Happy Canada Day 2014!

Happy Canada Day to each and every reader of WGTB! Wherever you are -- even if you're not Canadian -- have a great day and, as always, thanks for stopping by.   

Here's a little classic Captain Canuck from comic's late Bronze Age (late 70s/early 80s) to mark the occasion. In my mind there's few things more Canadian than a superhero riding a horse into action or busting up an evil robot with an axe. Cheers!  

Image from Comely Comix Captain Canuck #5 (August/September 1979)

Image from Comely Comix Captain Canuck #11 (September/October 1980)

Interested in Canadian comics? Check out Lost Heroes: the Untold Story of Canadian Superheroes

Regular readers of this blog will know that I'm Canadian and proud of it! In fact, using Wolverine, Alpha Flight or even Canadian-born Joe Shuster to talk about all aspects of my country is a true joy of mine.  

Did you know that the Canadian equivalent to the Eisners are called the Shusters? Here's the 2007 logo -- all credit to the Joe Shuster Awards.

But the history of comics in Canada is so much more than Logan or Joe Shuster's birth city. Indeed, Canada has had some great comic titles and some truly interesting and inspiring comic book characters. 

Which is why I'd like to bring to your attention Lost Heroes: The Untold Story of Canadian Superheros, a feature-length documentary currently in post-production. Scheduled to air on Super Channel in late 2013, Lost Heroes looks at all those Canadians who have dawned a cape, cowl or helmet through the course of comics. It promises to be a real treat for anyone interested in the history our medium and I encourage everyone interested to keep an eye out for it. I have a friend currently working as a Researcher on the project and she promises me it will be amazing.

Happy Canada Day!

Today Canadians around the world celebrate Canada's 146th birthday. And to celebrate here at WGTB, we've decided one of our "Top Five" posts is in order. This time it's Canadian characters in comics and hopefully there's a little something here to teach you about comics and that great country situated on the northern portion of North America.  

Quebec City's famous Chateau Frontenac as depicted in the splash of Captain Canuck #11 (Sept/Oct 1980)

 Let's begin...

5) Joe Shuster

We start our list with Superman co-creator Joe Shuster. Okay, we know it's a stretch to say this flesh and blood fellow and the first artist of the superhero responsible for defending "truth, justice and the American way" is a Canadian character, but we'll argue this by way of Toronto. Joe Shuster was born in Toronto and lived in Canada's largest city until he moved to Cleveland  when he was ten. Before moving, Joe worked as a newsboy for the Toronto Daily Star and used its former King and Bay street headquarters as models for the Daily Planet building in Metropolis. In his waining years he would also speak fondly of his Toronto roots and this is undoubtedly a source of pride for any comic loving Canadian. Joe Shuster: 5th on our list of Canadian characters in comics.

Toronto-born comics legend Joe Shuster, co-creator of Superman, holds a copy of Action Comics #1 (June 1938)

And from the Man of Steel's latest book, Superman Unchained #1 (June 2013)

4) Northstar & Aurora 

Alpha Flight's Quebecois contingent, the twin siblings Northstar and Aurora have long been two of Marvel's most innovative characters. Northstar was one of the first openly gay characters in comics, coming out of the closet in the early 90s and getting married in Astonishing X-Men #51 in June 2012. Aurora, on the other hand, has long battled various forms of mental illness, her own mutant powers manifesting as a teenager during a suicide attempt. These important and thoughtful attributes have meant that Northstar and Aurora have been two of Marvel's guiding lights (sorry I couldn't resist!) since first created in 1979 and have undoubtedly helped many young readers on their own journey of self discovery. As such, they get 4th place on our list today.   

Northstar and Aurora in Alpha Flight Vol. 1 #1 (August 1983)

3) Captain Canuck 

Captain Canuck is the ketchup chips of Canadian comics: invented in Canada; usually found only in Canada; and mostly red. Invented by Winnipeg's Comely Comix in 1975, Captain Canuck was published periodically (and with some very large gaps) between 1975 and 2004. The Captain inhabited a world where contact with extra-terrestial life gave Canadian Tom Evans space-born powers and much of the book's backdrop featured space and futuristic themed stories. The character has recently found new life in the form of an animated series which will debut today at the Silver Snail in Toronto. If you'd like to learn more about the latest incarnation of a Canadian funny book institution, please watch this YouTube video or visit this site.

Captain Canuck kicks robot butt in Captain Canuck Vol. 1 #11 (Sept/Oct 1980) 

 2) Vindicator/Heather McNeil Hudson 

The longtime leader of Alpha Flight, Vindicator was vaulted into the position when her husband died in an early issue of John Byrne's run on Alpha Flight. Never the shrinking violet, Heather Hudson threw herself into the role, taking up the mantle of Alpha Flight leader with gusto, soon becoming an important leader in her own right. This made her -- in a similar vein to her colleague Northstar -- a trailblazer as the first female leader of a major Marvel group. Because of this, she is a close second to the top Canadian character, someone Hudson counts as a close friend... 

At the funeral of James Hudson as depicted in Alpha Flight Vol. 1 #13 (August 1984)

Vindicator kicks butt and cracks wise in Alpha Flight Vol. 1 #89 (October 1990)

1) Wolverine 

...the Wolverine! One of the most popular characters in all of comics, this Canadian is the "best at what he does" and instantly recognizable not only to comic fans, but in wider popular culture as well. Created by the legendary Len Wein in October 1974, Wolverine was originally intended to be a one off character in an Incredible Hulk story. But the character proved to be too good for just one arch and a year later would resurface in Giant Sized X-Men #1, soon becoming an integral part of the X-Men line-up. He would also go on to star in a number of titular series, cartoons and even two feature films, one of which will be released later this month. Wolverine is hands down one of Marvel's most popular characters and in 2011 was named by IGN the 4th best comic book hero of all time, behind only Superman, Batman and Spider-Man. That is fine company and worthy of top pick in WGTB's Top Five Canadian characters in comics. Happy Canada Day, everyone!    

Wolverine a.k.a. Logan in Wolverine Vol. 2 #1 (Nov. 1988)

Wolverine in Alpha Flight Special Vol. 1 #1 (June 1992)

Happy Canada Day!

To mark the occasion here are my top five 'Canada and Comics' convergences. Enjoy:

5) Wolverine joins the X-Men.

All Images from Marvel's Giant-Sixe X-Men first published in 1975 and reprinted in 1991.

This could be considered treason by some, but I think by taking a potentially one-off character and putting him in the X-Men, Marvel gave this Canadian front-line exposure which allowed him to reach the prominence he would later experience.

 

4) First appearance of Captain Canuck. 

From Comely Comix Captain Canuck #1 (July 1975)

What's a Canadian comic without a snowmobile? From Captain Canuck #1.

This book featuring a Captain America look-a-like was released by Comely Comix in 1975. It featured a future where Canada had eclipsed the USA as a superpower and was as much science-fiction as it was superhero. Captain Canuck has since been featured on a postage stamp and there's even talk of a feature film. 

3) Logan fights on D-Day

All images from the great book Marvel's Wolverine #34 (December 1990) written by Larry Hama with art by Marc Sivestri.

Probably the least well known of this list; in Wolverine #34 we learn Logan (Wolverine) jumped on D-Day. Canadian troops launched at Juno Beach during Operation Overlord and played an important role in beating back the Nazi menace during the entire Second World War. Go Canada!  

2) Prisoners of Gravity

This Canadian television program remains (thanks to YouTube) a great source for anyone interested in the history of our medium. It has been talked about on such prominent podcasts as Word Balloon and has one of my favourite interviews with Jack Kirby. Have a look.

1) Alpha Flight Arrives!

The story of the first meeting between Alpha Flight and the X-Men. From Marvel's Alpha Flight #17 (December 1984)

From Marvel's Alpha Flight #1 (August 1983)

Alpha Flight first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 (1979). Created by John Byrne, this group would eventually get its own series and give comics readers a number of great characters and moments. Northstar, one of the original Alphans, has come to prominence in recent weeks as one half of the first same-sex marriage in the Marvel Universe.

So there you go. Have a great Canada Day and thanks again for reading.

Remembering Joe Simon

This past Thursday, Joe Simon, co-creator of Captain America, passed away at age 98.

 Timely's Captain America Comics #1 from March 1941

Now, there are many, many more comic bloggers and journalists who can give a better explanation of Simon’s importance to the industry. But while reflecting upon Captain America this morning, I couldn’t help think about how novel it was to personify national values and turn them into a super-hero. National personification as a concept goes back years: John Bull, Uncle Sam, Marianne are probably the most famous examples of this. But the idea of taking a national character and turning him/her into an action star: that was novel and different. 

Canada's Vindicator (Alpha Flight) and Captain America (Avengers) meet up in Marvel's Alpha Flight #39, October 1985

And what a great representative of the United States Steve Rogers/Captain America was. Simply put, Rogers could be counted as a metaphor of the meteoric rise of the United States into a global power. In the late nineteenth century, the U.S. was not nearly as influential as Great Britain or other major European powers, but by 1945, it was far and away the most powerful country in the world and helped keep an aggressive Soviet Union at bay for nearly forty-five years. Talk about drinking super-serum!  

The origins of Captain Britain explained in Marvel's Excalibur #40, August 1991

And look at the following super-heroes who have followed in Captain America's footsteps and are part of the Simon/Kirby legacy. Captain Britain, Captain Canuck, Alpha Flight's Guardian and Vindicator have all taken what is great about their respective nations, dressed-up in its flag and values and gone out to save it and the world. That is a pretty amazing and influential idea and something we all owe to Captain America and the great work of Joe Simon. Thank you, Joe, for your outstanding contribution to comics! 

Captain Canuck from Comely Comix Captain Canuck #1, July 1975

Canada's Guardian in Alpha Flight #1, August 1983

WGTB's Top 10 Comics (You May Not Have Read)

Everyone loves a Top 10 List – so here’s one from WGTB. These are comics that your humble blogger count among his favourites. They may not be the most famous, or be by a famous writer, but that's no problem because WGTB thinks they're GREAT! If you have any comments or additions/recommendations please post a comment -- feedback is always welcome. Let's go!

#10

THOR #272: For our money one of the best Thor covers out there. The story’s not bad either -- the message being: Thor = STRONG!

#9

The Hobbit: A Tolkien classic in graphic form. This series of three graphic novels was released in 1989 and is a truly wonderful addition to any collection. I know how my mind's eye has always pictured The Hobbit, but it's interesting to see how Bilbo, Gollum, Gandalf, etc. carried on in the minds of some gifted artists. I'm not holding my breath for Lord of the Rings or Silmarillion graphic novels though.

#8

ROM: Spaceknight #50: How does a secondary title get almost 80 issues? Great stories, of course! ROM: Spaceknight was one of those titles that just carried your imagination away. He was 'in' the Marvel universe, but he wasn't 'of' it;. This meant that if you wanted to get away from the goings on of the X-Men, Avengers, Spider-Man, etc. ROM was a place to go. Of course, there were crossovers, but ROM always did well on his own.

#7

Star Wars: Dark Empire: This comic series (along with Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire trilogy) jump-started the Expanded Star Wars Universe, and eventually got Star Wars fans prequels. But that isn’t a reason to hate it! It’s a great character-driven story with great art. It also probably solidified Dark Horse’s status as a contender for the bronze medal in the comics world. Number 4 was chosen due to the cameo: in WGTB's mind this guy will never have a New Zealand accent!

#6

Detective Comics #590: Batman heads to London to help stop a Guy Fawkes-style terrorist attack. History, politics, travel and comics -- all rolled into one. What's not to like?!? The cover is fantastic too and reminiscent of a Victorian dust jacket.

#5

52 #45: I loved 52. In fact, you may notice that my comics are mostly Marvel. Well, they were once exclusively Marvel. But reading the trade paperback of 52 made me realise how silly I had been, and made me look at both companies with extra vigour. Since then I've really enjoyed the plethora of DC team-ups out there. Number 43 is here because its amazing cover is emblematic of this ambitious title. Black Adam just reeks of power on this one!

#4

Web of Spider-Man #44: Back to Marvel! This one is actually a sentimental favourite because it’s the first comic book WGTB ever owned. Your humble blogger's mother bought it for me when I was 10 years old. I loved it then and still do! The villains here are a group of violent cyborgs named “Warzone”. They weren’t used again, but I always felt they had potential. Wait a minute! Are violent cyborgs at all appropriate for a 10 year old?!?

Bronze

Captain Canuck #1: Timely Comic’s answer to Captain America was set in a near future where Canada was a superpower and needed a hero who was ultimately a cross between the above mentioned American and Flash Gordon. I love the cover and, well, any story where Canada kicks butt!

Silver

Fantastic Four #275: Imagine you were facing prosecution and needed a lawyer. Do you think you could get The Watcher? Reed Richards did. In WGTB's opinion, this story arch is the magnum opus of John Byrne's impressive run with the Fantastic Four. It's a jam-packed comic where we get to witness the best justice system in the universe AND what Galactus looks like to other species. Amazing!

And the GOLD goes to:

Wolverine #31: Shocked it's not the Galactus Trilogy, the Dark Knight Returns or Watchmen? Good. That's what we were hoping. Yes, WGTB's favourite comic is this obscure stand-alone Wolverine story. In it, Logan heads up to Alberta, Canada for a little Wolverine-style rest and relaxation: hunting, fishing and running around naked! He then comes across a mythical monster, a fugitive and his victim, and a couple Mounties hot on the trail. It ends with an important revelation about a man who could be Logan. This was well before most of the Wolverine back-story had been revealed and had a real impact when first read. It's still is a great (some might say THE BEST) read.

Please let WGTB know what your favourite comic stories are. This is, after all, a place to share these things. Thanks for reading!