
DC Comics has released a teaser for the second arc of the Reign of Doomsday event, currently occurring across several DC titles.
News and Ramblings from the World of Geekdom, and just pretty damn spiffy stuff.



This is the *preliminary* list and is not complete. The complete, and much more accurate, list will be published next week. This information is compiled from a variety of sources including Diamond Distribution and our friends at Things From Another World.
Remember, when you order any of these titles, whether here or at your local comic book shop, NOW instead of waiting closer to the release date, you save money AND you save the time of hunting down the issue after it sells out. To find a local comic book shop, please browse The Master List of Comic Book & Trading Card Stores.
PLEASE NOTE- Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. Let me know if any of the names or numbers are wrong. Items being released this week per sources other than Diamond Distribution are individually noted.
PUBLISHER
TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS ("AR" means "ask your retailer for the price")
12 GAUGE COMICS
RPM #3 (Of 4), $3.99
ABRAMS COMICARTS
Fairy Tales For Angry Little Girls HC (not verified by Diamond), $17.95
ABSTRACT STUDIOS
Echo #28, $3.50
AMRYL ENTERTAINMENT
Cavewoman Hunt #2, $3.75
AMULET BOOKS
Manga Shakespeare The Merchant Of Venice GN (not verified by Diamond), $10.95
Manga Shakespeare Twelfth Night GN (not verified by Diamond), $10.95
ARCANA STUDIOS
Hexen Hammers GN (not verified by Diamond), $14.95
Unimaginable GN (not verified by Diamond), $14.95
ARCHAIA ENTERTAINMENT
Feeding Ground #4 (Of 6), $3.95
ARCHIE COMICS
Archie Double Digest #216, $3.99
Betty & Veronica #252, $2.99
ARDDEN ENTERTAINMENT
Flash Gordon Invasion Of The Red Sword #1 (Cover A), $3.99
Flash Gordon Invasion Of The Red Sword #1 (Cover B), $3.99
AVATAR PRESS
Crossed Psychopath #1 (Of 6)(Jacen Burrows Regular Cover), $3.99
Crossed Psychopath #1 (Of 6)(Jacen Burrows Red Crossed Retailer Incentive Cover), AR
Crossed Psychopath #1 (Of 6)(Matt Martin Torture Cover), $3.99
Crossed Psychopath #1 (Of 6)(Raulo Caceres Wraparound Cover), $3.99
Freakangels Volume 5 HC, $27.99
Freakangels Volume 5 HC (Warren Ellis & Paul Duffield Signed Edition), $39.99
Freakangels Volume 5 TP, $19.99
BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT
Eureka Seven Novel Volume 4 SC, $8.99
BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS
10th Muse Manga Giant Sized (One Shot), $3.99
Fame #11 (Beyonce)(not verified by Diamond), $3.99
Mark Zuckerberg Creator Of Facebook (One Shot), $6.99
Roger Corman Presents Deathsport #3, $3.99
Styx & Stone #2, $3.99
Vincent Price Presents #26, $3.99
Vss Vs Gearz (One Shot), $3.99
BONGO COMICS
Bart Simpson Comics #58, $2.99
BOOM! STUDIOS
Art Of Boom Studios SC (resolicited), $24.99
Dracula The Company Of Monsters #7, $3.99
Incorruptible #15 (Cover A Jose Holder), $3.99
Incorruptible #15 (Cover B Garry Brown), $3.99
Incorruptible #15 (Cover C Jeffrey Spokes), AR
Muppet Sherlock Holmes TP, $9.99
Traveler #4 (Cover A Francesco Mattina), $3.99
Traveler #4 (Cover B Chad Hardin), $3.99
Traveler #4 (Cover C Paul Rivoche), AR
Walt Disneys Comics & Stories #716, $3.99
BOUNDLESS COMICS
Lady Death #2 (Garrie Gastonny Regular Cover), $3.99
Lady Death #2 (Michael Dipascale Art Deco Retailer Order Incentive Cover), AR
Lady Death #2 (Juan Jose Ryp Wraparound Cover), $3.99
CAMPFIRE
Stolen Hearts The Love Of Eros And Psyche GN (Campfire Graphic Novels), $11.99
Strange Case Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde GN (Campfire Graphic Novels), $9.99
Swiss Family Robinson GN (Campfire Graphic Novels), $11.99
COMIC SHOP NEWS
Comic Shop News #1236, AR
DARK HORSE COMICS
Chronicles Of Kull Volume 4 The Blood Of Kings And Other Stories TP, $18.99
Doctor Solar Man Of The Atom #5, $3.50
Eerie Archives Volume 6 HC, $49.99
Giant Size Little Lulu Volume 3 TP , $24.99
John Carter Of Mars Warlord of Mars TP, $29.99
King Conan The Scarlet Citadel #1 (Of 4)(Darick Robertson Regular Cover), $3.50
King Conan The Scarlet Citadel #1 (Of 4)(Gerald Parel 25th Anniversary Variant Cover), $5.00
Kull The Hate Witch #4 (Of 4)(Fabio Cobiaco Variant Cover), $3.50
Kull The Hate Witch #4 (Of 4)(Tom Fleming Regular Cover), $3.50
Metalocalypse Dethklok #3 (Of 3)(Jon Schnepp Variant Cover), $3.99
Metalocalypse Dethklok #3 (Of 3)(Eric Powell Regular Cover), $3.99
Star Wars Darth Vader And The Lost Command #2 (Of 5), $3.50
Star Wars Legacy War #3 (Of 6), $3.50
DC COMICS
Action Comics #898, $2.99
American Vampire #12, $2.99
Batman Arkham Asylum Series 1 Batman Action Figure, AR
Batman Arkham Asylum Series 1 Harley Quinn Action Figure, AR
Batman Arkham Asylum Series 1 Joker With Scarface Action Figure, AR
Batman Arkham Asylum Series 1 Scarecrow Action Figure, AR
Cartoon Network Action Pack #57, $2.99
Cover Girls Of The DC Universe Poker Set, $199.00
DC Chronicles The Sandman Statue, $99.99
DC Comics Presents Batman Conspiracy #1, $7.99
Detective Comics #874, $2.99
Gotham City Sirens #20, $2.99
Green Arrow #9 (Rodolfo Migliari Regular Cover), $2.99
Green Arrow #9 (Shane Davis & Jonathan Glapion Variant Cover), AR
Hellblazer Pandemonium TP, $17.99
JLA The 99 #5 (Of 6), $2.99
JLA Trophy Room Sinestro Power Battery Prop Replica, $350.00
Justice League Generation Lost #20 (Dustin Nguyen Regular Cover), $2.99
Justice League Generation Lost #20 (Kevin Maguire Variant Cover), AR
Justice League The Rise And Fall HC, $24.99
Justice Society Of America #48, $2.99
New York Five #2 (Of 4), $2.99
Power Girl #21, $2.99
Scalped #46, $2.99
Scalped Volume 7 Rez Blues TP, $17.99
Seven Soldiers Of Victory Volume 2 HC, $39.99
Showcase Presents The Justice League Of America Volume 5 TP, $19.99
Teen Titans #92, $2.99
Telara Chronicles TP, $17.99
DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING
Blue Sheep Reverie Volume 3 GN (not verified by Diamond), $12.95
Kizuna Volume 2 GN (Deluxe Edition)(not verified by Diamond), $19.95
Love Syndrome GN (resolicited)(not verified by Diamond), $12.95
Then Comes Love GN (not verified by Diamond), $12.95
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
Black Terror #14 (Alex Ross Regular Cover), $3.99
Black Terror #14 (Stephen Sadowski Variant Cover), AR
Frankenstein Prodigal Son Volume 2 #3 (Scott Cohn Regular Cover), $3.99
Green Hornet Blood Ties #4 (Of 4)(Johnny Desjardins Regular Cover), $3.99
Green Hornet Blood Ties #4 (Of 4)(Johnny Desjardins Black & White Variant Cover), AR
Green Hornet Volume 2 Wearing O' The Green TP, $19.99
Kato #8 (Ale Garza Regular Cover), $3.99
Kato #8 (Ale Garza Black/White/Green Incentive Cover), AR
Kato #8 (Carlos Rafael Variant Cover), AR
Mercy Thompson Moon Called Volume 1 TP, $16.99
Queen Sonja #14 (Carlos Rafael Regular Cover), $3.99
Queen Sonja #14 (Fabiano Neves Regular Cover), $3.99
EIGOMANGA
Alpha League SC (not verified by Diamond), $19.95
FILMFAX
Filmfax #126 (not verified by Diamond), $9.95
FIRST SECOND
Lewis & Clark GN (not verified by Diamond), $16.99
FUTURE PUBLISHING
SFX Special #48 (Vampires Special)(not verified by Diamond), $17.99
GALLERY
Can You Survive The Zombie Apocalypse SC, $16.00
HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE
Heavy Metal Spring 2011, $6.95
IDW PUBLISHING
Eternal Descent #6 (Of 12)(Jason Metcalf Regular Cover), $3.99
Eternal Descent #6 (Of 12)(Jason Metcalf Variant Cover), AR
Fallen Angel Return Of The Son #2 (Of 4)(J.K. Woodward Regular Cover), $3.99
Fallen Angel Return Of The Son #2 (Of 4)(J.K. Woodward Variant Cover), AR
G.I. JOE #27 (Robert Atkins Regular Cover), $3.99
G.I. JOE #27 (Tom Whalen Variant Cover), AR
Kill Shakespeare #9 (Of 12)(Kagan McLeod Regular Cover), $3.99
Spike #5 (Of 8)(Nick Runge Regular Cover), $3.99
Spike #5 (Of 8)(Jenny Frison Variant Cover), AR
Star Trek Infestation #2 (Of 2)(Casey Maloney & Gabriel Rodriguez Regular Cover), $3.99
Star Trek Infestation #2 (Of 2)(John K. Snyder III Regular Cover), $3.99
Star Trek Infestation #2 (Of 2)(Zombie-Fied Star Trek Logo Variant Cover), AR
Transformers 3 Movie Prequel Foundation #1 (Of 4)(Brian Rood Regular Cover), $3.99
Transformers 3 Movie Prequel Foundation #1 (Of 4)(Andrew Griffith Interconnected Variant Cover), AR
Transformers Rising Storm #1 (Of 4)(Brian Rood Regular Cover), $3.99
Transformers Rising Storm #1 (Of 4)('10 Copy Incentive' Cover), AR
Transformers Rising Storm #1 (Of 4)('20 Copy Incentive' Cover), AR
True Blood Tainted Blood #1 (J. Scott Campbell Regular Cover), $3.99
True Blood Tainted Blood #1 (Joe Corroney Regular Cover), $3.99
True Blood Tainted Blood #1 (Steve Mewlin Photo Variant Cover), AR
True Blood Tainted Blood #1 (J. Scott Campbell Sketch Cover), AR
White Viper TP (resolicited), $19.99
IMAGE COMICS
Angelus Volume 1 TP, $14.99
Artifacts #5 (Of 13)(Cover G 2nd Printing), $3.99
Echoes #3 (Of 5), $3.99
Godland #34, $2.99
Mission #1, $2.99
Morning Glories #7, $2.99
Outlaw Territory Volume 2 GN, $19.99
Savage Dragon #169, $3.50
Skullkickers #6, $2.99
Spawn #203 (resolicited), $2.99
Spawn Architects Of Fear (One Shot)(resolicited), $6.99
Spawn Origins Volume 3 HC, $29.99
Term Life GN, $16.99
Turf #4 (Of 5)(Cover A Tommy Lee Edwards), $2.99
Turf #4 (Of 5)(Cover B John Paul Leon), AR
Turf #4 (Of 5)(Cover C John Romita Jr), AR
Walking Dead Weekly #8, $2.99
Who Is Jake Ellis #2, $2.99
Invincible T-Shirt LG, $24.99
Invincible T-Shirt MED, $24.99
Invincible T-Shirt SM, $24.99
Invincible T-Shirt XL, $24.99
Invincible T-Shirt XXL, $27.99
KENZER AND COMPANY
Knights Of The Dinner Table #171, $4.99
KIDS CAN PRESS
Binky Volume 1 Space Cat GN (not verified by Diamond), $8.95
LOCUS MAGAZINE
Locus #601, $6.95
MARVEL COMICS
Age Of X Alpha (Wil Conrad 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Age Of X Alpha (AOX 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Amazing Spider-Man #655, $3.99
Astonishing X-Men #36 (Jason Pearson Regular Cover), $3.99
Astonishing X-Men #36 (Michael Kaluta Variant Cover), AR
Astonishing X-Men Volume 6 Exogenetic TP, $14.99
Avengers #10 (contains reprint of Heroes For Hire issue 1), $3.99
Captain America #615, $3.99
Deadpool #33, $2.99
Deadpool Corps #11, $2.99
Deadpool Team-Up #884, $2.99
Fantastic Four #587 (Joe Quesada 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Fantastic Four #588, $3.99
Halo Fall Of Reach Boot Camp #4 (Of 4), $3.99
Incredible Hulks #623, $2.99
Incredible Hulks Dark Son Enigma Force TP, $19.99
Invincible Iron Man #501 (Salvador Larroca Regular Cover), $3.99
Invincible Iron Man #501 (Marko Djurdjevic Variant Cover), AR
Iron Man 2.0 #1 (Salvador Larroca Regular Cover), $3.99
Iron Man 2.0 #1 (Dheeraj Verma Variant Cover), AR
Iron Man 2.0 #1 (Marko Djurdjevic Variant Cover), AR
Iron Man Thor #4 (Of 4), $3.99
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Mystic Comics Volume 1 HC, $59.99
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Mystic Comics Volume 1 HC (Direct Market Variant Edition Volume 154), $59.99
Marvel Masterworks The Sub-Mariner Volume 4 HC (Book Market Edition), $54.99
Marvel Masterworks The Sub-Mariner Volume 4 HC (Direct Market Variant Edition Volume 153), $54.99
Namor The First Mutant #7, $2.99
New Mutants #22 (Mico Suayan Regular Cover)(was 'Leinil Yu Regular Cover'), $2.99
New Mutants #22 (Clay Mann Variant Cover), $2.99
Power Man And Iron Fist #2 (Of 5), $2.99
Punisher In The Blood #4 (Of 5), $3.99
Secret Avengers #10, $3.99
Shadowland Street Heroes HC (Premiere Edition)(was 'Shadowland Street Fighters '), $24.99
Shadowland Thunderbolts HC (Premiere Edition), $19.99
Speaker For The Dead #2 (Of 5), $3.99
Spider-Man #11 (Marvel Adventures), $2.99
Thor #620, $3.99
Thor Godstorm HC, $19.99
Thor The Quest For Odin HC (Premiere Edition), $29.99
Thor The Quest For Odin HC (Premiere Edition)(Direct Market Variant Edition Volume 60), $29.99
Ultimate Comics Doom #3 (Of 4), $3.99
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #154 (Steve McNiven Regular Cover), $3.99
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #154 (Sara Pichelli Variant Cover), AR
Uncanny X-Men #533, $3.99
Vampire Tales Volume 2 TP, $19.99
Warriors Three #4 (Of 4), $3.99
X-23 #6, $2.99
X-Factor Happenings In Vegas HC (Premiere Edition), $19.99
X-Men #8 (Terry Dodson Regular Cover), $3.99
X-Men #8 (Chris Bachalo Variant Cover), AR
X-Men Curse Of The Mutants Mutants Vs Vampires HC (Premiere Edition), $24.99
X-Men First Class Volume 1 TP, $14.99
X-Men Forever 2 Volume 2 Scream A Little Scream TP, $16.99
X-Men Legacy #245 (Leinil Yu Regular Cover), $2.99
X-Men Legacy #245 (Paolo Rivera Fantastic Four Anniversary Variant Cover), AR
X-Men Legacy #245 (Clay Mann Variant Cover), AR
X-Men Legacy Collision HC (Premiere Edition), $19.99
X-Men To Serve And Protect #4 (Of 4), $3.99
MCFARLAND
Dracula In Visual Media Film Television Comic Book And Electronic Game Appearances 1921-2010 SC (not verified by Diamond), $45.00
Stephen J Cannell Television Productions SC, $39.95
MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT
Monsters From The Vault #28, $8.98
NAL TRADE
Ayn Rand Anthem GN, $15.00
NEKO PRESS
Deepest Dark A Spooky Tale Illustrated Novel SC, $20.00
Works Art Of Billy Martinez 1994-2008 SC, $20.00
ONI PRESS
Ghost Projekt Volume 1 HC, $19.99
Sixth Gun #9, $3.99
PURE IMAGINATION PUBLISHING
Reed Crandall Reader TP (not verified by Diamond), $25.00
REBELLION/2000 AD
Lenny Zero And The Perps Of Mega City One TP (not verified by Diamond), $17.99
RED 5 COMICS
Abyss Family Issues #1 (Of 4), $3.50
Atomic Robo Deadly Art Of Science #4 (Of 5), $3.50
STARLOG GROUP
Fangoria #301 (March 2011), $8.99
TITAN PUBLISHING
CLiNT #5 (March 2011)(not verified by Diamond), $6.99
Nemesis HC (Titan Premiere Edition), $19.99
Supernatural Magazine #23 (Special)(Newsstand Edition), $9.99
Supernatural Magazine #23 (Special)(Previews Exclusive Edition), $9.99
TOHAN CORPORATION
Megami #56, $17.99
Newtype #43, $13.99
TOKYOPOP
Momogumi Plus Senki Volume 4 GN (Of 6), $12.99
TRANSFUZION PUBLISHING
Vietnam Journal Volume 6 Bloodbath At Khe Sanh TP (not verified by Diamond), $18.99
UNIVERSITY PRESS OF MISSISSIPPI
Working With Disney SC (not verified by Diamond), $25.00
VERTICAL
7 Billion Needles Volume 3 GN, $10.95
VIZ MEDIA
Death Note Black Edition Volume 2 TP (not verified by Diamond), $14.99
Naoki Urasawa 20th Century Boys Volume 13 GN, $12.99
WALTER FOSTER
How To Draw & Paint Pin-Ups & Glamour Girls SC, $14.95
WATSON-GUPTILL
Extreme Perspective For Artists SC, $21.99
YEN PRESS
13th Boy Volume 6 GN (not verified by Diamond), $11.99
Dragon Girl Volume 2 GN, $20.99
Higurashi When They Cry Volume 11 GN (Eye Opening Arc Part 1), $11.99
Hunger Of Seven Squat Bears HC, $14.99
Ichiroh Volume 4 GN, $11.99
Raiders Volume 5 GN, $11.99
Soul Eater Volume 5 TP, $11.99
Sumomomo Momomo Volume 7 The Strongest Bride On Earth TP, $11.99
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT
Grimm Fairy Tales Different Seasons TP, $17.99
Sinbad Volume 2 City Of The Dead TP, $15.99
Cards - NECA
Twilight Eclipse Series 2 Trading Card Box, AR
Cards - PANINI AMERICA INC
Donruss 2010-11 Basketball Trading Card Box, AR
Cards - TOPPS COMPANY
Topps 2010 Supreme Football Trading Card Box, AR
Games - CRYSTAL CASTE
Crystal Pearl Hybrid 10 Piece Dice Set Purple, $9.80
Games - GALE FORCE 9
D&D 4th Edition Cleric Token Set, $12.99
D&D 4th Edition Fighter Token Set, $12.99
D&D 4th Edition Market Square Vinyl Game Mat, $19.99
D&D 4th Edition Paladin Token Set, $12.99
D&D 4th Edition Warlock Token Set, $12.99
Games - MARGARET WEIS PRODUCTIONS
Leverage RPG Core Rulebook, $39.99
Games - PAIZO PUBLISHING LLC
Pathfinder Campaign Setting Serpents Skull Poster Map Folio, $15.99
Games - PSI
Exalted RPG Thousand Correct Actions, $12.99
Globalization Board Game, $39.95
Munchkin Munchkinomicon Expansion Pack, AR
Games - WIZARDS OF THE COAST
Dungeons & Dragons Fortune Cards Aspects Fate Booster Pack, AR
Videos
Chrome Shelled Regios DVD Part 1, AR
Shrek Forever After Movie DVD Widescreen, AR
Merchandise
Avengers Defending Earth Charcoal T-Shirt XXL, $20.99
Bat-Symbol Stripe T-Shirt LG, $17.95
Bat-Symbol Stripe T-Shirt MED, $17.95
Bat-Symbol Stripe T-Shirt XL, $17.95
Bat-Symbol Stripe T-Shirt XXL, $20.95
Captain America WWII Mini Bust, $60.00
Conan Savage Hero T-Shirt LG, $16.99
Conan Savage Hero T-Shirt MED, $16.99
Conan Savage Hero T-Shirt XL, $16.99
Conan Savage Hero T-Shirt XXL, $18.99
Daimon Hellstrom Mini Bust, $95.00
Daredevil Bullseye Costume Black T-Shirt XL, $16.99
Daredevil Bullseye Costume Black T-Shirt XXL, $18.99
Deadpool Icon Black Hoodie XL, $49.99
Deadpool Icon Black Hoodie XXL, $49.99
Disney Formation Arts Lilo & Stitch Box Set, $39.99
Firestar Mini Bust, $60.00
Freddy Krueger 7 Inch Plush, $13.99
Jason 7 Inch Plush, $13.99
Marvel Vs Capcom David Vs Goliath T-Shirt XL, $18.99
Marvel Vs Capcom David Vs Goliath T-Shirt XXL, $20.99
Punisher Plain Jane Black T-Shirt XL, $16.99
Punisher Plain Jane Black T-Shirt XXL, $18.99
Sandman Statue, $200.00
Scarlet Speedster II T-Shirt LG, $17.95
Scarlet Speedster II T-Shirt MED, $17.95
Scarlet Speedster II T-Shirt XL, $17.95
Scarlet Speedster II T-Shirt XXL, $20.95
Smurf King 8 Inch Vinyl Bank, $47.99
Star Wars 4 Piece 10oz Glass Set, $19.99
Star Wars 4 Piece Wood Coaster Set, $7.99
Star Wars Stormtrooper 1/10 Scale Resin Statue, AR
Star Wars Trash Compactor Bookends, $199.99
Thor Hamburst Black Zip-Up Hoodie XXL, $49.99
Thor Loki Costume Green T-Shirt LG, $16.99
Thor Loki Costume Green T-Shirt MED, $16.99
Thor Loki Costume Green T-Shirt XL, $16.99
Thor Loki Costume Green T-Shirt XXL, $18.99
Venom Angel Venom T-Shirt XL, $16.99
Venom Angel Venom T-Shirt XXL, $18.99
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. Any questions regarding the use of this work should be directed to Charles LePage at chuck@comiclist.com.
My brother (AKA Slacker) picked up a rare gem today. Hard to find in the US, a Marvel magazine, Savage Action #1. This is a UK version of the infamous Punisher magazine #1. Never printed or shipped to the states, I've never seen one at a con, or in any back issue boxes. I checked eBay, and not much activity on this book. That makes it hard to price value, but he is a huge Punisher fan and is going for an entire run. I think he is only 4 issues away from a complete set of Vol. 1, with most of the other ongoing series up to current completed as well.
What is LEGENDS OF THE SUPERHEROES? Well, I've seen it with my own eyes, and I'm still not sure. Airing on NBC in January 1979, LEGENDS was apparently one of Hanna-Barbera's few ventures into live-action. If I had to guess, it seems to me like the success of the SUPERFRIENDS Saturday-morning animated series prompted the production of this abomination, a live-action comedy/action kids' show that thankfully only managed to eke out two episodes, most likely because when the people bankrolling this trainwreck saw the finished project, they not only slashed funding, they probably slashed their wrists as well. And who could blame them, really? But I sense that you, gentle reader, might think I'm exaggerating about just how awful this thing was. So let me take you, through the miracle of videotape, through more than a few atrocious moments from LEGENDS OF THE SUPERHEROES.
The episodes both begin with a roll call, introducing the titular legendary superheroes. Who's in the lineup? Leading off is the World's Mightiest Mortal, Captain Marvel, surprisingly introduced here as such, as opposed to the usual "SHAZAM!" labeling the character gets from DC due to Marvel Comics' ownership of the name.
Garrett Craig plays the Big Red Cheese here, and the costume looks, well, not that bad, honestly.
Next up is Green Lantern, or as he's specifically introduced here "The Green Lantern," played by Howard Murphy. GL's costume doesn't look quite as sharp as Captain Marvel's and the mask is pretty laughable, covering more than half his face.
As bad as GL's mask is, he's got nothing to worry about next to Hawkman, whose helmet seems to be made of construction paper, while his wings resemble a nice quilted bedspread on the laundry line.
Not only that, when he dramatically rises up out of the dry ice for his introduction, he lets loose with a mighty squawk that, well, is pretty hard not to giggle at. I'll say this for Hawkman actor Bill Nuckols, though: the guy was pretty ripped back in '79. I mean, look at the guns on that guy.
Surprisingly, next to appear is the Huntress, in what was until just recently her only television appearance ever. The costume looks pretty good here, and actress Barbara Joyce seems to have the necessary, attributes, shall we say, to fill the role.
Why Huntress, though? Especially back in the days when she was only appearing on Earth-2? Well, the obvious choice here, Wonder Woman, was then appearing in her own series on CBS, and DC didn't have that many female characters who weren't merely analogues of male characters, like Supergirl or Batgirl. Of that bunch, the Huntress was undoubtedly one of the coolest (along with one other, who'll be appearing shortly).
This is also the same reason, by the way, that Superman is nowhere to be seen, as his big-budget movie debut was only a few months old, and there were most likely legal obstacles preventing the character's appearance. You ask me, Superman and Wonder Woman should be thanking their agents…
Our next legend, according to announcer Gary Owens (of course -- who else would you hire back in '79?), is "the joy of the oppressed, the wonder of the multitudes," the Flash. Yeah, I wouldn't have guessed from that introduction, either.
Rod Haase doesn't have much to do here as Flash except stand around in one of the goofier costumes, as the show's effects budget is so low, they just stop the camera and have Haase vanish from the frame, just after making an exaggerated "running" pose, to simulate super-speed.
Black Canary makes her first television appearance next, even sporting the mask she wore way back in her first appearances back in the late '40s.
The uni-named actress Danuta plays the Canary, and much like the Huntress, isn't expected to do much more than stand around and look pretty.
Somersaulting toward the screen next is the image of Robin, the Boy Wonder. However, when the acrobatics stop, it's most clearly not the same person in the costume who was doing the somersaults -- instead, it's now-paunchy, middle-aged Burt Ward, who really has no business being in green shortie shorts and flesh-colored tights at his age.
Finally, the star of the show is introduced: Batman, played by real-life legend Adam West, who looks much better back in his Bat-gear than co-star Ward.
Unfortunately, apparently nobody from the show's wardrobe department had ever seen an episode of the classic BATMAN TV show, as no one bothers to tuck Adam's cowl into his cape, resulting in a distracting flapping as the mask hangs loosely from West's chin, making Batman look like he's got a bit of a turkey-neck going on -- hardly a sight to strike fear into the hearts of criminals.
The first episode, "The Challenge," aired January 18, 1979, and opens in the cavernous lair of the superheroes' arch-enemies, referred to logically (if a bit on-the-nose) as "the Supervillains."
The group sits in a semi-circle while the roll is called by none other than the late, great Frank Gorshin as the Riddler. Poor Gorshin -- he must have needed the cash is all I can figure, and he didn't even get to wear the cool business-suit-and-derby ensemble he preferred, instead stuck back in the question-mark-covered tights. You gotta say this for Gorshin, though -- the producers got their money's worth.
In every scene, Frank is chewing up the scenery, emoting, gesticulating and laughing his damn fool head off. Here's Gorshin as the Riddler complimenting his own genius: "If Shakespeare had had my mind, there's no telling how far he could have gone…"
It's not easy to sell a line like that, but Gorshin does it (as does Adam West, in maybe the show's only amusing callback). Even in this piece of crap, Gorshin is eminently watchable. Not that you can hear some of his jokes over the obnoxiously blaring laugh track slapped on this thing.
While Gorshin's Riddler is clearly the star here, the leader of the villains is Mordru the sorcerer, an obscure but recurring villain from DC's far-future LEGION OF SUPERHEROES comic book.
Exactly how Mordru made the list for a network television appearance I'll never know, but the costume is as accurate as it gets, and Gabriel Dell overacts the part with gusto.
Each of the villains answers the roll call by abusing or attacking the Riddler in some way, in one of the show's many running gags that don't really run anywhere. Solomon Grundy is first up, with actually a pretty good makeup and costume job on actor Mickey Morton. Morton plays Grundy to the hilt, and along with Gorshin is one of the few bright spots here.
Also present is Sinestro, played by comedian, impressionist and 1970s funny-voice guy Charlie Callas, who surprisingly makes a pretty good Sinestro, despite not having the red skin or giant head.
Even more surprising is the appearance of comedian Jeff Altman as the Weather Wizard, in another dead-on perfect costume that looks just plain horrific in real life.
Altman is probably best known for his frequent LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN appearances in the '80s (where he often cracked up Dave with his many references to "buttsteak" and his hilarious impression of his father: "I'll flip you like a cheese omelet, buddy. I'll beat you like a rented mule.") and his starring role in what's widely considered the worst TV series ever, PINK LADY AND JEFF. Here, Altman pretty much does his Johnny Carson impression in lieu of an actual performance (although that actually seems appropriate in the next episode, which we'll get back to...)
Wonder Woman villainess Giganta is also in attendance, as played by Aleshia Brevard. Again, in keeping with the show's decidedly low budget, she doesn't grow to colossal size here, just bends a prop "steel" bar around Frank Gorshin's neck for a cheap "superstrength" effect.
Finally, none other than Captain Marvel's arch-nemesis Dr. Thaddeus Bodog Sivana rounds out the group, played with a curiously German accent by the recently departed Howard Morris. Sivana has masterminded the group's evil plan, a doomsday machine that will destroy all life on Earth.
What exactly is to be gained from this is never made clear, nor is the rationale behind sending the superheroes clues to their evil plan, for that matter. Regardless, the heroes soon get word though one of the Riddler's riddles (in the middle of their ceremony honoring the elderly superhero "Retired Man," about whom the less said the better), and are off to blindly search for the villain's hideout.
The scene of the superheroes heroically leaving their headquarters (which, by the way, is clearly the same set as the supervillains' hideout, only slightly redressed) has to be seen to be believed, with Captain Marvel merely jumping off-camera to simulate flight, Flash vanishing in a truly awful super-speed cutaway, and best of all, Green Lantern using his ring to disappear by shooting himself in the face with it.
The bulk of the show is taken up with the villains heading out in various disguises to mess with the heroes' heads, apparently just for the fun of it. We see Solomon Grundy disguised as a gas station attendant, ripping engine parts out of the Batmobile...
...while Sinestro poses as a gypsy to read Green Lantern's fortune...
...Riddler pretends to be a psychiatrist in order to analyze Captain Marvel (who gives up his secret identity after being on the couch for about 15 seconds, by the way -- so much for the wisdom of Solomon)...
...and the Weather Wizard poses as a used-car salesman and sells Batman and Robin a motorcycle and sidecar, in which, as you might imagine, hi-larity will ensue.
Meanwhile, back at the gas station, Solomon Grundy has overpowered Hawkman and Black Canary and chained them to the auto lift. Of course. That's what I would do.
Captain Marvel shows up and outwits Grundy (you wouldn't think it would be that tough, but the other two couldn't pull it off...), and here's the sheer stupid moment that sums up, more than anything else, how teeth-clenchingly bad this show was. Hawkman, Captain Marvel and the Canary are still trying to figure out where the villains are, and Captain Marvel points out that Grundy mentioned a lake.
A bystander in a nearby phone booth who's been watching the fight and making supposedly funny comments (NIGHT COURT's Marsha Warfield, as it happens) helpfully adds that she heard Grundy earlier mention an island. And here's the deductive genius Hawkman putting all the pieces together, in a bit of swear-to-god real dialogue from the program:
HAWKMAN: "There's only one lake around here with an island: Hidden Island Lake!"
Dude. Dude. "Hidden Island Lake."
I don't even think it was intended as a joke, because the usually subtle-as-a-brick laugh track doesn't make a peep for that line. I really felt myself get stupider, just listening to Hawkman say "Hidden Island Lake."
Anyway, the heroes all converge on (sigh) Hidden Island Lake, where I see something I was fairly confident that I would never see on television: Mordru the sorcerer riding around on a jet-ski.
Yes, there's a big jet-ski chase sequence between Batman and Mordru, followed by an even dumber fight scene in the villains' lair, with fight choreography so bad, it makes the original BATMAN TV series look like it was put together by the Yuen Wo-Ping fight team. Burt Ward's big contribution here is to get down on his hands and knees so another hero in better shape can push a villain over him, and so we can get this nauseating close-up.
Finally, Batman and company slam Sivana's head into his own doomsday machine and, mercifully, "The Challenge" is over. Unfortunately things would only get worse with the second and final installment of LEGENDS OF THE SUPERHEROES, "The Roast," which aired the following week, January 25, 1979. Here, viewers were subjected to even more non-side-splitting unfunny comedy, as the heroes were roasted and toasted by their friends and foes. Naturally, a host was needed, and somehow, famed TONIGHT SHOW sidekick Ed McMahon was cajoled, bribed or threatened into taking part in this faint imitation of entertainment.
Ed really brings the funny here; take this bon mot from his opening monologue, for example: "With all of these capes, it looks like Truman Capote's closet in here!" Yikes.
It should be noted, by the way, that the writing credit for both episodes belongs to the "bad dream team" of Mike Marmer and Peter Gallay (if that is in fact their real names -- Lord knows I'd take my name off this thing), who went on to write for that benchmark of TV comedy, BARBARA MANDRELL AND THE MANDRELL SISTERS.
Anyway, the villains all show up to "roast" the heroes, including the return of Jeff Altman's Weather Wizard, who really kicks his Johnny Carson impression into high gear now. Other appearances include Hawkman's mother Esther Hawkman, who's even announced by Ed as being from Thanagar (dear god, I wish I was making this up)...
...another visit from Retired Man, and the introduction of ...wait for it ... Ghetto Man.
Billed as "the first Black superhero," Ghetto Man proceeds to do three minutes of the worst stereotypical stand-up I've ever heard. It's not remotely offensive, it's just lame:
"It's about time there were some colored superheroes -- we don't think Green Lantern qualifies as colored."
"In the ghetto, we don't say "SHAZAM!" to get our powers, we say "KAREEM!"
And so on. It's just a train wreck, this thing, and it keeps getting worse, whether it's Dr. Sivana lining up the superheroes for a physical (after appearing onstage in the form of a giant beaker ... I still don't get that) or a horrible Rona Barrett impression (a popular 1970s TV gossip host, for you young'uns out there) with the bitingly clever name of "Rhoda Rooter," who interviews Giganta and the Atom about their new love affair.
At this point, I'm ready to gouge my eyes out (and I can't believe I had to sit through this again in order to write this -- the things I do for you people), and this is before the wacky sketch in which Batman threatens to beat Robin for totaling the Batmobile, or the appearance of Captain Marvel villainess Aunt Minerva (played by LAUGH-IN's Ruth Buzzi) lining up the male superheroes in search of a new husband. And by the way, the sight of her being carried onstage by a couple of 1970s bodybuilder types is plenty unsettling...
Just as you thought things had sunk to their absolute lowest, the show closes with a big song and dance number by Mordru, who favors the crowd with his personal rendition of "That's Entertainment!", with all-new, evil lyrics ("I think diseases are nice/A condition that's chronic/A plague that is bubonic"), that is, until Batman brings out the comedy classic, the pie in the face.
Wow. I'm surprised Mordru didn't slip on a banana peel on his way out.
How does it all end? How else, with Ed McMahon yelling "KAREEM!" and flying off the stage. Yeah. I'm sorry, too.
This whole thing is like a fever dream, but without all the fun of the chills, nightsweats and dehydration. Luckily for you, the odds of you ever being subjected to this yourself are pretty slim, unless you know someone who likes you (or dislikes you) enough to make you a copy of this little-known piece of cinematic offal. If you should happen to see it, trust me: avert your eyes. But if you do happen to see it, you'll know what I meant above -- after this, I can skate through CATWOMAN or BLADE III in my sleep...