Archive for October, 2020

Posted Friday, October 9th, 2020 by Barry

Young Justice (1998) 3

Another in a string of Happy Halloween reminders to Four Color readers. Today we’ve tapped Young Justice to herald the holiday.

Young Justice began as a bridge between Teen Titan teams. Originally the group consisted of Superboy, Robin and Impulse first tossed together in the GirlFrenzy one-shot. They next teamed in the World Without Grown-Ups mini-series before earning an ongoing title in 1998.

Young Justice (1998) 3

Young Justice (1998) 3

Red Tornado became their “guardian” and were later joined by Wonder Girl, Secret and Arrowette.

Young Justice ended as it began, serving the greater good of the Teen Titans. Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day was a three-issue mini leading into a new Teen Titans cartoon. Though billed as a maturation process for the characters, licensing proved too lucrative for art.

Issue three worked as an early example of what would come. Peter David and Todd Nauck crafted a Halloween tale that has little to do with October 31, but everything to do with the title.

Mr. Mxyzptlk makes a guest appearance in The Issue Before the One Where the Girls Show Up. Young Justice has agreed to host a Hallow-Teen Party. The fourth-dimension’s most notorious resident works on his thesis of three-dimensional primitive life forms only to be unwittingly shocked back to his former state of prankster.

This is a priceless bit of late 1990’s fun courtesy of Mr. David. The dialog is witty and relevant, right down to the Hason reference by Impulse.

As mentioned above, all good things must end and the series was cancelled by issue 55.

Drown your sorrows with some sugary treats and remember the good times that included several specials to compliment the regular series.

Posted Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 by Barry

Sugar and Spike (1956) 37

Another not-so-haunting issue for Halloween 2020.

Sugar and Spike were created by Sheldon Mayer with the self-titled book running 98 issues, 1956 to 1971. It was a much simpler time when the books began and many wish for a return to such by the book’s finish.

Sugar and Spike (1956) 37

Sugar and Spike (1956) 37

Issue 37 is from 1961, when Camelot was still forming, Viet Nam was as distant in thought as proximity and the space race was far from won.

Halloween Monster has the two tots discovering Halloween. How they were never taken from their parents must be attributed to the times, but the kids are left alone while the parents partied.

Learning they are alone; Sugar and Spike sneak a peek at festivities across the yard. Neither can comprehend the costumed grown-ups devouring all the food in sight.

The two marshal their moxie and march next door to save the horderves. Their plan is discovered and the adults laugh at the two they believe are attempting to steal food.

When Mayer’s eyesight became too bad to continue, the book it was cancelled. Cameos were worked in over the years until Keith Giffen and Bliquis Evely had the pair grow up and become private eyes in Legends of Tomorrow.

Happy Halloween from a simpler time.

Posted Sunday, October 4th, 2020 by Barry

Looney Tunes (1994) 155

Every Witch Way has Witch Hazel stomping through the fairy tales. All with Bugs as her agent earning his 15 percent the hard way.

Daffy Duck shows even Gossamer can have a new look in Bad Scare Day.

Looney Tunes (1994) 155

Looney Tunes (1994) 155

Finally, Sylvester sheds eight of his nine lives with Elmer in House of Horror in another take on the couple’s haunted house routine.

Looney Tunes has been a staple of the four-color community since Dell Publishing first offered Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics beginning in 1941 and continuing to 1955. The success of the original book led to Bugs’ self-titled book the following year. It ran from 1942 to 1962.

Porky Pig, Tweety and Sylvester, Daffy Duck and the Road Runner all had their own books, as well.

Gold Key/Whitman licensed the Looney Tunes gang from 1962 to 1984. Numbering picked up from Dell’s books.

After a 10-year hiatus, Bugs and gang returned to the comic book racks in 1993 with a three-issue Bugs Bunny mini. The main Looney Tunes book began in 1994.

Posted Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 by Barry

Hallmark Unleashes Second Round of Christmas Ornaments for 2020

Posted Thursday, October 1st, 2020 by Barry

Casper’s Haunted Halloween (2019) 1

We’re gonna go old school and kick off the haunting season with Casper’s Haunted Halloween.

The main story is told in three acts, the first being ‘Spook School.’ Featured are our Friendly Ghost and the Ghostly Trio. Casper’s antagonists force him to attend fright school to hone his haunting craft.

Needless to say, it does not go well.

Nightmare, the spectral stallion, spells the main characters with the one-page ‘King Tut’s Tomb.’

When everyone returns for the second act, entitled ‘Ghosts in Goblandia,’ Goblins kidnap a gaggle of ghosts from the school. They are forced into servitude toiling in the fields and factories allowing the goblins time to terrorize.

Following the Frightful Fronk interlude starring Spooky, the final act ensues. This one called ‘It’s Never too Late to Learn.’ Casper demonstrates kindness is a virtue.

Finally, Spooky returns to ring down the curtain on the book with ‘Clammy Clay.’ He tricks a sorcerer with model behavior.