Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 20

Closing in on the Winter's Solstice, we f-f-f-f-find s-s-s-s-ome re - ah- reading material. The k-k-k-kind that goes well with yesterday's Lester Lan-a-lan-a-lanolin song might fit nicely in the background. Pull the f-f-f-flap and find out! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 20

Come on now and meet everybody!

Here is an issue of the comic book adaptation of "The Partridge Family". Like several episodes of the series and a bunch of the novelizations of the show, this one features the family band driving into a creepy ghost town. Apparently this was a plot line that never got old. It also features a couple of other stories as well as some cool ads for books "written by" David Cassidy and Susan Dey. Enjoy!

The Partridge Family Comic Book Issue #11

A Six Million Dollar Comic

I still haven't purchased the complete Six Million Dollar Man box set yet. I know sooner or later they'll eventually sell the seasons individually for a much cheaper price at Target and I'll start getting them then. They did the same thing with Get Smart. When they first released it, you could only get the complete series and the price was astronomical. Now you can get two season packs at Target for $20.00. However, if anyone is feeling very generous and would like to buy me the box set of The Six Million Dollar Man, feel free. I won't turn it away. Anyway, one of my favorite memories as a child was the day my mom took me to the local drug store in downtown Clinton, CT. It was an awesome, old fashioned drug store complete with a counter where you could sit and have a cup of coffee or enjoy a fountain drink. They had the coolest magazine and comic book rack. My mom bought me an issue of The Six Million Dollar Man comic book that became my favorite comic book of all time. While that issue was lost some time ago, I share with you, today, the first issue of that great comic series. Here is issue 1 of The Six Million Dollar Man. Enjoy!

The Six Million Dollar Man Comic Book Issue #1

Would You Believe A Comic Book?!

For the new year I have made a resolution that I will watch a complete season of a random show every month. For the first month, I chose season one of "Get Smart". I first came to love this show when it was in reruns during the day. I remember having to go to kindergarten as soon as it was over every day. I watched it all the time and loved it! I also am the proud owner of a few original copies of the "Get Smart" comic book. Today I share one of those with you now. Here is the very first issue of that comic book released by Dell publications in 1966. Enjoy!

Get Smart Issue #1

PS - If you enjoy "Get Smart", stay tuned to the blog for a brand new feature that will start with a "Get Smart" episode. More to come on that later . . .

Moe, Larry, Shemp and Bogus?

Today I bring you the final issue of the first run of Three Stooges comics from the early 1950s. These were put out by St John's comics and feature the trio that was featured in the shorts of that era; Moe, Larry and Shemp. However, Norman Maurer, the man responsible for the Stooge comics (as well as keeping the torch of the Stooges aflame for ages) felt that they needed an additional character. The result was a character named Bogus. The character is so named because he is a con man. He uses the Stooges as, well, stooges. But in true Stooge fashion, ends up a victim of circumstance. Check it out in The Three Stooges Comic Issue 7. Enjoy!

The Three Stooges Comic Book Issue 7

The Illustrated Dean and Jerry

Here's an issue of the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Comic Book from 1954. Although not as funny as the real comedy duo, it's still pretty cool to read it knowing that there was a time then Dean and Jerry were the biggest thing on the planet. Because of this, DC Comics decided to publish THE ADVENTURES OF DEAN MARTIN AND JERRY LEWIS. The comic ran from 1952 to 1957. So the comic book adventures of Dean and Jerry outlasted the duo's break up by a few years. After 40 issues, Dean was removed from the series (gasp!) and it was retitled THE ADVENTURES OF JERRY LEWIS and the series continued until 1971. Here is issue #10 from January 1 of 1954. Enjoy!

Martin And Lewis Comic Book 10/1/54

Darkhorse Strikes Back

A few posts ago I shared the Marvel Super Special comics adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back with you. In 1997, Darkhorse Comics released what they called "The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition" comic. It sported a new cover featuring a portrait of Han Solo against the backdrop of Bespin. Other than that, it was pretty much the exact same comic book. They brightened it up a bit and added what I can only call "color correction" to make it look a lot nicer, but it is still the same comic book. See if you can spot any other differences when you check out "The Darkhorse Empire Strikes Back Special Edition". Enjoy!

Dark Horse Comics-The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition

The Comic Side of Indiana Jones

Following up my last post of "The Story of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", today I present the Marvel comics adaptations for both "Raiders of The Lost Ark" and "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom." When the films came out, Marvel put out their adaptations on the news stands. Each film came to the colorful pages of Marvel in both a 4 part edition and a Super Special edition featuring the whole story. The Super Special Editions were considerably larger than a normal comic book and were much cooler to own. Not only that, you didn't have to spend as much money to get the complete story. I share with you both of those Super Special Edition Movie Adaptations. Here is "Radiers of The Lost Ark" and "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom" in their comic incarnation! BTW, I will never refer to "Raiders" as "Indiana Jones and The Raiders of The Lost Ark". It will always be "Raiders of The Lost Ark" to me and I refuse to use the "new" title. Enjoy the comics!

Marvel Super Special Raiders of The Lost Ark

Marvel Super Special Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom

The Best of The World of Wonder: Billy & The Boingers!

If you grew up in the 80s you were privy to two of the greatest comics of all time. One was Calvin and Hobbes and the other was Bloom County. In fact, I dare say that Bloom County might be the greatest comic ever. In 1986, smack dab in the middle of the hair band regime, the story line of Bloom County turned towards the characters forming a band called "Deathtöngue". The band was created by lawyer Steve Dallas and their first single, "Demon Drooler of the Sewer" (which sold with "Leper Lover") peaked at 1,012 on the Top 100 list. Their record deal with CBS Records fell through because of explicit lyrics on their song, "Let's Run Over Lionel Ritchie with a Tank." During congressional hearings on "porn rock," Dallas, under grilling by the wives of several congressmen, completely caved into congressional pressure and announced the band had changed their name and image. The rechristened "Billy and the Boingers" embarked on their first world tour, sponsored by Dr. Scholl's Odor Eaters, which consisted of a single gig: the Moose Lodge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was around this time that Berkley Breathed, the creator of Bloom County, announced a songwriting competition for what would be the real first single from Billy and The Boingers. Two entrants were picked for a flexi-disc that was released with a collection of the strips entitled,"Billy and The Boingers Bootleg". The songs were "I'm a Boinger", written and played by the Harry Pitts Band, and "U-Stink-But-I-♥-U", written and performed by the band Mucky Pup. Here now are those songs! Enjoy!

Billy and The Boingers

A Month of Monkees: 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Comic

Here we have the last of the Monkees comic books that I am posting during this "Month of Monkees". The last two issues we posted were issues 7 and 8. I would love to end this series of posts with the next two consecutive issues but unfortunately I don't have the next two issues. So, we have to jump a few issues. Here are issues 13 and 14 in the Dell Comic Book Series of The Monkees. Enjoy!

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 13

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 14

BONUS:
Here is a super cool magazine from the 60s that is pretty much totally devoted to The Monkees. It's an issue from Fall of 1967 that features articles like "The Monkees Talk About LSD (that one's pretty funny!), "The Kind of Mail The Monkees Would Answer" and then some. There's also a few articles about The Mothers of Invention, The Mamas and The Papas and a few more groups but most of the magazine is dedicated to The Monkees! Enjoy!

Freak Out Magazine Fall 1967

A Month of Monkees: The Spy Who Came In From The Comic

More Monkees Comics! Here are the next two issues of the Dell Comic Book series featuring The Monkees from the 60s! These comics make great reading material for all ages. This time we have issues 7 and 8. Enjoy!

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 7

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 8

A Month of Monkees: Monkees A La Comics

Here, in order, are the next two issues of the Dell Comic Book series based on The Monkees from 1967. They are issues number 5 and 6. It's interesting to note that many of the scenes in the comic books are expanded versions of many of the "romps" in the original television series. Check them out!

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 5

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 6

A Month of Monkees: The Comic Carrying Red Shoes

Here are some more issues of the Monkees comic book from 1967 as put out by Dell Comics. Continuing in order, these are issues 3 and 4. As with the last two, the comics are complete with the exception of full page ads that don't feature the Monkees. Enjoy!

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 3

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 4

A Month of Monkees: A Comic Too Frequent

Today marks a first for the World of Wonder. For the first time in 3 1/2 years I am sharing a comic book! It may seem odd that I am making a big deal about it but after all this time of sharing albums and singles and ads and everything else, a comic book sharity is a brand new item for me. While some people choose to post their comic books in pdf files, I have chosen to simply just post each page as an individual jpg file. It was the easiest way for me to do it at this time. So, after all of that, the first comic book post is of course the comic book version of "The Monkees". In March of 1967, Dell Comics started a monthly comic book containing all new adventures of the pre-fab four in full color. Throughout the month, I will be posting various issues of the Dell comic series in their entirety. The only things missing are the full page ads that have nothing to do with The Monkees. Today I share with you the first two issues. Enjoy!

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 1

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 2