Finally got my hands on a copy of New Avengers: Fireline (Marvel Military Special #6), written by Stuart Moore and drawn by Cliff Richards. Here is my review:

Stuart Moore tackles his third Military Special and does something new for this series – he creates a continuity. “The Spirit of America” (#5) told the story of the Matthews siblings, California National Guard Soldier Danny and his sister stationed in Iraq. As mentioned in the end of #5, “Fireline” follows Danny to his new assignment fighting forest fires. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Danny, evidenced by his rank. He was referred to as Private in #5, and is now recently promoted to Sergeant (assuming he was actually a Private First Class in #5, that means he’s been promoted twice since). In this issue, the Hulk is rampaging through the California forests and inadvertently causes a huge forest fire. Iron Man and Spider-Man, who are not getting along these days, volunteer to help fight the fire and evacuate civilians.

The first issue of this series was a super hero story with the Military tossed in, and the second was an AAFES promotion involving super heroes. Under Moore’s watch the series is evolving into a book where the super heroes and the Military have equal importance in the story. That’s as it should be in a super hero comic designed especially for the Military, and Mr. Moore has done another fine job with this story.

Also returning from #5, and doing another great job, is penciller Cliff Richards. As much as I enjoyed Richards’ art on #5, he seems to improved quite a bit since then. Iron Man looks significantly more intimidating, which works well for his demeanor when talking with Spidey. I’m sure these guys want to work on the more mainstream Marvel books (check out Stuart Moore’s Iron Man arc), but I hope Marvel keeps this team on this series for a while, provided it continues. At least we know we can look forward to #7, since the “Unmask the Hero” contest promises there will be a “next issue.” Good news for fans of this series (and I’m sure I’m not the only one).

GRADE: A

More of the fun of public domain characters – reprints of the original Golden Age material featuring them! AC Comics has been publishing Men of Mystery for years. Now a new publisher enters the realm of GA reprints. Age of Adventure kicked off their Legendary Heroes series in June with an all-Pyroman issue. Now available is Legendary Heroes #2: The Target & the Targeteers.

I have a copy of the Target on the way and I can’t wait to check it out. I love this material and am happy to see it reprinted in character-centric collections. (And I’m also looking forward to the upcoming Black Terror Omnibus project they have going!)

So, we’re all aware that there are many Golden Age comic characters that are now in the public domain – The Original Daredevil, the Black Terror, the Green Lama, the Flame, etc. AC Comics reprints their Golden Age stories and uses them from time to time in new stories. Alex Ross and Dynamite are creating their Project Superpowers Universe using them. Alan Moore used them in Tom Strong/Terra Obscura. Erik Larsen created the Next Issue Project at Image to continue their adventures. And now comes Savage Dragon #141:

This, in my opinion, is the fun of public domain. The fact that these characters can turn up anywhere, anytime. There is no license needed. No contracts. The writer of Marvel’s Daredevil wants to team him up with the Original Daredevil? No problem. The writer of Batman wants him to take on the Black Terror? No sweat. The writer of Spawn wants him to fight the Claw? Go for it. Of course, the powers that be at those companies might not go for it that easily, but there is nothing preventing it. These characters can exist in every comic book universe. All they need is a story.

I think Project Superpowers is excellent and have kind of declared that as my “official” universe for those characters. But if DC has 52 alternate earths, each with different versions of their characters, and Marvel has their official universe, the Ultimate universe, the Zombie universe, the Marvel Adventures universe, etc., why shouldn’t there be multiple variations of these characters? That’s how I view the Erik Larsen versions and AC’s versions. Alternate realities featuring the same characters. I’m happy to see these guys popping up in Savage Dragon (and the possibility of some of them later being integrated into the Savage Dragon Universe). Maybe the other companies will jump on the bandwagon in the future.

No, not mine. My wife and I are coming up on 15 and they’ve been 15 great years. No, 2008 is the 25th anniversary of my all-time favorite band, Sawyer Brown.

Sure, the band hasn’t received a lot of radio play since the mid-90s, and their last new album, “Mission Temple Fireworks Stand” (excellent, btw) came out in 2005, but I expected their long-time record label, Curb, to do something special for the 25th anniversary.

Well, we’re getting something, but I don’t think it can be called special. In May we got a new compilation album, “Best of Sawyer Brown.” 10 of their greatest hits. 10? After 25 years? I would have expected a 2 CD set with at least 30 songs. Well, maybe they have something else planned, right? Yep. In July they are re-issuing the albums “Six Days on the Road” and “Drive Me Wild” on a 2-for-1 value CD. Well, maybe they have something else planned. Yep. In the fall we can expect the “Sawyer Brown Collector’s Tin.” Sound impressive. Then you realize that Curb’s Collector’s Tins contain re-issues of 3 past albums. Where’s the new music? Where’s the music video DVD collection? Where’s the big boxed set with previously unreleased tracks? These guys won the first Star Search grand prize. They were the biggest live act in country music for years. 25 years for a band is a pretty big milestone. Where’s the love?

Okay, this is only comic related in the fact that the Three Stooges had a few comic series over the years. Really, I’m just thrilled that Sony has finally decided to give Three Stooges fans the DVD collection they’ve been waiting for. (I told you, I like things from before my time.) For years the only way to get all 190 Three Stooges shorts was to pay hundreds of dollars for a poor quality bootleg set on eBay (I made my own when I got tired of waiting). That’s still the only way to get all 190 right away, but at long last Sony is releasing beautifully remastered, chronological (and affordable) DVD sets. A welcome change from the over-priced, unrestored ‘themed’ DVDs they’ve given us for years. Eventually they plan to release all 190 shorts (and all 5 Columbia features), but this is a new venture. Vol. 1 came out last year, Vol. 2 came out last month, Vol. 3 is scheduled for August. This is the best the Stooges have ever looked. Here’s what you’ll find on Volumes 1 & 2:

The Three Stooges Collection Vol. 1 (1934-1936) - WOMAN HATERS; PUNCH DRUNKS; MEN IN BLACK; THREE LITTLE PIGSKINS; HORSES’ COLLARS; RESTLESS KNIGHTS; POP GOES THE EASEL; UNCIVIL WARRIORS; PARDON MY SCOTCH; HOI POLLOI; THREE LITTLE BEERS; ANTS IN THE PANTRY; MOVIE MANIACS; HALF-SHOT SHOOTERS; DISORDER IN THE COURT; A PAIN IN THE PULLMAN; FALSE ALARMS; WHOOPS, I’M AN INDIAN!; SLIPPERY SILKS

The Three Stooges Collection Vol. 2 (1937-1939) - GRIPS, GRUNTS, AND GROANS; DIZZY DOCTORS; 3 DUMB CLUCKS; BACK TO THE WOODS; GOOFS AND SADDLES; CASH AND CARRY; PLAYING THE PONIES; THE SITTER-DOWNERS; TERMITES OF 1938; WEE WEE MONSIUER; TASSELS IN THE AIR; HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND DUMB; VIOLENT IS THE WORD FOR CURLY; THREE MISSING LINKS; MUTTS TO YOU; FLAT FOOT STOOGES; THREE LITTLE SEW AND SEWS; WE WANT OUR MUMMY; A DUCKING THEY DID GO; YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA; SAVED BY THE BELLE; CALLING ALL CURS; OILY TO BED, OILY TO RISE; THREE SAPPY PEOPLE

Tons of classics in here. Some of my favorites: Punch Drunks, Men in Black (“Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard”), Three Little Beers, Disorder in the Court (“He’s asking you if you swear-” “No, but I know all the woids!”), Grips, Grunts & Groans (Stooges meet pro wrestling!), and We Want Our Mummy. They are all great eye-poking fun with Larry, Moe and Curly. Highly recommended for fans of the trio or classic comedy in general.

A test to see how many people who come by my profile are classic comedy fans also. You may have noticed by the comics I read – Lone Ranger, Zorro, Project Superpowers – that I tend to like things that are from before my time. So what do you think of when I say “NIAGARA FALLS!!!”?

OK, don’t get me wrong. I love Batman and Superman, Spider-Man and the X-Men, just like every other comic fan (c’mon, you know you do). I just don’t read their comics regularly anymore. I can’t afford to. My comic money is little, so I have to be picky. That said, there are two current companies that I will happily give money to.

1: Dynamite Entertainment. The Lone Ranger brought me back to comics after more than a decade. Project Superpowers is an exciting (re)introduction to great Golden Age characters. Zorro is just about the best written comic I’ve read. The first issues of The Man With No Name and Brothers In Arms are very promising. Buck Rogers is coming down the road. Dynamite is growing quickly and producing some of the best comics I’ve read in years. Not all of their titles are my cup of tea – sorry, not a Red Sonja fan – but I enjoy enough of them to make them my #1 comic company.

2: Red 5 Comics. My introduction to Red 5 Comics was the Atomic Robo/Neozoic Free Comic Book Day issue. Atomic Robo was simply awesome. Since then I have been able to check out Atomic Robo (again, simply awesome), Abyss (great new take on villains and the heroes who fight them), and Midknight (every bit as entertaining as Abyss – where’s the animated series?). So far, I’ve enjoyed every Red 5 title I’ve read. Of course, Robo is my favorite. Neozoic is next on my ‘to read’ list.

Honorable Mention – Platinum Studios. I also recently checked out Hero by Night – both the mini and the ongoing. Another great series outside the big companies. Cowboys & Aliens and Unique are also sitting on my ‘to read’ list.

This excellent variety of material is a way better use of money than the ‘Infinite Final Invasion War Crises of the Year.’ In my humble opinion, at least. And a lot fewer fanboys gripe about this stuff…

“There is a weapon in the universe more powerful than all others. No more coveted, feared, loved, or hated thing exists. Only a fool, or a madman – or the right man – would dare possess… the Star Brand!”

Those words appear on the first page of Star Brand #1, above of picture of Ken Connell – wielder of the Star Brand – pressing a railroad car over his head. How could any self-respecting comic book fan resist that opening pitch? That text box alone hooked me on this series. The issues I’ve read (which are only from Jim Shooter’s time on the series) are excellent. We’ll see if the rest of the run (total 19 issues, 1 annual) lives up to it.

Shooter’s work on the book (issues 1-7) is collected in Star Brand Classic Vol. 1.

The New Universe Collected is a list of TPBs collecting Marvel’s original New Universe. The New Universe was Jim Shooter’s grand celebration of Marvel’s 25th Anniversary in 1986. While the line was completely cancelled in 1989 (after 174 total issues), there were some great stories told in that time. In the beginning there were eight series – Star Brand, Spitfire & the Troubleshooters (later Codename: Spitfire), D.P.7, Psi-Force, Justice, Nightmask, Mark Hazzard: Merc, and Kickers Inc. Only four – Star Brand, D.P.7, Psi-Force and Justice – survived past the first year. In 2006, prior to Warren Ellis’ reimagining of the New U in newuniversal, Marvel released a series of 5 one-shots and 3 back-up stories as Untold Tales of the New Universe. Each of the original series was featured in one of these tales. I have just started reading the original New Universe stuff (I picked up some random Star Brand issues at a garage sale, and am now waiting on full runs of Star Brand and Nightmask from eBay), but I have become fascinated with the concept. I am happy to see Marvel re-releasing some of this stuff in trades now, so I thought I’d make a list of them to help introduce fellow New U newbies to the excitement of the original New Universe. So far they have released one volume each of Star Brand, D.P.7, and Psi-Force, along with a collection of all 8 Untold Tales, but hopefully more will be coming, especially with the changes the New U underwent after the first year. You can see evidence of the changes here in these old Marvel Age covers:

For years the Lone Ranger has been viewed, by those few who even knew who he was, as old and corny. The Lone Ranger was a goody-two-shoes cowboy on a silly old black & white TV show. Well, that guy was once a hero to millions, and he’s always been one of mine.

The Lone Ranger is one of the earliest TV shows I can remember watching. I can remember being 3 or 4 watching at my house with my mom and dad. If we were at Grandma’s house, we would watch it with Grandma and Grandpa. Everyone enjoyed the Lone Ranger.

One of my earliest Christmas memories is circling the Lone Ranger and Tonto action figures in a Sears catalog. When Christmas came, I got the Lone Ranger and Silver, and my brother got Tonto and Scout. We set them up and made Mom take pictures so we wouldn’t forget.

Sometime after the movie ‘Legend of the Lone Ranger’ I drifted away from the character, but would still get excited when I would see or hear something new with him. Now, grown up with kids of my own, I got excited when I found some old Lone Ranger episodes on one of those $1 DVDs at Wal-Mart. Now, I can sit and watch my old hero with my kids just like I used to with my dad and my grandpa. (OK, my 14 year-old isn’t really into it, but my 5 year-old loves it.)

The Lone Ranger is a hero for all ages, and it is due to the character’s core values that have always remained intact. The silver bullets he uses to remind him of the value of life, which is why he never shoots to kill. His belief that all men are equal, displayed in his partnership with an indian at a time in our history when they were treated very unfairly. The Lone Ranger Creed states all that the character stands for:

“I believe…

That to have a friend, a man must be one.

That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

That God put the firewood there but that every man must gather and light it himself.

In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

That ‘This government, of the people, by the people and for the people’ shall live always.

That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

That sooner or later … somewhere … somehow … we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever.

In my Creator, my country, my fellow man.”

Currently Dynamite Entertainment has a Lone Ranger comic series that is awesome. This one series is what brought me back to comics in 2006, after more than 12 years out of the hobby. It seems a lot of older fans think the series is a betrayal of the character. They see none of their hero in this current interpretation. I disagree. While the series is too violent to share with my 5 year-old, such actions are carried out by the villains, not our hero. To date (issue #11) the Lone Ranger himself has stayed remarkably true to these values his creators placed such strong emphasis on 75 years ago. The world around him may have changed, but the man himself is essentially the same as he has been since his earliest radio beginnings. What more could you ask from a hero?

So, I really enjoy the Project Superpowers series from Dynamite. One of my favorite things about it is researching the characters and their original Golden Age adventures. Now that people are discovering these characters and their stories are public domain, meaning anyone can use them, I expect we’ll see many more collections of their original tales in the future. So I wanted to create The Essential Project Superpowers Archive Omnibus! A list of these collections. OK, so right now the “list” consists of 1 hardcover – The Complete Green Lama Vol. 1 – but I’m sure it will grow. I mean, The Complete Green Lama Vol. 2 comes out in November, so that’s 2…