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Post by Nowhere Man on Jun 12, 2014 20:31:49 GMT -5
Ah, so it's focused on the Flash, Hawkman and Green Lantern. Still, that's a lot of comics. I'm sure many of those early issues are only 12 pagers, though. I know that makes early Action and Detective issues much easier to read than it first appears.
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Post by The Captain on Jun 13, 2014 6:11:57 GMT -5
Had a free evening last night, so I wrapped up the Kirby Black Panther series, reading issues #5 through #15. Most of it still barely felt like BP was the star of the show, as there was a continuation of the Collector's storyline in issues 5-7, followed in issues 8-10 by a new storyline set in Wakanda that introduced four members of the royal family who, in BP's absence, created costumes for themselves and became "The Black Musketeers". BP had escaped from the Collectors at this point and was trying to return to Wakanda, a journey that took 2 1/2 issues but got him there just in time to defeat the villain at the end of issue #10.
It's in issue 11 that Kirby goes a little off the rails, as BP's encounter with the vibranium-created villain in issue #10 leaves him with prophetic dreams and something akin to E.S.P., as though BP needed more abilities. BP faces Kiber the Cruel in issues 11-13, but what was odd is that Kirby leaves the book after issue 12, right in the middle of the storyline, leaving Ed Hannigan and Jerry Bingham to finish the run (Jim Shooter, of all people, co-scripted issue 13; again, odd because it was like Kirby just walked away in the middle of a storyline).
The last two issues (14-15) found T'Challa back in America and interacting with Captain America, Vision, and Beast in an Avengers reunion of sorts, where they faced off against Klaw. This was standard superhero fare, at which point the series ends and BP shifts to Marvel Premiere for a few issues, which I will read next after reading Jungle Action, as from what I understand, the Marvel Premiere issues pick up the dropped KKK storyline that Don McGregor started.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jun 13, 2014 6:29:42 GMT -5
Had a free evening last night, so I wrapped up the Kirby Black Panther series, reading issues #5 through #15. Most of it still barely felt like BP was the star of the show, as there was a continuation of the Collector's storyline in issues 5-7, followed in issues 8-10 by a new storyline set in Wakanda that introduced four members of the royal family who, in BP's absence, created costumes for themselves and became "The Black Musketeers". BP had escaped from the Collectors at this point and was trying to return to Wakanda, a journey that took 2 1/2 issues but got him there just in time to defeat the villain at the end of issue #10. It's in issue 11 that Kirby goes a little off the rails, as BP's encounter with the vibranium-created villain in issue #10 leaves him with prophetic dreams and something akin to E.S.P., as though BP needed more abilities. BP faces Kiber the Cruel in issues 11-13, but what was odd is that Kirby leaves the book after issue 12, right in the middle of the storyline, leaving Ed Hannigan and Jerry Bingham to finish the run (Jim Shooter, of all people, co-scripted issue 13; again, odd because it was like Kirby just walked away in the middle of a storyline). The last two issues (14-15) found T'Challa back in America and interacting with Captain America, Vision, and Beast in an Avengers reunion of sorts, where they faced off against Klaw. This was standard superhero fare, at which point the series ends and BP shifts to Marvel Premiere for a few issues, which I will read next after reading Jungle Action, as from what I understand, the Marvel Premiere issues pick up the dropped KKK storyline that Don McGregor started. Your review has me intrigued. I might try to track down the Kirby run in some type of TPB. |
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Post by The Captain on Jun 13, 2014 8:15:50 GMT -5
Had a free evening last night, so I wrapped up the Kirby Black Panther series, reading issues #5 through #15. Most of it still barely felt like BP was the star of the show, as there was a continuation of the Collector's storyline in issues 5-7, followed in issues 8-10 by a new storyline set in Wakanda that introduced four members of the royal family who, in BP's absence, created costumes for themselves and became "The Black Musketeers". BP had escaped from the Collectors at this point and was trying to return to Wakanda, a journey that took 2 1/2 issues but got him there just in time to defeat the villain at the end of issue #10. It's in issue 11 that Kirby goes a little off the rails, as BP's encounter with the vibranium-created villain in issue #10 leaves him with prophetic dreams and something akin to E.S.P., as though BP needed more abilities. BP faces Kiber the Cruel in issues 11-13, but what was odd is that Kirby leaves the book after issue 12, right in the middle of the storyline, leaving Ed Hannigan and Jerry Bingham to finish the run (Jim Shooter, of all people, co-scripted issue 13; again, odd because it was like Kirby just walked away in the middle of a storyline). The last two issues (14-15) found T'Challa back in America and interacting with Captain America, Vision, and Beast in an Avengers reunion of sorts, where they faced off against Klaw. This was standard superhero fare, at which point the series ends and BP shifts to Marvel Premiere for a few issues, which I will read next after reading Jungle Action, as from what I understand, the Marvel Premiere issues pick up the dropped KKK storyline that Don McGregor started. Your review has me intrigued. I might try to track down the Kirby run in some type of TPB. There are two trades for this series. The first collects issues #1-7, while the second collects issues #8-13; the last two issues get left out, and according to Comic Book Database, they have not been reprinted in any collection. The Essential Black Panther collects issues #1-10 of this series as well as Jungle Action #6-24, omitting not only the Klaw issues but the Kiber storyline as well. That being said, outside of issue #1, I paid $1 or less for every issue of this series, so you might be able to pick them up on the cheap, particularly the last two. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Jun 13, 2014 8:28:32 GMT -5
Your review has me intrigued. I might try to track down the Kirby run in some type of TPB. There are two trades for this series. The first collects issues #1-7, while the second collects issues #8-13; the last two issues get left out, and according to Comic Book Database, they have not been reprinted in any collection. The Essential Black Panther collects issues #1-10 of this series as well as Jungle Action #6-24, omitting not only the Klaw issues but the Kiber storyline as well. That being said, outside of issue #1, I paid $1 or less for every issue of this series, so you might be able to pick them up on the cheap, particularly the last two. I haven't started to look for it but , man, I assumed it would be out there in a colored collection. |
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Post by The Captain on Jun 13, 2014 8:55:17 GMT -5
There are two trades for this series. The first collects issues #1-7, while the second collects issues #8-13; the last two issues get left out, and according to Comic Book Database, they have not been reprinted in any collection. The Essential Black Panther collects issues #1-10 of this series as well as Jungle Action #6-24, omitting not only the Klaw issues but the Kiber storyline as well. That being said, outside of issue #1, I paid $1 or less for every issue of this series, so you might be able to pick them up on the cheap, particularly the last two. I haven't started to look for it but , man, I assumed it would be out there in a colored collection. The two trades are, but there is no one-stop shop to get all of the issues in color. New ones are a little pricey on Amazon ($40+ each), but used copies can be found on there for $18-$25. None, however, are showing up on eBay right now. |
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Post by Pharozonk on Jun 13, 2014 9:01:23 GMT -5
I read more of the Martin Pasko run on Swamp Thing. I actually prefer this run to Alan Moore's.  |
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Post by MDG on Jun 13, 2014 9:07:43 GMT -5
Oh, hell, yes! The John Broome stuff not so much but anything by Gardner Fox is going to be a slog as like as not. I promise you, once the article is done I'll be staying clear of Schwartz-style super-heroics for a long, long time. Cei-U! Can't hardly wait! Huh. I've always preferred Fox to Broome - at least superhero-wise - He always stikes me as a little more thoughtful and science-fiction-y. For me, John Broome's stories had a little more "snap" and personality. (also, in a portrait of him in one of the books, he looks like a beatnik.) Sometimes it seemed that Fax (and Schwartz) were satisfied once they had their "gimmick" and a sciency explanation/solution. No need to add any personality or humor or drama. |
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Post by paulie on Jun 13, 2014 9:56:09 GMT -5
I read more of the Martin Pasko run on Swamp Thing. I actually prefer this run to Alan Moore's. Pasko's run is certainly not bad but could you explain? I'd be interested to see how you construct this argument. |
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Post by paulie on Jun 13, 2014 9:57:33 GMT -5
Is it tedious to read all those Silver Age DCs right in a row?
Oh, hell, yes! The John Broome stuff not so much but anything by Gardner Fox is going to be a slog as like as not. I promise you, once the article is done I'll be staying clear of Schwartz-style super-heroics for a long, long time. Cei-U! Can't hardly wait! I always enjoyed the John Broome-Gil Kane Green Lanterns. That's DC's Silver Age superhero highlight for me.
Gardner? No.
Good Luck!
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Post by paulie on Jun 13, 2014 10:09:31 GMT -5
Cei-U, are you saying that you've read 35 years of DC comics, in a row, in chronological order? You are correct, sir, taking extensive notes as I go. Cei-U! Why, yes, I am crazy! There are worse things to do with one's life and time than devour each and every panel of a comic book. But this probably isn't the place for an objective opinion about that. |
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Post by Pharozonk on Jun 13, 2014 10:15:43 GMT -5
I read more of the Martin Pasko run on Swamp Thing. I actually prefer this run to Alan Moore's. Pasko's run is certainly not bad but could you explain? I'd be interested to see how you construct this argument. Moore's run, while excellent, seems to fall off to me after around issue 50. The Swamp Thing in space arc wasn't all that interesting to me and the stories from when he returned to Earth weren't as interesting as what Moore did when he first got on the book. |
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Post by paulie on Jun 13, 2014 10:21:48 GMT -5
Pasko's run is certainly not bad but could you explain? I'd be interested to see how you construct this argument. Moore's run, while excellent, seems to fall off to me after around issue 50. The Swamp Thing in space arc wasn't all that interesting to me and the stories from when he returned to Earth weren't as interesting as what Moore did when he first got on the book. So just to be clear... You're saying Pasko's run is better that Moore's because you don't enjoy issues 51-64? Or are you saying Pasko's run should be considered better because of the lack of quality of Moore's final issues? Or, and this will be my last question, are you merely trying to give some props to Pasko's run when most folks only talk about Moore and Veitch? |
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Post by Pharozonk on Jun 13, 2014 10:28:05 GMT -5
Moore's run, while excellent, seems to fall off to me after around issue 50. The Swamp Thing in space arc wasn't all that interesting to me and the stories from when he returned to Earth weren't as interesting as what Moore did when he first got on the book. So just to be clear... You're saying Pasko's run is better that Moore's because you don't enjoy issues 51-64? Or are you saying Pasko's run should be considered better because of the lack of quality of Moore's final issues? Or, and this will be my last question, are you merely trying to give some props to Pasko's run when most folks only talk about Moore and Veitch? My decision is more based on what I enjoy overall. To me, Moore's best issues are leagues ahead of anything Pasko did On the other hand, Pasko's issues were much better than the latter part of Moore's run, which I personally didn't care for. I do feel that Pasko is often forgotten when it comes to his Swamp Thing contributions, but I guess that could be my nostalgia for what Swamp Thing stories I read first. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jun 13, 2014 14:37:53 GMT -5
You are correct, sir, taking extensive notes as I go. Cei-U! Why, yes, I am crazy! There are worse things to do with one's life and time than devour each and every panel of a comic book. But this probably isn't the place for an objective opinion about that. I was wondering, do you actually own all those comics Cei-U? Or do you have access to some super secret vault for Alter Ego writers? Or maybe you go to Roy Thomas' house twice a week to swap? |
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