With the recent debut of the new Disney + TV show inspired by the Marvel Comics character Wonder Man, I started thinking about superhero and related characters I first saw in comics, but who were subsequently adapted in live action. And that notion seemed like a proper subject for another exciting edition of Comic Book Cover Gallery.
Before attempting this gallery, I set its parameters. First, any comics character who appeared in a live-action movie, movie serial, or TV show prior to the start of my own comics obsession in 1966 was off limits. That took Superman, Batman and Robin, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Spy Smasher, the Vigilante, the Phantom, the Green Hornet and Kato, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, Flash Gordon, Zorro, the Shadow, and others off the table, and applied equally to supporting characters like Lex Luthor, Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White. Furthermore, I limited the scope to characters I saw in comics BEFORE seeing them portrayed by an actor; that eliminated most of Batman's Bat-Villains, as well as Batgirl, all of whom were introduced to me on the 1966-1968 Batman TV series.
That said, I did decide to include older comics characters that had not appeared in live action prior to '66, and to not worry about whether or not the specific issue pictured was the character's introduction to the comics-buyin' public, nor even the character's introduction to me. It just had to be the cover of a comic book I owned within the timeline, and my ownership of that book needed to predate my exposure to the character on film or television. (The timeline for qualifying film adaptations is open-ended; as long as I owned the book in the '60s, '70s, or '80s. For example, since eight-year-old me traded my twelve cents for the then-new 1968 issue of Green Lantern that introduced Guy Gardner, it didn't matter that ol' Guy didn't officially transfer to live action until the 2025 Superman film. The unaired [and awful] Justice League TV movie doesn't count, nor does the unaired [and awful] 1960s Wonder Woman pilot concept.)
Oh, and I also disqualified characters whose live-action film adaptations I have yet to see. That eliminated Vampirella, whose one film adaptation I've been unable to get through, and Doc Savage, whose Marvel book I was reading in the '70s, but I never got around to seeing his movie. (And Doc shouldn't count anyway, since I was introduced to him via paperback reprints of his pulp adventures rather than in comic books. I told that story here.)
As always, we'll be sticking exclusively to the '60s-'80s era of acquisition I've established for these galleries. Today's selection includes books I bought new, back issues I acquired after the fact (but within the timeline), and B-stock contraband originally purchased without their covers. As always: These aren't actual photos of comics in my collection. But I did have each and every one of 'em at some point in time.
If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar. You can also become a Boppin' booster on my Patreon page.
I compiled a various-artists tribute album called Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes, and it's pretty damned good; you can read about it here and order it here. My new book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get my previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. You can read about our history here.
No comments:
Post a Comment