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Post by spoon on Dec 24, 2023 15:10:39 GMT -5
I read The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes TPB reprinting Sandman #1-8. Of course, it's written by Neil Gaiman throughout. It starts with Sam Kieth on pencils and Mike Dringenberg on inks, before Dringenberg moves over to pencils and Malcolm Jones III takes over the inking.
This is the first I've ever read of Sandman. Both the Introduction by Karen Berger and the Afterword by Gaiman note that Gaiman was still finding his way in these early issues. This volume is enough to pique my curiosity on how the story develops, but not so much that I feel in a big rush to check out the later TPBs. There are lots of interesting aspects to the art. Sometimes images/faces are hidden in the shadows. One panel depicts a dog as a dream, dreaming of an apparently human past life. Kieth's pencils are more cartoony than Dringenberg's, but at times I actually like Kieth's renditions despite the horror themes.
I had anticipated a little less horror in the horror/fantasy mix. Because it's so acclaimed, I expected more universal human insights, but it didn't have, for example, particularly resonant observations on the nature of dreams/imagining. "Dream a Little Dream" (Sandman #3) did have some bits on old loves. I also liked a twist in the Doctor Destiny story about whether there'd be a breakthrough for this guy who seems too far gone. But the appeal seems to be more directed to a particular goth/emo subculture. This TPB was specifically for people who like to sit at a particular high school lunch table. It feels like in certain stories/scenes the draw is that readers would get a thrill of depictions/descriptions of suffering. It reminds of the times I watched a few minutes of Criminal Minds.
The appearances of existing DC Comics characters are a mixed bag. Now, I'm curious to see how the original Doctor Destiny story in Justice League of America played out. Also, while I'm not sure what the payoff of the Cain and Abel appearance was supposed to be, it does make me more interested to check out old House of Secrets or House of Mystery. But I do think the JLI appearance doesn't quite fit. If the JLI gives Dream some guidance in finding a gem contacted with dreams, how don't they show up later in the story when dreaming/sleep goes haywire around the world after?
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,194 
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Post by Confessor on Dec 24, 2023 19:43:29 GMT -5
I read The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes TPB reprinting Sandman #1-8. Of course, it's written by Neil Gaiman throughout. It starts with Sam Kieth on pencils and Mike Dringenberg on inks, before Dringenberg moves over to pencils and Malcolm Jones III takes over the inking. This is the first I've ever read of Sandman. Both the Introduction by Karen Berger and the Afterword by Gaiman note that Gaiman was still finding his way in these early issues. This volume is enough to pique my curiosity on how the story develops, but not so much that I feel in a big rush to check out the later TPBs. There are lots of interesting aspects to the art. Sometimes images/faces are hidden in the shadows. One panel depicts a dog as a dream, dreaming of an apparently human past life. Kieth's pencils are more cartoony than Dringenberg's, but at times I actually like Kieth's renditions despite the horror themes. I had anticipated a little less horror in the horror/fantasy mix. Because it's so acclaimed, I expected more universal human insights, but it didn't have, for example, particularly resonant observations on the nature of dreams/imagining. "Dream a Little Dream" (Sandman #3) did have some bits on old loves. I also liked a twist in the Doctor Destiny story about whether there'd be a breakthrough for this guy who seems too far gone. But the appeal seems to be more directed to a particular goth/emo subculture. This TPB was specifically for people who like to sit at a particular high school lunch table. It feels like in certain stories/scenes the draw is that readers would get a thrill of depictions/descriptions of suffering. It reminds of the times I watched a few minutes of Criminal Minds. The appearances of existing DC Comics characters are a mixed bag. Now, I'm curious to see how the original Doctor Destiny story in Justice League of America played out. Also, while I'm not sure what the payoff of the Cain and Abel appearance was supposed to be, it does make me more interested to check out old House of Secrets or House of Mystery. But I do think the JLI appearance doesn't quite fit. If the JLI gives Dream some guidance in finding a gem contacted with dreams, how don't they show up later in the story when dreaming/sleep goes haywire around the world after? The first volume of Sandman is indeed a mixed bag. As much stuff works as doesn't and you kinda get the feeling that Gaiman is just throwing lots of stuff at the wall to see what sticks. But when it's good, it's superb; does your copy have the "Sound of Her Wings" story in it? I think I'm right in saying that some versions of volume 1 don't. But that issue would be the earliest example where everything in an issue of The Sandman clicked for me. Oh, and the series really does get much better. By volume 3 or 4 it's fantastic and then gets even better still! By the way, shameless plug, if you haven't already, feel free to check out my Sandman TPB review thread (like you, I came to the series decades after it began)... classiccomics.org/thread/6502/sandman-collected-editions-reviewed-confessor |
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Post by spoon on Dec 24, 2023 20:56:33 GMT -5
I read The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes TPB reprinting Sandman #1-8. Of course, it's written by Neil Gaiman throughout. It starts with Sam Kieth on pencils and Mike Dringenberg on inks, before Dringenberg moves over to pencils and Malcolm Jones III takes over the inking. This is the first I've ever read of Sandman. Both the Introduction by Karen Berger and the Afterword by Gaiman note that Gaiman was still finding his way in these early issues. This volume is enough to pique my curiosity on how the story develops, but not so much that I feel in a big rush to check out the later TPBs. There are lots of interesting aspects to the art. Sometimes images/faces are hidden in the shadows. One panel depicts a dog as a dream, dreaming of an apparently human past life. Kieth's pencils are more cartoony than Dringenberg's, but at times I actually like Kieth's renditions despite the horror themes. I had anticipated a little less horror in the horror/fantasy mix. Because it's so acclaimed, I expected more universal human insights, but it didn't have, for example, particularly resonant observations on the nature of dreams/imagining. "Dream a Little Dream" (Sandman #3) did have some bits on old loves. I also liked a twist in the Doctor Destiny story about whether there'd be a breakthrough for this guy who seems too far gone. But the appeal seems to be more directed to a particular goth/emo subculture. This TPB was specifically for people who like to sit at a particular high school lunch table. It feels like in certain stories/scenes the draw is that readers would get a thrill of depictions/descriptions of suffering. It reminds of the times I watched a few minutes of Criminal Minds. The appearances of existing DC Comics characters are a mixed bag. Now, I'm curious to see how the original Doctor Destiny story in Justice League of America played out. Also, while I'm not sure what the payoff of the Cain and Abel appearance was supposed to be, it does make me more interested to check out old House of Secrets or House of Mystery. But I do think the JLI appearance doesn't quite fit. If the JLI gives Dream some guidance in finding a gem contacted with dreams, how don't they show up later in the story when dreaming/sleep goes haywire around the world after? The first volume of Sandman is indeed a mixed bag. As much stuff works as doesn't and you kinda get the feeling that Gaiman is just throwing lots of stuff at the wall to see what sticks. But when it's good, it's superb; does your copy have the "Sound of Her Wings" story in it? I think I'm right in saying that some versions of volume 1 don't. But that issue would be the earliest example where everything in an issue of The Sandman clicked for me. Oh, and the series really does get much better. By volume 3 or 4 it's fantastic and then gets even better still! By the way, shameless plug, if you haven't already, feel free to check out my Sandman TPB review thread (like you, I came to the series decades after it began)... classiccomics.org/thread/6502/sandman-collected-editions-reviewed-confessorMy copy of the TPB did indeed include "The Sound of Her Wings." Even though I'd never read Sandman, I was a bit familiar with Death as such a high-profile character in advertised. So far, she's more charismatic than Dream. There conversation kind of works as a metafictional commentary on the meandering direction because Dream says something like, "I thought this quest would be satisfying but it wasn't." I may check out your thread. Thanks for pointing me in that direction. Do you recommend checking out volume 2 even though 3 and 4 is where it really picks up? |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,194
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Post by Confessor on Dec 25, 2023 2:17:25 GMT -5
Do you recommend checking out volume 2 even though 3 and 4 is where it really picks up? I do, yes, because although the series is still finding its feet, volume 2 is more consistent tonally than volume 1. It's also more ambitious, with Gaiman determined to write a comic series that can tell any kind of story, while still having it sit comfortably within the confines of the over-arching Sandman narrative. Another reason why volume 2 is important is because it introduces the reader to the extended Endless family and a number of key mortal -- and one immortal! -- characters who will make reappearances throughout the series. If you skip volume 2, you're going to be wondering what's happening and who these people are as you read through volumes 3, 4, 5 and beyond. |
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Post by Hoosier X on Dec 27, 2023 20:50:25 GMT -5
I got a couple of packages in the mail yesterday. And I picked up the new comics today. Seven new comics that came out this week! I haven’t got that many brand-new issues in a long time.
I also spent $1.99 on a digital Batman #24 from 1944. It’s got four stories, and one of them is the first appearance of Carter Nichols, the guy who would hypnotize Batman and Robin and send them back in time. I’ve never read it before, and I thought it was time to take a look at his first appearance. I read three of the four stories so far, including the one with Professor Nichols, and I will probably be commenting on it in the Bat-splaining thread in the next few days.
It’s a lot of comics, and I really haven’t had a chance to read very many of them.
I got Danger Street #9, #10 and #11, and now I can read the whole series when I get some time. I read #9 last night.
I also got the Batman Archives, Vol. 7, reprinting Detective Comics #136 to #154. I usually start at the beginning when I read one of these large reprint volumes. But I skipped ahead and read Detective #142 with the second appearance of the Riddler. When I get back to this volume, I’ll go back to the beginning.
Of the new comic books I bought today, the only one I read was Harley Quinn #35.
So here’s what I haven’t read yet, in chronological order ...
Batman #24
Batman Archives, Vol. 7
To Wake the Mangog
Danger Street #10, #11 and #12
Detective Comics #1080
Justice Society #8
Power Girl #4
Avengers, Inc. #4
She-Hulk #3
Spider-Woman #2
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Post by Hoosier X on Dec 29, 2023 17:18:58 GMT -5
I did a few chores this morning and I read a few comics while I was doing laundry. Then I had to work a few hours in the afternoon. When I got home, I finally had a few hours to relax and I read all the new comics that had piled up recently. So I read Danger Street #10, #11 and #12. And the most recent issues of Avengers, Inc., Detective Comics, Justice Society, Power Girl, She-Hulk and Spider-Woman.
And I read the last story in Batman #24. It’s the third Golden Age appearance of Tweedledee and Tweedledum. And their final appearance in the Golden Age. They are not particularly compelling villains. Batman told them to get out of town and move to Star City because they are more suited to Green Arrow’s rogues gallery.
I read the first couple of stories in the Batman Archives volume.
Here’s the comics I haven’t read yet ...
Batman Archives, Vol. 7
To Wake the Mangog
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Post by spoon on Dec 29, 2023 19:04:42 GMT -5
And I read the last story in Batman #24. It’s the third Golden Age appearance of Tweedledee and Tweedledum. And their final appearance in the Golden Age. They are not particularly compelling villains. Batman told them to get out of town and move to Star City because they are more suited to Green Arrow’s rogues gallery. It sounds like that was the case for a few other Batman villains as well who barely appeared in the Golden Age before being brought back years later to recur more often. I've heard that's the case with both the Scarecrow and the Riddler, though I haven't read any of their Golden Age appearances. |
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Post by Hoosier X on Dec 29, 2023 19:19:21 GMT -5
And I read the last story in Batman #24. It’s the third Golden Age appearance of Tweedledee and Tweedledum. And their final appearance in the Golden Age. They are not particularly compelling villains. Batman told them to get out of town and move to Star City because they are more suited to Green Arrow’s rogues gallery. It sounds like that was the case for a few other Batman villains as well who barely appeared in the Golden Age before being brought back years later to recur more often. I've heard that's the case with both the Scarecrow and the Riddler, though I haven't read any of their Golden Age appearances. The Riddler and the Scarecrow had awesome appearances in the Golden Age. But Batman already had several repeat villains who appeared over and over again. Like the Joker, the Penguin and Catwoman. There were a lot of villains who appeared from 2 to 5 times over a short period and then disappeared for 15 or 20 years. Killer Moth. The Cavalier. Hugo Strange. The first Clayface. Two-Face is a bit more complicated but he didn’t appear that often, and there’s three stories where Two-Face isn’t Harvey Kent. Or Dent. Or whatever. |
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Post by spoon on Dec 30, 2023 0:18:22 GMT -5
I've been reading Marvel Masterworks Fantastic Four vol. 2. So far I've read Fantastic Four #11-14. This is a newer edition that's smaller (like the size of certain manga TPBs).
This TPB has the last issues of the Lee/Kirby run of FF. I've previously read #21 and up via Essential and the Masterworks that includes #1-10, but I only bought this TPB as few months ago. FF #11 has two stories. The first features the team reading fan mail delivered by Willie Lumpkin. The metaficitional climax has Sue mentioning all the hate mail she gets that she sucks and should be part of the team. On one hand, it's like toxic fanboys in modern times. On the other hand, it's a foreseeable consequence of writing Sue with "OMG! I know I'm a silly girl" energy. But the team reassures her and gives her some birthday cake. How old is Sue anyway? Reed has gray temples, but Ben often refers to Sue as a kid and she has a teenage brother. The second story is the first appearance of the Impossible Man. I notice that his transformations don't have to be green here. Also, Reed's plan to stop Impy is to bore him so much that he leaves Earth. Apparently, there's no concern when Impy leaves and notes that he'll bring his reign of terror to another planet instead. Sucks to be wherever he ends up.
FF #12 is the team's first battle with the Hulk AFAIK. I check Mike's Amazing World of Comics (RIP) and learned this issue was published between #5 and #6 of Hulk's own short-lived book. It'll be a while after Incredible Hulk #6 until Avengers #1 and then a while longer until he gets his feature in Tales to Astonish. I didn't realize the time gaps were that big. Thing is more formidable against the Hulk then I anticipated, although he's aided by a surreptitious ray blast to the head. This would have been resolved more quickly if Banner had just handed the threatening note he received over the Fantastic Four.
FF #13 introduces the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. Stan Lee is apparently no Julie Schwartz because the Super-Apes don't even make the cover. The FF are the first humans on the moon (or maybe the Red Ghost is since we don't get a panel showing when his ship landed. Does this mean Neil Armstrong isn't a big deal on Earth-616 since he was years too late? Also, that would mean the Soviets really regressed, although strangely the script doesn't indicate which Communist country he was from. I noticed that in some other Silver Age Marvels; I wonder why they declined to identify specific countries. We also get the first appearance of the Watcher (who looks a bit different coloring-wise) in his Blue Area of the Moon. I've read Uncanny X-Men #137 many times and never realized a sequence with the Watcher is basically a rehash of a similar sequence from FF#13.
FF #14 brings the return of both the Puppet Master and the Sub-Mariner. Reed is either a doormat or a saint with how he takes in stride that Sue openly states she hasn't decided between him and Namor. Namor is a pointy-eared walking temper tantrum who constantly to destroy the surface world and tries to beat the crap out of Reed, his BFF, and Sue's own brother, and Reed is supposed to be cool with Sue pining over him. Seriously, imagine you're casually dating someone. Some guy walks to the two of you tells your date he really wants her and tells you he's going to smack you around a bunch and burn your town to the ground. Then, your girl (at least you hope) says word to the effect of "I like you, but I kind of like the guy who keeps threatening you with violence, too. Lemme think about it some more." Okay, on second though, I kind of understand all that hate mail Sue got in #11.
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Dec 30, 2023 3:18:33 GMT -5
 Finally got a chance to sit down and crack open Richard Corben's Den Vol. 1 Neverwhere, brilliantly restored by Jose Villarrubia. I'd read bits of it in Heavy Metal, but this was my first time reading altogether. Gorgeous work. And though its influences were worn on its sleeve, Corben still takes us on an exciting and entertaining trip that lives up to the phenomenal artwork. Villarrubia's restoration work is absolutely immaculate. Well worth picking up for any comic fan. -M |
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Post by Ozymandias on Dec 30, 2023 5:31:37 GMT -5
Story wise, I always found Den II more interesting.
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Dec 30, 2023 12:47:31 GMT -5
Story wise, I always found Den II more interesting. I have preordered the 2nd and 3rd volumes of Villarrubia's restored editions, I just haven't gotten them yet. Vol. 2 is supposed to be out, but it took a bit for me to get Vol. 1 after its release date, so I am not surprised it is late, and Vol. 3 is scheduled for the spring for release (I think Vol. 3 of Den is actually Children Of Fire but I'm not 100% certain on that). -M |
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Post by Ozymandias on Dec 30, 2023 15:54:30 GMT -5
It is advertised as such. The series had already declined by then, both graphically and narratively. And that's without even going into the self-borrowing:
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Post by Hoosier X on Jan 2, 2024 22:08:12 GMT -5
I’m making my way through the Batman Archives, Vol. 7, but I haven’t quite finished it yet. A lot of pretty good old Batman stories from 1948 to 1949.
I got Batman #330 and #331 in the mail today, and I’ve read them already.
So the books I have that I haven’t read completely yet are ...
Batman Archives, Vol. 7
To Wake the Mangog (Thor Epic Collection)
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Post by spoon on Jan 3, 2024 22:41:44 GMT -5
I read Fantastic Four #15-20 and Fantastic Four Annual #1.
Fantastic Four #15 introduces the Mad Thinker and his Awesome Android. You'd think the Android would get a lot attention, but he doesn't show up until late of the story. It reminds of The Mummy starring Boris Karloff. I'm also used to the long-haired version of the Mad Thinker who gives the impression that he's so consumed by calculating probabilities that he doesn't take of himself. Here, he has closely cropped early 60s hair. I'm not really a fan of the story. I find it harder to suspend disbelief that the Thinker could calculate things so precisely than I am at accepting pointy-eared shapeshifting aliens. Like, if some dude can't find his car keys for a few seconds in the morning and misses a traffic light, that would be enough to throw off some of these predictions.
In #16 and #17, we get a loosely connected Doctor Doom two-parter. I like the first part a bit more because it features an early Ant-Man guest appearance. The Wasp had literally just been introduced in Hank's own stories, but she gets a quick cameo here. The FF discover that the seemingly dead Doctor Doom has just been taking over a micro-world. That world prefigures the whole Hulk/Jarella story by several years. I'm not a big Doom fan though.
The first Super-Skrull story in #18 is pretty cool. He comes across a real threat. In fact, he's so much of a threat that Lee and Kirby seem to realize no prison could hold him. But how do they deal with this in a way that's not too grim? The FF seal him in a volcano, with no consideration for the possibility that he might starve to death.
Fantastic Four Annual #1 has a lead story featuring the Sub-Mariner that frankly sort of drags at first before picking up at the halfway mark, as well as a back-up retelling the first meeting of Spider-Man and the FF. I'm not up on my Sub-Mariner lore, but I think this might be the intro of Dorma and Krang. The story real gets going when the Atlanteans launch their invasion of the surface world. What a spectacle! Namor is also called a mutant. I check and this issue was released the same month as X-Men #1.
FF #19 introduces Rama-Tut in a pretty suspenseful story, although it starts with dubious premise that something radioactive would have to be manmade.
FF #20 introduces the Molecule Man. It's one of the best stories in this Masterworks volume, because there a real sense of menace. The Molecule Man looks a lot more horrific than the dope from Secret Wars. Lee and Kirby convey the dread of a sociopath having immense power. Again, we get the issue of how you neutralize an uber-powerful villain that happened at the end of the Super-Skrull. This time the solution is a bit of deus ex machina.
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