Tass Times In Sunuria

Back in 1975 one of the more unusual fanzines emerged. 

Charlton Bullseye, rather obviously devoted to Charlton Comics, lasted for only 5 issues in its original incarnation. But those few issues were packed with talent. Editors included Bob Layton and Roger Stern, and the first issue credits alone included "John Byrne, Nick Cuti, Steve Ditko, Jeff Jones, Dave Kaler, Sanho Kim, Frank Maynerd, Allen Milgrom, Jim Starlin, Joe Staton, Roger Stern, Howard Siegel, Tom Sutton, Barb Weaver, Phil "Lester" Wesner, and the Big Cheese-George R. Wildman."

For a quick peek inside today, let's just look at the story that goes with that first issue cover. It's a two-parter, continued in the second issue, but E-Man got the second cover. I can't complain about that - i dig E-Man and Joe Staton. 

This tale picks up after an 8 year gap, with words by Roger Stern (using the name Jon G. Michels for part one) and art by Steve Ditko and John Byrne!

When i look at the clean black & white on some strips and covers like these, i think of having some fun colouring.
That might not make a bad post, eh? 
A collection of things to print and colour for some fun while trapped inside by Trump Flu in the air.

Hmm... 

page art by Steve Ditko and John Byrne from Charlton Bullseye #s 1 & 2 (1975)

He Does What He Must...

Even a hermit tends to keep at least one friend. I'm off today to chill with him and watch Avengers: Endgame. No telling if i'll make it back for a more substantial post.

While i'm gone, you can chill with Galactus as John Byrne reveals what he looks like without the helmet 8 years before he went drinking with Herc...

Now i'm off to be a Watcher...

the big G by John Byrne from Contemporary Pictorial Literature #11 (1974)

Skipping Rope In The Nude

It all started in the letters page.

One of the downsides to knowing that you're a comic book character - you could get drafted to answer your own fan mail. Eventually, that led to this remark from Jennifer...

Well, she wasn't wrong...

Of course, she tried to kill that idea real quick...

But, the very next issue...

And so...

Ah, the magic of illusion.

For an extra punchline to the joke, on the very next page...

Some days writing She-Hulk was easier than others. Let's see them try to adapt that scene to the movies, eh?

page art by John Byrne for Sensational She-Hulk #40 (1992)

Who's That Mucking About Down Below?

As we noted yesterday, She-Hulk was well aware of her status as a comic book character (long before ol' Deadpool figured it out).

As long as you're in comics, might as well parody other comics, right? And so they did...

...and those bits are all from just one single issue!

Of course, she wasn't limited to just parodying comics...

page art by John Byrne, Dave Gibbons, Frank Miller, Walt Simonson, Terry Austin, Howard Chaykin, Adam Hughes, and Howard Mackie for Sensational She-Hulk #50 (1993)

Deadpool's Big Green Mama

Deadpool has a formidable power set. But, arguably his greatest power is Awareness. He knows he's a character in a comicbook (or movie), and that grants him knowledge and power as well as great snark. But someone else at Marvel paved the way for him. Right from the cover of her first issue (of her second run)...

And,no - it's not just a cover bit.
Let's look at She-Hulk's comments as she's wrapping up her first adventure (vs. the Circus Of Crime, following in her cousin's massive footsteps)...

(Yeah, we did)

The cover of the second issue continued to reference Bruce's old adventures, not only comics-aware but also comics-in-hand...

...unfortunately for Jennifer, it wasn't just the cover...

She not only knew she was in a comic book, but also was quite aware of the conventions of the form and of Marvel publishing history...

Knowing that she's in a comic also means knowing that entertaining the audience is primary. She'll even pause the story during a slow point to help keep the readers amused...

Okay. That might leave you a bit confused to the extreme definition of 'talking head panels' but there's a good reason. They've gone all Spock's Brain on her...

DeFalco was Head Honcho at the time, so you'd think his word would carry more weight, huh? Don't worry - they did make good sense of it all by the end.

Oh - "LOOK! The Blonde Phantom is here tonight!"

As you may remember from yesterday's post, Louise Grant's primary concern, even in her heroic identity of Blonde Phantom, was usually getting together with her boss, Mark Mason. Did she succeed and finally become Mrs. Mason?

Oh, yes...

Note that Louise mentions that she was the one who contacted Jennifer. That's because she was tired of existing in comics limbo. She managed to escape by becoming a supporting character in another book.

Yes, Louise is aware, too. And more experienced than Jennifer. After Jen starts to become infatuated with the D.A., Louise lets her in on some important information. Then she shows her how to use her awareness of their reality...

It being a comic, of course their lunch gets interrupted - by Stilt Man (a part of the book's declared policy of using only lame villains, y'know). She-Hulk ditches most of her expensive outfit to keep it from being ruined, and after the fight...

No, of course it wasn't Victor Von Doom when The Doctor arrived(nor was it The Doctor, for that matter) ...

Instead of Doctor Doom, Jen got Doctor Bong - an old Howard The Duck villain. She-Hulk is drawn (really, i didn't do that) into a television reality where she and the others are trapped at the channel changing control of Bong...

The bad Doctor has always been deranged, and Saturday morning cartoons have really set him off this time. Fortunately, Jen eventually realizes that they aren't really on tv...

(I did mention that he was a Howard The Duck villain, right?)

The appearance of an old Howard The Duck villain also teases the future here. Before too long, Steve Gerber would wind up writing the book - including the next (un)appearance of Dr. Doom ... Victor's 5th cousin, Dr. Bob Doom, D.D.S. And he's got an evil implant plot to rival his cousin. Yeah, it's the next worse thing to sibling rivalry. Vic gets all the acclaim.

So, by her 5th issue she was mastering the manipulation of her reality as a comic character.

55 issues later...

And so it went...


Before we go -
Some may be wondering yet about the title from a couple days ago teasing today's post. It comes from a bit later in the run...

...there. All makes sense now, right?

page art by John Byrne & Bob Wiacek, Brian Hitch & Jim Sanders III from Sensational She-Hulk #s 1-5 & 19 (1989, 1990)