Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Before Ultron...there was Makino!

Who created Ultron?
If you go with the new movie Avengers: Age of Ultron...Tony Stark aka Iron Man. and Bruce Banner aka The Hulk!
If you go with Marvel Comics history...Henry Pym aka Ant-Man/Giant-Man/Goliath/Yellowjacket/Wasp/etc (Don't ask. It's too long a story...).
In reality, it was writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema in Marvel's Avengers V1 #54 (1967).
But where did Roy come up with the idea?
Well, he "borrowed" it from Captain Video!
Yep!
In #3 of Captain Video's short-lived 1950s title, he faced a robot named Makino who killed his scientist creator and then threatened all mankind!
The story left such an impression on the young Roy Thomas that, almost two decades later, he adapted elements of that story into the long-running saga of Ultron!
Roy explained how it came about in TwoMorrows' Alter Ego #114.
You can read the actual comic story on our "brother" RetroBlog Secret Sanctum of Captain Video HERE and HERE!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "D.O.A." Conclusion

Discovering the Brotherhood of Space has put a 100,000 credit bounty on him, Starker returns his two dinner dates to the safety of their home on Earth.
While en-route he tells the story of how he became a bounty hunter after pirates killed his asteroid miner father and took the then-teenage Starker to serve as a galley slave.
After a few months, he works up the courage to supplant the cook...
Script and pencils for this never-reprinted tale from DC's Showcase #92 (1970) are by Mike Sekowsky, with most inks provided by Frank Giacoia.
However, the last page is inked by Vince Colletta.
And the cover is inked by Dick Giordano.
Be back next month as we present the third (note, we didn't say final chapter) of Manhunter 2070...

Monday, April 27, 2015

Reading Room MANHUNTER 2070 "D.O.A." Part 1

It begins as a carefree night out on the town 55 years from now...
...and then this never-reprinted tale from DC's Showcase V1 #92 (1970) takes a decidedly-downbeat turn.
Payback's a bitch, even in the future, as you'll see...
Sekowsky had quite a bit of latitude at DC as a writer/artist/editor during this period, revamping Wonder Woman, Metal Men and Supergirl (in Adventure Comics) while also presenting a couple of potential series in the final six issues of Showcase, Jason's Quest and Manhunter 2070.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Glory at Gallipoli!

Most Americans are unfamiliar with the WWI story of Gallipoli...
...which serves as the back story for the new Russell Crowe movie The Water Diviner.
Luckily, our "brother" RetroBlog, War: Past, Present & Future, is running a graphic story retelling of the sordid saga!
Part 1 is HERE.
Part 2 is HERE.