Brief Notes for a Sunday

These don't even count as "Short Shorts." Just a few non-funny observations to fill space.

1. I saw Avengers: Infinity War on Friday and had a great time, but I don't know yet whether I'll bother doing any kind of review post about it.

2. 2018's A to Z Challenge ends tomorrow (Monday), and after that, I'll have more time for my own day-to-day interests, such as writing this blog instead of forty-seven comments per day on other people's blogs. Heh.

3. Some of you people come here only occasionally, which is fine, and there are others out there who come here but don't often leave comments (Right, Roy, haha?). I wouldn't even think of dropping your blogs. But sometime soon, regrettably, I'm going to be deleting two blogs from my sidebar's blogroll. Their authors never come to my blog. One of the two I'll no longer be following is a blog I've been reading for almost ten years, and I don't know why he stopped visiting me quite some time ago. He doesn't even answer most of the commenters on his own blog. The other is a guy whose blog I found through a previous year's A to Z Challenge (2014? 2016?). He read a few of my A to Z posts that year, but since then, he's only shown up here once that I know of, and that's only because I suggested he do so because of a particular post I knew he'd appreciate.

Hm. I spent a lot more time than I expected to spend on that last paragraph. I guess it's bothering me more than I thought I would. So it goes.

See you Wednesday.

Thanks for your time.

Comical Wednesday on a Thursday? ~~ A "Comical Wednesday" Mini-Post

Supposedly, all of the above characters are in Avengers: Infinity War. Well , not quite.

Two of the above superheroes are not in the movie. Can you guess which ones!

Maybe you noticed that I didn't post a "Comical Wednesday" post yesterday. Not only that, but today's so-called "Comical Wednesday" post isn't much of a post at all, cuz it's so short. For me, anyway.

I've been busy this week with various doctors' appointments. (And don't worry, I'm fine.) I've spent some time drafting my next "Comical Wednesday" post, and answering emails, but most of what little time I've spent at the library has mostly been dedicated to reading the "A to Z Challenge" posts of the bloggers I regularly follow.

Boy, will I be glad when that's over!

The only real reference to comic books that I'm making today is to tell you that I'll be seeing Avengers: Infinity War tomorrow. I may or may not do a future post about that.

So... See ya when I see ya. I'm hungry; it's time for supper.

Thanks for your time.

Overwhelmed...

(Here's a short and not-so-exciting post, fellow babies.)

Yes, as the above title implies, I've been overwhelmed. Buried, you might say. And worst of all, I'm afraid I've fallen behind in visiting all of the blogs that I read on a regular basis. That's been made a bit difficult because of this month's A to Z Challenge. As I explained here, I'm not taking place in the challenge this year, but many of the blogs I follow regularly are. And for various reasons, I've missed a day or two here and there, and it's almost impossible to catch up!

I guess the main reason I'm posting this is mostly for my own readers that are also participating in this year's A to Z Challenge. This is to inform them (or you) that I haven't deserted them/you just because my comments may suddenly become few and far between.

So much for that.

Thanks for your time.

Whither Goeth the Challenge?

(Warning: Today's post is self-indulgent, stream-of-consciousness rambling. Even more than usual!)

No, please do not get excited by the above illustration. I will not be participating in this year's A-Z Challenge.

Why? (Or should that be, "Why not?")

Well, as it so often occurs where I'm concerned, it's complicated. But as long as I have you here anyway, here I go, rambling (as promised above). Take a deep breath. Or, as I used to say back when I often posted wordy entries, pack a lunch.

First of all, I joined the A-Z Challenge (in both 2014 and 2016) to promote my blog and encounter a few others. Both times, I ended up signing on to follow several blogs. Both times, several people decided to follow me as well. So, that worked. Or so it seemed...

In 2014, I got to know a lot of people who write what I call "writers' blogs." In other words, their blog's primary raison d'être is to aid, instruct, ask questions of, or otherwise deal with other bloggers interested in writing for publication, whether they're doing it mostly for fun, or desiring to make an actual living from it. (That I found so many "writers' blogs" is not a complaint, by the way. Just a long-winded statement.)

The blogs I found during the 2016 challenge seemed to have a little more variety, for no apparent reason. Just happenstance, I guess.

So, what's my problem, with several people signing up to follow me in both 2014 and 2016? Well, I learned that more than a few of the bloggers whose blogs I try to visit don't necessarily reciprocate, especially over time. A lot of the "followers" I gained during my forays into the A-Z Challenge didn't keep following.

Admittedly, almost no one has the time or inclination to read every single post on someone else's blog. I certainly don't. But there are some bloggers I follow (or, in most cases, I should say I used to follow) who either never visit my blog, or if they do, never let me know it by commenting. And, to amend my earlier statement, I realize that almost no one has the time or inclination to comment on every single post they read. (And again, that applies to me as well.) But never?

I've been accused in the distant past of being a comment whore, but let's be honest, here, fellow babies. What do we blog for if not a little bit of feedback? It's not like there's any real money in blogging. (I should know. I used to have little sidebar co-op ads from Google and Amazon, and after nine years, they netted me about a hundred dollars. Not quite enough to live by, fer shure fer shure.)

Also, while I'm on that subject, I should add that there are some readers whom I'm pretty sure read my blog regularly who rarely comment... but comment they do, at least once in a while.

But I oh-so-characteristically digress...

Now, in a similar vein, a lot of the bloggers I've been following for the last year or so don't post regularly. (Who the hell are you to talk, you may well ask. Hang on there, that's not my complaint.) And the authors of these blogs only seem to visit mine when I've commented on theirs. See the problem? This can be a bit frustrating, especially when I'm in the process of posting one of my multi-part fictional stories. I'll admit it. I am fervently hoping that people will read all of a multi-parter (and hopefully comment). Otherwise, what's the point?

I should point out here that I don't expect or demand that my "regulars" read all of my damned posts. As I said above, no one can (or want to) read them all. Even when there are so few, like the posts on my silly blog. Heh.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I feel I've done a lot, and wound up with a little. It's made me wonder if it's all been worth the effort.

Finally, this year, the people who run the A-Z Challenge have done away with the "linky list." They've posted several ways for you to find out who's participating -- and I provided that link for those of you who are interested in joining the fun -- but frankly, it seems like a lot of extra work to me. I joined the challenge (both times) to have some fun, as well as prove to myself that I could be disciplined enough to post on a regular basis if I really put my mind to it. Both years, I succeeded. But, as I said, this time (along with the other reasons mentioned above), it just seems like a lot of extra work.

Well, that about sums up my reasoning, fellow babies.

On the other hand, if I follow your blog regularly, I certainly won't miss the chance to read your A-Z entries! So, there's that.

Wow, this was a long post. (And rather somewhat incredibly self-serving, I'll admit.) I haven't done one of those for a while. I've probably written more here than I would have if I'd done this year's challenge instead!

Thanks for reading this far. Seriously. (Unless, of course, you just skipped to the end, you cheater!)

And, as always, thanks for your time.

And for an Encore...

Well, I made it through the A to Z Challenge. My total posts for the year already exceed 30, which beats the hell out of last year's total! And you may ask, what's next?

That's a good question. It's no surprise to my pre-Challenge readers -- those who remained, anyway -- that I'd been going through a bad case of writer's block for months.

Anyhoo, fellow babies, I'm going to take a few more days off and then try to come up with something worth reading about, if I can. Wish me luck...

...and thanks for your time.

Z: Zebra

Here's my final listing for April's A-Z Challenge! And the theme is, "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

The Zebra first showed up in Pocket Comics #1, from Harvey Comics in 1941. His alter ego was John Doyle, a criminal lawyer framed by politicians and sent to jail. I like the way the blurb above says that The Zebra "battles criminals outside the law." Isn't that the way all criminals operate, technically?

A new Zebra, a/k/a Zebura, premiered -- as close as I can discover --  in something called Nidaime no Shigoto #123, a Japanese comic!

I'd like to thank all my new readers and followers, most of whom started with me early and kept up with me through the A to Z Challenge! I've enjoyed your blogs too, and have added most to my blogroll.

Thanks for your time, especially those who've read all 26 of my entries this month!

Y: Yellowjacket

Here's my penultimate listing for April's A-Z Challenge! And the theme is, "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

Yellowjacket debuted in Yellowjacket Comics #1, in 1944, from Charlton. He was really Vince Harley, “one of those rare people that bees don’t sting.” Okayyyy...

The Modern-Age Yellowjacket, a/k/a Henry Pym, first appeared in The Avengers #59, from Marvel Comics in 1968! (Pym himself had first appeared  -- sans costume -- as "The Man in the Ant Hill!" in Tales to Astonish #27, in 1962. He next appeared -- in his superhero outfit as Ant-Man -- in Tales to Astonish #35, also in 1962!) In his superhero career, Pym has also gone by the names Giant-Man and Goliath, by the way!

Make sure you tune in tomorrow, fellow babies, to see the final installment in my A-Z Blogging Challenge!

Thanks for your time.

X: Uhhh...

Here's my latest entry in this year's A-Z Blogging Challenge. My oh-so-specific theme: Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters.

Today's letter is the letter "X." Only thing is -- and this ought to shock the crap out of you in an era where The X-Men and its 47 spin-offs are all over the modern comics landscape -- there was only one hero in the Golden Age of Comics (that I can find, anyway) whose "name" began with an X: X-9, better known as Secret Agent X-9. Secret Agent X-9 was a comic strip character who crossed into comic books and movies, but the name X-9 certainly was not given to any other characters. Ever.

As far as villains? All I could find were Xanuklhara (a Blackhawk enemy), Xnon (a Spectre foe), and Xog (who fought Captain Midnight)! And none of those names ever surfaced again, to my knowledge.

So, fellow babies, as far as what my extensive research shows, there IS no X in this series! So sorry...

But thanks for your time.

W: Wonder Man

Today's entry for April's A-Z Blogging Challenge is "W." And my theme is, "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

The success of DC's Superman in 1938 started an explosion called the Golden Age of Comics. Superheroes were coming out of the woodwork, you might say, and some were blatant rip-offs of Superman. Comics legend Will Eisner was hired to create such a Superman clone for Wonder Comics #1, from Fox Features in 1939. His Wonder Man, a/k/a Fred Carson, was quickly sued out of existence. It didn't help that Eisner told the truth on the witness stand and admitted that his instructions were to create a Superman clone. (He ended up never getting paid for this particular gig, by the way!)

Years later, in The Avengers #9, 1964, Marvel Comics introduced their own character named Wonder Man. Simon Williams died in that same issue, but (as comics tend to do) was brought back to life years later!

 

Thanks for your time.

V: Vigilante

Here's the "V" listing for the A-Z Blogging Challenge! And the theme is, "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

Greg Sanders (changed to "Saunders" in the 1990s for some damned reason) was DC Comics' first Vigilante. A modern-day cowboy and radio star, he rode a motorcycle and fought crime with his twin six-guns, He first appeared in Action Comics #42, 1941.

A totally different Vigilante, Adrian Chase, showed up in The New Teen Titans Annual #2, published by DC in 1983.  A newer version of that character, Dorian Chase, was introduced in Nightwing vol. 2, #133, 2007.

Both the  Greg Sanders/Saunders Vigilante and the latter-day, costumed Vigilantes have appeared in modern times.

And thanks for your time.

U: Unknown Soldier

Here's my "U" listing for April's A-Z Challenge! And the theme is, "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

The Unknown Soldier first showed up in  Our Flag Comics #1, 1941. He had no alter ego, but could fly, had super-strength, and he carried a "nitro gun" which fired explosive bullets.

DC's Unknown Soldier was introduced in Star-Spangled War Stories #151, published in 1970. He was a facially-disfigured master of disguise.

Thanks for your time.

T: Tarantula

Here's the "T" post for my A-Z Challenge. My theme? My theme, "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

Does that costumed hero pictured above look a tad familiar? If so, it's probably because his costume resembles the second outfit worn by yesterday's superhero, the Golden Age Sandman! (And they were both published by DC Comics in the 1940s!) Check it out and see what I mean!

Anyway, as the title at the top of the splash panel tells you, that yellow-and-purple-garbed superhero is none other than The Tarantula, a/k/a Jonathan Law (I swear!), who first appeared in Star Spangled Comics #1, 1941

Years later, 1974 to be exact, Marvel Comics introduced a Tarantula of their own, only this guy was a baddie who oh-so-appropriately fought Spider-Man. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #134.

Thanks for your time.

S: Sandman

Here's the new entry for my A-Z Challenge. My theme, "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

DC comics has had a few characters called Sandman since the 1940s. The first, pictured above and below this paragraph, initially appeared in Adventure Comics #40, 1939. He was Wesley Dodds, and he ended up changing his uniform in Adventure Comics #69, to odd yellow and purple superhero togs.

I can't show any of the more recent DC Sandman characters, because that would be breaking my own rules about using updated characters for the A-Z Challenge! Instead, let me list Marvel Comic's villainous Sandman, who first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #4, 1963! Flint Marko (a/k/a William Baker) was a criminal who'd escaped from prison. He wound up on a beach that had been a nuclear testing sight. Marko's body bonded with the radioactive sand, and since this is comics, he didn't die. Instead, he gained the power to turn himself into sand! (Marko later reformed, by the way.)

Thanks for your time.

R: Ragman

Here's yet another entry in my A-Z Challenge for the month of April. My theme: Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters.

The Ragman first appeared in Cat-Man Comics #1, 1940, from Holyoke. He was really Jay Garson, Jr.  Jay had no powers, but he disguised himself as a derelict to fool criminals! (Pretty spiffy suit, for a derelict...)

DC's Ragman premiered in Ragman #1, in 1976. His real name was Rory Regan. He had "the agility of a world class acrobat, the strength of a circus strongman and the fighting ability of a heavy weight prize fighter."

Thanks for your time.

Q: Quicksilver

 

And now, here's our regularly scheduled Q listing! My oh-so-specific theme: Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters.

Another listing of a comic book couple -- umm, no, they didn't date -- one from the Golden Age and one from the Modern Age! And all in keeping with the A-Z Challenge! My oh-so-specific theme: Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters.

Quicksilver debuted in National Comics #5, 1940, from Quality. He was never given any "real" name other than Max! His power was super-speed.

Today's hot-tempered Quicksilver, also a super-speedster, first appeared in The X-Men #4, 1964!

Thanks for your time.

P: Phantom Rider

Due to a screw-up, O just posted!

Today's entry is for the letter P in this month's A-Z Challenge. My oh-so-specific theme: Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters.

The Phantom Rider was a mysterious crime-fighter in the days of the old West. He first appeared in Wham Comics #1, from Centaur, in... you guessed it... 1940!*

Marvel Comics revived Magazine Enterprises' Ghost Rider in 1967, then changed his name several times over the years. There have also been quite a few people wearing the costume! At last report, he -- or she, because as I said, there've been several --was called the Phantom Rider. He first appeared in that role (technically) in  Marvel's Ghost Rider #1, 1967.

Thanks for your time.

*You guessed it if you've been following this series, that is!

O: Oracle

O was scheduled for Monday, and somehow got changed to draft form! Unfortunately, it didn't show up and I had no open library to go to on Monday due to a local holiday! Here it is!

Here's my latest entry in this year's A-Z Blogging Challenge. My oh-so-specific theme: Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters.

The Oracle first showed up in Startling Comics 20, 1943, from Better Comics. His alter ego was Bob Paxton, and he could -- as his name implies -- foretell the future.

Barbara Gordon, formerly Batgirl, became Oracle after losing the use of her legs when brutally shot by the Joker. As Oracle, Barbara helps to fight crime from (relatively) behind the scenes. She first appeared (as Oracle) in DC's Suicide Squad #23, 1989.

Thanks for your time.

N: Neon

Today brings us one more letter in April's A-Z Challenge! My theme is "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

Neon debuted in Hit Comics #1, 1940, from Quality Comics. If I may quote from The Golden Age Heroes Directory -- an invaluable source for SO many of these listings -- Neon "has 'neonic' powers, which boil down to glowing, being able to fly, and shooting bolts of energy from his hands."

Today's Neon is Celeste McCauley, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. She first appeared in DC's Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4, #6, 1990. Her body is composed of a Green Lantern's emerald energy, and can fly and fire force blasts like a Green Lantern..

Thanks for your time.

M: Mask

Here's the latest entry in the A-Z Challenge. My theme is "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

The Golden Age Mask was Tony Colby, one of many District Attorneys who donned costumes and fought crime in the 1940s. He first appeared in Exciting Comics #1 (from Better Publications, 1940).

Stanley Ipkiss became a totally different Mask in Dark Horse Comics Presents #10, 1987. He wears "a magical mask which imbues the wearer with reality-bending powers and physical imperviousness, as well as bypassing the wearer's psychological inhibitions."

Thanks for your time.

L: Lynx

Here's today's entry in the A-Z Challenge. My theme is "Golden Age Comic Book Characters with the Same Name As Modern-Day Characters."

The first appearance of The Lynx was in Mystery Men #14, from Fox Features, in 1940. He had no superpowers, and his secret identity was "Jim." Just Jim! Dorky costume, too!

A new Lynx appeared in DC's Robin #179 in 2008. She's a martial artist and weapons expert. That's about all I know, cuz she's so recent... and it may surprise you all to learn that I don't read modern comics. I quit following the new ones over ten years ago!

Thanks for your time.