Thursday, March 29, 2012

FLEX MENTALLO: THE MUSCLE, THE MYTH, THE MYSTERY



Since DC has finally come around to putting out a big ol' collection of Flex Mentallo's comic book appearances, it's time the true story of Flex can be told. Seeing as I'm not the best storyteller, I'm going to doll out the bare facts of the case as I've overheard them told to many a fanboy who came-a-looking for that quirky as heck Morrison & Quitely team up.



Way back in the early days of DC's Vertigo line of "mature" comics, Grant Morrison and Richard Case were working on a kooky little series by the name of DOOM PATROL and they came up with a muscle-man superhero who went by the name of "Flex Mentallo" who's appearance and schtick was an obvious call back to the Charles Atlas ads of comics everywhere. You know--"don't get sand kicked in your face", "put on twenty pounds of muscle and win the girl" type ads which were one way Charles Atlas earned his money while also spreading the good word on exercise and self-esteem.



Anywho, a few years later, Morrison teamed up with the uniquely skilled Frank Quitely to produce a four issue mininseries entitled FLEX MENTALLO focusing on Flex trying to solve a case, perhaps his most important case!?! Anyway, it was ordered as most Vertigo books were, at a lower number than your average superhero stuff and was a very successful critical hit. Thing is, Charles Atlas didn't much care for it, thought it was infringing on his own trademarked and copyrighted material. And so--shape of a lawsuit!



And that, in short, is why we haven't seen this story reprinted in all these years, even with all the demand that is out there for it as it is one of Morrison's better works (in this writer's opinion) DC hasn't dared put it out there due to the costliness of lawyers and their schtick--legal fees!

But now, finally, DC has stepped up and given "THE MAN OF MUSCLE MYSTERY" his own deluxe treatment! This humble comic book shop recommends it to readers old and young, fat and skinny, rich and poor, for it is, in it's own strange way, a tribute to comic books and the hold they have over their readers...

Now I can't be too sure about all the facts as I am but a humble brick and mortar building wrapped around a whole mess of comicy books, but I can point you to the right places to look for your answers here 'pon this internetwork of computers. Check out the following links for some real in depth knowledge about the character, series and Mr. Charles Atlas...

THE ANNOTATED FLEX MENTALLO

COMICS FOR SERIOUS

CBR: GOOD COMICS

POPIMAGE

You enjoy!

Monday, March 26, 2012

NEW COMICS ON MARCH 28, 2012



THE FOLLOWING FANTASTIC FUNNYBOOKS ARE FORETOLD TO FLY ONTO THE SHELVES ON MARCH 28TH.

ALL STAR WESTERN #7
ALPHA GIRL #2 (MR)
ANGEL & FAITH #8 STEVE MORRIS CVR
ANIMAL MAN #2 2ND PTG
AQUAMAN #7
ARCHIE #631
ART OF DANIEL CLOWES MODERN CARTOONIST HC
ASTONISHING X-MEN #48
ATOMIC ROBO REAL SCIENCE ADV #1
AVENGERS #24.1
AVENGERS VS X-MEN #0 (OF 12) AVX
AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 (OF 12)
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #5
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #7
BLACKHAWKS #7
BLOODSTRIKE #26
BPRD HELL ON EARTH PICKENS COUNTY HORROR #1 (OF 2)
BULLETPROOF COFFIN DISINTERRED #3 (OF 6) (MR)
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #628
CARBON GREY ORIGINS #2 (OF 2) CVR A NGUYEN (MR)
CHOKER #6 (OF 6) (MR)
CINEMA PANOPTICUM GN
COBRA ONGOING #11
CROSSED BADLANDS #2 RED CROSSED CVR (NET) (MR)
DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE #23
DAREDEVIL #10
DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER WAY STATION #4 (OF 5)
DEADPOOL MAX 2 #6 (MR)
DEADPOOL PREM HC VOL 10 EVIL DEADPOOL
DOROTHY OF OZ PREQUEL #1 (OF 4)
ELEPHANTMEN #38 (MR)
FATALE #1 VAR CVR 4TH PTG (MR)
FF #16
FLASH #7
FLASH GORDON ZEITGEIST #4
FURY OF FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MEN #7
FUTURAMA COMICS #60
GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #14 A CVR GARZA (MR)
GHOST RIDER #9
GI JOE 2 RETALIATION MOVIE PREQUEL #3
GONE TO AMERIKAY HC (MR)
GONZO A GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY OF HUNTER S THOMPSON
GREEN HORNET #23
GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #7
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #70 A CVR YANG (MR)
HAWKEN #3 (OF 6)
HELLRAISER #12 (MR)
I VAMPIRE #7
IMMORTAL DEMON I/T BLOOD #4
LEGION SECRET ORIGIN #6 (OF 6)
LIFE WITH ARCHIE #18
MAGIC THE GATHERING #3
MARVEL PREVIEWS APRIL 2012
MIGHTY THOR #12
MMW AVENGERS TP VOL 04
MODERN MASTERS SC VOL 03 BRUCE TIMM 4TH PTG
MOON KNIGHT #11
MORNING GLORIES #17 (MR)
NEW AVENGERS #23
NEW DEADWARDIANS #1 (OF 8) (MR)
PATRICIA BRIGGS ALPHA & OMEGA CRY WOLF VOL 01 #6
PREVIEWS #283 APRIL 2012 (NET)
RACHEL RISING TP VOL 01 SHADOW OF DEATH
ROGER LANGRIDGES SNARKED #6
SAVAGE HAWKMAN #7
SCALPED #57 (MR)
SINCEREST FORM OF PARODY SATIRICAL COMICS TP
SPACEMAN #5 (OF 9)
SPIDER-MAN #24
STAR TREK ONGOING #7
SUPERMAN #7
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #73
TEEN TITANS #7
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ONGOING #8
TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE ONGOING #3
TWELVE #11 (OF 12)
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #8
UNCANNY X-FORCE #23
UNCHARTED #5 (OF 6)
UNWRITTEN #35.5
VOLTRON #4
VOODOO #7
WALKING DEAD #95
WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #11
WARRIORS OF MARS #2
X-MEN LEGACY #264

Thursday, March 15, 2012

NEW COMICS ON MARCH 21, 2012



THE FOLLOWING FINE FUNNY-BOOKS ARE FLYING TO THE SHELVES ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #682
ANITA BLAKE CIRCUS DAMNED SCOUNDREL #5 (OF 5)
ARMY OF DARKNESS ONGOING #2
AVENGERS X-SANCTION #4 (OF 4)
AXE COP TP VOL 03
BART SIMPSON COMICS #69
BATMAN #7
BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #2
BATMAN ODYSSEY VOL 2 #6 (OF 7)
BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN TP
BIG TOWN HC NOVEL
BIRDS OF PREY #7
BLUE BEETLE #7
BPRD HELL ON EARTH LONG DEATH #2
BPRD PLAGUE OF FROGS HC VOL 03
CAPTAIN ATOM #7
CARTOON MONARCH OTTO SOGLOW LITTLE KING HC
CATWOMAN #7
CHARLAINE HARRIS GRAVE SIGHT GN VOL 03 (OF 3)
COMEBACK KINGS #1 2ND PTG DIRECTORS CUT
DARK AXIS RISE O/T OVERMEN #4 (OF 4)
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #10
DARKNESS #101
DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS #26
DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #7
DEAD MANS RUN #2
DEADPOOL #52
DIABLO #3 (OF 5)
DOMINIQUE LAVEAU VOODOO CHILD #1
DR WHO MAGAZINE #444
ELEKTRA ASSASSIN PREM HC
FABLES #115
FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #11 (OF 12)
FLASHPOINT WORLD OF FLASHPOINT GREEN LANTERN TP
FORMIC WARS SILENT STRIKE #4 (OF 5)
GENERATION HOPE #17
GFT ALICE IN WONDERLAND #3
GFT JUNGLE BOOK #1
GHOSTBUSTERS ONGOING #7
GIRL GENIUS TP VOL 06 GOLDEN TRILOBITE
GOON #38
GREEN LANTERN CHRONICLES TP VOL 04
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #7
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #69
HACK SLASH #14
HAUNT #22
HEART #4 (OF 4)
HELLBLAZER #289
HELLRAISER MASTERPIECES #10
HOAX HUNTERS #0
INFESTATION 2 TMNT #2 (OF 2)
INFINITE VACATION #4 (OF 5)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #514
JOHN CARTER GODS OF MARS #1 (OF 5)
JUSTICE LEAGUE #7
KICK-ASS 2 #7 (OF 7)
KIRBY GENESIS SILVER STAR #4
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #7
MARVELS AVENGERS PRELUDE FURYS BIG WEEK #2 (OF 4)
MEMORIAL #4 (OF 6)
MICHAEL KALUTA SKETCHBOOK SERIES SC VOL 01
MONOCYTE #3 (OF 4)
NANCY IS HAPPY GN COMPLETE DAILIES 1943-1945
NEAR DEATH #6
NEW MUTANTS #39
NIGHTWING #7
NO PLACE LIKE HOME #2
JAN120978F PEANUTS #3 (OF 4)
PHOENIX #5
PLANET OF THE APES #12
PROPHET #23
RAGEMOOR #1
REBEL BLOOD #1 (OF 4)
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #7
REED GUNTHER #9
ROBOCOP ROAD TRIP #4
ROCKETEER ADVENTURES 2 #1 (OF 4)
SIXTH GUN #20
SMOKE AND MIRRORS #1 (OF 5)
SNAKE EYES ONGOING #11
STAN LEES MIGHTY 7 #1
STAR TREK LEGION OF SUPERHEROES #6 (OF 6)
STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE STORM #2
STEED AND MRS PEEL #3 (OF 6)
STEPHEN KING JOE HILL ROAD RAGE #2 (OF 4)
STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #6 (OF 6)
SUPER DINOSAUR #9
SUPERCROOKS #1 (OF 4)
SUPERGIRL #7
THUNDER AGENTS VOL 2 #5 (OF 6)
THUNDERBOLTS #171
TINY TITANS #50
UNCANNY X-MEN #9
VAMPIRELLA #15
WITCHBLADE #154
WOLVERINE #303
WONDER WOMAN #7
X-FACTOR #233
X-MEN SEASON ONE PREM HC
YOUNG JUSTICE #14
ZORRO RIDES AGAIN #9 (OF 12)

Saturday, March 10, 2012

NEW COMICS ON MARCH 14, 2012!



THE LIST BELOW CONSISTS OF WHAT IS DUE TO ARRIVE FRESH FROM THE PRESSES (AND DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTER) ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012!

ACTIVITY #4
ADVENTURE TIME #2
ART OF MOLLY CRABAPPLE SC VOL 01 WEEK IN HELL
ARTIFACTS #15
AVENGERS #24
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE HISTORY OF EARTHS HEROES GN TP
AVENGERS ROAD TO MARVEL AVENGERS TP
BATGIRL #7
BATMAN AND ROBIN #7
BATTLE SCARS #5 (OF 6)
BATWOMAN #7
BLUE ESTATE #10 (MR)
BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #7
BUCKAROO BANZAI #1
CAPTAIN AMERICA #9
CARNAGE USA #4 (OF 5)
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #67
COMEBACK KINGS #2
COMPLETE CRUMB TP VOL 01 EARLY YEARS
COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 17 1983-1984
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2
CORTO MALTESE TP VOL 01 BALLAD OF THE SALT SEA
CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES HC VOL 01
CROSSED BADLANDS #1 (MR)
DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE #22
DARK MATTER #3 (OF 4)
DARK SHADOWS #4
DC UNIVERSE BY ALAN MOORE HC
DEATHSTROKE #7
DEMON KNIGHTS #7
DOCTOR WHO ONGOING VOL 2 #15
DRAW #22
ELRIC THE BALANCE LOST #9
EXILE ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #1 (OF 4)
FANTASTIC FOUR #604
FATHOM KIANI VOL 2 #0 CVR A NOME
FLASHPOINT WORLD OF FLASHPOINT BATMAN TP
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #7
GEARHEARTS STEAMPUNK GLAMOR REVUE #2
GEORGE PEREZ ART OF HC
GFT PRESENTS NEVERLAND HOOK #4
GLORY #24
GODZILLA LEGENDS #5 (OF 5)
GOLD DIGGER #136
GREEN LANTERN #7
GRIFTER #7
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #68
INCREDIBLE HULK #6
INFESTATION 2 GI JOE #1 (OF 2)
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #635
LEGION LOST #7
LOBSTER JOHNSON THE BURNING HAND #3 (OF 5)
LOCKE & KEY CLOCKWORKS #5 (OF 6)
MARVEL FIRSTS 1970S TP VOL 02
MEGA MAN #11
MISADVENTURES OF ADAM WEST ONGOING #2
MISTER TERRIFIC #7
MONSTERMEN AND OTHER SCARY STORIES HC
MOUSE GUARD BLACK AXE #4 (OF 6)
MY GREATEST ADVENTURE #6 (OF 6)
NANCY IN HELL ON EARTH #2 (OF 4) (MR)
NINJETTES #2 (MR)
NORTHANGER ABBEY #5 (OF 5)
NORTHLANDERS #49 (RES) (MR)
NORTHLANDERS TP VOL 06 THORS DAUGHTER (MR)
NOWHERE MAN #2 (OF 4)
ORCHID #5
PC CAST HOUSE OF NIGHT #5 (OF 5)
PETER PANZERFAUST #2 (MR)
POWERS #9 (MR)
PUNISHER #9
QUATERMAIN #2
QUATERMAIN #3
RAY #4 (OF 4)
RESURRECTION MAN #7
ROBERT E HOWARDS SAVAGE SWORD #4
SAGA #1 (MR)
SAUCER COUNTRY #1 (MR)
SCARLET SPIDER #3
SECRET HISTORY OF DB COOPER #1
SHADE #6 (OF 12)
SHERLOCK HOLMES VICTORIAN KNIGHTS #2
SHOWCASE PRESENTS YOUNG LOVE TP VOL 01
SIMPSONS COMICS #188
STAR TREK 100 PAGE SPECTACULAR 2012
STAR WARS AGENT O/T EMPIRE IRON ECLIPSE #4 (OF 5)
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC WAR #3 (OF 5)
STRAIN #4 (OF 12) (MR)
SUICIDE SQUAD #7
SUNDAY FUNNIES COLLECTED VOL 01
SUPER HEROES #24
SUPERBOY #7
THIEF OF THIEVES #2
TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE ONGOING #3
ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #9
UNWRITTEN #35 (MR)
WAR GODDESS #6 (MR)
WARLORD OF MARS #16 (MR)
WASTELAND #35 (MR)
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #7
WOMANTHOLOGY HEROIC HC
X-23 #21
X-MEN LEGACY #263

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

03/07/12

30 DAYS OF NIGHT ONGOING #5
ACTION COMICS #7
AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #681
AMORY WARS SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH 3 TP VOL 01
ANIMAL MAN #4
ANIMAL MAN #7
AVENGELYNE #7
AVENGERS ACADEMY #27
AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #9 (OF 9)
AVENGERS EARTHS MIGHTIEST HEROES ULT COLL TP
AVENGERS KORVAC SAGA TP NEW PTG
AVENGERS X-SANCTION #3 (OF 4) 2ND PTG
BATMAN BIRTH OF THE DEMON TP
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #6
BATWING #7
BATWOMAN #5
BEYOND THE FRINGE #1
BLUE HC
BOYS #64
BOYS TP VOL 10 BUTCHER BAKER CANDLESTICKMAKER
CHARISMAGIC #5
COMPLEAT TERMINAL CITY TP
DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS #25
DEAD OR ALIVE #2 (OF 4)
DEFENDERS #4
DETECTIVE COMICS #7
DICKS COLOR ED #2
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES IV #2 (OF 6)
FAIREST #1
FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #250
FANTASTIC FOUR #600
FATALE #3
FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #10 (OF 12)
FERALS #3
FLASHPOINT TP
GAME OF THRONES #5
GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #10
GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #176
GI JOE VOL 2 ONGOING #11
GLITZ 2 GO TP
GREEN ARROW #7
HAWK AND DOVE #7
HELL YEAH #1
HELLBOY TP VOL 12 THE STORM AND THE FURY
HELLRAISER MASTERPIECES #9
HONEY BADGER ADVENTURES #1
HULK #49
HUNTRESS #4 (OF 6)
HUNTRESS #6 (OF 6)
I SHALL DESTROY ALL THE CIVILIZED PLANETS TP
INVISIBLES TP #2 APOCALIPSTICK
IRREDEEMABLE #35
IZOMBIE #23
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #6
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #7
KICK-ASS 2 #6 (OF 7)
KIRBY GENESIS CAPTAIN VICTORY #4
LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #15
MAGDALENA #11
MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1
MARVELS AVENGERS PRELUDE FURYS BIG WEEK #1 (OF 4)
MEN OF WAR #7
MICE TEMPLAR VOL 3 #8
NEXT MEN AFTERMATH #41
NIGHT FORCE #1 (OF 6)
OCCULT FILES DOCTOR SPEKTOR ARCHIVES HC VOL 04
OMAC #7
RACHEL RISING #6
RED LANTERNS #7
ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #22
SALEMS DAUGHTER HAUNTING #5
SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #19
SOULLESS MANGA GN VOL 01
SPAWN #217
STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE III EMPIRE LOST #5 (OF 6)
STATIC SHOCK #7
STEVE DITKO OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 STARRING SHADE
STITCHED #3
STORMWATCH #7
SUPERNATURAL #5 (OF 6)
SUPERNATURAL #6 (OF 6)
SUPURBIA #1 (OF 4)
SWAMP THING #7
SWEET TOOTH #31
THE LONE RANGER #3
THOR DEVIANTS SAGA #5 (OF 5)
TMNT MICRO SERIES #2 MICHELANGELO GLOBAL CONQUEST ED
TOY STORY #1 (OF 4)
TRUE BLOOD FRENCH QUARTER #6 (OF 6)
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #8 WITH DIG CDE
UNCANNY X-MEN #8
VALEN OUTCAST #4
VAMPIRELLA VS DRACULA #2
VENOM #13.4
VENOM #14
VILLAINS FOR HIRE #4 (OF 4)
WINTER SOLDIER #1
WINTER SOLDIER #3
WOLVERINE #302
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN ALPHA AND OMEGA #3 (OF 5)
WONDER WOMAN #3
WONDER WOMAN #4
WULF #5
X-CLUB #4 (OF 5)
X-MEN #26