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Deadman Collection
Deadman: Book Four (Deadman
Deadman, the groundbreaking undead super hero driven to find his own murderer, returns in this fourth collection of his 1970s adventures. Featuring appearances by Superman, Batman, Sgt. Rock and more, this title finds Deadman continuing his quest to bring his killer to justice while battling occult menaces throughout the DC Universe. Collects stories from DC SPECIAL SERIES #8, ADVENTURE COMICS #459-466 and DC COMICS PRESENTS #24.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 1980
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39 people want to read
About the author
Len Wein
1,587 books154 followersLen Wein was an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men (including the co-creation of Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus). Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 17, 2014
i have to wonder why Goodreads sometimes omits actual book covers, giving us instead interior images. maybe they were used as promo art when first solicited, but they're not the real deal.
the fourth volume of Deadman stories from the character's first appearance back in the end of the Silver Age to the waning days of the Bronze. most of these tales were first presented in Adventure Comics, when it was priced ONE DOLLAR for 68 pages/no ads! man, i remember those days. one didn't have to be upper middle class to be able to afford to buy more than a few comics a month. anyway, i do know that one of these tales was slated for Showcase, until it folded during the DC implosion.
the first story is a Deadman/Batman team up from one of the DC Giant Special series that was popular back then. essentially oversized issues of specific comics, or one shot team ups (Deadman got one with the Phantom Stranger, which was collected in Book 3), this particular story was written by the usual Brave and the Bold scribe, Bob Haney, with some really bad art by someone i can't remember. i think it was Ernie Chan on pencils, and Dick Giordano on inks (Giordano really messed the art up, as the inking was heavy and stiffened the characters). the story also starred Sgt Rock, who in Bob Haney's world survived WW2 and was still a sergeant in the 70s. w/e. this story stunk.
the next tales were from the Adventure run, written primarily by Len Wein (with an assist by Gerry Conway) and colored by Wein's wife, Glynis. the art was by the two guys most associated with Deadman during this time period, Jim Aparo and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez. although their styles differed, both artists gave Deadman's adventures a sense of both gritty realism and beauty. can't say anything bad about the art at all. those two guys have always been in my top five artists lists. i miss when there was less of a house style at DC. *le sigh*
the stories are mostly 8 pages, with a couple of "full length" 17 pages, and revolve around Deadman trying to root out a mystery involving the circus he was involved with before being killed. it's not a bad story, just not very exciting. the best thing is we get to see Deadman's still-intense feelings for his friends, and the heartbreak that someone in his situation must go through every day.
near the end of the Adventure run, the story is a special one written by Wein and dedicated to his father. it's a bit of a tear jerker involving a father and his son, but i won't go into any more detail than to say that, although it's a bit predictable, it is still a very warm story, leading into the last story of the volume, which is an issue from DC Comics Presents, the Superman team up book.
in this story, Deadman is begging to be released from his "curse" and duty, and be allowed to travel on to the next world. obviously, this doesn't happen, but he's required to help Superman and S.T.A.R. Labs solve a crisis that threatens Metropolis. not a bad story, but not that memorable, except for the JLGL art.
i recommend all four Deadman volumes, if you're interested in the character. not all stories are great, but they provide a reminder that Deadman was a pretty popular DC hero back in the day, and popped up quite a bit. i don't know if there is enough material for a fifth Deadman book, but if so, it should include his appearances in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing. i'll look forward to it if it ever sees print.
the fourth volume of Deadman stories from the character's first appearance back in the end of the Silver Age to the waning days of the Bronze. most of these tales were first presented in Adventure Comics, when it was priced ONE DOLLAR for 68 pages/no ads! man, i remember those days. one didn't have to be upper middle class to be able to afford to buy more than a few comics a month. anyway, i do know that one of these tales was slated for Showcase, until it folded during the DC implosion.
the first story is a Deadman/Batman team up from one of the DC Giant Special series that was popular back then. essentially oversized issues of specific comics, or one shot team ups (Deadman got one with the Phantom Stranger, which was collected in Book 3), this particular story was written by the usual Brave and the Bold scribe, Bob Haney, with some really bad art by someone i can't remember. i think it was Ernie Chan on pencils, and Dick Giordano on inks (Giordano really messed the art up, as the inking was heavy and stiffened the characters). the story also starred Sgt Rock, who in Bob Haney's world survived WW2 and was still a sergeant in the 70s. w/e. this story stunk.
the next tales were from the Adventure run, written primarily by Len Wein (with an assist by Gerry Conway) and colored by Wein's wife, Glynis. the art was by the two guys most associated with Deadman during this time period, Jim Aparo and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez. although their styles differed, both artists gave Deadman's adventures a sense of both gritty realism and beauty. can't say anything bad about the art at all. those two guys have always been in my top five artists lists. i miss when there was less of a house style at DC. *le sigh*
the stories are mostly 8 pages, with a couple of "full length" 17 pages, and revolve around Deadman trying to root out a mystery involving the circus he was involved with before being killed. it's not a bad story, just not very exciting. the best thing is we get to see Deadman's still-intense feelings for his friends, and the heartbreak that someone in his situation must go through every day.
near the end of the Adventure run, the story is a special one written by Wein and dedicated to his father. it's a bit of a tear jerker involving a father and his son, but i won't go into any more detail than to say that, although it's a bit predictable, it is still a very warm story, leading into the last story of the volume, which is an issue from DC Comics Presents, the Superman team up book.
in this story, Deadman is begging to be released from his "curse" and duty, and be allowed to travel on to the next world. obviously, this doesn't happen, but he's required to help Superman and S.T.A.R. Labs solve a crisis that threatens Metropolis. not a bad story, but not that memorable, except for the JLGL art.
i recommend all four Deadman volumes, if you're interested in the character. not all stories are great, but they provide a reminder that Deadman was a pretty popular DC hero back in the day, and popped up quite a bit. i don't know if there is enough material for a fifth Deadman book, but if so, it should include his appearances in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing. i'll look forward to it if it ever sees print.
March 27, 2014
A tad dated and I read most of these stories not to long ago. Still a fan of Deadman, though.
October 13, 2021
The fourth reprint book of the adventures of Boston Brand, a trapeze artist who was murdered and came back as a force of cosmic balance. Len Wein was doing some great storytelling here, with Jim Aparo, Bob Haney and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez providing incredible artwork for what was one of DC's strangest heroes in the 70s.
These stories are after the DC Implosion, so Boston is teamed up with Batman, Superman and a few other heroes that you would never associate with him. I'll leave it there so you can enjoy the surprises yourself.
An interesting bonus are the covers for the issues of Adventures Comics Deadman appeared in. These were $1.00 with 68 pages and featured Deadman, the JSA, Aquaman, Flash, and Wonder Woman. The issues are a great mix of some of DC's best writers and artists working for them at the time. Grab them out of the back issue bins if you can.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
These stories are after the DC Implosion, so Boston is teamed up with Batman, Superman and a few other heroes that you would never associate with him. I'll leave it there so you can enjoy the surprises yourself.
An interesting bonus are the covers for the issues of Adventures Comics Deadman appeared in. These were $1.00 with 68 pages and featured Deadman, the JSA, Aquaman, Flash, and Wonder Woman. The issues are a great mix of some of DC's best writers and artists working for them at the time. Grab them out of the back issue bins if you can.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
January 23, 2023
Another Good Deadman Story
These Deadman books have mostly been good.
This is another good one.
Each of the stories in this book are different.
They are not just another rehash repeated over and over.
Real variety here.
My favourites were the last two stories in the book.
The old guy with the drug dealer son and the story with Superman.
If you like Deadman you will like this.
If you want a good introduction to Deadman this would be a good start.
Bruce
These Deadman books have mostly been good.
This is another good one.
Each of the stories in this book are different.
They are not just another rehash repeated over and over.
Real variety here.
My favourites were the last two stories in the book.
The old guy with the drug dealer son and the story with Superman.
If you like Deadman you will like this.
If you want a good introduction to Deadman this would be a good start.
Bruce
February 25, 2022
Things got back on track here after the disappointing previous volume. In this series we have the regular Deadman feature from Adventure comics, which was a cohesive longer form story with solid writing and good art. The previous volume was too haphazard, so it was nice to get some continuity in this volume.
November 1, 2018
ভালোই ছিল।
October 18, 2023
I really enjoy DC's macabre-tinged superheroes like Deadman. For those of you unfamiliar with the character, he is Boston Brand, famed circus acrobat who was murdered and given a second chance by Rama Kushna to balance the scales between good and evil by possessing people's bodies to fight for justice. It's a concept that is simple yet has many nuances to it. I especially enjoy Deadman's plight, the alienation aspect of it. No one can see or hear him unless he possesses someone's body.
The first story in this book (DC Special Series #8) is silly. The rest of the stories collected in this book are great. Great writing by Len Wein with great artwork by Jim Aparo and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez. Adventure Comics #464-466 are my favorites, with Deadman facing off against a rogue member of Psi-Lab One, S.T.A.R. Laboratories' division of paranormal abilities. The team use a seance to summon Deadman to battle what they believe to be a poltergeist. No spoilers here, even on comic books that are 35+ years old.
The string of omissions continues in this line of books. I assume that the point of this line was to collect all of the character's pre-Crisis On Infinite Earth appearances. Previous volumes have omitted Justice League Of America #94, and Forever People #9 and 10. Looking ahead, Challengers Of The Unknown #84 is omitted from Book Five in this line, which is insane since it is the first part of a four part storyline, parts two through four of which are collected in that book! Appearances which are also omitted from Book Five include Detective Comics #500, Batman #337 and 339, and Swamp Thing Annual #2.
The first story in this book (DC Special Series #8) is silly. The rest of the stories collected in this book are great. Great writing by Len Wein with great artwork by Jim Aparo and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez. Adventure Comics #464-466 are my favorites, with Deadman facing off against a rogue member of Psi-Lab One, S.T.A.R. Laboratories' division of paranormal abilities. The team use a seance to summon Deadman to battle what they believe to be a poltergeist. No spoilers here, even on comic books that are 35+ years old.
The string of omissions continues in this line of books. I assume that the point of this line was to collect all of the character's pre-Crisis On Infinite Earth appearances. Previous volumes have omitted Justice League Of America #94, and Forever People #9 and 10. Looking ahead, Challengers Of The Unknown #84 is omitted from Book Five in this line, which is insane since it is the first part of a four part storyline, parts two through four of which are collected in that book! Appearances which are also omitted from Book Five include Detective Comics #500, Batman #337 and 339, and Swamp Thing Annual #2.
August 7, 2021
Pretty ok, picks up real good at the end because of Garcia-Lopez. I really like his page layouts and his smooth style. That being said, this still isn't that much of a banger.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews