Showing posts with label Squadron Supreme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Squadron Supreme. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Eighties August 8 part II: Best Titles Of The 1980s
By Jef Willemsen (clarmindcontrol.blogspot.com)
In the second part of Eighties August 8, we'll be counting down the eight best titles of the 1980s. Now, we can all agree that books like Simonson's Thor, Miller's Daredevil, Byrne's Fantastic Four and of course Claremont's Uncanny X-Men belong on that list by default. But that would make this entry far too predictable. Instead, let's focus on some of the lesser known gems of the decade.*
8) - Power Man & Iron Fist
Not too many characters considered typical 70s creations were able to survive and thrive in the 80s... But somehow, Luke Cage and Daniel Rand beat the odds. One a relic of the blackploitation rage of the mid 1970s, the other Marvel's response to the Kung Fu craze of the same time period. Odds of them being able to support a monthly book after disco went out of style were unlikely. In fact, Marvel actually did cancel their solo titles, but decided to give the two another chance, bringing them together as Power Man & Iron Fist.
Somehow, an instant, almost effortless chemistry occured between the tough, street smart Power Man and the slightly naive, spiritual Iron Fist. Their adventures ran the gamut, ranging from mystical menaces like Master Khan to super powered mercenaries such as Constrictor and Sabretooth. The book effortlessly switched between complicated detective style stories in which barely a punch was thrown and broad, silly romps featuring characters like the unapologetically unbelievable Black Mariah.
Add to that a rich, varied supporting cast including the likes of Colleen Wing and Misty Knight, and you were sitting pretty, storywise... Which is exactly what Power Man & Iron Fist did until September 1986's issue 125, the final issue of the series that ended with Iron Fist's death (don't worry, he got over it).
7) - Damage Control
So, what happens after your favorite heroes have defeated a villain, trashing half of New York in the process?
The late great Dwayne McDuffie and artist Ernie Colón finally answered that question with Damage Control, a 1989 four issue limited series about Ms. Hoag and her employees who specialized in clean up and reconstruction after super powered conflicts. Now, if you think corporate machinations, tons of paper work and construction crew banter sounds boring, think again... I'll bet the Punisher doesn't show up in your reception area, loaded for bear. And oh boy, was it fun.
But even though Damage Control was first and foremost a comedy, McDuffie did use it to add a whole new dimension to the Marvel Universe . Despite all the infectious silliness and the giddy oneliners, the book showed for the first time the very real, human impact of superhero conflicts. The Avengers, Fantastic Four and all the other New York based heroes may go home after a fight, but they don't exist in a vacuum. Their actions have consequences and Damage Control was on hand to help out (even if they did drop Avengers Mansion back in the drink after they tried to salvage it following Acts Of Vengeance).
6) - New Defenders
Like Power Man and Iron Fist, the original Defenders hail from the 1970s and were reinvented, albeit it far too briefly, for the new decade. By its very nature, membership of the Defenders was mostly fluid, the only constants being Doctor Strange who often acting as the team's leader, and Valkyrie who stayed at Strange's home which incidentally also served as the unofficial team's inofficial gathering place. By November 1983, writer J.M DeMatteis decided to shake things up. Defenders changed to New Defenders with issue 125.
Beast (Hank McCoy) had decided what the team needed was more structure and organization. Long serving members Gargoyle, Valkyrie and her unwilling ward Moondragon were game, joined by Beast's former X-Men teammates Iceman and Angel (who bankrolled the operation). And so, the Defenders 2.0 were born.
My love and affection for this colorful rag tag band of heroes is no secret, the formation and adventures of the New Defenders were covered on this blog some time ago. When DeMatteis left (ironically after realizing writing a 'real' team stymied his creativity), Peter B. Gillis took over and told some truly dark, creepy stories that took the former non team to places few mainstream books dared venture at the time. Don Perlin and Kim DeMulder provided solid and appropriately moody art for the book, but in the end it was cancelled so Angel, Beast and Iceman could appear in the new X-Factor series. Wotta sassafrassin' shame, really.
5) - Squadron Supreme
Don't call them the Justice League...
... Though, really, they are. Originally dreamed up by Roy Thomas in 1971 during his Avengers run in order to poke some gentle fun at DC's premiere superteam, these alternate reality heroes spent the next decade and a half popping up occasionally to cause random mischief until Mark Gruenwald took them under his wing. Starting in September of 1985, the 12 issue Squadron Supreme limited stories told the story of what would happen if Earth's mightiest decided to become benevolent dictators, taking over control of the world for a year in an attempt to fix its many woes.
Because of the very nature of the Squadron Supreme (i.e. not being household names), Mark Gruenwald was pretty much allowed free reign. He could let the Squadronners do and experience things very few if any mainstream superheroes had by then. When Lady Lark broke up with Golden Archer, the furious, spurned hero brainwashed his ex girlfriend, forcing her to love him unconditionally. The radioactive Squadron member Nuke accidentally caused the cancer that killed his parents. And, perhaps most tragic of all, the team's inventive genius Tom Thumb succumbed to cancer as well, but not before his desperation caused him to betray his personal code of honor by trying to steal a cure that in the end proved ineffective.
The series was a prime example of Gruenwald at his best: telling ground breaking stories that were always rooted in the inevitability of the human condition.Well before Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns revolutionalized and matured the genre, Squadron Supreme led the way.
4) - Sensational She-Hulk
"What if... She-Hulk knew she was in a comic book?"
John Byrne took a concept that might as well have been a throwaway, semi-funny What If? one pager and turned it into Sensational She-Hulk, Shulkie's second 80s solo title. The main gimmick was the fact Jennifer Walter was well aware she was a comic book character and she was absolutely fine with it. Byrne initially only wrote the first eight issues of the book, before he was unceremoniously discarded.
He'd eventually return in the 1990s, taking over with #31 and delivering some nice work until he quit again with #50. But his arguably best, most original work can be found in those first 8 issues, with She-Hulk gleefully indulging in breaking the fourth wall and what it meant to be in a comic. Not sure about the best way to defeat Stilt Man, she checked the villain's Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe entry. Threatened by a seemingly inescapable menace, she simply tore her way through the pages, crossing a mock double spread advertisment to get to safety.
All in all, it's goofy, silly fun that still holds up.
3) - Spider-Woman
Much like the She-Hulk, Marvel ordered the creation of Jessica Drew in 1977 simply to make sure other companies couldn't copyright the female counterpart of a popular character. Spider-Woman was launched in March of 1978, after her initial appearance in Marvel Spotlight I#32 sold surprisingly well. One little problem, though... No one really knew what to do with her.
Oh, sure... There were plenty of theories and most of them were either implemented or strongly hinted at. Writer Marv Wolfman gave Drew an origin that implied she wasn't a woman at all, but an actual arachnid given human form by the High Evolutionary. Eventually, it was revealed HYDRA had planted these false memories within Jessica, but that didn't help matters much. Drew was mostly rudderless, between writers Wolfman, Gruenwald (him again?) and Michael Fleisher who turned her into a bounty hunter. It wasn't until Chris Claremont took over the book with January 1981's issue #34 that the book finally found its bearings.
Claremont and his creative compatriot Steve Leiloha salvaged Spider-Woman, distilling the essence of the character as a fringe superheroine and taking it to the next level. Over the course of 13 issues, Jessica Drew quit the bounty hunting business, moved to San Francisco with her best friend Lindsay McCabe, started a new career as a private investigator and made the city by the bay her own. The change came with a completely new, distinctive supportive cast: Drew's landlord and love interest David Ishima, the tough as nails but secretive police lieutenant Sabrina Morrel and many more... Including old enemies like Morgana Le Fay, the elder god Ch'ton and Viper, who may or may not have been Jessica's mother Meriem.
Spider-Woman under Claremont and Leialoha had its very own, distinct look and feel which in itself is an achievement for a bi-monthly book. That alone makes it well worth remembering and checking out.
2) - Moon Knight
Ever since he made his debut back in 1975, Moon Knight has been unfavorably called "Marvel's Batman".
A rather unfair comparison... Sure, they're both caped crusaders who prefer to stalk criminals at night, travel by helicopter and wear their insignia on their chest that are like an ever so handy bullseye. But the comparison really stops there, as Doug Moench and Bill Sienkiewicz proved with their run on Moon Knight.
In many ways, the book was far ahead of its time. Placed against the backdrop of a gritty, grimey pre-Giulliani urban renewal New York, Moon Knight told urban parabels and presented highly stylized pieces of comic book art that dangerously walked the highwire between the sublime and the ridiculous. Take for instance the striking cover of Moon Knight I#24, which features Moon Knight and Stained Glass Scarlet. She looks imposing and important, but is actually a former nun who killed her criminal son by becoming a crossbow wielding vigilante. As one does.
Suspension of disbelief is essential for the enjoyment of comics, and Moon Knight is a prime example of that philosophy. Moench's stories were tremendously aided by Sienkiewicz's atmospheric art. Over the course of their run, Bill's prefered technique matured: slowly abandoning the Neal Adams style he had been emulating in the beginning to start experimenting with a far more abstract, expressionistic style. The fluent, ever changing mood and personality of the schizophrenic Moon Knight allowed Sienkiewicz to take a variety of truly fascinating approaches portraying what could otherwise have been fairly pedestrian crime stories. For proof of that statement, go check out "Hit It!", the first story in Moon Knight I#26.
Pure poetry in motion...
1) - Doctor Strange
The Doctor is in!
Strange to think he ever was out, if one reads Roger Stern's lengthy stint on the sorceror surpreme's second and bi montly solo book, aptly called Doctor Strange. Stern chronicled the adventures of the Doc for a fair chunk of the early 1980s, pitting him against a variety of foes both mystic and more down to earth. However, the quintessential 80s Strange didn't appear until Stern was joined by artist Paul Smith, who had been garnering quite a bit of attention at the time because of his work on Uncanny X-men.
For some borderline mystical reason, Smith's crispy, clear lined art proved to be a perfect match for the often arcane otherworldly messes Doctor Strange got himself involved with. The result was a comic that not only looked incredible, it also told particularly fascinating tales, often within the space of a single issue. Both webmaster Jason Shayer and yours truly happen to be unabashed fans of the Stern/Smith Strange, as we covered in times past (like say here & here).
What it boils down to, is the very root of the Marvel Universe. The one, defining aspect that sets it apart from its erm, shall we say, Distinguished Competitors: the only reason why the fantastical is so engrossing, is the fact that it is tempered with an undeniable sense of identifiable humanity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Naturally, these picks are solely based on my own, anything but unbiased preferences. Think I'm wrong or an absolute idjit for leaving out your particular fave? By all means, join the conversation!
In the second part of Eighties August 8, we'll be counting down the eight best titles of the 1980s. Now, we can all agree that books like Simonson's Thor, Miller's Daredevil, Byrne's Fantastic Four and of course Claremont's Uncanny X-Men belong on that list by default. But that would make this entry far too predictable. Instead, let's focus on some of the lesser known gems of the decade.*
8) - Power Man & Iron Fist
Not too many characters considered typical 70s creations were able to survive and thrive in the 80s... But somehow, Luke Cage and Daniel Rand beat the odds. One a relic of the blackploitation rage of the mid 1970s, the other Marvel's response to the Kung Fu craze of the same time period. Odds of them being able to support a monthly book after disco went out of style were unlikely. In fact, Marvel actually did cancel their solo titles, but decided to give the two another chance, bringing them together as Power Man & Iron Fist.
Somehow, an instant, almost effortless chemistry occured between the tough, street smart Power Man and the slightly naive, spiritual Iron Fist. Their adventures ran the gamut, ranging from mystical menaces like Master Khan to super powered mercenaries such as Constrictor and Sabretooth. The book effortlessly switched between complicated detective style stories in which barely a punch was thrown and broad, silly romps featuring characters like the unapologetically unbelievable Black Mariah.
Add to that a rich, varied supporting cast including the likes of Colleen Wing and Misty Knight, and you were sitting pretty, storywise... Which is exactly what Power Man & Iron Fist did until September 1986's issue 125, the final issue of the series that ended with Iron Fist's death (don't worry, he got over it).
7) - Damage Control
So, what happens after your favorite heroes have defeated a villain, trashing half of New York in the process?
The late great Dwayne McDuffie and artist Ernie Colón finally answered that question with Damage Control, a 1989 four issue limited series about Ms. Hoag and her employees who specialized in clean up and reconstruction after super powered conflicts. Now, if you think corporate machinations, tons of paper work and construction crew banter sounds boring, think again... I'll bet the Punisher doesn't show up in your reception area, loaded for bear. And oh boy, was it fun.
But even though Damage Control was first and foremost a comedy, McDuffie did use it to add a whole new dimension to the Marvel Universe . Despite all the infectious silliness and the giddy oneliners, the book showed for the first time the very real, human impact of superhero conflicts. The Avengers, Fantastic Four and all the other New York based heroes may go home after a fight, but they don't exist in a vacuum. Their actions have consequences and Damage Control was on hand to help out (even if they did drop Avengers Mansion back in the drink after they tried to salvage it following Acts Of Vengeance).
6) - New Defenders
Like Power Man and Iron Fist, the original Defenders hail from the 1970s and were reinvented, albeit it far too briefly, for the new decade. By its very nature, membership of the Defenders was mostly fluid, the only constants being Doctor Strange who often acting as the team's leader, and Valkyrie who stayed at Strange's home which incidentally also served as the unofficial team's inofficial gathering place. By November 1983, writer J.M DeMatteis decided to shake things up. Defenders changed to New Defenders with issue 125.
Beast (Hank McCoy) had decided what the team needed was more structure and organization. Long serving members Gargoyle, Valkyrie and her unwilling ward Moondragon were game, joined by Beast's former X-Men teammates Iceman and Angel (who bankrolled the operation). And so, the Defenders 2.0 were born.
My love and affection for this colorful rag tag band of heroes is no secret, the formation and adventures of the New Defenders were covered on this blog some time ago. When DeMatteis left (ironically after realizing writing a 'real' team stymied his creativity), Peter B. Gillis took over and told some truly dark, creepy stories that took the former non team to places few mainstream books dared venture at the time. Don Perlin and Kim DeMulder provided solid and appropriately moody art for the book, but in the end it was cancelled so Angel, Beast and Iceman could appear in the new X-Factor series. Wotta sassafrassin' shame, really.
5) - Squadron Supreme
Don't call them the Justice League...
... Though, really, they are. Originally dreamed up by Roy Thomas in 1971 during his Avengers run in order to poke some gentle fun at DC's premiere superteam, these alternate reality heroes spent the next decade and a half popping up occasionally to cause random mischief until Mark Gruenwald took them under his wing. Starting in September of 1985, the 12 issue Squadron Supreme limited stories told the story of what would happen if Earth's mightiest decided to become benevolent dictators, taking over control of the world for a year in an attempt to fix its many woes.
Because of the very nature of the Squadron Supreme (i.e. not being household names), Mark Gruenwald was pretty much allowed free reign. He could let the Squadronners do and experience things very few if any mainstream superheroes had by then. When Lady Lark broke up with Golden Archer, the furious, spurned hero brainwashed his ex girlfriend, forcing her to love him unconditionally. The radioactive Squadron member Nuke accidentally caused the cancer that killed his parents. And, perhaps most tragic of all, the team's inventive genius Tom Thumb succumbed to cancer as well, but not before his desperation caused him to betray his personal code of honor by trying to steal a cure that in the end proved ineffective.
The series was a prime example of Gruenwald at his best: telling ground breaking stories that were always rooted in the inevitability of the human condition.Well before Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns revolutionalized and matured the genre, Squadron Supreme led the way.
4) - Sensational She-Hulk
"What if... She-Hulk knew she was in a comic book?"
John Byrne took a concept that might as well have been a throwaway, semi-funny What If? one pager and turned it into Sensational She-Hulk, Shulkie's second 80s solo title. The main gimmick was the fact Jennifer Walter was well aware she was a comic book character and she was absolutely fine with it. Byrne initially only wrote the first eight issues of the book, before he was unceremoniously discarded.
He'd eventually return in the 1990s, taking over with #31 and delivering some nice work until he quit again with #50. But his arguably best, most original work can be found in those first 8 issues, with She-Hulk gleefully indulging in breaking the fourth wall and what it meant to be in a comic. Not sure about the best way to defeat Stilt Man, she checked the villain's Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe entry. Threatened by a seemingly inescapable menace, she simply tore her way through the pages, crossing a mock double spread advertisment to get to safety.
All in all, it's goofy, silly fun that still holds up.
3) - Spider-Woman
Much like the She-Hulk, Marvel ordered the creation of Jessica Drew in 1977 simply to make sure other companies couldn't copyright the female counterpart of a popular character. Spider-Woman was launched in March of 1978, after her initial appearance in Marvel Spotlight I#32 sold surprisingly well. One little problem, though... No one really knew what to do with her.
Oh, sure... There were plenty of theories and most of them were either implemented or strongly hinted at. Writer Marv Wolfman gave Drew an origin that implied she wasn't a woman at all, but an actual arachnid given human form by the High Evolutionary. Eventually, it was revealed HYDRA had planted these false memories within Jessica, but that didn't help matters much. Drew was mostly rudderless, between writers Wolfman, Gruenwald (him again?) and Michael Fleisher who turned her into a bounty hunter. It wasn't until Chris Claremont took over the book with January 1981's issue #34 that the book finally found its bearings.
Claremont and his creative compatriot Steve Leiloha salvaged Spider-Woman, distilling the essence of the character as a fringe superheroine and taking it to the next level. Over the course of 13 issues, Jessica Drew quit the bounty hunting business, moved to San Francisco with her best friend Lindsay McCabe, started a new career as a private investigator and made the city by the bay her own. The change came with a completely new, distinctive supportive cast: Drew's landlord and love interest David Ishima, the tough as nails but secretive police lieutenant Sabrina Morrel and many more... Including old enemies like Morgana Le Fay, the elder god Ch'ton and Viper, who may or may not have been Jessica's mother Meriem.
Spider-Woman under Claremont and Leialoha had its very own, distinct look and feel which in itself is an achievement for a bi-monthly book. That alone makes it well worth remembering and checking out.
2) - Moon Knight
Ever since he made his debut back in 1975, Moon Knight has been unfavorably called "Marvel's Batman".
A rather unfair comparison... Sure, they're both caped crusaders who prefer to stalk criminals at night, travel by helicopter and wear their insignia on their chest that are like an ever so handy bullseye. But the comparison really stops there, as Doug Moench and Bill Sienkiewicz proved with their run on Moon Knight.
In many ways, the book was far ahead of its time. Placed against the backdrop of a gritty, grimey pre-Giulliani urban renewal New York, Moon Knight told urban parabels and presented highly stylized pieces of comic book art that dangerously walked the highwire between the sublime and the ridiculous. Take for instance the striking cover of Moon Knight I#24, which features Moon Knight and Stained Glass Scarlet. She looks imposing and important, but is actually a former nun who killed her criminal son by becoming a crossbow wielding vigilante. As one does.
Suspension of disbelief is essential for the enjoyment of comics, and Moon Knight is a prime example of that philosophy. Moench's stories were tremendously aided by Sienkiewicz's atmospheric art. Over the course of their run, Bill's prefered technique matured: slowly abandoning the Neal Adams style he had been emulating in the beginning to start experimenting with a far more abstract, expressionistic style. The fluent, ever changing mood and personality of the schizophrenic Moon Knight allowed Sienkiewicz to take a variety of truly fascinating approaches portraying what could otherwise have been fairly pedestrian crime stories. For proof of that statement, go check out "Hit It!", the first story in Moon Knight I#26.
Pure poetry in motion...
1) - Doctor Strange
The Doctor is in!
Strange to think he ever was out, if one reads Roger Stern's lengthy stint on the sorceror surpreme's second and bi montly solo book, aptly called Doctor Strange. Stern chronicled the adventures of the Doc for a fair chunk of the early 1980s, pitting him against a variety of foes both mystic and more down to earth. However, the quintessential 80s Strange didn't appear until Stern was joined by artist Paul Smith, who had been garnering quite a bit of attention at the time because of his work on Uncanny X-men.
For some borderline mystical reason, Smith's crispy, clear lined art proved to be a perfect match for the often arcane otherworldly messes Doctor Strange got himself involved with. The result was a comic that not only looked incredible, it also told particularly fascinating tales, often within the space of a single issue. Both webmaster Jason Shayer and yours truly happen to be unabashed fans of the Stern/Smith Strange, as we covered in times past (like say here & here).
What it boils down to, is the very root of the Marvel Universe. The one, defining aspect that sets it apart from its erm, shall we say, Distinguished Competitors: the only reason why the fantastical is so engrossing, is the fact that it is tempered with an undeniable sense of identifiable humanity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Naturally, these picks are solely based on my own, anything but unbiased preferences. Think I'm wrong or an absolute idjit for leaving out your particular fave? By all means, join the conversation!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Thursday, November 21, 2013
1985 - Anatomy of a cover - Squadron Supreme #6
http://stlcomics.com/cover_gallery/details.php?image_id=607&sessionid=6755b38c7bf47e80dfe8100432ece089
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Marvel Comics' April 2013 Solicitations - 1980s Goodness
Here are the 1980s highlights for Marvel's April 2013 releases:
INCREDIBLE HULK: CROSSROADS TPB
Written by BILL MANTLO
Penciled by SAL BUSCEMA, ALAN KUPPERBERG, BRET BLEVINS & MIKE MIGNOLA
Banished to the mysterious and dangerous Crossroads by Dr. Strange, the Hulk fights his way back from the edge of insanity; battles the U-Foes, the N’Garai, Klaatu, the Puffball Collective and more; fights alongside newfound friends like the Lady of Life in the City of Death; and comes face to face with three aspects of his own shattered psyche as Bruce Banner struggles to reassert control over his savage alter ego and come to terms with his haunted past! Plus: The story of Banner’s birth, and how his tragic childhood shaped the monster within, is revealed! And longtime INCREDIBLE HULK artist Sal Buscema wraps up his decade-long run! The Jade Giant is truly at the crossroads of his life! Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #301-313 and ANNUAL #13, and ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) #29. 384 PGS./Rated T ...$39.99
AVENGERS: HEART OF STONE TPB
Written by BILL MANTLO, JIM SHOOTER, STEVEN GRANT, ROGER STERN & DAVID MICHELINIE
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE, ARVELL JONES, SAL BUSCEMA, GEORGE PÉREZ & DON NEWTON
It’s a cornucopia of classic Avengers action as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes travel to Russia to face the Elements of Doom, and then battle the WWII-era Arsenal robot and learn its shocking ties to Iron Man’s family! Meanwhile, an out-of-work Hawkeye takes a security job and clashes with the vicious alien princess Deathbird! Plus: The Avengers are called before Congress, battle the stone-faced Grey Gargoyle, face the new Inferno and deal with the meddling machinations of government liaison Henry Peter Gyrich! But when the team investigates a cry for help from a mental hospital, they discover a deadly new foe: Who is the terrible Taskmaster? And how can the Avengers hope to stop him when he can match every single fighting move they have to offer? Time to get creative! Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #188-196 and ANNUAL #9. 216 PGS./Rated T ...$24.99
ESSENTIAL DEFENDERS VOL. 7 TPB
Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS, PETER B. GILLIS & ANN NOCENTI
Penciled by ALAN KUPPERBERG, SAL BUSCEMA, DON PERLIN & MIKE ZECK
The age of the New Defenders begins here! The Beast assembles the infamous “non-team” into a real super-group featuring members both old and new — from Gargoyle and Valkyrie to fellow ex-X-Men Iceman and Angel — and now the newly focused heroes must face some of their greatest challenges! Can the Defenders, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. stop the Secret Empire’s Professor Power before he takes revenge on Professor X — and starts World War III? Plus: Iceman takes on the villainous Void in a time-traveling existential adventure! Beast and Dazzler vs. Doctor Doom and a mutant fight club! The menace of Manslaughter! The power of Odin! The redemption of Moondragon! The attack of...Frog-Man and the Walrus?! And more! Collecting DEFENDERS (1972) #126-139, ICEMAN (1984) #1-4 and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1984) #1-4. 528 PGS./Rated T ...$19.99
X-MEN: LONGSHOT TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Penciled by ARTHUR ADAMS
Meet Longshot. He’s a man without a past who possesses an uncanny lucky streak...and he’s on an existential quest through the Marvel Universe. But as Longshot deals with the quirkier aspects of American society, he must learn the secrets behind his enigmatic identity and accept his destiny as a hero. Along the way, he meets a crazed militiaman, demons from his mysterious otherworldly home, a daring stuntwoman named Ricochet Rita, ram-headed Quark, and Marvel heroes Spider-Man, She-Hulk, and Dr. Strange. As Longshot digs deeper, he rediscovers more about himself — and must come to terms with his past along the way. Because only Longshot and his friends can stop the media-addled Mojo from taking over Earth and remaking it in his own warped image. Collecting LONGSHOT #1-6.
208 PGS./Rated T ...$19.99
X-MEN: FALL OF THE MUTANTS VOL. 2 TPB
Written by LOUISE SIMONSON, PETER DAVID, ANN NOCENTI, MARK GRUENWALD & STEVE ENGLEHART
Penciled by WALTER SIMONSON, TODD MCFARLANE, JON BOGDANOVE, JOHN ROMITA JR., KIERON DWYER & KEITH POLLARD
The FALL OF THE MUTANTS continues as the members of X-Factor — the original X-Men — face tragedies of their own! Angel is dead, apparently by suicide. The Beast is slowly losing his amazing intellect. Iceman’s powers are out of control. Cyclops and Marvel Girl don’t know how to feel toward one another. And amid all this, a new generation of troubled mutant teens desperately needs help — especially when they’re targeted by the villainous Right! And if that’s not enough, X-Factor faces their deadliest challenge yet in Apocalypse and his Horsemen — including the new Archangel! Guest-starring Captain America, Daredevil, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four and Power Pack! Collecting X-FACTOR (1986) #18-26, INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #336-337, POWER PACK (1984) #35, DAREDEVIL (1964) #252, CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #339 and FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #312.
400 PGS./Rated T ...$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-6685-6
SQUADRON SUPREME TPB (NEW PRINTING)
Written by MARK GRUENWALD
Penciled by BOB HALL, PAUL RYAN, JOHN BUSCEMA & PAUL NEARY
On an Earth much like our own, the world’s greatest superhuman champions are confronted by a society in ruins. Faced with the possibility of a new dark age for mankind, they choose the only course available to them — and take control of the world’s governments themselves! Now, they have one year in which to completely restructure human society. Can their plan succeed? Will a renegade member bring about their downfall? And what will happen when this Earth’s mightiest heroes find themselves becoming instead its all-powerful, totalitarian overlords? Before Watchmen, before MARVELS, before Kingdom Come — there was Squadron Supreme, a deconstructionist parable of the super-hero paradigm in a real-world setting considered by many to be the late Mark Gruenwald’s finest work. Collecting SQUADRON SUPREME (1985) #1-12 and CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #314. 352 PGS./Rated T ...$34.99
Written by BILL MANTLO
Penciled by SAL BUSCEMA, ALAN KUPPERBERG, BRET BLEVINS & MIKE MIGNOLA
Banished to the mysterious and dangerous Crossroads by Dr. Strange, the Hulk fights his way back from the edge of insanity; battles the U-Foes, the N’Garai, Klaatu, the Puffball Collective and more; fights alongside newfound friends like the Lady of Life in the City of Death; and comes face to face with three aspects of his own shattered psyche as Bruce Banner struggles to reassert control over his savage alter ego and come to terms with his haunted past! Plus: The story of Banner’s birth, and how his tragic childhood shaped the monster within, is revealed! And longtime INCREDIBLE HULK artist Sal Buscema wraps up his decade-long run! The Jade Giant is truly at the crossroads of his life! Collecting INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #301-313 and ANNUAL #13, and ALPHA FLIGHT (1983) #29. 384 PGS./Rated T ...$39.99
Written by BILL MANTLO, JIM SHOOTER, STEVEN GRANT, ROGER STERN & DAVID MICHELINIE
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE, ARVELL JONES, SAL BUSCEMA, GEORGE PÉREZ & DON NEWTON
It’s a cornucopia of classic Avengers action as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes travel to Russia to face the Elements of Doom, and then battle the WWII-era Arsenal robot and learn its shocking ties to Iron Man’s family! Meanwhile, an out-of-work Hawkeye takes a security job and clashes with the vicious alien princess Deathbird! Plus: The Avengers are called before Congress, battle the stone-faced Grey Gargoyle, face the new Inferno and deal with the meddling machinations of government liaison Henry Peter Gyrich! But when the team investigates a cry for help from a mental hospital, they discover a deadly new foe: Who is the terrible Taskmaster? And how can the Avengers hope to stop him when he can match every single fighting move they have to offer? Time to get creative! Collecting AVENGERS (1963) #188-196 and ANNUAL #9. 216 PGS./Rated T ...$24.99
Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS, PETER B. GILLIS & ANN NOCENTI
Penciled by ALAN KUPPERBERG, SAL BUSCEMA, DON PERLIN & MIKE ZECK
The age of the New Defenders begins here! The Beast assembles the infamous “non-team” into a real super-group featuring members both old and new — from Gargoyle and Valkyrie to fellow ex-X-Men Iceman and Angel — and now the newly focused heroes must face some of their greatest challenges! Can the Defenders, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. stop the Secret Empire’s Professor Power before he takes revenge on Professor X — and starts World War III? Plus: Iceman takes on the villainous Void in a time-traveling existential adventure! Beast and Dazzler vs. Doctor Doom and a mutant fight club! The menace of Manslaughter! The power of Odin! The redemption of Moondragon! The attack of...Frog-Man and the Walrus?! And more! Collecting DEFENDERS (1972) #126-139, ICEMAN (1984) #1-4 and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1984) #1-4. 528 PGS./Rated T ...$19.99
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Penciled by ARTHUR ADAMS
Meet Longshot. He’s a man without a past who possesses an uncanny lucky streak...and he’s on an existential quest through the Marvel Universe. But as Longshot deals with the quirkier aspects of American society, he must learn the secrets behind his enigmatic identity and accept his destiny as a hero. Along the way, he meets a crazed militiaman, demons from his mysterious otherworldly home, a daring stuntwoman named Ricochet Rita, ram-headed Quark, and Marvel heroes Spider-Man, She-Hulk, and Dr. Strange. As Longshot digs deeper, he rediscovers more about himself — and must come to terms with his past along the way. Because only Longshot and his friends can stop the media-addled Mojo from taking over Earth and remaking it in his own warped image. Collecting LONGSHOT #1-6.
208 PGS./Rated T ...$19.99
Written by LOUISE SIMONSON, PETER DAVID, ANN NOCENTI, MARK GRUENWALD & STEVE ENGLEHART
Penciled by WALTER SIMONSON, TODD MCFARLANE, JON BOGDANOVE, JOHN ROMITA JR., KIERON DWYER & KEITH POLLARD
The FALL OF THE MUTANTS continues as the members of X-Factor — the original X-Men — face tragedies of their own! Angel is dead, apparently by suicide. The Beast is slowly losing his amazing intellect. Iceman’s powers are out of control. Cyclops and Marvel Girl don’t know how to feel toward one another. And amid all this, a new generation of troubled mutant teens desperately needs help — especially when they’re targeted by the villainous Right! And if that’s not enough, X-Factor faces their deadliest challenge yet in Apocalypse and his Horsemen — including the new Archangel! Guest-starring Captain America, Daredevil, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four and Power Pack! Collecting X-FACTOR (1986) #18-26, INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #336-337, POWER PACK (1984) #35, DAREDEVIL (1964) #252, CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #339 and FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #312.
400 PGS./Rated T ...$34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-6685-6
Written by MARK GRUENWALD
Penciled by BOB HALL, PAUL RYAN, JOHN BUSCEMA & PAUL NEARY
On an Earth much like our own, the world’s greatest superhuman champions are confronted by a society in ruins. Faced with the possibility of a new dark age for mankind, they choose the only course available to them — and take control of the world’s governments themselves! Now, they have one year in which to completely restructure human society. Can their plan succeed? Will a renegade member bring about their downfall? And what will happen when this Earth’s mightiest heroes find themselves becoming instead its all-powerful, totalitarian overlords? Before Watchmen, before MARVELS, before Kingdom Come — there was Squadron Supreme, a deconstructionist parable of the super-hero paradigm in a real-world setting considered by many to be the late Mark Gruenwald’s finest work. Collecting SQUADRON SUPREME (1985) #1-12 and CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #314. 352 PGS./Rated T ...$34.99
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Marvel July 2010 solicitation - 1980s goodness
Written by MARK GRUENWALD
Penciled by BOB HALL, PAUL RYAN, PAUL NEARY & JOHN BUSCEMA
Hyperion! Power Princess! Dr. Spectrum! The Whizzer! Nighthawk! What happens when the greatest heroes of an alternate world institute the Utopia Project, vowing to abolish war and crime, to eliminate poverty and hunger, and to cure death itself! Can they possibly succeed? And when do heroes stop being heroes? Mark Gruenwald explores the ethics of heroism in his best-known story. Guest-starring Captain America and featuring the end of a world at the hands of the Scarlet Centurion! Collecting SQUADRON SUPREME (1985) #1-12, CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #314 and SQUADRON SUPREME: DEATH OF A UNIVERSE.
456 pages, $74.99.
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE
When the Dark Phoenix rises, suns grow cold and universes die! Gathered by Charles Xavier, the X-Men have dedicated their wondrous abilities to protect mankind -- even those who hate and fear them. Now, these incredible individuals embark on an adventure that will span the expanse of the cosmos. One of their own, Jean Grey, has unwittingly attained power beyond conception -- and been corrupted, absolutely. The X-Men must decide: Is the life of the woman they cherish worth the existence of an entire universe? Collecting X-MEN #129-138, CLASSIC X-MEN #43, BIZARRE ADVENTURES #27, PHOENIX: THE UNTOLD STORY and WHAT IF? (1977) #27.
352 pages, $74.99.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
1985 – Squadron Supreme
The Greatest Super-Hero Team of Any World!
Squadron Supreme (September 1985 - August 1986)
Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Penciller(s): Bob Hall/Paul Ryan/John Buscema
Inker(s): John Beatty/Sam DeLaRosa/Joe Rubinstein/Jackson Guice/Keith Williams
This miniseries is writer/editor Mark Gruenwald's Magnum Opus. He challenged many super hero conventions by taking a team of archetypal super heroes living in a world outside the Marvel Universe and allowing them to make global wide-spread changes to society and political.
The Squadron Supreme is the premier super-hero team of a parallel Earth in the Marvel Universe. Interestingly, this super-hero team is a character-for-character match of DC's Justice League of America:
Hyperion = Superman
Nighthawk = Batman
Dr. Spectrum = Green Lantern
Whizzer = Flash
Power Princess = Wonder Woman
Skrullian Skymaster = Martian Manhunter
Amphibian = Aquaman
Nuke = Firestorm
Hawk = Hawkman
Arcanna = Zatanna
Lady Lark = Black Canary
Golden Archer = Green Arrow.
The Squadron Supreme made their first appearance in The Avengers #85. A simple misunderstanding led to an all-out battle. However, once everything was sorted out, these heroes do what comes natural to heroes: they save their worlds.
After a few more appearances in the pages of The Avengers and The Defenders, there was enough fan interest for a 12-issue limited series. The series began in the aftermath of the Squadron Supreme's lowest point in their history. An alien entity known as the Overmind had mentally controlled the Squadron Supreme and used them to subject the planet to his rule. They rebelled against the Overmind and defeated him, but their world was in ruins and its population despised them.
This series is truly Mark Gruenwald's defining work. He delivers a morally complex tale of heroes who decide to take an active role in reshaping society as they see fit. The world is in utter chaos and the Squadron Supreme wants to restore order, especially since they're to blame. The Squadron Supreme's leader, Hyperion, convinces his team that, despite the public's mistrust and hatred, they must "actively pursue solutions to all the world's problems ... abolish war and crime, eliminate poverty and hunger, establish equality among all people, clean up the environment and cure disease."
In short, they set themselves up as nothing less than moral dictators. However, Nighthawk, one of the team's founders, disagrees with Hyperion and believes that humanity must achieve and earn their own utopia and not have one forced upon them. The majority of the Squadron supports Hyperion's Project Utopia. Nighthawk resigns from the team and even considers assassinating Hyperion.
To eliminate crime, the Squadron Supreme sanctions the use of a mind-subversion machine on criminals to change their ways, which also extends to the Squadron's super-villains who are then invited to join the team. This topic sparks a series of debates on the extent of this machine's use and the determination of what behavior should be corrected.
Highlights of this series's subplots include an attempt by the Squadron Supreme's scientific genius Tom Thumb to cure cancer; the manslaughter of a hero who became emotionally unbalanced when he learned that exposure to his powers are what had killed his parents; the disarmament of the United States; and the use of the mind-subversion machine on a fellow teammate by a scorned lover.
The series builds to its climax as Nighthawk, who has joined forces with the Squadron Supreme's mortal enemy, Master Menace, assembles a new team to free the world from this super-hero tyranny. The climax is a dramatic and deadly battle that forever changes the Squadron Supreme.
My biggest complaint is the constant shifting of the art teams. Bob Hall and John Beatty's art in the first couple of issues is well done, if you look past Beatty's heavy inks. There's a switch in inkers and then finally a new art team settled in with issue #9. Issue #7 features a great pencil fill-in by John Buscema and inks by Jackson Guice. I found that, by the end of the series, the Ryan/DeLaRosa art just wasn't at the same level that was set in the early issue. This weaker art detracted from the climatic build up to the last issue. Ryan's pencils aren't as dramatic and his panels aren't focused enough.
The writing is top notch and Gruenwald handles a large roster of characters very well. The series is an enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
Squadron Supreme (September 1985 - August 1986)
Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Penciller(s): Bob Hall/Paul Ryan/John Buscema
Inker(s): John Beatty/Sam DeLaRosa/Joe Rubinstein/Jackson Guice/Keith Williams
This miniseries is writer/editor Mark Gruenwald's Magnum Opus. He challenged many super hero conventions by taking a team of archetypal super heroes living in a world outside the Marvel Universe and allowing them to make global wide-spread changes to society and political.
The Squadron Supreme is the premier super-hero team of a parallel Earth in the Marvel Universe. Interestingly, this super-hero team is a character-for-character match of DC's Justice League of America:
Hyperion = SupermanNighthawk = Batman
Dr. Spectrum = Green Lantern
Whizzer = Flash
Power Princess = Wonder Woman
Skrullian Skymaster = Martian Manhunter
Amphibian = Aquaman
Nuke = Firestorm
Hawk = Hawkman
Arcanna = Zatanna
Lady Lark = Black Canary
Golden Archer = Green Arrow.
The Squadron Supreme made their first appearance in The Avengers #85. A simple misunderstanding led to an all-out battle. However, once everything was sorted out, these heroes do what comes natural to heroes: they save their worlds.
After a few more appearances in the pages of The Avengers and The Defenders, there was enough fan interest for a 12-issue limited series. The series began in the aftermath of the Squadron Supreme's lowest point in their history. An alien entity known as the Overmind had mentally controlled the Squadron Supreme and used them to subject the planet to his rule. They rebelled against the Overmind and defeated him, but their world was in ruins and its population despised them.
This series is truly Mark Gruenwald's defining work. He delivers a morally complex tale of heroes who decide to take an active role in reshaping society as they see fit. The world is in utter chaos and the Squadron Supreme wants to restore order, especially since they're to blame. The Squadron Supreme's leader, Hyperion, convinces his team that, despite the public's mistrust and hatred, they must "actively pursue solutions to all the world's problems ... abolish war and crime, eliminate poverty and hunger, establish equality among all people, clean up the environment and cure disease."In short, they set themselves up as nothing less than moral dictators. However, Nighthawk, one of the team's founders, disagrees with Hyperion and believes that humanity must achieve and earn their own utopia and not have one forced upon them. The majority of the Squadron supports Hyperion's Project Utopia. Nighthawk resigns from the team and even considers assassinating Hyperion.
To eliminate crime, the Squadron Supreme sanctions the use of a mind-subversion machine on criminals to change their ways, which also extends to the Squadron's super-villains who are then invited to join the team. This topic sparks a series of debates on the extent of this machine's use and the determination of what behavior should be corrected.
Highlights of this series's subplots include an attempt by the Squadron Supreme's scientific genius Tom Thumb to cure cancer; the manslaughter of a hero who became emotionally unbalanced when he learned that exposure to his powers are what had killed his parents; the disarmament of the United States; and the use of the mind-subversion machine on a fellow teammate by a scorned lover.
The series builds to its climax as Nighthawk, who has joined forces with the Squadron Supreme's mortal enemy, Master Menace, assembles a new team to free the world from this super-hero tyranny. The climax is a dramatic and deadly battle that forever changes the Squadron Supreme.
My biggest complaint is the constant shifting of the art teams. Bob Hall and John Beatty's art in the first couple of issues is well done, if you look past Beatty's heavy inks. There's a switch in inkers and then finally a new art team settled in with issue #9. Issue #7 features a great pencil fill-in by John Buscema and inks by Jackson Guice. I found that, by the end of the series, the Ryan/DeLaRosa art just wasn't at the same level that was set in the early issue. This weaker art detracted from the climatic build up to the last issue. Ryan's pencils aren't as dramatic and his panels aren't focused enough.
The writing is top notch and Gruenwald handles a large roster of characters very well. The series is an enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
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