Roquefort Raider
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 3, 2020 14:20:21 GMT -5
Archie Annual Digest #36. I have no specific recollection of this issue, but Archie was a big sucess in our household; my sister bought them, and my mom and I also enjoyed it. Good memories indeed.
Avengers #195. I liked the white and blue costume that Janet wore. It's a bit overdesigned, but hey... It's not as if it was going to last very long.
Battlestar Galactica #15. I was a big Galactica fan, and although Walt Simonson had apparently been told (much to this reader's chagrin) to stop using the actors' likenesses for the cast of characters, he was still doing an excellent job. Nice to see Boomer take center stage, too. (Insert your O.K., Boomer joke here).
Best of DC #5. No argument: those Blue Ribbon Digests had the absolute best quality/price ratio in comics. Well, quality... let's say "enjoyment", because the paper was one notch above toilet paper. But so many stories in one book!!!
Conan the barbarian #110. There was something wrong with the post-Bêlit Conan... This should have been an instant winner: a story once more set in the civilized part of the world aftre years of jungle tales, and adapted from a novel by Norvell Page. And yet, it felt very formulaic and uninspired. Roy would return to form just a few issues later, though, with issue #113... and alas, just a few months before he left for DC.
Fantasy Masterpieces #6, reprinting the sixth issue of Silver Surfer. I see that issue as a silent winner; it's probably one of my favourite Surfer tales, yet few people seem to remember it.
Iron Man #134. A great period for the Golden Avenger. I loved the supporting cast in those days: Mrs. Arbogast, Bethany Cabe, Rhodey et al.
Legion of Super-heroes #263. I knew little of the Legion back then; I had read the Treasury Edition in which Garth an Imra got married, plus the pair of stories that introduced Karate Kid, Ferro Lad and Princess Projectra (as a translated back-up feature in a air of Kamandi issues published by Héritage). But grife, was that future world enticing! Plus, "Dagon the avenger" looked all kinds of cool.
Man-Thing #4. My first Man-Thing subscription issue! Something of a let-down, though. I expected Mike Ploog and got Don Perlin.
Master of Kung Fu #88. I still liked Shang-Chi, but the new Fu Manchu arc sort of fell short of the previous one. It's only later that I would appreciate how it harkened back to the works of Sax Rohmer.
Micronauts #17. Oh, dear. The spiral of anger and frustration. From Michael Golden's stellar artwork last seen in issue 12 to what is arguably the worst art job ever from Howard Chaykin. (I actually refused to let myself enjoy any of Chaykin's work for many months after that, even if I eventually had to admit that his work on Cody Starbuck was pretty darn awesome). The depressing and uninspired plot didn't help any.
Savage Sword of Conan #51. The adaptation of the novel «Conan the liberator» by L. Sprague de Camp continued. Decent art by Buscema and DeZuniga, and Roy did his best to breathe some life in what is a rather by-the-numbers plot.
Secrets of Haunted House #24. No idea what this was about. It was on the spinner rack, so I bought it.
Star Wars #35. I still didn't like Infantino's art on Star Wars, but I was growing used to his idiosyncratic aesthetics. The plot, meanwhile, was absolutely thrilling! Goodwin was truly an ace when it came to expand the Star Wars concepts. (The House of Tagge and the like were far more interesting opponents than whatever the writers of the expanded universe and the three sequel films came up with!)
Thor #295. A very important book in my personal life, because it bridged the world of fantasy (my field of predilection) and Wagnerian opera (my dad's). All of a sudden we could talk of something we had in common. I grew to love Wagner, and my dad started accompanying me to things like the movie Excalibur. We really bonded over Middle Age romances and mythology, and it all started with my reading this issue and learning about the ring of the Nibelung, Fafnir, Fasolt and the building of Valhalla. So thank you for that, Marvel.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2020 22:31:05 GMT -5
^^^I remember buying a few of those off the racks. Times sure does fly by.
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Post by dbutler69 on Feb 6, 2020 10:06:17 GMT -5
Archie Annual Digest #36. I have no specific recollection of this issue, but Archie was a big sucess in our household; my sister bought them, and my mom and I also enjoyed it. Good memories indeed. Avengers #195. I liked the white and blue costume that Janet wore. It's a bit overdesigned, but hey... It's not as if it was going to last very long. Battlestar Galactica #15. I was a big Galactica fan, and although Walt Simonson had apparently been told (much to this reader's chagrin) to stop using the actors' likenesses for the cast of characters, he was still doing an excellent job. Nice to see Boomer take center stage, too. (Insert your O.K., Boomer joke here). Best of DC #5. No argument: those Blue Ribbon Digests had the absolute best quality/price ratio in comics. Well, quality... let's say "enjoyment", because the paper was one notch above toilet paper. But so many stories in one book!!! Conan the barbarian #110. There was something wrong with the post-Bêlit Conan... This should have been an instant winner: a story once more set in the civilized part of the world aftre years of jungle tales, and adapted from a novel by Norvell Page. And yet, it felt very formulaic and uninspired. Roy would return to form just a few issues later, though, with issue #113... and alas, just a few months before he left for DC. Fantasy Masterpieces #6, reprinting the sixth issue of Silver Surfer. I see that issue as a silent winner; it's probably one of my favourite Surfer tales, yet few people seem to remember it. Iron Man #134. A great period for the Golden Avenger. I loved the supporting cast in those days: Mrs. Arbogast, Bethany Cabe, Rhodey et al. Legion of Super-heroes #263. I knew little of the Legion back then; I had read the Treasury Edition in which Garth an Imra got married, plus the pair of stories that introduced Karate Kid, Ferro Lad and Princess Projectra (as a translated back-up feature in a air of Kamandi issues published by Héritage). But grife, was that future world enticing! Plus, "Dagon the avenger" looked all kinds of cool. Man-Thing #4. My first Man-Thing subscription issue! Something of a let-down, though. I expected Mike Ploog and got Don Perlin. Master of Kung Fu #88. I still liked Shang-Chi, but the new Fu Manchu arc sort of fell short of the previous one. It's only later that I would appreciate how it harkened back to the works of Sax Rohmer. Micronauts #17. Oh, dear. The spiral of anger and frustration. From Michael Golden's stellar artwork last seen in issue 12 to what is arguably the worst art job ever from Howard Chaykin. (I actually refused to let myself enjoy any of Chaykin's work for many months after that, even if I eventually had to admit that his work on Cody Starbuck was pretty darn awesome). The depressing and uninspired plot didn't help any. Savage Sword of Conan #51. The adaptation of the novel «Conan the liberator» by L. Sprague de Camp continued. Decent art by Buscema and DeZuniga, and Roy did his best to breathe some life in what is a rather by-the-numbers plot. Secrets of Haunted House #24. No idea what this was about. It was on the spinner rack, so I bought it. Star Wars #35. I still didn't like Infantino's art on Star Wars, but I was growing used to his idiosyncratic aesthetics. The plot, meanwhile, was absolutely thrilling! Goodwin was truly an ace when it came to expand the Star Wars concepts. (The House of Tagge and the like were far more interesting opponents than whatever the writers of the expanded universe and the three sequel films came up with!) Thor #295. A very important book in my personal life, because it bridged the world of fantasy (my field of predilection) and Wagnerian opera (my dad's). All of a sudden we could talk of something we had in common. I grew to love Wagner, and my dad started accompanying me to things like the movie Excalibur. We really bonded over Middle Age romances and mythology, and it all started with my reading this issue and learning about the ring of the Nibelung, Fafnir, Fasolt and the building of Valhalla. So thank you for that, Marvel. Regarding Avengers #195, that costume of Jan's bothers me. I like symmetry! Best of DC#5: I loved those digest size comics! I have to say though, they don't age well. I don't know if it's my eyes or the lower quality paper & ink, but I have a little trouble reading them these days. Legion of Super-Heroes #263: I love the Legion! And you're right, Dagon was pretty cool looking, even if he didn't amount to much over the long haul. Master of Kung Fu #88: I was way late to the Shang Chi train. My loss. Micronauts #17: I don't remember my impressions of this specific comic, but I know that this was one of my favorite series, but yes, losing Michael Golden was a huge blow. Thor #295: That's awesome about you and your dad bonding over that! Yes, Middle Age romance is cool stuff.
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Post by beccabear67 on Feb 6, 2020 14:02:22 GMT -5
I had Micronauts #11 all on it's own and had little idea of what was going on. The next one I picked up was #18, and I liked it much better with it's one off dollhouse story despite the simpler art inside (and I still enjoyed the Golden cover a lot). It set me up for the Pat Broderick run which I really liked, and I bought the title until it's very last issue (and the first few of the new numbering that followed). I know I had Legion #262 and like that, but not enough to start to follow the title... again it was Pat Broderick starting on it (cover of #283, inside of #284) that got me buying it regularly even though he left pretty quick and Giffen started. I was buying Iron Man from #130 and Avengers from #192 (having gotten #189 in a trade at school). The red and black 'arrow' with a little white Wasp costume was the one I remember best. That one leg and one arm covered thing reminded me of a David Bowie costume I thought ridiculous.
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Post by dbutler69 on Mar 2, 2020 10:13:25 GMT -5
What I bought on sale in March 1980:
Amazing Adventures #7 Avengers #196 Fantastic Four #219 Justice League of America #179 Legion of Super-Heroes #264 Micronauts #18 X-Men #134
What I bought much more recently as back issues: Adventure Comics #472 Captain America #246 Defenders #84 Marvel Two-in-One #64 Power Man #63 Rom #7 Shogun Warriors #17 Tales to Astonish #7
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Roquefort Raider
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Mar 2, 2020 10:40:59 GMT -5
Bought in March 1980.
(How time flies... Many of these don't seem so old).
Conan the barbarian #111. The entire Sons of the Bear God story arc was pretty formulaic. In hindisght it was much better than the dismal years that would follow under the pen of DeMatteis, Jones and Fleisher, but at the time it felt like the main Conan title was just going through the motions.
Fantastic Four #219. I remember hating the inking in this issue, not because the inker wasn't good but because he was absolutely ill-suited to Sienkewiecz's style.
Fantasy Masterpieces #7, with the Surfer facing the Frankenstein monster (just not «the» Frankenstein monster). I was thrilled to finally have access to Silver Surfer comics, any kind of Silver Surfer comics, but this issue wasn't exactly Earth-shaking.
Howard the duck magazine #5. Michael Golden art? Say no more!!! Howard meets Dracula, and Harold H. Harold (a major Tomb of Dracula supporting character, for a while at least) gets bitten and turned into a vampire. In a humour mag? Oy vey!!!
King Conan #2. More Conan goodness, with a major fight against Thoth-Amon. Nice continuity, too, as characters from SSoC #40-43 show up (a few decades after they met our main character).
Marvel Premiere #54. I remember when and where I bought this comic, and reading it in my Grandma's flat. Good memories! Plus that Caleb Hammer character was pretty cool! I don't think I've ever seen the labor union situation in XIX century America ever used again in comics.
Marvel Two-in-one #64, with Stingray (who for some reason I really liked, mostly due to his uncommon costume). Yeah, I remember that trip to grandma's place... I had purchased all the comics I could find at that old newspaper place («le roi du pétard», or «the firecracker king») that was both tobacconist and news outlet. The floors were made of grey, creaky plywood sheets and the place smelled of newsprint and cherry tobacco. It also had lots of comics. Absolute heaven!
Master of Kung Fu #89, with another Fu Manchu saga ending. I loved Chang-Chi, but there was a sense of déjà vu to this issue.
Micronauts #18. Gorgeous cover, atrocious interior art. And a boring story in which the Micronauts are caught in a dollhouse. One thing I absolutely hated in the Micronauts was when the 'Nauts would interact with toys. It was always as if their diminutive size meant they could interact with toys as if they were the real thing, and not see immediately that this wasn't an actual Micronaut-sized car, house or person but rather a crudely-made imitation, completely nonfunctional. (It had been worse in the Micronauts annual where they would actually drive toy cars around).
Savage sword of Conan #52. Wooh! Does Alcina have nice breasts! (Nudity was far more pervasive in that mag than it would be just a few months later. I blame Ronald Reagan).
Star Wars #36. That title was getting better and better! Take notes, future sequel writers...
Super-villain team-up #17. I liked the way Adolf Hitler was handled in that one. (I suppose he turned out not to be the real Hitler in later years...)
The Warlord #34. The design of the Hellfire sword was gorgeous. So was Travis Morgan's helmet's, for that matter.
What If..? #21, in which Sue marries the Sub-Mariner. Those What if..? stories were really something; more than glorified fan-fiction, they often told very dramatic stories based on actual continuity and delving into what made our favourite heroes click. They gave a sense of authenticity to the Marvel Universe, because even in "make-believe" stories, our heroes all acted in character. That compares advantageously to more recent comics, in which new writers seem to feel free to totally change characters to fit their story. Anyway...Good job.
X-Men #134. Arguably one of the comics I loved the most, ever, upon first reading it.
"I am Phoenix!"
BOOOM!!!
What a cliffhanger!!!
(Luckily, my first subscription issue was the next one).
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Post by kirby101 on Mar 2, 2020 11:37:47 GMT -5
Pretty much every Marvel Superhero and S&S book on the shelves.
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Post by brutalis on Mar 2, 2020 13:49:02 GMT -5
March 1980 Finishing up the last few months of my Senior Year in High School. Was saving up $$ for Graduation trip expenditures coming in June. And yet was always scrounging up money for comics, usually through spending my given lunch money and living off a School lunch bought chocolate shake and french fries for $1.00 a day. Oh how we suffer for our addiction.... Amazing Spider-Man 205 Avengers 196 Batman 324 Battlestar Galactica 16 Captain America 246 Defenders 64 FF 219 Iron Man 135 JLA 179 LOSH 264 Marvel Premiere 54: Caleb Hammer western, whoohoo MTIO 64 MOKF 89 Micronauts 18 Powerman/Iron Fist 63 ROM 7 Shogun Warriors 17 Spectacular Spider-Man 43 Spider-Woman 27 Star Trek 3 Star Wars 36 Warlord 34 X-Men 134
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Post by beccabear67 on Mar 2, 2020 20:13:39 GMT -5
Very vivid memories of Avengers #196, Micronauts #18, Marvel Two-In-One #64, and X-Men #134. The only one I haven't gotten again is Micronauts #18 and likely never would though I loved it as a kid at the time. It was #19 where the art got really excellent, so I have that and #20.
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Post by badwolf on Mar 2, 2020 20:55:55 GMT -5
Micronauts #18. Gorgeous cover, atrocious interior art. And a boring story in which the Micronauts are caught in a dollhouse. One thing I absolutely hated in the Micronauts was when the 'Nauts would interact with toys. It was always as if their diminutive size meant they could interact with toys as if they were the real thing, and not see immediately that this wasn't an actual Micronaut-sized car, house or person but rather a crudely-made imitation, completely nonfunctional. (It had been worse in the Micronauts annual where they would actually drive toy cars around). The Micronauts were aware that they were dolls, they just didn't know what was controlling them. At least, that's how it is on the cover. I don't remember the inside. Need to get that issue again. I came on the series during this period (#16) and also I was 10 so the art seemed fine to me. I actually didn't like Broderick's art which followed at the time.
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Roquefort Raider
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Mar 2, 2020 21:15:24 GMT -5
Micronauts #18. Gorgeous cover, atrocious interior art. And a boring story in which the Micronauts are caught in a dollhouse. One thing I absolutely hated in the Micronauts was when the 'Nauts would interact with toys. It was always as if their diminutive size meant they could interact with toys as if they were the real thing, and not see immediately that this wasn't an actual Micronaut-sized car, house or person but rather a crudely-made imitation, completely nonfunctional. (It had been worse in the Micronauts annual where they would actually drive toy cars around). The Micronauts were aware that they were dolls, they just didn't know what was controlling them. At least, that's how it is on the cover. I don't remember the inside. Need to get that issue again. I came on the series during this period (#16) and also I was 10 so the art seemed fine to me. I actually didn't like Broderick's art which followed at the time.
(Suddenly doubting his memory, he dashes down to the garage and fishes out the issue from a longbox...) flip-flip-flip... There we are. You’re right, the cover says that the “people” are lifeless dummies. But in the comic, it is as I remember hating it. Rann and Mari reach a house that they mistake for a real one, noting that it seems out of proportion relative to the local vegetation. The inside is not that of a doll’s house, but looks like a proper one (only smaller). They meet a doll and mistake it for a real person until it collapses upon being touched (“it’s as if my touch has killed him”, says Mari). Wandering around the many well-furnished rooms of the mansion, our heroes meet “more humanoids... similar to the one we encountered in the corridor without. All sitting... or standing lifelessly about!” “It’s frightening, Arcturus... Are they dead... did they ever even live?” That’s what annoyed me in such stories. There is no way a doll’s house would look like a real one even if we were shrunk to Micronaut size, and no way a 5 inches doll could pass for a living being (or a dead one) after a few seconds of scrutiny. (Heck, even the bookshelves in the house have real, tiny books in them!) When Acroyear and Cilicia join Rann and Mari, they, too, mistake the dolls for real people. It’s only on page 26, when one is cut in two, that the ‘Nauts realize they’re mannequins. I had forgotten about the tiny Rolls Royce having an actual engine under the hood (complete with air filter), but perhaps it’s was a high end Corgi toy so it gets a pass!
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Post by badwolf on Mar 3, 2020 11:25:57 GMT -5
The Micronauts were aware that they were dolls, they just didn't know what was controlling them. At least, that's how it is on the cover. I don't remember the inside. Need to get that issue again. I came on the series during this period (#16) and also I was 10 so the art seemed fine to me. I actually didn't like Broderick's art which followed at the time.
(Suddenly doubting his memory, he dashes down to the garage and fishes out the issue from a longbox...) flip-flip-flip... There we are. You’re right, the cover says that the “people” are lifeless dummies. But in the comic, it is as I remember hating it. Rann and Mari reach a house that they mistake for a real one, noting that it seems out of proportion relative to the local vegetation. The inside is not that of a doll’s house, but looks like a proper one (only smaller). They meet a doll and mistake it for a real person until it collapses upon being touched (“it’s as if my touch has killed him”, says Mari). Wandering around the many well-furnished rooms of the mansion, our heroes meet “more humanoids... similar to the one we encountered in the corridor without. All sitting... or standing lifelessly about!” “It’s frightening, Arcturus... Are they dead... did they ever even live?” That’s what annoyed me in such stories. There is no way a doll’s house would look like a real one even if we were shrunk to Micronaut size, and no way a 5 inches doll could pass for a living being (or a dead one) after a few seconds of scrutiny. (Heck, even the bookshelves in the house have real, tiny books in them!) When Acroyear and Cilicia join Rann and Mari, they, too, mistake the dolls for real people. It’s only on page 26, when one is cut in two, that the ‘Nauts realize they’re mannequins. I had forgotten about the tiny Rolls Royce having an actual engine under the hood (complete with air filter), but perhaps it’s was a high end Corgi toy so it gets a pass! Maybe the dolls were made by McFarlane Toys...or Japanese! Where's my No-Prize?
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 3, 2020 13:26:37 GMT -5
Nothing this month. Must have been waiting for summer and the chance to earn money to buy comics.
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 16, 2020 9:15:13 GMT -5
September, 1974 August,1974
1966 May, 1979
December, 1978 December, 1976 October, 1979 January, 1975
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Post by codystarbuck on Apr 1, 2020 14:01:09 GMT -5
i was ticked that I didn't have issues 2 & 3 of Untold legend, for years. I cannot recall how I got the Superman comic, since we didn't have a TRS-80 and didn't go into a Radio Shack. I'm thinking we got it in school.
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