|
Post by dbutler69 on Aug 7, 2017 13:29:18 GMT -5
Thane of Bagarth, one of the hidden gems of 60s Charlton. That's the one! Thanks. The name had slipped my mind.
|
|
|
Post by Hoosier X on Aug 7, 2017 15:40:12 GMT -5
I'm up to Tales to Astonish #92. The Namor story is notable because he doesn't fight Krang, Attuma or Byrrah. The Hulk story is notable because it's the first Marie Severin issue! She didn't draw Hulk very long. But Marie's version of the Hulk left its mark on me! The first Hulk comic I ever bought was the reprint of Tales to Astonish #99 in Marvel Super-Heroes #54. But MSH only came out 7 times a year! I had to get the Hulk's regular comic because it was monthly. (Sporadic battles with the Abomination and Wendigo over Hostess Fruit Pies just wasn't enough HULK!)
|
|
|
Post by urrutiap on Aug 7, 2017 16:05:10 GMT -5
Avengers 281 to 285 I read just last night.
|
|
|
Post by sabongero on Aug 8, 2017 12:58:44 GMT -5
I've decided to re-read 'Nam from the mid 80's. I want to re-live Pfc Ed Mark's tour in Vietnam.
|
|
Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,085
|
Post by Confessor on Aug 8, 2017 13:15:58 GMT -5
I've decided to re-read 'Nam from the mid 80's. I want to re-live Pfc Ed Mark's tour in Vietnam. Great series! I have the first 40 issues and a dozen or so later issues too. I'm half-heartedly working towards a full run, but as I'm sure you know the series tales off quite dramatically after the mid-40s. Still, the first part of the run is excellent, especially the Micheal Golden drawn issues.
|
|
|
Post by Jesse on Aug 8, 2017 14:12:25 GMT -5
The New Teen Titans #28 - #31 Volume 2 written by Marv Wolfman and Paul Levitz This story arc is nothing short of epic and features a team of Titans both new and classic. Summary: The Church of Blood makes a public spectacle of the resurrection of Brother Blood with millions of people following on TV which allows the church to greatly increase his powers. Donna Tory leading a team of Titans including Wally West Flash and new Robin Jason Todd attempt to stop them but are easily defeated when Raven is brainwashed. There are also with appearances by Robotman and the Justice League. Robin really steps up in this and even Frankie Kane tries to hero up and helps recruit the Justice League who mostly deal with the hordes of angry mobs incited by the airing of Brother Blood's resurrection on TV. Blood is finally defeated when a pregnant Mother Mayhem betrays him and Raven recovers from her brainwashing.
|
|
|
Post by sabongero on Aug 8, 2017 19:18:42 GMT -5
I've decided to re-read 'Nam from the mid 80's. I want to re-live Pfc Ed Mark's tour in Vietnam. Great series! I have the first 40 issues and a dozen or so later issues too. I'm half-heartedly working towards a full run, but as I'm sure you know the series tales off quite dramatically after the mid-40s. Still, the first part of the run is excellent, especially the Micheal Golden drawn issues. Yes, confessor. And then there were Frank Castle issues in 'Nam as well, when sales started lagging in the 90's.
|
|
Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,085
|
Post by Confessor on Aug 8, 2017 21:16:38 GMT -5
Great series! I have the first 40 issues and a dozen or so later issues too. I'm half-heartedly working towards a full run, but as I'm sure you know the series tales off quite dramatically after the mid-40s. Still, the first part of the run is excellent, especially the Micheal Golden drawn issues. Yes, confessor. And then there were Frank Castle issues in 'Nam as well, when sales started lagging in the 90's. Yeah, that really was the nadir of the series when the Punisher began appearing. The whole concept of The 'Nam was originally that it was set in the real world (initially with each issue happening in real time -- I.e. 12 issues represented a year in the lives of the soldiers). But when they brought Frank Castle into the book, in an attempt to stem declining sales, that really was the end. I have nothing against the Punisher per se, but by putting him in The 'Nam it became just another Marvel Universe book, rather than something a bit special and something that legitimately tried to pay homage to the men who fought in the Vietnam War.
|
|
|
Post by dbutler69 on Aug 9, 2017 7:47:34 GMT -5
I read Thor #200-205. I guess I should have started a few issues sooner, since this picks up several issues into an arc, with Ego Prime appearing on earth, intent on destruction. Apparently, there were several plot threads going on, and it winds up with Ego Prime on earth, and Thor with a whole cast of associates trying to stop him. No worries, though, because the past several issues have all been part of Odin's grand plan. It all ends when three humans are transformed into the Young Gods, and this somehow convinces Ego Prime to pack up and leave. This was a very entertaining story, but I'm a bit confused as to the ending, and why Ego Prime really left, plus I'm trying to figure out how much of this was in Odin's plans. Apparently all of it. Anyway, Thor's not too happy when he finds out that he, and everyone else, has been Odin's pawns, and he pops off at pop, who doesn't take to that too kindly and banishes Thor and all his buddies (Sif, Balder, Warriors Three, Hildegarde, Tana Nile, and Silas Grant) to earth. Before long, everyone but Thor mysteriously disappears. Thor tracks them down to Mephisto's domain, where Thor has an epic battle, defeating the Hordes of Hell and then Mephisto himself. Whew!
|
|
|
Post by Cei-U! on Aug 9, 2017 8:34:16 GMT -5
I read Thor #200-205. I guess I should have started a few issues sooner, since this picks up several issues into an arc, with Ego Prime appearing on earth, intent on destruction. Apparently, there were several plot threads going on, and it winds up with Ego Prime on earth, and Thor with a whole cast of associates trying to stop him. No worries, though, because the past several issues have all been part of Odin's grand plan. It all ends when three humans are transformed into the Young Gods, and this somehow convinces Ego Prime to pack up and leave. This was a very entertaining story, but I'm a bit confused as to the ending, and why Ego Prime really left, plus I'm trying to figure out how much of this was in Odin's plans. Apparently all of it. Anyway, Thor's not too happy when he finds out that he, and everyone else, has been Odin's pawns, and he pops off at pop, who doesn't take to that too kindly and banishes Thor and all his buddies (Sif, Balder, Warriors Three, Hildegarde, Tana Nile, and Silas Grant) to earth. Before long, everyone but Thor mysteriously disappears. Thor tracks them down to Mephisto's domain, where Thor has an epic battle, defeating the Hordes of Hell and then Mephisto himself. Whew! You weren't the only one who found the ending of this storyline confusing, which is why Roy Thomas incorporated it into his epic Celestials saga years later, revealing that the Young Gods (there were twelve in all, with the Asgardians responsible for creating the three seen in #205) were created by Earth's pantheons to prove humanity's potential, and thus our right to continued existence, to the Fourth Host. Cei-U! Darned clever, sez I!
|
|
|
Post by dbutler69 on Aug 9, 2017 9:21:51 GMT -5
I read Thor #200-205. I guess I should have started a few issues sooner, since this picks up several issues into an arc, with Ego Prime appearing on earth, intent on destruction. Apparently, there were several plot threads going on, and it winds up with Ego Prime on earth, and Thor with a whole cast of associates trying to stop him. No worries, though, because the past several issues have all been part of Odin's grand plan. It all ends when three humans are transformed into the Young Gods, and this somehow convinces Ego Prime to pack up and leave. This was a very entertaining story, but I'm a bit confused as to the ending, and why Ego Prime really left, plus I'm trying to figure out how much of this was in Odin's plans. Apparently all of it. Anyway, Thor's not too happy when he finds out that he, and everyone else, has been Odin's pawns, and he pops off at pop, who doesn't take to that too kindly and banishes Thor and all his buddies (Sif, Balder, Warriors Three, Hildegarde, Tana Nile, and Silas Grant) to earth. Before long, everyone but Thor mysteriously disappears. Thor tracks them down to Mephisto's domain, where Thor has an epic battle, defeating the Hordes of Hell and then Mephisto himself. Whew! You weren't the only one who found the ending of this storyline confusing, which is why Roy Thomas incorporated it into his epic Celestials saga years later, revealing that the Young Gods (there were twelve in all, with the Asgardians responsible for creating the three seen in #205) were created by Earth's pantheons to prove humanity's potential, and thus our right to continued existence, to the Fourth Host. Cei-U! Darned clever, sez I! Thanks. I'll have to look for those issues.
|
|
|
Post by urrutiap on Aug 9, 2017 9:36:40 GMT -5
Been binge reading original Avengers 186 up to issue 201 earlier.
Now I'm burned out on Avengers
|
|
|
Post by sabongero on Aug 9, 2017 19:02:18 GMT -5
Just reading up on some of the old fanzines (i.e. Wizard, Comic Feature, Comics Journal, Alter Ego, Back Issues, etc.). This one is a fave. It has an extended interview with Jack Kirby. He talked about as a youngster in NYC, and wanting to be a corrupt NYC politician when he grew up. And other informative information as well.
|
|
|
Post by spoon on Aug 12, 2017 17:57:05 GMT -5
I finished the remaining issues (#307-317) of the Captain America Society of Serpents TPB. I've continued on to the Justice is Served TPB and have read through Cap #320.
This is the early part of Mark Gruenwald's run as writer, after he and Mike Carlin switched the editing & writing chores. Compared to DeMatteis's boldness, I find Gruenwald's attempts at political writing pretty muddled. There's some generic rah-rah patriotism. There's also bits that seem cryptically right-wing. Gruenwald has Sidewinder describe the Serpent Society as a union rather than a team. And the point is? Unions are bad? The Flag Smasher story tries to walk a tightrope between promoting nationalism as beneficial, but also praising international cooperation.
But having said that, he's really good at telling super-hero yarns. He's very good at telling a coherent story in an individual, as well as playing plotlines out over an arc. For instance, #315 tells a great self-contained story about the Porcupine but also serves as part of an intriguing ongoing Serpent Society storyline. Gruenwald also does tragedy well, whether it's Porcupine, Madcap (driven crazy by his accidental invulnerability), and Armadillo (grief-stricken by his freakish appearance). In particular, he handles the issue of Armadillo's better than many similar characters.
The Serpent Society is an interesting mix of characters: some were members of the old Serpent Squads, some were members of other groups (Princess Python of the Circus of Crime; Cobra from a partnership with Mr. Hyde), and some are new characters. Diamondback introduces a new element as an enemy who can't seem to stop flirting with Cap. I think she's a fanboy wish fulfillment figures with seductive poses, etc. Some of it's entertaining; some of it's cringeworthy. I don't think editorial at Marvel would approve a similar character today. I like that the Serpent Society gets to establish its credential with success in its Modok mission. I do have some nitpicks though. Even with inflation since the 1980s, $100,000 seems like a really low fee for such a difficult mission. Sidewinder also seems to assign too few operatives to some missions. Also, Gruenwald comes up with an interesting subplot for Princess Python, but I don't think it makes sense in light of the character's history (or what you'd expect from a seasoned villain).
Nomad and Bernie Rosenthal are written out of the series, but it's done more gracefully and patiently than how Arnie Roth was written out.
This transitions into the Scourge of the Underworld storyline, about a vigilante who murders super-villains. This is another example of an intriguing storyline that has plotholes or illogical elements. The Scourge origin in #320 is intriguing. I think Gruenwald was trying to eliminate many villains who he felt were weak, but one particular mass killing in the storyline is beyond "Spider-Man vs. Firelord" levels of implausible. Scourge shouldn't be nearly as successful as he is. He's basically just a master of disguise with a high-tech gun. I also wish Gruenwald had chosen a different member of the Serpent Society to bite the bullet. However, the overall tone and structure of the story are nice. Gruenwald does a good job of portraying a climate of terror.
The Justice of Served TPB is pretty cool because it integrates elements of the Scourge storyline beyond what plays out in the Captain America title. It starts out with excerpts of Scourge's kills (or attempts) in various other titles. It also includes a Marvel Fanfare story and an issue of Amazing Spider-Man in their entirety that are about Scourge's activities, even though Cap doesn't appear in either story.
|
|
|
Post by dbutler69 on Aug 14, 2017 8:06:59 GMT -5
I finished a Tales to Astonish #70-76 run with a Namor trying to et his throne back from the usurper Krang. Pretty good story overall, but Namor & Dorma's behaviors are extremely inconsistent, and the art was only so-so. The Hulk takes on the Leader, followed by the Hulk getting stuck in a dystopian future, which he's still stuck in as of #76. Pretty good Hulk stories, too. They held y interest, anyway.
|
|