Another back issue of ‘Back Issue’. With the sub-title of ‘Spies And Tough Guys Issue’, it’s easy to see why this issue is hard to get. In both the DC and Marvel Earths and beyond, there are a lot of them.
Writer Allan Harvey has a look at the Black Widow. It’s a shame that a picture of her first super-costume isn’t shown, with enough fishnet to put the Black Canary and Zatanna to shame. Her black jumpsuit, not to mention losing a lot of her weight, made her stand out.
The key selling point is Dan Johnson interviewing writer Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy about their time on ‘Master Of Kung Fu’, how they blended film stars’ faces into the characters and mostly ignored the rest of the Marvel Universe. To be fair, Fu Manchu himself didn’t appear elsewhere either, considering he was a prime villain. The fact that Shang-Chi was the first major oriental character to star in a comicbook is significant, but I do think Bruce Lee led the way to western acceptance and change.
The follow-up article, written by Dave Lemieux, explores a proposed mix of Shang-Chi and Nick Fury with their respective teams, which might have come about had Gulacy not burnt himself out on MoKF.
I think Eclipse Comics’ ‘Airboy’, the second version of the character, came out as I was phasing out of comicbooks. Writer Eric Houston gives his history. It did make me think that the ‘Wild Cards’ book series used the original as the template for their character Jetboy, though.
Probably the biggest piece goes to writer Michael Browning on the Suicide Squad, the second version, before briefly going on to some of the later ones, which are still not even close to the current versions. It’s a good premise, still using popular second-level villains and removing ones that have had their shelf-life.
Writer Mike Gagman interviews comicbook creator Howard Chaykin about his time at the second version of Atlas Comics, where he did only two issues of ‘The Scorpion’. I think you learn more about the limitations placed on the creators by the production side, which probably reflects other comicbook companies even up to today.
Writer Alex Boney interviews Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty about their run on ‘Ms. Tree’, how it survived being printed by six comicbook companies over twelve years and how its continuity held up over that time. I know something about the series, but this fills in some of the gaps.
There are a lot of other articles, but I’m just picking out those that struck me the most. I did have a ponder on who they missed out but, this far back, they were probably covered later, like SHIELD. It is certainly one to keep an eye out for if any more come on the market.
GF Willmetts
October 2026
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 100 page illustrated magazine. Price: varies. ISSN: 1932-6904. Direct from them, you can get it digitally for $ 4.99 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=619&zenid=s7hjg7ctpdls9pej433ctk8ah6
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