Miscellaneous Monday: Feb. 9, 2009

OMG! IT IS THE 45th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AIRING OF THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH

This three-part Disney’s Wonderful World of Color “mini-series” changed my life. Not only because of it features probably the first historically fictional character to right wrongs in a mask and alter ego, but because I can still sing the theme song 45 years later. Check out the post HERE and HERE for more details.

Cover art by Rick Leonardi

THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF NEW FANATIC HEADERS

I’ve asked several times for fans of this fanatic website to submit new headers to replace the pictures of Clint “Hawkeye” Barton that graced the top of this page yesterday. Well, take a look at this first effort. I think it is terrific. The anonymous fan that submitted it wanted me to know that the particular comics that are featured all had special meaning to him.

These were titles that fired his imagination and drove him not just to read more about these particular characters, but to plunk down more and more money for other comic books as well. I think we all have titles like that. Someday I’ll blog about mine (some more), but for today, I’m just going to bask in the glow of this new Fanatic header and encourage others to send me their fanatic headers for use here (exactly 770 X 200 pixels).

Cover art by George Freeman

Cover art by Mike Mignola

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What do these three comic titles have in common: Jack of Hearts #1, Rocket Raccoon #1, Cloak and Dagger #1? I’d like to give a tip of my hat to old friend Steven Grant, but this particular Fanatic “what is the connection” isn’t nearly as hard as the powerful brain-teasers that he provides on his regular posts called Permanent Damage over at Comic Book Resources. I don’t read Steven’s column there as regularly as I should, but I almost always enjoy them. Grant’s one of the most interesting guys in comics, IMHO.

All three are Marvel Comics, all three are first issues in a mini-series, neither of those facts are the answer I’m looking for. What else do they have in common? Yes, they are all printed in color … try harder than that.

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Misc. Wednesday: February 4, 2009

First, the important stuff … HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGGIE! My daughter turns 23 years young today. Click on the picture of Maggie and Roxy below to see a picture of them together in 1994.

Two things I love (10 years later) Maggie & Roxy from 2004

Yep, my obsession with the National Football League got in the way of my fanaticism for comics, causing this modest blog to be delayed by a day or two. The last two years have featured incredibly exciting and competitive Super Bowls. Definitely a cause for celebration given how often the championship has turned into a lopsided affair. But now I’m back and Miscellaneous Monday has morphed into Miscellaneous Wednesday and if you deal with change as well as I do, you’ll probably find this a little disturbing, but I encourage you to soldier on.

Miscellaneous Monday: Jan. 19, 2009

OUT WITH THE OLD BANNER, IN WITH THE NEW
I created this new banner as a tribute to one of my favorite comic characters, the multi-faceted and often abused Avenger, Clint “Hawkeye” Barton. Anyone visiting for the first time should know that this is not a blog about HAWKEYE. Poke around the links in this page’s sidebar and you’ll see what I mean. I’ve already created another five or six new banners to put up when I get sick of this one. 

Ultraverse: Cover Freex #2 by Ben Herrera

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

For all the orphaned Ultraverse fans who occasionally seek refuge with the Fanatic, here’s something you might find interesting:

What famous horror film director was almost one of the Founding Fathers of Malibu Comics’ Ultraverse?

Is it: John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Dario Argento, Charles Band, Stuart Gordon, Larry Cohen, David Cronenberg or Brian Yuzna?

The answer may surprise you…

Eight great JOHN ROMITA Sr. covers … plus Ask the DWO!

 

It’s that time again. Casa de Olbrich opens up its library of vast (and sometimes useless) knowledge to the masses. Sort of like “Big Block of Cheese Day” on TV’s West Wing. Here is your chance to ask me that question you’ve always wanted answered. If you’re stumped about what I might know, check out the Background page for a laundry list of my interests and experience (minus my various drinking mishaps). Just put your question in the comments section below.

And now … on with the show … pull up a bar stool for a walk down a 35-year-old memory lane.

Miscellaneous Monday: Jan. 5, 2009 Let the Fanatic New Year begin!

The holidays are officially over and most all the decorations have been taken down and stored away until next year. Time to put your New Year’s resolutions into action and find a way to work off the extra pounds from the holiday meals. Enjoy the return of Miscellaneous Monday. Hold on tight.

FANATIC QUIZ QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Chaykin's AMERICAN FLAGG! #1

Put these six series in order of first release from FIRST COMICS.

GRIMJACK    •    MARS

JON SABLE, FREELANCE

EVANGELINE

E-MAN    •    AMERICAN FLAGG!

While all of these series didn’t necessarily start their lives as part of First Comics, all of them were published by the Chicago-area publisher between 1983 and 1987. Your job this week is to put these first FIRST issues in chronological order based on the month and year they were first published by FIRST COMICS.