|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 3, 2022 10:34:05 GMT -5
Getting back to American Flagg, Chaykin later admitted he had only plotted out the first 13 issues. He kept it going for another year, with some assistance; but, lost interest/was stuck. He came back to wrap up what was going on in the series and then hand-picked his team to restart it, as Howard Chaykin's American Flagg.
That said, the First Comics deal gave them long publishing rights; so, the creator couldn't entirely walk away with their series. Sable continued, as Sable, under Marv Wolfman, for a year and a half, to try to ride the tv series, which petered out in 7 episodes. I haven't come across an interview where Grell, Chaykin or Starlin said they couldn't stop First from continuing. I did speak to Grell about the First ownership deals and he said they had very long publishing rights, which is part of why it took so long for him to get Jon Sable back. Their bankruptcy threw another wrinkle into that, as the titles were considered assets to the company, under Federal bankruptcy law and that trumped the contracts between company and creator. It affected the First properties and similar issues at Comico, with their bankruptcy and Matt Wagner's books.
American Flagg fell apart, without Chaykin, but his last few issues, leading to issue 50, were a bit of a return to form. HCAF started out well, but went south quickly. He set it in the USSR, for several issues and the backwards lettering, to simulate cyrilllic letters annoyed the heck out of me. It messes with your brain, trying to read that, as you are going back and forth reversing letters, in your mind.
Dave was entitled to his opinion; but, he pretty much criticized the publishers for existing and TCJ did the same for anyone except themselves, while ignoring the fact that they were catering to the mainstream, with Amazing Heroes. Didn't stop me from reading the Journal; but, there were parts that I just skimmed, including Groth's editorials and some reviews and interviews.
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 3, 2022 10:37:38 GMT -5
As far as guest pencillers; Byrne and Perez were usually welcome, in 70s Marvel comics and I enjoyed when Gene Ha would pop up in Starman, in things like the Times Past stories. The whole slate of guest pencillers for those were almost universally great. It was a nice idea to give the main plot a rest, before the next one and give the artist a chance to breathe, while giving the audience something different.
Airboy brought in some guest artists for the Sky Wolf stories and I enjoyed Dan Spiegle and a couple of others.
|
|
|
Post by tartanphantom on Aug 3, 2022 10:52:07 GMT -5
Any book with Gray Morrow or Alfredo Alcala as a guest artist is pretty much a "must buy" for me.
|
|
|
Post by tonebone on Aug 3, 2022 11:15:22 GMT -5
I'm ashamed to admit it, but anytime Ditko or Don Heck were guest pencillers, I would begrudging buy the issue, just so I didn't miss any story. But I didn't appreciate their work at the time (with the exception of Ditko on Spidey, which is and always has been *MWWAAH* chef's kiss).
|
|
|
Post by Icctrombone on Aug 3, 2022 11:22:18 GMT -5
As a Starlin fan, I was always thrilled to see his work on an odd title. He did a Spider-man story with Cap as a guest and he did a Green Lantern fill in during the Kyle Raynor era. His work on DC Comics Presents were always great.
|
|
|
Post by commond on Sept 15, 2022 19:38:49 GMT -5
I've started reading Rich Veitch's run on Swamp Thing, and it got me wondering, what is some of the best work that followed legendary or critically acclaimed runs?
|
|
|
Post by Prince Hal on Sept 21, 2022 13:48:05 GMT -5
I've started reading Rich Veitch's run on Swamp Thing, and it got me wondering, what is some of the best work that followed legendary or critically acclaimed runs? John Buscema's stint when he took over for Barry Smith on Conan would probably garner some votes here.
|
|
|
Post by kirby101 on Sept 21, 2022 16:11:01 GMT -5
Romita taking over for Ditko.
|
|
|
Post by commond on Sept 21, 2022 19:52:23 GMT -5
Excellent picks. I wonder how both books would have fared without Buscema and Romita immediately following up the original creators.
|
|
|
Post by Roquefort Raider on Sept 22, 2022 5:44:19 GMT -5
John Byrne following Dave Cockrum on the X-Men, of course! They're like the Bizarro Charybdis and Scylla.
|
|
|
Post by EdoBosnar on Sept 22, 2022 7:23:05 GMT -5
Yeah, Byne after Cockrum is the first one that came to my mind as well.
|
|
|
Post by kirby101 on Sept 22, 2022 8:52:39 GMT -5
Excellent picks. I wonder how both books would have fared without Buscema and Romita immediately following up the original creators. I think the alternative to Buscema would have been Gil Kane, and considering that Conan 17 and 18 looked pretty swell, Conan would have been in good hands. His later stint on the book showed he was up to it. Maybe not the level of Buscema, but Conan would have done fine. (I have always expressed my dislike of Chan inking Buscema, I still think it hurt the book)
As for Spider-Man, besides Romita, the other artist Stan could have put on the book were Buscema, Colan or Heck. It would have been a different book for sure. Or he could have lured someone like Kane or Andru earlier from DC for Spidey.
|
|
|
Post by Icctrombone on Sept 22, 2022 9:02:12 GMT -5
I remember thinking that Byrne following Deodato on Wonder Woman was interesting. It might have been a downgrade though.
|
|
|
Post by kirby101 on Sept 22, 2022 10:39:55 GMT -5
Adams following Kane on Green Lantern.
|
|
|
Post by Prince Hal on Sept 22, 2022 10:50:00 GMT -5
Jim Aparo following Nick Cardy on Aquaman.
|
|