Tales From the 50 Cent Bin! - Suicide Squad #38

So, it’s snowing in Tennessee and I’m stuck in Nashville. While being off from work is fine, I wish I got to enjoy the snow in the country. Oh well… on with the show.

Next up for the month is a return to the DC Universe. While most of them are lesser known, there are other fighters in the universe other than the Batman family. One that gets little mention is Ben Turner, aka “The Bronze Tiger,” a man who was brainwashed by the League of Assassins He was introduced along with Richard Dragon in Dragon’s Fists, a novel written by Denny O’Neil in 1975. He then appeared with Richard Dragon in the comic series Richard Dragon: Kung Fu Fighter. He then appeared here and there throughout the DC Universe. He fought Batman a couple of times… and won. Take that, uber-Batfans!!!

Ben then was made a regular member of John Ostrander’s Suicide Squad, which is the subject for today. He even had Rick Flag’s job in leading the team for quite a while. Tonight’s issue is Suicide Squad #38. Even though I haven’t made it here in my read-through (I stopped at "The Janus Directive"), I thought I’d touch on this issue. John Ostrander handles the plot while Robert Greenberger does the script. Luke McDonnell did the layouts while Geof Isherwood is over finishes. So, what happens when Ben is questioned by his superiors?

Suicide Squad #38

Plot: John Ostrander

Script: Robert GreenBerger

Layouts: Luke McDonnell

Finishes: Geof Isherwood

Colors: Todd Klein

Letters: Carl Gafford

Editor:  Dan Raspler

Tales From The 50 Cent Bin! - Richard Dragon #1

Next up for this butt-kicking month, I got a DC character who I really don’t know about: Richard Dragon. Like most martial arts characters, he originated out of the kung fu craze from the 1970’s. He first appeared in a novel written by Denny O’Neil and Jim Berry in 1974. O’Neil later adapted the character in his own series, Richard Dragon: Kung Fu Fighter. The guy’s supposed to have trained most heroes and villains in the DCU. Other than his series and a couple of other spots, he really hasn’t been seen all that much. No wonder I haven’t heard much about him. I probably know more about The Bronze Tiger, his former partner in butt-kicking.

In 2004, there was a short-lived series that featured the character.  I found Richard Dragon #5 in the cheap bins some time ago. I was going to look at that issue until I found the first issue to this series in Murfreesboro a couple of weeks ago. The writer is Chuck Dixon. I think I’m beginning to see a pattern with Dixon and characters that practice martial arts. The pencils were done by Scott McDaniel and the inks were handled by Andy Owens.

Richard Dragon #1

Writer: Chuck Dixon

Pencils: Scott McDaniel

Inks: Andy Owens

Colors: Tony Auina

Letters: Phil Balsman

Editor: Michael Wright