kelso
Goldcomics Reviewer!
Reged: Jan 30 2003
Posts: 939
Loc: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
|
|
For those who are regular visitors to this site, you may have noticed in my reviews of various MLJ titles that there is one title whose issues I haven't reviewed as of yet. That title was Top-Notch Laugh Comics. And that is due to the fact that - in my opinion - other than the Black Hood strip, much of the book doesn't really appeal to me as a reader. But I was recently asked by one of the regular posters what I thought of a two part Black Hood story that appeared in issues #s 30 & 31. So I've decided to answer him with this review:
#30 "Quest for Revenge" (THE BLACK HOOD); This classic two-parter gets off to a great start as three noted baddies - the Dude, the Bruiser, and the Son of the Skull - team up to get revenge on their common enemy, the Black Hood. At the end of the first part, The Black Hood finds himself in a trap aboard a yacht at sea. The artwork on this excellent first part is by John Cassone.
#31 "The Black Hood's Last Case" (THE BLACK HOOD); This two parter comes to a electrofying conclusion as the Black Hood has a fateful showdown with his 3 would be killers. Sam Cooper delievers the goods on the artwork on this story that brings this classic two-parter to a conclusion.
As for the other stories in both of these issues, THE must-read stories after the Black Hood stories were the Top-Notch Hall of Fame stories in both issues. The story in #30 dealing with Frank Simmons, a British youth in the Merchant Marine and the story in #31 dealing with the nurses of Bataan. As for the humor-oriented features; with the exception of the Suzie strip, none of them had any appeal to me.
I don't know if I'm being hyper-critical on much of the contents of Top-Notch Laugh #s 30 & 31. If I am, I very likely might have been spoiled by how good the 27 issues of Top-Notch Comics were and felt that the later Top-Notch Laugh wasn't up to that standard. This is just my opinion.
Edited by kelso (Thu Jan 26 2006 08:48 PM)
|
pokey oakey
I was adored once too!
Reged: Aug 17 2003
Posts: 541
|
|
Well done Kelso and thank's. I pretty much have a lot of the same feelings about Top Notch Laugh, unfortunately I chose to try and complete the whole run and now am only down to issue #35. Other than Suzie and Percy, the humour stuff was awful. Now the Hall of Fame stuff was great but didn't last long. When issue 27 ended it pretty much signaled the end of the glory days of Top Notch. I loved the Black Hood stories in 30 and 31 and suffered greatly trying to find issue 31 to read the conclusion, which happened just recently. Great review Kelso and thank's again it meant a lot to me.
--------------------
If it's not disclosed.....you're being hosed.
|
Timulty
Be careful what you say...
Reged: Oct 12 2005
Posts: 824
Loc: Fawcett City
|
|
What about TNL #35. Wahahahahahaa 
--------------------
Old coinees never die, they wisen up and become comic book collectors!!!
|
pokey oakey
I was adored once too!
Reged: Aug 17 2003
Posts: 541
|
|
Well, Top Notch Laugh #35 is going to be a let down. #31 was somewhat significant because of the second part of the Black Hood story and the Hall of Fame story. #35 will just have a lame Black Hood story, no Percy by Montana and no hall of fame story. I wish I would have save issue #1 for the last, know what I mean? Well no, you wouldn't, you only have a just a few of your Captain Marvel run, am I right?
--------------------
If it's not disclosed.....you're being hosed.
|
Timulty
Be careful what you say...
Reged: Oct 12 2005
Posts: 824
Loc: Fawcett City
|
|
That are slabbed that is. Sadly, from what I have read of the early Captain Marvel Adventures and Whiz Comics, the stories really aren't all that good. Now, from what I have read of Blue Ribbon comics, I can only assume that the writing is superior. Probably across most of the MLJ titles. So, that isn't a rip on MLJ books or anything. Just the fact that TNL #35 is a difficult book to find. And probably not all that good a book but a toughie all the same!!!
--------------------
Old coinees never die, they wisen up and become comic book collectors!!!
|
Timulty
Be careful what you say...
Reged: Oct 12 2005
Posts: 824
Loc: Fawcett City
|
|
Oh, yeah. Didn't I mark that Smallville thread as a SPOILER, Pokey?
--------------------
Old coinees never die, they wisen up and become comic book collectors!!!
|
pokey oakey
I was adored once too!
Reged: Aug 17 2003
Posts: 541
|
|
The early Whiz and Capt. Marvel stories are tremendous! There's a reason he was more popular than Superman in the early years. Have you read the first two Capt. Marvel archives?
--------------------
If it's not disclosed.....you're being hosed.
|
Timulty
Be careful what you say...
Reged: Oct 12 2005
Posts: 824
Loc: Fawcett City
|
|
Yep. Just not that great. Not as good as some of the Blue Ribbons. It has its own draw though. What I like about CMA and WC is combination of both writing and artwork. It has a bit of childlike quality to it. Which is great in that respect. It's kinda like comparing pizza to calzone.
Depends on what you are craving.
--------------------
Old coinees never die, they wisen up and become comic book collectors!!!
|
pokey oakey
I was adored once too!
Reged: Aug 17 2003
Posts: 541
|
|
Which Blue Ribbons are you talking about because I've has them all except #20 which I've read. 1-8 sucked. 9 was great 8-15 were really good and 16-22 were awesome.Oh and why are you collecting Captain Marvel then?
--------------------
If it's not disclosed.....you're being hosed.
Edited by pokey oakey (Thu Jan 26 2006 10:39 PM)
|
Timulty
Be careful what you say...
Reged: Oct 12 2005
Posts: 824
Loc: Fawcett City
|
|
Because I like the Big Red Cheese!!! He is the only DC Hero that could Beat Superman. And Fawcett got shafted on that lawsuit!!! 20-21 is what I have read and I do agree!!!
--------------------
Old coinees never die, they wisen up and become comic book collectors!!!
Edited by Timulty (Thu Jan 26 2006 10:49 PM)
|
deathlok
G-Man Uber Poster
Reged: Jan 17 2006
Posts: 653
|
|
Quote:
Because I like the Big Red Cheese!!! He is the only DC Hero that could Beat Superman. And Fawcett got shafted on that lawsuit!!! 20-21 is what I have read and I do agree!!!
Uh, he's not the only to beat Superman. There are plenty of people who can. (Batman, any magic-user, and probably Wonder Woman.)
--------------------
Join The fight!
|
kelso
Goldcomics Reviewer!
Reged: Jan 30 2003
Posts: 939
Loc: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
|
|
I've recently got the chance to read some of the early issues of CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES and found that they were quite impressive (particualarly the Monster Society of Evil serial). But what really hurt my appreciation of those early issues was the presence of the character of Steamboat, a character I'd like to think of as the Stepin Fetchit of comics. When drawn in the cartoony style employed by many of the artists that worked on the CAPTAIN MARVEL strip, he looked every inch the racial slur he came off as.
In my review of BLUE RIBBON #8, I've stated that reading the first eight issues of that title came off as the equivilent of watching the first season of DYNASTY.
|
Timulty
Be careful what you say...
Reged: Oct 12 2005
Posts: 824
Loc: Fawcett City
|
|
Batman needs help. Though, Wonder woman is a good point. 
And yes, part of the reason that I don't enjoy CMA's stories so much is because of that same stereotype you mentioned, Kelso.
--------------------
Old coinees never die, they wisen up and become comic book collectors!!!
|
pokey oakey
I was adored once too!
Reged: Aug 17 2003
Posts: 541
|
|
I try to view these things in a historical context , just like with films which had a lot of racial stereotyping. I view both as if in a time capsule. So they don't bother me, wrong as it was that's what the time period looked like.Deplorable? Yes, but a lesson to be learned and remembered and not repeated.
--------------------
If it's not disclosed.....you're being hosed.
|
Fuelman
Cheesecake Extraordinaire
Reged: Jan 21 2006
Posts: 971
Loc: San Diego Zoo
|
|
Quote:
I try to view these things in a historical context , just like with films which had a lot of racial stereotyping. I view both as if in a time capsule. So they don't bother me, wrong as it was that's what the time period looked like.Deplorable? Yes, but a lesson to be learned and remembered and not repeated.
It truely is a Time Capsule from another era. MLJ was not alone with the sterotyping: Timely had it with the Young Allies, the Spirit by Will Eisner too, ect. It was a different wolrd back then.
|
pokey oakey
I was adored once too!
Reged: Aug 17 2003
Posts: 541
|
|
Fuelman, is that Bill the chimp?
--------------------
If it's not disclosed.....you're being hosed.
|
Fuelman
Cheesecake Extraordinaire
Reged: Jan 21 2006
Posts: 971
Loc: San Diego Zoo
|
|
Quote:
Fuelman, is that Bill the chimp?
  
Hey Pokey,
Who's Bill the Chimp? 
|
pokey oakey
I was adored once too!
Reged: Aug 17 2003
Posts: 541
|
|
Bill's the oldest living chimp in captivity. He lives at the Sequoia park Zoo in Eureka, California.
--------------------
If it's not disclosed.....you're being hosed.
|
Fuelman
Cheesecake Extraordinaire
Reged: Jan 21 2006
Posts: 971
Loc: San Diego Zoo
|
|
How old is he?
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
