The Golden Age of Comic Books

I had a lot of fun talking about the great Carl Barks on the Earth Station One Podcast. Check it out!

The Earth Station One Podcast – Artist Spotlight on Carl Barks

Just in time for the blockbuster Wonder Woman feature film, here’s GAC Podcast Episode #22 where we talk about all things Wonder Woman!  Enjoy!

Here’s a GAC Rewind to Episode #42 where we cover all things Superman!  Enjoy!

Now that I’ve been able to restore some of the podcasts (with the rest to come!), I thought I would periodically feature a previous episode.  So, here’s a podcast rewind to Episode 58 where I discuss the Superman and Batman team-ups from the Golden Age.  Enjoy!

I had a great time appearing with the Earth Station One podcast gang on Episode 73, part 2 where they discussed all things related to Batman. As most of you know, the Golden Age Batman has always been my favorite, so I simply could not pass up the opportunity to discuss the character, his origins and many other aspects of his Golden Age incarnation. I had a lot of fun on the show and look forward to the next time they want to delve into the Golden Age of comic books!  You’ll be able to play this episode of the ESO podcast by selecting the play button below.  Thanks again to the guys at the Earth Station One Podcast for having me on the show.

 

As I mentioned in my recap of Heroes Con 2010, one of the highlights was the Podcast Panel on Sunday.  Thanks to Chuck Moore of Comic Related for recording the panel.  So, without further ado, here is the Podcast Quorum from Heroes Con 2010.

In the photo Left to Right:

John Larison of Seqalab | “Mr. Phil” Jackson of Indie Spinner Rack

Bryan Deemer of Comic Geek Speak | Bill Jourdain of The Golden Age of Comics Books

Chuck Moore of Comic Related | Jimmy Aquino of Comic News Insider

Special thanks to Shelton and Dustin of Heroes Con for allowing us to have this panel at the show.  See you next year!

Merry Christmas from the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast and welcome to our fifth annual Christmas episode! For Christmas 2009, we tell the story of  “Captain Marvel and the Plot Against Christmas” from Captain Marvel Adventures #42 (January 1945).

In this story, Captain Marvel foils the plot of Gouge Smith to deprive the orphans of the Creedmore Orphanage of toys for Christmas.  This story is told in the tradition of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”.  I hope you enjoy learning about a classic Captain Marvel Christmas story from the Golden Age of Comic Books.

During the show I also request assistance from the fans of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast and Blog.  DC Comics is currently in the process of deciding whether to renew the license of Asgard Press to print the Vintage DC Comics Calendar.  As you know, this is a great product and I have been honored to be a part of it.  It would be very helpful (and a great Christmas present) if all of the fans of the Golden Age of Comic Books would go to Amazon.com and leave a nice review of the calendar.  We need all of the help we can get!  If you have time, and you enjoy this calendar and want to see more in the future, please use this link to leave us a good review.

I hope everyone has a great Holiday Season and a very Merry Christmas!

I’m back from a great weekend at the 2009 Baltimore Comic Con where I was privileged to be a guest of Asgard Press.  We had a great crowd and I was very pleased with the interest in the Asgard products, including the DC and Marvel Vintage Comic Book Calendars.  I signed a number of the DC Calendars, and enjoyed talking to many fans of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast.

While at the show I was able to find the time to conduct some interviews and put together a Special Edition Baltimore Comic Con Podcast.

I conducted an interview of Peter Shin of Asgard Press, where we talk about the Vintage Calendars and other great products offered by Asgard.  You really need to check out the great products at their website.

One of the great things about Baltimore for Golden Age fans is Geppi’s Entertainment Museum.  Museum Curator, Dr. Arnold Blumberg was at the show and I was pleased to be able to interview him about the Museum.   Not only does the Museum exhibit some rare Golden Age comics and memorabilia, it offers great programs for young and old.  Arnold mentions of number of these programs in the interview.

I was fortunate to have a few minutes to talk to the great Don Rosa, who makes his third appearance on the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast.  We talk about everything from The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, to Golden Age Fandom, to a discussion of Don’s two favorite Barks’ adventures.  Don is always a gentleman and loves to talk about comics more than I do!

Last but not least, this episode contains the second annual trivia contest!  The first listener to email me the correct answer to the two questions (and all subparts) will receive an autographed copy of the 2010 Vintage DC Comics Calendar and a copy of the 2010 Vintage Marvel Comics Calendar.  There will only be one winner so make sure you quickly do your research and email your answer!  The email address for your entry is [email protected].  I’ll reveal the name of the winner and the answers in a later post.

Thanks again to Peter and Mi-Sun of Asgard Press for making this a truly great weekend at the Baltimore Comic Con.  I am already counting the days to next year!

I’m back with another installment of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast.  In this installment, we discuss the Golden Age Crimebuster who appeared in Boy Comics.

Crimebuster was the alter ego of teenager Chuck Chandler.  After his parents were murdered by the evil Nazi villain, Iron Jaw, Chuck became Crimebuster and vowed to avenge their deaths and to fight Nazi evil, with his monkey sidekick, Squeeks.  Boy Comics was published by Lev Gleason Publications and debuted with issue #3 in April 1942.  The series ran until issue #119 in March 1956.  Chuck Chandler appeared in every issue of the title.  His last Golden Age appearance was in issue #119, March 1956.  This title has some classic WWII propaganda covers.

In addition to Crimebuster, I mention the new Marvel Mystery Comics Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special published by Marvel this week.  In the tradition of the History of the Marvel Universe series, this issue focuses on all of the characters appearing in the first year of the existence of Marvel Comics.

Last but not least, I mention my upcoming trip to the Baltimore Comic Con (October 10 and 11).  I will be the guest of Asgard Press at their booth from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday.  Come by and see me if you are at the show.  I’ll be signing calendars and talking about Golden Age comic books.

The Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast is back with episode #62 featuring The Green Lama!

This character got his start in pulp magazines in the early 1940’s and made his first comic book appearance in the pages of Prize Comics #7 (September 1940).  He appeared in this title for 24 issues and eventually got his own book, and a new look, in Green Lama Comics #1 (March 1944).  This title ran for eight issues, until 1946.

The Green Lama was drawn by the great Mac Raboy whose most notable work was on Captain Marvel Junior for Fawcett.

Here are a few cover images from Green Lama’s Golden Age comic book run.

I hope you enjoy this episode of the Golden Age of Comic Books Podcast!