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!