“I should be a movie star, maybe a cartoon character, maybe a video game….”
As the year winds down, it’s always good to take a look back at how far you may have progressed (or regressed). Making progress is always the thought process and the end game in anyone’s life. Regression can always be looked upon as to a positive if you recognize the reason for the setback(s). So with that said, with my business, I always reflect. I reflect often actually, but reflecting at year’s end regarding business is always an important thing to do….for me.
Often times, going through the archives is a fun reflection. Going through, I often find myself saying “Wow, that was bold.” Or “Wow that was silly.” It really works both ways. Sometimes the palms over face is very necessary. “I said that?” It’s a lot of fun reading this stuff. Recognizing how far you have truly come. Where to from here? I ask myself. Wherever the imagination and keyboard decide to go, that’s where.
COMIC DEALER
COMIC DEALER
I recently ran across an old article I drummed up that placed comic book characters in a 3 place setting. In which forum would it be a fun to see these obscure (not so obscure) comic characters? A movie, a cartoon or a video game? Some of the characters I just spoke about, in reference, to rescue from obscurity hell. Like, wouldn’t it be nice if we saw this character (or team) get some bounce again? Check out some of the silliness and some of the great points too made from 2013/2016. Please understand, this is all in fun, an opinion. There is no right or wrong here. You like Superman’s red underwear, I don’t. Maybe you like all your heroes in underwear, I don’t. Maybe you are one of the Star Wars Last Jedi protestors. You know, the ones that have literally started a petition trying to exclude The Last Jedi from cannon. For really, not making this up. People (not fans), have actually done this. Why would anyone go to such great lengths like this to prove their point? It’s okay to see things differently. No big deal. It’s all a vision seen by others, not yours. It’s comic books, it’s sci-fi we’re talking here….none of this is real.
Going way off point from where originally started, but hey it happens.
So check out some of these great comics suggested below. First and foremost, read them, enjoy them. Don’t worry yourself on whether they are worth any money or not. Worry yourself on when you can find the time to chill and read a great comic story. Appreciate the effort put forth by the creators in bringing the entertainment the way they used to. Too many times creators today are writing storyboards for a movie they want made and not concentrating on the actual concept of a “comic book.” But really, this is a debate for another time and place. Bottom line, enjoy your comics.
Happy holidays to everyone. Thanks for the positive feedback and for pointing out I typed a number seven instead of an eight.
Rom
Rom (Movie/Toon/Game) – Marvel Comics made the Rom toy a cult favorite comic book. Now IDW will pick up the mantle and start an entirely new race and galaxy realm without any Dire Wraiths (Marvel owns that). Although a Rom based movie would seem a bit campy probably to make, we thought that of the Transformers idea too, but that worked. Maybe an animated show would fair better here.
*Rom #1 (1979) Writer Bill Mantlo and art by Sal Buscema. Cover art by Joe Rubinstein and Frank Miller. 75 issues. Rom’s first venture ever outside of his book came in Power Man and Iron Fist #73 (1981). Cover by Frank Miller.
Power Pack
Power Pack (Movie/Game) – As InvestComics called this comic out back in 2010, who would have known Marvel Studios would report directly to Disney eventually? We did of course. Eventually Disney will take over complete creative control, so with that said we get Power Pack on this list. A made for movie comic book right in Disney’s wheelhouse. It’s probably a matter of WHEN this will get done, not a matter of IF.
*Power Pack #1 (1984) First appearance. Writer Louise Simonson and art by June Brigman. Cover art by June Brigman and Bob Wiacek. Lasted 62 issues.
Micronauts
Micronauts (Movie/Game) – This toy line went on to spawn a plethora of comic books from many different companies, but it’s Marvel Comics who got things started in 1979. A movie would seem a fantastic way to go here. Michael Bay?
*Micronauts #1; First appearance. Bill Mantlo writes, art work by Michael Golden. Cover by Dave Cockrum and Al Milgrom. Lasted 59 issues.
Moon Knight
Moon Knight (Movie/TV/Game) – InvestComics has been on this character since the inception of the website 10 years ago. If there is one character we feel that will guarantee to breakout into its own movie or television series, this dude right here is it. (A rare thing to get any sort of guarantees here on InvestComics). Check out the ultimate Moon Knight checklist from InvestComics right HERE. You will not find a better list. We guarantee it.
*First appeared in Werewolf By Night #32 (1975). First solo comic; Marvel Spotlight #28 (1976).
Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight (Movie) – Canada’s bad as* team needs to get their due. An absolute breakout film if it would ever get done. This team is the real deal.
*First appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #120 (1979). Alpha Flight #1 (1983) was written by John Byrne, art by John Byrne and cover by Byrne and Terry Ausin. Lasted 130 issues. If Alpha Flight ever takes flight and makes it to the big screen, Alpha Flight #1 will be the equivalent of New Mutants #98 in the sense that although there is a major overprint run on the book, it’ll command big dollars in the aftermarket.
Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner
Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner (Movie) – No stranger to InvestComics readers here. covered a few times over the years (BEFORE Disney became the official bosses recently) that Disney has conquered land and space on the big screen. Just a matter of time before they hit one of their favorite places; water. So many successful films for the Mouse company taking place in the depths of water. How about that first live action water superhero movie Disney? It starts right here with Prince Namor. It has to.
*First appearance Motion Picture Funnies Weekly Volume 1 #1 (1939). Fantastic Four #4; first Silver Age Namor. Stan Lee writes, art by Jack ‘King’ Kirby and cover by Jack ‘King’ Kirby and Sol Brodsky. Just like InvestComics informed buyers to buy the first Inhumans at ANY grade in the past few years, buy this comic book at any grade, doesn’t matter. Buy it. The Sub Mariner #1 (1968) comic is definitely one to have in your collection once the movie finally comes to fruition. No doubt here (another guarantee). The series lasted 72 issues.
The Pro
The Pro – (Movie/TV) Here is an awesome movie or HBO/AMC television show waiting to happen. A prostitute superhero tries to find her way within the grand scheme of things with a baby in tow. A cable comedy series that would kill. This comic story is not suitable for all readers. If you’re easily offended, this book is NOT for you. A movie here would be good, but leaving audiences wanting more probably, so a television series would be the better route here.
*The Pro (2002) from Image Comics; Written by Garth Ennis, art by Amanda Connor and cover by Connor/Jimmy Palmiotti.
Zot
Zot (Movie/TV) This awesome 80’s comic was a hit. A Scott McCloud creation would look fantastic on either the big or small screen. This series was a popular one back in the 80’s. It’s a Scott McCloud creation. It was from Eclipse Comics, which put out some great comics. Zot lasted about 40 issues or so. The first issue is a scarce get.
*First appeared in Zot #1 (1984) from Eclipse Comics. The series lasted 36 issues. Also check out a rare appearance in Image Comics’ Savage Dragon #41 (1997). Actually, A LOT of rare appearances in that comic!
Jack of Hearts
Jack of Hearts #1 (1984) – One of the best D level Marvel characters ever. Back in 1984, the Jack of Hearts limited series hit with little fanfare, but was still a great read. Writer Bill Mantlo brought Jack of Hearts to a new level here. So much so (insert sarcasm here) that Jack of Hearts went on to appear about 10 more times in various comics in the next 7 years. Jack first appeared in The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #22 (cameo). His first full appearance is in the next issue; The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #23. Here’s a cool thing here. The creator of Jack of Hearts (Bill Mantlo) teamed with the great Keith Giffen on the cameo issue, then teamed with Legend Gil Kane for the first full appearance. That’s an impressive cameo and first right? Oh Jack of Hearts where art thou?
*First appearance; The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #22 (1976). This was a Marvel magazine. Jack of Hearts’ first comic book appearance was in The Incredible Hulk #213 (1977). Jack of Hearts four issue limited series from 1984 is an easy get.
Quasar
Quasar (Movie/TV) With Marvel’s cosmic universe on the doorstep of breaking out in a serious way on the big screen, why has this forgotten cosmic character not entering into the conversation with anyone? The character would make for a better weekly television series probably, but seeing him on the big screen would seem cool too.
*First appearance (Wendell Vaughn); The Incredible Hulk #234 (1979). Quasar’s first solo adventure came in 1989’s Quasar #1. It also happens to be an origin book.
Sunfire
Sunfire (Movie/TV/Toon) As Disney slowly takes complete creative control over Marvel Studios, we will see more female characters and cultural characters. A fantastic Japanese Marvel character to possibly go to would be Sunfire.
*First appearance; Uncanny X-Men #64 (1970).
Jack O’ Lantern
Jack O’ Lantern (Movie/TV) Marvel’s pumpkin head character would make for an amazing yearly Halloween movie or television bit. Why not have this dude scare the daylights out of us every year in some sort of Halloween special? Have him face third rate Marvel characters and win! Halloween always wins on Halloween.
*First appeared in Machine Man #19 (1981). Cover by Frank Miller and Terry Austin. Oh yes, Legend Steve Ditko pencils and inks this bad boy. A book to own no matter what anyway!
Six From Sirius
Six From Sirius #1 (1984) – An amazingly fun four part space epic from Marvel’s imprint Epic Comics. Writen by Doug Moench and pencils by Paul Gulacy. The series did well and spawned another limited series a year later. Rumors had this coming to the big screen a few times, but who knows if that will ever happen. A great story here nonetheless.
Vigilante
Vigilante #1 (1983) – Boy was this a great comic back in the 80’s. With Marvel’s Punisher character gaining more popularity, DC gave fans Vigilante and it was spectacularly fun. Brought to you by the always reliable great storyteller Marv Wolman and art by Keith Pollard. Vigilante’s first appearance was in New Teen Titans Annual #2 (Adrian Chase). The series went on to last only 50 issues, but what a fantastic action packed comic book run it was. Alan Moore and Gil Kane were part of this great series. Vigilante #50 was a controversial issue because Vigilante took his own life, thus ending the series of course. A scarce series ending issue. Low print run.
The Badger
The Badger #1 (1983) – Speaking of fun action packed comics, The Badger was just that. Capital Comics had a few comics that are worth looks, this was one of them. They went out of business and Badger moved on to First Comics as of issue #5. Writer Mike Baron at the helm here. A great independent title that lasted 70 issues.
Blue Devil
Blue Devil #1 (1984) – Here is a DC rated D character that first appeared in The Fury of Firestorm #24. An engaging character that never really caught on with many, but did have a following. The series went on to last 31 issues, but Blue Devil has appeared throughout the DC Universe on a regular basis despite the non demand for him thereafter. He recently showed up in one of the InvestComics Hot Picks (#369) Justice League #40. And this book is semi-hot right not. Not because of Blue Devil.
Jemm Son of Saturn
Jemm Son of Saturn #1 (1984) – Here is the first appearance of this character in a 12 issue limited series. Jemm goes on to make brief appearances, but never takes on a leadership role. Another D level character here. An interesting limited series featuring Superman in issues 3-6. Gene Colon pencils. Jemm also appears in the recent Justice League #40.
-Jay Katz
Jay Katz, a comic book collector since 1983, is the owner/creator of InvestComics LLC since 2005. InvestComics LLC was originally a magazine before the website launched in 2005.
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