Review - Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters: Volume 1, Issue 7

In which our heroes’ vacation is cut short by a deadly monster, and they find themselves trapped by a madman in his fortress deep under the sea…

Issue Number: 7
Publisher: Eclipse Comics
Publication Date: August, 1987

Writer: Don Chin

Art: Sam Kieth and Sam De la Rosa
Cover Art: Sam Kieth
Letterer: Kurt Hathaway
Editor: Letitia Glozer
Editor-in-Chief: Catherine Yronwode
Publisher: Dean Mullaney

Cover Price: $1.50

Current Price: $5.04
 

Preface - Penumbra

In this issue’s Penumbra, we are treated to another long list of names…

New Interns:   John Defalque, Lynn Buckman

A Promotion: Sean Deming
New Employees: Stephen Scott, Beau Smith

Old Employees: Letitia Glozer, Fred Burke, Catherine Yronwode, Mack Fraga, Dean Mullaney, Jan Mullaney, Madelyn Feinberg, Bruce Palley, Lex Nakashima, Ken Pierce, Tim Truman, Mark Evanier, April Campbell, Bruce Jones

She also mentions Eclipse’s new lineup of Japanese comics, and a Manga ballot.

Last but not least, there is an offer for seven different Eclipse posters for that summer – for Free…? Holy crap! It only cost $1.07 in stamps. How cool is that? I wonder if that offer is still valid…

Review - Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters: Volume 1, Issue 6

In which the team’s encounter with the deadly Pot Luck Organization at Dizzyworld reaches its epic conclusion…

Issue Number: 6

Publisher: Eclipse Comics

Publication Date: May, 1987

 

Writer: Don Chin

Pencils: Sam Kieth

Inks: John Nyberg

Letters: Kurt Hathaway

Editor: Letitia Glozer

Editor-in-Chief: Catherine Yronwode

Publisher: Dean Mullaney

 

“Rodent’s Revenge” – Story and Art by Parsonavich.

 

Cover Price: $1.50

Current Price: $1.20

 

Preface - Penumbra

 

Catherine Yronwode kicks off the issue by listing the names and occupations of all the people who wrote in or visited. I didn’t necessarily want to copy the list here, but heck! Why not?

 

Holladay Duncan – Cycle Jockey

Gerard Jones – Writer

Timothy C. Marion – Typist (BTW – How’s work these days, Timothy?)

Sholly Fisch – Nice person

John Speidel – Student

Jim Bahler – Financial Investigator

Myda McFarling – Retired Typesetter

Duane E. Robert – Dentist

Nat Gertler – Programmer

Francis Valery – Comic Dealer

Michael P. Stein – Unknown

Dana Snow – Clerk

Chris Brumfield – Student

Douglas Grainger – Former Student

 

Did I get everyone’s names? I think. Did I spell any of them wrong? Probably. Are we ready to move on with this review now? Definitely!

Review - Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters: Volume 1, Issue 5

In which our heroes take a Greyhound bus, Clint picks up a girlfriend, they escape from the authorities, and their visit to Dizzyworld is cut short when they run into angry members of the P.L.O.


Eclipse Volume 1, Issue 5

Issue Number: 5
Publisher: Eclipse Comics
Publication Date: February, 1987

Art: Parsonavich
Letters: Sam Wray
Co-Editors: Don Chin, Letitia Glozer
Editor: Don Chin
Editor-in-Chief: Catherine Yronwode
Publisher: Dean Mullaney
Cover Art: Mike Dringenberg

Cover Price: $1.50
Current Price: $7.32 (eBay)
 
Preface / Personal Tangent

In this issue’s “Penumbra”, Catherine Yronwode talks about the possibility of getting dual citizenship for America / Germany. Who? What? Why? I have no idea. But it’s a new factoid I didn’t know about.

She also mentions that Letitia Glozer (her sister?) has joined the editorial staff, and that Mack Fraga, Production Person, has been promoted to Mack Fraga, Production Manager. (My condolences.)

Reading this makes me feel like it would be a lot of fun to work for a comics company. Low pay... Tight deadlines... The boss yelling at you while chomping on his (or her) cigar… Ah. Good times!

Off-Topic: A Publishing Credit?

And now for a bit of shameless self-promotion...

It looks like my name may be included as a contributor to the new "Hackmaster: Gamemaster's Guide" book coming out soon by Kenzer and Co. (See www.kenzerco.com). They are the creators of the very fine "Knights of the Dinner Table" comic, and the great line of Hackmaster RPG products.

I didn't do much. Just found a typo in the Beta version of the GMG. So if my name does make it in there, it'll just be by the skin of my teeth! Hopefully that won't detract from any of the great people who actually WORKED on the book.

The last time I saw my name in print was in 2013 when I had a short story called "Into the Eagle's Nest" for Captain's Log Magazine #47. It turned out to be the cover story:

Unlike other things I've written, I was paid ACTUAL money for that story. Holy Canoli, Batman!

That was for the game "Star Fleet Battles". I've had scenarios published in Captain's Log also. I don't play the game too much these days anymore though. Playing SFB is more than hobby - it's more like a lifestyle. And there's only so many things I can be obsessed about at once.

Let's see... Speaking of getting published, I've also had letters to the editor published in Nintendo Power, Gamepro, and one comic: The Tick. I'll dig those out someday :)

Some Hamster Art

On the inside back cover of the 2nd edition of issue 1, we have this gem by Herb Wood:

The Hamsters vs. Wolverine? I have a feeling Marvel didn't authorize that! But then again, you never know...

Who would win in such a fight? Wolverine is pretty tough. Nearly indestructible. But what's he gonna do when Clint pumps him full of lead? Can super-human healing abilities and an adamantium skeleton prevent lead poisoning?

Review - Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters: Volume 1, Issue 4

In which the group hits the road in search of beer, and become captured by members of a deranged cult...


Eclipse Volume 1, Issue 4

Issue Number: 4
Publisher: Eclipse Comics
Publication Date: November, 1986

Editor: Don Chin
Editor-in-Chief: Catherine Yronwode
Assistant Editor: Sean Deming
Publisher: Dean Mullaney
Pitcher: Fernando Valenzuela
Art: Parsonavich
Master Letterer: Sam Wray

Also: Hamster wardrobe furnished by After Six. Hairstyles by Pierre. This has been a Merv Griffin Enterprises production. Printed in a printing plant.

Cover Price: $1.50
Current Price: $1.10

Preface
 

It starts with Catherine Yronwode’s editorial, titled “Penumbra”. I had to look up what this means:

     Penumbra – “A space of partial illumination (as in an eclipse) between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light.”

How apt! Cool.

Her editorial talks about a friend wasting their talents, selling out his or her artistic creativity for big bucks. Interesting, but odd. It begs the question, who is this person? And how did he or she feel about Ms. Yronwode writing about them?

On the page is an ad for Reid Fleming #1. I’ve gotta buy those sometime!

More Hamster Mail

Today something else came in the mail. ARBBH - Parody Press #5. My, how exciting!

This one costs a little more than most Hamster back issues. It was $4.30 through mycomicshop.com. That's a little better than milehighcomics.com, which has it for the big fat price of "Not Even Listed".

It's a reprint of one of the Eclipse 3-D issues. So again, it feels good that I'm not missing any content. Now my ARBBH collection is complete!

In Today's Hamster News

My copy of the "America the Beautiful" hardcover graphic novel arrived today!

Signed and numbered, mine is #186 out of 350. I'm a little disappointed though, because as you can see (or not), the numbering in marker on the back cover has faded to the point that it is barely visible:

Review – Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters: Volume 1, Issue 3

In which Bruce, Jackie, and Clint face life in the slammer for their misdeeds, while Chuck and Myron make plans to bail them out...

Eclipse Volume 1, Issue 3

Issue Number: 3
Publisher: Eclipse Comics
Publication Date: July, 1986

Story: Don Chin
Art: Herb Wood, Mike Dringenberg

“Return of the Yeti” Short Story:
Story: Kevin Harville
Art: Bryan Robles

Editor-in-Chief: catherine yronwode
Publisher: Dean Mullaney

Cover Price: $1.50
Current Price: $1.75

Preface

The issues starts with an editorial by catherine yronwode (name not capitalized in honor of her, because that’s the way she likes it). In it, she has a theme on comic censorship and government intrusion on art in general. I pretty much agree with everything she says, but it does get me to thinking…

In the mid-80’s, there were so many editorials on this subject. This is at least the 3^rd or 4^th one I’ve read. What was up with that? Why were so many editors talking about it, and what was the driving force behind that? I don’t remember there ever being any laws under consideration to censor comic books, but I was a little young at the time. And when I first read this comic, it was a good 10 years after it had been published. A lot can be missed in that amount of time!

Unusual eBay Sighting

On eBay, someone is now trying to sell a Mint ARBBH Issue 1 for $8.00. In the details, it says that they have 50 copies available. 

What the heck? FIFTY copies! Why would anyone have fifty copies of any comic? It doesn't say in the description but from the coloring in the photo, it looks like its first edition, too.

It's too bad those aren't 1st edition copies of TMNT #1 instead. I'm no expert but last time I checked, I think those were going for about $3,000 each. Sadly, I doubt this guy will even get his $8 bucks. I wish it weren't so but its a hard, cruel world folks...

Listing a comic well above the prices that are already posted doesn't make much sense. This guy has no feedback though, so maybe he doesn't know what he is doing. He says he also has 25 copies of Issue 2. Interesting...

Today's Hamster News...

My Parody Press issues 3 and 4 arrived today! Wow. You have no idea how hard those comics are to find (except if you do :)

Milehighcomics.com doesn't even list those issues - or #5. Mycomicshop.com lists them, but they are out of stock. Those issues are nowhere to be found on eBay or Amazon. Luckily, I found Collectorsscene.com, which sells those issues for $0.99 each! And they were super-fast to ship, too. Great seller!

So it's probably not expensive... IF you can find it! That's the trick, my friend.

Pictured: Two rare, one-of-kind objects. Plus one completely useless cat.

Review – Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters: Volume 1, Issue 2

In which our heroes begin an epic road trip across America, but don’t get very far...

Eclipse Volume 1, Issue 2

Issue Number: 2

Publisher: Eclipse Comics (w/ special caption: “Flood Control Comics”)
Publication Date: Spring, 1986

Editor: Don Chin
Artist: Parsonavich

“Man of the Mountains” Short Story:

Writer: Kevin Harville
Artist: Herb “Chip” Wood

Editorial: Mark Evanier

Cover Price: $1.50

Current Price: $1.75

Preface

The issues starts with an editorial by Mark Evanier describing a massive flood in Guerneville, CA, which apparently wiped out Eclipse’s headquarters, along with cat yronwode and two staff member’s (Dean and Sean’s) homes. Yikes! All back issues, gone. This may be the reason for the small “Flood Control Comics” logo on the front.

At the bottom, there is a small line saying: “All rights reserved, but we still have some lefts available… Cover art by Parsonavich, colored by Mike Dringenberg. Nice job, guys. Printed in Canada, eh.” Little touches like that make you want to look over every nook and cranny of these comics, so you won’t miss a single joke!

A Few Missing Issues on the Way

I've got my order in for a limited edition hardcover "America the Beautiful" graphic novel, plus Parody Press issues 3-5. So my collection will soon be complete!

I am still working on the review for issue 2, and hope to have that up soon.

Happy Friday!

Review – Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters: Volume 1, Issue 1

In which the governments of Earth unite to battle a cosmic menace, and out of the chaos, four heroes emerge...



Eclipse Volume 1, Issue 1

Issue Number: 1

Publisher: Eclipse Comics
Publication Date: 1986

Writer: Don Chin

Artist: Parsonavich
Editors: Don Chin and Cat Yronwode
Inside Back Cover: Herb Wood

Cover Price: $1.50

Current Price: $3.00

Story

In 1977, Earth is threatened with a menace from space: Radioactive Cosmic Jello! The governments of earth unite to deal with the threat. NASA comes up with a plan, but it is dangerous. Someone is needed to fly a rocket into the jello, and detonate it. Volunteers are requested.

America offers Billy Carter. Canada offers Bob and Doug McKenzie. Britain offers The Sex Pistols. And Poland offers four hamsters. The hamsters are chosen. Bravely they face their mission, piloting the rocket into space. The rocket enters the jello, and detonates.

The hamsters are thrown from the explosion, and sent hurtling through space. They crash land in Tibet, where they are discovered by a kindly monk who takes them in. Their coming fulfills a prophecy of “The four who fall from the sky.”

A Few Notes on Why This Blog Exists, plus Hamster Chronology

When I was in college, I started collecting lots of comics. Among them were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But I never really "got" the Turtles. Sure, the artwork was good and the stories were okay. But it never really worked for me much. It was supposed to be a parody, right? Only unlike other parodies, TMNT wasn't funny. It was grim. Serious... No offense to Turtle lovers. TMNT is still good - it just wasn't my thing.

My copy of TMNT #1, 3rd Edition. Not pictured: The pain and anguish I feel realizing that I shouldn't have sold the rest of my entire 62-issue run of TMNT comics on eBay.

But the effect on pop culture was undeniable. In the mid-80's, TMNT spawned a multitude of "Mutant Ninja Critter" comics, all of them in black and white and most of which were pretty terrible. It was a golden age of crappy comics.