hawkman, and Aquaman. While listed in every opening Aquaman though never shows up in any of the adventures. Superman seems to be the clear undisputed leader of the team as he routinely issues instructions to the others who comply without qualm. Green Lantern most often works with Superman while Hawkman is often sent to get his Hawkship to help. Flash and Atom invariably are a team with the latter usually perched atop the Flash's shoulder.

The stories are brisk and full of action. The League gets between two warring groups from Mercury who have brought the battle to Earth, try to stop an alien invasion of Earth itself, and battle the machinations of a true super-villain named Mastermind who threatens to reveal their secret identities.

Here for your viewing pleasure are those cartoons. Enjoy!




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Dawn Of Justice - The Dojo Review!

Let me begin by saying...I fucking loved this flick!

Are we clear? Good. There be spoilers below, so tread with care.

God and Man

I have no idea why people are so pissed off about this movie, because from where I sat it delivered the goods on all the beaucoup counts it was expected to deliver on. I've read several reviews now that pretend to punch holes in the plot, but which mostly demonstrate that the reviewers either wanted another movie all together or didn't really fully pay attention in this one. Is it a perfect movie? Hell no, but it's a damn good one!

A god among men

Why am I cursing so much? Because the reaction to this movie demonstrates one of the themes I've noticed now over the decades of watching superhero movies--the closer a movie cleaves to the source material, the more people hate it, despite claiming the former is what they wanted. They don't, they should want a good movie and this one is. So what's the rub?

A god descending

This is a movie which asks some big questions about the nature of superheroes and how they fit into the regular world, how a godlike figure of unimaginable power is perceived by the world at large. Some reviewers seem puzzled that different people have different responses to Superman's actions a few years before, and also some reviewers seem not to understand why people would blame Superman for failing to keep them safe from all threats all the time. Anyone watching the Brussels bombing reactions should have a pretty good handle on this one.

A goddess with a sword

Lots of folks bitch that there's not enough Wonder Woman, and then say the movie is too long. I suppose they wanted less Batman or less Superman, but given that the title is Superman V Batman, that seems unlikely. And besides, there was just enough Wonder Woman, she's in it plenty and does exceedingly well at what she does.

Apokalips on Earth

Folks bitch about the dream sequences but by the end of the movie, the distinction between what is real and what is not seems to be a major thematic point, so I rather liked how all the reality shifting kept me on my toes. And that goes for the generally dark tone of the whole magilla. There's no law that I'm aware of that states a superhero movie must be a light-hearted romp. Because the Marvel movies blend humor and irony into their mix, there's no reason that a DC movie need ape that formula. Instead we have a take-no-prisoners-superhero-noir here, something for the fans to chew on. Wasn't that the formula that made Frank Miller a comic creator hero? So why not a movie with the same vibe? I like it. (And I got to see actual Para-Demons! Darkseid is coming! Woo-fackin'-hoo!)

A Bat among men

Ben Affleck was great! Gal Gado was fantastic! And Henry Cavill is a dynamite Superman despite the hate that seems to be building for his performance. Throw in cameos of Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and this was a superhero rich brew that simmered perfectly for this fanboy. You cannot have too many superheroes and since this is a Justice League movie sort of then I don't get the gripe. Were there too many X-Men in those movies? Nope.

Evil incarnate

Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor was perhaps a place I might pick a nit, but by now a lot of people have played that role in a lot of ways and I rather thought his Jokeresque take on the character was intriguing, especially given his hints of dark times to come. Lex is not all there and that's obvious and by the end we have a hint as to why -- Darkseid's coming!

Eye see you

And before I forget let me say I love the way they use Superman's heat vision in this story. Eyebeams are about the coolest power aside from being able to fly, and it's neat to see the dramatic and proficient use of a literal look-that-can-kill in a story like this. The eyes are the windows to the soul and that's certainly what happens in this story.

Coolest moment in the whole damn movie!

The death count is high in this one, but that was true of the last one too. Batman-gets-a-gun is a total thing of its own, and I get why Batman lovers might be offended, but I think the changes were dandy and the tone fit perfectly with an exceedingly violent movie which was never ever intended for small children. (Superman jumps in bathtub with a naked Lois for Krypton's sake!) So keep the rugrats at home, this one ain't for them -- get an old Super Friends dvd and hand out a few pixie sticks to tide them over.

I'm eager to watch the next installment - the reason a linchpin movie franchise quick-starter exists. So don't hate on me because I was thoroughly entertained. None of these movies is going to be perfectly what we have dancing in our heads, but this one was a blast and half and I enjoyed it all the way through.

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The Golden Derby - March 1966!

This was a momentous month for Charlton exactly fifty years ago as they introduced a comic which proved quite successful and sturdy and inspired a gaggle of imitators from the little Derby publisher. The title which had started its days as Unusual Tales and then became Blue Beetle briefly only to became Ghostly Tales when Mr.Dedd took up residence. This title would inspire a spin-off in Dr.Graves and later many others as the scary story proved to to a reliable genre for Charlton. This debut cover by Rocke Mastroserio is a keeper. Along with ghosts Charlton wrapped up Fightin' Navy though the "Fightin'" brand would hang around for several years to come. Wyatt Earp had been a successful title for Charlton but the days of the western were quickly waning and it wouldn't be long before Wyatt joined his peers in the mists of oblivion. Charlton still cranked out Hot Rod comics, tapping an audience apparently no other comic book publisher knew existed. These feisty tales are typical Charlton with some rising above the pack in surprising ways. No company did genre with such gusto as Charlton and no other company did this genre at all.

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Easter Sunday - The Saga Of The Silver Surfer!

The grand finale of the Galactus Trilogy coincides with the fabulous fiftieth issue of the Fantastic Four. It is an issue filled with spectacle, drama, and terror, but also with the shining embers of stories yet to be told. It is in many ways like life itself, not conveniently an ending nor a beginning, but merely another part of a great and vast saga.

"The Startling Saga of the Silver Surfer"  by Lee, Kirby, Sinnott and Rosen begins with the Surfer himself confronting his master, the great and powerful Galactus who prepares to drain the energy of the entire planet Earth so that he might continue to live.

The confrontation comes swiftly as the Silver Surfer presses his attack on his former Master, using the power bestowed upon him to imprison Galactus himself inside a cocoon of hardened energy. Ben Grimm and Reed Richards are fascinated by this power and the Thing unwisely touches the paradoxical cocoon just before it begins to splinter and shatter, the energy erupting outward in all directions. Galactus emerges unscathed and the Surfer's further attacks bounce harmlessly against his defensive "Absorba shields".

Then Galactus counter-attacks, but the Surfer is able to dodge the bolts with relative ease. The two battle while the Watcher and the Fab 4 watch. The Watcher though at the same time is guiding the Human Torch home as he must return from beyond the limits of time and space, past deadly bands of "Un-Life". Johnny Storm returns from his mission to the home of Galactus with a weapon capable of defeating the awesome figure from outer space. But his trip has been too much and he collapses, the memories fading even as tries to fathom what he has seen. The Watcher puts the new weapon in Reed's hands and instructs him how to use it.

Meanwhile the Silver Surfer and Galactus continue to battle, as Galactus turns his efforts against the city itself in an attempt to draw off the Surfer's attack. Suddenly though Mr. Fantastic appears and confronts Galactus with the "Ultimate Nullifier" and immediately Galactus concedes knowing that the Watcher has helped the humans of Earth turn back his threat.

Bearing no grudge, but giving into the new reality he promises to not drain Earth of its energy and having given his word the Watcher announces that the threat is over because the word of Galactus is truth itself. But Galactus does take hold of the Nullifier and also removes from his former herald, the Silver Surfer, the ability to soar through space.

Then in a magnifcent show of ultimate power Galactus teleports away taking with him all his instrumentality and leaving only the Silver Surfer behind as evidence that he had ever been on Earth at all.

The Silver Surfer seeks to bond with the Thing but the sudden appearance of Alicia Masters and her interest in the Surfer causes Ben Grimm to grow jealous and he leaves quietly misunderstanding the connection between his girl and the Surfer. The Silver Surfer then leaves the Baxter Building, flying into the sky to explore the world he has risked all to save.

The world at large debates the threat of Galactus, many dismissing it as a hoax. Also reading of the victory of the Fantastic Four is a mysterious bald man who threatens to destroy the team in the future. The scene shifts to Metro College where Coach Sam Thorne has trouble with his ace player Whitey Mullins. At the Baxter Building Reed Richards has already begun his next project much to the chagrin of his wife Sue who feels ignored. On the streets of NYC the Thing roams despondent, still sulking about the imagined loss of Alicia.

Again at Metro College Johnny Storm drives onto campus for his first days of college and meets Wyatt Wingfoot. The two are seen by the Dean and given advice about how to approach their studies, but Johnny's mind wanders to his great journey into the space and time and he misses the words of wisdom. He and his new friend Wyatt head off their new room and a new life as the story closes.

And so ends arguably the finest story in the whole wide history of the Marvel Universe. It seems somehow so small nowadays, a mere three issues (and not all of two of those) but this story was the apex of the storytelling done by the dynamic team of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the high point of a run of comics stories which have never been equaled in the long history of the medium. With the coming of Galactus the Fab 4 confronted the end times and in classic superhero fashion overcame by dint of their unflagging courage and sheer will.

(Galactus returned in the 1967 FF Annual, if only in this mega-group pose.)

Of course it required  the cosmic intervention of the godlike Watcher to guide them to the "Deus Ex Machina" solution but it was the exceedingly "Human" Torch who made the epic journey beyond the stars and the imagination, to find it and bring the celestial gift home to be used by the wisest man on the planet. It was the gentle and kind heart of Alicia Masters, a woman who sees beyond the skin to the inner recesses of the heart of others who kindled in the Surfer a kinship with humanity and made of him the Savior for the entire planet. He came to Earth a god, but became a man and through that transformation changed how his Creator interacted with the planet and its people. By his sacrifice, he exacted from his Creator a new covenant with mankind for peace in our times.

This epic story has been reprinted many many times. I've been featuring the Marvel's Greatest Comics covers which were the source of the first time I ran across this epic in comic book form. Here are a couple more great covers of collections which featured the story.

The first time though that I ran across this truly fantastic tale was not in comic book form. It was an episode of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series starring the Fantastic Four. Take a gander at Alex Toth's design of Galactus for that episode. 

The story has been adapted in later cartoons and even was the source for the second Fantastic Four movie. But as much as Marvel would love for it to be so, there will never be a story which packs the punch and pure majesty of this classic epic, the greatest story ever told in the comic book which dubbed itself (and for a time correctly) "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine".

And that wraps up this special holiday look at a great comic book story, one at least as appropriate for the time as any yarn about an egg-hiding rabbit.

Something different tomorrow.

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Black Saturday - If This Be Doomsday!

The cover of Fantastic Four #49 is awe-inspiring, the weird green figure of Galactus obscured but omnipresent in the background with the Silver Surfer swinging freely around his neck like a cosmic chain, the energy bolts erupting from his fingers dashing the ground beneath the feat of the fleeing Fantastic Four, it's all here the drama and the dilemma which faces the planet Earth now that the "Big G" has come.

Galactus has landed on Earth! The Fantastic Four look on at the giant powerful figure as he confers with The Watcher. The Watcher pitches his case for the defense of Earth, but Galactus rejects his petition and forges ahead with his plans to devour the planet's vast energy resources.

Ben Grimm attacks, punching forward as only he knows how and finds his blows have no effect save to cause Galactus to drop a capsule which emits a deadly toxin, to erradicate such pests. The Human Torch attacks, immersing Galactus in flames but those are absorbed and Galactus snuffs out the Torch's fame with two quick eyebeams. The Watcher tells Johnny Storm to desist and join his comrades in the Baxter Building. Johnny does and is shocked to find Ben and Reed cleaning themselves up when in his mind they should be gathering to fight the new menace. He instructed to be patient.

Meanwhile the Silver Surfer finds himself atop a skylight in another part of town and slides inside the apartment it looks down upon. In a moment of great coincidence it turns out to be the apartment of Alica Masters, a blind sculptor and the girlfriend of Ben Grimm. She recognizes the alien nature of the Surfer but also due to her great empathy finds buried in his shining visage vestiges of nobility. She offers to break bread with him, and he accepts.

At the Baxter Building Galactus contructs his massive Energy Converter using the building as a base. The Fab 4 watch the equipment which descends from the orbit assemble and the Watcher describes what will happen. First the oceans will be evaporated as the energy is absorbed and then Earth's cities. Eventually even the core of the planet will be consumed and the Earth will be only a husk when a sated Galactus departs. The Watcher says there is little they can do on their own, but he offers a plan which requires the help of the Human Torch.

At Alicia Masters' apartment the Surfer is put off by the quaint human need for food and transforms mere food and other objects in the room into pure energy free to absorbed directly. Alicia is alarmed by his cold demeanor but again urges him to seek something deeper in his inner self. He admits to discovering beauty in the face of Alicia but again says that he is but the servant of the mighty Galactus, though the plight of the people of Earth faced with imminent destruction does evoke pity. The people of New York City look on helpless and hope the Fantastic Four can save them from a threat they do not really comprehend.

Galactus has at last finished his Converter but when he triggers it there is no function. He discovers The Thing atop the machine destroying a vital element. Ben Grimm is able to catch the great Galactus off guard and knocks him from the building but Galactus does not fall as he has command over gravity itself. Instead to meet this new annoyance he summons from his orbiting ship the Punisher, a might cyborg servant who races to attack.

The Watcher readies Johnny Storm for his quest beyond time and space to retrieve an object which might defeat Galactus.

The Human Torch is transported an impossible distance across space to the homeworld of Galactus himself, a vast space station.

The Punisher lands and confronts the Fantastic Four immediately locking horns with The Thing and Mr. Fantastic. But the Punisher's speed and power are too much for the heroes and they take shelter behind the Invisible Girl's powerful force fields. But Galactus has bought the time he needs to repair his machine and he calls off the Punisher, returning him to space. The three members of the Fantastic Four look on helpless.

Meanwhile Alicia has struck a chord in the soul of the Surfer and he for the first time sees himself as more than a tool for the benefit of Galactus, he feels a kinship with mankind and so goes for the first time to stand against his master. The Watcher sees this and fears what this unplanned intervention will mean for his carefully laid plan to save Earth, and he fears the worst.

This issue of the Fantastic Four shows step by step how helpless the FF are in the face of the cosmic threat of Galactus. Without the intervention of the Watcher they'd have been caught completely off guard and the Earth would have been destroyed. But even with the Watcher's help, in defiance of his sacred pledge to intervene in the affairs of man, they have only a slim hope of salvation.

Galactus has come to Earth, the god has descended and it is the end times unless a savior should appear. The Silver Surfer, an instrument of Galactus is transformed again by the beautiful soul of Alicia Masters, an artist who is able to find beauty in the ugliest situations. She is able to ignite a spark which still smolders inside the herald of Galactus and he himself in defiance of his sacred pledge rises up to defend mankind. The Watcher's doubt throws the whole hopeful moment into one of suspenseful anticipation. Both the Watcher and Alicia have ignited a defense against the awesome Galactus, but will those plans interfere with one another. The finale awaits.

See you tomorrow as mankind's last hope for salvation shows up.

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Good Friday - The Coming Of Galactus!

It's Good Friday and the Easter season is well and fully underway. To celebrate (in a weird comic book kind of way) I want to spend the next three holy days in a mild but nonetheless wanton act of sacrilege and look at one of the greatest comic book yarns in the history of the medium - The Galactus Trilogy.

Hey, it makes at least as much sense as the dang Easter Bunny! Let's get started.

The saga begins in Fantastic Four #48 and the Earth will by the end of the issue feel well and properly doomed. But first a few loose threads need to be tied up.

The FF had been investigating the mystery of the Inhumans and the villainous Maximus the Mad had just activated his Atmo-Gun as this issue begins in an effort to destroy all human life that the Inhumans might inherit the Earth. But his scheme fails and when confronted by Black Bolt and the others of the Royal Family, he activates the Negative Zone which forms a steel-like dome around the entirety of Attilan, the city of the Inhumans. The FF barely escape, dragging the lovesick Human Torch with them as he is torn from the arms of his new love Crystal.

The scene shifts to the Andromeda Galaxy where the Skrulls desperately try to hide themselves from the gaze of the mysterious Silver Surfer by blacking out all of Homeworld. 

The Fab 4 then head home but soon enough find that all is not right with the world as they approach the friendly confines of New York City air space. There seems for a time to be two suns, and then the entire sky seems ablaze with a vast sea of flame. The Human Torch investigates but ends up being attacked by New Yorkers who douse him with a firehose in a fit of panic imagine he must the cause of this bizarre activity. The Thing drops down off the FF sky cycle to save his comrade from toughs who look to do him harm. The duo head to the Baxter Building as the panic continues.

Again the scene changes as the enigmatic Silver Surfer again appears, this time on the outskirts of Earth's Solar System itself.

Some time has passed and the FF wonder why Reed has kept himself in his lab with only impatient words for Sue and others who seek to talk to him. She demands answers and when she enters finds Reed being visited by the Watcher, the powerful cosmic figure who stands back and records the happenings in this sector or space and time. He has broken his vow of non-inteference because of the threat of the Galactus for whom the Silver Surfer is a harbinger. Meanwhile Ben and Johnny see a mysterious ocean of massive rocks swimming in the sky.

To that end he first attempted to hid the Earth with a wall of flame and when that proved to problematic shifted to a cascading ocean of stones. But the Surfer finds his way to Earth regardless and has he enters the atmosphere he is confronted by the Human Torch who finds the Surfer is able elude him easily. Landing atop the Baxter Building the Surfer signals his master Galactus as the Thing knocks the utterly silent figure off the building. But the team do not find him and the Watcher reveals that the threat has shifted and they should no longer concern themselves with the Herald.

The mighty spherical ship of Galactus enters the Earth's atmosphere and mighty machinery begins to operate as the terrible and terrifying entity reveals himself to Earthmen for the first time.

Galactus walks the Earth and he immediately ordains that the whole of the Earth itself will be destroyed so that he might find the energy he needs to survive.

The awesome Galactus speaks. The Fantastic Four look on helplessly. 

Bam! That's a great comic book story -- full of action, drama, pace and exotic powerful events and brand new fascinating characters. The Inhumans, the Skrulls, the Watcher, the Silver Surfer, Galactus, and the Fab 4 to boot, all in a single regular-sized comic and not a single moment of feeling cramped or overwrought. Beautiful!

The whole world under threat from a celestial being who appears by all reports to be at once implacable and without pity for creatures deemed beneath him in every way. It's a grand spectacle, and the arrival of the Silver Surfer in this debut is full of mystery as he says nary a word while proceeds with is deadly mission for his awesome master. 

More to come tomorrow on Black Saturday!

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