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Post by brianf on Jan 31, 2017 3:18:36 GMT -5
Micronauts #28 Writer - Bill Mantlo Penciler - Pat Broderick Inker - Danny Bulanadi Colourist - Roger Slifer Letterer - Joe Rosen Editor - Louise Jones Cover - Pat Broderick / Marie Sevein Synopsis : Big battle issue. In Florida Nick Fury, hoping for reinforcements, is stymied by Karzas ships attacking the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. While the Micronauts prepare for one last push, Dagon continues to be a turd. In the Microvrse Homeowlrd is under attack as well, with Princess Mari leading the defense. While Karza is busy syphoning the Enigma Force, a butt hurt Shaitian plots betrayal. As Acroyear attacks Karza Shaitan seals Karzas space force in hyper-space while allowing a battle fleet of good guys through to assist Fury & The Micronauts. Shaitan completes his betrayal of Karza by summoning the Worldmind of the the Acroyears planet Spartak, but since Shaitan is not truly alive the power seems to destroy him. Acroyear chooses to use the Worldmind himself to attack Karza, which causes major upheavals on Acroyears world. Also attacking is the Queen from Bugs world, who sacrifices herself against Karza. By the end of the issue Karza is defeated, but at the cost of Commander Ranns mind, Acroyears planet & the Enigma Force retreats from reality. Comments : There's a lot going on here, and I do think it's a wonderful comic. If I have one complaint it's that things are wrapped up pretty quickly. Of course there's a lot of repercussions from this issue, but so much happens so fast I do think things could have been better if Mantlo would have stretched the final battle out over one more issue - maybe build up the character Queen Esmera of Kaliklak a little more before killing her? But really, I'm just nit picking - this first return of Karza story is definitely a highlight of the series.
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Post by brianf on Jan 25, 2017 2:46:27 GMT -5
Micronauts #27 Writer - Bill Mantlo Penciler - Pat Broderick Inker - Danny Bulanadi Colourist - Bob Sharen Letterer - Joe Rosen Editor - Louise Jones Cover - Pat Broderick Synopsis : Baron Karza is the head of Hydra, and things look grim. Not all is rainbows & puppys with Karzas troops - there's dissension from Shaitan, who gets a beat down for his troubles. Meanwhile the Micronauts confer w/ Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan and other S.H.I.E.L.D. bigwigs and a plan is made to track down the bad guys in Florida. The acroyear soldier Dagon continues to act suspiciously while we see Hydra attack Fantasyworld, Marvels stand in for Disney World. We get a bunch of fighting, and the difference in size makes the scope of the battle entertaining to read. Biotron is apparently destroyed by attacking dog soldiers, maybe with the help of Dagon? Commander Rann takes the fight to Karza, and is shocked to find Prince Argon is Karzas helpless puppet. Using that distraction, Rann is captured. There's no Tales From The Microvese this time around, and this issue flies by as Karza consolidates his victory. Comments : Another well done comic. Mantlo really seems like he knows what he's doing here. Bulanadi inks make things look a little different this issue, and while I prefer Gils inks over all the art is still solid.
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Post by brianf on Jan 19, 2017 0:40:34 GMT -5
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Post by brianf on Jan 19, 2017 0:20:40 GMT -5
Micronauts #26 Writer - Bill Mantlo Penciler - Pat Broderick Inker - Armando Gil Colourist - Bob Sharen Letterer - Joe Rosen Editor - Louise Jones Cover Art - Pat Broderick Synopsis : Using the information gleamed from Mentallo last issue, on the opening page we see The Micronauts approach an epic high altitude battle between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra. Seeing the easy to distinguish different uniforms Bug comments "Well, it sure was nice of 'em ta >tik< give us a way to tell good guys from the >tik< bad guys" as he blasts Hydra agents from the Endeavor. Boarding the helicarrier the Micronauts split up to hunt for "ESPers" in contact with evil forces in the Microverse, and we get some fun well done hunting and shooting, with a bit of comic relief from Bug. We see a somehow reanimated acroyear warrior corpse by the name of Dagon revived and agreeing to work with the Micronauts. We see Commander Rann fight past a "freak psionic flash field" created by the Baron Karza controlled ESPers. We see Karza breach the spacewall and tear the secrets of the Enigma Force the mind of Commander Rann. We see Karzas chest disintegrator apparently destroy Princess Mari. Karza claims victory but lets the Micronauts live as he departs to finalize his domination of both Earth & the Microverse. The first story ends with Rann mourning Maris death, while Nick Fury & S.H.I.E.L.D. try to find out whats been going on. In this issues Tales From The Microverse we get a continuation of the main story as we see a very not dead Princess Mari is not destroyed by Karzas attack, but is shrunk back to normal size and sent back to the Microverse. She finds herself on Homeworld where she quickly joins back with Slug and calls a meeting with the Planetary Council to raise the alarm about the return of Karza. After comparing notes a decision is made to contact the Shadow Priests, who could summon the Enigma Force using Time Travelers to stop Karza. But they are too late - the final panel shows Karza & Hydra have the Time Travelers already captured! Comments : Whew, there's a lot going on this time around, but since Mantlo had laid the groundwork over the last few months, it's a fun easy read. I haven't mentioned Armando Gils wonderful work as an inker - he started w/ Broderick on #19 and this is his last issue. Armando Gil has a strong identifiable style, and while some folks don't like inkers who presence is too obvious, for me if the art looks good then I'm happy with it, and Armando did a very good job with Broderick. Interviewed in 2009 he says - "Jim Shooter walked into the office and saw some of my samples and said, “Why don’t you give him a shot at inking?” Originally I wanted to pencil but I’d take any work [laughter] so they put me on the book over Pat Broderick’s pencils. We were doing really well there but I’ve always struggled with deadlines, physically and mentally I just get exhausted. I had done about five issues of Micronauts and I was doing it for Louise Jones, who was the editor on it, she was a great gal and really easy to get along with, and I was putting a lot of effort into those issues, doing all these zip-a-tone effects and overlays because I was competing against a really great artist in Michael Golden. I wanted the audience to realise that the book didn’t die just because he left it and I wanted to continue some of the Golden look so I could keep some kind of consistency. I thought Howie Chaykins work on Micronauts, even thought he’s a great storyteller, veered too much from Golden’s work. They took me off the book because they said I was having problems meeting the deadlines which I didn’t really agree with. I think I was maybe a week or two late though, but in business I guess that’s a lot." The full interview can be found here - ohdannyboy.blogspot.com/2009/01/looking-back-with-armando-gil.html
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Post by brianf on Jan 16, 2017 0:41:04 GMT -5
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Post by brianf on Jan 14, 2017 17:37:52 GMT -5
I've always wanted to review all the Elric comics, but done chronologically by release date. Maybe after I'm done with the Micronauts I'll give it a crack. But sadly I do not own a copy of his first illustrated release - "Elric : The Return to Melnibone" by Philippe Druillet I hope to get a copy of the reissue I also need a copy of James Cawthorns "Stormbringer"
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Post by brianf on Jan 14, 2017 4:42:44 GMT -5
Micronauts #25 (Jan 91) Writer - Bill Mantlo Penciler - Pat Broderick Inker - Armando Gil Colourist - Bob Sharen Letterer - Joe Rosen Editor - Louise Jones Cover Art - Pat Broderick Synopsis: Using a "Mentascope" Mentallo & Fixer track the Micronauts. Unaware they're being monitored, we see the Micronauts aboard the Endeavor either chitter-chattering (Biotron & Microtron), dreaming of love (Bug), or getting down and making sweet sweet love (Acroyear & Cilicia, and Mari & Rann). All are disturbed when the bad guys swoop in trying to capture our heroes. The Micronauts defend themselves, and bring the battle to an innocent bowling alley. Mentallo is brought down by Rann & Biotron "telepathically conversing in a language unknown to" him, while the Fixers electric weapons are shorted out by Bug using a handy soda machine. Interrogating the bad guys using his newfound telepathic talents Rann discovers Mentallo is being guided by Hydra, which is being controlled by... Karza? In this issues TOTMV we get Baron Karzas origin, and the physical revival of the Baron himself. Comments: Golden is no longer the regular cover artist, and while he is missed you can't say Broderick didn't earn the right to take over. Over all this is a solid comic, with the various story lines continuing to build. The main story continues to be a bit silly, while the back up is more serious. I am really enjoying Brodericks art - the panel layouts are varied, the detailing in the background is eye catching, and the story telling is very clear. I do remember as a kid reading this being a little surprised by the amount of casual sex in the comic. Nothing I was against, just not something you'd usually see in a Marvel comic.
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Post by brianf on Jan 10, 2017 8:06:06 GMT -5
Micronauts Annual #2 (1980) Writer - Bill Mantlo Pencilers - Rich Buckler (pg 1-7) / Steve Ditko (8-30) Colourist - Carl Gafford Letterers - Mark Rogan Editor - Al Milgrom Cover - Ditko Synopsis : The Micronauts are in New York City when Acroyear has something go painfully wrong with his head & he starts attacking his teammates. Trying to control himself, he flies off in search of the source of his agony. We see a toy store where actual Micronauts toys are being sold. A mysterious hooded figure uses a strange gun to bring the toys to life. Acroyear, after causing some shenanigans to NYC traffic, is drawn to the toy store w/ the other Micronauts closely behind. We learn via his thoughts that the hooded figure - the Toymaster - actually brought the Micronauts toy designs to the toy company and included some alien tech that not only allows him to control the toys, but the actual Micronauts themselves. As toy store chaos ensues we learn the Toymaster is actually former Micronauts foe Professor Prometheus. Thought to be driven insane from being merged with Baron Karza in Micronauts #8, for some weird reason after being freed from incarceration in a mental institution Prometheus took the information he gleamed from Karza to create a toy army. The toy company decided to not make toys of Marionette & Bug, so Prometheus can't control them, which leads to Prometheus's defeat. Comments : This is my least favorite Mantlo Micronauts comic. While the comic attempts to be an action packed silly fest, so many bits just ring wrong with me. It seems like this story was created to throw in as many Micro-toys as possible in a manner that was as little work as possible to write. I'm also curious about the origins of this annual - The first 7 pages by Buckler look so similar to the Ditko pages that it makes me wonder if the Buckler pages were completed after Ditkos. Maybe there was a different start to the comic? What ever Chaykin was drinking while he was drawing the Micronauts, Buckler was chugging as well - his pencils are super sloppy. Cilicia is not to be found in the issue either, which also makes me think this was an inventory issue. Here's Buckler - And Ditko -
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Post by brianf on Jan 8, 2017 18:08:51 GMT -5
Issue 23 is one of my favorites. While the characterization is somewhat stereotypical, I feel like modern culture is trained to see racism in everything. Well, I see racism where I see racist cultural stereotypes. However, I do not think Mantlo is a bigot. I think when he used a racist stereotype he was just being a lazy writer. I wish there was a word for pointing out something that's racist, but that's not bigoted. Not every use of a stereotypes is coming from a dark place. We all know comic book creators are always fighting deadlines, so sometimes falling back on cliches is an easy out for them. It doesn't necessarily equate hate. One of my favorite comics of all time is Eisners Spirit. But while I do NOT think Eisner had hatred in his heart when writing and drawing the Ebony character, for me to deny Ebony is a racist stereotype is to put my own blinders on. I realize this is a huge conversation that I really don't want to get into right now nor argue, I personally think pointing out racist tropes in popular culture is a positive thing, it's a sign of growth in our world. We can always do better, right? Being honest with what was done wrong in the past helps us to progress. Peace
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Post by brianf on Jan 8, 2017 2:57:31 GMT -5
Micronauts #24 Writer - Bill Mantlo Art - Pat Broderick Inks - Armondo Gil Colorist - Bob Sharen / Rosen Letterer - Rick Parker Editor - Louise Jones Cover Artist - Michael Golden Synopsis: Thinking the ship is repaired, the Micronauts launch the Endeavor, only to lose control almost immediately after switching on the on-board computer. The seemly out of control ship wobbles itself to a computer complex where they find a program called Computrex has taken over the space and has knocked out the workers. The rebelling program gets the Mirconauts ship to join in, and the team has to fight back. Commander Rann finds his way into the guts of the machine, and after damaging it's memory banks Computrex uses Ranns telepathic link with Biotron to cause Rann to hallucinate. Seeing Rann suffering, Mari goes to aid him but Computrex causes Rann to see only Karza. Attacking Mari frees Rann from the illusion, enabling the commander to smash the computer, ending the threat. In the tales last panel we discover it is S.H.I.E.L.D. villains Mentallo & The Fixer are behind the computers rampage. Then after a map of Homeworld we get a nice Tales of the Microverse - Prince Pharoid helps to free Slug, and during his fight with Shaitan we see Shaitan is pretty much immortal, and being stabbed in the gut causes him no ill. Shaitan escapes with Prince Argon in a sand skimmer, and is traveling too fast for Pharoids bird mounts to follow. In search for answers to Shaitans plans the heros head to Aegypta, the birthplace of Baron Karza. Comments: While the main story is ok and has flashes of interesting bits (Ranns agony after being ticked into hurting Mari is well done) the more interesting story is the Tales from the Microverse back up. Mantlo is showing us more locations of Homeworld, and that is better done that the primary feature. Brodericks art continues to be solid, and there's a good amount of story packed into this issue. The Pharoid figure doesn't look like the comic character.
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Post by brianf on Jan 7, 2017 21:04:56 GMT -5
Micronauts #23 Writer - Bill Mantlo Art - Pat Broderick Inks - Danny Bulandi Colorist - Bob Sharen Letterer - Tom Orzeckowski Editor - Louise Jones Cover Artist - Michael Golden Synopsis: There's 3 stories this time around. In #1 Biotron on his own scavenges for parts to repair the damaged Endeavor. Finding a junk yard, he also finds a cast off refrigerator to get trapped in & somewhat stereotypical drunk hobo to surprise as he busts out of the refridge. The overly stereotyped junk yard drunk stumbles across Molecule Mans power wand and gets taken over by the villain. We then get a Molecule Man vs Biotron fight thats fun, but Biotron gets a rather easy win against such a powerful foe. By stories end he is reunited with the rest of the team. The 2nd story is entitled "Inside the Homeworld Microship Endevavor" and is pretty much a tour given by Microtron. As the robot rolls through the ship he offers food to the Acroyears, argues with Bug about snail-loaf, looks up plans for the ship & opens a sealed door while Rann & Mari are having sex. It's 4 pages of attempted humor. Finally in Tales Of The Microverse a captured Slug is taken by the mind controlled Prince Argon to a desert location where the revived Shaitan awaits. The issues ends as Shaitans expositional speech gets interrupted by an attack by "Prince Pharoid, lord of Aegyptia, wielder of the Star Scepter and commander of the Desert Demons!" Try yelling that as your battle cry, reader. Comments: My biggest problem with this issue is the racist caricature of the junk yard hobo. I'd like to think that Mantlo was just trying for comic relief, but dialog like "Who dat, disturbin muh rest?" and while lying in garbage says "Cain't a man even relax, here in d' lap o luxury?" are bothersome, to say the least. more - "All I wants to possess is my bottle o' Thunderbird Red" His final words in the issue, after being freed of the Molecule mans control is "D' things I s seen.." The shuck & jive language is really awful. In all honesty I don't remember this from previous readings of the comic and has given me much thought about my own blindness to such stereotyping. I find myself a bit surprised by finding this, to the point that it's taken me a while to review this comic. I really do not want to write up a big dissertation about casual racism in 1980 comic books, but to ignore it is also nothing I want to do. So at this point I guess i will leave it at that - I may come back to it later. here's a more fun and less uncomfortable observation - A Biotron toy is too big to fit into the Hydro-Copter toy.
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Post by brianf on Dec 14, 2016 2:40:07 GMT -5
Micronauts #22 Writer - Bill Mantlo Art - Pat Broderick Inks - Armando Gil Colorist - Bob Sharen Letterer - Tom Orzeckowski Editor - Louise Jones Cover Artist - Michael Golden Synopsis: The splintered off team consisting of Bug, Acroyear, Microtron & Cilica are flying by a highway when the get into a fight with a semi truck. The useless attack on the truck causes it to crash into a McDonalds, where a burglary is taking place. Some silliness ensues, no one really gets hurt, and the Micronauts mistakenly help foil the robbery. By the stories end Rann & Mari find their comrades, next up is looking for Biotron. in Tales Of The Microverse there's a fiery rain of meteorites on Homeworlds Royal City that has Slug alarmed. One structure not being touched by the hot hail is the Body Banks. Going to examine it, Slug finds a fallen guard & is attacked by desert dwelling Centaurs. She also finds Prince Argon under the control of a post operative suggestion by Baron Karza. As she is shot by Argon he states that perhaps Karza is not dead. Comments: This comic follows a similar formula like last issue - somewhat silly main story, more serious back up. Considering their previous experience with motorized vehicles on earth it does seem a little weird that the Micronauts are so freaked out & aggressive with the truck - for example Bug hitched a ride on the back of a pickup in the past. So things are a little forced here to get the action going. The dialog between the restaurant characters are somewhat entertaining, and I do like the exchange between the thief and the fast food manager. Manager "Rodney, just what in blazes do you think you're doing?" Thief " I'm robbing your establishment, Mr Michaels - and don't call me Rodney!" Manager "But that's your name! You use to work for me here!" Things we learned this issue - Acroyears armor is bullet proof. Acroyear can also survive being dunked into a hot vat of french fry oil. The TOTM is another solid 5 pages of plot. While not as solid as last issue, things are still rather well done here.
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Post by brianf on Dec 12, 2016 20:48:44 GMT -5
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Post by brianf on Dec 12, 2016 2:03:37 GMT -5
Micronauts #21 Writer - Bill Mantlo Art - Pat Broderick Inks - Armando Gil Colorist - Barry Grossman Letterer - Tom Orzeckowski Editor - Milgrom / Jones Cover Artist - Michael Golden Synopsis: Starting this issue is the back up "Tales From The Microverse" feature, so there's 2 stories. First up in the main tale - Waking up in the back of a Poughkeepsie dump truck, Mari attempts to fly her & Rann to safety but instead leads them to the lair of the Plantman, master of the vegetable world. Plantman has cozied up with an innocent woman whos florist shop is next door to a bank. Plantman - stealer of blueprints from the public library! Using his "chloroblaser" he forces the plants to break into the bank. Discovered by the woman she is attacked by the plants & the Micronauts leap into action to help. Well, Commander Rann is initially hesitant, but Mari forces his hand. Once the villain is defeated our heroes depart. In the second (5 page) story - On Acroyers world Spartak the Sacred Temple Of The Rock is defiled by strange corpse while beings. They have raised the evil Prince Shaitan from the dead! To be continued.... Comments: I really enjoyed this issue. The main story is a bit silly, but my impression is what Mantlo & Broderick set out to do, they succeeded. In this issue at least, adding the Tales from the Microverse feature helps keep each story on track so the comic is a quick breezy read. The team is split up at this point and we only see what Rann & Mari are up to, but that's fine. I also learned a new word - Plantman calls the lady he is duping a Mooncalf. Mooncalf - a foolish or absentminded person. yay learning! Fun Fact - Micronauts #21 was published the same month as X-men #137 - the death of Phoenix issue.
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Post by brianf on Dec 9, 2016 18:47:14 GMT -5
Micronauts #20 Writer - Bill Mantlo Art - Pat Broderick Inks - Armando Gil Colorist - Roger Silfer Letterer - Jim Novak Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Artist - Michael Golden Synopsis: Marionette saves Commander Rann from being impaled on a butterfly pin, and knocks out good ol' Odd John. After tying the kook up our heroes go on the hunt for Bug and his hungry insect swarm. Ant-Man and the Micronauts converge on a supermarket the mutated insects are attacking and we pretty much just get a fight issue. Ant-Man figures out his shrink gas returns the insects to normal so after noticing all the normal people had left the store Ant-Man circulates his gas via the stores air conditioning system, returning Bug and the other insects to normal. The team gets split up again when Rann & Mari get knocked out and wind up in a garbage truck, while Biotron and the others lead Ant-Man to Odd Johns barn. Comments: Fight fight fight. I do like this one, but there's not much meat on these bones. Broderick reminds me of a cleaner & more detail oriented Ditko.
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