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Post by Reptisaurus! on Jan 21, 2015 23:51:04 GMT -5
The '70s Astonishing Tales series for the first time.
1) Wow, that was really dense.
2) And labyrinthian in construction - The story is all over the place, flash-backs, flash-forwards, call-backs to earlier issues. And etc.
3) Also, really, really, really dark. Add another "really" if you want to follow this with "for a superhero-ish comic from 1974." This is about the least "feel good" bronze age comic I've ever read.
4) Man, if a comic was released today about a zombie who is also a cyborg I would think it was cheaply derivative, but that is pretty bold for the time period. Rich Buckler said it was the first Cyborg in comics, so that's something.
4) I'm still processing - it was a lot to take in - but I'm thinking it was also pretty great?
5) I do wish the series had received a proper ending, instead of being shunted into Marvel Team-Up and Two-In-One and left to fizzle out.
6) Now I'm interested in other variations, especially the Dwayne McDuffie penned '90s series - I really liked the BEYOND mini-series, which was a sequel of sorts to Secret Wars and had Deathlok as a central character. What do y'all think of the other Deathlok stuff?
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Post by berkley on Jan 22, 2015 3:45:51 GMT -5
I always saw it as a personal piece of work by Buckler - maybe the only one he ever got a chance to do at Marvel - so I wouldn't have felt any curiosity about the later appearances unless they were done by him. As it happens, I hadn't been reading Marvel for some years by the time this 90s series came out, so I never heard of it until you mentioned it here.
I haven't re-read Buckler's Deathlok for many years, probably since the 70s, but I think it's a highlight of the era, one of several short-lived experimental series that ended too soon. A really well done science fiction story of a kind you didn't see in comics back then. Great artwork from Buckler with very effective inks from Klaus Jansen, before he changed to the sketchier style he developed working with Frank Miller.
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Post by Dizzy D on Jan 22, 2015 5:00:58 GMT -5
Weirdly enough I've read little of the original Deathlok (some story in Marvel Fanfare I believe and that's it). Was he really the first cyborg in comics? I'd expect by 1974 the concept would be more widespread than that (Robotman from Doom Patrol for instance?).
AS far as other Deathlok series go:
I really liked the Dwayne McDuffie series, because it introduced a whole subculture for cybernetic characters in the Marvel Universe.
I also liked the Joe Casey series, but I like most things Joe Casey. One of those short fun little series that sneaks in while editorial is planning the next big crossover event.
The Jason Aaron version didn't get his own series, but he was a sidecharacter during his Wolverine and Remender's X-Force run and was basically an inverse of the McDuffie Deathlok (the machine being the pacifist part and the human being the triggerhappy part.)
Haven't read the latest series by Edmonson yet.
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Post by Paste Pot Paul on Jan 22, 2015 7:45:13 GMT -5
The originals were always a favourite of mine after I found them in a second hand bookstore in my grandmothers tiny township in the early 80s. However rereading them last year was a let-down, good art but the writing is dated badly.
The only later appearances that were ever any good were the guest starv shots in Captain America by DeMatteis and Zeck IMHO. The Cowan series was ok-ish, but Ive never liked any of the others, even the X-Force versions, while better than all the others, were a pale imitation.
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Post by fanboystranger on Jan 22, 2015 10:37:19 GMT -5
I love the Casey series. The first few issues are a bit rough as Agent Truman does a mind switching thing with a young child, leading to Deathlok chaos everywhere, but after that, it becomes a really solid series with some crazy ideas, like The Ringmaster running for President as The Clown stalks him and Nick Fury stuck within a cover identity. Plus, Leo Manco art throughout with fill-ins by Eric Canete and some of the last art from John Buscema. All in all, a very good series with some real ambition.
The McDuffie/Wright series is pretty good.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 11:12:00 GMT -5
I read the Astonishing Tales issues as they came out & thought very highly of them.
I don't have Creepy #75 to consult, but a non-cyborg Luther Manning is the main character in that post-apocalyptic tale, written by Moench & penciled by Buckler (with inks by Wally Wood).
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Post by paulie on Jan 22, 2015 12:08:25 GMT -5
I though the McDuffie/Wright prestige format series was ok. They were a little heavy handed with Deathlok's personal philosophy (I won't spoil it). The art was good though and it was a thoroughly readable sci-fi adventure.
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Post by DE Sinclair on Jan 22, 2015 12:49:10 GMT -5
Weirdly enough I've read little of the original Deathlok (some story in Marvel Fanfare I believe and that's it). Was he really the first cyborg in comics? I'd expect by 1974 the concept would be more widespread than that (Robotman from Doom Patrol for instance?). AS far as other Deathlok series go: I really liked the Dwayne McDuffie series, because it introduced a whole subculture for cybernetic characters in the Marvel Universe. I also liked the Joe Casey series, but I like most things Joe Casey. One of those short fun little series that sneaks in while editorial is planning the next big crossover event. The Jason Aaron version didn't get his own series, but he was a sidecharacter during his Wolverine and Remender's X-Force run and was basically an inverse of the McDuffie Deathlok (the machine being the pacifist part and the human being the triggerhappy part.) Haven't read the latest series by Edmonson yet. Don't know if Robotman counts as a cyborg because all that's human is the brain. That always struck me as more of a "brain in a can" scenario (like the Doom Patrol villain, The Brain). But I would think Tharok of the Legion's Fatal Five would definitely qualify since he was literally half human and half machine (right down the middle), and he first appeared in Jan. 67. |
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