Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
1985 - Avengers Assemble poster
This Avengers comic shop only promotional poster measured 34 x 22 inches.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
1983 - Micronauts Special Edition
Here's some of the bonus material from the Micronauts Special Edition #1.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Top 10 1980s reprints of 2011
With only one shopping day left, do you need a few ideas on what to get your thirty-something comic book geek for the holidays? Look no further. I’ve compiled a list of this year’s top 10 hardcover books reprinting classic 1980s comic books.
1. Walt Simonson’s The Mighty Thor Omnibus. Weighing in at almost 10 pounds, this omnibus will require you to purchase an accompanying lectern to hold it while you read it! It’s big and beautiful and lovingly restored and recoloured. Its 1,200 pages reprint Simonson’s full run from Thor #337-355, 357-369, 371-382 and Balder the Brave #1-4. Price tag: $90
2. John Byrne’s The Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume #1. At just under 1,100 pages, this first of two volumes reprints Byrne’s earliest work on the Fantastic Four. While it wasn’t given the same TLC that the Thor Omnibus received, it’s still a wonderful collection. Re-reading Byrne’s run has made me realize that I enjoyed his Fantastic Four more than his X-Men run. While I loved that era of X-Men and those characters, Byrne’s efforts here are innovative and revolutionary. Price tag: $90.
3. Marvel Masterworks - Uncanny X-Men Volume #7. An amazing collection featuring classic 1980s artists like Michael Golden, Bill Sienkiewicz, Brent Anderson, and Dave Cockrum. Price tag: $40 for just over 300 pages.
4. The New Teen Titans Omnibus Volume 1. The Teen Titans were re-assembled as the New Teen Titans in the early 1980s after a few years on hiatus with Marv Wolfman and George Perez at the helm. These former sidekicks grew up and matured at the same time as its reader base and that created an immediate relationship. This volume reprints issues #1-16 and volume two is in plan for April 2012. Price tag: $55 for almost 700 pages.
5. Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 6. Book 6 is the final volume in the hardcover run that started in 2009. While there have been complaints about the paper quality, this series of hardcovers is a great way to discover Alan Moore’s ground-breaking work on Swamp Thing. Price tag: $18 for 204 pages.
6. Amazing Spider-Man by David Michelinie & Todd McFarlane. Remember when Todd McFarlane actually drew a monthly title? Amazing Spider-Man was in a downward spiral in the late 1980s and McFarlane’s art revitalized and rejuvenated the title propelling it into 1990s. This omnibus collects a great run of his work with veteran writer David Michelinie before the franchise was diluted and gimmick driven. Price tag: $70 for 850 pages.
7. Tales of the Batman - Gene Colan Volume 1. Colan’s death this pass year made this hardcover collection that much more special and memorable. It includes one of the scariest Batman story arcs in which he was turned into a vampire. I still remember how these issues frightened me when I was 11 years old! Price tag: $30 for 288 pages.
8. Captain America: War & Remembrance. Roger Stern and John Byrne teamed up for one of the most memorable runs in Captain America’s history. It includes a great standalone issue featuring Cap’s presidential run! Price tag: $22 for 224 pages.
9. Avengers - West Coast Avengers: Family Ties . Steve Englehart returned to the Avengers and to Marvel in the mid-1980s after a stint with DC. This edition reprints the first 9 issues of the West Coast Avengers and their two-issue crossover with the Vision and Scarlet Witch miniseries. Price tag: $25 for 296 pages.
10. Doctor Strange: Into the Dark Dimension. Rogers Stern’s output in the 1980s is impressive in both quality and quantity. While his work on Amazing Spider-Man or the Avengers are better known, his run on Doctor Strange with Paul Smith was fresh and fun. Reprints Doctor Strange #68-74. Price tag: $18 for 170 pages.
Honourable mentions: The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Curse Deluxe Edition, Avengers: Assault on Olympus, Evolutionary War, X-Men: X-Tinction, X-Men: Fall of the Mutants, Atlantis Attacks, and Avengers – West Coast Avengers: Lost in Space and Time.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
1984 - Secret Wars - some cool behind the scenes stuff
Pulled from Jim Shooter's blog:
Why did you write Secret Wars?
Marvel’s writers at the time, some of the best in the business, were, to a person, very possessive about the characters they were writing. To some extent, that was a good thing, indicating a love for the characters that generally showed in their work. It also led to some intense rivalries and bitter arguments regarding crossovers and guest appearances.
For instance, once, writer “A,” who shall remain nameless, wanted Doctor Doom to “guest-villain” in the series he wrote. I okayed it, over the snarling objections of writer “B,” who wrote the series in which Doom usually appeared. I would not allow the Marvel Universe to be divided into fiefdoms. But then, writer “B” wrote a story “proving” that the Doom seen in writer “A’s” series was a robot, the intimation being that the real Doctor Doom wouldn’t behave so stupidly. Somehow, writer “B’s” editor didn’t realize what he was up to, and let it slip past. Writer “A” was furious…etc.
Allowing any one of the writers to handle pretty much everyone else’s characters in Secret Wars, contemplated to be the biggest, most continuity-intensive crossover ever done, would have led to bloodshed in the hallowed halls.
So, I wrote it. As Editor in Chief, by definition, I was the company’s designated Keeper of the Franchises, and the ordained Absolute Authority on the characters -- all part of the job, at least back then. The writers could (and did) argue with me, and on some occasions talked me into their point of view regarding what Thor, Spider-Man or the X-Men would do or say in a given situation. But, ultimately, it was my call. That made things a little easier. And less bloody. And, because I had the best overview of what was going on in all the titles, working closely with the line editors and writers I was able to keep the continuity tight. And, with their help, I think we managed to work in the things Mattel asked for in ways that made sense and enhanced the story.
Why did you pick Mike Zeck as the artist for Secret Wars?
Mike was available and I thought he was capable. Mike did great work on Master of Kung-Fu. SW presented new challenges -- designing alien things and doing vast-scope action. The vast-scope action was new territory for Mike -- MOKF and his other, previous work had been single characters, all up close and personal -- so I actually thumbnailed some of the issues for him. The design stuff he did brilliantly. Witness the black Spider-Man costume.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
X-Girls fashion extravaganza
Check out kevinwadaart.blogspot.com. Here are a few samples described by artist Kevin Wada as "X-girls fashion extravaganza" and "freaky fantastic X-men couture". See if you can guess who's who?
Monday, December 19, 2011
Marvel Comics March 2012 Solicitations - 1980s love
Written by ROGER STERN & BOB HARRAS
Penciled by BOB HALL, LUKE MCDONNELL, AL MILGROM, CARMINE INFANTINO & DON HUDSON
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes head west! The bigger they are, the harder they hit — and the threats come big, bigger and biggest in this collection of the West Coast Avengers’ early victories against Graviton, Goliath and Maelstrom! Featuring multiple Avengers from multiple rosters! And who was the West Coast Avengers’ real first recruit? Find out here! Collecting WEST COAST AVENGERS (1984) #1-4, IRON MAN ANNUAL #7, AVENGERS (1963) #250 — plus material from AVENGERS (1963) #239, #243-244 and #246; and AVENGERS WEST COAST #100.
208 PGS./$19.99
CLOAK & DAGGER: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT PREMIERE HC
Written by BILL MANTLO
Penciled by ED HANNIGAN, AL MILGROM, RON FRENZ, TONY SALMONS, RICK LEONARDI & KERRY GAMMILL
Created by the underworld — sworn to destroy it! Cloak and Dagger hit the streets to fight organized crime and super villainy! When they set their sights on the Kingpin, Spider-Man thinks they’re going too far, but his webs can’t rein them in! Plus: The Punisher’s on the prowl, and it’s a problem for everybody! Guest-starring the Black Cat, the New Mutants and the Spidey supporting players of yesteryear! Collecting PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1972) #64, #69-70, #81-82 and #94-96; MARVEL TEAM-UP ANNUAL #6; and MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #19.
264 PGS./$29.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA: DEATH OF THE RED SKULL TPB
Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS, BILL MANTLO, MICHAEL ELLIS & MIKE CARLIN
Penciled by RON FRENZ, HERB TRIMPE & PAUL NEARY
One of the Sentinel of Liberty’s greatest conflicts with his hated arch-nemesis is finally collected! Join Cap & Co. — including Nomad, the Black Crow, the Avengers and more — as Marvel’s First Avenger must contend with the diabolical daughter of the Red Skull, survive the Secret Wars and overcome an untimely encounter with old age — all before one stupendous showdown with Herr Skull that will leave you gaping in star-spangled wonder! Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #290-301.
288 PGS./$29.99
SPIDER-MAN: THE GRAPHIC NOVELS HC
Written by SUSAN PUTNEY, GERRY CONWAY, CHARLES VESS & STAN LEE
Penciled by BERNI WRIGHTSON, ALEX SAVIUK, CHARLES VESS & ROSS ANDRU
Several of the Amazing Spider-Man’s most extraordinary adventures take the spotlight in this fabulous collection! From being whisked away to a bizarre fantasy world inhabited by a creature of near limitless power to dealing with unruly ghosts in an ancient Scottish castle, things have never been weirder for our hapless hero! Plus: The secret history of Peter and Mary Jane is revealed in a moving, timelesstale — and the action turns up a notch as Spidey teams with Silver Sable to face a Nazi menace! Featuring the villainy of Doc Ock and the Hellfire Club! Collecting MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #22: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN — HOOKY, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: PARALLEL LIVES, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: SPIRITS OF THE EARTH HC and SPIDER-MAN: FEAR ITSELF.
288 PGS./$34.99
WOLVERINE & NICK FURY: SCORPIO TPB
Written by ARCHIE GOODWIN, TOM DEFALCO & HOWARD CHAYKIN
Penciled by HOWARD CHAYKIN, JOHN BUSCEMA & SHAWN MCMANUS
Wolverine and Nick Fury — as both allies and adversaries! When they embark on a mission to stop the criminal mastermind Scorpio, Ma Fury’s favorite son has very personal reasons for wanting to bring in the villain alive. But what happens when Logan wants him dead? You just know sparks are gonna fly! Plus: Wolverine again clashes with Fury when he tracks down a child-abusing drug peddler — but finds Fury protecting him?! Thrill to the exploits of Marvel’s two long-lived espionage experts in these extra-sized tales of intrigue guaranteed to deliver! Collecting WOLVERINE/NICK FURY: THE SCORPIO CONNECTION, WOLVERINE: BLOODY CHOICES and WOLVERINE & NICK FURY: SCORPIO RISING.
184 PGS./$19.99
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
1983 - Mighty Marvel Team-Up Thrillers
One of the many Fireside/Marvel softcover books published in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Mighty Marvel Team-Up Thrillers reprints Silver Surfer #4, Tales Of Suspense #58, Marvel Team-Up #79, Uncanny X-Men #9, Marvel Feature #11, and Amazing Spider-Man #16.
"At last! The sensational, best-selling "Marvel Origins" series continues! Featuring the world's greatest superheroes in cataclysmic combat with more sinister, savage supervillains than you can shake a flying surfboard at. Brilliantly selected by Stan Lee, the smiling sage of the Marvel Age, as his own personal all-time favorite thrillers, you'll find virtually each and every one of our most popular artists featured within such as John Byrne, Jack Kirby, Jim Starlin and Steve Ditko."
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
1983 - Anatomy of a cover - The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #2
Ed Hannigan's pencils and final cover to The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #2 (B-C).
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
1981 - Avengers Annual #10
Here's a recent re-imagining of the cover to Avengers Annual #10 by Michael Golden.
Here's the original:
And this alternate cover by the Dodsons was issued with reprinted comic for the Marvel Legends Warbird figure.
Here's the original:
And this alternate cover by the Dodsons was issued with reprinted comic for the Marvel Legends Warbird figure.
Monday, December 12, 2011
1983 - Roger Stern's rundown of the first couple of years of the West Coast Avengers
Snagged from www.jimshooter.com:
Love the details in the Future Plans section on the second page. I always wondered by Tigra and Wonder Man never really hooked up. If I recall correctly, they split up and then Tigra turned to Hank Pym. And the Thing's short tenure on the group was a bit disappointing. It would have been a great opportunity to showcase him outside the FF, something like what was done in Marvel-Two-In-One.
