Air Fighters: Johnny Cloud - All-American Men of War #82 (Dec. 1960)

This time out, I'll be taking a flight back to the dawn of the Silver Age, and having a look at the debut of one DC's longest running war heroes, Johnny Cloud, the Navajo Ace!

Lt. John Cloud battles Nazi fighters and prejudice from his comrades in this treasure from All-American Men of War #82

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Scroll down to images from this issue, and check out older episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes.

Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

The nickname 'Chief' follows Johnny around, as does his spirit brother, his namesake Flying Cloud

Johnny Cloud coming up against a wall of enemy fighters

Lessons are learned - or are they?

Air Fighters: Lady Blackhawk - Blackhawk #133 (Feb. 1959)

In this episode, I'll be taking a look at the inauspicious debut of Birds of Prey's Lady Blackhawk !

Not yet the kickass bombshell ace she'd one day be as written by Gail Simone, in her 1st appearance in Blackhawk #133 from Feb. 1959, the fledgling fighter takes a chance & reaches out to join the Black Knights - and gets shot down in this little (& silly) slice of early Silver Age DC fab!

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Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

The 'local mayor' describes the antics of the man in purple, The Scavenger!

It's a regular Jungle Book, as every beast imaginable stampedes toward the Blackhawks

Zinda introduces herself

Not Zinda's finest moment, but I would absolutely freak out in this situation

Zinda ends up saving the day, but still doesn't get to join the team

One of Zinda's few 80's appearances - from Who's Who Update '87

Air Fighters: Valkyrie! (1987)

I have been absolutely itchin' to cover another aviator here on I'm the Gun - and a recent Eclipse Comics reading binge has given me just the excuse I needed to talk about Golden Age/80s revial fighter ace, Valkyrie!

In this episode I'll be recapping the 3-issue Valkyrie(!) mini-series from 1987 written by Chuck Dixon and gorgeously illustrated by Paul Gulacy & Willie Blyberg.

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One of the great things about this mini-series was a pin-up section in the back of each issue - below I'll reproduce a handful of those illustrations (by the likes of Brian Bolland, Bruce Jones, Steve Leialoha & more), as well as a couple choice Gulacy pages from the story.

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran,

The quiet power of Paul Gulacy - Steelfox arrives on the scene

Introducing the new Black Angel

Steelfox derails Valkyrie's escape attempt

Chilling epilogue: Misery claims another pilot

Pinup section! Illustrations by Fred Kida, Steve Leialoha, Brian Bolland, William Stout, Bruce Jones, and Bo Hampton & Tom Yeates.

And final bonus - Valkyrie paper doll by Trina Robbins!

Bloodlines: Best Event Ever pt. 2! - Justice League International Annual #4 (1993)

Back for more?  Me too!  Continuing the 'acknowledgement' of DC's 1993 Annuals x-over BLOODLINES, in this episode I'll be taking a look at Justice League International Annual #4!

Download HERE!

Check out some images from the issue below, previous I'm the Guns on iTunes, and more coverage of Bloodlines: Best Event Ever at these fine sites:

Between the Pages:
http://betweenthepagesblog.typepad.com/

Coffee & Comics Blog:
http://coffeecomicsreading.blogspot.com

DC Bloodlines Podcast:
http://dcbloodlines.blogspot.com/

Relatively Geeky Network:
http://relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com/

Resurrections - An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast:
http://resurrectionsadamwarlock.tumblr.com

Feedback is welcome!  Please leave a comment below, or email me: imthegun@gmail.com.  Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Lionheart about to get 'Whack-A-Moled'

2 page gag, 1-upping the scare factor

Good sequence showing what Lionheart can do

Put in the customary Bloodlines attack position

Bloodlines: Best Event Ever! - Lobo Annual #1 (1993)

This time out, I'm the Gun is pleased to participate with some other brave bloggers & podcasters in a celebration -erm- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of DC Comics' landmark(?) 1993 x-over event running through that year's Annuals - Bloodlines!

Not looked back upon with much fondness, among Bloodlines most heinous crimes against comics seems to be the introduction of a rafter of new turkeys cut from the same cloth as many other 'extreme' 90s characters from companies such as Marvel & Image.  But was this the worst of Bloodlines' legacy?  I wanted to re-visit a couple of chapters in this saga to see if they held up - held up to the level of suckiness I remember - would I be pleasantly surprised?

In this episode I'll be taking a look at the Annual that started it all - Lobo Annual #1!

Download HERE!

Check out some images from the issue below, previous I'm the Guns on iTunes, and more coverage of Bloodlines: Best Event Ever at these fine sites:

Between the Pages:
http://betweenthepagesblog.typepad.com/

Coffee & Comics Blog:
http://coffeecomicsreading.blogspot.com

DC Bloodlines Podcast:
http://dcbloodlines.blogspot.com/

Relatively Geeky Network:
http://relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com/

Resurrections - An Adam Warlock/Thanos Podcast:
http://resurrectionsadamwarlock.tumblr.com

Feedback is welcome!  Please leave a comment below, or email me: imthegun@gmail.com.  Thanks for listening!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

1st contact with the Giger-inspired aliens

Lobo put in his place

Meet the Parasites

Blood bath - just the kind of sci-fi horror Christian Alamy excels at

Layla's found herself some super powers

Hooked by the House Ad: Elongated Man: Europe '92 (Jan.-Apr. 1992)

I'm the Gun is back with a new Hooked by the House Ad!  In this episode, I'll be taking a look at Elongated Man: Europe '92 a really fun series by the team of Gerard Jones, Mike Parobeck & Ty Templeton!

Spinning out of the JLI titles at the tail end of the Giffen/DeMatteis run, this series provides a kind of bridge between Justice League eras, and I consider it a real early 90s DC gem!

Download this episode HERE!

If you read this series, liked this series or hated it, please let me know!  Comments are welcome below, or email me at imthegun@gmail.com.  Previous episodes are available here or on iTunes.

Thanks for listening - Arrivederci!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Druan

Reboot Review 13: Legionnaires Annual #2 (1995)

Welcome back to the future!  In this episode of Reboot Review, I'll be wrapping up coverage of the 1st year of the reboot Legion's adventures!  Things really come to a head in this double-sized annual, as the Legion makes a final stand against the hateful White Triangle!

Who will live?  Who will die?  Who will guess the Legion's secret plan to end the White Triangle's threat?

Download this episode HERE!

Also, check out images from this issue below, and look for older episodes of Reboot Review on iTunes!  Feedback is welcome!  Please leave a comment below, email me at imthegun@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter!

Thanks for listening, and LOL (Live on Legion)!

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

The appearance of this Daxamite, Fethro Jorn, and its similarity to that of Invisible Kid's, annoys me

Reunion & hertbreak

The founders unite for their last stand, while the 4 horsemen gather in the sky

Sign of Valor to come - a phantom in the stargate

Reboot Review 12: Legion of Super-Heroes #71 & Legionnnaires #28 (Aug. 1995)

Tragedy strikes the 30th Century in this episode of I'm the Gun's Reboot Review! I continue my recapping of the adventures of the Legion of Super-Heroes, as the team begins taking the fight to the specist group, The White Triangle - but that horribly misguided group takes the violence to the next level, and an entire world pays the price! Plus, the introduction of (possibly) a new team member!

Download this episode HERE!

You can find previous episodes of Reboot Review here on the blog, or on iTunes. Feedback is welcome - leave a comment below, email me at imthegun@gmail.com, or send me a tweet (a link to Twitter should be at the top of the page on the right). Thanks for listening & LOL (Live on Legion)! Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran.

Greetings on Trom

1st meeting of the Espionage Squad

Tragedy on Trom

Double page destruction

Espionage Squad in disguise

VR interrogation