"Hero Envy" The Blog Adventures

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

THE TOP 10 GREATEST CAPTAIN AMERICA MOMENTS

THE TOP 10 GREATEST

CAPTAIN AMERICA MOMENTS

John "THE MEGO STRETCH HULK" Cimino

America should continually thank Joe Simon and Jack Kirby for creating a truly inspiring hero in December of 1940 when Captain America Comics #1 hit the newsstands from Timely Comics (which would later become Marvel). Here was this guy dressed up in the stars and stripes with a shield fighting for every man, woman and child so they would never have to live in the face of tyranny. When the world needed hope and someone to lead them from the dangerous reality of wartime America, the comic industry gave them Captain America!! And he immediately became the most prominent character in a wave of patriotically themed superheroes introduced in comics prior to and during WWII. With his sidekick Bucky, Cap faced off against the Nazis, Japanese and other dastardly villains that threatened the American way of life. Sure, Captain America wasn't the first inspirational patriotic hero (The Shield from MLJ or Archie Comics beat him out by fourteen months) but he was defiantly the most popular and enduring.

While Captain America can mean many things to people, the essence of the character was about this disabled kid who bought into the patriotism of his country. He read the propaganda and he bought into it all the way. So much that he agreed to be a guinea pig for an experiment that would allow him to "serve" his country. Becoming Captain America revealed to him the many lies within the propaganda. But that didn't stop him from loving his country and trying to live up to the values of what got him there, even if his own country didn't stand behind them. He wanted to represent his country with dignity and inspire others to a better way of life. It's about pride in your own country and being the best you can be and if your country doesn't agree, maybe YOU can be the start of something to transform it into that better place. Maybe you can be that inspiration. Because after all, Captain America is all about the common man rising above and walking the line to protect the freedom for all.

It's Caps inspiration to others that make him the most dangerous man in the Marvel Universe.

Captain America is so much more than just a mere comic book character. He also represents the iron will, dedication, and honor of the great founding fathers of America's past. He embodies the spirit and drive these great people in America's history had to make so life could be better for all. If I had to compare Cap to anyone who ever lived in reality it would have to be George Washington. If you don't have a clue about the background of the 1st president then read on and recognize the similarities these two icons have in common.

Good ol' George trekked through miles and miles of uncharted territory on horseback and foot with nothing but his balls, his blankets, his musket and other primitive 18th century means. In his mid-40's he left his wealthy wife and secure estate lifestyle and rode off on horseback into a presumably unwinnable Revolution where he threw himself time and time again directly into the line of fire and afforded himself no special privileges. He practiced what he preached and he fell to his knees and prayed for the courage and discipline and restraint to not be so weak in his manliness to fail so again. He wrote eloquent letters, authored his own speeches, and scribbled down his own moral guide consisting of 101 Rules of Civility (at the age of 16), all of them using a bottle of India ink and a bird's feather while under the light of a lantern or a fireplace fire. He refused to be a King when he could have been, causing even King George III to remark, "If true, then he is the greatest man in the world." His name and his life made it all possible. He had one dream to live by to FREE ALL Of MANKIND from ANY kind of tyranny, then and forever.

They sound pretty similar, right? But one thing's for sure, while George Washington reluctantly took the mantel as America's President, Cap had the offer but declined (in super-heroic fashion I might add).


Awww yeah baby, Captain America is always loyal to the dream.

Okay, enough with the history lessons. I'm sure we all know why Captain America is so awesome. But how about that awesomeness within the comic book stories themselves? In this write up, I have arranged 10 of the best Captain America moments in comic book history. These are the moments that have best exemplified what makes the character truly inspiring, not only to his peers but also his enemies as well. And to be honest, Cap has been around for such a long, long time that there are literally hundreds of moments to choose from. But the ones that I've listed here, I believe, best capture the inherent spirit, attitude, and greatness of the man, the myth and the legend of what Captain America is all about. Maybe you'll agree, maybe you won't, but each moment listed here is a testament of why Captain America is one of comicdom's greatest champions and my hero...

10.) THE AVENGERS #59 and 61 (2002)
"...a gift of gratitude."

The first great Captain America moment on this list is a two-parter. We all know the majestically proud and powerful Prince Namor, right? He's the undisputed ruler and lord of the seven-seas. So Namor is use to being in charge of large armies and loyal patrons who wait on his every whim. While he's not the most likeable Avenger due to his short-fuse, enormous ego and willingness not to listen to those he considers beneath him (he's ruler of 71% of the planet and has always had problems with the surface-folk, so that's a lot of people). He does however, respect and admire one other living being possibly more so than himself. And that person is non other than Captain America. Cap has lead Namor in the Invaders during WWII and with the Avengers during the present and the Sea-Prince has never questioned his authority...ever. So when it came time for this particular Avengers meeting and Namor was being his typical "charming" self, he cracked the sacred Avengers table due to his temper and stood at the head of the table due to his ego. That is, until Captain America walked into the room. At that moment, Namor sees the error of his ways and steps aside as Cap takes to the head of the table without saying a word when Namor says, "Excuse me, Captain." The rest of the Avengers smirk as the pompous Namor is quickly put in his place. If that wasn't enough, a few issues later Namor replaces the table with another from the finest craftsmanship his undersea kingdom has to offer. Namor called it "a gift of gratitude." But we all know it was his way of saying sorry and showing Captain America the proper respect he deserves.

9.) THE INFINITY GAUNTLET #4 (1996)
"As long as one man stands..."

Captain America is a man without any fear, despite the obstacles set in front of him. The showdown with Thanos in The Infinity Gauntlet has to rank as one of his all time bravest moments. But this moment requires a little background to fully appreciate it. The story centers on Thanos who attempts to impress the Marvel Universe’s female personification of Death. That’s right, he literally wants Death to love him. So he achieves this by gaining the Infinity Gauntlet and the six Infinity Gems which combined give him the powers of God. Not a god. THE GOD. He first tries to gain Death’s affection by literally killing half of all sentient life in the entire universe by snapping his fingers. Of course, the heroes of the Marvel Universe don’t take this standing down. They oppose Thanos and fight him…and promptly get destroyed. When all hope seems lost, when all of the heroes seem defeated, Captain America is among the last standing, still alive and fighting on. What does he do? He walks straight up to Thanos’ face and talks smack. He says that as long as there is one person alive who opposes him, then Thanos will never win. He then starts to fight him with nothing but his shield. THAT takes testicular fortitude. Of course, Thanos quickly defeats him. Cap even gets his trademark shield shattered in the progress. But this act of defiance in the face of certain death is just the kind of thing that Captain America does on a daily basis.

8.) THE AVENGERS #63 (2003)
"Stand. Your. Ground."

Setting the scene: 2003 (our time). In the Eastern European nation of Slokovia, a movement of people worshiping Thor and Asgard has taken hold among the populace. The ruling junta doesn't like this, and targets the Thor followers for genocide. They pray to Thor for help, and he brings down the host of Asgard. To counter, the junta buys a lot of advanced weaponry from Dr. Doom and the surrounding countries are getting nervous, as are the US and Russia. Doom is using his ability to remotely control the weapons to ratchet up the situation. The Pentagon sends Iron Man in to intercede with Thor, but America has troops massed at the border in case that fails. Russia has bombers in the air, with orders to blow up everybody if the US gets involved. World War III is imminent, as Doom chuckles. And it's all up to Cap to prevent it. This is yet another fantastic example of Cap's authority. Here we see Cap trying to keep the American military from escalating a tense situation with the Russians as he commands the US soldiers to stand their ground despite orders from the President himself. So who do you think the US soldiers are going to listen too? Who would YOU listen too? Yeah, you and me both.

7.) CAPTAIN AMERICA #332 (1987)
"Cap leaves"

Captain America's belief in doing what’s right has put him at odds with the American government several times. In this issue, Cap is approached by the shadowy Commission, an organization within the US government. They want to make Cap an official part of the US government, effectively making him their puppet. This comes right after the discovery that one of the highest ranking members of the government was the leader of the terrorist organization known as the Secret Empire. Realizing that this violates everything that he stands for, Steve Rogers turns in his uniform and shield and retires as Captain America. He would go on to become the Captain while others would try to take his place as Captain America (failing miserably). Of course, Steve Rogers would later take the shield and cowl back. But his point was heard: Captain America represents the American people and their freedoms, not the government. It was a moment that demonstrated the height of Cap’s integrity and proved that he was anything but a political puppet of the American government.

6.) CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 (2007)
"Cap's last words"

Although the death of Captain America was nothing more than a marketing ploy, nobody can deny the sweet tragedy of Cap’s death written by Ed Brubaker. It was shocking to find Cap dying not on a battlefield, but on the courthouse steps where he was doing his civic duty. And what really drove the whole story was the scene of Cap’s last words: “ Sharon…the crowd…get them to…safety…no more…innocents…hurt…” Even in death Cap wasn’t concerned with catching his killer, he wasn’t even concerned about his own welfare. He was concerned with the crowd, the crowd that was shouting and insulting him the entire time he was going up the courthouse steps (due to the entire Civil War event). He was concerned about the people who had turned on him and demonized him. This, if anything, proves Cap’s true colors. He is an upstanding true hero. He is a defender of the weak. He is…Captain America.

5.) CAPTAIN AMERICA #454 (1996)
"We ALL remember."

Okay, this issue has so many great Captain America moments that I had to put every page of it on here. With this being the LAST issue of Mark Waid's awesome run, that went all out in showcasing Cap's greatness. Cap goes after Sharon Carter and finds out what her game is. She’s trying to use a device to draw an Asian warlord out of hiding so she can assassinate him. She figures that with him dead, the government he formed would collapse, and eventually resistance fighters will build up to the point where they can rescue all the people stuck in a prison camp (a prison camp that Carter herself spent some time in in the past). When Cap sees the prison camp, well, he has a different take on the situation and shows her a better way. I guess you should just read the pages above for yourself and cry like I do every time.

4.) CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 (1941)
"America shall gain the strength and will to safeguard our shores."

How could this list be complete without Captain America's amazing origin? Simple, it can't. Captain America Comics #1 was the very first appearance of Captain America…and what an appearance it was. Its cover, drawn by the legendary artist Jack Kirby, remains one of the most striking moments in early comic history: Captain America literally punching Hitler. Considering that this comic was released nine months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the official entry of America into World War II, it was an incredible reflection of American sentiment. And the story itself showed the world that there was a new hero in town and he simply fought for you and the American way of life.

3.) CAPTAIN AMERICA #17 (1999)
"But you will never take my strength."

Captain America’s arch-nemesis Red Skull had managed to capture a Cosmic Cube and used it to literally reshape the world to his image. Trapped in Red Skull’s hellish vision of America, Captain America fought back valiantly. But then, Red Skull literally drained Cap of his super-soldier serum, robbing him of his enhanced strength and abilities. Confident of his victory, Red Skull was shocked to find that Captain America still wasn’t going to go down without a fight. With his trademark costume sagging around him, he yelled out that he may not have his muscles, but he will never lose his strength. This was easily one of my greatest Captain America moments ever and (of course) moved me to tears. Cap then gives the Red Skull the ass-kicking of his career. It’s one of the most triumphant Captain America comics of all time, proving that Cap is more than just another character with enhanced abilities…deep down, he is a man who refuses to give up, to surrender, to retreat in the face of evil. This powerful scene proves that you don’t need powers to be a true hero. It gives hope that deep down inside, we all have the ability and courage to become superheroes. Thank you Captain.

2.) THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #537 (2007)

"No, YOU move."

It seems like Captain America is at his best when he is giving long, patriotic and inspiring speeches that we can't help but rally behind. It's impossible to deny his ability to cause goosebumps and tears in us by merely talking. There are many famous speeches in Cap’s history, many of which have even made it onto this list. But perhaps no single speech has so powerfully and chillingly captured the true spirit of Captain America as his speech in this issue written by J. Michael Straczynski. It wasn’t about governments. It wasn’t about laws. It’s was about doing what you believe is right. Yes my friends, this is the stuff of legends. Remarkably, Cap’s only in this issue for a few panels, but the man steals the entire show. There really isn’t even much more I can say about it. Just read it in the panel above and discover it yourself. Then stand up and salute the old red, white and blue like you never have before.

1.) DAREDEVIL #233 (1985)
"I'm loyal to nothing, General -- except the Dream."

While all the other moments on this list are truly incredible. This Captain America moment is without equal in my eyes. Captain America may be loyal to his country, but his ultimate loyalty is held for its people and the high ideas that it was founded on. In fact, this dogged loyalty to the higher ideals of what America stands for has frequently put him at odds with the government that he was sworn to protect. In this issue written by Frank Miller, Daredevil and Captain America square off against Nuke, a mentally unstable reject from a program meant to replicate Cap’s super soldier serum. The government claims that he is a terrorist, but Cap discovers the truth about him. Appalled that the government would not only use, but employ, such an insane and violent psychopath, Cap confronts the general in charge of the program. The general has the gall to question Cap about his loyalty to the United States and the government. Cap’s answer is simple, “I’m loyal to nothing, General -- except the dream.” The entire scene is quiet and subdued, but it's as powerful as any comic book, novel, movie, etc. could ever hope to get. It proves that Captain America is anything BUT a mindless pawn of the government. He has sworn to protect not the bureaucrats in office, but the liberties and freedoms that they are supposed to preserve. This phenomenal scene proves that you don’t need a fight, monologue, or splash page to capture the true spirit of a man…of a hero…of a patriot. This is not only Captain America's greatest moment, but his greatest story as well and nothing will ever change that. Go get 'em Cap!!

HONORABLE MENTION

THE ULTIMATES #12 (2003)
"You think this letter on my head stands for France?"

I had to throw this here due to the fact that it could've made my top 10 list, but since it is the "Ultimate" Captain America and not the original, it can't be listed. BUT that doesn't mean it still can't kick ass! Here, Nick Fury sees the alien leader, Kleiser beating Cap down and shoves his gun next to Kleiser's eye, shooting, and dropping him. Kleiser gets up, with a huge hole in his head, which heals, and begins to beat down on Fury. Having no challenge with Fury, Kleiser focuses again on Cap, telling him he should surrender because he can't win. This enrages Cap as he head-butts Kleiser down and stabs his shield into Kleiser's body screaming: (read the panels above because my type won't do it justice). Then Cap takes Fury to safety who then contacts a soldier in a helicopter to traumatize Bruce Banner (who is also on the chopper) so he can change into the Hulk and thoroughly kill Kleiser. While this version of Captain America was a lot more brutal and messy than the real deal Captain America, he was no less as inspirational.

Agree? Disagree? Let's get it on solider!

Check out other Hero Envy "Top" Lists:

Top 10 Most Evil Villains in Comics

http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-top-10-most-evil-villains-in-comics.html

Top 10 Superhero Capes of All Time

http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2012/06/top-10-greatest-superhero-capes-of-all.html

Top 5 Weirdest, Wackiest, Worst and Downright Despicable Cartoons Ever Made
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-top-5-weirdest-wackiest-and.html

My Top 20 Greatest Hulk Stories Ever
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2016/12/my-top-20-greatest-hulk-stories-ever_3.html

Top 10 Most Badass Heroes Ever
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-top-10-most-badass-heroes-ever.html

Doctor Who: The Top 5 Greatest Doctors Ever
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2014/12/doctor-who-top-5-greatest-doctors-ever.html

My Top 30 Greatest Super Heroes of All Time
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-top-30-greatest-super-heroes-of-all.html

My Top 10 Greatest Books of All Time
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2015/03/my-top-10-greatest-books-of-all-time.html

Top 50 Greatest Marvel Slugfests of All Time (1961-1999)
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2011/05/marvels-top-50-greatest-slugfests-of.html

The Top 20 Greatest Stretch Figures of All Time http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-top-20-stretch-figures-of-all-time.html The Top 5 Greatest Feats of Strength of The Incredible Hulk http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-top-5-greatest-feats-of-strength-of.html

John Cimino

John Cimino is a Silver and Bronze Age comic, cartoon and memorabilia expert that runs a business called "Saturday Morning Collectibles." He buys, sells, appraises and gives seminars on everything pop culture, so if you got something special, let him know about it. He contributes articles to ALTER EGO, RETROFAN, BACK ISSUE and THE JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR from TwoMorrows Publishing, runs the Roy Thomas Appreciation Board on Facebook and has appeared on the AMC reality show Comic Book Men. He also represents some of comicdoms biggest stars and brings them to a Comic Con near you. John likes to think he's the real Captain Marvel, people just don't have the heart to tell him he's just an obsessed fanboy that loves to play superheroes with his daughter Bryn. Contact him at johnstretch@live.com or follow him on Instagram at megostretchhulk.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

THE TOP 25 GREATEST SUPERMAN COVERS OF ALL TIME

THE TOP 25 GREATEST SUPERMAN
COVERS OF ALL TIME

By
John "THE MEGO STRETCH HULK" Cimino

SIMPLY SUPER!

Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and first appearing in Action Comics #1 (1938), Superman (real name Kal-El) is the last son of the doomed planet Krypton. He was rocketed away as an infant by his father Jor-El who believed that the planet was about to explode. Arriving on Earth, the child was taken in by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who raised him as their own child. As he grew up, he discovered that due to this solar system's yellow sun, he had gained almost unlimited powers, of flight, speed, strength, endurance and enhanced senses. The name "Superman" was given to him by reporter Lois Lane, with whom he would come to love and work with at the Daily Planet in his civilian identity as Clark Kent.

As Superman, the character carries the most respect of any superhero the world has ever known and he has become the standard all others are measured by. He lives by the traditional moral values instilled in him by his foster parents. He is often pictured with a sense of unbounded idealism mixed with restraint provided by his sense of fairness and compassion for others. He is a man with an incredible depth of feeling, often struggling with the differences between the right answer and the practical one. Devoted to promoting "truth, justice, and the American way", Superman has proved over and over that he is a true hero, capable of whatever bravery or self-sacrifice is necessary to right a wrong or save a life. He is above our common human character flaws; he doesn't feel greed, prejudice, resentment or bias.

While he is one of the most popular and powerful superheroes ever created, Superman is without any doubt the most important. Being the archetype superhero character model for all the others, his relevance and entire comic-mythos are without equal. With a career that has spanned almost 80 years within the pages of thousands upon thousands of comics, creating a list of his most memorable covers was by no means an easy task because, let's face it, Superman comics are the standard of superhero comics. His comic book covers have continued to intrigue and influence generation after generation. While all fanboys/experts/fans have their favorite Superman covers, I based my picks and rankings on how memorable they were to me (especially as a kid growing up in the '70s and '80s). When I look at these covers, I see Superman portrayed the way he should be; proud, strong and in the throes of superhero action! Plus, I wasn't too picky about which Superman incarnation was on the cover. You might see Superboy or an alternate-future Superman here and there because they still represent Superman in all his glory to me. Maybe my favorites won't be yours, but you'll still enjoy the 25 that I've selected. So ladies and gentlemen, Super-fanboys and Super-fangirls of all ages get ready for my greatest Superman covers of all time... "This looks like a job for SUPERMAN!!"

25.) SUPERMAN VS. MUHAMMAD ALI (1978)

24.) GIANT SUPERMAN ANNUAL #1 (1963)

23.) SUPERMAN/BATMAN #3 (2003)

22.) THE INCREDIBLE HULK VS. SUPERMAN (1999)

21.) THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS #4 (1986)

20.) ACTION COMICS #594 (1987)

19.) SUPERMAN #178 (2002)

18.) ACTION COMICS #1 (1938)

17.) SUPERMAN #14 (1942)

16.) JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #10 (2007)

15.) ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #1 (2006)

14.) SUPERMAN #6 (1940)

13.) JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #11 (2008)

12.) WORLD'S FINEST #198 (1970)

11.) ADVENTURE COMICS #247 (1958)

10.) SUPERMAN #1 (1939)

9.) ACTION COMICS #863 (2008)

8.) SUPERMAN #199 (1967)

7.) SUPERMAN #8 (1987)

6.) SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #4 (2010)

5.) JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #137 (1976)

4.) JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: THE KINGDOM #1 (2008)

3.) DC 100 PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #6 (1971)

2.) DC 100 PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #13 (1972)

1.) SUPERMAN #233 (1971)

Agree? Disagree? Let's hear it fanboys and let's see your lists!

Check out other Hero Envy "Top 25 Greatest Covers" Lists:

Spider-man
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2014/04/my-top-25-greatest-spider-man-covers-of.html

Hulk
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-top-25-greatest-hulk-covers-of-all.html

John Cimino

Saturday, March 7, 2015

MY TOP 10 GREATEST BOOKS OF ALL TIME

MY TOP 10 GREATEST BOOKS

OF ALL TIME

John "THE MEGO STRETCH HULK" Cimino

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”

― Stephen King

Everyone knows that reading is important (especially when we read our precious little comic books), but have you ever asked yourself why that is? Through reading, you expose yourself to new things, new information, new ways to solve problems, and new ways to achieve things you desire. Anybody, whether rich or poor, smart or dumb, young or old can access this knowledge at their fingertips simply by opening a book and reading it. No matter what the nationality, the belief or the skill level a person might be at, the playing field is always even when a book is absorbed into their mind's eye. It opens up the world and we begin to understand it more.

When you read, you will begin to have a greater understanding on a topic that interests you; for example: how to build self-confidence, how to make a plan better before taking action, how to memorize things better and how to aspire to greatness (like the superheroes we love). All of these self improvements start from the reading; through reading, you create a structured path towards better actions that you will carry into your future.

Reading increases your understanding of the rules and truths of life, in order for you to adapt, adopt and accommodate into society better. So before you take action on anything, where should you go to seek help and guidance? I would say a library where all that information you crave is absolutely free. There you can find any book on any subject that can be essential to help you with a problem. You will be able to gain the knowledge of someone who may have experienced something similar to you; all their successes and failures.

Through reading, you build a more solid foundation for communication. This is one of the most important tools that we use every day to help us connect with each other. As you communicate through reading, you understand more, and thus you can communicate better with people. Whereas if you don’t read, you can’t even connect with the world and what people are talking about, including understanding what this write up is all about.

By reading, you are exploring a different angle to see things you’ve known, on how different actions lead to different results. Books are beyond imagination showing you nothing is impossible. It’s like a huge interwoven magical web, where you keep linking to more and more things you knew, and things you just learned, structuring new solutions with better answers. So the more you read, the smarter you become. It's that simple and that awesome.

For all these reasons, reading was and continues to be the most important thing I've ever done for myself. It has taught me more than any teacher or class ever did. What most people don't know is that our education system is designed to structure your mind for a 9 to 5 existence which became popularized in the 1950s with the rise of corporations. You go to school, then college, then get a desk job for a corporation until you retire and then you die - that's the idea. Think about all the people you know live this way? Maybe it's you. Maybe it's the reason you're depressed or frustrated with life.

Think I'm wrong? Just look at some of the most successful achievers in life that wanted more: Ted Turner, Ralph Lauren, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Warren Buffet (to name a few). If you know anything about them you'll notice that they refuted that 9 to 5 structure. They all dropped out of school and achieved greatness on their own terms. And the "luck" they all had in common was that they were all voracious readers. The knowledge they learned from books honed their minds to carve out a path for themselves to create their realities. That's not just a coincidence.

Now I don't want to sound like I'm totally against school because it does teach you about math, grammar, and science (which are very important), but does it teach you how to be spiritually full-filled with life? Does it teach you how to turn your lifelong dreams into a reality? How to find your inner peace? Your inner soul? More than at any other time in history, today is the day for the self-made dreamer. The self-made entrepreneur. And constantly reading books will open up the pathways to that better existence.

For me, the greatest teachers and biggest influences in my life came from the books that I've read and the vast knowledge that I absorbed from them. It made me realize that reality is not what people or society shape for me, it's what I shape for me! Through the years I've gathered books, quotes, words and articles that helped me stay on a path of life that works for me (even got a few of them as tattoos). It gave me an understanding of my past, present and future and showed me my paths toward freedom. Books have always done this for me and 10 of the most important ones in my life are listed here. While each book is vastly different from the next in subject and tone, I was inspired by them during different periods of my life. Each one has an important place during my past experiences and shaped me into a whole of who I am today. As I'm still alive and always exploring new avenues through life, I'm constantly reading new books (and rereading old ones) to educate myself so this list can change at any time with new entries. But as of right now here are my top 10 greatest books ever. Who knows, maybe reading some of them can change your perception of the world as they did for me.

10.) PATTON: A GENIUS FOR WAR (1995)

CARLO D'ESTE

Carlo D'Este, a military historian and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, has written an amazing study of an important charismatic American war hero. You will not only learn about military developments that led to the allied victory, but you will also get a real feel for the amazing personality that was George S. Patton, Jr. While there are many biographies of Patton on the market, none are informative and delve straight into the facts like this one (and I know because I read just about all of them).

When most people think of Patton, they think of the 1970 film starring George C. Scott. D'Este knows this and begins with a chapter setting up this movie as a straw man. The film was extremely powerful, but it was ultimately a work of fiction and Omar Bradley, a general who despised Patton, played a large role in its production. D'Este also asks the simple but difficult questions about: who was Patton? We learn that the harsh, profane image he presented to his troops and the public was just that, an image. He was deeply religious, extremely sensitive, loved poetry, understood what it took to send men into combat and was deeply troubled that soldiers under his command would die because of orders he gave. He was one of the best generals the allied coalition had and it was by no accident. He had ability and worked hard at doing an extremely difficult job: killing.

D'Este covers familiar ground during the war years: the campaign in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, the slapping of two enlisted men, the Knutsford incident, exile, and his drive across France, the Battle of the Bulge, and his removal from command. He also shoots down a number of myths of the Patton legend during the war (which is refreshing). The circumstance of Patton's death and the services honoring him (which are moving). Discussions of Patton's cowardly bull terrier, Willie, along with the relationship he had with the officers and enlisted men on his staff. And D'Este's own military experiences help him with this study. He pays attention to details that might have escaped an author with less expertise: Patton's use of maps, his organizational ability, and how he effectively employed assets such as intelligence. Let's just say, D'Este would have made Patton himself proud with this book.

9.) MORIGU: THE DESECRATION (1986)

MORIGU: THE DEAD (1990)

MARK C. PERRY

I was first introduced to the Morigu books in the mid-80s when I was deep into Dungeons and Dragons and fantasy. I would go to stores and buy the fantasy novels that had the best covers on them (also had a bad habit of stealing all the Conan covers that had Frank Ferzetta paintings on them... D'oh!). At this time, I had read close to 50 fantasy novels, including J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, so I was familiar with what good fantasy was all about. But never was I sucked into a fantasy novel right off the bat like I was with Morigu: The Desecration. From beginning to end this book never let up. With deep multi-layered and complex characters along with the constant flow of drama and death, I couldn't put it down.

Getting the second book years later; Morigu: The Dead was more of the same (I couldn't tell you which book I like better). You would get invested in certain characters and soon enough they would die or become part of some big twist. I was constantly shocked by this and it was something that didn't happen very often in other fantasy novels. It totally added to the experience as you didn't know what was going to happen next. Since then I have let many friends borrow my copies to enjoy the same experiences I had. The majority of them had to buy copies for themselves. Yes, this story is that good!

Even today I consider these books to be the greatest fantasy epic of all time. But what hurts them in the eyes of most readers (and my ranking) is that the story of the Morigu was never finished. Yup, you read that right. The story ends in a major cliffhanger and ends there forever. Period. This adventure was supposed to be 4 novels long, but sadly, the writer, Mark C. Perry only finished 2 of them. To make matters worse, Mark passed away in 2013 so fans are left with only a glimpse of the greatness of what this epic could've been. It's really a tragedy because you will never know how the story ends. While this might detract some of you from giving these novels a try, I completely understand. But if you do give them a chance, be prepared for a fantasy adventure to which you've never known.

8.) NO ONE HERE GETS OUT ALIVE (1980)

JERRY HOPKINS AND DANNY SUGERMAN

This was the first and greatest biography of Jim Morrison, lead singer and lyricist of the L.A. rock band the Doors. Written by journalist Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman who began working as an assistant in the Doors office at the age of 13 and eventually managed them after Morrion's death. Hopkins' first manuscript was rejected by major publishers (a biography on a rock star was a hard sell and very uncommon at the time). It wasn't until Sugerman got involved with "insider" information that sent this book into the rock 'n' roll stratosphere and once released, the legend of Jim Morrison was embraced by the rest of the world.

What most people don't realize is that Jim Morrison wasn't a Counterculture icon before 1980. This book is what helped rekindle interest into "The Lizard King" and all his creative complexity as a poet, rock star, philosopher, shaman, artist and drunken fool. He was a man who tested the bounds of reality and became one of the most iconic and influential singers in rock. Living life by his own rules he leads the Doors down some dangerous and uncharted roads which ultimately consumed and killed him at the age of 27.

Today we can read countless biographies, books and articles that flood the market on the myth and legend of Jim Morrison (some true, but most of them over-hyped, fabricated and fictitious). But all of them have to pay homage to this book which paved their way because honestly, nobody really cared before it came along. It was so influential that it became the main point of reference for Oliver Stone's movie The Doors starring Val Kilmer in 1991 (which was a horrid train-wreck... Ugh!) that continued to spread the legend of Morrison to a new generation. So if you're a fan of the Doors music or want to experience the life of a compelling, tormented, brilliant, kamikaze Dionysus, who wanted to "break on through to the other side," then look no further than this. Will you get out alive? Read the book and embrace your fears to find out.

7.) MARVEL COMICS: THE UNTOLD STORY (2012)
SEAN HOWE

Sean Howe writes an exhaustive and honest account of Marvel Comic's history that has never been done before. It's all here, with no stone left unturned, an insiders look at the business, the creative personalities, and the making of the comic book characters that took the pop culture world by storm. It's painstakingly researched and written so incredibly well that the story reads like a bunch of little stories that are interwoven together to make a whole. From the beginning when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (along with Steve Ditko and a few others) whom put their ideas together and created the modern pantheon of American superheroes. The constant rotating staff changes and personal quirks that gave Marvel a flavor much different than all their competitors. All the hardships and politics from within that almost ripped the company apart (on a few occasions). Up until the call of Hollywood that made the company what it is today. Yeah, it's almost a half-century worth of history that reads with as much action as any comic book Marvel ever produced.

Being such a crazed fanboy myself for superheroes and comic books, I love how thorough Howe did his homework because nothing is left out. He includes an amazing collection of anecdotes about the artists and writers reflecting about the eras they worked in, whether good or bad (some of these guys are more interesting than the actual superheroes). All the controversial issues about creative rights and intellectual properties, that is still prevalent in today's market. Hell, you come to realize that the comic business is truly a game of "survival of the fittest" inside a tank full of sharks -- just surviving the day to day grind was a chore.

So whether you're a casual fan or comic expert, this book is a fantastic raw look at what it's like behind the scenes of the mighty Marvel bullpen and the comic books we adore... for better or worse...

6.) WONDERLAND AVENUE: TALES OF GLAMOUR AND EXCESS (1989)
DANNY SUGERMAN

This amazing book is the personal memoir of the late author and Doors publicist Danny Sugerman (1954-2005), who went on to manage the band after Jim Morrison's death and then Ray Manzarek's solo-career and first album. It is one of several books Sugerman wrote about the Doors including Jim Morrison's first and best biography No One Here Gets Out Alive in 1980 (which ranks on this list at number 8). But in this book, Sugerman recounts his life, beginning with his privileged but troubled childhood in Beverly Hills, which he asserts set the stage for his later self-destructive addictions and behavior. After the premature death of his adolescent friend and "teacher," Jim Morrison, Danny became friends with and then went on to manage Iggy Pop, before they both ended up in a Californian State mental hospital suffering with severely excessive drug and alcohol addiction syndrome.

Sugerman pulls no punches and covers the first eight years of his show business career, commencing with his first job at age 13 opening the Doors' fan mail, and concluding just beyond his 21st birthday, when he is a frail and severely drug-addicted mental patient who has been given less than a week to live. His exposure to the decadent music industry world of parties, groupies, and drugs at such a young age would facilitate a relentless heroin addiction that nearly killed him.

What I love most about this book is Sugerman's close personal friendship throughout his adolescence with Jim Morrison. It really took Morrison out from his "godlike" image that he is perceived as today and we see a real flesh and blood, flawed human that wants to mentor a kid (albeit in his own way) that idolizes him. In all the books I've ever read about Jim Morrison, never had he felt so real (it was quite refreshing). Also Sugerman's activities in L.A. attempting to manage the flagging career (and supervise the behavior of) an increasingly unstable Iggy Pop was hilarious. With all the problems Sugerman had to deal with himself, it was like "the blind leading the blind."

This book was so highly entertaining and truthful that it remains my absolute favorite biography ever (I've reread it more than 20 times). I love how it chronicles, in graphic detail, the decadence of the L.A. rock and roll lifestyle, lived to its most degrading and shocking extremes, in the early to mid-1970s. Danny Sugerman's life started with a dream and once he got that dream (with some lucky breaks in-between) his life went totally out of control, and the funny thing is, he loved every minute of it.

5.) ON THE ROAD (1957)

JACK KEROUAC

This is a novel based on the travels of the author Jack Kerouac and his friends across America.
It is considered a defining work of the postwar "Beat" and "Counterculture" generations, with its
protagonists living life against a backdrop of jazz, poetry and drug use. Many of the key figures
in the Beat movement, such as William S. Burroughs (Old Bull Lee) and Allen Ginsberg (Carlo Marx) are represented by characters in the book, including Kerouac himself, as the narrator Sal Paradise.

I got into this book when I became obsessed with Jim Morrison of the Doors. I was eager to read all the books that he did, especially during his formative years. With Morrison being such a voracious reader throughout his life, there were many books to read. But one of the most influential books for him was On the Road. And after I read it, I realized why. It's a story about forgetting what society dictates and living your life on your terms for better or worse. Sure, many people today who read this may think Kerouac's work is self-centered or pretentious. But during the late 1950s when this book was first released you have to understand the impact it made on the dull and shallow world teens lived in. They didn't know how to experience life the way they wanted and it was considered wrong to give into those impulses.

This book brought a whole new perspective to the world teenagers thought they knew and to everything their parents taught them. It opened their minds on an experimental creative level that they wanted to experience but might have been too afraid to ask about. This book got them talking, got them experimenting and got them challenging the system as it was. Living became about dynamism, not passivity. It was about a river of activity, not a stream of consciousness. It was about "white light, white heat" not "white picket fences."

On the Road ultimately meant different things to different people. But it's impact on those who read it (especially during the late '50s) will never forget it. To me, this book was about living life beyond the ephemeral. The attempt to be my own personal cool. And my cool might not be your cool, and that's okay. I'm OK, you're OK. It's all cool.

4.) AMERICAN PSYCHO (1991)

BRET EASTON ELLIS

Set in Manhattan during the Wall Street boom of the late 1980s, American Psycho follows the life of wealthy young investment banker Patrick Bateman. Bateman, in his late 20s when the story begins, narrates his everyday activities, from his recreational life among the Wall Street elite of New York to his forays into murder by nightfall. Through present tense stream-of-consciousness narrative, Bateman describes his daily life, ranging from a series of Friday nights spent in nightclubs with his colleagues -- where they snort cocaine, critique fellow club-goers' clothing, trade fashion advice, and question one another on proper etiquette - to his loveless engagement to fellow yuppie Evelyn and his contentious relationship with his brother and senile mother. Bateman's stream of consciousness is occasionally broken up by chapters in which he directly addresses the reader in order to critique the work of 1980s Pop music artists. The book maintains a high level of ambiguity through mistaken identity and contradictions that introduce the possibility that Bateman is an unreliable narrator. Characters are consistently introduced as people other than themselves, and people argue over the identities of others they can see in restaurants or at parties. Whether any of the crimes depicted in the book actually happened or whether they were simply the fantasies of a delusional psychotic is only perpetuated further by cinematic adaptation.

The first thing I noticed about this book was how well Brent Eston Ellis wrote it. In my opinion, it could be the best written book ever. The words were so perfectly placed together and the narration was flawless that I simply fell into the story and read it in one night without any hope of putting it down. I cannot stress this enough. If you are a wannabe writer and learning the craft, this is a must read! It was like a hypnotic trance that put me so deep into the mind of Patrick Bateman that I could totally understand his every move. I understood his motivations, and at times, I even agreed with them (which I'm not proud to admit). I fell into his world so completely that I found out things about myself that I needed to work on.

After I finished this novel, it stayed in my head for weeks. I wrote down quotes in my notebook. I had dreams about it. I would fantasize about Patrick Bateman during the day and I would reread parts of the book daily just so I could hear or feel his reality (it sometimes even made me cry). I became obsessed. Only a few books during my lifetime impacted me this much.

3.) ILLUSIONS: THE ADVENTURES OF A RELUCTANT MESSIAH (1977)
RICHARD BACH

If I had to choose the one book that I've read more than any other it has to be Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by writer and pilot Richard Bach. It's a story that questions the reader's view of reality, proposing that what we call reality is merely an illusion we create for learning and enjoyment. As I've constantly searched and questioned the meaning of life, nothing has gotten me closer to finding it more so than this book. And when questions and decisions arise today, I still go back to it to find the answers.

Donald P. Shimoda is a messiah who quits his job after deciding that people value the showbiz-like performance of his miracles and want to be entertained by those miracles more than to understand the message behind them. He meets Richard, a fellow pilot and begins to pass on his knowledge of life and the concept that the world they inhabit is an illusion and you are able to get anything you want out of life if you will it so.

The novel features quotes from the "Messiah's Handbook" (which contain some the greatest quotes in the history of literature IMHO), owned by Shimoda, which Richard later takes as his own. A most unusual aspect of this handbook is that it has no page numbers. The reason for this, as Shimoda explains to Richard, is that the book will open to the page on which the reader may find guidance or the answers to doubts and questions in his mind.

What I love about this book is that it doesn't matter what nationality you are, what you believe in or what you do, it gives you a whole new perspective at looking at life. It makes you question your approach to the world and those around you. How you handle situations and how you ultimately can be happy (but of course, it's up to you to choose the path you want to take). This book has a little something for everyone and I consider it an absolute masterpiece.

2.) A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 1492-PRESENT (1980/2005)
HOWARD ZINN

No other book impacted me the way A People's History of the United States has the first time I read it. I believe everybody has to read it at least once in their lifetime. I think it should be mandatory in grammar school, middle school, high school and college because it simply tells what all the history books we grew up with and learned from never did... the truth!!

First published in 1980 by American historian and political scientist, the late great, Howard Zinn (who happened to live in the next town from where I grew up). In the book, Zinn seeks to present American history through the eyes of the common people rather than political and economic elites. This tells a horribly violent and bloody reality that has been covered up by American historians for years. It's impact has been so great that it has also resulted in a change in the focus of historical work, which now includes stories that previously were ignored. It has been frequently revised, with the most recent edition covering events through 2005.

In July 2007 Seven Stories Press released A Young People's History of the United States, an illustrated, two-volume adaptation of A People's History of the United States for young adult readers (ages 10–14). The new version, adapted from the original text by Rebecca Stefoff, is updated through the end of 2006. This is what I consider to be one of the best things ever done for the youth of America because they need to learn the real history of the formation of their country without anything sugarcoated. In Zinn's introduction to this edition, he writes, "It seems to me it is wrong to treat young readers as if they are not mature enough to look at their nation's policies honestly. I am not worried about disillusioning young people by pointing to the flaws in the traditional heroes." In the afterword, "Rise like lions", he asks young readers to "Imagine the American people united for the first time in a movement for fundamental change." Pure fucking genius if you ask me!!

Zinn passed away in 2010 at the age of 87 from a heart attack. In one of his last interviews he stated how he would like to be remembered:

"I would like to be remembered for introducing a different way of thinking about the world, about war, about human rights, about equality. And for getting more people to realize that the power which rests so far in the hands of people with wealth and guns, that the power ultimately rests in people themselves and that they can use it. At certain points in history, they have used it. Black people in the South used it. People in the women's movement used it. People in the anti-war movement used it. People in other countries who have overthrown tyrannies have used it. I want to be somebody who gave people a feeling of hope and power that they didn't have before."

This book will get you thinking and that's why I love it. Who knows, after you read it, maybe you'll set out to change the world and make it a better place. Zinn sets the blueprint trying to open the eyes of the masses who've been fed false truths all their lives. This masterpiece gives us the hard reality of life without any nonsense or fluff.

1.) THE STAN LEE STORY
(mass market edition 2019)

ROY THOMAS

While the limited to 1000 'deluxe edition' of THE STAN LEE STORY came out on December 5th 2018, and quickly sold out (selling for a whopping 2,500 each), that copy doesn't rank on my list. It's the 'mass market edition' that was released in May of 2019, that is considered the greatest book ever written IMHO.

Now why would that be?

Well, I'll gladly tell you because my love for this book is more than what's written in it.

There are other books on Stan's life available, but this is THE book that Stan Lee SPECIFICALLY wanted Roy Thomas to write about him. And while Roy wrote a great book that was more about celebrating Stan's life than being a fact-driven hardcore biography, it was MY involvement with Roy and Stan that went on behind the scenes that made this book my favorite of all time.

You see, this was the book Roy and I showed him in person less than two days before his death.

Think about this for a second. Stan picks Roy to write a book on his life, Roy finishes it a little more than a year later. Now in late 2018, Stan is sick and doesn't want to see anybody but I manage to set up a meeting between him and his protege, Roy Thomas and Stan makes an exception. When Roy and I show up, we show him the deluxe edition of the book that he wanted Roy to write and he's extremely happy with it. Then literally less than 48 hours later Stan Lee passes away.

It was bitter sweet and reads like a comicbook; Roy Thomas shows Stan Lee a book he wrote that celebrates his life and shortly after we leave his life ends. Talk about being present and witnessing a magical moment?

But things get better.

While the 'deluxe edition' Roy showed Stan was already released, a 'mass market edition' was scheduled for the summer of 2019 but got bumped up to May instead. Roy was asked by the publisher to add an extra page to this edition of the events we just went through with Stan (with a photo included). So yes, a mere mortal fanboy like myself officially became part of what could be the most important book written on Stan Lee!! Talk about an incredible honor, it's simply mind-boggling! While I've been included in a few books about comic history before, they all pale in comparison to this.

So ladies and gents, I present to you my GREATEST book ever; THE STAN LEE STORY 'mass market edition'!

Excelsior!