Amazing Heroes Issue #5 Table of Contents
Dublin Core
Title
Amazing Heroes Issue #5 Table of Contents
Subject
Periodical
Comic Strips
Comic Strips
Description
Published in October of 1981 in Stamford, Connecticut, the table of contents of issue number 5 of the Amazing Heroes series contains the page numbers for nine articles, including a “letters from our readers” section, a Star Wars adventure by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, a comics report by Michael Catron, a “silly cover” by Brian James Reidel, a new comics checklist, “Exploring Ka-Zar’s Brave New World” by Michael Catron (an article), “Shackled by Success” by David M. Singer (another article), a reminiscence of Spider-Man by Bob Sodaro, and a Star Hawks adventure by Mark Lamport. The executive editor of the issue is Michael Catron, and the art director is Peppy White. The contributing artists include Willie Blyberg, Rudi Franke, Mark Lamport, Mark Heike, Sam de la Rosa, Jim McGreal, Mike O’Neil, Dan Reed, Brian James Reidel, and Brent Anderson. There are several small depictions of characters such as Darth Vader, Spider-Man, and Ka-Zar on the right of the contents in fine black ink. The page also lists the magazine issue’s advertisers, being Amazing Heroes, Comic Art Workshop, Elfquest Gatherum, Forbidden Planet, Joseph and Peter Koch, Marvel Comics, Nautilus Dreams, Pacific Comics, and Sea Gate Distributors. Copyright information is listed.
Though less extensive than the later issues of Amazing Heroes, issue 5 still covers a fair amount of content. The magazine issue notably displays four key aspects of fandom inquiry, allowing fans to (indirectly and, albeit, more slowly than later issues) communicate with each other (through content distribution and the “letters from our readers” section), to be creative (through the creative pieces published and shared in the fanzine), to display and share their knowledge (through the critical reviews and histories of the content of which they are fans, such as with the article “Exploring Ka-Zar’s Brave New World”), and to organize and develop power (by creating a magazine that organizes fan ideas and values for the consumption of other fans as well as comic writers and artists, giving fans a say in the content they consume, although this specific issue does lack a substantial cause for activism). The fans’ work is transformative; they contribute to the culture of the content of which they are fans. In the case of Ka-Zar, a less popular Marvel character, the fans bring awareness to the character’s changes near the intersection of the bronze age (around 1970 to the mid-1980s) and the modern age (around the mid-1980 to the present) of comics, marking a revolutionary period. Also during this critical transition, direct market distribution began to make bypassing the comics code authority more realistic, allowing for more freedom in the comics about which the authors in Amazing Heroes write.
Though less extensive than the later issues of Amazing Heroes, issue 5 still covers a fair amount of content. The magazine issue notably displays four key aspects of fandom inquiry, allowing fans to (indirectly and, albeit, more slowly than later issues) communicate with each other (through content distribution and the “letters from our readers” section), to be creative (through the creative pieces published and shared in the fanzine), to display and share their knowledge (through the critical reviews and histories of the content of which they are fans, such as with the article “Exploring Ka-Zar’s Brave New World”), and to organize and develop power (by creating a magazine that organizes fan ideas and values for the consumption of other fans as well as comic writers and artists, giving fans a say in the content they consume, although this specific issue does lack a substantial cause for activism). The fans’ work is transformative; they contribute to the culture of the content of which they are fans. In the case of Ka-Zar, a less popular Marvel character, the fans bring awareness to the character’s changes near the intersection of the bronze age (around 1970 to the mid-1980s) and the modern age (around the mid-1980 to the present) of comics, marking a revolutionary period. Also during this critical transition, direct market distribution began to make bypassing the comics code authority more realistic, allowing for more freedom in the comics about which the authors in Amazing Heroes write.
Creator
Executive Editor: Michael Catron
Art Director: Peppy White
Contributing Writers: Bob Sodaro and David M. Singer
Contributing Artists: Willie Blyberg, Rudi Franke, Mark Heike, Sam de la Rosa, Mark Lamport, Jim McGreal, Mike O'neil, Dan Reed, and Brian James Riedel
Cover Art: Brent Anderson
Art Director: Peppy White
Contributing Writers: Bob Sodaro and David M. Singer
Contributing Artists: Willie Blyberg, Rudi Franke, Mark Heike, Sam de la Rosa, Mark Lamport, Jim McGreal, Mike O'neil, Dan Reed, and Brian James Riedel
Cover Art: Brent Anderson
Source
MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47
Publisher
Zam, Inc.
Date
1981-10
Contributor
Rowan Giffel
Rights
Rights Restrictions Apply
Format
8 3/8" x 10 7/8"
Language
English
Type
Periodical
Coverage
1981-1992
Files
Collection
Citation
Executive Editor: Michael Catron
Art Director: Peppy White
Contributing Writers: Bob Sodaro and David M. Singer
Contributing Artists: Willie Blyberg, Rudi Franke, Mark Heike, Sam de la Rosa, Mark Lamport, Jim McGreal, Mike O'neil, Dan Reed, and Brian James Riedel
Cover Art: Brent Anderson, “Amazing Heroes Issue #5 Table of Contents,” Critical Fanscape, accessed October 17, 2026, https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/105.