Sunday Salute to the Troops - Amazing Spider-Man #574

Here we are another Sunday and as we do every Sunday here at CBHG we salute our fine men and woman of the military. This week we look at a recent issue of the Amazing Spider-Man.

In Amazing Spider-Man #574, Marvel comics uses a well-known character from Spider-Man to pay homage to the soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Flash Thompson has been a supporting character since the beginning, first as Peter Parker's High School bully then as Spider-Mans biggest fan. The title of issue #574 is WHATEVER HAPPENED TO FLASH THOMPSON? It looks at Flash fighting the war in the Middle East and how Spider-Man inspired him to keep going on.

Not sure if there is a better way to salute the troops then by taking an existing character and using him as a reflection on the troubles and triumphs a soldier faces. Writer Marc Guggenheim summed up a soldiers struggles best with this line from Flash Thompson "I don't need a medal, sir. Not to remind me to do the right thing, at least. Truth is, I've been lucky to know people whose example reminds me every day"

So if your sitting around today and you have nothing else to do go out and pick up Amazing Spider-Man #574. Worth the read.

Good Luck on Your Hunt!
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Sunday Salute to Troops - Captain America #100

What better way to salute the troops then with the best known soldier in comics 1st issue of his Silver Age series , Captain America #100.

This first issue hit newstands in April 1968, it retells his first Silver Age apperance from Avengers #4 ( both issues are key Silver age book, hunt them down).
Black Panther guest stars in the story "This Monster Unmasked!" Which was Scripted by Stan Lee, penciled by Jack Kirby, inked by Syd Shores. Issue also includes a brief Nick Fury appearance and cameos by the Avengers and the Sub-Mariner. This story continues from Tales of Suspense 99. Cover price $0.12, a mint condition issue will now cost you $6,000.

Captain America is not only one of the popular superheroes in comics today but he is also a soldier himself. We picked this issue to salute the troops and to celebrate the 4th of July, because Cap is the embodiment of the USA and its military. In his early days he fought Hitler and the nazis throughout his pages.

Good luck on your hunt!
#jointhehunt!

Sunday Salute to the Troops- World's Finest #8

Each Sunday we will look at an issue that in some way pays tribute to the troops. This week we look at the issue I personally think of when I imagine a comic book cover that was created to salute the troops- World's Finest #8.

Released on October 39, 1942, which was right smack  in the middle of World War II, this issue of World's Finest does contain a couple of stories that directly relates to the troops overseas and one fantastic cover that advised those of us who were still at home to buy War Bonds. The cover shows Batman, Superman and Robin inside a stand handing out war bonds to a group of boys.

If you haven't heard of war bonds before, War bonds are debt securities issued by the government to finance military operations and other expenditure during World War II and at other times of war. Basically the government is asking civilians to help finances of the war effort. During World War II
Bond rallies were held throughout the country with famous celebrities, and comic books were used to reach out to children to also play their part in helping our troops. A true sulfate to the troops. Over the course of the war 85 million Americans purchased bonds totalling approximately $185 billion.

DC comics played a large role in helping sell War Bonds, they used many of their most popular characters in the effort. The cover of World's Finest #8 is a prime example. 

If your ever on the hunt for this issue, which original sold for .15 on the newsstand, it will cost you based on recent sales between $400 and $600. 

The issue contains 11 separate stories. 1. Talent Unlimited (Superman) -- 2. Tanks For The Memory (Drafty) -- 3. The Magic Lantern (Zatara) -- 4. Private Pete -- 5. Stripesy, Solo Sleuth Inc. (Star Spangled Kid and Stripesy) -- 6. The Luck of the Lepparts (Boy Commandos) -- 7. The Unluckiest Man In The World (Green Arrow) -- 8. The Minuteman Answers the Call -- 9. Smoked Out -- 10. A Double For Trouble (The King) -- 11. Brothers In Law (Batman)

I includee an image of the first page of the Boy Commandoes story the Luck of Leeparts because it was done by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, two kings of the comics.

Good luck on your hunt.
#jointhehunt