|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 14:45:26 GMT -5
So as some of y'all may know already, Marvel is relaunching its Masterworks line in a slightly new, more affordable format, but some of you may not have seen the announcement. Our local library got one of these in recently, and I checked it out to check it out. I thought I might share so that anyone considering buying these can make an informed decision. The new format is one more akin to the format of a lot of the OGN in the current YA book market. It is smaller than a normal trade, closer to a digest size, but not quite that small. Here's a pic of the Hulk volume I got form the library on top of and next to a Marvel Epic Collection for comparison.   The actual size is 6 x 9 and it retails at $15.99. The Hulk volume I have contains issues 1-6 of the first Hulk series, and as such is slightly smaller than the other Masterworks volumes which usually have 10 issues in them. An Epic Collections' dimensions are 6.65 x 10.2, so the Mighty Marvel Masterworks are 2/3 of an inch narrower and 1.2 inches shorter. And an Epic usually retails for at least 3 times the price of one of these volumes, but only has a little more than twice the content. A big issue for some folks is coloring reproductions, for me it is font size in reading. Here are a couple of pics of the interiors to show each...   so it is the more modern remastered/recolored version that you get on Marvel Unlimited or in the other Masterworks/Epic Collections, not the original newsprint muddied coloring, and the print is slightly smaller, but with my reading glasses I have no problem reading it. Additionally, the smaller size makes it lighter and easier to handle when reading. Overall, for the price point, it's a solid product. I am not sure it will succeed though-I don't think longtime collectors who have the material in the original Masterworks, Epics or omnibi will go for this format. And I am not sure younger readers who prefer this format will ump on the older content. But as a library volume that could see heavy circulation or for cheapskate readers like me who balk at the prices of omnibi and Epics now, it is a happy medium. I have a lot of the early Silver Marvel is Epic Collections already form when they launced the Epic line 10 years ago, so I won't be rebuying those, but I am cnsidering picking up some of the stuff I don't already have collected in this format. Hope this helps guide others decisions who may be considering picking up these new Might Marvel Masterworks. -M |
|
|
|
Post by kirby101 on Jun 22, 2022 15:17:27 GMT -5
For me it is both the font size and the color. But mostly the color. Those garish colors, which are editorially mandated are awful. Just look at the coloring of the Gargoyle from the original newsprint book.  That soft pink is replaced with a bright, bubblegum color. Terrible. Supposedly they think the buyers want this. I seriously doubt it. They could do better. |
|
|
|
Post by kirby101 on Jun 22, 2022 15:23:42 GMT -5
Or look at this seminal page in the original and masterworks coloring.   This has made me stay away from Marvel reprints. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 15:38:39 GMT -5
I on the other hand, dislike how muddied and dull the art looks on newsprint, and I know Kirby and other artists of the time hated that their work was diminished in quality by the cheap newsprint and primitive coloring process it required, and most longed for better paper and more robust coloring for their work. I'm not sure they would like final product, but I think they would be ecstatic that other options than the limited palette and cheap quality of newsprint was available for their work to be seen on.
-M
PS I am also of the mind that fan's preference of newsprint coloring aesthetics is mostly a nostalgia thing rather than a quality of presentation thing. They saw it that way so were imprinted that that is the way it's supposed to look, as opposed to the creators who saw it that way and shuddered in horror because they knew it could be better on better paper used in slicks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Graphic Autist on Jun 22, 2022 16:14:23 GMT -5
PS I am also of the mind that fan's preference of newsprint coloring aesthetics is mostly a nostalgia thing rather than a quality of presentation thing. They saw it that way so were imprinted that that is the way it's suppose dto look, as opposed to the creators who saw it that way and shuddered in horror because they knew it could be better on better paper used in slicks. This. |
|
|
|
Post by tarkintino on Jun 22, 2022 16:18:00 GMT -5
Or look at this seminal page in the original and masterworks coloring. This has made me stay away from Marvel reprints. Hey--Marvel assumed people are so stupid that the Gamma bomb blast has to be re-colored with green tones...'cause...the Hulk is green.....but not in this first appearance, so.... |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 16:20:31 GMT -5
Or look at this seminal page in the original and masterworks coloring. This has made me stay away from Marvel reprints. Hey--Marvel assumed people are so stupid that the Gamma bomb blast has to be re-colored with green tones...'cause...the Hulk is green.....but not in this first appearance, so.... Or Stan Goldberg was rushing to meet a deadline and had no clue what color it was supposed to be because he hadn't really read the story so just picked something that he thought made sense to get it done on time. This is the same creator who colored The Scarlet Witch green on her first cover after all. -M |
|
|
|
Post by badwolf on Jun 22, 2022 16:29:06 GMT -5
It seems like they'd be good for younger readers, just as I had mass-market paperback reprints when I was a kid. But at this point in my life I am not interested in anything that is smaller than the original printing.
I don't mind that colors look brighter on better paper, but I don't like the changing of the coloring. The pink sky behind Rick and Banner above looks particularly bad. And why is the ground in the previous panel not colored at all? It all seems so random.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Jun 22, 2022 18:25:10 GMT -5
I just hope it does not delay them from releasing further editions of the regular Masterworks
|
|
|
|
Post by commond on Jun 22, 2022 18:31:44 GMT -5
As someone who finds modern recoloring indefensible, I have to admit that artists quite often have a different take on the matter. Cartoonist Kayfabe did an interview with Frank Quitely where he explained why there were coloring changes in the Flex Mentallo hardcover collection, and how he was unhappy with the coloring on All-Star Superman.
|
|
|
|
Post by Batflunkie on Jun 22, 2022 18:49:42 GMT -5
I on the other hand, dislike how muddied and dull the art looks on newsprint, and I know Kirby and other artists of the time hated that their work was diminished in quality by the cheap newsprint and primitive coloring process it required, and most longed for better paper and more robust coloring for their work. I'm not sure they would like final product, but I think they would be ecstatic that other options than the limited palette and cheap quality of newsprint was available for their work to be seen on. -M PS I am also of the mind that fan's preference of newsprint coloring aesthetics is mostly a nostalgia thing rather than a quality of presentation thing. They saw it that way so were imprinted that that is the way it's supposed to look, as opposed to the creators who saw it that way and shuddered in horror because they knew it could be better on better paper used in slicks. It would be nice if we could have a compromise between the two. But I think the Marvel/Archie collab digests are the closest that we're going to get
|
|
|
|
Post by badwolf on Jun 22, 2022 19:14:39 GMT -5
As someone who finds modern recoloring indefensible, I have to admit that artists quite often have a different take on the matter. Cartoonist Kayfabe did an interview with Frank Quitely where he explained why there were coloring changes in the Flex Mentallo hardcover collection, and how he was unhappy with the coloring on All-Star Superman. Do you have a link for that? I'd be interested in seeing it.
I have to admit I am torn sometimes. The recoloring of Walter Simonson's Thor in the omnibus looks quite nice. But I kind of want to have it with the original coloring too. (I still have most of my original issues, but I don't plan to keep them apart from #337.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Batflunkie on Jun 22, 2022 19:27:19 GMT -5
As someone who finds modern recoloring indefensible, I have to admit that artists quite often have a different take on the matter. Cartoonist Kayfabe did an interview with Frank Quitely where he explained why there were coloring changes in the Flex Mentallo hardcover collection, and how he was unhappy with the coloring on All-Star Superman. Do you have a link for that? I'd be interested in seeing it.
I have to admit I am torn sometimes. The recoloring of Walter Simonson's Thor in the omnibus looks quite nice. But I kind of want to have it with the original coloring too. (I still have most of my original issues, but I don't plan to keep them apart from #337.)
I thought the coloring for the Howard The Duck Omni was pretty spot on when compared to the original comics |
|
|
|
Post by commond on Jun 22, 2022 19:33:27 GMT -5
As someone who finds modern recoloring indefensible, I have to admit that artists quite often have a different take on the matter. Cartoonist Kayfabe did an interview with Frank Quitely where he explained why there were coloring changes in the Flex Mentallo hardcover collection, and how he was unhappy with the coloring on All-Star Superman. Do you have a link for that? I'd be interested in seeing it.
I have to admit I am torn sometimes. The recoloring of Walter Simonson's Thor in the omnibus looks quite nice. But I kind of want to have it with the original coloring too. (I still have most of my original issues, but I don't plan to keep them apart from #337.)
|
|
|
|
Post by badwolf on Jun 22, 2022 19:46:21 GMT -5
Do you have a link for that? I'd be interested in seeing it.
I have to admit I am torn sometimes. The recoloring of Walter Simonson's Thor in the omnibus looks quite nice. But I kind of want to have it with the original coloring too. (I still have most of my original issues, but I don't plan to keep them apart from #337.)
Thanks! |
|
