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Post by spoon on Jan 18, 2015 12:21:17 GMT -5
I haven't read very much Bronze Age Superman - just a few issues here and there. I'm wondering if anyone has comments or recommendations regarding Superman, Action, DC Comics Presents, World's Finest, or any other Superman titles from 1970 up to Crisis.
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Post by paulie on Jan 18, 2015 12:26:31 GMT -5
I haven't read very much Bronze Age Superman - just a few issues here and there. I'm wondering if anyone has comments or recommendations regarding Superman, Action, DC Comics Presents, World's Finest, or any other Superman titles from 1970 up to Crisis. World's Finest is probably the best you can do storywise. A lot of fun Bob Haney craziness. Then you get the long Dollar Comics run. I find the two main Supes titles especially tedious but if you can get any 100 page giants I've found those are a glorious way to kill an hour or two. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jan 18, 2015 12:32:57 GMT -5
I haven't read very much Bronze Age Superman - just a few issues here and there. I'm wondering if anyone has comments or recommendations regarding Superman, Action, DC Comics Presents, World's Finest, or any other Superman titles from 1970 up to Crisis. Avoid all of them like the plague. Except maybe the Super-Sons. Because they're hilariously awesome. |
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Post by paulie on Jan 18, 2015 12:48:26 GMT -5
I haven't read very much Bronze Age Superman - just a few issues here and there. I'm wondering if anyone has comments or recommendations regarding Superman, Action, DC Comics Presents, World's Finest, or any other Superman titles from 1970 up to Crisis. Avoid all of them like the plague. Except maybe the Super-Sons. Because they're hilariously awesome. I went the diplomatic route in my previous post but... what Slam said! |
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Post by spoon on Jan 18, 2015 12:51:29 GMT -5
I haven't read very much Bronze Age Superman - just a few issues here and there. I'm wondering if anyone has comments or recommendations regarding Superman, Action, DC Comics Presents, World's Finest, or any other Superman titles from 1970 up to Crisis. World's Finest is probably the best you can do storywise. A lot of fun Bob Haney craziness. Then you get the long Dollar Comics run. I find the two main Supes titles especially tedious but if you can get any 100 page giants I've found those are a glorious way to kill an hour or two. Okay, I had gotten the impression that this was a down period for Superman, but was hoping there might be something worthwhile. Guess not. I do have at least one issue of the Dollar Comics run of World's Finest (#245) that I got due to a nice Neal Adams cover and the back-up features. |
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Post by paulie on Jan 18, 2015 16:03:22 GMT -5
World's Finest is probably the best you can do storywise. A lot of fun Bob Haney craziness. Then you get the long Dollar Comics run. I find the two main Supes titles especially tedious but if you can get any 100 page giants I've found those are a glorious way to kill an hour or two. Okay, I had gotten the impression that this was a down period for Superman, but was hoping there might be something worthwhile. Guess not. I do have at least one issue of the Dollar Comics run of World's Finest (#245) that I got due to a nice Neal Adams cover and the back-up features. I enjoy World's Finest. As long as you don't expect Stalin's Warlock or the Moench-Gulacy Master of Kung Fu you'll enjoy them on their own merits. I think Bob Haney is a hoot and any of the 52 or 100 page giants are worthwhile. |
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Post by badwolf on Jan 19, 2015 10:32:15 GMT -5
I only have a few of the World's Finest Dollar Comics, but I want to get more. I'd recommend it based on the ones I've read. I think having Batman there brings Supes down to Earth a bit.
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Jan 19, 2015 13:44:07 GMT -5
I'm only up through the beginning of 1976 in my readathon, but for my money, Lois Lane is by far the most entertaining of the Superman family titles. World's Finest would probably be second for me, with Jimmy Olsen/Superman Family coming in a relatively distant third. The side titles seem to have more leeway with just going completely off the rails, while the main titles are way too careful not to upset the apple cart by being interesting. There are very few good Superman stories from 1970-1975.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jan 19, 2015 17:24:34 GMT -5
I think that is part of the problem with Superman for me. 60's Superman is just super corny in my eyes. I can appreciate it but in terms of loving it, I cannot say that I do. Plus, there is just an element of cool that Marvel characters and comics form the 60's seem to have. Corny but the art and stories are always so much more enjoyable.
Add to it that the early 70's are even pretty brutal for Superman, and there goes my desire to even read the character. Granted, I someday do want to get around to a few series/storylines such as the issue Moore did, John Byrne's mini and a few others. By extension, I have also crossed out other Superman related titles like Lois Lane, Superboy and World's Finest. Maybe that is a bad thing but alas, there are other titles and stories that I desire much more than trying to hunt down some of these.
Back on track...reading the original V for Vendetta issues for the first time. Saw the movie first so I will see how it all compares when I get finished.
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Post by Rob Allen on Jan 19, 2015 19:23:04 GMT -5
The Superman and Action books of the 70s are fine if you like Curt Swan's art. He was really good at what he did.
Schaffenberger and Garcia-Lopez art are worth seeking also.
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Jan 19, 2015 20:23:27 GMT -5
For the defense - I think Elliot S! Maggin was one of the more thoughtful and inventive writers of his generation, and (as Rob says) the art was always at least solid. Quite a few of Superman's supporting cast were at their strongest as well - I've told y'all how much I love Bronze Age seen-it-all-done-it-all-calls-everybody-"Luv" Lana Lang, and Morgan Edge was a far more interesting foil for Clark than Perry White. THere's definitely good stuff there.
A few recommendationbs: Denny 'o Neil's Superman revamping sand creature storyline was really solid. THe "CLark Kent Forever" storyline in Supes 299-99 was very good. The Marv Wolfman/Gil Kane Braniac revamp issues (Action 544 and 545) were pretty great.
Jim Starlin had a nice little run of DC Comics Presents; 26-29 and 35 & 36. I care DEEPLY about Team-Up books so I can definitely give you a "Best of DCCP" list if you want, but the Starlin issues are a good place to start.
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Post by spoon on Jan 19, 2015 21:06:45 GMT -5
Jim Starlin had a nice little run of DC Comics Presents; 26-29 and 35 & 36. I care DEEPLY about Team-Up books so I can definitely give you a "Best of DCCP" list if you want, but the Starlin issues are a good place to start. Sure. Go right ahead. |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jan 19, 2015 21:39:57 GMT -5
Maybe I just don't love Curt Swam enough. Let's just say that if and when I do get the odd Superman book, I flip it because there are other titles I would rather have.
That being said, officially the only Superman comics I have read are DC Presents #28 and #29 (Starlin issues). I kept them because the covers were fantastic and the stories were not too bad either. I enjoy Spectre which is another reason I hung on to #29. Any others you recommend, I would consider going that route as I enjoy team ups.
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Jan 19, 2015 21:43:21 GMT -5
Nice J. L. Garcia Lopez art in 1-4, although the story is pretty dumb in the first couple.
# 10 is a really clever Sgt. Rock team up, with an amnesiac Superman joining Easy Company.
# 13-14 is a surprisingly dark but quite good Superboy/Legion story which concludes (for some reason) in # 25.
More Garcia Loepz in # 17, 20, and 24.
Incredibly goofy/entertaining Superman/Wonder Woman are shot by Cupid and fall in love story - drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger (who is the perfect choice!) in # 32.
I believe Roy Thomas' first DC work was DC COmics Presents # 33 and # 34, a fun romp with Superman and Captain Marvel trading places and then Hoppy the Marvel Bunny shows up for some reason.
The Plastic Man story in # 39 is actually LOL funny - is Martin Pasko always this entertaining?
The last (and for my money, best!) Garcia Lopez story in # 41, with Supes and the Joker Vs. the Prankster.
It's weirdly pricey, but the Superman/He-Man team-up in # 47 works better than it has any right too.
More Roy Thomas multiple/earths and Captain Marvel in # 49, this time reintroducing Black Adam.
Superman # 50, teamed with Clark Kent (and drawn by Curt Swan) is one of the best examples of the traditional DC style story - There's a mystery to be solved and a lesson is learned. Gah, I'm not selling it very well. Really good!
Ambush Bug is introduced in # 52, but doesn't become AMBUSH BUG into # 59. I looooove Ambush Bug.
Great artist alert! George Perez does Omac in # 61, Gray Morrow draws Madame Xanadu in # 65 and Joe Kubert gives us the Demon in # 66.
# 77 and # 78 with the Forgotten Heroes and Villains are really bad. Just warning you.
# 81 is Ambush Bug, yay! And for my money one of the funniest comics ever.
# 82 is a B Minus story, tops, but Klaus Janson's penils are surrealisticly awesome.
# 84 has not-very-good Kirby art AND not-very-good Alex Toth art. Which is kind of impressive, in a way.
# 85 is the Alan Moore Swamp Thing story you have probably already read. Great, though!
# 87 is a nifty, kinda bittersweet story of the Earth Prime Superboy, and the inspiration for Superman: Secret Identity - which is also great.
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Post by dupersuper on Jan 20, 2015 4:40:32 GMT -5
I have a soft spot for the Superman/Robin/Elongated Man issue...just so random. I also like when he teams up with The Metal Men for some reason.
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