shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
|
Post by shaxper on Aug 10, 2016 1:33:17 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 10, 2016 3:43:03 GMT -5
Yes, I was there in 1968 and it was exciting to see the Marvel line up expansion. Had no idea, as just about all the other readers as well, the inside story about switching to a different distributor released them from the shackles of a limit to the titles they could put out. And as you can see, the bulk of the new books were solo titles for the characters that were paired together in Strange Tales, Tales To Astonish and Tales Of Suspense. As for the others
Captain Savage-isn't it weird that this was the first new title? Especially that it's a war book and Sgt Fury certainly wasn't one of Marvel's top sellers. No vocal demand for another war title and a brand new character to boot, though I believe he had a cameo in Sgt Fury a month before his series debuted
Groovy-Didn't even make mention on the cover that it was a Marvel book. Nor announced in the Marvel mags themselves. Basically reprints of spot cartoons found in Martin Goodman's line of men's magazines. Limited distribution I recall but I did find a copy of all 3 issues on the newstands. The 3rd issue finally identified itself as a Marvel
Captain Marvel-appeared a few times in the 25 cent Marvel Superheroes title and guess it sold well enough for a spin off. Plus Marvel wanted to keep the rights to the name. Marvel Superheroes then became Marvel's version of DC's Showcase
Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine-loved this book even though the first issue was black and white. A 3rd issue was promised containing a story called , something like, The Terror From The TV but never appeared. Course, back then there were no fanzines, at least not available to me, and I searched a year on the newstands for that book to no avail. Was that plot ever used in the regular book? I don't think so
The Adventures Of Pussycat-a magazine, adult oriented, not identified as marvel on the cover nor mentioned in Marvel comics. A great collector's item
Tales Of Asgard- a one shot reprint book of short story back ups from Thor
Mighty Marvel Western-never bought the Marvel western books back in the day and didn't buy this either
Iron Man and Sub-Mariner One Shot-you forgot to mention this one which came out the month before the two characters got their solo titles
|
|
|
|
Post by Cei-U! on Aug 10, 2016 6:41:57 GMT -5
Captain Savage-isn't it weird that this was the first new title? Especially that it's a war book and Sgt Fury certainly wasn't one of Marvel's top sellers. No vocal demand for another war title and a brand new character to boot, though I believe he had a cameo in Sgt Fury a month before his series debuted Captain Simon Savage a.k.a. The Skipper first appeared in Sgt. Fury #10 (September 1964), then subsequently in #s 14, 26, 29, 33, and Annual 1 (where we learned he survived WW2) prior to getting his own title so no, not "a brand new character." Cei-U! I summon the straight skinny! |
|
|
|
Post by MDG on Aug 10, 2016 8:11:59 GMT -5
Pussycat was reprints of strips done for Goodman's men's magazines. I would be interesting to know the thinking behind collecting them--I was going to say that they saw Vampirella and thought there was a market for sexed-up B&W comics, but apparently it predated Vampi by several months.
There's a good chance that the cartoons in Groovy were reprints from the Goodman books, or at least submitted to them originally.
|
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
|
Post by shaxper on Aug 10, 2016 9:31:47 GMT -5
Captain Marvel was the headline character for the first two issues of Marvel Super-Heroes (which continued it's numbering from Fantasy Masterpiece). His second appearance in MSH #13 promised that it would continue in #14. Reading and loving that story a decade back, I paid entirely too much on ebay to get #14 FAST...only to find no Captain Marvel in it. Instead, in an odd and rushed move, the cliffhanger continued into Captain Marvel #1, while MSH reverted to being an all-reprint title.
And, to add more confusion to the mix, Captain Marvel #1 claims to continue from Marvel Super-Heroes #14.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2016 9:50:30 GMT -5
At the time I had no idea why the new books were coming out. I just thought they sold enough to get their own book instead of sharing a book. I was excited by Capt America & Sub-Mariner getting their own titles.
|
|
|
|
Post by Farrar on Aug 10, 2016 10:40:06 GMT -5
Interesting topic, Shax. Captain Marvel was the headline character for the first two issues of Marvel Super-Heroes (which continued it's numbering from Fantasy Masterpiece). His second appearance in MSH #13 promised that it would continue in #14. Reading and loving that story a decade back, I paid entirely too much on ebay to get #14 FAST...only to find no Captain Marvel in it. Instead, in an odd and rushed move, the cliffhanger continued into Captain Marvel #1, while MSH reverted to being an all-reprint title.Actually with #14 MSH remained a hybrid and continued to feature one non-reprint story (with the likes of Spider-Man, Medusa, Dane Whitman Black Knight, Phantom Eagle, Doc Doom, Ka-Zar, Guardians of the Galaxy) along with reprints. MSH didn't become all-reprint until about a year later, in 1969. The Medusa issue, with the great Colan art, was one of my favorite comics back then.  |
|
|
|
Post by Farrar on Aug 10, 2016 10:48:56 GMT -5
At the time I had no idea why the new books were coming out. I just thought they sold enough to get their own book instead of sharing a book. I was excited by Capt America & Sub-Mariner getting their own titles. Yes, it was a was a very exciting time to be a Marvel fan, wasn't it? At that time I was strictly an FF, Avengers and X-Men reader, but like many others I couldn't help but get caught up in the hype generated by the house ads and the Bullpen Bulletins. Just from the house ads alone--seeing that great Sub-Mariner #1 cover by Buscema, the Iron Man #1 cover by Colan, Cap #100's cover by Kirby--they all took my breath away. |
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
|
Post by shaxper on Aug 10, 2016 10:56:11 GMT -5
At the time I had no idea why the new books were coming out. I just thought they sold enough to get their own book instead of sharing a book. I was excited by Capt America & Sub-Mariner getting their own titles. Yes, it was a was a very exciting time to be a Marvel fan, wasn't it? Not for everyone, though. I'm fully expecting tolworthy to chime in with his explanation of how the great Marvel expansion was a sell-out that compromised the integrity of the brand. |
|
|
|
Post by Farrar on Aug 10, 2016 11:07:34 GMT -5
Yes, it was a was a very exciting time to be a Marvel fan, wasn't it? Not for everyone, though. I'm fully expecting tolworthy to chime in with his explanation of how the great Marvel expansion was a sell-out that compromised the integrity of the brand. Oh, I don't disagree that what followed was an overall dilution in the quality of the Marvel line, at least IMO. That was very apparent to me back then and in hindsight was one of the reasons why I stopped reading comics a few years later. But at the specific time your OP cites--1968--reading about Marvel's expansion, with all the new solo books and with promises of more to come--well, it was thrilling. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2016 12:10:12 GMT -5
Not sure how I managed to miss Capt. Savage #1 (I have no memory of ever laying eyes on a copy until I bought one a few years ago), but I guess at the time I was still paying more attention to DC & for that matter Archie, Gold Key, Harvey & maybe Charlton. From #2 on it might well have been the series I followed most faithfully, even *choke* more than I did Sgt. Fury.
I know I picked up the 2nd (I think) issue of Groovy. I was ... underwhelmed.
|
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
|
Post by shaxper on Aug 10, 2016 12:12:35 GMT -5
Here's another way of looking at the expansion -- how long each title lasted:
January
Captain Savage and His Leatherneck Raiders (19 issues)
March
Groovy (3 issues)
April
Captain America (354 issues)
The Incredible Hulk (372 issues)
Iron Man & Sub-Mariner (one-shot)
May
Captain Marvel (62 issues)
Iron Man (332 issues)
Sub-Mariner (72 issues)
June
Doctor Strange (15 issues)
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (18 issues)
July
Spectacular Spider-man (magazine) (2 issues)
August
Silver Surfer (18 issues)
October
Mighty Marvel Western (46 issues)
Pussycat (one-shot)
Tales of Asgard (one-shot)
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2016 13:56:00 GMT -5
Interesting topic, Shax. Captain Marvel was the headline character for the first two issues of Marvel Super-Heroes (which continued it's numbering from Fantasy Masterpiece). His second appearance in MSH #13 promised that it would continue in #14. Reading and loving that story a decade back, I paid entirely too much on ebay to get #14 FAST...only to find no Captain Marvel in it. Instead, in an odd and rushed move, the cliffhanger continued into Captain Marvel #1, while MSH reverted to being an all-reprint title.Actually with #14 MSH remained a hybrid and continued to feature one non-reprint story (with the likes of Spider-Man, Medusa, Dane Whitman Black Knight, Phantom Eagle, Doc Doom, Ka-Zar, Guardians of the Galaxy) along with reprints. MSH didn't become all-reprint until about a year later, in 1969. The Medusa issue, with the great Colan art, was one of my favorite comics back then. I didn't start buying the title till #19 (Ka-Zar, with great Sid Greene inks on George Tuska's pencils), but I read a friend's copies of #s 15-18. Loved 'em all, as well as the '40s/early '50s reprints of Sub-Mariner, Human Torch, Venus, Cap in back. |
|
|
|
Post by Farrar on Aug 10, 2016 14:36:40 GMT -5
I didn't start buying the title till #19 (Ka-Zar, with great Sid Greene inks on George Tuska's pencils), but I read a friend's copies of #s 15-18. Loved 'em all, as well as the '40s/early '50s reprints of Sub-Mariner, Human Torch, Venus, Cap in back. Yeah, those reprints were great. I remember especially liking the Everett Sub-Mariner and the Maneely Black Knight stories. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2016 14:54:55 GMT -5
At the time I had no idea why the new books were coming out. I just thought they sold enough to get their own book instead of sharing a book. I was excited by Capt America & Sub-Mariner getting their own titles. Yes, it was a was a very exciting time to be a Marvel fan, wasn't it? At that time I was strictly an FF, Avengers and X-Men reader, but like many others I couldn't help but get caught up in the hype generated by the house ads and the Bullpen Bulletins. Just from the house ads alone--seeing that great Sub-Mariner #1 cover by Buscema, the Iron Man #1 cover by Colan, Cap #100's cover by Kirby--they all took my breath away. It was a great time to be a comic book fan period. DC was still riding the Batman mania, Marvel had all the new books, Charlton had their Action Heroes line & Gold Key still had Magnus & Solar! And I was buying all that I could afford...(with my allowance...about $1 a week). |
|
