bronze johnny

Andy, You have some incredible books up. It must be tough to part with them. I dread the day my collection goes. For me it's not just letting go of the book but that memory or connection the book has with my childhood- especially my Rocks and Unknown Soldiers. All the best. John

In terms of comic book history, who is a more significant: Enemy Ace or the Unknown Soldier?

Do you think this was a good deal? Our Army At War 83 Ebay Item #350340850381

I'm curious about two things here: - What was the motivation behind counterfeiting Cerebus 1? Money? I wonder if Sim ever followed up on his suspicion and confront the suspect(s)?

Do you know if there was any legal action taken?

Does anyone have a copy of this book and the original that they could scan?

Some questions about what is arguably the most notorious Bronze Age Comic Book: - Was the source of the counterfeit Cerebus 1s ever uncovered? - # of counterfeits printed? - Was this counterfeit a first for comic books?

When we discuss what the BA is, let's not forget the rise of diverse comic book characters. (I've included a one of my earlier threads discussing this below) As a Bronze Age collector I could not help notice the lack of discussion concerning what I believe to be one of the most important historical developments to ever occur during the Bronze Age. This development is one of the great trends to ever flow through the history of the American Comic Book. It is the introduction and rise of comic book characters who are of a different racial and/or ethnic background.. America had become a more diverse society during the 1970's. And so did that great American art form, the comic book. While the Siver Age re-introduced the superhero as a comic book genre, it was the Bronze Age that diversified her/him. But the Silver Age deserves credit for introducing the Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 (1967) T'Challa is the first Black Superhero (I do recognize that T'Challa was initially a nemisis for the Fantastic Four). It is also noteworthy that the Falcon, Marvel's second Black Superhero, later appears with one of the great symbols of our nation, in Captain America 117 in 1969, and later teams up with Cap during the early years of the Bronze Age. DC joins the trend in 1971 by introducing the comic book company's first Black Superhero, John Stewart, in Green Lantern #87. It is not until 1972 that the diversity trend really starts to take shape when Marvel introduces Luke Cage, the first Black Superhero to star in his own comic book in 1972. Red Wolf, the first Native American comic book character, is given his own book by Marvel, albeit for a short run. The trend continues when the Black Panther stars in Jungle Action #5. And we must not forget Shang Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, who begins a long run after first appearing in Marvel's Special Marvel Edition #15. The mid-seventies sees the introduction of a number of other diverse characters that include Black Goliath and Omega the Unknown. And in 1977, Black Lightning, DC's first Black superhero, is given his own book. In order to see the significance of the Bronze Age Trend of Diversity and what it has meant to the American comic book, it is enough to just look around today and see the diversity trend continuing. The same above mentioned characters that first appeared during the Bronze Age may not still be around all the time and are not considered major characters by most comic book collecters. Nevertheless, the diversity trend that began during the Bronze Age still shines through the many diverse characters that continue to appear and re-appear throughout the "American Comic Book Universe" today. And no time prior to the Bronze Age did this trend exist. As previously mentioned, America was becoming a much more diversified nation during the 1970's and the Bronze Age of Comics became the first era in "comicbookdom" to reflect this trend.

Where are the high grade copies of this book?

Fantastic book! I've been looking for this book in 9.0-9.2 condition for 4 years! I still haven't found one. If you ever happen to come across one that you would consider selling- please let me know. Thanks, and congrats on getting a phenomenal book!

Has anyone seen the article in the OPG #39 concerning the greatest war books ever? Does everyone agree with the article's conclusions?

Shep- great books!

Where are the War collectors?

Shep, After I happened to shell out alot of money for a high grade copy of GL 76 several years ago, my view as to it being the 1st BA book started to change after reading the war books- especially OAAW 196. "You hit it right on the nail." John

Kudos to Sterling Comics- Fabulous Seller! I look forward to doing business with you again!

Shep, Your post has given me reason to start a thread questioning the validity of the argument that GL 76 is the first comic book to have stories based on real life issues. Thanks, John

Shep, Great analysis as always (with exception to our continuing respectful disagreement over the 1st app. of the Unknown Soldier-but that's one we can pick up another time). I have been looking at GI Combat 138 and Our Fighting Forces 123 and wondering whether- besides being the first BA war book- one of these two books might have even started the BA. Some collectors might give me hell for this. All the best, John

It's nice to be back on on the forums- I hope everyone is well. I've got a question: Is there a first Bronze Age war book? If so, then what is it?

Shep, Once again you've made a great contribution to this thread! Now all we need to do is find all those printed copies that were never sold! John

Did any of the war books ever see an increase in circulation at any time during the BA? bronzejohnny

Hello "war-mongers!" (The great war collectors that keep this thread going on forever...) - Very cheerful discussion. I'm going to raise this question for discussion: Was Marvel's G.I. Joe of the 1980s a Bronze Age War Book? bronzejohnny

Definitely! The greatest and most important BA War Book. It's time to bring him back. Any idea if DC might bring the Unknown Soldier back? John

Shep, I agree with you about the Unknown Soldier being a Bronze Age character-perhaps the BA's greatest war character. But that will never nullify the fact that OAAW #168 was his 1st app. I also see the Unknown Soldier through BA "lenses." What makes SSWS #151 such a special book in BA History and the History of the American Comic Bool is that it begins the process of further defining this amazing mysterious character to the reader. A character we can never truly know. Your points about BA War creations and the lack of them is noteworthy. While we might disagree about some things, you and the other war threaders here make this "infinite" journey through the BA fun and enlightening. John

How can we distinguish a character that is by his very nature "unknown." You are saying that the character is different, yet, how can you draw that conclusion if we don't know who the Unknown Soldier is? Look, Kubert himself is on record as saying that the Unknown Soldier in OAAW #168 is what he originally wanted- the Unknown Soldier. Now, if you want to disagree with me, that's fine. But if you want to disagree with the character's creator because you just think the OAAW #168 Unknown Soldier (or unknown character) is different from the SSWS #151 Unknown Soldier (who is also an unknown character), that's your opinion. I'll side with Kubert and Comic Book History. The guys at Overstreet originally had SSWS #151 as the Unknown Soldier's 1st app. up until several years ago, but they corrected this. I'm sorry some of you guys don't want to accept this (I initally felt the same way). Again, I'll say that SSWS #151 begins the Bronze Age's attempt to further define this unknown character (remember, the amazing thing about the Unknown Soldier is that he is unlike any other comic book character because we can never know his identity-- for once we discover who he is, then he is no longer the Unknown Soldier). And there was only one Unknown Soldier- the one that Sgt. Rock knew as stated on the cover of OAAW #168- the 1st. app. of THE Unknown Soldier! bronzejohnny

We hit this issue before. It's pretty clear that OOAW 168 is the first appearance of the Unknown Soldier. While some people might not like the Unknown Soldier as he appeared in OAAW #168, he was still referred to as the Unknown Soldier- a Silver Age creation. The Bronze Age gets credit for further defining the Unknown Soldier. The Overstreet Price Guide is correct in labeling OAAW #168 as the Unknown Soldier's 1st app. Remember the caption on the cover- "I knew the Unknown Soldier" Finally, it was Joe Kubert's intent to create this character in OAAW #168. Read SSWS #157 abd see the connection. bronzejohnny