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Post by chadwilliam on May 15, 2024 0:50:08 GMT -5
eh. Bogdanove does offer an "After Ditko" note below his signature I'm not sure what (if any) industry etiquette applies here, but it seems damn ballsy for such an unestablished artist to try to homage an industry legend like this. Boggy had been in the industry for six years by this point, but (unless I'm mistaken) this was only his second regular gig, the first being Power Pack. I don't know what the immediate fan reaction to his work on Man of Steel had been, of course. Maybe he thought he was the next Liefeld. I think that when you name your son Kal-El, as Jon Bogdanove did, chances are that homages such as these suggest not so much an unhinged ego as they do an unbridled enthusiasm for getting the opportunity to play in the same sandbox as the idols you had as a youth. I think Bogdanove is just having fun here with his homage covers and artwork - not much different from, say, a Beatles fan travelling to London and racing to Abbey Road the moment they get off the plane so that they can get their picture taken emulating the poses from that famous album cover. Interesting that you should raise the issue though since in the very next issue... Well, that's next issue. |
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Post by shaxper on May 15, 2024 4:48:16 GMT -5
Interesting that you should raise the issue though since in the very next issue... Well, that's next issue. Waiting for a free evening to to check it out. Boy did I learn from last time NOT to write a review while multitasking 😂 |
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Post by shaxper on May 15, 2024 9:19:43 GMT -5
Seeking a little input going forward.
My original goal when I began this review thread twelve whole years ago was to take it up to Superman #75, the Death of Superman. In the years since, I've become increasingly interested in the era that immediately follows, but I know very little about what happens beyond that. I will hit the Death of Superman this summer, so it's probably time to start considering how far I intend to go beyond that.
Thus my question is "How far do you think I should take this review thread?"
Option 1: Superman #82, The return of Superman. I should hit that before the end of the year, freeing me up to finish other review threads or even start a new one.
Option 2: Superman #93, Zero Hour. This takes me to what is arguably the end of the "Post-Crisis Era" since Zero Hour provides a soft reboot that has minor impacts on Superman continuity. This would take me at least another year to complete.
Option 3: Superman #150, widely considered to be the end of the era, as this is when the creators most associated with this era are all fired unexpectedly, drastically changing the tone of the franchise. This would leave this project pretty open-ended, and there's a reasonable chance I would never get to the finish line (not that this means it wouldn't be worth working towards anyway).
Option 4: Somewhere else. I'm open to suggestions.
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Post by sunofdarkchild on May 15, 2024 9:36:16 GMT -5
I'd say the wedding is a good place to stop, as the 'conclusion' to the will they/won't they arc for Lois and Clark. Stopping there also ends it before the whole electrical powers schtick begins.
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 15, 2024 20:53:10 GMT -5
I'd go with the end of reign of the Supermen....when he came back it felt very different, IMO. I could see going to Zero Hour though to sort of finish the 'post crisis era'
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Post by dootocean on May 15, 2024 22:33:05 GMT -5
I believe this is my very first post in this forum ... Wanted to break the silence to say that this thread is the reason I joined. I have long been curious about the post-crisis Superman but it's just such a large array of comics and so I was looking online for guides. There are a few helpful resources online, but this thread is by far the greatest of them -- the most thorough, the most in-depth, the most clear, and the most just plain darn enjoyable to read. In that spirit, my vote is for the thread to go all the way up until this era of Superman ends completely, with the Nu52 reboot. But I say that only with the enthusiasm of a fan of your work in this thread who greedily wants it to last as long as possible.  From a more practical standpoint, I personally will be grateful for this thread's continuance to whatever end-point you ultimately decide upon. Hats off to you, sir! |
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Post by shaxper on May 16, 2024 4:43:35 GMT -5
I believe this is my very first post in this forum ... Wanted to break the silence to say that this thread is the reason I joined. I have long been curious about the post-crisis Superman but it's just such a large array of comics and so I was looking online for guides. There are a few helpful resources online, but this thread is by far the greatest of them -- the most thorough, the most in-depth, the most clear, and the most just plain darn enjoyable to read. In that spirit, my vote is for the thread to go all the way up until this era of Superman ends completely, with the Nu52 reboot. But I say that only with the enthusiasm of a fan of your work in this thread who greedily wants it to last as long as possible. From a more practical standpoint, I personally will be grateful for this thread's continuance to whatever end-point you ultimately decide upon. Hats off to you, sir! Welcome To the forum, and thanks so much for the encouragement! With words like these, I'd consider reviewing to the end twice over. |
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Post by MRPs_Missives on May 16, 2024 11:47:32 GMT -5
Another possible ending point, a little past the Zero Hour stuff, is the change to Superman's power set when the Superman Red/Superman Blue storyline was embarked upon. I think it was in the 120s of the flagship book when it started, but it's been a while since I looked at issue numbers. I know it's where I stopped being even a casual Superman reader in the post-Crisis era.
-M
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Post by Marv-El on May 16, 2024 18:08:22 GMT -5
Hm, the most natural point would seem to be the Return of Superman. Let's face it, that's a major chunk of the character's history to cover & review, a worthy accomplishment. So maybe reach that point, pause for a moment and see how you feel about moving any further forward. Like you mentioned, perhaps covering to that point would help inspire you to march onward.
Oh and FYI, while digging through one of my LCS' dollar comic bins on FCBD, I actually came across a copy of Action Comics #679, the issue with the villain-ness Shellshock (I believe her name was) with the oh-so-striking character design and super-power. I chuckled, thanks to your review of that issue, I flipped through it, yep, recognized Jackson Guice's art! Snatched that copy up for sure hahahaha!
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Post by chadwilliam on May 16, 2024 23:24:45 GMT -5
Without spoiling too much, I would suggest that both The Fall of Metropolis and Zero Hour storylines make excellent jumping off points if you're looking for one. I think that Marv-El's advice is the best - just take a break when you need it and decide thereafter if you feel like continuing.
Why The Fall of Metropolis? Well, it brings to a close certain elements of Luthor's feud with Superman and... like I said I don't want to spoil much, but... it's Luthor vs. Superman and Metropolis is the literal battlefield. It will also mark Roger Stern's temporary departure from the titles too.
However, Zero Hour follows about two months later and while it doesn't really affect Superman's post-Crisis continuity, it does mark the start of a new era. I think if you're going to cover The Fall of Metropolis - and I think you should - you may as well stick it out for another couple of months.
I'll warn you now however that you'll be entering the Mullet era if you follow this path and it's not a pretty sight. There are A LOT of stinkers during this period and I wish I could say that my morbid curiosity doesn't override my concern for your mental wellbeing, but frankly, I'd be fascinated to see your reaction to Superman continually "BEING PUSHED TO HIS LIMITS TO THE EXTREME UNTIL HIS MIND IS ABOUT TO SNAP TO THE EXTREME!!!" when those stories - "Dead Again!", Conduit, Action Comics #719's 'Should Superman kill The Joker'? - arrive. Now, these stories will come after Zero Hour so you might never have to read them - God willing - but man, things get very Nineties very suddenly at a certain point and as someone who has read both those stories and has been following your excellent thread, there are times when I find it impossible to reconcile the tales you've been reviewing with what's only a year or two away.
But like Marv-El suggested, perhaps it's best to just take things as they come.
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Post by shaxper on May 17, 2024 8:19:03 GMT -5
I think that Marv-El 's advice is the best - just take a break when you need it and decide thereafter if you feel like continuing.p Inevitably, that's what it will come down to, but I still like to have a tentative goal in mind to help motivate me. It also helps me to better focus/frame each review if I have an understanding of the larger portrait I'm painting. This was my thinking, more or less. However, charting a new era and how it departs from what came before is always compelling and fun work, too. I'll heed that warning both figuratively and literally.  Best incentive ever for exploring this era. Just so long as it doesn't sink as low as the Byrne-Era lulls. Even I could only take so much of Superman mentally undressing every human and impulsively coming to blows with every super-being. |
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Post by chadwilliam on May 17, 2024 21:20:05 GMT -5
I think that Marv-El 's advice is the best - just take a break when you need it and decide thereafter if you feel like continuing.p Inevitably, that's what it will come down to, but I still like to have a tentative goal in mind to help motivate me. It also helps me to better focus/frame each review if I have an understanding of the larger portrait I'm painting. This was my thinking, more or less. However, charting a new era and how it departs from what came before is always compelling and fun work, too. I'll heed that warning both figuratively and literally. Best incentive ever for exploring this era. Just so long as it doesn't sink as low as the Byrne-Era lulls. Even I could only take so much of Superman mentally undressing every human and impulsively coming to blows with every super-being. I don't recall any Byrne-esque perviness creeping its way back into the titles but as far as Superman "impulsively coming to blows with every super-being" is concerned... Hoo-boy.    Expect a lot of machismo posturing from Superman. A lot. |
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Post by zaku on May 18, 2024 1:00:10 GMT -5
I was thinking, there are mega events where Superman has a very important role, like Infinite Crisis for example. In these cases, would you comment on the entire event or just the Man of Steel tie-in titles?
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Post by Duragizer on May 18, 2024 21:43:57 GMT -5
I'd say the wedding is a good place to stop, as the 'conclusion' to the will they/won't they arc for Lois and Clark. Stopping there also ends it before the whole electrical powers schtick begins. I second this. |
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Post by shaxper on May 19, 2024 14:48:37 GMT -5
I was thinking, there are mega events where Superman has a very important role, like Infinite Crisis for example. In these cases, would you comment on the entire event or just the Man of Steel tie-in titles? It comes down to whether or not it has an impact on the Superman titles. I did Armageddon 2001, for example. However, when in doubt, I ask you guys and rely on your input, which is why I ended up skipping Eclipso: The Darkness Within. |
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From a more practical standpoint, I personally will be grateful for this thread's continuance to whatever end-point you ultimately decide upon.
