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Post by Hoosier X on Jul 12, 2015 13:57:53 GMT -5
As I've mentioned elsewhere, I've embarked on a journey to read all of the Marvel titles that I read as a kid, but in the 12 months prior to the month when I started reading. I started reading in July 1975, so I have 12 months of titles to read, starting with those published in July of 1974 and going through June of 1975. This week, I read: FANTASTIC FOUR 151, by Gerry Conway and Rich Buckler.....in which Mahkizmo follows Thundra from the future into the present to kill her; INCREDIBLE HULK 180, by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe, in which Greenskin fights Wendigo (after a failed plan to transfer the spirit of Wendigo into Hulk's body), and wherein we see our first ever glimpse of Wolverine in the last panel; and DEFENDERS 16, by Len Wein and Sal Buscema, in which the Defenders take on Magneto and Alpha, the Ultimate Mutant. I have to say, Sal Buscema, to me, draws a very good Hulk and Dr. Strange. Today I plan to That brings back memories. (Some of them are very recent memories because I didn't read Defenders #16 until last year when I checked Essential Defenders out of the library.)
I didn't start reading comics until about the same time you did (Jungle Action #17) but I soon had a lot of early 1970s comics that I picked up at used-book stores and, within a few years, at comic-book stores. I remember that Mahkizmo storyline very well. I didn't think much about Thundra at the time, but now that I've read all her early FF appearances, I think she's great! The way she's always so chivalrous (some might call it condescending) to Ben because he's a mere male, it's very entertaining and often very funny.
Can you believe I got a VF Hulk #180 for $1 about 1980? The Wendigo stories are all pretty cool. But then, that era of the Hulk is in my Top Five of Best Comics Run Ever!
And as for the Defender vs. the Evil Mutants, yeah, great Sal Buscema art (I also remember the great Gil Kane covers) but I only read it once and all I remember in detail is Hulk vs. the Blob and then all the bad guys get turned into babies. How cute!
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Post by Cei-U! on Jul 12, 2015 15:03:00 GMT -5
Just wrapped up almost 140 consecutive issues of Thor starting in the mid-160's and culminating in the Celestials and Saga of the Ring run that lasted for about a year and a half and ended with issue #300. That was epic storytelling, beginning with Roy Thomas at the helm and wrapping up with Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio bringing it to a close; Keith Pollard and Chic Stone handled the pencils and inks for much of it, with John Buscema contributing for a couple of issues at the beginning. I going to take a break from Thor now, just to cleanse the palate so that I don't get burned out on the character. I'll probably read through some shorter series over the next few weeks, then start back on Thor around the beginning of August. I know shax, for one, will disagree but my advice to is to read #301 then skip ahead to #337, the start of the Simonson run. You'll save yourself a lot of tedium. Cei-U! Don't say I didn't warn you!
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Post by Hoosier X on Jul 12, 2015 15:14:45 GMT -5
Just wrapped up almost 140 consecutive issues of Thor starting in the mid-160's and culminating in the Celestials and Saga of the Ring run that lasted for about a year and a half and ended with issue #300. That was epic storytelling, beginning with Roy Thomas at the helm and wrapping up with Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio bringing it to a close; Keith Pollard and Chic Stone handled the pencils and inks for much of it, with John Buscema contributing for a couple of issues at the beginning. I going to take a break from Thor now, just to cleanse the palate so that I don't get burned out on the character. I'll probably read through some shorter series over the next few weeks, then start back on Thor around the beginning of August. I know shax, for one, will disagree but my advice to is to read #301 then skip ahead to #337, the start of the Simonson run. You'll save yourself a lot of tedium. Cei-U! Don't say I didn't warn you! That's harsh. Some of it's not so great, but it's mostly solid, if not distinguished. And I remember the Crusader storyline as being pretty good,
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Post by The Captain on Jul 13, 2015 5:39:37 GMT -5
Just wrapped up almost 140 consecutive issues of Thor starting in the mid-160's and culminating in the Celestials and Saga of the Ring run that lasted for about a year and a half and ended with issue #300. That was epic storytelling, beginning with Roy Thomas at the helm and wrapping up with Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio bringing it to a close; Keith Pollard and Chic Stone handled the pencils and inks for much of it, with John Buscema contributing for a couple of issues at the beginning. I going to take a break from Thor now, just to cleanse the palate so that I don't get burned out on the character. I'll probably read through some shorter series over the next few weeks, then start back on Thor around the beginning of August. I know shax, for one, will disagree but my advice to is to read #301 then skip ahead to #337, the start of the Simonson run. You'll save yourself a lot of tedium. Cei-U! Don't say I didn't warn you! Appreciate the warning, Kurt, but just as I'm a completionist with collecting, I am also a completionist with my reading, so I will soldier through it, knowing there is Simonson goodness awaiting me on the other side.
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Post by Cei-U! on Jul 13, 2015 6:46:34 GMT -5
I know shax, for one, will disagree but my advice to is to read #301 then skip ahead to #337, the start of the Simonson run. You'll save yourself a lot of tedium. Cei-U! Don't say I didn't warn you! Appreciate the warning, Kurt, but just as I'm a completionist with collecting, I am also a completionist with my reading, so I will soldier through it, knowing there is Simonson goodness awaiting me on the other side. ...which, naturally, is exactly what I did, both when they first came out (though, of course, I didn't know then that any Simonson goodness was down the road) and when I indexed the series a few years back. Soldier on, my friend! Cei-U! I summon the shared compulsion!
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Post by Rob Allen on Jul 13, 2015 19:34:23 GMT -5
Mighty Marvel Western #4
This reprint anthology is full of stories from Marvel's classic Silver Age western books, done by the creators most associated with each character. Behind a new Trimpe cover we have:
- a 17-page Rawhide Kid story written & full art by Larry Lieber - a 17-page Two-Gun Kid story written by Larry Lieber, drawn by Dick Ayers, and inked by Carl Hubbell - a 13-page Kid Colt story written by Stan Lee with full art by Jack Keller - a 5-page Two-Gun Kid story written by Stan Lee with full art by Dick Ayers
and all four stories are lettered by Artie Simek, my favorite Silver Age letterer. My half-serious contention is that the Silver Age really ended with Artie's death.
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Post by Paste Pot Paul on Jul 14, 2015 5:44:59 GMT -5
My FF and Iron Man burst has ... burst for now, but am really enjoying Uncanny XMen in the 230s to 240s and onwards. I opted out of X at this time in the 80s as I disliked the Silvestri art, but damn was I wrong, he can draw. Now the colouring on these books is another story, bland is the best I can say.
Have been trying to find a place to start a reasonable Avengers run in the 200s, but holy crapfest Batman, there aint much in the first 20 or so to warm up to. Thinking of starting around the trial of Pym and grinding onward. I do recall I got sick of the Buscema/Palmer work back in the day, so this may turn into a slog. On a higher note I have just finished Avengers V3, Busiek, Johns, and Austen for the most part. To tell the truth I struggled to read the Busiek books the most, not even reading his last arc, and enjoyed the Austen stories most, though his dialogue was a bit off. Also have a pile of Micronauts, Cerebus, Thor, and Jungle Action to chug through.
Want to concentrate more on the Classics this month.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jul 14, 2015 6:37:53 GMT -5
Hey Pakefafulla, I'd recommmend starting with the Stern run for Avengers...#227. You could also start with #231... those first couple were kinda wrapping up the previous run... that should set up up for a good 60 issues.
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Post by Paste Pot Paul on Jul 14, 2015 6:42:20 GMT -5
Hey Pakefafulla, I'd recommmend starting with the Stern run for Avengers...#227. You could also start with #231... those first couple were kinda wrapping up the previous run... that should set up up for a good 60 issues. Yeah man, looking at the pile I have ready, thats about where Ive thumbed through to. So much LaRocque(hes very stiff in his early work, much like early Layton) I cant even bring myself to read them.
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Crimebuster
CCF Podcast Guru
Making comics!
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Post by Crimebuster on Jul 14, 2015 8:15:14 GMT -5
On a higher note I have just finished Avengers V3, Busiek, Johns, and Austen for the most part. To tell the truth I struggled to read the Busiek books the most, not even reading his last arc, and enjoyed the Austen stories most, though his dialogue was a bit off. What the actual hell?
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Post by terence1965 on Jul 14, 2015 12:27:36 GMT -5
Have been trying to find a place to start a reasonable Avengers run in the 200s, but holy crapfest Batman, there aint much in the first 20 or so to warm up to. Thinking of starting around the trial of Pym and grinding onward. I do recall I got sick of the Buscema/Palmer work back in the day, so this may turn into a slog. Oh, I've been slowly reading through the Stern Avengers for the first time since the 80s, and yes, it is a slog. The Buscema/Palmer art, while very competent, just seems so anachronistic, and Stern's dialogue is quite pedestrian. There have been some things I liked - the elevation of The Wasp from ditz to competent leader, and Captain Marvel's developement as a well-rounded heroine - but the title, and team, doesn't appear to have the same zing as it did from about #100 to #200. Curently reading through the issues that cross over with Secret Wars II, and they are attrocious. _
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jul 14, 2015 12:33:50 GMT -5
On a higher note I have just finished Avengers V3, Busiek, Johns, and Austen for the most part. To tell the truth I struggled to read the Busiek books the most, not even reading his last arc, and enjoyed the Austen stories most, though his dialogue was a bit off. I didn't notice this before... if you don't like Busiek (Not sure how that's possible, but to each their own), you probably won't like Stern. It's a bit dated, yes, but lots of great stuff.... Hercules and Wasp are both great under Stern, and of course he pretty much created Monica Rambeau (who I'm a big fan of). Under Siege (Stern's Opus) is on some days my favorite Avengers story ever, (with Busiek having the other two.. Ultron Unlimited and Avengers Forever, though I admit the latter mostly because it essentially made the Crossing never happen)
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Post by Paste Pot Paul on Jul 14, 2015 17:36:55 GMT -5
On a higher note I have just finished Avengers V3, Busiek, Johns, and Austen for the most part. To tell the truth I struggled to read the Busiek books the most, not even reading his last arc, and enjoyed the Austen stories most, though his dialogue was a bit off. What the actual hell? Mate it surprised the hell out of me too, I've tried reading his X-Men stuff and was truly unimpressed, and while nothing spectacular I didnt mind these. The Johns books were average, nothing like the work he would go on to do on Green Lantern(which I really enjoyed). However, the Busiek run started out good through to the Ultron story @ 20 or so, but became a real chore after that, and I couldnt be bothered finishing the last arc. Normally I like his stuff, Avengers Forever is a favourite of mine, but the use of Triathlon for so long, as well as the awful animal woman whose name eludes me, and the whole plotline around the Triune thingymabob BORED ME TO TEARS. Hated Triathlon when I first bought the books, hate him now. Sorry Kurt. Have been trying to find a place to start a reasonable Avengers run in the 200s, but holy crapfest Batman, there aint much in the first 20 or so to warm up to. Thinking of starting around the trial of Pym and grinding onward. I do recall I got sick of the Buscema/Palmer work back in the day, so this may turn into a slog. Oh, I've been slowly reading through the Stern Avengers for the first time since the 80s, and yes, it is a slog. The Buscema/Palmer art, while very competent, just seems so anachronistic, and Stern's dialogue is quite pedestrian. There have been some things I liked - the elevation of The Wasp from ditz to competent leader, and Captain Marvel's developement as a well-rounded heroine - but the title, and team, doesn't appear to have the same zing as it did from about #100 to #200. Curently reading through the issues that cross over with Secret Wars II, and they are attrocious. _ I usually love John Buscema, his Conan is by far the best in comics, his early Avengers work is beautiful, but I dont like the latter combination with Tom Palmer, and the art seems like he "phoned it in" (which I believe is essentially what happened, he didnt really want the book and mainly did layouts or some such). Looking at it now I think that his style had become more synonomous with the late 60s early 70s, and with the advent of Perez's more detailed work, and the wave of new talent in the early 80s, I was starting to want more from the pretty pictures. It was around this time that another fave of mine, Sal Buscema, became(to my mind) less attractive, with the lack of detail in his work more and more obvious. Its also quite possible that having read literally hundreds of comics by both these guys(among others like Swan, Aparo etc etc) that it felt like Id seen it all before from them. This is how I've felt about George Perez since that Avengers run with Busiek, heres another book full of 30 heroes, 50 villains, 35 ton of broken rock, and an explosion or 5. On a higher note I have just finished Avengers V3, Busiek, Johns, and Austen for the most part. To tell the truth I struggled to read the Busiek books the most, not even reading his last arc, and enjoyed the Austen stories most, though his dialogue was a bit off. I didn't notice this before... if you don't like Busiek (Not sure how that's possible, but to each their own), you probably won't like Stern. It's a bit dated, yes, but lots of great stuff.... Hercules and Wasp are both great under Stern, and of course he pretty much created Monica Rambeau (who I'm a big fan of). Under Siege (Stern's Opus) is on some days my favorite Avengers story ever, (with Busiek having the other two.. Ultron Unlimited and Avengers Forever, though I admit the latter mostly because it essentially made the Crossing never happen) Mate there are few authors whose work I love religiously, most have runs/series I dislike, so I gotta call it like I see it. On reflection I have to admit to finding a lot of Kurts work a bit boring, he can be a bit too fanboy at times(Avengers Forever/Avengers-JLA these are cool books but it seems half the fun to him is solving all the continuity issues, and it bogs the story down in exposition). I do like a lot of aspects of this time, its certainly better than the 2 years that precede it, but to piss you off even more, the creation of Captain Marvel/Monica is one of my least favourite. I never liked the character, or her powerset, until Nextwave, and as Spectrum in Mighty Avengers. The use of herc is always a plus in my books, however Dr Druid, Moondragon, and Gilgamesh are my least liked Avengers of all (yes I know Gilgamesh is post-Stern, but hes still 80s Avengers crapola). What I do like about this era of Avengers is that they are still essentially human, like in Under Siege, they can still be beat by a team like the Masters, they havent become gods yet(like the modern team, capable of beating any earthly team before breakfast, then saving the Universe twice before dinner), or Marvels version of the Justice League. They are still a bunch of B-listers with a big gun or 2 thrown in, as they were from (near) the start.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jul 14, 2015 18:55:43 GMT -5
I'd argue you can't have Monica in Next Wave or Mighty Avengers if you don't get the development in Stern's Avengers.. she had to get to that point in her life, you know?
Agree 100% the Dr. Druid story line was horrid, as was the 'dissembled' arc just before 300... the only good part of that era was the Jarvis vs. Inferno demons issue.
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Post by terence1965 on Jul 15, 2015 3:51:16 GMT -5
I've been reading through my Marvel Firsts The 1970s volumes, specifically the genres I never really had much use for during the 70s (Westerns in particular), and really liked the first issue of Gunhawks. Enough to want to see how the rest of the short series played out, but......how? Short of hitting up ebay and chasing down the individual issues, there aren't any obvious options (they don't appear to be available digitally). Very frustrating.
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