When Comic Book Thugs Look Like Charles Bronson Part 4

"Thug" doesn't exactly fit, but I'm going with it. Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes #212, 1975, as Cosmic Boy, "on a break" from his relationship with Night Girl, though clearly still thinking of her, watches what I suppose is Death Wish: The Thousand Year Anniversary Special Edition. His date Sinde seems to like it - a girl who likes action movies might be a keeper, but Rokk is back with Lydda by the end of the story. Of course Lydda actually beats up bad guys on a regular basis, and looks good in her new costume, so I can't really blame the boy, even if having a girlfriend who has superstrength when in the dark might sometimes be problematic.

When Comic Book Thugs Look Like Charles Bronson Part 3

From Amazing Spider-man #331, art by Erik Larsen, who I never liked much but I do kinda like how the whites of Spidey's eyes have expressions. Spidey's line here is pretty tough, though Punisher looks a little embarrassed, like he's thinking "Just let me do the tough guy lines." This is obviously an acknowledged tribute to CB, kinda too bad he has to be the bad guy. I must admit I've been watching Death Wish movies all week on AMC, there's something about them I can't take my eyes off. I just kind of enjoy Paul Kersey's casual, laid-back, go-at-your-own-pace brand of vigilante justice. For some choice Chuck clips and lines, look no further than here.

Bonus comic connection - Gavan O'Herlihy plays the main villain in Death Wish 3, and he was also Brad, the washed up jock fiending on Lana Lang in Superman III. Good things come in threes! He was also the first Chuck Cunningham on the first season of Happy Days, the retconned-out-of-existence older brother of Richie (I assume there was some kind of Crisis at Arnold's that changed reality).

When Comic Book Thugs Look Like Charles Bronson! Part 2

When Comic Book Thugs Look Like Charles Bronson! Part 1