A Belated Happy Birthday to Fred Hembeck

A belated happy birthday to my MySpace friend Fred Hembeck. His birthday was yesterday. I saw the cover above at his site.

Same scene but with Adam not Lyle

Here is part of the Batman episode that contains the scene that Lyle Waggnor and Pete Deyell read in yesterday's post. If you fast forward 28 seconds into the episode you will see the scene and can compare the two of them.

1966 Batman Screen Test

Here is the screen test for Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell as Batman and Robin. It would have been fun to see how things turned out with them in the title roles. However it seems to me they would have made it a drama instead of a comedy.

DC Who Cares?

Here is a fun blog I just became aware of called DC Who Cares?

Moon Knight the TV Star

I just saw at Comicbookmovie.com that Marvel has signed a deal to give Moon Knight his own live action TV Show. With the Batman movies being a big hit this may work. After all MK was at one time suppose to be Marvel's answer to Batman. I can't wait to see this show. It would be fun to see the Halloween episode where he takes on Werewolf By Night.

What if?

I saw these covers at Comic Treadmill. The first is the actual cover. The bottom is what might have happened if All-American Publications had bought out DC/National in 1945 instead of the other way around.

Brave and the Bold:Journey to the Center of the Bat!

I just heard from James about the new episode of the Brave and the Bold and it sounds good. Here is what he had to say. This week Batman’s life hangs in the balance when he is poisoned by Chemo, who is under the control of the evil Brain. The Atom races to the rescue with Aquaman by shrinking down and entering Batman’s bloodstream. While Aquaman and the Atom battle the infection deep inside Batman’s body, Batman struggles to end Chemo’s rampage and defeat the Brain! This week’s teaser features Elongated Man and Plastic Man teaming up to derail a bank heist and capture the criminal Baby Face.
The above photos are also from James.

The Flash:Rebirth

Today when it was a bit slow at work I was thinking about the return of the Flash. Now I konw in name he hasn't been gone. Wally West and Bart Allen have done a good job keeping the name in the public eye.
But I am talking about Barry Allen. The Flash: Rebirth is scheduled to come out April 1st. I can't wait.
Years ago I heard people my age and older say how they missed some of their favorite fictional characters and real celebrities. They talked about them like a family member or an old friend had died. I did understand and sometimes I wondered if there was something wrong with these people.
Now that time has passed I think I understand. When I was a kid I loved Elvis movies. I was an only child and wanted a brother. To me Elvis was my brother. When he died I didn't get sad. I was in high school and too busy with high school stuff. Not long ago I saw an Elvis movie and suddenly I missed my "older brother."
I can't say that Barry Allen was my brother but he was my older married friend. When I first met him he had been the Flash and married for years. Yet he was with me having fun adventures. In good tmes and bad the Flash was there for me. When I was in college my work load was nearly overwhelming. Yet I still made time to read his adventures. By that time Carmine Infantino had come back to the book. It seemed to spark the writing of Carey Bates and the good stories before became great. Sadly during the trial of the Flash word came down that the book was to be canceled. They dragged it out too long to stall for time as there was no reason to start a new one just to end the book. It was the only story that I got bored with the entire time I read the book. I stopped reading for a few months but I had to make sure I was there for the last issue of my buddies book.
Later I collected the mini-series Crisis on Infinate Earths. I didn't hear any advance on the book back then. So it was to my surprise and shock when Flash died. Even this did not make me too sad. I was happy that he at least died a hero.
Over time I kept up on Wally and Bart as they continued the heroic tradition that came with the name and the uniform by buying the book. I was proud of my buddies relatives. Now thanks to DC Comics and Geoff Johns on April 1st my old buddy is back. I can't wait to see him again. I jut hope it isn't an April fools joke.

Avengers Poster fan art

The Brave and the Bold: The Fall of the Blue Beetle

Being a Blue Beetle fan the title of this episode worried me. Still I was surprised at how much fun it was for me to watch this one. I was happy to see that Ted Kord featured not only in the teaser but also in an important flash back in the main story. I have found that in order to enjoy it I have to pretend that these stories take place in an alternate universe. That is pretty easy considering how they insist that Black Lightning and Blue Beetle died much like it was assumed Captain America did in WWII and not at the hands of Maxwell Lord.

Yes, in case you haven't watched the episode yet, Ted Kord did die in this show. He died a hero when saving Hub City so it would not be blown up as a rocket headed for it.

The main part of the story was the new Blue Beetle trying to find out if he was chosen to be the Beetle or if it was just dumb luck that he found the scarb.

In the end he is told by Batman he was chosen. Ted Kord had to rely on his knowledge and athletic ability. The scarb wouldn't work for Ted or Ted's Uncle Charles Kord but it did work for the new BB. Charles Kord is who turned out to be the villain by pretending to be Ted. He talked the new Beetle into using the scarb to power up his robots to bring peace to the world. In fact he was going to use them to take over the world.


Yes for Blue Beetle fans this episode had it all. It even worked in Dan Curtis. In Ted Kord's lair it showed a statue of him as the Blue Beetle and in the flash back it showed him dying in Ted's arms and passing the scarb on to him.

This show has been a great way to promote the new Beetle. I am getting use to seeing a teenage Blue Beetle fighting crime.

I can't wait to see next week when Batman teams with Aquaman and the Atom. I am certain Rob is going to watch.

Cap and plastic Man Team-Up Tale

Go to Let's Rap With Cap to read a team-up tale with Spider-Man and to Plastic Man Platitudes to see him team-up with Superman.

The Brave and the Bold with the Blue Beetle

Ok I am sorry I didn't review last weeks episode of the Brave and the Bold. The reason is that during the show my cable went out twice so I didn't get to see the whole episode. I will have to catch it on reruns but the Deadman episode looked good from what I saw.

I hope there are no problems tonight. It is an all Blue Beetle episode. I have been waiting for years to see an animated version of the Ted Kord Blue Beetle. So you know I won't miss this one. Also Batman teams-up with the new Blue Beetle once again. So tune in Cartoon Network tonight at 8pm Eastern Time. Same Bat time. Same Bat channel.

Should the Comics Code Authority be Brought Back?

As all comic book collectors know when the government got on the industries back in the 50's they decided to self regulate and created the Comics Code Authority. For a long time the code ruled over comic books. It gave adults who sold them and parents of the kids who bought them a sense of security. Then in 1971 Stan Lee and Marvel comics gave it their first challange. Amazing Spider-Man mentioned drug usage in issues 96-98. Mr. Lee didn't think there would be a problem as it put drug usage in a bad light. But the code didn't want any mention and refused to give their apporval. Mr. Lee had the issues published anyway as he thought the message was important for kids to read. Many issues of the book were returned from the dealers without ever reaching the newstand. Still the gaunlet had been laid down.

Over time other books from underground comics to professional comics from independent publishers were being published. Not to mention they were selling well in bookstores and on newstands. The Comics Code made a number of revisions till soon they made too many. Now they are not considered that necessary.

At some point I think comic books crossed the boundries. There are times with all the violence and sometimes cussing it is hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys for first time readers. Even some old time fans like myself are turned off.

Perhaps it is time to bring back the code or something like it. While sometimes revisions are good it ceases to help if you become a joke. If it is brought back then they need to stand by it so it doesn't become a joke again.

DC 1st

I don't remember ever seeing this book anywhere before. I found it while researching a future post. I'll have to keep an eye out for this book in the back issues. I saw it on Photon Torpedoes.

Dove and Hawk

I saw this painting of Dove and Hawk on Comicartfans.com.

New York Comic Con 2009: Ahhh! Just Don't Go!

The Comic Blog World Comes To An End

The comic blog world is coming to an end. Two of my favorite sites are ending. They are Rob Kelly's Coming Super Attractions and Robby Reed's Dial B For Blog. I am sure that running these sites, while being fun for both men, takes a lot of their times. But something had to go and they decided the sites were it. I hope it only turns out to be a rest for them and they will be back soon. Either way it has been fun reading them and I wish them luck in future endevors. Blogs or otherwise.

I've Been Interviewed

I am writing this for all my blogs to let my readers know that I have been interviewed about my site Comic Book Letterheads Museum. You can read it at Ephemera where I was interviewed by Marty the owner of that site. Wow! When I started my first blog On My Mind years ago I never thought someone would want to interview me about one of my blogs.

Iron Man and Spider-Man at McDonalds

Spidey and Shellhead have a comic battle at McDonald's. Later they realized it was all a misunderstanding and that Doc Ock was at fault. Actually it wasa the grand opening of the new restaurant.

Brave and the Bold:Enter the Outsiders

This is the hardest review I have had to write on this series. It is hards because I have loved every episode. Even the Ted Kord-less Blue Beetle one. However, I had mixed feelings regarding this one.

I loved that they teamed up Batman with Wildcat and that he was Batman's boxing instructor when Batman was starting his crimefighting career. I just didn't like how they made Wildcat to look and sound like he was old enough to be his Grandfather. I always thought of Wildcat as being only 10 years older then Batman. Not 30 years older. Still it was thrilling to see Batman do battle with Wildcat at his side.

Next I had a trouble with making the members of the Outsiders so young. Especially my favorite Black Lightning. A Fan site for Black Lightning was one of my earliest sites and I was happy to see him on the show but I was hoping for a team-up with the more adult version. Wildcat had a sly comment when he said "It takes more them some "Static Shock" to take him out." They combined BL and SS to come up with this version to lead the Outsiders.

But if Tony Isabella is reading this we all know that it was BL and I hope they pay you for it since you are his proud Father. Don't get cheated out of money that you should have.

I know I have not read every comic book so the underground Fagin like character of Slug may have appeared in another book. However, to me he looked like the old Black Lightning villain Tobias Whale.

Once I got use to these differences I liked how they ended the show. The Outsiders save the life of Wildcat and he becomes their role model and trainer. If there is a spin-off series I guess it will be called Wildcat and the Outsiders.

The part I really loved was the mini team-up teaser with B'Wana Beast. I have never read a story with B'Wana Beast but this made him look fun, adventurous and cool. Yes to me he looked cool. I hope B'Wana Beast gets an action figure along with others from this series.

King Tut Tribute Video

To end King Tut week we have an unusual but funny look at the monarch thanks to Steve Martin.

Tut's Case is Shut

The Spell of Tut

Come back for part 2 tomorrow. Same Bat time. Same Bat blog site.

No Plastic Man Series to Spin-Off From Brave and the Bold

I recently sent an e-mail to James Finch after Plastic Man's apperance on Brave and the Bold and asked if there are plans for a Plastic Man series. Here is what he said.

Thanks for the email! As you probably know, Tom Kenny did a Plastic Man Pilot several years ago that did not make it to series. I know everyone at Warner Bros. Animation is excited about the character and Tom’s fantastic work on Batman: The Brave and The Bold. There are no immediate plans to spin off Plastic Man that I am aware of, but as you know it all comes down to the fans.

Keep your fingers crossed and let me know if you hear any rumblings from the fans!

If you have any questions or are available to do interviews with our talent – drop me an email and I will set you up.

If you notice that last sentence I would love to do an interview with any of the talent. Problem is Ihave enver done one so I don't know what I should ask. If there are any Questions that my readers here would like to ask any of the actors on the show let me know and I will note them to ask if I ever do interview them.

And The Winner Is...

Well the winner of our no-prize team-up contest is Brian of Comics in Crisis.

Batman's Waterloo

King Tut's Coup

King Tut wasn't the best of the TV Villains on Batman. Ironically that went to those that were used originally in the comic books. One thing that it did was give a younger audience a chance to see the great Victor Buono at work.

King Tut Makes it to Comic Books

Well it took over 40 years but the character of King Tut finally makes it to the comic books. He leaves riddles for Batman to solve and this forces Batman to team-up with the Riddler to solve this 3 issue crime. I first heard about this on Comic Book Resources. It all starts in Batman Confidential #26.

What's King Tut Doing in a Marvel Comic Book?

I saw this splash page on an old issue of Marvel Team-up. I know this is a Marvel book but it made me think that Batman and Robin should soon arrive to save this couple from what looks like King Tut's henchmen. It got me to wondering if King Tut, a villain only created for the TV show Batman, ever did make it into the comic books. I looked into it and guess what? So far he hasn't but he soon will. Come back tomorrow to find out. This week is all King Tut week here at Mail It To Team-Up.

How to bring peace

Over at Comic Coverage Mark thinks this



is what is needed to bring about peace in the middle east.

I'm A Marvel and I'm A DC Villains Edition

Here is a fun way to start off the New Year. An I'm A Marvel and I'm A DC villains edition.