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Post by rom on Sept 14, 2016 14:45:21 GMT -5
As a young teen growing up in the '80's, I was somewhat intrigued by DC's sword & sorcery title Amethyst - I paged through a couple of issues at the time, but never collected or read the series - probably because I felt it was too "girly". However, from what I remember about this it was an amazing series, with fantastic art & great color, etc. 30+ years later, I really want to see these classic issues reprinted - in color. The b&w Showcase volume several years ago was O.K., but color was such an integral part of the series that it was never worth it to me to get this. From doing some research, there were actually three series: Volume 1 ran for 12 issues & 1 Annual; Volume 2 ran for 16 issues & 1 Special; and Volume 3 appeared to be a 4-issue mini series. So, 34 issues there. Plus, there was also her original appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #258, and a DC Comics Presents issue. So, there were a total of 36 issues (two having a larger page count than normal, presumably). I think this would make for a nice thick color Trade, or even an Omni. Now that Amethyst is part of the "new 52", I think that could possibly justify these reprints (I think her new 52 title got cancelled, but at least it was around for a while). Here's a cover gallery: dc.wikia.com/wiki/Amethyst/Covers |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2016 15:33:07 GMT -5
I've read he 12 issue maxi and it's good not great, a little uneven before it found its footing. I even have the 35 cent test covers for issue 1 and 2 quite by accident (they were the ones I snatched out of a dollar bin when getting the series a while back). The "ongoing that launched after the maxi-series ended is pretty much in the same vein as the maxi from what I can tell, but then the creators (Mishkin & Cohn) left and it changed. The 4 issue mini by Giffen and Newell is completely different in style and tone form what came before. And the new 52 series in Sword of Sorcery is only Amethyst in name and superficial designs, it is a completely different take that really had nothing to do with the original concept oft he series (not quite as radically different as the Stalker back up in that series or the Beowulf back up there too, neither of which had anything to do with their Bronze Age namesakes).
The result is that there is no cohesive whole for Amethyst but a lot of disparate things using the name that have superficial similarities but are really radically different properties, and putting them all in a single volume would make for a disjointed and unsatisfying reading experience, unless you market it as something liek Amethyst Visions and promote the diversity of concepts and make it a selling point (something that really doesn't jibe well with continuity driven comic book fans).
My advice to anyone interested in reading this-read the maxi, read the following series for the Mishkin driven stuff and skip the rest.
-M
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Post by Chris on Sept 15, 2016 0:36:51 GMT -5
there was also her original appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #258, and a DC Comics Presents issue. #298. Issue 258 was cover dated Dec. 1979, several years before Amethyst would debut. I remember that issue ridiculously well, because it was the last issue if the original Superboy title. The next issue saw Superboy leave the Legion and the official title changed to Legion of Super-Heroes. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Sept 15, 2016 6:56:11 GMT -5
I really liked the reboot they did for New 52 (as Sword of Sorcery).. too bad it didn't stick, like so many other things DC threw against the wall at that time. I do have the Showcase volume, but haven't go around to it yet.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2016 8:28:24 GMT -5
I never really read Amethyst, but remember the ads sparking my interest. I think I may have flipped through it at the store but never bought a copy. I do think Amethyst would have made a pretty cool action figure line, ha! I had the LSH issue where the preview comic appeared and remember her being in Crisis on Infinite Earths.
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Post by rom on Sept 15, 2016 8:42:03 GMT -5
there was also her original appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #258, and a DC Comics Presents issue. #298. Issue 258 was cover dated Dec. 1979, several years before Amethyst would debut. I remember that issue ridiculously well, because it was the last issue if the original Superboy title. The next issue saw Superboy leave the Legion and the official title changed to Legion of Super-Heroes.
I stand corrected - Thanks.
The main reason I had 0 interest in getting the Amethyst b&w Showcase volume was because of the lack of color. This was a comic in which color was extremely critical to the story, i.e. the various colored gemstones, the sword and sorcery aspect, etc. Reading these issues in b&w would severely take away from the effectiveness of the story. I feel the same way about most of the DC Showcase & Marvel Essential volumes. (Conversely, reprints like the b&w SSOC DH Trades are great, since they are reprinting comics that were originally in b&w - so you're not losing anything re: the original appearance of the comics).
If the Classic Amethyst series were ever to be reprinted, I would want all 3 series & Amethyst's other appearances as well. I'm a completest, and don't think they should skip any of these issues.
Though a HC Omnibus is unlikely due to the obscurity of the character, I don't see why DC can't give us a thick color Trade, or maybe even 2 Trades. This was an amazing & underrated title, and should be made available again.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Sept 15, 2016 9:39:51 GMT -5
I read the first few issues with both of my daughters (at different times) before both completely lost interest. I've heard amazing things about this series but apparently never got far enough to see what really makes it special. I could see signs of the complex world being developed, as well as the escapist fantasy at the center of it all, but I think I only got five issues in, and that wasn't far enough for things to truly get interesting for me.
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Post by hondobrode on Sept 15, 2016 11:51:20 GMT -5
I liked the concept and character and am glad to see that she hasn't been forgotten by DC. Technically, she first appeared here  and then had her preview as a 16 page insert in the Legion of Super-Heroes  The next month her maxi-series debuted  She then had an ongoing including an annual and a special, a total of 18 issues  She then had a 4 issue mini by Keith Giffen & Estaban Maroto  We've seen her in the New 52 as well as in the front of Sword of Sorcery  I'm looking forward to seeing more of the character in Rebirth eventually |
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Post by rom on Sept 15, 2016 12:29:59 GMT -5
Great post! Thanks for those covers - they look fantastic. I had forgotten about the DC sampler.
Out of all the Amethyst series (of which I've only paged through back in the day, never actually read), I'm thinking that the 4-issue mini with art by Estaban Maroto had the best art - that cover looks amazing. |
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Post by hondobrode on Sept 15, 2016 17:56:25 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2016 18:00:45 GMT -5
I really enjoyed the New 52 version, even if it was cut painfully short for my taste. I dug her later appearances in Justice League Dark and Future's End. She and Frankenstein had great moments.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Sept 15, 2016 18:01:39 GMT -5
That must have been a heck of a sampler to have Wolfman/Perez NTT, Arak, was I suspect is Action Comics Weekly,Omega Men (or is that LEGION.. maybe even the Wanderers), and Firestorm.. plus Amethyst and whatever else.
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Post by hondobrode on Sept 15, 2016 18:09:29 GMT -5
I agree.
Looking forward to seeing her next iteration.
I liked seeing her in the New 52.
DC has also had her in animation, and I predict they won't keep her away for long.
Not only is she a solid character, but I think back in the early 80's when she was created, I'm guessing it was under work-for-hire, but I wouldn't swear to it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2016 18:17:15 GMT -5
I agree. Looking forward to seeing her next iteration. I liked seeing her in the New 52. DC has also had her in animation, and I predict they won't keep her away for long. Not only is she a solid character, but I think back in the early 80's when she was created, I'm guessing it was under work-for-hire, but I wouldn't swear to it. I enjoyed seeing her show up in the DC Superhero Girls: Hero of the Year movie even if it was just a cameo. |
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Post by rom on Sept 15, 2016 18:53:25 GMT -5
That Amethyst Maroto art is stunning! Thanks for posting. Surprised that the mini with this art didn't do well; I guess this character/series never really caught on amongst comic fans.
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