Chew the Fat: Rediscovering Old Stories...

Redartz:  Greetings, friends, neighbors and fellow travelers on this ever-spinning planet called Earth! If you'll forgive me a brief digression before we undertake today's topic...
It's been a tough year for many folks; and I mean most everyone globally. So much difficulty, strife, and pain. Too much. So, I just wanted to reach out to all of you and let you know how much I (and Marti as well) appreciate your patronage, your comments, your presence, your friendship. This community , of which each of you (those who comment, and those who join us 'silently') is a crucial part, makes it a little easier to face each day. Regardless of the daily news or the turmoils found on social media, you all can be counted on for a refreshing round of pleasant conversation. I thank you, and wish you all peace. Okay, digression over. To our topic...

Some things are just as good, or even better, the 'second time around'. I have a friend who swears that pizza is better the second day, after reheating. I don't know about that, but I've found numerous comic stories that really impressed me upon rereading them, years after the original perusal. Stories that were certainly enjoyable. But going back to them with the eyes of someone several decades older,  I find them even richer, more meaningful than I'd have expected. 

You want a few examples? You got them...


 

Spectacular Spider-Man 69- a story featuring the return of Cloak and Dagger, five issues after their debut. I had this book when it first came out, and the title at the time was among my favorites. But all those issues ended up being sold years ago, and only recently have I picked up a few. I was struck (again) by the cover, and so grabbed this issue at my local lcs. I know the book impressed me before, but it was even better than I'd recalled. The art, by Ed Hannigan and Al Milgrom, was very dramatic, and quite effective. And Bill Manto showed the same writing chops he displayed in Micronauts. He convincingly gave voice to everyone from the young Cloak and Dagger to veteran Spidey foe Wilson Fisk. I really enjoyed the book, and based upon it am looking for a collected edition.

Fantastic Four 233- the second issue of Byrne's famous run on the title. Over the last couple years I've been picking up those Byrne issues, usually from dollar boxes (amazing to get such quality so cheaply). And, correspondingly, I've been going back to read them, here and there, for the first time since the 80's. And it is a constant reminder of just why this run of comics is so highly regarded. This issue isn't a major villain appearance, no great event in the FF's life. But it was a fine story, giving some past history of the Torch. Byrne shows, even this early in his stint, that he has a solid handle on the characters of the book. And artistically? Byrne at his best. Again, the book was good the first time I came across it. But seeing it afresh now? I can't believe how good the art is. 









Defenders 17, 18 and 19- with Luke Cage and the Wrecking Crew. This is another story I've not read in over forty years. Having picked up the Essential Defenders, I'm going back to those stories and again being struck by their quality. A good story arc, solid art (especially like Sal Buscema with Klaus Janson's inks), and typically engaging Marvel characterization. And I find these books read better as a group, an advantage to having the collected edition. When I last read these three issues, there was a month-long gap between each part. It may be an obvious point, but  being able to get through the whole tale in one non-stop sitting makes a big difference. 

 Those are just three cases of comics surprising me anew. After all these years, they still have new appeal. Perhaps it's just the extra years behind me, but I am liking them better than ever. Any thoughts, group?