shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 3, 2016 17:07:11 GMT -5
Jim Starlin's Thanos Saga (1973-1976) Iron Man #55, Captain Marvel #25-33, Marvel Feature #12, Daredevil #105-107, Avengers #125, Strange Tales #178-181, Warlock #9-15, Avengers Annual #7, Marvel Two-in-One #2"Captian Marvel/Thanos/Warlock is something that is so much a part of the times for when it was published. As they say, you had to be there! Starlin came up with the first purely cosmic/nihilist/existentialist comic book that went beyond just the hero versus villain that was the norm in most comic books. Like Kirby before him Starlin had grander thoughts and concepts which were very personal to him which he was expressing. What he tapped into was the 70's consciousness at the time and for many his "cosmic" was the "drug" of choice and rebellion.
Starlin also had almost total control over his story where Kirby did not. Starlin was doing fill in work as a new hire (which explains the meandering set up/story developing in various comics before he was given Captain Marvel where he was able to move forward with the concepts. Before Mar-vell Starlin was still working out the characters and concepts (see how the physical look and character of Thanos changes over time in these early comics) and until Englehart stepped in helping with scripts and focusing Starlin's imagination.
The entire concept and series from Mar-vell to Warlock into Two-in-One for the finale was something special that when you found it the art and story and concepts were uniquely and spiritually such a part of the 70's. You just knew something wondrous was happening and the art was new, fresh and you saw Starlin blossom and grow with every issue." -- brutalisI'm finally reading this storyline after two years of anticipation and thought a place for discussing it made sense. I'm not looking to do a formal review thread, as I want this to be all fun and no work, but I welcome everyone's thoughts on the series as I share my informal reactions while I read. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 3, 2016 17:13:11 GMT -5
Four issues in, and while I'm really enjoying it (Starlin's pacing is dynamite -- he keeps the action and the plot going without a single lull), I'm not seeing what's so special about it yet. I first became interested in this run in 2014 when it made the #1 spot in The CCF Top 100 Comic Book Sagas, but whatever made this series that special, I'm not sure it's happening yet. So far, Thanos feels like a pretty generic would-be conqueror type. Sure, he's got Death by his side, but Starlin hasn't really played up the uniqueness of that situation yet (and I'm not sure we're even supposed to realize that's actually Death yet). Captain Marvel and Rick Jones aren't exactly winning me over with their characterizations either. I'd say the two highlights for me thus far are (finally) learning how Tony Stark puts on his armor:  and Starlin's brilliant art in general:  (from Captain Marvel #27) But Thanos as a villain and this particular storyline? Neither is particularly memorable for me yet. Hoping that will change soon though. This is still a very addictive read that I hate putting down, but addictive isn't the same as memorable. |
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Post by Farrar on Aug 3, 2016 17:31:52 GMT -5
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Post by Phil Maurice on Aug 3, 2016 17:51:56 GMT -5
I think I may have said before that I slightly resented the way this storyline was shoe-horned into some of my favorite mags way back when. I lacked the sophistication and resources to stay abreast of the developments. I can't imagine how the average fan could have followed it as originally presented, across multiple titles over a three-year period. That being said, it reads much better as a collected whole. It goes without saying that Starlin's art is of consistently high-quality throughout. I still think the writing is somewhat labored and over-wrought, but this is Comics (an anagram for "Cosmic," as Starlin cleverly taught us  ), and my imagination may be too stunted to properly appreciate the grandeur. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 3, 2016 18:04:36 GMT -5
I think I may have said before that I slightly resented the way this storyline was shoe-horned into some of my favorite mags way back when. I lacked the sophistication and resources to stay abreast of the developments. I can't imagine how the average fan could have followed it as originally presented, across multiple titles over a three-year period. I agree that this would have been darn confusing at the time. It's not even until Thanos' second issue in Captain Marvel that the reader is told (s)he needs to go back to Iron Man #55 in order to find out what was missed. I'd love to know why it was done in that way. Was there some grand idea to reward readers of multiple titles, or was Starlin just inserting Thanos wherever he could? |
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Post by Icctrombone on Aug 3, 2016 18:09:36 GMT -5
Shax, the true Thanos saga and his awesomeness begins in the Warlock series. He gets a lot of dept as a character when he helps Adam Warlock against the Magus. I wouldn't want to spoil anything, so we can talk when you reach those stories.
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Post by foxley on Aug 3, 2016 19:28:31 GMT -5
I will read this thread to get someone else's perspective on Thanos, but probably keep my comments to a minimum, as I have made my dislike for the character of Thanos well-known on this board, and I don't want to be constantly snipe. Perhaps the character was more interesting in his early days, but honestly the appeal of this character completely eludes me.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 3, 2016 19:35:17 GMT -5
Shax, the true Thanos saga and his awesomeness begins in the Warlock series. He gets a lot of dept as a character when he helps Adam Warlock against the Magus. I wouldn't want to spoil anything, so we can talk when you reach those stories. I hope to get there tonight! |
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Aug 3, 2016 19:35:50 GMT -5
I will read this thread to get someone else's perspective on Thanos, but probably keep my comments to a minimum, as I have made my dislike for the character of Thanos well-known on this board, and I don't want to be constantly snipe. Perhaps the character was more interesting in his early days, but honestly the appeal of this character completely eludes me. Lay it on me. I always love a good rant |
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Post by foxley on Aug 3, 2016 19:55:35 GMT -5
I will read this thread to get someone else's perspective on Thanos, but probably keep my comments to a minimum, as I have made my dislike for the character of Thanos well-known on this board, and I don't want to be constantly snipe. Perhaps the character was more interesting in his early days, but honestly the appeal of this character completely eludes me. Lay it on me. I always love a good rant As I said, Thanos may have been more interesting in his early days, but to me he has always just been a pale Darksied ripoff, and has only gotten worse in recent years as he has become Jim Starlin's pet character: all-powerful and completely unbeatable. But, in the interests of full disclosure, so-called 'cosmic' stories have never really been my cup of tea. Give me street-level characters any day. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 3, 2016 20:58:08 GMT -5
Captain Marvel #27-30
Not much of Thanos in these issues, but Starlin sure fixed Captain Marvel in #29. It now seems to me that Starlin was actually trying to make Mar-Vell unlikable ahead of his big cosmic awakening. Well, it worked.
Creepy, though, how many times Starlin uses the word "cancer" in these issues (particularly referring to Mar-Vell's self-loathing as a cancer growing within him) considering what Starlin will ultimately do with the character.
And, speaking of which, wouldn't his new ultra-awareness of everything have informed him that he has cancer?
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Aug 3, 2016 21:05:31 GMT -5
I will read this thread to get someone else's perspective on Thanos, but probably keep my comments to a minimum, as I have made my dislike for the character of Thanos well-known on this board, and I don't want to be constantly snipe. Perhaps the character was more interesting in his early days, but honestly the appeal of this character completely eludes me. Lay it on me. I always love a good rant I too wouldn't mind hearing your opinions foxley. Especially since I'll be the ying to your yang in commenting on it that might balance each other's views on both sides. I'm sure I've made it know I am an unapologetic Starlin fan which extends to Thanos and Warlock. :-) |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Aug 3, 2016 21:09:01 GMT -5
I am really wanting to get the singles from this run. Expensive though and tough to find in nice shape (unless you pay $30-40 an issue for some of them). And well, I am cheap |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 3, 2016 21:15:45 GMT -5
I am really wanting to get the singles from this run. Expensive though and tough to find in nice shape (unless you pay $30-40 an issue for some of them). And well, I am cheap Much as I'm usually a floppy purist, this was one time where it just made more sense to me to get the trades. Not only was it cheaper, but it made the reading order (nearly) effortless (I'm still reading across two trades to get the FULL Warlock story as part of the full Thanos story ). |
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Aug 3, 2016 21:17:42 GMT -5
I am really wanting to get the singles from this run. Expensive though and tough to find in nice shape (unless you pay $30-40 an issue for some of them). And well, I am cheap Yeah. Thanks to Marvel movies this if the first time my collection has had any value whatsoever. Cosmic Marvel books are at their peek for probably the highest ever. |
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), and my imagination may be too stunted to properly appreciate the grandeur. 
