#mljohnson

[shamelessdonkeyplaiddreamer]

Johnson amazing tank https://youtu.be/ZN9NlKLxBq0 #johnson,#johnsonamazingtank,#johnsonmobilelegends,#johnsonbestbuild,#top1johnson,#rank1johnson,#mobilelegendsjohnson,#johnsonbuild,#johnsongameplay,#mobilelegendsjohnsonbuild,#topglobaljohnson,#top1globaljohnson,#johnsonml,#mljohnson,#johnsonbesttank,#mobilelegendsjohnsongameplay,#worldbestjohnson,#johnsonguidemobilelegends,#johnsonitemfullarmorbesttank,#johnson”,#topjohnson,#johnsonmlbb,#johnsonmobilelegendsbuild,#buildjohnson,#tank,#johnsontopglobal https://www.instagram.com/p/CAqBL1iH3Xf/?igshid=13abvxvsv7rr6

[culturejunkies]

This Ain't Your Father's Captain America

By mljohnson

Secret Empire #0 Captain America

Captain America has gone to the dark side.  That’s probably enough for some readers to stop reading this right now.  Anyhow, for those of you not in the know, Steve Rogers, his now the Supreme Leader of Hydra, Marvel’s most high profile terrorist organization.

Cap’s arch enemy, The Red Skull, used a sentient Cosmic Cube, Kobik, to change Cap’s past so that he’s always been a Hydra Agent.  In essence, every writer that’s ever written a Captain America story, wrote about a sleeper agent of a Nazi affiliated terrorist group.

  Divided Fan Base?

In a time where the political climate of the US is a quagmire of differing ideologies, we can see that a story like this would be a sign of the times.  Captain America’s status quo have readers split.  The changes attributed to Captain America has angered many longtime readers.   They believe that taking the backbone, the consummate Marvel idealist and turning him into a ruthless terrorist, goes beyond the pale.  However, others feel that this change in Cap’s personality make this story and the character more compelling.

Some readers are convinced that others fear change, however, oth

ers are genuinely appalled that a character, created by two Jewish Men, is now the leader of an organization with ties to the Nazis.  This is the man that punched Hitler!!!  Being a Cap fan myself for many years, I can understand that point of view.

  Deja Vu

Marvel is repeating history.  In 1994, Marvel embarked on a similar ambitious event with the Spider-Man Clone Saga.  Readers discovered that the Peter Parker who’s adventures readers had been following since 1975 (Amazing Spider-Man #149) was a clone.  This infuriated longtime readers and drove many of them away from the books.  However, Ben Reilly (the clone, the Scarlet Spider) became popular with some readers.  Marvel is doing the same thing with Captain America, but with tighter control.  Instead of dealing with clones, Cap’s a terrorist and his one time partner, The Falcon, has taken up the mantle of Captain America.

Change is good; however, good changes are even better.  We’ll know how this all pans out in the near future.   After surviving the draining of the Super Soldier Serum and even death, how does Captain America recover from this?   During this run, Cap has killed heroes and betrayed all of his core principles.   The events in Captain America: Steve Rogers and Secret Empire are compelling, but can’t simply be reset.  Will there be real, long-lasting consequences?   We’ll see, but this definitely isn’t your father’s Captain America.

[culturejunkies]

Comic Book Junkie Archive: Weird Science Fantasy #18 Judgment Day

By mljohnson

Publication Date: March – April 1953 Writer(s):  Al Feldstein Artist(s):  Joe Orlando

I know I’ve probably said this before, but this is truly one of my favorite comics!  I was FINALLY able to purchase a copy and am extremely proud to have it in my collection.  Max Gaines founded EC Comics (nee Eastern Color, Educational Comics, Entertaining Comics) but the company came into prominence under his son, William Gaines.  EC was primarily a publisher of horror, suspense and science fiction comics.

EC’s themes were targeted by Dr. Fredric Wertham who published his book, Seduction of the Innocent.  Wertham’s book blamed comic books for juvenile delinquency and claimed that they had a harmful effect on children.  In response, William Gaines helped form a self-policing organization that would fight censorship, The Comics Magazine Association of America, which gave us the infamous Comics Code Authority.  Ironically, a story from this very issue, reprinted 3 years later, would lead to one of the first and most famous challenges to the CCA.

 Judgment Day

EC Comics adapted Ray Bradbury’s Zero Hour in this issue, but takes a backseat to our main story.   Writer Al Feldstein and artist Joe Orlando created Judgment Day.  The story starts off as innocuously as any other EC Comic.   Tarlton, an astronaut from the Galactic Republic (years before Star Trek or Star Wars) arrives on a planet inhabited by robots.

Humans created this robotic society after they evolved into a star spanning race and Tarlton had come to check on their progress, in hope that they were ready to join The Galactic Republic.  The robots, although the same in every way, are different colors, Orange and Blue.  The Orange robots enjoy freedoms, rights and liberties that are denied the Blue robots.  Scenes of bias are presented in heartfelt and poignant ways without preaching to the reader.

Tarlton determines that the planet of robots should not be admitted to the Galactic Republic because of the prejudiced treatment inflicted upon the Blue robots.  As he enters his spacecraft, settling in for the long journey home, the Astronaut removes his helmet and we see for the first time, that Tarlton is a Black Man.  From the Comic…

    The End of EC Comics

This was really big deal when originally published in this book in 1953, think about it.  In 1953, America wasn’t ready for Judgment Day.  This story was published during the height of Jim Crow and two years before the birth of the Civil Rights Movement.  Yet, here was a Black Man admonishing another culture about racism and bias.  This story was light years ahead of it’s time.  This was a seminal moment, not just in comics, but in literature.

It was a punch in the face to the people who wanted to keep the status quo of the “simpler time” of the 1950s. In February 1956, EC Comics reprinted Judgment Day in Incredible Science Fiction #33.   EC Comics ended their comic books publishing with this issue because of the fierce criticism of the book and push back from the executive director of the CCA.

  Things you may not know about EC Comics or the Comics Code Authority (or maybe you do)…

EC’s MAD Magazine is the company’s lone title still being published today.

William Gaines testified before Congress for engaging in “Anti-American Activities” because of Wertham’s book.

EC Comics inspired the movies Creepshow and Creepshow 2.

The Comics Code Authority had no real power.  Publishers could create what they wanted, but distributors would not carry the comics without the code seal affixed to them.

Archie Comics was the last participant still using the Comics Code Authority, submitting their last comic in 2011.  The CCA is now defunct.

  Thanks for reading! If you love it or hate it…let me know. Hit me if you have any suggestions or if there’s a particular character you’d like to hear about. Thanks!!

[culturejunkies]

Comic Book Junkie Archive: Superman vs Muhammad Ali

By mljohnson

All-New Collectors’ Edition #C-56  Superman vs. Muhammad Ali

Publication Date: Spring 1978 Writer(s): Dennis O’Neil Artist(s): Neal Adams

When I was a kid, my Uncle Frank brought me a box full of comics and I can proudly say that I still have most of them to this day. This particular comic book was in that box and holds a special place in my heart. The fact that it was given to me by one of my favorite uncles makes it even more special, but the magic of this book lies on the printed page! I mean, picture a kid in 1978 whose father was huge Ali fan and the kid himself wishes he could fly like Superman. I saw this cover and fell in love! Superman vs. Muhammad Ali isn’t just an over-sized comic book, it’s a seminal piece of 70s culture. Not only do you have a clash of titans, the Neal Adams cover makes it a destination for all that was cool and groovy during the waning decade of the 70s. His cover is so littered with 70s icons, the book actually has a coded seating chart of who’s who printed on the inside cover. Take a look and see if you can find your favorite 70s star from Wolfman Jack to President Jimmy Carter! If you can’t tell, I love this book…LOVE IT!!! This is a 72 page tabloid sized comic, so please…bear with me!

The Cover of The Century

  The Who’s Who In the Gallery

Aliens Set Up Prizefight of The Century

Our story begins with intrepid reporters Clark Kent, Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen walking the streets of Metropolis following a tip that Olsen received at the WGBS News room. They happen upon a pickup basketball game and who’s playing basketball with the kids? None other than The Champ…The Greatest…Muhammad Ali! Ali agrees to an interview, but suddenly an alien appears. The alien pushes Lois to the ground, then backhands Ali when he comes to her defense. Ali punches the alien so hard, he’s thrown from his flying apparatus. Superman flies into space and sees an alien armada surrounding the Earth. Superman returns to the playground and snatches up the alien who then explains that he is from a race called The Scrubb. They believe humans to be this galaxy’s most warlike and savage people and in order to prevent Earth from becoming a threat to their people, the alien proposes a challenge…Their greatest champion versus the Earth’s!

Superman and Ali begin to argue about who should take on the alien champion. The alien has had enough of their bickering and decides that they will fight each other for the honor of being the Earth’s champion, giving them 24 hours to prepare. Arriving at his Fortress of Solitude they begin their training. Superman builds a boxing ring constructed around a Kryptonian Continuum Disruptor which places them at the “Fringe of creation” where time crawls, effectively stretching their 24 hours into two months. Superman uses a Red Sun generator to take his powers away and Ali starts training Superman in the Sweet Science! The Scrubb renege on their 24 hour promise. After a brief battle with Scrubb Robots, the two champions fly to an awaiting spaceship where their fight will be broadcast across the universe! The fight is to take place in orbit around the Scrubb planet which circles a Red Sun, effectively making Ali and Superman equals. The alien leader, Rat’Lar introduces them to the alien champion, Hun’Ya, a HUGE hulking beast.

  Who is The Greatest? Who Else?!

Fight Day! Many alien races pack the ship’s stadium to watch the fight. The Scrubb allow Jimmy Olsen to do the play by by…much to the chagrin of a dismayed Howard Cosell. Superman and Ali approach the ring, Superman with Perry White (1959 Golden Gloves Finalist) and OJ White of the US Olympic Boxing Team and Ali with cornerman Bundini Brown and trainer Angelo Dundee. The fight starts! The two titans stalk each other in the ring. Ali throws a jab and misses! Superman takes the fight to Ali and lands a right jab to the head. They trade blows, Superman’s copied Ali’s style to a “T”! But The Champ goes to work…tagging Supes with solid lefts and rights that would have felled other opponents, but Superman won’t go down!! Bleeding and bruised, Superman continues to absorb punishing blows from Ali, until Ali walks away from the fight, refusing to kill in the ring. Ali is declared the winner and refuses to let the aliens help Superman telling them “Hands off! Take our slimy hands off that man! We’ll take care of our own!”

Superman is in critical condition and has to be flown back to Earth where restoring his powers is the only hope of saving his life! It’s on to the Main Event for Ali, where he now has to fight the man-monster Hun’Ya. Before the fight starts, an ethereal, glowing woman descends to the center of the ring. She is Pallas Athene…the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, there to enforce the rules of Fair Play. Meanwhile, we catch up with Bundini Brown sneaking through the alien ship, taking out guards left and right. Cut back to the fight and Ali is being pummelled by Hun’Ya…using his patented rope-a-dope to no avail, Ali is rocked, blow-by-blow from Hun’Ya. Back to Bundini Brown who’s found his way to the communications center of the spaceship, he takes out another two guards and…LO and BEHOLD…that’s not Bundini Brown…that’s Superman in disguise. Super-Bundini then uses his superior mimicking skills to send the armada surrounding Earth back home and commandeer a spaceship to return to Earth and a yellow sun. Back to the ring where Rat’Lar has paused the fight to give an apparently losing Ali a proposition…stop the fight and have the people of Earth become slaves to the Scrubb or face annihilation! A defiant Ali assures Rat’Lar the Hun’Ya is going down!! The fight commences and Ali lays into Hun’Ya raining body blows and uppercuts on the man-beast! Rat’Lar contacts his armada…he sees that Ali has the upper hand and in an act of treachery orders them to destroy Earth. Finding out that they have been ordered to return, he tells them to go back and complete their mission.

Superman catches up to the Alien Armada and away from the influence of the Red Sun, he regains his powers and takes them on. Back on the space ship, Ali is completing his destruction of Hun’Ya, knocking him out of the ring and into the front row! Rat’Lar, now driven totally over the edge, vows to destroy the Earth even though Earth’s champion won. A projection of Superman’s fight against the armada flashes across the stadium and as Superman destroys the armada his limp body floats in space. Emboldened by Superman’s apparent death, Rat’Lar plans to launch another attack against Earth when Hun’Ya, inspired by Ali’s treatment of Superman and Superman’s sacrifice against the armada, destroys his throne and deposes the power mad dictator. Back on Earth, Ali and Superman congratulate each other and Ali reveals that he knows Superman’s secret identity is Clark Kent.

Interesting Notes you may (or may not) know about Superman vs. Muhammad Ali

The book was inspired by a song called Muhammad Ali the Black Superman by Johnny Wakelin.

Superman had already met real life icons JFK, Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope in other comics before this one.

It’s rumored that Ali would only allow his likeness to be used if he would learn Superman’s secret identity during the story.

The book went through so many delays that Ali lost the title before the book went on sale. He regained it after publication in September of 1978.