|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2019 12:31:13 GMT -5
I need to track this issue down ... Duragizer ... I have never, ever seen this! One action-packed Cover!
|
|
|
Post by dbutler69 on Apr 14, 2019 13:54:26 GMT -5
I've been reading through Essential Hulk vol. 5 and 6, averaging about an issue a day or a little more. I have a huge collection of Essentials and used to binge a lot. I had start vol. 5 a long time ago, but stopped. I wasn't sure exactly where I stopped back then, so I restarted at #183. Turns out I re-read a few I had before, but it was a good reminder of what happened before. Len Wein does a good job, because Hulk is a character that always presents a danger of being monotonous. Hulk was more of a love triangle with Glenn Talbot, Betty Ross, and Bruce Banner in earlier days, but Betty's marriage is firmly established. A lot of the drama centers around Glenn Talbot, because he was kidnapped and then rescued and his mind was messed, and then he was replaced, and his mind was wiped, and so so many plot turns. It creates a lot of strains on the marriage, and then Doc Samson shows up and it creates a love triangle that involves a married couple. Also, Bruce Banner has a few moments of suicidal ideation (because being the Hulk sucks), so that was a little unexpected for this era. The Glenn Talbot story comes to a climax in #200, when the Hulk (very briefly able to access Banner's brain with technological help - why do they never try this machine) is shrunk down to fix Talbot's brain. This leads to some story where he shrinks even further and meets Jarella again. And things down turn out well when Hulk and Jarella come back to the full-size world. Glenn and Betty end up leaving separately. It seems like the intent is to write them both out of the book, as neither has appeared for several issues as of the point that I'm at now (#216). Things really pick up when Sal Buscema replaces Herb Trimpe as penciller in #194. I think Sal is usually thought of as the lesser Buscema. I know a lot of times I see his art and thinks it's just workmanlike. But he's really good here. I think part of it is just that his art is stronger in this era (mid-1970s), but also the inker pairings work well. First, he's inked by Joe Staton, then Ernie Chan (Chua). In #213, Tom Palmer is the guest inker and it's really beautiful. It evokes the pairing of brother John and Palmer in Avengers. That story also features the Quintronic Man, a robot operated by five humans (one in each limb and the head), sort of like Voltron. Was this the first example of the concept or were there pre-Voltron Japanese precursors? Also, Jack of Hearts shows up in what was apparently his first appearance in a color comic rather than a black and white magazine. Bruce Banner has tried to start a new life in New York in #208. It's seems like there's more Banner on average than in the earlier issues that I had been reading. I thought maybe this was inspired by the Bill Bixby TV series, but it turns out that show doesn't premiere until the month that #220 is released. To deal with the loss of some supporting cast members, Jim Wilson tracks Bruce down in New York. I like that dynamic. Also, Bruce gets young lady named April Sommers. She practically throws herself at Bruce (Wein probably thought a love interest was long overdue), but then gets suspicious of him. The Constrictor also debuts in one of these issues. It's funny to see a character with seemingly modest powers start out in the pages of the Incredible Hulk, which reminds me that Boomerang also debuted as a Hulk villain. When I think of the Hulk, it's the Sal Buscema Hulk that appears in my head. I guess he's my Hulk artist because of when I grew up. I would also say that his art is very good in Rom, and he inked himself in a lot of those. I remember reading that he actually prefers inking to pencilling. Interesting question about the Voltron-style robot. I wonder. I wonder if they started developing Banner more in anticipation of the TV series. I would imagine that the show had at least been planned, perhaps about when #208 came out?
|
|
|
Post by dbutler69 on Apr 14, 2019 13:55:38 GMT -5
I need to track this issue down ... Duragizer ... I have never, ever seen this! One action-packed Cover! I'm happy to say I have that. I could never pass up something with that many superheroes on the cover.
|
|
|
Post by Icctrombone on Apr 14, 2019 15:15:54 GMT -5
Untold Legend of Batman #1-3 - First off, outstanding art by Aparo (and Bryne). This is the Batman I enjoy the most. Excellent telling of his origin and background of the rest of the cast. I liked the ending of who the mystery villain was, some great character exploration by Wein. Although I never knew about Bruce being the first to wear the Robin costume in his apprenticeship with Harvey Harris, great detective. Where (or when) was this taken from the earlier comics? I assumed it was taken from an earlier Detective story.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2019 17:29:33 GMT -5
Untold Legend of Batman #1-3 - First off, outstanding art by Aparo (and Bryne). This is the Batman I enjoy the most. Excellent telling of his origin and background of the rest of the cast. I liked the ending of who the mystery villain was, some great character exploration by Wein. Although I never knew about Bruce being the first to wear the Robin costume in his apprenticeship with Harvey Harris, great detective. Where (or when) was this taken from the earlier comics? I assumed it was taken from an earlier Detective story. The Harvey Harris ... the story only exist in the Untold Legend of Batman Series ... maybe String would know what issue it was? ... #1, #2, or #3. Bruce Wayne as Robin.
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 14, 2019 17:37:10 GMT -5
Untold Legend of Batman #1-3 - First off, outstanding art by Aparo (and Bryne). This is the Batman I enjoy the most. Excellent telling of his origin and background of the rest of the cast. I liked the ending of who the mystery villain was, some great character exploration by Wein. Although I never knew about Bruce being the first to wear the Robin costume in his apprenticeship with Harvey Harris, great detective. Where (or when) was this taken from the earlier comics? I assumed it was taken from an earlier Detective story. Detective #226 "When Batman Was Robin".
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 14, 2019 17:44:52 GMT -5
I assumed it was taken from an earlier Detective story. The Harvey Harris ... the story only exist in the Untold Legend of Batman Series ... maybe String would know what issue it was? ... #1, #2, or #3. Harris had previously appeared in flashback's in Detective #226 and Batman #213. The appearance in Untold Legend was in #1.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 14, 2019 18:21:17 GMT -5
I just finished up my second lifetime read-thru of Watchmen, and I started on my second read-thru of V for Vendetta. After that, I'll start From Hell for the first time, as I just picked it up from Half-Price Books yesterday.
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 14, 2019 18:24:04 GMT -5
I just finished up my second lifetime read-thru of Watchmen, and I started on my second read-thru of V for Vendetta. After that, I'll start From Hell for the first time, as I just picked it up from Half-Price Books yesterday. And how did you feel about it? Good to see you here, Cap.
|
|
Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,065
|
Post by Confessor on Apr 14, 2019 18:34:12 GMT -5
I just finished up my second lifetime read-thru of Watchmen, and I started on my second read-thru of V for Vendetta. After that, I'll start From Hell for the first time, as I just picked it up from Half-Price Books yesterday. That's a hat trick of comic book excellence, Captain. For my money, much as I love Watchmen and V for Vendetta, From Hell might be Alan Moore's greatest work.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 14, 2019 18:44:02 GMT -5
I just finished up my second lifetime read-thru of Watchmen, and I started on my second read-thru of V for Vendetta. After that, I'll start From Hell for the first time, as I just picked it up from Half-Price Books yesterday. And how did you feel about it? Good to see you here, Cap. I liked it much better this time, because I was able to give it the time it deserves. The first time I read it, which was a few years back, I had borrowed a copy from the local library and I kind of ripped through it just to get it done, so I think I missed a lot of the nuance and details. After that, I had bought a copy of my own (also from Half-Price Books, which is where I get many of my TPBs) and so I was able to ruminate and luxuriate over it the past few weeks without feeling rushed, which really enhanced my enjoyment of it. I just finished up my second lifetime read-thru of Watchmen, and I started on my second read-thru of V for Vendetta. After that, I'll start From Hell for the first time, as I just picked it up from Half-Price Books yesterday. That's a hat trick of comic book excellence, Captain. For my money, much as I love Watchmen and V for Vendetta, From Hell might be Alan Moore's greatest work. I'm looking forward to it. I'd never seen a used copy anywhere, and the store I visited actually happened to have two of them. It was a no-brainer to pick it up, as I've heard a lot of great things about it, and while I wanted to dive right in, I had already begun re-reading V for Vendetta, and I hate to drop things in the middle once I start them. I'll probably be on it by the weekend.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2019 19:22:17 GMT -5
The Harvey Harris ... the story only exist in the Untold Legend of Batman Series ... maybe String would know what issue it was? ... #1, #2, or #3. Harris had previously appeared in flashback's in Detective #226 and Batman #213. The appearance in Untold Legend was in #1. Thanks Slam.
|
|
|
Post by Reptisaurus! on Apr 16, 2019 17:41:35 GMT -5
I just finished up my second lifetime read-thru of Watchmen, and I started on my second read-thru of V for Vendetta. After that, I'll start From Hell for the first time, as I just picked it up from Half-Price Books yesterday. So the trick to reading From Hell is to ignore the footnotes in the back and just read the story. First time I I kept trying to flip back and forth, it took me forever to read, and after a hundred or pages I just gave up.
|
|
Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,065
|
Post by Confessor on Apr 17, 2019 6:20:06 GMT -5
I just finished up my second lifetime read-thru of Watchmen, and I started on my second read-thru of V for Vendetta. After that, I'll start From Hell for the first time, as I just picked it up from Half-Price Books yesterday. So the trick to reading From Hell is to ignore the footnotes in the back and just read the story. First time I I kept trying to flip back and forth, it took me forever to read, and after a hundred or pages I just gave up. Totally and utterly disagree. The footnotes are essential. They really are. However, I've never read them by flicking back and forth as I read the comic, like Repti did. Instead The Captain, I recommend reading all of the footnotes related to a particular chapter (or issue, if you'd rather) when you finish that chapter. You know, a bit like you'd read the prose bits at the end of each chapter of Watchmen. From Hell's footnotes are no less important. They give essential historical context, shed light on what is going on in the main narrative, explain some of Moore's storytelling choices and where he took his theories from, and generally further immerse the reader in the world of Victorian London. Heck, I even have the From Hell Companion for extra footnotes!!
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 17, 2019 8:32:15 GMT -5
So the trick to reading From Hell is to ignore the footnotes in the back and just read the story. First time I I kept trying to flip back and forth, it took me forever to read, and after a hundred or pages I just gave up. Totally and utterly disagree. The footnotes are essential. They really are. However, I've never read them by flicking back and forth as I read the comic, like Repti did. Instead The Captain, I recommend reading all of the footnotes related to a particular chapter (or issue, if you'd rather) when you finish that chapter. You know, a bit like you'd read the prose bits at the end of each chapter of Watchmen. From Hell's footnotes are no less important. They give essential historical context, shed light on what is going on in the main narrative, explain some of Moore's storytelling choices and where he took his theories from, and generally further immerse the reader in the world of Victorian London. Heck, I even have the From Hell Companion for extra footnotes!! My Half-Price Books has a copy of the Companion, so maybe I'll pick that up as well and not have to flip back and forth. As a trained history educator (back before I went into corporate supply chain as a career), I think that having all of the historical context and information will enhance my enjoyment of the book rather than detract from the experience. Appreciate both of your perspectives! That's why I love this place.
|
|