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Post by badwolf on Nov 10, 2020 19:46:43 GMT -5
I guess I'm the odd one out (as usual) in that I loved both Gillis' Micronauts and Defenders. Dark and downbeat yeah! And weird! It spoke to me!
As for killing off most of the Defenders, that seemed obviously an editorial dictate to separate out the X-Men.
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Post by brianf on Nov 10, 2020 21:29:29 GMT -5
 Micronauts #6 (Image, 2003) W - Dan Jolley. P - Stefano Caselli I - Barb Shulz C - Stefano Caselli The escapees land on a hopefully safe planet in order to figure out their next move, but are discovered by mercenaries. Ryan seems to be figuring out why he's there. They renamed the probe introduced in the first issue as The Micronaut as Microtron. Other stuff is happening and while it's not so bad, the new creative team seems to be missing some of the smooth storytelling of the earlier team. Not bad, but a little stiffer. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Nov 11, 2020 11:37:29 GMT -5
Acroyear looks like an armoured Jaxxon on that cover!
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Post by brianf on Nov 11, 2020 15:05:47 GMT -5
 Micronauts #7 (Image, 2003) W - Dan Jolley P - Stefano Caselli I - Barb Shulz / Clayton Brown C - Stefano Caselli The first 5 issues were mostly action, and the new creative team, while still making a fine comic, are using a bit more exposition to tell their story. The Time Travelers get introduced, and General Nova is stripped of her rank and gets added to the intrigue. It looks like our heroes are heading to Earth by the end of the comic. Over all enjoyable stuff. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 12, 2020 10:08:09 GMT -5
 Micronauts #45 (1982) Writer - Bill Mantlo Breakdowns - Gil Kane Finishes - Bulanadi Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Art - Gil Kane The villain Arcade uses crazy science trying to capture the X-Men but gets a quartet of Micronauts instead. Transformed into early 80's video games & two toned colored (well, in the 1st half of the issue) our heroes get to battling. Meanwhile back in the Microverse Bug & Acroyer break into the body banks with the help of laser eyed "Neep Knights". While they free some prisoners we see Mari going to confront her brother, who has turned himself in pure energy. Spoiler alert - by the end of the comic Arcade gets defeated. While I'm no fan of how video games were used in comics in the early 80's, over all this is a fun issue. This was Kanes last issue. Yeah, this was a fairly fun issue. I thought Arcade was drawn too fat, though. Nanotron finally bares her teeth! As usual, I liked the Microverse part of the story more than the earth part, though the earth part was fun too. It's funny how a video game themed comic pops up now and then in the 80's as they were becoming the rage, and this issue, as with others like it, always remind me of that episode of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends with Videoman. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 12, 2020 10:14:32 GMT -5
 Micronauts #48 (1982) Writer - Bill Mantlo Pencils - Jackson "Butch" Guice Inks - Bulanadi Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Art - pencils by Ed Hannigan, inks by Bulanadi The final solid artist comes aboard as Butch Guice takes over the art duties - While his first issue is a little shaky we get some good looking art from him down the road. If I remember correctly this was the last issue I bought from my local comic shop - or maybe it was the previous one, since Kane had left? After re-reading the series a few times the old memory gets a little wonky on what unmemorable comic I bought 35+ years ago. So Biotron's back - the Bioship introduced last issue gets an idea of who Biotron was when Microtron & Nanotron share their memories of the older robot, effectively killing the other two bots. Once Rann agrees to share his memories too the bioship pretty much becomes Biotron. Okay dokay. Back in the Microverse Mari beats Huntarr, possibly making him an ally. Bug & Acroyer are trapped in the pleasure pits, and it looks like Slug's gonna get her groove back - er, I mean her body. She's gonna get her body back. While it's ok, yeah, this is not one of the most memorable Mirco issues. I love Jackson Juice on this series! I'll agree that this wasn't his strongest issue, though but he's going to get a lot better in a couple of issues! I was a little disappointed in the return of Biotron. It sucks that they had to kill Microtron and Nanotron (well, Microtron, anyway) in order to bring him back, and having him be a huge ship will certainly limit his possibilities as a team member on certain issues. Still, his resurrection was interesting and the method surprising, so I can't complain about that. I do wonder how Biotron is creating all of these things out of thin air, though. Also, Huntarr should have been able to easily take out Mari, since he was more than a match for the whole Micronauts team previously. Overall, I thought this a pretty good issue. I actually think I liked it better than the previous three issues. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 12, 2020 10:19:16 GMT -5
 Micronauts #50 (1982) Writer - Bill Mantlo Pencils - Jackson "Butch" Guice Inks - Bulanadi Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Art - Guice While I enjoy Guice's art, I have to say this 50th anniversary issues cover is pretty underwhelming. Sure, maybe having Karza return a 3rd time isn't as exciting as his frist return, but the layout of the cover has zero pop. It's almost like a "where's Waldo" for Karza on this cover. Otherwise this issue is pretty good - fight fight fight! Devil dies and is reborn as a fireflyte, It looks like Slug (still trapped in the body of Belladonna) dies. Some of the Deathsquad dies - die die die! Overall it's a pretty brutal (and well done) issue - Karza is triumphant and the Micronauts have to escape. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic issue. While I agree that this cover was nothing special, the interior art was phenomenal. This was a costly battle for the Micronauts, too. That's one thing about this series. It's war, and the Micronauts killed, and the Micronauts get killed...and sometimes even stay dead! It makes the stakes feel high. You never really know who's going to buy it. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 12, 2020 10:23:12 GMT -5
 Micronauts #51 (1983) Writer - Bill Mantlo Pencils - Jackson "Butch" Guice Inks - Bulanadi Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Art - Guice The Micronauts run with dog soldier ships on their butts and Rann is bummed - he wants to meditate. Mari gets up in his grill - "we're fighting, dog!". Rann limps off while a sad Mari gets her game face on and with Bug, Huntarr & Acroyer they fly out and kick some rumpus. That takes up the first 18 pages of this here issue. Back aboard the Bioship we get more interpersonal drama, a view of Karza doing some horrible things to the resistance back on Homeworld, and then the Micronauts run into the Acroyer refugee fleet, still angry about the destruction of their planet. The Bioship gets harpooned and boarded and then our Acroyer gets confronted by Cilicia on the last page of the issue. Similar to #43 the cover spoils the end of the comic - I dunno why they do that. Over all ok, but we're just moving pieces around here. I thought this was a pretty good issue, though of course it's just setting up for Acroyear's big trial with his people next issue. More great artwork. Rann acting like a wimpy loser, though. This guy does not act like a leader, and hasn't in some time. I'm sure he's going to commune with the Enigma Force and save the day in the end, but jeez, you have to show some gumption and protect your own tail in the meantime, Commander! Acroyear's energy sword trick, creating an energy mesh that hangs in the air, destroying passing ships was...interesting. And it's little far fetched that Mari, and Bug, for that matter, can go fly off and take on fighter ships with just their glider packs and blasters. Sure makes the opponent's ships seem underwhelming. I can understand Acroyear and Huntarr being able to do that, though. |
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Post by badwolf on Nov 12, 2020 18:11:58 GMT -5
Micronauts #45 (1982) Writer - Bill Mantlo Breakdowns - Gil Kane Finishes - Bulanadi Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Art - Gil Kane The villain Arcade uses crazy science trying to capture the X-Men but gets a quartet of Micronauts instead. Transformed into early 80's video games & two toned colored (well, in the 1st half of the issue) our heroes get to battling. Meanwhile back in the Microverse Bug & Acroyer break into the body banks with the help of laser eyed "Neep Knights". While they free some prisoners we see Mari going to confront her brother, who has turned himself in pure energy. Spoiler alert - by the end of the comic Arcade gets defeated. While I'm no fan of how video games were used in comics in the early 80's, over all this is a fun issue. This was Kanes last issue. Yeah, this was a fairly fun issue. I thought Arcade was drawn too fat, though. Nanotron finally bares her teeth! As usual, I liked the Microverse part of the story more than the earth part, though the earth part was fun too. It's funny how a video game themed comic pops up now and then in the 80's as they were becoming the rage, and this issue, as with others like it, always remind me of that episode of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends with Videoman. There was a MTIO near the end of its run where the Thing and Franklin Richards battle Pac Man. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 14, 2020 18:50:01 GMT -5
 Micronauts #52 (1983) Writer - Bill Mantlo Pencils - Jackson "Butch" Guice Inks - Bulanadi Editor - Macchio Cover Art - Guice Sales must have slipped, we're bi-monthly now, and we have a new editor. Karzas genocidal attacks on Homeworld residents that opposed him continue with the destruction of Oceania, boiling the very seas they inhabit. While at the Acroyers fleet the Micronaut Acroyer is to face his former lover Cilicia in trail by combat. As their battle starts we also see Commander Rann communicate with the Time Travelers of the Enigma Force, who refuse to directly help in the battle with Karza. Back aboard the Acroyer ship the combat is called off when it's discovered Cilicia is pregnant with the kings child. The Micronauts are free to go, but Acroyer is not only banished from his people, but his future child as well. Over all a decent issue. I thought this issue was quite good, and I think Jackson/Butch Guice is getting even better. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 14, 2020 18:53:02 GMT -5
 Micronauts #53 (1983) Writer - Bill Mantlo Art - Jackson "Butch" Guice Editor - Macchio Cover Art - Guice Hooboy, I really wish I liked this issue better, but I can't get past the lifting of the "alien society patterns itself after the mob" trope. Did Star Trek do it first? it was part of the plot of one of the last few Kirby era Fantastic Four comics too. I wouldn't be surprised to find out there's a bunch of other stories that used this too. So we start with Acroyer finding some level of peace with his people, then Princess Mari gets all kinda pushy on Rann. After a brief peek at the horrors Karza is engaging in the Micronauts decide to go to "Prison World" to hunt for allies. They find the whole planet has adopted early 20th century Earth mobster culture. Re-reading this it's actually an ok comic, but I just can't really get past the lifting of such an identifiable (and silly) plot. The art is nice, and there's a buncha silly graffiti drawn in the background - so it's a pleasure to look at, at least. If the letters printed in the letter column are any indication, this two part story, #53-54, was immensely popular. Personally I thought it was ok, but nothing great, by Micronauts standards. All I could think of was Star Trek's "A Piece of the Action". Still, a fairly enjoyable issue, and some more very good art. |
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Post by brianf on Nov 14, 2020 20:37:22 GMT -5
 Micronauts #8 (Image, 2003) W - Dan Jolley P - Steve Kurth I - Barb Shulz C - Steve Kurth Ok, good issue here - Karza has invaded Earth and the Micronaut team arrive and try to get things figured out. This is an enjoyable quick read. I'm not really gonna review the rest of this run, just give my quick 2 cents. Good times to be found here. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 16, 2020 12:37:01 GMT -5
 Micronauts #54 (1983) Writer - Bill Mantlo Pencils - Jackson "Butch" Guice Inks - Kelley Jones Editor - Macchio Cover Art - Guice The issue opens with a battle between the Micronauts "mob" and Karzas G-men, where the 'nauts lose and get captured. Taken to prison, they get into jail fights and are tried by the Tri-Bunal robot judge. Sentenced to death, they fight back and encourage the other prisoners to rebel and over throw Karzas troops, and they win kinda quickly, wrapping the issue up. It was an ok but not so impressive issue, an attempt at a more light hearted tale maybe? Yes, I think it was an attempt at a light hearted issue. While the story itself was nothing special, I thought the art was spectacular! While I think Danny Bulanadi has done a good job overall (and lent continuity to the art with the revolving door of artists) I like the art here, with Juice being inked by Kelly Jones, so much more! I hope we get a long run of Kelly Jones inking Butch Guice! |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 16, 2020 12:40:43 GMT -5
 Micronauts #55 (1983) Writer - Bill Mantlo Pencils - Jackson "Butch" Guice Inks - Kelley Jones Editor - Macchio Cover Art - Guice Man, this issue is dark dark dark..... Things start a little weirdly with a postcoital discussion between Marionette and ....Bug? They humping now? Back aboard the bioship they discuss Rann's detachment form direct fighting as he meditates in an attempt to get the enigma force to assist him again. Bugs just hanging out in bed while Mari gets dressed in front of him. It comes out of nowhere with zero lead up, but ok. This comic gets adult sometimes, so we adulting this issue. Speaking of Rann, his astral form runs into Karza at the temple of time as they both attempt to sway the Time Travelers. The guts of this story involve Huntarr, who returns to homeworld in search of his family. He finds his mother, scarred from Karzas scientific experimentation - after telling Huntarr his sister was forced into a breeding program she kills herself by stabbing herself to death. Huntarr goes to the body banks to find his sister and we view scene after scene of horror and degradation. The nursery shown here is so disturbing I'd rather not write about it. The art is wonderful and this is definitely a memorable issue, but jeez is it dark. I thought this was an excellent issue. The art, with Kelly Jones on inks, is again outstanding. The last two issues, in terms of art, is the best I've seen on this comic since Michael Golden left. The story was dark and sad, yes, but did a great job of showing us the miseries of the "common people" under Karza's rule. Very touching. And I was a bit shocked to see Mari and Bug sleeping together. I haven't read this series in about 12 years, and I'd totally forgotten little things like that. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Nov 16, 2020 12:44:52 GMT -5
 Micronauts #56 (1984) Writer - Bill Mantlo Pencils - Jackson "Butch" Guice Inks - Kelley Jones & Sam Grainger Editor - Bob Harris Cover Art - Guice Karza & Rann come to terms with the time travelers at the temple of time while the other Micronauts go to Bugs planet Kaliklak to try and find some allies in the war against Karza. They find Bugs world under attack and the new queen threatened by an invading hoard of battle beetles. The 'Nauts save the day but sadly they find no help since Bugs people have their own problems. Once again Guices art is wonderful, but the story is just serviceable. Nothing new here, but still solid. I thought this was a pretty good story. Nothing special, sure, but a nice little adventure. While Guice is again excellent, I don't like the art in this issue (with inking shared by Kelly Jones and Sam Grainger) as much as the last two issues (inked just by Kelly Jones). So how the heck can the Acroyears not make any decisions until Acroyear and Cicilia's kid is born (and probably, comes of age)?? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Also, Bug made it seem like some great act of diplomacy that Mari convinced the Acroyears not so side with Karza. Uh yeah, if you say so, Bug. |
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