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Post by brianf on Oct 26, 2020 2:39:39 GMT -5
Here's a nice recent video focusing on the Golden age
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Post by dbutler69 on Oct 26, 2020 11:55:50 GMT -5
At this point, the A-stories are light, but entertaining. The B-story Tales of the Microverse where what to follow, obviously building to the big epic. They also got to introduce some of the later toy releases, like Pharoid, as well as give us further glimpses of Homeworld, expanding the Microverse. It proved popular enough that they moved things back to exploring the Microverse to find the keys of the original colonists who came to Homeworld, in the following epic. Yes, as I'm reading through my Micronauts now, I'm up to #25, and I'm enjoying the Tales of the Microverse backups a lot more than the main stories. Since Karza's defeat in #11, I have enjoyed the stories taking place in the Microverse a lot more than the ones which are taking place on earth, so I'm looking forward to the Micronauts returning to the Microverse. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Oct 26, 2020 11:57:56 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 agree on all of this. Broderick is doing a very good job, and the back-up stories are consistently better than the main stories. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Oct 27, 2020 5:38:12 GMT -5
 Micronauts #21 Mooncalf - a foolish or absentminded person.
yay learning!
 Yeah, I've come across that in Shakespeare before. What great insult! Almost as good as chancre blossom. Nobody could insult like the bard! |
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Post by brianf on Oct 27, 2020 17:38:40 GMT -5
Micronauts The New Voyages #18 (1986) Writer - Peter Gillis Pencils - K Jones Inks - Bulandi Editor - Macchio Cover Art - K Pollard So lets see - Rann is no longer old, Devil has transitioned into Fireflyte, Huntarr has a cure for Pain, and the Acroyear fleet arrives at Homeworld having tracked the source of the galaxy wide Pain. Cilicia gives birth, Scion returns in a different form, Solitaire is doing stuff and the connected spheres of Homeworld get separated. A lot of stuff is happening, but the creators don't really have the talent to make it sing.  |
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Post by brianf on Oct 28, 2020 20:57:37 GMT -5
 Micronauts The New Voyages #19 (1986) Writer - Peter Gillis Pencils - Howard Bender Inks - Bulandi Editor - Macchio Cover Art - K Pollard Geeze, so much gobbledygook. I've gone from being bored to actively disliking this series. The best comics books show you a story. This series is a perfect example of why "show not tell" is the best way to write a comic book. For lovers of exposition only. I don't even want to do a brief description of plot, but very briefly - Rann pretty much becomes Karza at the end of the issue, and the Micronauts will have to commit suicide to save the Microverse. Ugh.
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Post by dbutler69 on Oct 29, 2020 10:35:00 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.   I agree with your Comments section. I find this such an interesting and fun comic, so hats off to Bill Mantlo, and while the art here with Bulanadi's inks is fine, I did prefer the Armando Gil work. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Oct 29, 2020 11:49:48 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.
 I agree, this was a great issue, but things were wrapped up too quickly in the end. How could Shaitan pul a lever, and somehow Karza's fleet is trapped in hyperspace, yet the rebel fleet is able to go through the spacewall. How does SHIELD's device know the difference between Karza's ships and the rebel ships? That aside, a very good issue. As with #26, lots of action from beginning to end. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Oct 29, 2020 11:51:52 GMT -5
 Micronauts #29 Writer - Bill Mantlo Penciler - Pat Broderick Inker - Danny Bulanadi Colourist - D. R. Martin Editor - Louise Jones Cover Art - Pat Broderick Synopsis : The comic opens with the Micronauts holding a funeral for their fallen comrades. We see the striking image of flag draped coffins of fallen S.H.I.E.L.D. agents next to the smaller coffins & military presence of the microverse forces. Unable to remember the names of Miroverse fallen, Nick Fury gives a silly yet stirring speech wrapping up the last issue. The Micronauts are still conflicted about Dagon and his questionable actions, and Acroyear states that his use of the Worldmind actually killed his home planet, angering Cilicia greatly. Commander Rann is in a coma, and with the help of Doc Samson the Micronauts get inserted in the commanders brain. Nightmare (the Dr Strange villain) is stopping Rann from waking up, so we see some miniature dreamtime conflict, and Dagons real motives gets reveled. By the end of the issue we get clues to where the Enigma Force has gone, the Commander has awoken, the the team heads back to the Microverse. Comments : Over all a solid wrap up issue that lays a fair share of clues for future story lines. The art continues to be enjoyable & Mantlo is obviously having a good time with the tales he is telling. Solid comic book time to be had here for sure. A good issue overall, but Nightmare was defeated too easily in the end. I'm happy to see that the Micronauts are headed back to the Microverse. More adventures await! |
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Post by brianf on Oct 30, 2020 17:50:52 GMT -5
 Micronauts The New Voyages #20 (1986) Writer - Peter Gillis Pencils - Kelley Jones Inks - Bulandi Editor - Macchio Cover Art - Bill Sienkiewicz As the individual spheres of Homeworld spread out the Micronauts travel through the Prometheus pit and arrive on different sections, to trade their lives for the Microverse. Rann is being infected by Karzas armor and tries to weasel out of the plan but Mari pushes him through. So they die (maybe?) and save the Microverse. Ugh. How did they retcon this so Bug, Mari & Rann - who are used in later Marvel comics - survive? I dunno. I originally thought that if Marvel ever got the rights to reprint Micronauts they should do them all, even the Gillis comics. At this point I think not. There's nothing here really, except for completists. So here's hoping all the Mantlo comics get reprinted. Me, I just gotta figure out if I wanna keep hauling these issue around with me or should I dump em. I mean, they're not out right crap, there's some good ideas here and there, but the execution's weak and there's not much fun to be had. I can't see ever re-reading this series.   |
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Post by brutalis on Oct 30, 2020 18:05:30 GMT -5
Yeah, think I have read the Gillis run twice. Once when bought them new. Second time was about 10 years after I sold the entire run and when I got them all cheaply at an LCS closing sale. Got all of them for like 25 cents an issue. Will read a third time several years from now in my old age when in retirement.
The Mantlo run though, I have likely read at least 6 times now. And I will pull that run out and pore over the wonderful art. I love the Golden and Guice work as they take me back to high school with memories. Used to sit in the school library as friends all passed around my issues reading them.
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Post by brianf on Oct 31, 2020 14:20:24 GMT -5
Just for fun I'm gonna review and share more Micronauts comics soon - I have the Image & Devil's Due issues, plus most of the appearances of the characters used by Marvel once Marvel lost the license. Well, except for Bug in Guardians Of The Galaxy - I read most of them years ago, but don't own them. I don't have the IDW comics but I've been curious about them, especially the ROM team up. I've never read the Image & Devils Due comics - when I bought the original run offa ebay about 10 years ago the seller also included the New Voyages and non-Marvel comix as a bonus. It'll be new to me, so lets see where we go. Happy Halloween everyone! |
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Post by beccabear67 on Oct 31, 2020 14:54:58 GMT -5
Well, that's one series (The New Voyages) I will never be tempted to collect.
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Post by profh0011 on Oct 31, 2020 15:17:04 GMT -5
I met Peter Gillis once. He was sitting at the same table with Don McGregor the day I met him in West Philadelphia. We had a nice chat. He seemed like a cool guy.
But while he did some interesting one-shot fill-ins stories, and his 2 issues of SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP were intriguing... there was a point where he was doing 4 regular series at the same time. And... they were all TERRIBLE. AWFUL. HORRIBLE. And just so downbeat, depressing and negative. I wondered after awhile... what the HELL was going on with this guy? Was he going through some kind of major-level psychological crisis, and writing these GHASTLY stories was some kind of therapy? I dunno.
THE MICRONAUTS took 20 whole issues to DIE.
THE NEW DEFENDERS mostly got killed, except for the few original X-MEN who left to help form X-FACTOR, a misbegotten concept if there ever was one.
DR. STRANGE actually COMMITTED SUICIDE! WTF?? At least he got better. (It wasn't the first time he'd died and come back. 3rd, at least.)
And THE BLACK FLAME... well, that werial went on and on and on... and the truth is, I can't remember how it ended, or even if I ever got around to reading the ending.
All of this going on-- at the SAME time. Like I said... WTF?
And I've no idea if he ever worked in the biz again after this.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Oct 31, 2020 17:55:49 GMT -5
I met Peter Gillis once. He was sitting at the same table with Don McGregor the day I met him in West Philadelphia. We had a nice chat. He seemed like a cool guy. But while he did some interesting one-shot fill-ins stories, and his 2 issues of SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP were intriguing... there was a point where he was doing 4 regular series at the same time. And... they were all TERRIBLE. AWFUL. HORRIBLE. And just so downbeat, depressing and negative. I wondered after awhile... what the HELL was going on with this guy? Was he going through some kind of major-level psychological crisis, and writing these GHASTLY stories was some kind of therapy? I dunno. THE MICRONAUTS took 20 whole issues to DIE. THE NEW DEFENDERS mostly got killed, except for the few original X-MEN who left to help form X-FACTOR, a misbegotten concept if there ever was one. DR. STRANGE actually COMMITTED SUICIDE! WTF?? At least he got better. (It wasn't the first time he'd died and come back. 3rd, at least.) And THE BLACK FLAME... well, that werial went on and on and on... and the truth is, I can't remember how it ended, or even if I ever got around to reading the ending. All of this going on-- at the SAME time. Like I said... WTF? And I've no idea if he ever worked in the biz again after this. His Strikeforce Morituri was extremely good. But then the whole point of that series was that its heroes were supposed to die, and dying heroes does seem to be a recurring themes in many of Gillis's comics! |
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