Archive for February, 2011

February 22nd, 2011  Posted at   The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

Welcome to episode eight of The Thrilling Adventures of Superman. The show’s mission is to explore the history and development of the Superman in his formative years by chronicling the Man of Steel’s Golden Age adventures in comics, radio and film.

This episode, Michael takes a look at the Superman story from ACTION COMICS #8. A group of troubled youths draw the attention of Clark Kent, leading Superman to not only confront the man responsible for luring the boys into his web of crime, but to also take on the larger problem driving these boys to the wrong side of the tracks. Superman’s actions are a defining moment in the history of the Golden Age of Superman and leave the character in a place you might not expect — the most-wanted list! Plus, Michael also reads a couple iTunes reviews and talks about an overall improvement in the podcast.

QUOTABLE:
Thanks! — What I want right now is another poke at you!
Superman

Action Comics #8

The cover to ACTION COMICS #8 by Fred Guardineer


Barrel of tar

Thankfully, the tar was nearby.


Gimpy's fate?

Is this the final fate of Gimpy?


Run!

Run, Superman! Run!

Download the episode directly. Or, you can subscribe to the show via iTunes or the RSS feed! The show has its very own Facebook page, as well, where you can get updates! The Thrilling Adventures of Superman is also a proud member of the Superman Podcast Network.

Questions or comments? Additions or corrections? Drop a line! Share your thoughts on the episode and the issue.

February 15th, 2011  Posted at   The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

Welcome to episode seven of The Thrilling Adventures of Superman. The show’s mission is to explore the history and development of the Superman in his formative years by chronicling the Man of Steel’s Golden Age adventures in comics, radio and film.

It’s three rings of excitement, adventure and thrills this time out, when Michael takes a look at ACTION COMICS #7. The issue finds Superman setting out to do a good turn for a down-on-his luck circus owner and taking on a roughneck who tries to bully the owner. Meanwhile, Clark Kent confronts a challenge of his own in the form of a co-worker named Curly. Also in this episode, Michael reads an email from a listener and discusses yet another little-known side project bearing a Siegel-Shuster byline.

QUOTABLE:
Superman! — working for me! Oh baby, I’m dreaming — this is too good to be true!
Jordan, owner of Jordan Circus

Action Comics #7

The cover to ACTION COMICS #7 by Joe Shuster


Curly

Curly: The obnoxious jerk


Dream lover

'I want a dream lover, so I don't have to dream alone'


Noir stylings

Joe Shuster experiments the visual stylings of film noir

Links mentioned in the episode:
ACTION COMICS WEEKLY #630 cover by John Severin, at the Grand Comic Book Database
Wayne and Shuster biography at the Museum of Broadcast Communications
Wayne and Shuster Wikipedia entry

Download the episode directly. Or, you can subscribe to the show via iTunes or the RSS feed! The show has its very own Facebook page, as well, where you can get updates! The Thrilling Adventures of Superman is also a proud member of the Superman Podcast Network.

Questions or comments? Additions or corrections? Drop a line! Share your thoughts on the episode and the issue.

February 8th, 2011  Posted at   The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

Welcome to episode six of The Thrilling Adventures of Superman. The show’s mission is to explore the history and development of the Superman in his formative years by chronicling the Man of Steel’s Golden Age adventures in comics, radio and film.

With a Superman story that returns to its regular page count, Michael takes a look at ACTION COMICS #6, which finds Superman taking on… copyright infringement! (Ironic, no?) Find out what happens when a shyster tries to make a quick buck off the name of the Man of Steel. Don’t miss out on this historic tale which also features the debut of a new face on the book… and, no, it’s not Jimmy Olsen.

QUOTABLE:
Did I hear you correctly? Did you speak to me?
Clark Kent

Action Comics #6

The cover to ACTION COMICS #6 by Leo O'Mealia


Details detail

An additional inker brings more detail in the art this issue


(Not) Jimmy Olsen

Is this Jimmy Olsen?


Pseudo-Superman

Pseudo-Superman: Man of Steal

Links mentioned in the episode:
Billy Hogan’s Superman Fan Podcast Episode #17 (Paul Cassidy biography)
Paul Lauretta biography
Superman marketing concepts by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, circa 1936

Download the episode directly. Or, you can subscribe to the show via iTunes or the RSS feed! The Thrilling Adventures of Superman is also a proud member of the Superman Podcast Network.

Questions or comments? Additions or corrections? Drop a line! Share your thoughts on the episode and the issue.

February 1st, 2011  Posted at   The Stack

I had an idea in late December to keep track of what comics I read throughout the year, because I’m curious exactly how many books I read in a year’s time. To that end, I will be posting here, on a monthly basis, lists of what I’ve read in the preceding month. I will include any comics I’ve read, whether single issue or collection, and regardless of whether it is a first-read or a re-read. The only thing I won’t be including is those books I use for preparation for the podcast, since that is normally separate from my regular reading.

Here’s January:

Action Comics #895
Action Comics Annual #13
Adventure Comics #520-521
All New Batman: Brave and the Bold #1-2
Brightest Day #13-16
Flash (Vol. 3) #6-7
Green Lantern (Vol. 4) #59-60
Green Lantern Corps (Vol. 2) #54-55
Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #4-5
Justice League of America/The 99 #2
R.E.B.E.L.S. #22-23
Steel #9-17
Superboy (Vol. 3) #9-17
Superboy (Vol. 4) #1
Supergirl (Vol. 5) #58-59
Superman #705-706
Superman/Batman #78-79
Time Masters: Vanishing Point #5
Tiny Titans #34
Tiny Titans/Little Archie #2-3
Superman Chronicles Vol. 6 trade paperback

Total: 50 comics, 1 trade

I also started reading the BATMAN CHRONICLES Vol. 3 trade paperback just yesterday. I got a bit behind on my reading over the holidays, which accounts for why there are, essentially, two month’s worth of new comics on the list this time.

I enjoy reading handfuls of older material in between the new stuff to help keep perspective. Plus, since I’m reading less new books these days, something’s got to fill the gaps! The STEEL and SUPERBOY (Vol. 3) issues are part of a mega re-read project I embarked on in December. I am reading (re-reading) the series in chronological order and the project that will eventually include SUPERGIRL (Vol. 4) and YOUNG JUSTICE as well. It has been interesting comparing the development and progression of these two series that both spun off from the same event.

February 1st, 2011  Posted at   The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

The Thrilling Adventures of Superman

Welcome to episode five of The Thrilling Adventures of Superman. The show’s mission is to explore the history and development of the Superman in his formative years by chronicling the Man of Steel’s Golden Age adventures in comics, radio and film.

In this installment, Michael takes a look at the Superman story from ACTION COMICS #5. The story might be shorter than the norm, but the excitement is still full-throttle as Superman takes on the very forces of nature itself in a story that bears strange similarities to one of the most well-known Superman stories of all time! Plus, things go to a whole new level between Superman and Lois, kicking off a historic relationship that will become the stuff of legend.

And don’t miss the “Meanwhile” portion of the show where Michael takes a look at the debut of a brand new character over in the pages of DETECTIVE COMICS and how the character’s modern age legacy ultimately ties back to Superman.

QUOTABLE:
You mean… you’re actually glad to see me?
Clark Kent

Click here to see the post at GreatKrypton.com, the site’s home base, for a handful of images from the issue, additional notes and links.

Action Comics #5

The cover to ACTION COMICS #5 by Leo E. O'Mealia


No job for a girl!

Yeah, Lois... go do someting safe, like covering a war.


Mild-mannered excitement

Calm down, Clark. It's just a story.


The first kiss

A 'super' first kiss

Download the episode directly. Or, you can subscribe to the show via iTunes or the RSS feed! The Thrilling Adventures of Superman is also a proud member of the Superman Podcast Network.

Questions or comments? Additions or corrections? Drop a line! Share your thoughts on the episode and the issue.