The Daring & The Different

I have a genuine fondness for the DC comics of the 1967-74 years, a transition period of sorts between the Silver and Bronze Ages. The art and the stories were actually better in many ways than the Golden and Silver Ages, as the comics industry was starting into its 3rd generation of talent. Don't get me wrong though, the Golden and Silver years were raw, bold, colorful, and wonderful — with a huge nostalgic factor. 

Below is a tribute by Nick Cardy, one of the 2nd generation artists that was at the top of his game during this period. I have bittersweet memories of this time, as it bookended my high school years into my army years, when I was still collecting as I could, attending early comicons and such, and seeking out my favorite creators to shake their hands.

Nick Cardy — Comic Book Artist — 1999

Rarity

A rarity! On this day absolutely nothing happened in the DC Universe!

DC calendar page 

This is from either 1976 or 1977, I can't remember. Pre Final Crisis though, in the good ol' silly DC daze. I miss that daze and those days.

A Saga

Oh, hey! Happy birthday to Joe Kubert, whose gold, silver and bronze age work brought so much enjoyment to so many people!

I bought ANYthing with a Kubert cover!

Joe Kubert — Showcase #82 — May, 1969

World's Finest

I haven't purchased or read new comics for the last several years. I'm sure there's some good stuff out there somewhere, but it's too cumbersome to look for it. I mourn the passing of the days when comics were just a good ol' goof ball of a time, with art that was solid and stories that were, well, goof ball, but fun. The golden and silver ages were cool, but some of the best art and stories were from the DC Bronze Age world—artists like Gil Kane (at his finest), Neal Adams (at his finest), Joe Kubert (at his finest), Curt Swan (at his—okay, you get the point of being at their finest), and oh some many others, including Nick Cardy (sigh, yes, at his finest).

My personal method of bracketing the Bronze Age is from the time of the go-go checks on DC comic covers, in the mid 60s, to Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, in the mid 80s. I grew up in the silver age, but my fondest memories of the comic book experience are from that Age of Bronze. After The Dark Knight, there was some good stuff, but primarily dark and gritty, with bewildering continuities. And now DC is going to reboot continuities once again, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to be getting any of my money.

Wonder Woman has been drawn by a millyum artists, with a millyum different takes on her personality and costume. But my all-time favorite WW 'look' is from the Bronze Age, by Nick Cardy. Simple, clean, stylish. If only the new reboot had this look and feel on all their books, I'd be spending a LOT of money on comics, and I think some of you would as well.

Nick Cardy — Wonder Woman — 1973

From the Ah, If Only Dept.

These 2 pages, drawn by Curt Swan, helped usher the Silver Age of DC into the Bronze Age. There's a lot of nostalgia for Gold and Silver Ages, but a lot of that stuff was pretty lame and silly. The Bronze Age of the super heroes was pretty good stuff, still a little silly, but not so obviously.

Ah, if only I could go back to '71, the things I'd do differently. For one thing I would appreciate that time more than I did the first time around. Also I'd spend a little more dough, collecting stuff—and hanging on to it!

Across the Ages

I have a love/hate attitude toward the Silver Age of comix. Much of it has little appeal for me, but some of it still feels good—none more so than Joe Kubert's take on Hawkman.

Here is an across-the-ages special panel that Kubert drew, during the bronze age, of the Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkwoman battling the Golden Age Gentleman Ghost.

Bridged the Ages

Al Williamson's comix art bridged the ages, bringing Golden Age excitement into the more refined aesthetic of the Silver and Bronze Ages.

Selina Kyle Wayne

My favorite image of the Catwoman character, the Earth-2 Selina Kyle Wayne, rendered by Dave Stevens. Sigh. Comics would have been the better for it if only Stevens had done mainstream stories.

Besides which, I miss the original Earth-2 concept, blending from the Silver to Bronze Ages.

Bring to Life

Joe Kubert was my comic book idol in the Silver and Bronze Ages. I collected everything he did, not matter how minor (read ads for toys and ads with Ed McMahon in 'em). He has been part of all the ages us geeks worship. Not all his stories were super wonderful, but his art made 'em seem that way. As he says in the promo directly below, he had the pleasure to bring cartoon characters to life.

Here he introduces Firehair in a couple of promos, and then below those is a short Firehair story from one of the Son of Tomahawk issues.