Friday Favorites – The Long Halloween (1996)

Released in October 1996, this limited series ran for 13 incredible issues. Arguably one of the very greatest Batman tales ever told. I read the series soon after it was completed, and quite enjoyed it. I particularly recall enjoying the who-done-it mystery of the Holiday Killer. That said, after 15 years, I’d forgotten most of the details. Awhile back I bought the Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween and finally cracked it open last night.

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Friday Favorites – The Incredible Hulk #368 (April 1990)

This week’s favorite is another fill-in issue by a future super-star. The story? Hulk vs. Mr. Hyde, but seriously, who cares? Look at this art! Two words – Sam. Kieth. ‘Nuff said.

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Friday Favorites – Daredevil #241 (April 1987)

What’s so special about this issue? A full 13 months before he exploded on the scene with his introduction of Venom in Amazing Spider-Man #300, Todd McFarlane handled the art duties on this fill-in issue of Daredevil. While not fully formed yet, his style was evident even this early.

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Friday Favorites – The Punisher Limited Series (1986)

It’s just my opinion, but I think The Punisher is a classic case of a “peak too sooner”. This limited series started so damn good it flamed out even before it was done! Ohhh, but how good those first four issues were! Forget all the crap that came out after this. THIS is the Punisher.

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Friday Favorites – 100 Bullets

Back when I wrote “10 comics that stuck“, someone mentioned in the comments that 100 bullets would make their top 10 list. In fact, I’ve never heard anything but praise for the series. Why it took me so long to finally pick it up is beyond me. Well, I finally did and I’m happy to report all the accolades are well deserved. Brian Azzarello’s story, and yes – it’s a single 100 issue story, is full of…

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Friday Favorites – The Killing Joke (1988)

Everyone’s “golden age” is the years they grew up in. Guys that grew up reading comics in the 60’s think that period is the best. Guys a little younger than me think the greatest stuff came out of Image comics in the early/mid 90’s. For me it’s the period between 1986-1988. The Dark Knight Returns, The Watchmen, Daredevil: Born Again, and this one-shot gem, The Killing Joke. That’s just a few I can recall off…

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Friday Favorites – The Weird (1987)

The 80’s were the decade of the mini-series. There were so many! Good ones…the four issue Claremont and Frank Miller Wolverine, The Punisher by Mike Zeck, The Dark Knight, Watchmen…and of course there were those that didn’t quite live up to expectations…Ice Man, Hercules, Hawk & Dove, Cloak & Dagger…and then there is The Weird. It featured two of the biggest names in comics, Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson. It had the Justice League –…

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Friday Favorites – Creatures on the Loose #13 (Sept/1971)

My favorite this week just turned 30 years old: Marvel’s CREATURES ON THE LOOSE #13 (Sept/1971). I picked this up as a back issue somewhere (probably an “indoor flea market” at the local mall) as a kid. What grabbed me immediately was the cover! I devoured all the monster reprint titles of the era (such as WHERE MONSTERS DWELL, MONSTERS ON THE PROWL, WHERE CREATURES ROAM and so on), and it was the Kirby and…

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Friday Favorites – The Boys

The idea behind “The Boys” is simple. Not all superheroes are gonna be nice guys like Clark Kent. In fact, with the power they have, it’s pretty likely they’re going to think the rules don’t apply to them. That’s where “The Boys” come in. It’s their job to make sure the supers keep their noses clean. How do you do that with people who can leap tall buildings in a single bound? It ain’t pretty.

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Friday Favorites – Daredevil #223 (1985)

This one is special to me. Not only does it deal with what it is that makes a hero a hero (a recurring theme in Daredevil), but on a personal level, this is the first comic I ever bought.