Friday, October 16, 2015

CRASHING THE PARTY -- THE NEW BLUE BEETLE !!!


These were exciting times in the comic books. If it weren't for Steve Ditko, we wouldn't have the Spider-Man we've grown to love and we wouldn't have the Silver Age Blue Beetle we've enjoyed through the years.
As much as I like Jack Kirby, I'm glad Ditko got ahold of Spider-Man!

Blue Beetle had some cool gadgets!


The replacement Blue Beetle created by Charlton Comics, later published by Americomics and then DC Comics, is Ted Kord, a former student of Dan Garrett, the original Blue Beetle, a genius-level inventor and a gifted athlete. Kord and Garrett were investigating Kord's Uncle Jarvis when they learned Jarvis was working to create an army of androids to take over Earth. Garrett changed into Blue Beetle, but was killed in battle. As he died, he passed on to Kord the responsibility of being Blue Beetle, but was unable to pass on the mystical scarab.


Ted Kord, as The Blue Beetle, was the first superhero Steve Ditko started applying his philosophy through. Read those Charlton Ditko issues done around the same time as his run on The Question: they’re amazing, as is Objectivism’s gradual presence in the work.




Captain Atom #83
"The Blue Beetle"
Introduction (the origin would come later) of Tod Kord as the Blue Beetle as he faces the Killer Koke Gang.
Written by Gary (Sgt. Fury) Friedrich, from a plot by artist Steve (Captain Atom, Question) Ditko.
Also reprinted in the Modern Comics series.


Includes many hard to find stories, featuring John Byrne & Alex Toth!
The Action Heroes Archives Volume 2
Reprints Captain Atom #83.
Blue Beetle figure on the cover taken from page 12 of Blue Beetle #2.
Dick Giordano provided a great Foreword.

The Watchmen were originally going to be the Charlton Action Heroes. I'm glad it didn't end up that way.

Blue Beetle was the basis for Night Owl of Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons's The Watchmen for DC Comics. 


DC Comics first appearance of Blue Beetle was in the first issue of the Crisis on Infinite Earths mini-series.  

Simply put, an awesome book!

Comic Book Artist Magazine's Christopher Irving explored the history and uncovers the secrets lurking under the cover of the character's comics in The Blue Beetle Companion. The nice trade paperback runs the gamut of Blue Beetle's 60-plus years of evolution - from the world of Fox Comics, to an in-depth history of Charlton Comics and all the way to Blue Beetle's venue at DC Comics. The Companion features  interviews with Will Eisner, Joe Simon, Joe Gill, Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and many other fine creators. 

CW is doing right with DC characters!
CW's Arrow (taking the Green Arrow moniker this season) was going to introduce Ted Kord, but was eventually replaced by Ray Palmer, The Atom. However, they continue to make references to Kord Industries in the series, from the second and into the new, fourth season.


Live Large My Friends!

Thank You!

Ditko sketches!

 

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