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Eric Jansen
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Joined: 27 October 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 2280
Posted: 23 March 2020 at 10:34pm | IP Logged | 1 post reply

I just finally read Jack Kirby's THE DEMON and then I read BLOOD OF THE DEMON right after.  I enjoyed that, as JB did a bunch of stuff that I (on some level) thought or hoped for as I read Kirby's run.  (And it's not like a lot had been done with the character in-between).

I moved on to read the first Marvel Masterworks of IRON FIST, ending with JB's first two issues.  I love that first Thomas/Kane origin issue more than just about anything in comics, and I was pleasantly surprised that the follow-up issues were not as bad as I remembered them.  I would love to read the rest of Claremont & JB's run now, but I never found a collection.



Edited by Eric Jansen on 23 March 2020 at 10:35pm
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Shawn Kane
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Joined: 04 November 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 3239
Posted: 24 March 2020 at 5:45am | IP Logged | 2 post reply

I decided to switch the Avengers re-read to JB's Fantastic Four. It's been a bit longer since I've read those issues.

Edited by Shawn Kane on 24 March 2020 at 12:09pm
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Greg McPhee
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Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5064
Posted: 24 March 2020 at 6:06am | IP Logged | 3 post reply

Well, I've finished off the following:

Wolfman / Swan / Kane - Action Comics

Thoughts:

The initial Wolfman / Swan run introduced a few new villains Satanis, Syrene, The H.I.V.E., and some that weren't winners The Mole and Jackhammer. The idea from interviews with Wolfman to give Superman some real physical threats to go up against.

To me, the run really takes off with the addition of Gil Kane midway through the "Split Superman" saga.

At this point Wolfman seems to up his game or the art matched his tone and we get some of the most experimental pre-Man of Steel stories the series had had in a long time.

Highlights are:

The redesigned Brainiac, leadingto a pre-Crisis crossover between the Justice League and the New Teen Titans. Kane with star-studded free-for-all climax. Then it's Superman against a Vandal Savage challenge featuring Animal Man, the Sea Devils, Cave Carson andRip Hunter with unexplained “time-pyramids".

A lot to like: the Kane art being great, and Wolfman and Swan developing Vandal Savage as a business man opponent for Superman prior to the idea getting greater mileage post-Crisis with the revamped Luthor.

An enjoyable re-read, and probably the last great period for Superman prior to JB's reboot.


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James Johnson
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Joined: 16 March 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 2041
Posted: 25 March 2020 at 5:52pm | IP Logged | 4 post reply


Found the 2 of these at Ollie's for a total of $8.

Best purchase I made in a while. Good reading while I'm at home.
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Tim O Neill
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Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 10918
Posted: 25 March 2020 at 6:45pm | IP Logged | 5 post reply



I just finished a deep dive into Spider-Man that I've been casually reading for
some time, and I had a wonderful time with it!

I started with ESSENTIAL AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Volumes 8 and 9. Volume 8
(Issues #161-185, Annual #11, Giant Size #6, NOVA #11) covers some stories I
read as a kid, and a bunch I could not get my hands on. This was pure
pleasure, because the main penciler was Ross Andru, and to see his work in
B&W is really amazing. The book ends with Peter graduating college (sort of).

Volume 9 (#186-210, Annual #13-14, and PPSSM Annual #1) was a walk down
memory lane, as this covers the issues I bought as a kid. It was fun to read
this in the B&W ESSENTIALS format. Keith Pollard takes over as main penciler,
and he's not as good as Andru but still delivers great art. I still like #200 a lot,
where the burglar who helped start it all returned. Some great JB stories in
here, including the Man-Wolf story (#189-190), a beautifully done Doc Ock
story in Annual #13, which has a wonderfully mysterious set-up that is
continued in the awful, unreadable PETER PARKER THE SPECTACULAR
SPIDER-MAN Annual #1. And #206 ("A Method in His Madness") is a
wonderful JB one-off. The book ends with the great Annual #14, "The Book of
the Vishanti," by Denny O'Neil, Frank Miller and Tom Palmer. This led me pull
out another Miller Spider-Man favorite, my single issue copy of MARVEL TEAM
UP #100, which teams Spider-Man with the FF. Added bonus - JB penciling a
Storm/Black Panther team-up short subject. Great stuff, and those
ESSENTIALS pretty much takes me to where I stopped collecting comic books
as a kid.

I finished with SPIDER-MAN: CHAPTER ONE - considering all of the times
Spider-Man's origin has been retold in the last few years, it's odd to think there
was any criticism of this wonderful and faithful retelling of the Lee/Ditko run.
It's such a loving tribute, and yet it all hangs together as one big epic. I still
have the original issues, but I thought I would read the trade paperback on this
one - what with all the traveling I have to do to get from the kitchen to the
bedroom to the living room, it was more convenient! One letdown is a terrible
printing error that ruined a great moment, but this isn't the first time Marvel
charged me a ridiculous amount of money to see them treat JB's work
carelessly.

But that's a small disappointment compared to the fun of this reading
experience. It was a blast to read Spidey up to the point I stopped reading as a
kid and then go right back to the beginning of the characters story with
CHAPTER ONE.



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Greg McPhee
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Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5064
Posted: 26 March 2020 at 1:19pm | IP Logged | 6 post reply

Finished off the Wolfman / Staton run on Green Lantern today. Issue #'s 133 - 153.

Not read it in years, and I have to say I'm very impressed. I think it holds up well.

Wolfman begins his run by redefining Hal Jordan’s relationships that had gotten a little vague. He brought Hal and Carol Ferris back together, gets all the characters set up, gives Hal some new friends and creates a new supporting cast as a launching pad for more stories.

Wolfman revives classic Green Lantern villains: Dr Polaris, Goldface, and Black Hand all appear. It looks like a long game approach was Wolfman trying to make Goldface THE arch-foe of Hal Jordan. He seesm to be giving us a foe whose super-powers were less important than the threat of his very existence. 

The Omega Men are introduced in a 3 parter from #'s 141 - 143.

Wolfman 'humanises’ Hal Jordan. It seems that the best aspects that makes this run work are the characters - if they are interesting and if their problems are engrossing. A blend of good stories, good characters and situations, coupled with interesting action sequences make this a success.

It goes without saying Joe Staton is up there with the best of the Green Lantern artists.



Edited by Greg McPhee on 26 March 2020 at 4:37pm
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James Woodcock
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Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 7581
Posted: 26 March 2020 at 2:31pm | IP Logged | 7 post reply

This is what Marvel Unlimited was made for.

Problem is, I keep swapping between titles.
JB’s FF, X-Men, no try another title.

Pick one Woodcock!!!
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Greg McPhee
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Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5064
Posted: 26 March 2020 at 4:32pm | IP Logged | 8 post reply

I think it's Moench and Sienkiewicz on Moon Knight next. Get through a couple of 20 - 30 or so issue runs, then hit the bigger ones.

Might swap out Lee / Kirby's FF as I have read that numerous times for Kirby on The Erernals and J.M. DeMatteis and Don Perlin on The Defenders.
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Greg McPhee
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Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5064
Posted: 26 March 2020 at 4:33pm | IP Logged | 9 post reply

James, I'd thought my list was pretty good, and then I re-assessed and went in other directions.
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Greg McPhee
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Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5064
Posted: 26 March 2020 at 4:36pm | IP Logged | 10 post reply

I just finished a deep dive into Spider-Man that I've been casually reading for
some time, and I had a wonderful time with it!

=====================================================

Tim, the Wein / Andru and Wolfman / Pollard runs on ASM have a lot of good stuff in them. They do tend to get lost in the shadow of Lee, Conway, Stern, DeFalco and Michelinie.
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James Woodcock
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Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 7581
Posted: 26 March 2020 at 4:45pm | IP Logged | 11 post reply

Greg, I recently read the whole of Moon Knight - loved
reconnecting with those stories
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Greg McPhee
Byrne Robotics Member


Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5064
Posted: 26 March 2020 at 6:06pm | IP Logged | 12 post reply

James, thanks for that.

I've thought it would hold up. The problem with Moon Knight is that if he isn't being written by Doug Moench, the whole thing turns in to a complete mess and paints Moon Knight as paranoid schizophrenic.

When I re-read it, I'll get a better picture, but as far as I remember Marc Spector took on the Moon Knight identity to fight crime, Steven Grant as a way to conceal his past as Marc Spector and Jake Lockley to be his "civilian" eyes and ears on the street when he wasn't Moon Knight. Moench never painted him as having 4 different personalities. Just 3 different identities to cover for Marc Spector.
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