Comments for Mike Sterling's Progressive Ruin

Comment on My Fantastic Four-ay: Part Six. by Mikester

Mikester — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:06:47 +0000

Dan – don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to actually count the candles, but that’s a good catch…which adds a little evidence that the changed word ballon probably read “thirties.”

Sean – these images are from the Marvel Unlimited digital comics service, which was easier and faster than scanning the comics myself. Some recoloring is likely, but it’s not much different from the originals. And yes, Byrne absolutely lettered himself on DOOMSDAY +1, and to better effect.

Comment on My Fantastic Four-ay: Part Six. by Sean Mageean

Sean Mageean — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:26:33 +0000

Reed looked like he was already in his forties all the way back in Fantastic Four no. 1. And, originally, he and Ben were WW II vets, just like Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan. Doctor Strange looked about forty when he made his debut as well.

Of course, Marvel always has that sliding timeline for most of its characters, except for Fury, Dugan, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes and a few others.

I’m curious as to if the FF no. 273 scans are from an original issue, or a reprinted edition, as the coloring looks really bland.

I did enjoy when Byrne brought Wyatt Wingfoot back to join in the FF’s adventures.

Chances are that John Byrne also did his own lettering on Doomsday + 1 back in the early days of his career over at Charlton Comics.

Also, if you want to continue on a Byrne line in a few months, Abrams will be releasing John Byrne’s “fanfic” “X-Men:Elsewhen” Volume One graphic novel this summer.

Comment on My Fantastic Four-ay: Part Six. by Dan Seeger

Dan Seeger — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:24:54 +0000

Isn’t Reed’s age indicated even more decisively by the opening splash page of FF #271? The birthday cake Sue holds in it has forty candles.

Comment on And also starring Jesus’s twin brother, Thor. by Jon H

Jon H — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:46:23 +0000

Regarding “Jack Kirby Way”

They should really paint some Kirby Crackle on the street. Even better would be a ribbon of crackle suspended over the street.

Comment on Time for my legally-mandated quinquennial (or so) posting about Ghost Rider. by DavidG

DavidG — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:03:58 +0000

“ This entire post came about because I just got to thinking about it again after pricing up a copy of this comic the other day. I have it at $4.50 in VF, by the way. You made $1.75 on that $2.75 investment!”

Not so fast. According to one inflation calculator I used online (so it must be accurate) the purchasing power of $2.75 today is roughly $6.50. So they actually lost two bucks.

Comment on Time for my legally-mandated quinquennial (or so) posting about Ghost Rider. by Wayne Allen Sallee

Wayne Allen Sallee — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:02:35 +0000

I always thought of Silly Putty. The band could have been playing on the jukebox, one of the Mad Men dropping a dollar in the slot.

I think next would be “Cry Havok!” for cover blurbs.I’ve never heard the word havok spoken by anyone in Real Life.

Comment on Time for my legally-mandated quinquennial (or so) posting about Ghost Rider. by Sean Mageean

Sean Mageean — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:21:42 +0000

@ Wayne

Did Ted Kord Blue Beetle battle Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders in an epic story titled “A Groovy Kind of Love?”

Comment on Time for my legally-mandated quinquennial (or so) posting about Ghost Rider. by Sean Mageean

Sean Mageean — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:17:36 +0000

For my money, Johnny Blaze is the coolest Ghost Rider and Mike Ploog is the best Ghost Rider artist.

However, if Marvel really wanted to deliver on that Danny Ketch Ghost Rider “pop up” fold out they should have hired Tim Vigil to provide the goods! But the results would not have been approved by the Comics Code Authority…

Comment on Time for my legally-mandated quinquennial (or so) posting about Ghost Rider. by Snark Shark

Snark Shark — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:09:34 +0000

” I have it at $4.50 in VF”

Sounds pretty reasonable!

Comment on My Fantastic Four-ay: Interregnum. by Snark Shark

Snark Shark — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:01:55 +0000

“the Wizard shows up a lot”

Ol’ Purple Dome!

“What Marvel character doesn’t need explanation at this point?”

I’m reading John Bryne’s run on WEST COAST AVENGERS right now, and the Vision/Original Human Torch lore gets very complex.

Good to see the WW2-era flamehead, though!