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Post by commond on Jan 5, 2024 19:39:10 GMT -5
The Shadow 1941: Hitler's Astrologer (1988)
This was another case of WTF is Marvel doing publishing this. Which I guess is like saying that every good book that Marvel published ought to have been published by somebody else, but this felt like a DC book through and through, and DC were publishing a Shadow book at the time even if it was wildly divergent from the classic pulp stories. Still, no-one's going to complain about Denny O'Neill reuniting with Michael Kaluta for a Shadow story, especially since Kaluta isn't the most prolific comic book artist. The story is a gripping pulp adventure full of Nazis and intrigue and the artwork is exquisite. Some people have opined that Russ Heath's inks don't suit Kaluta's pencils, but I'll leave that for more refined gentlemen to discuss. I thought the background work, the attention to detail and the authenticity of the settings and locales were tremendous. This isn't a major work, but it's a pleasurable read. Something I could easily nestle into on a Sunday afternoon. And the pictures are oh so pretty.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 5, 2024 23:33:47 GMT -5
The Shadow 1941: Hitler's Astrologer (1988)This was another case of WTF is Marvel doing publishing this. Which I guess is like saying that every good book that Marvel published ought to have been published by somebody else, but this felt like a DC book through and through, and DC were publishing a Shadow book at the time even if it was wildly divergent from the classic pulp stories. Still, no-one's going to complain about Denny O'Neill reuniting with Michael Kaluta for a Shadow story, especially since Kaluta isn't the most prolific comic book artist. The story is a gripping pulp adventure full of Nazis and intrigue and the artwork is exquisite. Some people have opined that Russ Heath's inks don't suit Kaluta's pencils, but I'll leave that for more refined gentlemen to discuss. I thought the background work, the attention to detail and the authenticity of the settings and locales were tremendous. This isn't a major work, but it's a pleasurable read. Something I could easily nestle into on a Sunday afternoon. And the pictures are oh so pretty. I can tell you that Marvel didn't really advertise this or push it much. I discovered it in a Dollar Tree store, for a buck, and I was getting my comics weekly, from a shop that had more than just the usual DC and Marvel suspects, including a lot of the graphic novels. I'm fine with the Heath inks; but I also think Kaluta wasn't doing full pencils. I would prefer full Kaluta. I can't remember the timing; but, I had the DC hardcover collection of O'Neil & Kaluta's Shadow and it is night and day between the two. I also have a Kaluta print. The best collaboration, with another artist, on the Shadow, was Gary Gianni, for my money. To me, the only artist that rivalled Kaluta on the character was Steranko, and he was just painting covers. 67 Seconds was the one that I found a real puzzler, for being a Marvel book, especially for the period. If had been during Archie's tenure, it would have made more sense to me. That felt more like something DC or Dark Horse would publish, or Eclipse, when their cash flow was better. |
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Post by MDG on Jan 6, 2024 9:01:35 GMT -5
The Shadow 1941: Hitler's Astrologer (1988)This was another case of WTF is Marvel doing publishing this. Which I guess is like saying that every good book that Marvel published ought to have been published by somebody else, but this felt like a DC book through and through, and DC were publishing a Shadow book at the time even if it was wildly divergent from the classic pulp stories. Still, no-one's going to complain about Denny O'Neill reuniting with Michael Kaluta for a Shadow story, especially since Kaluta isn't the most prolific comic book artist. The story is a gripping pulp adventure full of Nazis and intrigue and the artwork is exquisite. Some people have opined that Russ Heath's inks don't suit Kaluta's pencils, but I'll leave that for more refined gentlemen to discuss. I thought the background work, the attention to detail and the authenticity of the settings and locales were tremendous. This isn't a major work, but it's a pleasurable read. Something I could easily nestle into on a Sunday afternoon. And the pictures are oh so pretty. I can tell you that Marvel didn't really advertise this or push it much.... I wonder if O'Neill and Kaluta started it without a solid publication deal and Marvel picked it up. Similarly, while everyone knew that Bernie Wrightson had been working on an edition of Frankenstein and a lot of things had been teased, it was kind've surprising when it came out from Marvel. |
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Post by zaku on Jan 6, 2024 10:51:51 GMT -5
Was there a licensed character that went through more publishers than "The Shadow"? Zorro maybe? POA?
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 6, 2024 12:52:40 GMT -5
Was there a licensed character that went through more publishers than "The Shadow"? Zorro maybe? POA? Possibly the Phantom. Let's see.... The Shadow: Newspaper strip Street & Smith Comics Archie Comics DC Comics Marvel Comics Dark Horse Comics Dynamite Entertainment Zorro:Dell/Western/Gold Key (Western had the publishing rights both during their association with Dell and when they split) Marvel Topps Dynamite Entertainment Newspaper comic strip The Phantom:Newspaper comic strip David McKay Productions Harvey Comics Western/Gold Key King Charlton DC Comics Marvel Comics Wolf Publishing (distributed in the US, though foreign publisher) Moonstone Dynamite Entertainment Hermes Press Numerous foreign publishers, including: Egmont, Indrajal, Frew Publications, Nerbini, L Miller & Sons Tarzan:Newspaper comic strip Dell/Western/Gold Key (again, Western maintained the rights during and after the Dell split) DC Comics Marvel Comics Charlton Comics (unauthorized) Blackthorne-newspaper reprints Malibu Comics Dark Horse Comics Idaho Comics-special licensed use in an anthology about Idaho creators, with a feature on Burroughs and Tarzan Dynamite Entertainment (public domain use, not licensed) Watson-Guptil-book publisher that did a comic version of Tarzan of the Apes, with Burne Hogarth art Taking into account reprints of newspaper strips or other publishers originals and original stories, it looks like The Phantom is champion, though we might dig up another character who has been featured at more publishers. |
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Post by MDG on Jan 6, 2024 13:32:46 GMT -5
^^^ Flash Gordon might be another possibility, but I don't see it beating out the Phantom. Also Dracula, but the character is PD, not licensed.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 6, 2024 15:36:20 GMT -5
^^^ Flash Gordon might be another possibility, but I don't see it beating out the Phantom. Also Dracula, but the character is PD, not licensed. Flash Gordon had: David McKay Harvey Dell/Western/Gold Key King Charlton DC Marvel Arrden Dynamite Entertainment That puts the Phantom 2 up on Flash, though Mad Cave Studios announced last summer that they had acquired a license to do new material. I can't find a reference to anything published, so far. Like the Phantom, you also have foreign and other US reprints, including Kitchen Sink and Dark Horse, plus Comics Revue. |
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Post by Cei-U! on Jan 6, 2024 16:27:15 GMT -5
Tarzan:Newspaper comic strip Dell/Western/Gold Key (again, Western maintained the rights during and after the Dell split) DC Comics Marvel Comics Charlton Comics (unauthorized) Blackthorne-newspaper reprints Malibu Comics Dark Horse Comics Idaho Comics-special licensed use in an anthology about Idaho creators, with a feature on Burroughs and Tarzan Dynamite Entertainment (public domain use, not licensed) Watson-Guptil-book publisher that did a comic version of Tarzan of the Apes, with Burne Hogarth art You missed one. United Feature Syndicate published reprints of the newspaper strip in Tip Top Comics and Comics On Parade prior to Dell, which obtained the rights after UFS closed down its comic book line.
Cei-U! I summon the king of the jungle!
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Post by commond on Jan 6, 2024 17:14:42 GMT -5
The Punisher: A Man Named Frank (1994)
This was really good. For some reason, Marvel tended to steer away from Elseworlds style stories. Instead, they would release random graphic novels that didn't fit easily into the ongoing continuity. This, however, was a honest to goodness Elseworlds tale -- a reimagining of the Punisher's origins set in the twilight of the Wild West. It's basically a revenge story with the man named Frank tracking down the men who killed his family, but it has a strong Sergio Leone feel to it and is expertly drawn by John Buscema. This was much better than the stories being told in the regular Punisher books at the time, and I could have easily bought an ongoing series of this with the Punisher starring as Marvel's version of Jonah Hex.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jan 7, 2024 9:10:40 GMT -5
^^^ Flash Gordon might be another possibility, but I don't see it beating out the Phantom. Also Dracula, but the character is PD, not licensed. Flash Gordon had: David McKay Harvey Dell/Western/Gold Key King Charlton DC Marvel Arrden Dynamite Entertainment That puts the Phantom 2 up on Flash, though Mad Cave Studios announced last summer that they had acquired a license to do new material. I can't find a reference to anything published, so far. Like the Phantom, you also have foreign and other US reprints, including Kitchen Sink and Dark Horse, plus Comics Revue. I would definitely love to see Mad Cave do some Flash Gordon comics! |
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Post by commond on Jan 9, 2024 17:11:08 GMT -5
67 Seconds (1992)
This was an early James Robinson story that was published not long after he broke into American comics with his Terminator work for Dark Horse. Somehow it found it's way to the Epic offices, possibly by way of Marvel UK. Curiously, it was published as a graphic album at a time when that format had been all but phased out. It's basically a story of unrequited love between a photographer and a news reporter. Not a bad story, but very much the work of a young writer cutting his teeth. The art is fantastic. I was a big fan of Steve Yeowell at the time thanks to his work on Zenith, but I've always found the stuff he did later on for American publishers to be somewhat lacking. His work here is the Steve Yeowell I know and love and the main reason to read the story. I should add that I wasn't satisfied with the ending, which soured me on the story somewhat, though there is a touching resolution before the climactic scene.
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Post by zaku on Jan 12, 2024 2:14:32 GMT -5
Zorro:Dell/Western/Gold Key (Western had the publishing rights both during their association with Dell and when they split) Marvel Topps Dynamite Entertainment Newspaper comic Add "Massive Publishing" to the list (first time I heard them!)  uh, I know it's totally OT (it's not even the right forum!!!) but out of curiosity I bought the digital edition and loved it! |
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Post by zaku on Jan 12, 2024 6:04:31 GMT -5
The Punisher: A Man Named Frank (1994)This was really good. For some reason, Marvel tended to steer away from Elseworlds style stories. Instead, they would release random graphic novels that didn't fit easily into the ongoing continuity. This, however, was a honest to goodness Elseworlds tale -- a reimagining of the Punisher's origins set in the twilight of the Wild West. It's basically a revenge story with the man named Frank tracking down the men who killed his family, but it has a strong Sergio Leone feel to it and is expertly drawn by John Buscema. This was much better than the stories being told in the regular Punisher books at the time, and I could have easily bought an ongoing series of this with the Punisher starring as Marvel's version of Jonah Hex. I've just found that technically it's isn't even a "Elseworld" equivalent. It's set in the 616-universe. For an incredible coincidence a man called Frank in the 19th century had the same misadventures of the modern Punisher   |
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Post by commond on Jan 14, 2024 18:39:21 GMT -5
Sachs & Violens #1-4 (1993-1994)
This book was released as part of Epic's Heavy Hitters line, yet another half-assed attempt by Marvel to produce a mature readers line. I have a lot of respect for Peter David and George Perez as comic book creators. Both men did excellent work on mainstream superhero books. Peter David had a rep for bringing new and interesting ideas to established comic book properties and Perez had proven himself to be just as adept with his Wonder Woman run. This creator-owned work, however, is plain stupid. David tries to make some sort of flimsy statement about sex and violence n TV and movies while Perez indulges in his fetishes while drawing a lead character who is constantly naked or half-naked. I think this series speaks to how difficult it actually is for comic book creators to produce engaging creator-owned work. I also think it points to a huge problem with Marvel's attempts at creating books for mature readers, namely the lack of sophistication. A lot of freelancer creators had the itch to do creator-owned work around this time, and there was a particular ilk of creator such as John Byrne and Frank Miller who tried to shock long time readers with depictions of sex and nudity in their creator-owned work. Howard Chaykin, they weren't. I don't really need a bunch of forty-something creators sharing their fantasies with me. I don't have a problem with sex in comics. I love Omaha the Cat Dancer, but if you compare Omaha to this book, it's night and day. One book is about people in relationships having sex, the other is exploitive.
I also hated everything about the Violens character design.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 14, 2024 18:46:55 GMT -5
I remember a podcaster saying that Perez never achieved success with any of his creator owned properties. Some guys are better just doing existing characters.
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