October 2018 Link Round-Up

I thought I'd list all of my recent articles in one spot, for convenience's sake. My most recent CBR posts include...

The Batman: The Animated Series episode even Bruce Timm can't watch.

A look back on Pryde of the X-Men, the failed X-pilot of the '80s.

An article I have no idea if people are interested in, but I greatly enjoyed. Remember The Maxx on MTV?

Finally, an examination of Kevin Conroy's history in the role of Batman.

And, in case you weren't aware, I've been going back to the earliest animated commercials for Marvel's G. I. Joe comics over at Gentlemen of Leisure. Hopefully, more of those will be appearing soon.

How Spider-Man: The Animated Series (Unfortunately) Tackled Venom

This week at CBR, I finish up the Spider-Man animated series' "Alien Costume Saga," along with Venom's comics debut from all the way back in Amazing #300.

When Spider-Man: The Animated Series Went… Dark

This week at CBR, I'm looking back on the original adaptation of the Alien Costume Saga. Roided-out Spidey wants you to know the check's in the mail, baby!

Micro-Reviews: G. I. JOE Vol. 4, Part Two

G. I. JOE #35 (May 1985) John Byrne, avoiding as much detail as possible on those motorcycles. #GIJoe #LarryHama

Micro-Reviews: G. I. JOE, Vol. 4, Part One

Vol. 4 reprint. Entering now perhaps the best-known JOE era. These are the issues released during the earliest days of the cartoon. #GIJoe @JScottCampbell

For fans like me too young to read comics, their earliest JOE impressions are made here. I'll begin my reviews of Vol. 4 this week. AND, the next installment in my #GIJoe novel is available for free.(smashwords.com/profile/view/G…)

On to the reviews...

Batman Beyond and the Arch-Nemesis that Didn't Catch On

I'm looking back on Blight this week at CBR, the guy who killed Batman Beyond's father, but didn't seem to become a major figure on the show.

Has Fear The Walking Dead Been Redeemed?

Hey, I'm writing about a television series that isn't old enough to buy booze! Check out my review of the revamped Fear the Walking Dead over at CBR.

Batman: The Animated Series – The Debut of Batman’s Favorite Mystery Lady

This week on CBR, I'm revisiting the debut of Talia on Batman: The Animated Series...along with her introduction from the Denny O'Neil era. Spoiler -- she's not wearing the catsuit in her first appearance.

G. I. Joe Season 3.4: SINGLE-DIGIT SURVIVAL RATE

The final volume (for now) in my Sunbow-inspired G. I. Joe series is available now over at Smashwords! Download for free in any format!  Here's the synopsis:

Did Jinx survive her hellacious journey to Ireland?  Can Flint endure a round of Dreadnok torture?  Is Low-Light keeping a secret that endangers the future of the team?  And who the heck tied Firefly up in the basement?  Find out the answers and more in the latest continuation of the classic Sunbow G. I. JOE continuity! 

If you have any thoughts, please feel free to share them. And if you think anyone out there would be interested in the series, please pass along the links.  Thanks, folks!

What Made X-Men: The Animated Series So Unique (And Why It Couldn’t Last)

This week at CBR, I look back at how certain network decisions didn't exactly benefit the animated X-Men...

Batman: The Animated Series – Why You Never Sully the Joker’s Image

This week on CBR, I'm looking back on one of the better Joker episodes (in spite of AKOM's attempts to kill the thing)...and a fantastic issue from the Puckett/Parobeck Batman Adventures run.

G. I. JOE Season 3.3: TO LIVE AND DIE IN COPYRIGHTED LANDS

You can download my latest entry in the Sunbow canon (once to be a Kindle Worlds piece...) for free in any format over at Smashwords. 

The summary is below.  Hopefully you guys check it out and leave me your thoughts. This is the second installment of three, for this volume.  Then, in December, the plan is for three final installments to close out the story.

The Joe team, trapped in a chaotic former Communist nation in South America, are hours away from a burn notice. One member faces what is very likely death in the escape! Meanwhile, a gang of sugar-addicted bikers are prepared to break out the rubber hoses, and the hidden past of Jinx is brought into the light! 

Micro-Reviews: G. I. JOE, Vol. 3, Part Three

G. I. JOE #28 (October 1983) The cover has that toy commercial vibe. #GIJoe#LarryHama

My record for predicting which of these issues were commercials is pretty darn good, I'd say.

New vehicles, action on almost every page, robot armies popping up out of nowhere. Very much an animated toy commercial as a comic. 

How Embracing Lee and Kirby Saved The Fantastic Four Animated Series

Well, saved it creatively, at least. This was, sadly, its last season. This week on CBR, I revisit the second season premiere of the '90s Fantastic Four series.

Micro-Reviews: G. I. JOE, Vol. 3, Part Two

G. I. JOE #25 (July 1983) Frank Springer debuts! Plus, more plastic stuff you can buy! #GIJoe

Zartan's disco theme is glorious. #GIJoe

I’ll always view Springer as a classic JOE artist, because he penciled some of my earliest issues. I read those as digest reprints, however, so

...seeing the art at the intended size always feels odd. Springer’s art benefits from being reduced, tightening every line up. Zartan signals a change in JOE’s reality. Hasbro thought color-changing plastic was cool, so Zartan’s skin was designed to turn blue in sunlight.

Remembering the Animated Justice League Pilot (And Its Forgotten Sequel)

This week on CBR, I'm looking back on the original Justice League pilot. Not the CBS live-action one, though...

Continuing the Adventures of G.I. JOE...

So, Kindle Worlds is dead and I'm stuck with a novel trilogy I can't finish in the original format.  What I can do is post the remainder of my G. I. JOE story on free formats, such as Smashwords and Fanfiction.net. So, with absolutely no copyright claims made, I'm making the rest of the story available for free.  The first volume in the continuation begins now, and you can download in any format you like over at Smashwords.

Here's the summary...

It's 1988 and the [REDACTED] team finds itself in a South American nation recently freed from Communism. But have its leaders fallen under a more...serpentine influence? Plus, a certain group of sugar-addicted bikers reappear in the most unexpected of locations, and someone's "auntie" might be causing trouble for both [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] alike.

Again, check out the story over at FanFiction or Smashwords, and if you have any thoughts, please leave a review.  Thanks everyone.

Micro-Reviews: G. I. JOE, Vol. 3, Part One

G. I. JOE #21 (March 1983) The issue that generated stacks of hate mail! #LarryHama #GIJoe

Hama always mentioned this interviews when someone wanted to discuss #21. He seemed determined to let people know this wasn’t viewed as a daring experiment in form at the time.

Kids got an issue with no words and assumed either it was printer’s mistake or a rip-off.