Then And Now of Comics

Batman is over 80 years old as a character. He just got a new movie, and it's about time I, the Comic Archivist, finally dipped his toe in talking about the massive brand that is Batman, namely his very first solo title, and then the first of his latest title... which is still over 5 years ago. Well this should be fun. Long too.

Originally uploaded to YouTube on August 2022: It may have been a while since I've done one of these but hey, gotta love it and I always love Werewolf By Night (now a hit special on Disney+). And hey, I get to show how I am when I don't like the writing on a comic in this too. Yes, this means it's another episode where it's not polarizing enough to be for any specific camp. Sorry.Listen to the other shows available from CareyOn Production! 

Then or now, Superman was a pretty super man. Fighting coal barons, domestic violence, wars for profiteering purposes and even collegic football! He's truly the man of tomorrow... today! 

The Comic Archivist returns as he always does to start this latest cycle of Then and Now episodes off with the start of the superhero age, the birth of Superman in Action Comics #1 from 1938. Yes, it's Cleveland Vs Metropolis in this Then and Now. Unrelated, check out SUPERMAN in theaters July 11th (not paid)

While we work on making the video versions of our previous episodes (with many still on YouTube as is), we say thank you to our 150th follower on X/Twitter. That follower being We Have Issues and their choice of Then and Now was SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK, with the Then being John Byrne's irreverent classic and the Now being the surprisingly great Rainbow Rowell sequel to the She-Hulk run from last year!

Support the Now! comic BIRDS OF PREY #1 written by Kelly Thompson, art by Leonardo Romero, colors by Jordie Bellaire and lettes by Clayton Cowles! Yes, try as I might, history is history and while I could have started at the one-shots, I set a precedent with Spectacular Spider-Man and Suicide Squad that I should cut to the main first volume for the Then. That means it's Chuck Dixon's Then and Kelly Thompson's Now! As always, stay golden, and be respectful, inklings!

Support the amazing Now! with ALAN SCOTT: THE GREEN LANTERN #1 by Tim Sheridan, Cian Tormey, Matt Herms, and Lucas Gattoni! Yes, the Internet goaded me into it. Yes, the Title History is basically 75% JSA. Yes, the conclusion is very related to the current state of the comic community (and those that leech off it)...TL;DR - Comics have always been a vehicle for socially minded storytelling, despite what the New Wave Werthams televangelize.