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Post by Ricky Jackson on Jun 14, 2022 14:36:47 GMT -5
Yeah, but silver age Cap was lackluster at best. What’s the runner up, the Sleeper storyline ? Hmmm...good question. I don't know that Cap in the 60s was all that lacklustre, but I kind of know what you mean. The Sleeper storyline is pretty fun, I guess, as too is the Red Skull/Cosmic Cube storyline, but they're just not in the same league as Steranko's short run. My pick for best Silver Age Cap is the run in Tales of Suspense from 63-74 set mostly during WWII and including the original Sleeper story. Steranko's Cap is great but in the end only 3 issues |
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Post by chaykinstevens on Jun 14, 2022 15:14:25 GMT -5
Finishing up the 1968 books with a slightly revised review of the December 1986 comics from Marvel.
I thought for a moment that you had skipped ahead to the Copper Age. What was Mightily Amazing and Incredibly Fantastic: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #70. FANTASTIC FOUR #84. DOCTOR STRANGE #178. AVENGERS #61. THOR #162
I think you mean Thor #161. I was disappointed in, somewhat, was the X-Men issue. I'm a Blastaar fan and I couldn't wait to see him battle the X-Men, but the book, while pretty decent, had an inventory story feel to i You could be right about it being an inventory story. Both this and the previous issue promised the same story in the next issue blurb at the end. Barry Smith is said to have drawn this issue on park benches because he didn't have enough money to continue paying his hotel bills. |
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Post by tarkintino on Jun 14, 2022 15:35:49 GMT -5
Steranko's short run on Captain America is the best Captain America of the Silver Age. There! I said it (oops, wrong thread). Yeah, but silver age Cap was lackluster at best. What’s the runner up, the Sleeper storyline ? Silver Age Cap was PTSD / man-out-of-time / espionage drama at its finest. The emotional weight on his shoulders--plus trying to find a place in a new world made him the most compelling, heartfelt character at Marvel--second only to the Lee/Romita era Spider-Man. With Spider-Man as the exception, no other Marvel characters came close to the weighty drama and sharp action of Cap. Even one of the greatest Avengers stories was a Cap story (#56 - "Death Be Not Proud!"), which illustrates just how potent the character was a dramatic draw. |
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Post by kirby101 on Jun 14, 2022 16:24:43 GMT -5
The Red Skull Cosmic Cube Story from ToS 78-81 was a favorite of mine. Great Kirby/Giacoia art.
But 110-113 is an all time classic.
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Post by Myke Gee on Jun 14, 2022 17:34:40 GMT -5
Finishing up the 1968 books with a slightly revised review of the December 1986 comics from Marvel.
I thought for a moment that you had skipped ahead to the Copper Age. What was Mightily Amazing and Incredibly Fantastic: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #70. FANTASTIC FOUR #84. DOCTOR STRANGE #178. AVENGERS #61. THOR #162
I think you mean Thor #161. I was disappointed in, somewhat, was the X-Men issue. I'm a Blastaar fan and I couldn't wait to see him battle the X-Men, but the book, while pretty decent, had an inventory story feel to i You could be right about it being an inventory story. Both this and the previous issue promised the same story in the next issue blurb at the end. Barry Smith is said to have drawn this issue on park benches because he didn't have enough money to continue paying his hotel bills. As for December 1986....TYPO!!!! LOL!!! As for THOR #161...Nope. That's what I meant. THOR #161 was on sale December 5, 1968. #162 was on sale January 2, 1969. Thanks for the Barry Smith info. Interesting. |
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Post by Myke Gee on Jun 15, 2022 17:09:10 GMT -5
On to the 1969 books from Marvel. More changes are coming with this year's reviews as I was always tweaking the format to make for a better read. I hope that everyone enjoys this one.
*Originally posted on Facebook on March 18, 2019...*
JANUARY 1969
(Cover Date: March/April 1969)
I meant to post this over the weekend, but I got a little busy. First-time reads for these Marvel books. So....
...here's what was exceptional: FANTASTIC FOUR #85. SILVER SURFER #5. THOR #162. X-MEN #54. SILVER SURFER #5 was a fantastic story! It’s always a blast when the Stranger shows up and, it was nearly a “blast” literally. Still a bit miffed from the events in TALES TO ASTONISH #89 & 90, The Stranger is determined to destroy all life on the planet Earth just as the Surfer may have found a way past Galactus’ barrier with the help of a physicist named Al Harper. The battle between the Surfer and the Stranger is classic and Dr. Harper turns out to be a great character who makes the ultimate sacrifice. Damn good issue!!! FF also continues a high standard of excellence. At this point, Doom has, probably, made more appearances than any villain in the Marvel Universe and he hasn't gotten old and stale yet. In THOR, we learn more about Galactus. Lee, Kirby, and Colletta really let loose on this one. Great story and one of those moments where I truly see why Kirby is so revered. Does he draw the most perfect-looking people? No, but his imagination was INSANE!!! Just look at the backgrounds in this book and you can't help but be in awe. While the Blastaar story from last month was a little disappointing, I really loved the debut of Alex Summer and the Living Pharaoh. Everything was perfect with this issue. Hell, I even liked (not loved, lol) the Don Heck/Vince Colletta artwork. Looking forward to the next issue.
...here's what was good: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #71 (*GASP*). AVENGERS #62. INCREDIBLE HULK #114. IRON MAN #12. SUB-MARINER #12. Okay, it's all becoming a blur, lol!!! Last week I wrote that the Sandman AND the Mandarin took on ol' Greenskin when it was actually just the Sandman. I'll never read two months of books in one week again. 😄 Anyway, it's in this issue that the highly overrated Mandarin tries to impress Sandy with karate chops while wearing 10 rings of incredible power. Change his name to the Morondarin!!! 😂 I almost put IRON MAN #12 in the exceptional category mainly because I got to witness the creation of the Controller. Always liked him, but I don't know why, lol!!! Probably because of his participation in the Thanos War saga. The Avengers go to Wakanda and meet the Man-Ape. You wanna trigger my “boredom sense”? Bring in the Man-Ape, lol!!! However, the story really wasn’t bad at all, but the Man-Ape just brings it down a little. Hardly a villain that requires the Avengers to bring him down. ASM #71 was pretty good, but, like a couple of books this month, it felt like a fill-in issue. Roy Thomas and Marie Severin continue the Serpent Crown story. Pretty solid once you get past Namor battling a crab-like.... guy named *sigh*......Krustatos. 🙄
...here's what was disappointing. CAPTAIN AMERICA #112. CAPTAIN MARVEL #12. DAREDEVIL #50. DOCTOR STRANGE #179. S.H.I.E.L.D. #11. Like ASM #71, Capt. America’s book felt like a fill-in this month. Steranko is nowhere to be seen in this issue and it's yet another back down memory lane issue. Mar-Vell now has all of these crazy new powers granted by the Great and Powerful Oz... I mean Zo *groooaaann* and the book is, now, all over the place. What happened?!! In DAREDEVIL #50, more of Starr Saxon and his Not-So-Awesome-Android. *Sigh* We get a reprint in the Doc Strange book this month and one I wasn't too crazy about in the beginning because it felt like a forced attempt to get Lee and Ditko's two collaborative creations together. Another SHIELD issue that I couldn't finish reading before apathy took over. Wow. How the mighty has fallen.
See ya next weekend, guys!!! |
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Post by Myke Gee on Jun 17, 2022 17:27:43 GMT -5
*Originally posted on Facebook on March 23, 2019*
FEBRUARY 1969
(Cover Date: April/May 1969)
My Mighty, Amazing Journey into the Fantastic and Incredible continues!!! Read for the first time this week were... ...some REALLY Incredible books: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #72. FANTASTIC FOUR #86. INCREDIBLE HULK #115. THOR #163. The Shocker returns in ASM #72, and the Tablet Saga isn't quite done yet. Also, Spidey gets a little respect at the end. I likes. Spectacular work from the Lee/Romita team as usual. FF #86 has Doom in straight megalomaniacal form as he's willing to kill everyone in an entire village just to kill the FF. He was truly menacing in this one. Great story in the INCREDIBLE HULK as Gen. Ross proves to be something of an idiot putting his trust in the Leader. Can't wait to get to the next issue. So, it's the legendary Lee/Kirby team that blew me away as they usually do every month. The Greek god Pluto returns in THOR #163 to menace our favorite Asgardian. Great set-up issue to what will, probably, be another spectacular conclusion. ...some kinda cool books: AVENGERS #63. CAPTAIN AMERICA #113, DOCTOR STRANGE #180. IRON MAN #13. MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #20. S.H.I.E.L.D. #12 😲. SUB-MARINER #13. X-MEN #55. The Avengers get a "new" Goliath and I've always been curious as to how/why Clint took over the mantle. While kinda cliché (I need more power...), it was still a lot of fun. Steranko returns to continue putting the Cap's secret identity genie back in the bottle. Pretty good issue despite the hokey method in which the secret was restored. Gullible people in the MU if this sticks, lol!!! Doc Strange calls on the help of Eternity as he meets Nightmare again. Beautiful artwork from Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. A more than solid story as Iron Man ends the threat of the Controller. DOOM!!! Doom, Doom, Doom!!! Always around and never gets old. In an MSH solo feature, he faces Diablo...much to Diablo's chagrin. Another solid issue this month. Will wonders never cease?!?!! I, actually, enjoyed the S.H.I.E.L.D. issue this month!! Something of a "whodunit" SHIELD-style with infiltrations, betrayals, and Nick on the run. To be concluded next month. Can't wait. (Did I really say that? 😏) In the Sub-Mariner issue, I think that I gave this one a good rating because we finally ended the Serpent Crown story. Is it me or do Serpent Crown stories tend to always be on the long side? This month's X-MEN was good, but it didn't grab me as the last issue did with the debut of Alex Summers and the Living Pharaoh. Still, a very solid issue....and two books that were "meh...": *PAGING CAPTAIN MARVEL #13 AND DAREDEVIL #51!!!* Ol’ Hornhead faces an RBR a.k.a. a Really Big Robot (there’s been so many, I’ve lost count). DD is clearly outclassed in this battle and, pretty much, dumb luck enabled him to survive. Action-packed, but kinda dull.Until next week, everyone....
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Post by Farrar on Jun 18, 2022 14:42:42 GMT -5
*Originally posted on Facebook on March 23, 2019*
February 1969 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #72. ...
The Shocker returns in ASM #72, and the Tablet Saga isn't quite done yet. Also, Spidey gets a little respect at the end. I likes. Spectacular work from the Lee/Romita team as usual.
John Buscema had a little something to do with this issue too  ...some kinda cool books: AVENGERS #63....
The Avengers get a "new" Goliath and I've always been curious as to how/why Clint took over the mantle. While kinda cliché (I need more power...), it was still a lot of fun.... Certainly one of the greatest Avengers covers from Gene the Dean Colan (his interior art here wasn't too shabby either  !). And how about that crossover/connection with the preceding month's Captain Marvel comic? |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jun 18, 2022 22:10:34 GMT -5
Great series of year-by-year reviews. Have not seen these until today and enjoying your perspective
I was reading all those marvel books, fresh off the newstand.In1969 each month I ranked the Marvel Comics that came out from best to worse
At the end of the year, I added all the rankings and came up with my top Marvel series for that period
I was shocked to find that it turned out to be Sgt Fury-consistently great stories written by Gary Friedrich with Dick Ayers art made to look so good with John Severin inks
That was me as a young teen, reading comics since the early 60's
Don't know if I'd still feel the same about that year's Sgt Fury books if I read them today
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Post by Myke Gee on Jun 18, 2022 22:56:39 GMT -5
Great series of year-by-year reviews. Have not seen these until today and enjoying your perspective I was reading all those marvel books, fresh off the newstand.In1969 each month I ranked the Marvel Comics that came out from best to worse At the end of the year, I added all the rankings and came up with my top Marvel series for that period I was shocked to find that it turned out to be Sgt Fury-consistently great stories written by Gary Friedrich with Dick Ayers art made to look so good with John Severin inks That was me as a young teen, reading comics since the early 60's Don't know if I'd still feel the same about that year's Sgt Fury books if I read them today I'm glad that you are enjoying them. However, the year-by-year format is done after Year 6. For various reasons, I've abandoned this project more than a couple of times and I try to explain my thinking as I'm posting these on this site. In my Facebook group, I'm currently up to the October 1976 books (yeah, I changed it to a monthly format when I resumed). I'm working to get them all posted here so that when I post new reviews over there, they'll go up right afterward here. I hope you'll stick around through the many changes that are coming. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jun 19, 2022 8:34:34 GMT -5
I love the format of those reviews, Myke G! They remind me of my early days as a reader, when Ikd stack my comics not in alphabetical order, but chronologically. I'd frequently grab a bunch of them and read a cross-section of what had been published around a certain date. Variety is the spice of life! I actually, enjoyed the S.H.I.E.L.D. issue this month!! Something of a "whodunit" SHIELD-style with infiltrations, betrayals, and Nick on the run. To be concluded next month. Can't wait. I love the young Barry Smith's art style, for all that it sometimes comes across as a clumsy Kirby impression. The dynamism and enthusiasm it carries is just so much fun! I loved his Ka-Zar work too. The plot for that story was partly re-used in the Nick Fury vs SHIELD maxi series, a decade and a half later. Recycling is good for the Earth! And this month we also get to see Smith on the X-Men. Here's a happy reader! |
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Post by Myke Gee on Jun 19, 2022 9:07:57 GMT -5
*Originally posted on Facebook on March 31, 2019*
MARCH 1969
(Cover Date: May/June 1969)
I read the March 1969 books (cover-dated June '69) for the first time last week. Here's what I thought:
Fantastic!!!: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #73. FANTASTIC FOUR #87. THOR #164. X-MEN #56.
Lee and Romita continue the Tablet Saga. Plus, the first appearances of Silvermane and Man-Mountain Marko, whom I thought was just a villain from the Hostess Fruit Pie ads, lol!!! More crisp writing as I am becoming a big fan of Capt. Stacy and Joe Robertson. I love how Lee writes them as two very dignified men. Once again, Lee bashers...take a seat!!
The cover of FF #87 says: "Possibly the most OFF-BEAT ending of the year!" They weren't lying! After a few issues of Doom going full-megalomaniacal, he, essentially, just says "You know what? F it!!! This ain't worth the headache!!" 😂😂😂 Despite "the most off-beat ending of the year", it's still a damn good issue.
THOR #164 features the conclusion to the battle with Pluto. It would be incredible just for the last three panels alone which tease the Adam Warlock appearance next issue.
Of all the books this month, X-MEN #56 is the one that I've, actually, read before and I'm truly salivating reading it again. Neal frickin' Adams!!!! 😁😁😁
***** Close to fantastic!!: AVENGERS #64. CAPTAIN AMERICA #114. CAPTAIN MARVEL #14. DAREDEVIL #52. SUB-MARINER #14. In the Avengers, Egghead and the Puppet Master are here, and I'm not annoyed. A sure sign of a pretty good issue. 😄
So, it would seem that the very brief Steranko era is over with as we have Stan back on the book along with Romita this issue. A good story full of "STEVE!! You're ALIVE!!!" moments. The Falcon is a mere 3 issues away and that's what I’m waiting for!
CAPTAIN MARVEL has, yet another, hero vs hero slugfest that has an inconclusive ending, lol, as this month, Marv battles Iron Man!!! Still, not a bad issue at all as it seems to be more focused than the previous issue. Probably because it's a part of the crossover with the Avengers and Sub-Mariner books this month.
DD #52 guest-starred the Black Panther, cameo by the Avengers, features Barry Smith channeling his inner Kirby and, mercifully, an end to the Starr Saxon story. *Whew!!!*
Also known as "Subby vs the original Human Torch, Round 152", you can guess who Namor battles this month. Having never read this, I felt like it was going to be the same predictable match, but the revelation at the end (not gonna play spoiler for the 3 other people who haven't read this, lol) made me smile.
***** Less than fantastic: INCREDIBLE HULK #116. IRON MAN #14. SILVER SURFER #6. The Hulk is in a showdown with the Leader, but first, he must fight...wait for it.... a REALLY BIG robot!!! 😴😴😴 Go back and read my Swordsman comment and insert "the Leader" wherever you see "Swordsman" and that's my opinion of him, so far.
IRON MAN #14 gives us a rather predictable story with the true identity of the villain being apparent the moment he shows up in civvies. Feels like an inventory story.
The Surfer’s story starts with the usual "woe is me" moments and another attempt to escape his plight. He, actually, comes up with an idea that works. This takes us to the future where a mutant has conquered the universe and the Surfer decides that his reign must end. If you couldn't tell before, I have a serious problem with predictability in a story and the ending to this is predictable as they come. The ending also raises a question that I'll ask in another thread.
So, as you can see, kind of an even split this month. Hope you enjoyed my not-so-learned musings. See ya next week...... |
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Post by kirby101 on Jun 19, 2022 10:12:41 GMT -5
#6 is myfavorite all time Surfer story. Our differences probably have to do with me reading it sa a lad almost 50 years ago and you reading it now.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jun 19, 2022 11:17:35 GMT -5
For the most part, have not read most of these since they came out. I do remember that long Spidey tablet story did nothing for me. Disappointed that Steranko was leaving Cap. The Avengers were in a funk time. But on the bright side, the X-Men were going to get exciting. And there was Sgt Fury, delivering a consistent good story
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Post by chaykinstevens on Jun 19, 2022 14:03:22 GMT -5
Close to fantastic!!: AVENGERS #64. CAPTAIN AMERICA #114. CAPTAIN MARVEL #14. DAREDEVIL #52. SUB-MARINER #14.In the Avengers, Egghead and the Puppet Master are here, and I'm not annoyed. A sure sign of a pretty good issue. 😄
So, it would seem that the very brief Steranko era is over with as we have Stan back on the book along with Romita this issue. Stan had never left the book, having scripted the previous four issues, three of them over Steranko's plots. The portions of Avengers #106 & 107 pencilled by George Tuska are said to have been intended for this issue but rejected at the time. |
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!). And how about that crossover/connection with the preceding month's Captain Marvel comic? 
