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Post by Hoosier X on Jun 30, 2017 16:02:50 GMT -5
I read Strange Tales #168 last night, thus bringing to an end the Strange Tales run from #151 to #168. These are some great comics! I've read most of the S.H.I.E.L.D. stories because they were reprinted in a trade paperback that I got from the library a few years ago. Steranko! Hydra for about a million issues! Then that crazy crazy Yellow Claw multi-part series where it turns out that the Yellow Claw, Suwan and the Nazi scientist were all Doctor Doom robots, and Doom was just messing with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. in some sort of way over-complicated game of chess. And the truth is revealed in one double-spread panel with Doom just laughing it off with no further explanation of how he did it. When I first read it, I rolled my eyes at what an anti-climax it was. But seeing it again, I have to admire Steranko's audacity at ending the Yellow Claw epic with something resembling the final scene of a bad Twilight Zone episode. It's something of a throwback to those five- and six-page stories with the twist endings that ran in Strange Tales for the first 100 issues. And it's so beautifully drawn! As for the Doctor Strange stories in this era (which really starts with #147 instead of #151, but I read #147 to #150 off Comixology six months ago), I've read a few of these issues in various reprints through the decades. And I have #162 to #168 (but I've only had #165 to #168 for a few months and hadn't read them yet), so after I read #161 digitally, I switched to the REAL COMIC BOOKS! What a difference it makes to read all these Doctor Strange stories in order over just a few weeks instead of reading them all crazy and haphazard since the 1970s! Doctor Strange fights Kaluu and learns the origin of the Ancient One! Then Umar shows up and wreaks havoc until Doc Strange scares her away with Zom. But cutting off Zom's forelock is a BAD THING TO DO, as the Living Tribunal shows up to get all judgey and decides Earth must be destroyed! So while trying to fend off the GRIM SUPREME JUDGINESS of the Living Tribunal, Doc Strange must fight Baron Mordo, then he must cope with more random weird dudes like Nebulos (Lord of the Planets Perilous), Yandroth (some kind of chatty, braggy Supreme Scientist who should be played by John Malkovich) and Voltorg (Yandroth's robot), and at the same time he must rescue the beautiful British mystic, Victoria Bentley! It's so crazy! It just goes on and on without a break and Doc Strange barely has time to take a breath between issues. And the art! From Bill Everett and his magnificent depiction of Umar, to Marie Severin and her weird sketchy and scary-as-hell Zom, to Dan Adkins and his amazing interpretations of one random weird dude to the next, it's wonderful wonderful late Silver Age art fot the entire run. And unlike the stories in Tales to Astonish #101 (which continued into Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 and Incredible Hulk #102) and Tales of Suspense #99 (which continued into Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 (again with the Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1!) and Captain America #100), both the stories in Strange Tales #168 reach a conclusion! When Fury takes up again in Nick Fury #1, it's a new storyline. And Doctor Strange's new title (which starts with the old numbering from Strange Tales at #169) begins life with a re-telling of the origin from Strange Tales #115! (I read Doctor Strange #169 last night. It's pretty awesome!) I don't think there's but two or three runs in all comicdom that I love as much as Steve Ditko's Doctor Strange, but the post-Ditko run from #147 to #168 (and beyond?) is barely just a hair lower in quality and thrills ... and STRANGENESS!
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jun 30, 2017 21:14:01 GMT -5
Just read ASM Annual #1....loved it. Love the Ditko splash pages when Spidey is laying the finishing punch to each villain.
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Post by Hoosier X on Jul 1, 2017 2:27:59 GMT -5
Just read ASM Annual #1....loved it. Love the Ditko splash pages when Spidey is laying the finishing punch to each villain. My favorite comic book ever!
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Post by Batflunkie on Jul 4, 2017 0:57:27 GMT -5
Currently alternating between Captain Marvel v1 and Grant Morrison's Marvel Boy mini
Really like Colan's art in Captain Marvel, very sharp, distinct, almost looks photo-realistic at times. Story is very engrossing, Mar-Vell of the planet Kree is sent down to earth to find out why one of their chaotic automatons of destruction called "sentries" broke down. He finds it being closely monitored by the military at a local army base. Suddenly, the Sentry re-animates by the forces of Yon-Rogg. The Sentry virtually indestructible except for when Mar-Vell modifies his blaster into a wrist cannon projects a magnetic field of attraction inside the Sentry that makes him implode
Really not sure what to make of Marvel Boy, it's a bit all over the place, but I kind of like it
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jul 4, 2017 7:28:41 GMT -5
I love how the Avengers used to be a closed membership as opposed to the case of thousands it has become. I rarely read avengers as a kid or as a teenager. I had read some heroes reborn stuff, didnt really like it, and some post heroes return which I loved. When I actually started reading more was when new avengers happened. Since then I have gone back and read quite a lot of stories in the essential format. You are right when reading those stories it really hit me just how much it felt almost like an event when they announced the new line up. Nowadays, I see a line up and think: "Well sure why not everyone else is or has been one at this point".
Yeah, while Marvel got a little too caught up in membership rules and such for a while, it was alot more interesting when a ine up change was an event, instead of now it's just 'here are the heroes that were around on a particular day when a bad guy attacked, so they are the Avengers now', which is how it seems the last couple rosters were formed.
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Post by String on Jul 4, 2017 11:14:06 GMT -5
Conan #115 I've read very little of Marvel's Conan over the years so I was pleasantly surprised by this full-length tale by Thomas that picks up on (apparent) long-running plot threads and previous characters. The mood, action and drama, fantastic art by Buscema, a great issue that's made me want to read more. Also, unless I've missed it cause I've tried searching for one, I'm more surprised that there isn't a Conan the Barbarian review thread.
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Post by Hoosier X on Jul 4, 2017 12:19:44 GMT -5
Currently alternating between Captain Marvel v1 and Grant Morrison's Marvel Boy mini Really like Colan's art in Captain Marvel, very sharp, distinct, almost looks photo-realistic at times. Story is very engrossing, Mar-Vell of the planet Kree is sent down to earth to find out why one of their chaotic automatons of destruction called "sentries" broke down. He finds it being closely monitored by the military at a local army base. Suddenly, the Sentry re-animates by the forces of Yon-Rogg. The Sentry virtually indestructible except for when Mar-Vell modifies his blaster into a wrist cannon projects a magnetic field of attraction inside the Sentry that makes him implode Really not sure what to make of Marvel Boy, it's a bit all over the place, but I kind of like it I used to have Marvel Super-Heroes #12 (Mar-Vell's first appearance) and the first four issues of Captain Marvel, and I thought they were pretty cool! I never pursued the series much beyond that because there were so many other comics! Mar-Vell was also in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 before getting his own series, but I've never read that. Captain Marvel is one of the series I want to read digitally when I'm done with Sub-Mariner (Tales to Astonish and Namor's 1970s series), Doctor Strange (12 issues to go on his short-lived late 1960s series) and the LSH stories in Adventure up to #380 (only 15 or so to go). There's a couple of others that I'm reading very slowly. Sky Girl in Jumbo Comics. I've been reading Wonder Woman, the Gay Ghost and Wildcat in Sensation Comics, but it's taken me months to get to issue #4. The Atomic Knights in Strange Adventures. First ten issues of Marvel Two-in-One. I also look at the early issues of MAD to find that handful of early MAD stories I haven't read. There can't be more than three or four at this point. (I read the Bop Jokes in MAD #8 (I think) a few nights ago. So weird!)
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Post by Jesse on Jul 7, 2017 13:10:19 GMT -5
Marvel Team-Up #63Pretty exciting issue with lots of action even if Spidey is mostly useless in the fight. Peter Parker meets with Danny Rand to do photo spread of the Rand home for the Daily Bugle. Rand abruptly cancels the appointment after reading a note that was left at his door. Peter decides to follow him as Spider-Man and discovers Iron Fist battling Steel Serpent in the park. Meanwhile Misty Knight is forced to blow her undercover job spying on Bushmaster when she learns Danny is in trouble. Steel Serpent absorbs the last of Iron Fist's chi just as Misty arrives. The last panel depicts Missy kneeling over Danny's lifeless body! This was a pretty good read and I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion.
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Post by MDG on Jul 7, 2017 13:23:55 GMT -5
At a recent show, I picked up duplicate copies of Anthro 4 & 5 on the cheap.
I forgot what a great book it was--strong characterization and a lot of story. New characters are introduced and established very well. There's both drama and humor. Overall series arcs are integrated naturally.
Post's art is very good, but almost a little too sketchy in places. (At this time, DC seemed to be OK with artists getting away from the "slick" art in most of their other books, especially superhero books. Thinking here of things like Springer and later Sparling on Secret Six, Cardy on Bat Lash, and even an issue of Adventure with the Legion drawn by Win Mortimer in a more informal style.)
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,083
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Post by Confessor on Jul 7, 2017 15:29:27 GMT -5
I had this issue and the follow-up as a kid. I really loved the story. I might have to dig these out again over the next day or two.
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Post by urrutiap on Jul 8, 2017 21:16:01 GMT -5
What I just binge read last night and all day earlier today was Marvel Age. Its not really a "comic" book but Marvel Age is pretty much Marvel's little version of Wizard Magazine.
I used to have some of the last few issues from the 1990s. the first issues of Marvel Age were pretty cool even though heavy on the text where they loved to talk about the early 1980s Marvel Comics Star wars, Dreadstar, Alf, Power Pack and Groo and whatever was around at the time in the really early 1980s
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Post by hondobrode on Jul 8, 2017 21:22:39 GMT -5
Currently alternating between Captain Marvel v1 and Grant Morrison's Marvel Boy mini Really like Colan's art in Captain Marvel, very sharp, distinct, almost looks photo-realistic at times. Story is very engrossing, Mar-Vell of the planet Kree is sent down to earth to find out why one of their chaotic automatons of destruction called "sentries" broke down. He finds it being closely monitored by the military at a local army base. Suddenly, the Sentry re-animates by the forces of Yon-Rogg. The Sentry virtually indestructible except for when Mar-Vell modifies his blaster into a wrist cannon projects a magnetic field of attraction inside the Sentry that makes him implode Really not sure what to make of Marvel Boy, it's a bit all over the place, but I kind of like it I used to have Marvel Super-Heroes #12 (Mar-Vell's first appearance) and the first four issues of Captain Marvel, and I thought they were pretty cool! I never pursued the series much beyond that because there were so many other comics! Mar-Vell was also in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 before getting his own series, but I've never read that. Captain Marvel is one of the series I want to read digitally when I'm done with Sub-Mariner (Tales to Astonish and Namor's 1970s series), Doctor Strange (12 issues to go on his short-lived late 1960s series) and the LSH stories in Adventure up to #380 (only 15 or so to go). There's a couple of others that I'm reading very slowly. Sky Girl in Jumbo Comics. I've been reading Wonder Woman, the Gay Ghost and Wildcat in Sensation Comics, but it's taken me months to get to issue #4. The Atomic Knights in Strange Adventures. First ten issues of Marvel Two-in-One. I also look at the early issues of MAD to find that handful of early MAD stories I haven't read. There can't be more than three or four at this point. (I read the Bop Jokes in MAD #8 (I think) a few nights ago. So weird!) Mar-Vell is one of my favorite Marvel characters. If Marvel were smart they'd keep him dead and do a retro series of his but that's too out of continuity and they won't do it.
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Post by hondobrode on Jul 8, 2017 21:24:32 GMT -5
Reading Invincible now. Picked up like the first 100 or so issues on a sale.
It's Kirkman, so it's good, but it's not great.
Kind of like Savage Dragon, I like it, but not just loving it.
Probably won't buy anymore after I'm done with this.
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Post by Hoosier X on Jul 9, 2017 14:30:47 GMT -5
I've been reading Sky Girl, one of the features in Jumbo Comics, the series that Sheena headlined for a zillion issues in the Golden Age. I started with the first Sky Girl in Jumbo Comics #68 and I've worked my way up to #79. (And the cover to #78 advertised "Veldt of the Vampire Apes" in the Sheena story, so I read that, and then I forged ahead and read everything in Jumbo #78. But I usually only read Sky Girl.) The Web site known as Comic Books Plus is great! Bunches and bunches of public domain comics! I used to have a few issues of Jumbo Comics from a little farther along, in the 90s and maybe up to #110, and the Sky Girl I got used to was quite a bit different from the early issues of the series. In those post-war issues, Ginger Maguire was a waitress at a café at an airport who would overhear kidnappers and then stow away on the plane they are using to escape, or desperate jewel thieves would grab her as a hostage and take her on their escape airplane. And Ginger would usually end up hanging off the wing or dangling from the landing gear, frequently in provocative positions, with her skirt just barely low enough so Ginger could retain a modicum of modesty. But she got the job done! I always found it hilarious. Ginger never hesitated to run out on the field and grab the wing or the tail of a plane that was taking off if she thought something was amiss. And such a smart mouth on that girl! But when the Sky Girl series started, the war was on, and Ginger was doing her part in the Pacific! She's a female pilot on an island in the Pacific, and she gets sent on missions, flying the mail around or transporting munitions, and she usually encounters the Japanese, quite by accident. You have to give them credit for making her a full-fledged pilot in a war zone, but you might want to take away a few points for what a ding-dong she is. She always beats the Japanese (usually called "Nippies") through sheer luck and the craziest coincidences. The other pilots make fun of what a menace she is to the war effort - until she gets results! She's also manipulative and callous and vain ... and a notoriously bad cook! She's no Sheena! (And let's not be too hard on Fiction House. Their comics featured a lot of female protagonists, and most of them are very capable and even intimidating. Like Tiger Girl and Rio Rita and Camilla and Firehair. I just started reading Futura (in Planet Comics) and she seems pretty formidable for a novice thrust into the Cymradians's evil plan! (Whatever it is.)) In any case, Sky Girl kills me! Ginger Maguire is AWESOME!
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Post by hondobrode on Jul 9, 2017 14:33:49 GMT -5
I've never read any Sky Girl.
Yes, Comic Book Plus is awesome !
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