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Post by Trevor on Aug 26, 2016 16:37:49 GMT -5
Great thread, everyone. First time poster - I just joined today. I'm an '80's kid, and was a big fan of The Micronauts back in the day - though my floppies are all long gone. The first run with Michael Golden art was especially incredible, but from what I can remember all of the issues were great. Here's hoping Marvel (or an another company) will reprint all of those original Marvel issues. I haven't read them in years, but would pay good $ for a nice series of reprints, either in Omnibus or color Trade format. Your best sure bet for Micronauts reprints are the 5 issue Baxter paper series they did reprinting the first 12 or so issues. These should be in the $1 each issue range. The entire series is actually in quarter bins for the most part, but yeah, the old newsprint needs an upgrade to a nice set of omnibi (hopefully). |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 16:46:52 GMT -5
Actually issue #1 and 8 (first Capt. Universe) are starting to get pricey. #1 because pretty much all Bronze Age first issues are in demand now and #8 because of the intro of Capt. Universe, which has caught speculator attention.
I see #1 for $10-$15 at a lot of shows and shops. #8 can go for $50 or so in high grade, sometimes more.
-M
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Post by rom on Aug 26, 2016 16:51:16 GMT -5
Thanks. I knew IDW had the license for both properties (ROM & Micronauts) and that new comics were coming out.
However, AFAIK there are no firm plans to reprint the classic '80's series. My understanding is that since both Marvel ROM & Micronauts series are firmly entrenched in the MU & feature a lot of the MU super-heroes, they would need to come to agreement with Marvel in order to reprint these. Just my .02...
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Post by rom on Aug 26, 2016 16:52:48 GMT -5
Yeah, I remember those Baxter reprints - they came our around '84 - I had a couple of those back in the day. Thanks for the info. - I didn't know they were that low these days. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 22:28:55 GMT -5
I thought the Rom reprints were announced when IDW got the license at SDCC 2015, but looking back, it was a story about Chris Ryall of IDW who had commissioned his own custom 4 volume omnibus collection of Rom (he used the original issues and a bookbinding service to makw them. However, IDW does work with Marvel on doing the Artist's Editions reprinting the original art in oversized deluxe editions of several key Marvel books by industry giants, so they have a working relationship with Marvel (and DC)...  -M |
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Post by brianf on Nov 14, 2016 1:25:53 GMT -5
Hello Folks - I've spent the last few days reading through some of these wonderful threads and so I've signed up to say how much I've enjoyed reading whats been posted on these boards. As someone who's first Micronauts comic was issue #3 (and I own both full Marvel series) I feel like volunteering to finish up this review thread, if folks are ok with that. I have done (and continue to update) a Master Of Kung Fu and Deadman blogs, and I was actually thinking of doing a Micronauts as well anyway. deadmanissuebyissue.tumblr.com/essentialmasterofkungfu.tumblr.com/One thing I do know is I'm very happy to have found this site. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2016 1:34:35 GMT -5
I have no problems with you finishing the thread I started, and Trevor hasn't done a review in a while, so it shouldn't be a problem. I finished reading every Micronauts run this year (both Marvel series, the Image/Devil's Due run the solo Devil's Due run and the Karza mini series, plus the first prose novel based on the Micro-world presented in the Image/Devil's Due books, but I had no desire to write reviews for them, so as far as I am concerned, the coast is clear if you want to pick up the thread. I have even read the new stuff from IDW...including springing for this cover commission at the last show I went...  and while I enjoyed a lot of the stuff and still adore the Micronauts, my days of doing long review threads are over. So have at it and look forward to seeing what you have to say about it all... -M |
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Post by Trevor on Nov 14, 2016 9:46:57 GMT -5
Would love to see it continued Brian! I still planned to continue the thread one issue per month, but obviously was failing and nine months behind! I have a file somewhere of my notes on the first ~30 issues from last year, I'll try to chime in from time to time.
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Post by brianf on Nov 14, 2016 14:21:25 GMT -5
Thanks guys!
I really love the Broderick run, and I'd like to spend more time with the Kane issues too. So while it will take me a few days to get going I will be jumping in this week.
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Post by codystarbuck on Nov 16, 2016 11:58:59 GMT -5
First saw the series with issue #2, on the newsstands, then cobbled together a couple of the Golden issues. I started in earnest with #24 and through the Broderick run, up to issue 36 (I think it was). Later filled in the gaps. The Special editions were my gateway to the full original year, though. Gorgeous reproduction for the thing, apart from the original ads.
The first year is awesome, then they spend the second in search of a motivation, finally findin it by the end, as Pat Broderick comes onboard. Love issue 26, with SHIELD and HYDRA, wouldn't have minded a SHIELD series with Broderick on the art.
I always liked how Golden made the tooys look plausible, as equipment within the world, though some of them were a bit impractical. There was one weapon vehicle that looked like a wheelbarrow with a cannon. It may have been a great toy; but, it looked a little silly on the page. The battle cruiser and other ships looked golden, though (pun intended). Loved the Acroyer designs; very Kirby.
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Post by brianf on Nov 21, 2016 6:05:38 GMT -5
 Micronauts #14 (1979) Writer - Bill Mantlo Layouts - Howard Chaykin Finisher - Al Milgrom Colorist - Bob Sharen Letterer - Annette kawecki Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Artist - Michael Golden Synopsis On his home planet of Kaliklak Bug leads an attack on the colonial authorities, where they commandeer the enemy's airforce. Searching for adventure the other Micronauts leave Homeworld cheered on as heroes, leaving Prince Argon and Slug to rule. Plots continue to boil as S.H.I.E.L.D. contacts the Fantastic Four about the Microverse. Bug wins his battle, and finding out Karza has been defeated by his teammates he contacts them aboard the Endeavor & by the end of the issue the team has been reunited. The team grows in numbers with the addition of Bugs ladybug friend Jasmine and Acroyears partner Cilicia. Comments: After the first 12 Golden issues, these Chaykin drawn comics are such a let down. Especially since Chaykin is such a good artist, him just doing basic layouts leaves things looking raw & unfinished. An while Al Milgrom art can be raw too, I have seen Milgrom do solid work in the past, so why this run of comics looks so unappealing is a head scratcher to me. Story wise, this is a transition issue, it seems like Mantlo is still figuring out what to do next. Thankfully Golden continues his work on the covers. As someone who bought this comic off the stands when it was published almost 40 years ago, I'm happy to say future issues get much better.  |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Nov 21, 2016 10:12:01 GMT -5
Agreed!
Chaykin is one of my artistic gods, but I truly believe that Micronauts is the nadir of his entire career. Not only did the book look bad in and of itself, but this subpar run following Golden's stellar artwork was a double blow.
Those gorgeous covers would alas not last very long either.
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Post by brianf on Nov 21, 2016 22:51:16 GMT -5
 Micronauts Annual #1 (1979) Writer - Bill Mantlo Art - Steve Ditko Colorist - Andy Yanchus Letterer - John Costanza Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Artist - Steve Ditko Synopsis In a trio of flashback tales we see what the Micronauts were up to right before the first issue. Commander Rann & Biotron visit the world of the Galactic Defender, a twisted individual whose whole society chose to enter suspended animation rather than encounter any impurities. In the end entire civilization self destructs. Story #2 deals with the death of Princess Mari & Prince Argon parents by Baron Karza, and them joining the rebellion. The 3rd story is pretty much just a long fight, with Bug & Acroyear battling in Baron Karzas great games, similar to the Roman arena. Comments: One of the things that originally struck me reading the Micronauts was how dark the comic could be. It was my first exposure to the idea of something like the Body Banks - where the poor actually sell their body parts to the rich, and the corrupt rulers create criminals to harvest their bodies. Also, as someone use to reading Marvel comics where there wasn't much death and the heroes don't kill, in the Micronauts there's plenty death & since they are at war, we see the heroes kill their foes. In the 1st story about the Galactic Defenders society - the hatred of other races, liquidating the imperfect - it's pretty dark stuff. Science Fiction in the 1970's had it fair share of dystopias (Logans Run) and depressing tales (Silent Running), and Mantlo is obviously using that a jumping off point (along with Marvel Comics history) as he builds the Miconauts universe. While not a perfect comic by any means, there's a few enjoyable bits to be found. And Ditko does Ditko just fine.  |
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Post by rom on Nov 22, 2016 9:10:24 GMT -5
Great cover & scans of Micronauts Annual #1!!! I don't think I ever read or even saw this; really like the Ditko art.
Again, Classic Micronauts really needs a reprinting. Now that MOKF is getting reprinted, ROM & Micronauts are my other "big two" Marvel titles that I really want reprinted - that can't be reprinted because of licensing/copyright issues.
And, Micronauts is a title in which the whole series needs to be reprinted, not just the initial Michael Golden issues. MG's art is superb & iconic, but the series isn't defined by his artistic run. From what I can remember, the rest of the series had solid art as well.
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Post by brianf on Nov 29, 2016 1:32:17 GMT -5
 Micronauts #15 Writer - Bill Mantlo Breakdowns - Howard Chaykin Finisher - Al Milgrom Colorist - Bob Sharen Letterer - John Costanza Editor - Al Milgrom Cover Artist - Michael Golden Synopsis After being briefed by S.H.I.E.L.D., the Fantastic Four head to the Microverse. Meanwhile the reunited Micronauts come across a giant sized spaceship. Sucked in by a tractor beam, our heroes are attacked by Antrons Microtron gets seemly destroyed by them - spoiler, it's on the cover. The main villain behind the scenes is Psycho-Man, and he is fulla threats. Three of the FF travel to the Microverse via their Reducta-Craft, while the Human Torch approaches via the Prometheus Pit located at H.E.L.L. labs at Cape Canaveral. Comments: The art seems to be getting a little better, or maybe i'm just getting use to it. But I can understand why the reviews stalled out around these issues - it's a slog. It's appropriate that Psycho-Man & the Fantastic Four show up - the concept of the Microverse (originally called Sub-Atomica) was first introduced during Psycho-Mans debut in Fantastic Four Annual #5 (1967) and the first time we really got a look at the Mircoverse was in FF #75 - #77. Questions - 1) How fast can the Torch fly? He made it from NYC to Florida is no time at all. 2) The guards at H.E.L.L. labs shoot at Torch but the bullets are turned molten before they could hit him. So how actually hot is the Torch to melt bullets, but not people close to him, or fists that punch him? Answer - Yay comics! Observation - At the end of FF #77 the Fantastic Four were sent home w/o their Reducta-Craft. So there's a never told story of either rebuilding or reclaiming it. Links for that - Reducta-CraftReducta-Craft 2Here's what the Antron toys look like -  |
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