Comics: The BEST Justice League of America Team Over the last 50 Years

    As a comic book fan since the 1970s, one of my favorite comics was the Justice League of America. Superheroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Flash were mainstays. In the 1970s and 1980s, that group had the BEST line up of members (in my opinion). Since that era ended, it's never been as good, despite 9 other iterations.  If DC Comics looked at the most popular issues, they'd go back to the "Satellite Era." 

   Because they haven't, and DC continues to leave out a lot of characters, I re-read my Six 500 page collections of the Justice League stories from the 70s and 80s . BTW-  This summer, DC Comics is going to launch an 11th iteration of the team, and I hope it's the same group as the "Satellite Era." 

   Here's a summary of that Era from Gamesradar... and if you want to see all the other iterations, click the link to the original article at the bottom of today's blog. 

 Justice League of America: Satellite Era

(Image credit: DC Comics)

From the late '60s through the early '80s, the Justice League wasn't just a team - it was practically an army. An expansive line-up of the DC Universe's greatest heroes, the definitive Justice League called their iconic satellite home, and is still referred to as the 'Satellite League.'

While this wasn't the first iteration of the League, it did set the template for the most popular versions of the team, with members ranging from the top-tier heavy hitters, to mid-card mainstays, and surprising additions. The Satellite League remains the definitive, prototypical version of the League that gave rise to Morrison's Pantheon, the animated league, and more.

Key members: Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Atom, Green Arrow (Oliver Queen), Black Canary, Red Tornado, Elongated Man, Firestorm, Zatanna, Superman, Batman, Hawkman (Katar Hol), Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol)

LINK TO ALL JUSTICE LEAGUE ITERATIONS: https://www.gamesradar.com/best-justice-league-line-ups/

Rare Superman Comic Book Fetches a Record $3.2M

NEW YORK (AP) — A rare, nearly flawless copy of Superman’s comic-book debut

has sold for a super-powered price: $3.2 million.

New York comics dealers Stephen Fishler and Vincent Zurzolo said Monday they submitted Sunday’s record-setting bid in the eBay auction for Action Comics No. 1, the 1938 book in which the superhero first appeared. It’s believed to be the highest price ever paid for a comic book, surpassing $2.1 million for a similarly high-quality copy of the same book in 2011.

‘‘It’s hard to believe that a kid’s 10-cent comic could be worth that much money, but it is Superman. That’s an iconic thing,’’ Fishler said. ‘‘It’s the first time anybody saw what a superhero was like.’’

EBay confirmed the price but said it couldn’t yet disclose the buyer’s name.

Created by Cleveland teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Action Comics No. 1 introduces the Man of Steel’s Kryptonian backstory, earthly role as reporter Clark Kent and identity as a champion of the oppressed. It’s seen as the dawn of the comic book superhero, paving the way for a roster of now-famous characters.

About 100 to 150 copies are believed to exist, only a handful of them in top condition. The book just sold got a seldom-seen 9.0 on a 10-point scale used to measure vintage comic books’ condition.

It was kept for decades in a cedar chest in the West Virginia mountains by a man who had bought it off a newsstand, seller Darren Adams recently told The Washington Post. Adams, a Federal Way, Washington-based collectibles dealer, didn’t immediately return a call Monday from The Associated Press.

After the original owner died, a collector bought it from his estate and built a similar cedar chest to store it, Adams told the Post.

Fishler and Zurzolo own ComicConnect.com, which auctioned the 2011 record-setter and a slightly less well-preserved Action Comics No. 1 for more than $1 million in 2010. The rising prices have been fueled by superhero movies and growing interest in comic books as investments — ‘‘an alternative place to put money that has a cool factor to it,’’ Fishler said.

Sunday’s sale also marks a high point for San Jose, California-based eBay, which Adams selected to sell an item often handled by specialty dealers and auction houses. Gene Cook, the online marketplace’s general manager of emerging verticals, said the sale demonstrates ‘‘how eBay plays a role in popular culture by connecting shoppers to must-have merchandise.’’

Some of the proceeds will go to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, in recognition of the late ‘‘Superman’’ movie star.

Fishler said he and Zurzolo have no specific plans yet for their new-bought copy but couldn’t resist it, despite the price. ‘‘It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up,’’ he said.  SOURCE: http://www.boston.com/news/2014/08/25/rare-superman-comic-book-fetches-record/nWhjz3Sc6hBwgIwAD3gUYN/story.html

Comics News: ‘Life with Archie’: Archie will die saving his gay best friend

    I (Rob) love comic books, and have been reading  them since the early 1970s. I never collected Archie comics but I've

Cover of the comic book, Life with Archie #36

Archie Comics/AP

read quite a few and enjoyed them. Over the last several years I've really grown to respect and enjoy them because they tackle current social issues with teenagers and young adults. The Archie line of comics created a gay character named "Kevin Keller" a couple of years ago, and he's become a big hit. So many readers are able to better understand what its like growing up and knowing someone you know is gay -and the struggles they go through. I think it's been helpful to younger comics readers. This past week, Archie Comics announced that in an Archie comic depicting the future, Archie will meet an untimely end to save the life of his gay friend, Kevin, who becomes a politician. It's another danger for gay politicians - that some right wing nut will attempt such a thing, but it's also a sad reality, which I assume is why they're writing this comic book. Either way, I'll be reading it.

Here's the article from the Examiner:
Comics News: ‘Life with Archie’: Archie will die saving his gay best friend

Archie Andrews, the famous freckle-faced comic book icon, will die in a heroic way. According to the Associated Press Monday, Archie will be shot saving his gay best friend in Wednesday’s installment of “Life with Archie.” The death of the comic book hero was first announced back in April.
Archie’s heroism will be displayed when he takes the bullet meant for Kevin Keller, Archie Comics’ first openly gay character. Keller was first introduced in 2010 in the Archie Comics spin-off “Veronica”. He joined the cast of characters that include Veronica Lodge, Betty Cooper, Jughead Jones and Reggie Mantle. Not only is Keller’s character openly gay, but he is also a military veteran and newly elected Politician who is pushing for more gun control in the fictional town of Riverdale after the shooting of his husband. The assassination attempt on his life is connected to his push for gun control.

Kevin Keller's own comic

The death of Archie will be symbolic because he will die doing something the character has been known for. Jon Goldwater, Archie Comics publisher and co-CEO told the AP, “The way in which Archie dies is everything that you would expect of Archie. He dies heroically. He dies selflessly. He dies in the manner that epitomizes not only the best of Riverdale but the best of all of us. It’s what Archie has come to represent over the past almost 75 years.”
Archie’s demise will be a sad moment for fans of the comic series, as it will mark the conclusion of the series focused on the grown-up version of the Riverdale gang. It will also mark the beginning of a new Riverdale. Goldwater said Archie dying saving Keller will have more of an impact because it “would really resonate with the world and bring home just how important Archie is to everyone.”
The introduction of Keller in the Archie Comics was monumental because sexuality was explored and a connection was made to real world social conflicts. Keller has overcome and still deals with social challenges that have made him a complex and relatable character. He has dealt with being gay in the military and he also deals with being a gay politician. His character alone raises the issues of same-sex marriage and gun control; two issues that are dominate today’s political and social atmospheres.
SOURCE: http://www.examiner.com/article/life-with-archie-archie-will-die-saving-his-gay-best-friend?CID=examiner_alerts_article

Another Fan-Made Superhero Movie Trailer: "Nightwing"

- This short trailer was another fan-made film for the Machinima Film Festival - I really liked this one - and think it sticks to the character. 

  (Nightwing is the original Robin the boy wonder, grown up and in a new identity). - Rob 

Nightwing: Prodigal Son is a trailer created by and starring actor and pro wrestler Brady Roberts (star of TV series "World of Hurt" with Rowdy Roddy Piper, and the upcoming feature film "After the Storm"), and directed by JD Buzz ("Warehouse on Fifth" and "Incursion").

Prodigal Son features Nightwing returning to Gotham, as Batman has gone missing.. he seeks vengeance on the Joker for paralyzing his ex girlfriend Barbara Gordon, but the Court of Owls finds out about his return and hires Bane to capture him.

Shot over 2 days in Calgary, Alberta on the RED Epic Camera, Nightwing had a volunteer crew of over 40 people, and features a prolific cast of Gotham characters including Nightwing, Oracle, Red Hood, Bane, Riddler, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Joker, Alfred, Dr. Crane, and more.