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Post by codystarbuck on Sept 19, 2017 22:55:37 GMT -5
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Post by The Captain on Sept 20, 2017 9:34:27 GMT -5
Just got caught up on this thread this morning and am loving it! I read the entire series a year or two back, so I'm pretty familiar with the material, and I'm enjoying the reviews as well as the other comments a lot.
Some initial musings:
1. Totally agree that the series starts slowly (almost weirdly), picks up momentum toward the end of the first dozen issues, stays strong for the next year, then declines in quality in the remaining issues (particularly those focusing on the kid sidekicks).
2. Frank Robbins' art makes me angry. It ruined the end of Englehart's run on Captain America and is just as equally damaging here.
3. Absolutely loved the addition of Union Jack and Spitfire to the title, as well as that of Baron Blood.
4. Am much less enthusiastic about seeing the Red Skull repeatedly, but that is mostly due to burnout from my Cap reviews than any fault of this book. Too much of anything, even something good, can be tiresome.
Looking forward to the rest of the series!
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Post by mikelmidnight on Sept 20, 2017 11:31:52 GMT -5
I totally second the recommendation for Jack Staff! It's a little off-beat but an excellant read.
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Post by codystarbuck on Sept 20, 2017 13:48:16 GMT -5
Slight correction for above: it's not Archie the Robot; but, a pastiche, Tom-Tom, the Robot Man. There are pastiches of the Invaders and some other characters, with a liberal dose of humor, added to the weirdness and adventure. Lot of fun.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 20, 2017 14:13:13 GMT -5
Just got caught up on this thread this morning and am loving it! I read the entire series a year or two back, so I'm pretty familiar with the material, and I'm enjoying the reviews as well as the other comments a lot. Some initial musings: 1. Totally agree that the series starts slowly (almost weirdly), picks up momentum toward the end of the first dozen issues, stays strong for the next year, then declines in quality in the remaining issues (particularly those focusing on the kid sidekicks). 2. Frank Robbins' art makes me angry. It ruined the end of Englehart's run on Captain America and is just as equally damaging here. 3. Absolutely loved the addition of Union Jack and Spitfire to the title, as well as that of Baron Blood. 4. Am much less enthusiastic about seeing the Red Skull repeatedly, but that is mostly due to burnout from my Cap reviews than any fault of this book. Too much of anything, even something good, can be tiresome. Looking forward to the rest of the series! You find Robbins that bad eh? Granted it's not the best from this era of comics, I still think it works okay. But you are right when it comes to drawing the characters, there is more to be desired. His planes and other vehicles always look good though. |
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Post by brutalis on Sept 20, 2017 15:52:41 GMT -5
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 21, 2017 18:55:11 GMT -5
Invaders #9 The Cover
Another beauty by Kirby. I love the look of Baron a lot more on this one than the last. Union Jack looks great as well. Cap's face is very Kirby there and looks more like he was walking in on his girlfriend cheating with someone that he does watching a battle but whatever. It works and I like it. The Story
So Union Jack is with the Invaders as they return to Jack's mansion. Of course, his daughter is not happy and proclaims that she hates Captain America for causing her father to hop back into his old costume. Best part of the issue right here when her dad tries to calm her...SHE PROCEEDS TO FLIP HIM OVER HER HEAD ONTO HIS BACK! But then she faints.  Her fainting though was due to a new bite mark noticed by her father on her neck. The team surmises that Baron Blood must know Union Jack is Lord Falsworth and is coming after his loved ones. They wonder if his nephew is okay and we seem him briefly before disappearing because it is "too bright". The team starts to plan and the next eve, the Invaders take off, leaving Union Jack at home guarding his daughter. The nephew changes into Baron Blood and the battle begins! It is over quick though as Baron Blood hypnotizes Union Jack to drop his weapon. But rather than finish Union Jack, he wants him to suffer when he wakes. He turns to Jacqueline who recognizes the Baron as her cousin. He proceeds to give a brief backstory about how he found Dracula's tomb while in Transylvania and was bitten by Dracula himself. He took a break between wars but when Adolf Hitler came into power, he knew he had to come back because he was as evil as anything, and this appealed to the Baron. He also reveals he is not a nephew but rather, Falsworth's brother. He leaps to attack Jacqueline when Torch bursts in. Turns out, the Invaders figured out the nephew was the Baron so Torch stayed behind secretly. The Baron grabs Jacqueline and escapes outside. Torch follows, but it is pouring rain and he flame is extinguished as he receives a kick in the face, knocking him out. When he comes to, Jack is there asking where they went and when Torch tells him, he seems worried. In the meantime, Torch calls out to the team to head back immediately. They do and everyone meets up in a cave. First, Union Jack tries to battle the vampire but Baron Blood tosses a boulder on him, crushing UJ's legs. Then, the Invaders arrive and are swatted aside. Baron tries to escape further into the cave with Jacqueline and appears to be trying to drain more of her blood to kill her? I was a bit confused her and I will get to that shortly. Anyways, Union Jack pries the boulder of his leg but it starts rolling down towards the Baron and high daughter. Cap acts quickly and rescues Jacqueline and while distracted by this, Baron Blood is hit by the boulder and knocked onto some stalagmites (or are they tites?) which kills him. It ends with the Cap proclaiming Jacqueline to barely be alive and unsure if she will survive. Opinions
I like this story and it concludes one of the better story arcs in the series, that is for sure! I feel it got a little bit convoluted for no reason, like why his nephew had to be his long-lost/forgotten brother. Also, the whole technicality of a vampire had me scratching my head. The book does explain how he survives in sunlight, which was nice to learn, but as I always understood, you had to be bitten and you too would be a vampire. Here, Jacqueline is bitten what appears to be more than once as the Baron tries to drain her blood. It seemed odd, unless I am missing something from vampire lore. Overall, some good vampire imagery and a decent story overall. Quote of the Issue
"You may be hot stuff when it comes to hypnotizing middle-aged men and half-dead women...but, mister, that doesn't cut much ice with the Human Torch"- Torch as he chases after Baron Blood.
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Post by codystarbuck on Sept 22, 2017 1:46:36 GMT -5
Vampire lore is contradictory. In some versions, you have to be bitten at least three times; in some, there must be an exchange of blood (used in Kim Newman's Anno Dracula series, among others). Mostly, it seems to be whatever is convenient for the particular story or legend.
I agree that Roy gets a bit convoluted in the back story; but not excessively so. The flipping of Lord Falsworth always seemed like it was supposed to be Baron Blood's influence starting to affect Jacqueline, though that may just be my interpretation. Definitely the best storyline so far and a Nazi vampire makes sense, especially when talking about pulpy Timely-style comics. Those old stories had a lot of vampires, masked ghouls and killers, and similar madmen (swiping from the more grisly pulps, of which Martin Goodman's were some of the most grisly). Part of what I liked about the Invaders was the pulpier take on things and one of the elements I always liked about the better Golden Age stories. It fits the era, especially since so many of those early comics and characters drew/swiped their inspiration from the pulps.
I defend Frank Robbins; but, in the image above, it does look like Jacqueline chopped Cap across the eyes, rather than slapped him. No wonder he said "Ouch!"
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 22, 2017 10:02:47 GMT -5
The three bites would make sense here then I suppose. I did not find it so convoluted that it took away from the story which was good. And yes, I believe you are right in thinking that Baron Blood's bite was affecting her...I just like how she threw her old man down.
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Post by mikelmidnight on Sept 22, 2017 11:53:42 GMT -5
I think it was setting her up in advance as someone with the skills to be a costumed hero, while simultaneously pointing out that Lord Falsworth really was too old to go back into action.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 24, 2017 16:17:28 GMT -5
^Would have been cool to see her don the Union Jack costume. (PS...if any of these things happen don't tell me haha. Remember, I am reading this as though I am a kid back in the 1970s who bought the run and is reading for the first time. With some minor knowledge, of course)
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Post by codystarbuck on Sept 24, 2017 21:07:08 GMT -5
^Would have been cool to see her don the Union Jack costume. (PS...if any of these things happen don't tell me haha. Remember, I am reading this as though I am a kid back in the 1970s who bought the run and is reading for the first time. With some minor knowledge, of course) Well, I won't spoil that; but, Cap does walk in on Bucky trying on Miss America's costume; and, well.......... it was just kind of awkward. Then again, Cap was known to take a walk on the wild side...   |
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Post by mikelmidnight on Sept 25, 2017 11:54:19 GMT -5
^Would have been cool to see her don the Union Jack costume. (PS...if any of these things happen don't tell me haha. Remember, I am reading this as though I am a kid back in the 1970s who bought the run and is reading for the first time. With some minor knowledge, of course)
Apparently she was supposed to have been Union Jacquie, but they didn't like the way the uniform looked on a female physique.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 25, 2017 19:36:26 GMT -5
Invaders #10 The CoverJohn Romita cover here. And man, is it terrible. The reaper looks silly and nothing like the character seen on the inside (he looks much better on the interior artwork too). Definitely not one of Romita's best. The StoryThe team is rushing Jacqueline to the hospital. During this, Union Jack mentions the word reaper, which cause Cap to have a flashback. The story then starts a reprint of Captain America #22! Now normally, I don't like reprints especially if I have the issue but this is something beyond the realm of owning so I am happy it appeared here. The reprinted is by Al Avison and Al Gabrielle. In this flashback, Hitler sends this Reaper fella to the US. He has some conference in the US that is broadcast everywhere and he tells Americans that everything they know is wrong and that they should fight back against their laws, courts and police. At first, it sounds crazy but slowly people start to believe him and in the days that follow, people start to rebel against police. They try to arrest Reaper but he merely put forth the idea and has done nothing wrong. Back over in Germany, Hitler uses this to spin lies of his own, telling the German people that the US is weak and their rebelling is a sign that they are afraid, meaning Germany can win this war. Cap and Bucky confront Reaper and Reaper calls the police on them, because he has done nothing wrong. Cap and Bucky bolt but the Reaper still gets out a flash bulletin on the radio calling for their arrest. Cap and Bucky are stuck now because if they suit up, they will be arrested and if they return to their base they will get in trouble again. However, Cap devises a plan and the two part ways. We then see Reaper preaching to some Nazi followers in some underground tunnel. He believes they have enough American supporters now to present their final public demonstration. Back at Reaper's office building (he had a headquarters that was really just an office building), Cap sneaks in as Steve and pretends to be a follower to find out where the next protest would be. He shows up and the Reaper is getting the crowd riled up. Cap jumps in to fight but is knocked down and the crowd starts to head off in a mob-like fashion. Bucky arrives with proof that Reaper is not a US citizen and is a Nazi. This seals the deal for Cap and he chases after Reaper. Their battle leads into the subway where Reaper steps on the dreaded third rail, frying himself into oblivion. The angry mobs quickly disperse once it is revealed they were duped by a Nazi and everything goes back to normal. Cap ends his flashback as they arrive at the hospital and rush Union Jack and Jacqueline to the ER. OpinionsThis was my first experience reading a Golden Age Captain America story. The art was good, a little cartoony in spots. I mentioned that I liked the look of the Reaper better here. He has a long beard that is missing from the cover version. My guess is Romita whipped it out quick because, as Roy admits at the issue's end, they were behind on deadlines and reprinted this story to have an issue for this month. This is a little disappointing but it was nice to read a Golden Age story. It was simplistic but had a message at the same time and I like it for that. But I am ready to get back to Invaders action! Funny Scene of the IssueCap and Bucky are overheard planning to sneak out to listen to the Reaper speak by Sergeant Duffy. He punishes them for wanting to sneak out by...making them peel a mound of onions! Love it! Pinkfloyd Ponders...Were Avison or Gabrielle ever around for comic cons? Did anyone get them to sign anything? I feel like a signature from a Golden Age writer/artist would be rare and also unlikely. Also...Gabriele has no death date and any searches I have made list his living status as unknown. He would be 101 if he were still alive.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2017 21:45:06 GMT -5
I (sort of) like the story ... regarding the Reaper and I agree that the Cover isn't all that good and it's should been done better. I remember the cover and your write up here jarred my memory bank. Nice Write Up here - pinkfloydsound17 |
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