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Post by chadwilliam on Jan 7, 2019 0:11:01 GMT -5
Although I'm more of a DC guy, I picked up the first Agents of Atlas series by Jeff Parker when it was collected in hardcover and thought it was fantastic. That, I would recommend to anybody. When they did the follow up series, I was intrigued but immediately lost interest when I learned of the heavy involvement of modern characters - namely, modern day Norman Osborn. My issues with him seem to parallel your own - since the 90's he's been nothing but a poor man's Post-Crisis Luthor (who himself, was a poor man's Kingpin). So, I never picked up that series feeling as I did, that it seemed to be a cash in to a surprise critical success story featuring a team Marvel now wished to assimilate and homogenize into their general Universe. I don't know if that's the case or not since as I said, I never read it, but I can't imagine it tops the original six issue run. I can guarantee you there's no Norman Osborn, no tie in's to any big Marvel Event going on at the time (no Civil War references) - just a self-contained story that takes place in a corner of the Marvel Universe which seems to have been reserved for them.
I don't often make recommendations for comics since I can't be sure that others will like what I like, but since you've already picked up what sounds like a cash in to a well regarded series, I can't think of what harm it would do to pick up the first series which wasn't steeped in current Marvel lore, obnoxious mimicry of whatever trends were going on at that time, a feeling that this series was more of a set-up for something else down the line or some event running concurrent with this tale, and absolutely no Norman Osborn. It stands on its own feet and as an added bonus, if you track down the hardcover, you'll get reprints of each of the lead character's first appearances, plus that What If issue you reference in your post.
If nothing else, it's certainly worth a little online research - I'm sure you can find reviews/pages online that'll give you a fair sense of what to expect from the series itself.
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Post by beccabear67 on Jan 7, 2019 13:31:38 GMT -5
I read Mister Miracle #23 last night with Steve Gerber story and I really liked it! Yes, I finally really liked a Steve Gerber story. I just get to liking the comic and only two more issues. You can barely tell Michael Golden pencilled this one though, inks by Giella don't suit him at all. It's still good comics but more generic looking with only a couple panels of any Golden shining through at all. I wonder what caused it... does Giella leave out that much detail with other pencillers? Or were they over basic layouts? I've seen his inking over others like Infantino and I haven't disliked his inking before. Could always be there was a deadline rush or something. So would I like the revived late '80s MM comic? I do like J.M. DeMatteis as a writer...
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 7, 2019 13:40:45 GMT -5
I tend to read in a fairly linear manner, so I have been working on the post-Crisis Flash run for the past month or so. The Mike Baron issues that start the series are just OK, as he writes Wally like an over-sexed creep who will fall into bed with any woman that shows the slightest interest (this fuels an ongoing argument in the letters page between folks who hate the turn from good-guy Barry Allen to horndog Wally West and folks, especially the writers, who think adding more sexuality to the book shows that the comics medium is "growing up". It's really quite fascinating.). Art is primarily provided by Jackson "Butch" Guice on his first steady DC work after jumping ship from Marvel, and it's serviceable, although nothing like what he would later do on Ruse. These stories use Vandal Savage as a villain a few times, while also introducing the Kilg%re and The Chunk to the Flash mythos, but that's not really a good thing; the Kilg%re is exactly the type of techno-inspired crap that one would expect from a late-80's book, and The Chunk, who would eventually become Wally's friend, is like a much larger version of Stevie from "Malcolm in the Middle", wheezing through his words and being generally useless. The William Messner-Loebs era is a definite step up, as he uses more classic villains (Captain Cold, Golden Glider, the Turtle, the Icicle) instead of creating a bunch of new ones, although he does bring back both Vandal Savage and Kilg%re as foes. He also uses both The Chunk (meh) and a reformed Pied Piper (this is a good thing) as friends and confidants for Barry. Greg LaRocque did most of the artwork during this run; this was his second DC run, as he had done an almost-three-year stretch on Legion of Super-Heroes after leaving Marvel, where his most notable work was as the artist for the first five issues of Web of Spider-Man. Finally, at issue #62, we get to Mark Waid, who is considered one of the definitive Flash writers. Waid almost entirely eschews creating new bad guys, instead utilizing the likes of Grodd, Abra Kadabra, Professor Zoom, Kobra, and Mirror Master to great effect; in fact, the new villains he introduces like techno-terrorist organization The Combine and human wrecking-ball Razer (a horribly-cliched 90's enemy, who thankfully disappeared almost entirely after his three-issue story, only showing up twice more in DC history) are just not interesting. He greatly develops the relationship between Linda Park and Wally, getting rid of the man-slut trait entirely that Baron initiated, and he also brings back Golden Age heroes like Jay Garrick and Johnny Quick while creating new heroes, those being Max Mercury and Impulse, a time-jumped Bart Allen from the 30th century, that expand and enhance the story. Art is provided initially by LaRocque, who is then followed by Mike Wieringo and then Oscar Garrido. This is some really good stuff (although there are some clunkers in here, especially when Waid strays from using classic villains), and I'm excited to keep reading the rest of the series. Different strokes, I guess. I LOVE the Baron run (#1-18) and re-read it just about annually. Like it or not, a horny young person was a realistic touch. I guess being one of the first experiments with a hormone controlled hero , it was bound to get resistance from some people. No one is saying anything these days with the likes of Arsenal, Nightwing , and Daredevil bagging anything that walks.
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Post by dbutler69 on Jan 7, 2019 14:00:14 GMT -5
I just read Thor #217-218. In 217, they finally return to Asgard after their interstellar odyssey with Tana Nile, Silas Marner, the Rigellians, slavers, etc., only to find imposters have taken over Asgard! It's the work of one of Loki's disgruntled minions. There are also side plots building up to future issues. In 218, one of those side plots heats up, as the black stars destroy the colonizers of Rigels' homeworld, though they are able to evauate 9 billion people. Thor leads a handful of folks (Tana, Silas, and a couple of Asgardians or so) to try and stop the black stars. They sure have their work cut out for them! These things destroy planets and suck up the remains and convert them to energy. Galactus, eat your heart out! I'm still reading The Essential Thor, Volume 4 (maybe 5) and it reprints #196 to #220, so I'm getting pretty close to these issues. I read #206 to #208 over the last few days. Sometimes I whiz right through these Essential volumes (or Showcase volumes for DC) but other times it takes a little longer than expected. And this era of Thor - well, I don't feel compelled to read the next issue, so I finish a storyline and put it down and forget about it for a few days. It's not bad! I like the stories as I'm reading them. But it's certainly not as good as Thor #125 to #140 or so. Maybe I'd like it better in color! Yeah, color would definitely help. The Essential/Showcase Presents books are a great value, but by the time I'm done with one, I am dying for color!
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Post by MDG on Jan 7, 2019 15:37:26 GMT -5
I read Mister Miracle #23 last night with Steve Gerber story and I really liked it! Yes, I finally really liked a Steve Gerber story. I just get to liking the comic and only two more issues. You can barely tell Michael Golden pencilled this one though, inks by Giella don't suit him at all. It's still good comics but more generic looking with only a couple panels of any Golden shining through at all. I wonder what caused it... does Giella leave out that much detail with other pencillers? Or were they over basic layouts? I've seen his inking over others like Infantino and I haven't disliked his inking before. Could always be there was a deadline rush or something. Next issue is inked by Russ Heath and it's gorgeous!
I wish Englehart and Rogers had hung on, though--it was shaping up to be as good as, though totally different, than their Detective run.
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Post by EdoBosnar on Jan 7, 2019 16:08:31 GMT -5
I agree that it would have been cool if Englehart and Rogers had stuck with Mr. Miracle, as I really liked their issues. However, I would have liked it just as much if the series hadn't been cancelled and Gerber and Golden had an opportunity to continue on the title. As I recall, Gerber seemed to be taking the character in an interesting direction (and Golden's art was, naturally, eye candy).
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Post by beccabear67 on Jan 7, 2019 16:09:21 GMT -5
Next issue is inked by Russ Heath and it's gorgeous!
I wish Englehart and Rogers had hung on, though--it was shaping up to be as good as, though totally different, than their Detective run.
Russ Heath had a great ink style, one of the all-time best I think, and Michael Golden shows through as well as with anyone other than himself inking. Al Milgrom, Armando Gil, Joe Rubenstein and Dick Giordano were also good matches for Golden. I think maybe there was a lack of time from one or both of them behind leaving MM. I liked Rogers on Man-Bat in Batman Family, the only thing I liked in some of those issues. Oddly enough Golden followed him on that as well.
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Post by dbutler69 on Jan 8, 2019 14:43:26 GMT -5
I'm reading through the Legion, and here's a great three issue stretch. #359-360 is a two part story where the Legion become outlaws. We find out at the end (SPOILER ALERT) that Universo was behind the whole thing. #361 has the Legion escort some Dominator ambassadors to peace talk, but there is treachery afoot!
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Post by Paste Pot Paul on Jan 9, 2019 17:22:09 GMT -5
Im rereading Legion as well, just a few years later...well 20. I started with the Great Darkness Saga through to the last new story in Tales and am up to 16 or so of the Baxter run. My semi-annual read of my favorite run. I like the adventure era books but cant read a lot at once, though Id really like to do a chronological read from the start.
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Post by beccabear67 on Jan 9, 2019 21:15:43 GMT -5
Finished up the '70s Mister Miracle (really good last two issues) and on to another short run... Showcase #97-99 featuring Power Girl. First two are not so good, although Paul Levitz' filling in some details on PG's trip from Krypton to Earth is good, but #99 where she accepts help from an Earthling, and a reporter no less, leading to a job and secret identity was overdue. But no glasses? Couldn't anyone just recognize her then? Even with that #99 was the most solid, plus two JSA guests to fight Brainwave with (he has stolen an entire city and he was behind the baddies in the first two as well). The Staton/Orlando/Giordano art seems rushed in places unfortunately, but was spoiled by the Staton/Layton combo in other titles perhaps.
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Post by Hoosier X on Jan 10, 2019 11:41:16 GMT -5
Finished up the '70s Mister Miracle (really good last two issues) and on to another short run... Showcase #97-99 featuring Power Girl. First two are not so good, although Paul Levitz' filling in some details on PG's trip from Krypton to Earth is good, but #99 where she accepts help from an Earthling, and a reporter no less, leading to a job and secret identity was overdue. But no glasses? Couldn't anyone just recognize her then? Even with that #99 was the most solid, plus two JSA guests to fight Brainwave with (he has stolen an entire city and he was behind the baddies in the first two as well). The Staton/Orlando/Giordano art seems rushed in places unfortunately, but was spoiled by the Staton/Layton combo in other titles perhaps. I love Power Girl and I've read her appearances in 1970s All-Star Comics and the JLA/JSA team-ups, so I've long been curious about her Showcase tryout. I got the middle issue a few years ago … and have never been particularly eager to get the other issues.
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Post by Hoosier X on Jan 10, 2019 12:00:25 GMT -5
I got Wonder Woman: The Golden Age, Volume One from the library. It reprints the Wonder Woman stories from Sensation #1 to #14, Comic Cavalcade #1 and Wonder Woman #1 to #3. I've read Sensation #1 to #12 and Wonder Woman #1 (in the Wonder Woman Archives), but a lot of these stories are new to me. Wonder Woman #2 contains several related stories as Diana goes up against Mars for the first time. Mars, the God of War, has designs on Earth so one by one, his devoted servants, Lord Conquest, the Earl of Greed and the Duke of Deception take on Wonder Woman … and they get their butts handed to them. And there's an "Etta Candy is Magic" moment when Wonder Woman is in trouble, captured and held prisoner on the planet Mars, so Wonder Woman sends out a telepathic impulse to Etta, who pretty much has no trouble sneaking onto one of Mars's space-traveling slave ships and getting to Mars and rescuing Wonder Woman. And there's also a story told from the point of view of an elm tree. Oh, and then there's the one where Nazi saboteurs are plotting to blow up Nathaniel Hawthorne's "House of the Seven Gables," which is apparently a big tourist attraction in new England. Awesome! I haven't yet got to Wonder Woman #3, which has several stories in Baroness Paula von Gunther's latest plot to bring down America! I am very much looking forward to it!
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Post by Hoosier X on Jan 10, 2019 12:08:34 GMT -5
I'm still making my way through Essential Thor, Volume 5, and I read #210 this morning. This is Thor! I haven't been reading bad stories, but I haven't felt like I was reading essential Thor either. I really liked #210 and I'm looking forward to the conclusion. I love Ulik's plan to defeat Thor and destroy the hammer! (And I also love the scene where Thor falls asleep in a sitting position, wrapped up all snuggly in his cloak, clutching Mjolnir like a teddy bear. Awwww!) If all the stories in this volume were as good as this, I would have finished Volume 5 weeks ago!
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 10, 2019 15:25:35 GMT -5
X-Men #50No disrespect to Werner Roth, but having someone like Jim Steranko draw the previous issue's cover and do both cover and interior art here is something of a quantum leap. All right, this is admittedly not quite the Jim Steranko whose art we could admire in Nick Fury, agent of SHIELD; amid some great-looking pages, characters do seem to be bouncing here and there for no reason throughout the book. But I'm sure that I would have been ecstatic to read this comic back in the day! The plot is alas pretty difficult to enjoy, even with a charitable outlook. Our heroes seem to follow vaguely defined trails to find newly-appeared mutants using Cerebro in its "Plot Demanded Indications" mode. They also come up with impromptu plans that make no sense whatsoever: beset by a bunch of bad guys with whom they are in the process of wiping the floor, the X-Men telepathically find out that their comrade Iceman is a prisoner in some undisclosed location! What to do? Trounce the villains and slap one around until he talks or... just allow ourselves to be defeated and brought to the same place as our comrade, hoping nobody will have the idea of rendering us unconscious for the duration or just shoot us in the head? Yeah, let's opt for the second idea. Sure, it's just supposed to be zany fun... but it's clear that these comics were still written for 12 year old kids! (One could of course argue that comics were always meant to be just that, and that more "adult" storytelling is something of an odd affectation).
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Post by beccabear67 on Jan 10, 2019 15:42:59 GMT -5
X-Men #50 First issue with that logo too. Steranko did so many great covers there should be a book of just them!
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