SUPERMAN II AT 45: 13 Things to Love About the CHRISTOPHER REEVE Classic — RANKED
An ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL…
These Moving BATMAN ’66 Paper Puppets Are the Coolest Thing We’ve Seen in a Long Time
Artist Sean Chen brings out the kid in all of us…
EXCLUSIVE! What a pleasant surprise… Marvel Comics in November will publish three Bronze Age Facsimile Editions and a special 1980s reprint. They’re a varied bunch, so each gets its own article. You can find all the links below! One of them is a bit of a surprise — 1982’s The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones, by John Byrne and Terry Austin. Dig the official solicitation info, which will be released formally later this week: THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF INDIANA JONES #1 FACSIMILE EDITION JOHN BYRNE (W) JOHN BYRNE & TERRY AUSTIN (A) COVER BY TERRY AUSTIN The landmark first original Indiana Jones story ever published by Marvel Comics — written and laid out by industry legend John Byrne, with finished artwork by his X-MEN artistic collaborator Terry Austin! When celebrated college professor Indiana Jones is visited by former star student Charlie Dunne, bringing news of an amazing discovery, unexpected tragedy strikes — and that means it’s time for Indy to grab his trademark hat and whip! Heading off to Africa, he joins Dunne’s sister, Edith, on a search for the golden Ikons of Ikammanen — but it won’t be long before they’re in a battle for survival! It’s everything you’d want from an Indy adventure — boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF INDIANA JONES (1983) #1. 32 PGS./Rated T… $4.99 On Sale 11/11 — Buncha thoughts: — Didn’t see this one coming, but it’s cool that it is. — Then again, it does follow September’s release of the high-end, (vegan) leatherbound, two-book set of the entire 34-issue series, plus the adaptations of the original three films. Those list for $75 a pop and are due out Sept. 29. They’re being published to celebrate the original Raiders of the Lost Ark’s 45th anniversary. — As I mentioned up top, there are two other Bronze Age Facsimiles and a special 1980s reprint coming from the House of Ideas in November. Links below! — Obligatory Price Comparison: Most often, you find an original sold as part of a set. But an unslabbed, high-grade copy of Issue #1 recently sold for about $16 on eBay. — MORE — MARVEL to Publish THREE BRONZE AGE Facsimile Editions and a Special Reprint in November. Click here. — SPIDER-WOMAN’s First Appearance Gets 50th ANNIVERSARY Facsimile Edition. Click here....
A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE to screendom’s original Catwoman, who is turning 93… By PAUL KUPPERBERG Back in 2018, actress Julie Newmar — born 93 years ago, on August 16, 1933 — reached out to me on Facebook to say she enjoyed my essay on the Batman TV show in Gotham City 14 Miles: 14 Essays on Why the 1960s Batman TV Series Matters, edited by fellow 13th Dimension inmate Jim Beard, and to ask if I might be able to recommend a writer to work with her on developing her memoir. It should come as no surprise that the first name that popped into my head was my own. As a test, we decided I would write the chapter about her time as Catwoman, the role she’s best known for by generations of TV viewers. Others would portray Batman’s feline adversary over the years — in comics, animation, television, and film — but it was Newmar who first established the character’s live-action identity in the minds of millions during ABC’s Batman television series in 1966 and 1967. By the time she donned Catwoman’s black costume, Newmar had already built a successful career as a dancer, actress, and stage performer. Her credits included Broadway productions, feature films, and television appearances that showcased her versatility and physical presence, including The Band Wagon, L’il Abner, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Twilight Zone, and a Golden Globe-nominated role starring in TV’s My Living Doll with Bob Cummings. Those talents proved well suited to Batman, a series that balanced superhero adventure with comedy, pop art, and self-aware performances. Newmar appeared in 13 episodes during the show’s first two seasons, developing a version of Catwoman that combined intelligence, confidence, wit, and playful flirtation. Her encounters with Adam West’s Batman became a recurring highlight of the series, built as much on verbal sparring and mutual respect as on elaborate schemes to outwit the Dynamic Duo. Rather than portraying Catwoman as simply another costumed criminal, Newmar gave the character a distinct personality that helped distinguish her from Batman’s other adversaries. Although she was unable to appear in the 1966 Batman movie (with Lee Meriwether stepping in) or the third season (the role passed to Eartha Kitt), Newmar’s interpretation remained closely identified with the character. Her performance also influenced later portrayals of Catwoman, with many emphasizing the same...
An ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL…
Artist Sean Chen brings out the kid in all of us…