First issue of "Captain America" published 1940

The first issue of Captain America was published on December 20, 1940, although the cover had a date of March 1941. The issue focuses on the creating of Captain America by injecting a super-serum into the scrawny form of Steve Rogers, who, as a result, becomes the super-hero Captain America.  The issue ends with the scientist who created the super-serum is killed by a Nazi sympathizer.  The assassin is electrocuted in his attempts to escape an attack from Captain America. 

The cover art shows Captain America hitting Adolph Hitler.  After publication, members of an American Nazi organization sent threatening letters and phone calls to Timely, the publishers of Captain America. New York City police were assigned to ensure the employees of Timely.  

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Thunderbird, superhero Apache member of the X-Men

John Proudstar, also known as Thunderbird, is a superhero that appeared with the X-Men in the Giant-Size X-Men #1 in May 1975. As a mutant, Proudstar possesses superhuman athletic ability.  Unfortunately, he died on the second mission. After his death, his brother James became Thunderbird and later Warpath.

Proudstar was born into the Apache tribe in Camp Verde, Arizona.  When he became a teenager, he realized he possessed superhuman senses, strength, speed, stamina, and sturdiness. He was drafted into the Marine Corps and served during the Vietnam War.  He returned to his tribe after the war, having changed significantly  

Professor Charles Xavier recruited him to join his third group of X-Men.  Due to his bad temper and individualism, he clashed with Cyclops.  He was killed when he refused to jump off a jet plane, pursuing Count Nefaria.  The plane exploded and Thunderbird was killed.

Happy birthday, Electra Woman!

Diedre Hall, born October 31, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is best known for her work on Days of Our Lives, for which she has won numerous awards.  However, I know her best as her role as Electra Woman on the Saturday morning TV show Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, a campy, low-budget superhero show that ran for 16 episodes in late 1976, with Judy Strangis as Dyna Girl.  The show has become a cult classic.

She also appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote. 

"Daredevil" released 2003

Marvel Comics released the first movie to bring its superhero Daredevil to the big screen, February 14, 2003. Daredevil starred Ben Affleck in the title role, with Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Colin Farrell (swoon!) as the supervillain Bullseye, and Michael Clark Duncan as Kingpin.  

The movie opened to mixed reviews and didn't fare as well at the box office as some of the other MCU movies did.  It did hold the #1 spot for two weeks before falling to #3 in the third week.  Afterwards, Ben Affleck vowed that he would never appear in a superhero movie again, but went on to play Batman in several DC movies.

I enjoyed the movie, but felt it could be stronger.  A sequel was planned but never materialized.  Pity.  The second movie is usually better than the first.  For example, X2 and Spiderman 2 (the Toby Maguire versions). 

Isis episode "No Drums No Trumpets" airs 1975

One of my favorite episodes of Isis, No Drums, No Trumpets, first aired November 15, 1975. I like it because the climax isn't Isis saving a dopey teenager from doing something stupid.  That's actually how the episode begins, which is a strange but welcome turn.  The episode ends with Isis actually using her powers to fight crime.  Watch the episode below!

JoAnna Cameron appears as the goddess Isis, with Brian Cutler, and Joanna Pang. Mark Lambert plays the sore loser of the high school's science fair.  Actress Christopher Norris, who had a supporting role in the episode, would appear in another superhero show.  She appeared in the final episode of the first season of Wonder Woman.

"Thor: The Dark World" released 2013

The sequel to Marvel Cinematic Universe's Thor, Thor: The Dark World, was released November 8, 2013. Chris Hemsworth reprised his role as the God of Thunder, with Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Ray Stevenson.

It surpassed its predecessor's success in only 19 days after release.  It earned $206.4M in North American and $438.4M world-wide.  Rotten Tomatoes, which doesn't like any movie, gave it a rating of 66%!

"Wonder Woman" debuts 1975

DC's mightiest heroine Wonder Woman, based on the character developed by William Moulton Marston, debuted on television November 7, 1975, with the incomparable, beautiful Lynda Carter in the title role.  The pilot episode featured Lyle Waggoner (Steve Trevor), the amazing Cloris Leachman (Queen Hippolyta), Red Buttons, Stella Stevens, Fannie Flagg, Henry Gibson, Anne Ramsey, and Kenneth Mars.

The pilot episode was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences.  

The series ran for three seasons from 1975 until 1979.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Forge, Cheyenne superhero

Forge, who first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men comic #184 in August 1984.  He is one of dozens of Native American superheroes and is a mutant with the superhuman talent for invention and intuitive genius.  He trained as a shaman in the Cheyenne nation, but uses his technology genius rather than his mysticism in conflicts.

He has had a romantic relationship with Storm, and even a brief affair with Mystique.  He has been a member of the X-Men, X-Factor, and X-Force.  

Forge has made appearances in the animated television series, X-Men (1992); X-Men: Evolution (2000); and most recently in Wolverine and the X-Men (2009).

"The Incredible Hulk" debuts 1977

The Incredible Hulk, starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno as the titular character, debuted on November 4, 1977.  Susan Sullivan appeared in the two-hour premiere.  At one time three superhero series existed simultaneously.  The Amazing Spider-Man premiered just two months prior and Wonder Woman debuted in 1975.   

The Incredible Hulk ran for 5 seasons from 1977 to 1982.  It was a ratings success, but was cancelled suddenly at the end of the fifth season. Throughout its run, it garnered three Primetime Emmy awards, winning one for Mariette Harley for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Series.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Hector Ayala (White Tiger), first Hispanic superhero

Hector Ayala, aka White Tiger, is the first main character Latin-American superhero in America comics. His first appearance was in Marvel Comics' Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19 in December 1975.  He was created by Bill Mantio and George Perez.

Hector Ayala was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico but grew up in the Bronx.  He gained his powers hen he discovered tiger amulets that were thrown away by the Sons of the Tiger.  When he put on all three, he transformed into White Tiger.

In the Marvel comic books, Hector died after being wrongfully convicted of murder.  He was killed trying to escape right before evidence proving his innocence was uncovered.  His niece Angela Del Toro inherited the amulets. She was killed and then resurrected.

Hector's teenaged sister Ava Ayala has now appeared as the new White Tiger.

"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" released 2021

Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, released September 3, 2021, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Achievements in Visual Effects. Actor Simu Liu played the titular role of Shang-Chi, the son of an immortal crime lord, who has to confront his past when his father lures him and his sister into a plot to find and destroy a mythical village.

As usual for a Marvel Cinematic Universe feature film, the special effects are dazzling and make the movie confusing at times, since it's hard to keep up.  Still it was fun to see the connection to Dr. Strange's world.

The awesome Michelle Yeoh and Ben Kingsley also appear in the movie.  Simu Liu won a People's Choice Award for Action Movie Star for 2021.

Happy birthday, Billy Batson!

Actor Michael Gray, born September 2, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, is best known for his role as Billy Batson on the Saturday morning show Shazam!.  I never missed an episode.

Lately, he's been seen regularly on the Comic-Con circuit, talking about his experiences on the show.  Still looks good, too! 

Remembering Joanna Cameron (1948-2021)

I just found out one of my all-time favorite super-heroines, Joanna Cameron, who played Isis on Saturday morning TV in the 1970s passed away October 15, 2021.  Born in Greeley, Colorado, she started her show business career in the comedy How to Commit Marriage with Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Tina Louise, Leslie Nielsen and Tim Matheson.  But she is probably best known for her role as the superheroine Egyptian goddess Isis on The Secrets of Isis, which aired for two seasons.  Despite its popularity, it was cancelled during the second season.  

Joanna was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having appeared in the most television commercials.  She was living in Honolulu, Hawaii when she passed away from complications following a stroke. 

"Captain America" premieres 1944

Captain America, the first Marvel superhero to appear outside of a comic book, premiered February 5, 1944.  Dick Purcell played Captain America/Grant Gardner instead of Steve Rogers.  The studio Republic rejected the backstory of Rogers being too puny and weak to join the army, so he took a serum that turned him into a super soldier.  Grant Gardner is a lawyer who fights crime by night.

Captain America was a serial, Republic's last, and had fifteen episodes.  Dick Purcell, an amateur boxer and a black belt in Judo, died of heart failure in 1944, shortly after filming concluded. 

Wonder Woman episode "Light Fingered Lady" airs 1978

Light-Fingered Lady, the thirteenth episode of the second season of Wonder Woman, aired January 6, 1978.  It's one of my favorite episodes, because it has a Mission: Impossible feel to it.  Diana Prince/Wonder Woman goes undercover to capture an elusive thief before he disappears forever.  The thief was played by Greg Morris, who starred in the television series Mission: Impossible. 

Happy birthday, Lou Ferrigno!

Actor, bodybuilder and all-around inspiration, Lou Ferrigno was born November 9, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York.  He won his first major title IFBB Mr. America in 1969, and then IFBB Mr. Universe in 1973.  He trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger and came in second in his first Mr. Olympia competition in 1974. 

His other titles include Pro Mr. America-WBBG, Teen 1st, and IFBB Mr. International in 1974.

He appeared as the Incredible Hulk in the television series with Bill Bixby from 1978-1982.  Most recently he has appeared in Star Trek Continues.

"Thor: Ragnarok" released 2017

Thor: Ragnarok, the third in the MCU's Thor movies, was released November 3, 2017.  It starred dreamy Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Cate Blanchett as Hela, Idris Elba as Heimdall and Karl Urban as Skurge.  Benedict Cumberbatch appeared as Doctor Strange. 

Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins also appeared.

I enjoyed the movie but it did go for a walk on the weird side.

Happy birthday, Electra Woman!

Deidre Hall, born October 31, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has won numerous awards for her performances in Days of Our Lives.  

But before that she was Electra Woman!  She appeared in the Saturday morning live-action superhero show Electra Woman and Dyna Girl with Judy Strangis.  She also appeared in Murder, She Wrote, but did not have any scenes with Angela Lansbury. Bummer.

"Venom" released 2018

Venom, starring sexy Tom  Hardy, was released October 5, 2018.  A spin-off of Marvel's Spiderman series, Venom is about a symbiote from outer space, who finds a human host and becomes a dual person.  In the comics, Venom was originally worn by Peter Parker.  But Venom became too co-dependent, and Peter had to separate from the symbiote.  Venom hated Parker for that and bonded with Eddie Brock who also had hatred for Peter.

"Adventures of Superman" premieres 1952

Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves in the title role, first appeared on television September 19, 1952.  It ran for six seasons and ended after Reeves' passing in 1959.  Phyllis Coates played Lois Lane in the first season and, after she left the show, Noel Neill replaced her for the rest of the series.