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Post by masterofquackfu on Aug 11, 2020 0:25:34 GMT -5
08/09 and 08/10
Uncanny X-Men: 97-110. Went on an X-Men binge. Wow...Claremont and Cockrum were such a great combination. That team of X-Men...those are the ones from my childhood. And then Byrne followed, which led to another great run. But the issues I read of the new group taking over, Magneto, Starjammers, etc...awesome production during that time period.
Master of Kung Fu #125. The last issue of the series. Felt very rushed and Marvel just wanting to shoot the book and put it out of its misery. Moench was gone by this time and it felt like they just didn't care about finishing up the title properly. Thin plot, skeletal dialogue. The art was good, but too dominant in the book(I guess to make up for the fact that Moench wasn't there). A sad ending to such a classic title.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Aug 4, 2020 8:30:29 GMT -5
08/03:
Amazing Spider-Man #142, 143. These weren't great issues. The stories felt sloppy and rushed. And the villain, Cyclone...heh..no wonder I never heard of him before. He makes Whirlwind seem like a superstar in comparison.
Skull the Slayer #1. Finally, after all these years, I finally read an issue of Skull the Slayer. It wasn't a bad story. I guess maybe I didn't expect much of the book. Its run was very short( 8 issues). I'm debating whether I want to read the remaining issues.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Aug 3, 2020 10:24:44 GMT -5
I used to love the All-Star Squadron in the 80's. However, after visiting it again a few years ago, ugh...it just wasn't very good. Staid writing and very, ahem..DC. So ended up selling all of the old issues. The book had its day, but that day is done and gone.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Aug 3, 2020 10:11:13 GMT -5
Hello,
Just putting this out there because I am sure there are a few people like me who have totally changed their view about comic books being digitally displayed online. Now, being an older guy, I was always in the camp that stated that physical comics would never be displaced by digital comics. I had tried to read comic books online previously and didn't enjoy the experience. However, after giving it another shot, as well as finding several decent online sites, I must say that I've acclimated myself to it and have become a proponent of it, rather than an opponent. Most scans are very good quality and the speed to turn a page is similar to that of a physical copy.
The sheer volume of titles is the biggest attraction. They have so many that I'll never have to re-read any of my old physical titles...something that I had been doing until last year. And the fact that you can read all of these old titles...books you never had a chance to read because you were either born after they were released or simply had no ability to purchase them at the time...well, frankly, it is quite amazing. You can read them for free or a small fee. So far, I've read a few hundred and I've read them all for free. Another thing is that I no longer have to worry about storage of my comics. Not that I ever had a huge amount(less than 1,500), but still...I don't have to worry about taking up more space in my apartment. I can just read online and that's it..continue on to the next book. So, not only do I no longer have to dole out money for comic books, I also don't have to deal with storing them. And, my physical comics, well...I've read most of them multiple times anyhow and gotten my money's worth.
So now I am in the process where I am selling about 70% of my collection. I will always love physical books and, honestly, they are superior to digital as it relates to the whole reading experience. But digital does present a number of lovely benefits as those stated above. I'll always keep some physical copies around, but, from this point forward, I do not believe I will ever purchase another physical comic book again. Ever. So, for those out there that have become hooked on digital, how do you feel about it?
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Post by masterofquackfu on Aug 3, 2020 9:35:29 GMT -5
08/02:
Black Goliath #4, 5...actually I think the Black Goliath series was fairly decent for such a short run. Avengers #130....The Slasher's greatest...and only...hit. ROM #75...ugh...Ditko's art looks so dated in the 80's. Just terrible. Like his work on Machine Man. He may have been god-like in the 60's, not so much in the 80's.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Nov 16, 2018 21:11:32 GMT -5
Stan was the figurehead for Marvel, which is why he gets the lion's share of the credit. He was a showman, whereas Kirby and Ditko were not. He had boundless energy. I remember seeing him on the Craig Ferguson show in either 2006 or 2007 and he was bouncing off the walls. I remember thinking, 'Damn, this guy is in his 80's and look at him!" He had such incredible energy and that appearance always stuck with me. In the end, he had a great life...got to see his hope and dreams reach their fruition, got to travel the world and got to experience things that most people will never be able to..in the end, he lived a full and successful life. RIP Stan Lee.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Nov 18, 2017 5:42:12 GMT -5
The last few days...
Avengers #164 and 165. #164 will always be one of my top comics. I had one as a child, but cut out around 20% of the pictures. It is always great to go back and read this comic because it had such an impact on me. Big fan of the Lethal Legion and really enjoyed the part where Power Man(no, not Luke Cage) threw a car through one of the windows of Avengers mansion. I think the Legion could have used one more member when battling the Avengers in this issue. The Legion for this issue was composed of Power Man, Whirlwind and the Living Laser. The main reason that I enjoy this issue so much is the immense amount of action...it is one of the few comics that actually live up to the cover. Multiple battles, awesome coloration(and yes, I do like Wondy's costume). As for #165, it is a bit deflating. I did not like the garish costume of Count Nefaria and did not like the continued use of the Whizzer(especially when he psyches out Nefaria). Lame. Battle sequences were okay, but a bit rushed and the creative team made Nefaria too powerful. #165 is a chasmic drop from #164. Still, Wonder Man helps drive the Avengers onward and his development continues nicely in this issue. And yes, John Byrne loves to draw the chest and arm hair on Wonder Man...definitely has a fetish for the hirsute. Grades: #164: A, #165 B-.
Also read X-Factor #32(1988), but I don't really consider it a "classic comic." Grade: C- John Carter, Warlord of Mars #2: I bought this as a young kid in 1977 and it has been with me ever since(although mothballed in storage for many years, until last years). I absolutely dislike the John Carter movie...it was terrible. However, the comic book was awesome. I have never met a JCWOM book from the original series that I disliked. Issue 2 featured Carter, Tars Tarkas and Dejah fighting against the "White Apes from Mars." This book was on the heels of the '76 King Kong film and definitely the influence can be seen. It was written by Wolfman and Gil Kane did the art. Man, could Kane draw women! Check out Dejah on the splash page...awesome. Just a great series and, of course, Claremont would have a hand in that later. Just a great book. Grade: A-
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Post by masterofquackfu on Nov 13, 2017 10:42:22 GMT -5
Today's reading:
Champions #4. This issue was written by Claremont. It mainly involved Hercules and Black Widow..getting attacked by mental patients imbued with the 'ol super soldier serum. Nothing really special about this issue...Grade: C
Senstational Spider-Man #19. Not really a "classic" comic(as it is from '97), but it had Spidey taking on a girl who gets the power of the Living Pharaoh. I really, really dislike the cartoony, anime art that became really prevalent in the mid to latter '90's. This book was definitely forgettable and will go my ever-growing stack of comics that I will never read again. Grade: D
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Post by masterofquackfu on Nov 9, 2017 9:20:29 GMT -5
Today I read....
Captain America #321. I bought this on a military base in Germany in '86. This is probably the first time I've read it since that time. Not a fan of the good Captain any longer, but I did like Gruenwald's time with him. He really made the book dialogue heavy and Flag Smasher was pretty good in it. I also liked the Zeck cover. Rating: B
Avengers #289. This involved the Avengers(She-Hulk, Sub-Mariner, etc.) and Marrina taking on Heavy Metal. Sentry 459, Tess-One, and the Mad Thinker's android. Also, Machine Man joined initially, but turned traitor. They were led by the Super-Adaptoid. A nice unit that, if properly used, would have been very formidable and a lasting group. Yet, Marvel, as did happen with many villain teams, dropped the ball and they pretty much, to my knowledge, never appeared again. I liked this issue a lot because it was filled with action and pretty much intimated what was on the cover. Great battle issue. Wish we could have seen the evolution of Heavy Metal, but, oh well... Rating: B
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Post by masterofquackfu on Nov 4, 2017 10:50:14 GMT -5
I read Champions #17. It was the last issue in the series...the finale for the Champs. Not sure when or where I got the comic, but probably sometime in the late 80's or early 90's from one of the cheapie bins at the LCS. The issue, as finales go, was pretty pedestrian. Nothing really exciting happened that made you want to turn the page. In fact, I think Mantlo/Tuska/Byrne mailed this one in. The Sentinels(or rather, the Vanisher's version) appeared as well as the BOEM...Blob, Unus, Lorelei. The ending of the book was completely rushed...it went from a total Champion defeat by the Vanisher and his crew to the Champs turning the tide in 3 panels(lol). The highlight may have been when Darkstar stopped the Vanisher's teleportation in mid-air. That was pretty cool. I really think the Champs could have been a more interesting book if they had gotten rid of Herc and Ghost Rider and replaced them with Black Goliath and Jack of Hearts. I do like the fact that the Champs were probably the strangest team concept in Marvel(up to that time). I actually like the team quite a bit and have all 17 of their issues. In all, I would give this last issue a C-.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Oct 28, 2017 20:42:04 GMT -5
I read Uncanny X-Men #202. It tied into Secret Wars 2, so the Beyonder was in it. The Sentinels were there as well, so it made the book more interesting. I really, really don't like Romita Jr's art...it is very abrasive and way too angular. I doubt that I would read this one again, so it went into my stack of comics that I'll be selling in the future.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Oct 26, 2017 9:58:51 GMT -5
I read Avengers #184 and Marvel Two-in-One #57. Both were good solid reads. Anything that has the Absorbing Man in it is always cool in my book. And, as always, the Vision's control of density saves the day. MTIO has Quasar, Giant-Man and Wundarr as the major players. Wundarr is just a strange character...kind of a one hit wonder type. Giant-Man...other than a few other appearances, hasn't done much in many years. Gruenwald was writer and Perez the artist on this issue, so that alone made it quite compelling. I also liked the appearance of both Solarr and Klaw. I think Solarr is the kind of character that Marvel dropped the ball on. Dude had tons of potential, but never was allowed to live up to it. Klaw ,as always, the bridesmaid, never the bride. First level potential, but second tier all the way. All said, both quality books and definitely would read them again in the future.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Oct 24, 2017 11:30:55 GMT -5
Another one that would qualify for Wizard's old Mort of the Month...(and maybe he did in one of their issues)...HUMBUG. Yes, Humbug appeared in the Spider-Man books and was someone who gained power from the sounds of insects. I know it is quite tough to create new and interesting characters, but that creation was scraping the bottom of the barrel...hehe.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Oct 24, 2017 11:26:54 GMT -5
I commute a long, long way to work (around 1 hour 40 minutes each way). So, I have a lot of time to read comic books. I read 2-3 comics a day. Today I read Iron Man #74 and Fantastic Four #220. Loved seeing Modok and the Mad Thinker in Iron Man. Liked the FF cover as well.
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Post by masterofquackfu on Oct 24, 2017 11:13:37 GMT -5
Oh, man...I saw someone asking for $374 for a copy of Avengers #183. That's crazy. Nothing of significance with the issue. I know because I bought my beat up copy for $2. I don't care if that book is tip top, no flipping way that I'd ever spend that much on a comic book. I think the most that I've ever spent on a comic book was Avengers 150 in the late 80's. I think I paid $3.50 for it. Other than that, most comics I buy are $2 or less. I love the low grade, beat up books. Glad that I'm a frugal guy.
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