:: The Silver State Chronicles ::

Jim Steranko Draws The Quintessential Captain America

Well, I had some fun yesterday with the newest superhero on the scene, Barack America!  So I got to thinking a bit and realized I haven’t written an entry in the Greatest Comic Covers series since May 13, 2008!

Since the next entry in that series would be the milestone 25th entry, I decided to get on it posthaste!

It’s common knowledge that I am a big Silver Age Marvel fan.  In fact, I consider that era in comics to be the Rolls Royce of comics - it’s doubtful we will ever see that kind of creativity and synergy in comics ever again.  Under the sure hand of Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Jack Kirby, the Marvel Universe was born and comics would never be the same.

That being said, quite a bit of new talent hit the scene in that era.  One of the most notable is the legendary Jim Steranko.  His run on Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD was groundbreaking, but he also contributed quite a bit to the legend of Captain America, too.  That brings us to the classic cover of Captain America #111, Tomorrow You Live, Tonight I Die!”

In the issue, Captain America survives a Hydra assassination attempt and then gets to work training Rick Jones for his role as the new Bucky. Rick is unfortunately kidnapped by Hydra and used to bait Captain America into a trap, but Rick escapes in time to witness the apparent demise of Captain America at the hands of Hydra agents!

They just don’t make them like this anymore.  Enjoy!

• Greatest Comic Covers # 23
• Greatest Comic Covers # 19
• Greatest Comic Covers # 20
• Marvel Comics Animation Theme Songs
• Greatest Comic Covers # 17
• Greatest Comic Covers # 16

Dragnet: The Missing Realtor

Enjoy this great episode of Dragnet 1968 - some good legwork by Joe & Bill, as a missing person’s case slowly becomes a murder case.  Keep an eye out for the legendary Scatman Crothers (sporting some stylish hair)!

• Dragnet on Radio: The Big Drive
• Dragnet 1952: The Big Cast
• Jack Webb on “What is a cop”
• The Perils of Blue Boy
• Jack Webb on “Alcohol vs. Marijuana & LSD”
• Jack Webb’s Dragnet Tells It Like It Is

Just The Facts…

I came across this wonderful article about Mr. Jack Webb, from the 1950s Hollywood gossip magazine TV People. Honestly, in many ways it reads like a press release, and was probably published to soften his image a bit. I still dig it!

The article was reproduced by the great folks at the website that honors Mr. Webb and Dragnet, Badge 714.

AT LONG LAST! The JACK WEBB Story That MUST be Told

by BEN ALEXANDER (from TV People, October 1957)
I have just completed a six-week swing around the country.

Personally meeting swarms of fans is a most gratifying experience, of course. But here and there a grating note crept in.

Several long-time followers of “Dragnet” and “Badge 714″ asked me, “Is it true that Jack Webb is a moody, unapproachable person in real life?”

And my categorical answer to them is this: Nothing could be further from the truth!

Whether he’s a police sergeant or Marine sergeant, Jack doesn’t change the stripes of his character. And, you can take it from me, that means he’s the same swell guy I met for the first time six years ago.

This sort of stuff has been going on for the past several years, and I don’t understand why.

The truth is that Jack works hard. Very hard. But he does not work so hard in order to escape from unhappiness, as some writers hint. He works hard just because he likes to work!

When I’m not portraying Frank Smith, no one is happier than I am when I’m at my Ford Agency, selling…. I just love to sell! Jack just loves to work on TV and movies. That’s all. It’s an all-absorbing passion with him.

Let me tell you a few things about Jack Webb, as he really is, and not as some papers and magazines have painted him.

(more…)

• Jack Webb on “What is a cop”
• Dragnet on Radio: The Big Drive
• Jack Webb Answers “What Do They Pay You?”
• Jack Webb’s Dragnet Tells It Like It Is
• “Try A Little Tenderness” by Jack Webb
• The Tonight Show: The Copper Clapper Caper