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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 2:28:16 GMT -5
Issue #9  Cover Date: September 1979 Publisher: Marvel Comics Writer: Bill Mantlo Penciller/co-plotter: Michael Golden Inker/Editor: Al Migrom Letterer: Joe Rosen Colorist: Carl Gafford Cover: Michael Golden Home is Where the Heart Is! (color; 18 pages) Synopsis: The Micronauts return to the Microverse and emerge near Spartak, the Acoyear homeworld, where the Acroyear fleet take them into custody. They are taken planetside, but Acroyear does not know what type of reception they will receive, and they prepare for the fight of their lives. Karza returns as well, and rendezvous with his fleet, and learns where the Micronauts are, ordering the battle fleet to Spartak. On Homeworld, Force Commander and Slug lead the rebel forces on an attack against the Body Banks, aided by the Shaodwpriests. Back on Spartak, the Acroyear people swear allegiance to Priince Acroyear, who is reunited with his love and learns his brother is in captivity and the thoughtwash has ended. Karza's fleet arrives and bombards Spartak. The Micronauts aid in the defense while Acroyear enters a crystal chamber to activate the Spartak world mind a sis the role of the King of his people. Karza's forces are winning and it appears Rann's ship is destroyed in battle when it crashes into Karza's force shields. Acroyear activates the world mind uniting the minds of all his people, and we learn how Acroyears people came to the world and settled it... RatingsStory: 8/10 Art: 8/10 Overall: 8/10 Comments: Milgrom's inks do not do Golden's art any favors. Milgrom has a heavy line and it looks liek there is a lot more spotted blacks, obscuring faces and other details, and while not quite wreaking havoc with Golden's aork, it does drag it down, and make it feel stiffer and less dynamic. The war machines of the Microverse look much more toy-like and out of place this issue than in any issue since the debut issue, and I think a lot of that can be laid at the feet of Milgrom. Storywise, it's good but mostly set up for the final act of this opening saga, moving it into the next phase. Lots of exposition, reveals about Acroyear and Spartak, and lots of little cliffhanger,s but very little resolution of anything this issue, so it feels a bit unsatisfying as a chapter in the saga in and of itself. A couple of good character moments-Rann and Mari's reaction to Acroyer and his love Cicilia's reunion, and Mari's reaction to Rann's apparent death are the highlights, and Bug is sliding into the role of comic relief more and more, with Microtron his aide-de-camp in such. Bug gets played as a buffoon though, and his antics are not quite funny, but his devotion to Acroyear is a saving grace for the character at this point, giving him some appeal despite the buffoonery. The Spartek world mind though just seemed ripped form the pages of Kirby's Eternals, with the added element of a semi-sentient planet thrown in. Apparently Spartek was once home to another people, who left for the stars, and when the nomadic Aroyears fond it in their diaspora, the world adopted them, but remade them in the image of warriors to be able to survive its harsh environment. In return, it offered the ritual of the worldmind, given tot he rightful kings to unite the people in times of trial and tribulation. The concept of it uniting the consciousness of all Acroyer of all generations into a hive-like mind fugue just seems a blatant rip off of the Eternals Uni-Mind, but the collective consciousness of a people is a sci-fi trope, so it's not so out of place, just a little too on the nose swiping for my taste. All in all, a decent issue, but a notch below what had come before. -M |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2014 18:28:18 GMT -5
Very Nice M . One of my all time favorite series . Have had Volume 1 for years . Recently purchased the image and ddp series and new voyage and x-men 4 part series but have not read yet. For fun on volume one I found all direct and all new stand copies . Man I wish I still had all my micronaut toys but sadly were tossed years ago when I left home . Oh well at least I had room for my comics .
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2014 20:28:30 GMT -5
Yeah sadly all my Micronaut toys went the same route, though if I ever found another Karza I could afford, I would snap it up!
-M
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2014 3:44:28 GMT -5
Issue #10  Cover Date: October 1979 Publisher: Marvel Comics Writer: Bill Mantlo Penciller/Co-plotter: Michael Golden Inker/Editor: Al Milgrom Letters: D. Albers Colors: Carl Gafford Defeat! (17 pages; color) Synopsis: Karza has captured Rann and soon defeats Mari, returning to Homewlrd to pry the secret of the Enigma Force from Rann. Bug is apparently killed in the battle over the Acroyear Homeworld. Finally Acroyear activates the worldmind and the planet helps the Acroyear people defeat the invasion fleet. On Homeworld, the rebellion led by Force Commander has taken the bodybanks and set them aflame, but Karza returns and rallies the dog soldiers. Acoyear prepares ot lead his people against Karza, know the battle for his homeworld is but one small fight in the war. RatingsStory: 8/10 Art: 8/10 Overall: 8/10 Commentary: Milgrom's inks look much better over Golden's pencils this issue. Maybe they found their groove, maybe last issue was a rush job, or maybe Golden altered things to fit Milgrom's style knowing he had a different inker. While most of the issue is all-out action as the war is waged on multiple fronts, Mantlo still fits in lots of character moments. Mari expressing her love for Rann cradling his fallen form Microtron's devotion and ferocity, Biotron's despondent melancholy, the conflict faces by Acoyear and the weight of the crown he wears, the class struggles on Homeworld, all get little moments to shine despite the action raging around them, and it makes the action scenes seem much more important became Mantlo lets us see why they matter. That seems to be Mantlo's strength in this series-to give clear character portraits and develop character growth in the small quiet moments between the big action scenes that dominate the book. No easy task that, especially in mainstream comics. -M |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2014 4:00:59 GMT -5
Issue #11  Cover Date: November 1979 Publisher: Marvel Comics Writer: Bill Mantlo Penciller/Co-plotter: Michael Golden Inker/Editor: Al Milgrom Letters: Joe Rosen Colors: Carl Gafford We Are the Enigma Force! (color 18 pages) Synopsis: Karza has returned to Homeworld with Rann and Mari his prisoners. He challenges Force Commander who loses to him in one-to-one combat. All seems lost when the Shadow Priests exclaim the Enigma Force is there and reveal they are each an aspect of the Time Traveler, as is Commander Rann, a collective being embodying the Enigma force born of their experiences over the 1000 years of Rann's travels in the Microverse. Rann and Karza battle, but Rann/Time Traveler clearly have the upper hand. Karza tries to unleash a mindblast that will destroy himself as well as the Homeworld in vengeance, but he is struck down by the Mindworld of the Acroyear who arrive and enter the fray. The Acroyers decimate Karza's remaining forces and Karza's energy form is hurled into the fire pits and is apparently consumed. The war is over. RatingsStory: 10/10 Art: 8/10 Overall Impression: 9/10 Commentary: Many comic book sagas, even the best of them, have endings that wind up falling short of the build up. Part of it in the nature of the ongoing serial, as things can never truly end, but this one avoids that trap and delivers a satisfying ending for a truly great comic saga. The series continues, and I know in hindsight that this is not the end of Karza, but man what a rush in that moment he is struck down. The epic battle between Karza and Time Traveler, the arrival of the Acroyer, all of it is hitting on all cylinders, and Mantlo still works his magic to give us tiny little character moments-Slug realizing she loves Prince Argon and is now reluctant to lie down her life because she wants a life with him, Biotron's despair when he realizes his telepathic bond with Rann is gone once Rann becomes Time Traveler, Mari's strength defying Karza even when things seem hopeless, her hope shining through even as he brother despairs, Karza's overconfidence and true shock when he learns his ace in the hole isn't what he thought it would be, etc. etc. And I want to give a shout out to Joe Rosen, the letterer. He lettered quite a bit of the saga, and you never notice a ltterer's work until it's gone. Issue 10 had Diane Albers letter and it was competent, but Joe returned for #11 and the differenc eis startling, right form the title page onwards. He weaves the lettering into the tapestry of the art so it is part of the package, not a necessary add-on to make it readable as more pedestrian lettering can be. Great stuff on all levels this issue, but Golden pulls out all the stops here too. Milgrom's inks are better but still pull the art down a bit, but the layouts and page designs here are magnificent. -M |
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Post by hondobrode on Nov 4, 2014 23:28:14 GMT -5
I remember this cover burning in my 8th grader head all day as I couldn't wait to get home and read it.
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Post by Trevor on May 5, 2015 13:16:43 GMT -5
I guess this is a possibly abandoned thread, but I just discovered this forum today and decided my first post might as well be in a Micronauts thread.
Those first Mantlo/Golden issues are likely the reason I'm a committed comics collector. I have every issue/appearance and even had a Micronauts blog or website at some point.
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Post by thwhtguardian on May 5, 2015 13:21:17 GMT -5
I guess this is a possibly abandoned thread, but I just discovered this forum today and decided my first post might as well be in a Micronauts thread. Those first Mantlo/Golden issues are likely the reason I'm a committed comics collector. I have every issue/appearance and even had a Micronauts blog or website at some point. Welcome to the gang! |
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2015 16:54:40 GMT -5
I guess this is a possibly abandoned thread, but I just discovered this forum today and decided my first post might as well be in a Micronauts thread. Those first Mantlo/Golden issues are likely the reason I'm a committed comics collector. I have every issue/appearance and even had a Micronauts blog or website at some point. Yes, welcome. I don't have the time or the wherewithal to keep doing the reviews, so I haven't updated it in forever, but if someone wants to take up the mantle, feel free. -M |
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Post by hondobrode on May 5, 2015 19:13:38 GMT -5
Still hoping Abrams gets around to making the Micronauts movie he wants to.
Welcome Trevor !
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Post by Trevor on May 6, 2015 14:20:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome everyone!
I remember being so stoked when I first heard of Abrams being interested in doing a Micronauts film. But now with him getting so 'big' I'm not optimistic of my dreams coming true.
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Post by thwhtguardian on May 6, 2015 16:22:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome everyone! I remember being so stoked when I first heard of Abrams being interested in doing a Micronauts film. But now with him getting so 'big' I'm not optimistic of my dreams coming true. Yeah, he's got a pretty heavy work load these days. |
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Post by Trevor on Jul 10, 2015 22:08:40 GMT -5
So my main forum, dvdtalk, has monthly comic reading challenges. We have a different genre every month, an unofficial goal of reading 100 books a month, but mainly just a thread to encourage reading and share some discussion. July is sci-fi, and I gave myself a goal of re-reading my entire Marvel Micronauts run. No promises, but perhaps I'm going to try to comment on each issue here as I go along, to supplement the comments that mrp and the rest of you have already made. I was already a comic collector, and a huge fan of the toys, so Micronauts was right up my alley. I'be always called it my favorite comic series of all-time; but haven't re-read anything beyond the first 12 issues. Way beyond time to correct that. I've never read a Micronauts comic. I hope you've corrected this! |
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Post by Trevor on Jul 10, 2015 22:21:07 GMT -5
issue #1
Agree with your comments mrp, although the closeness of Golden's art of the vehicles and the actual toys was a positive for me, and possible helped cement my love for the series. The toys were my favorite things in the world as an ~11 year old; I spent hours staging battles and playing with those things. Gave most away when I 'grew up', but never gave away my Baron Karza and still own him. I've since re-bought things like the Battle Cruiser on ebay.
issue #2
The romantic tension between Rann and Mari always seemed too rushed and convenient to me. But iirc the relationships end up playing out pretty well overall.
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Post by Trevor on Jul 10, 2015 22:35:24 GMT -5
issue #3
Yes, that upside down dialogue for Microtron was inventive, but a pain to read. Once was enough, but I'm through issue 12 now and feel like I've had to turn my books way too often.
Galactic Warrior was a name in the toyline, a Time Traveller-like figure with a big cannon. Couldn't have been designed like Bug though, as he was one of the few to appear in other Marvel books once the license expired. I guess Space Glider and Galactic Warrior were used in the roll calls sometimes to keep us connected to the still then hot toys.
issue #4
The art looks so much better off of newsprint. Reading the Micronauts Special Edition 1-5, which reprint 1-12 and a couple later short stories, is a much more pleasant experience than these old singles of mine.
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