Redartz: Greetings everyone! Yep, Tuesday again, which of course brings us to another "Follow the Leader". As always, our first responder gets the privilege (or chore, depending upon how you look at it) of naming the topic of discussion. As you doubtlessly are eager to jump in, I'll just toss off yet another extra topic question (bound to run out of these sooner or later).
A couple weeks ago I acquired, at a flea market, a small stack of bronze age comics. Most of those books I'd not read since the first reading, following the original spinner rack purchase. I've gradually been perusing them, one by one; and have found that a couple really stood out. X-Men Annual 3, by Chris Claremont, George Perez and Terry Austin was one, the other Avengers 190 by Steven Grant, John Byrne and Gene Day. In both cases I was struck by how doggoned GOOD they were! Better than I'd remembered. Therefore , this question for you: what comics have you read in adulthood that impressed you more than they did in youth? Or, the reverse- have there been any you loved as a kid that now leave you wondering what you liked about it?
And with that, I'll get out of the way and turn it all over to you...
11 comments:
Red: Avengers Annual #3 or X-men Annual #3? Because based on that creative team, I think you mean the latter. In which case I am wholly in agreement - that very annual came up several times at the BAB, and I've always sung its praises. In fact, for me it is the platonic ideal of what an annual should be: a big (epic, even) done-in-one story that gives you great action and character moments and reflects the monthly series without being directly tied to any single story or story arc. One that can even serve as a sampler and/or jumping-on point for readers unfamiliar with the series.
Avengers 190, by the way, falls into my sweet spot for that series as well. I'm extremely fond of that run of roughly 2 dozen issues from 181 through 202 (with the exception, of course, of the problematic 200th issue).
Actually, now that I've written all that, and since it looks like I'm commenter numero uno, I'm just going to second Red's topic as the topic of the day.
Generally, I'd say that the whole Claremont/Cockrum/Byrne/Austin run on X-men really held up well - I enjoyed it just as much when I read it as a middle-aged adult as I did when I first read it as a pre-teen/early teen.
Another one that I think I enjoyed even more when I read it as an adult is the first dozen or so issues of Micronauts, by Mantlo and Golden. That was simply a very well crafted, action-packed story arc - it's way better than any comic based on a toy license has a right to be.
Edo- thanks for pointing out my error; that's what I get for doing a post first thing in the morning. Yes, it was X-Men Annual 3, and it's now corrected above. A BitBA no-prize for you, Edo!
You're also correct regarding Micronauts. Truly a fine series, especially the initial run by Mantlo and Golden. Very well done.
Let me toss in an example from the other side of the discussion--- although it's from well into the Modern era (as opposed to Bronze). I mentioned here sometime back how I remembered enjoying John Byrne's DOOM PATROL re-boot during its brief run-- I subscribed to it, in fact. I ended up pulling it out of the box, and re-read the first seven or eight issues. . . and had very little desire to continue. Byrne's visual story-telling is fine in the moment-- but his overall plotting and big-picture pace is pretty lame-- and you can sense how his attention wandered from month to month as to what sub-plots he was remembering to juggle. Dialogue/characterization is also not the deepest-- and his inability to differentiate between really ANY kind of female face is especially problematic (one young female protagonist is supposed to be Asian- Korean, in fact- and that comes as an UTTER surprise when it is mentioned in, like, the fourth issue---). Nah, it does not hold up well at all on a binge-read.
In a different venue entirely-- I've been acquiring THE COMPLETE PEANUTS volumes for several years now, and am nearing the end of the 80's. And while that strip's true hey-day was of course in the late 50's through the very early 70's, I have found a HUGE new appreciation for Charles Schulz' work in these later years. Years that I had previously dismissed as being mediocre at best-- and only read them (at the time) out of a sense of duty, I suppose. His neurological ailments had a sometimes severe effect on his drawing ability-- and the tremors in his line-work created a whole sense of heartbreak outside of the content of the strip-- but he also gave himself the freedom to pursue considerably wackier themes and scenarios (Sally's sentient school building, for instance) that, if anything, would fit in better with a FAR SIDE/RHYMES WITH ORANGE sense of humor-- much more like something you'd see these days. Is it as laugh-out-loud-funny as it was in the past? No-- but I do still find it just as engaging. . .
HB
Although I was a fan, I probably didn't appreciate all the subtleties of comics like New Teen Titans, Levitz's Legion, or MOKF when I was younger. Reading them now I tend to catch a lot more.
I remember really liking Superman as a kid, but reading some of his Bronze Age stories for my blog reviews I'm struck by how goofy a lot of the stories were; they read like relics from the Silver Age, especially the Cary Bates stuff.
During the actual Bronze Age, I had two Conan comics which were luck of the draw from a couple of 3-packs from the old Pick'n Save. At the time, I wasn't into sword-and-sorcery at all and considered them as just taking up space. But I began to be intrigued by the roughly 50 issue run of Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and Ernie Chan which featured Conan and Belit some years ago and began collecting it. It took so long it didn't seem worth reading the issues individually, so I just filed them away until that group was complete with the intention of reading it straight through at the end. I'm happy to say that I finished reading them all last weekend, and it was awesome! The emotional impact of Belit's death was really heightened by having read them all straight through. And it actually reminded me of Game of Thrones, as her story ended so darkly and abruptly. So my mind has totally changed when it comes to Conan from my attitude in the late '70's.
And Avengers 190 ... good choice. I think that Grey Gargoyle doesn't get nearly enough props as a formidable villain. The "Fear Itself" event showcased him some, though most of the good bits with him happened around it.
Thanks for the topic, and cheers!
What I find interesting, as I try to scan and edit my collection, is there's so many runs I'm looking forward to some day reading.
Selenarch, I wish I would have known you were looking for Conan issues. I could've sent you a box. A BOX!!!
Conan is one of those rare Marvel titles that never saw reprints. I guess it was part of the licensing agreement.
Speaking of reprints. Marvel had a line, X-Men Classics, that reprinted the New X-Men run. One of the glaring things was Claremont went back and "fixed" some things or expanded on a few scenes. The artwork and change to the original story did not blend and, I felt, made the story weaker. Worster, as we say.
Still speaking of reprints. When Elektra exploded in popularity, Marvel reprinted her story line in the four issue Elektra Saga. It only included her scenes and none of the other plots or characters.
(If there's one thing in my life that's missing
It's the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool and bright clear water
It's kind of a special feeling
When you're out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon, like a lover
Time for a cool change
I know that it's time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it's time for a cool change
Well I was born in the sign of water
And it's there that I feel my best
The albatross and the whales they are my brothers
There's lots of those friendly people
And they're showing me ways to go
And I never want to lose their inspiration
Time for a cool change
I know that it's time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it's time for a cool change
I've never been romantic
And sometimes I don't care
I know it may sound selfish
But let me breathe the air
Let me breathe the air...
Well I was born in the sign of water
And it's there that I feel my best
The albatross and the whales they are my brothers
It's kind of a special feeling
When you're out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon, like a lover
Time for a cool change
I know that it's time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it's time for a cool change).
Prowler, re: Conan reprints. Actually, Marvel did launch a Conan reprint series, Conan Saga, in 1987. Initially, each issue usually reprinted three issues from the original, and the reproduction was in black and white instead of color (those also had new cover art by BWS). Later the series began reprinting stories from Savage Sword as well. It was kind of a 'greatest hits' or 'best of' series.
Selenarch, I too am a Grey Gargoyle fan. I belonged to the MMMS, had a poster of a splash page of Thor confronting the Gargoyle.
I can virtually find enjoyment reading anything from the Golden Age to mid-Bronze Age. Since there were no shops, and I was at the mercy of magazine rack-jobbers, with few pennies & and fewer instances of experiencing civilization, I virtually never got to read a complete storyline.
Marvel Essentials helped me fill grapes as well as revisit fave issues.
Having been a Marvel "zombie" all my you life, I am now enjoying 60s & early 70s DC, mostly horror & sci-fi.
Meant "gaps" in my reading, not "grapes".
Though grapes are a tasty treat. Especially when fed to you by a sexy girl in bed. Now THAT'S what I'd REALLY like to revisit. Oh well, memories...
Talking about X-Men Annual 3 and Avengers Vol 1 190 spurred me to look through my scans. I had forgotten that Avengers Vol 1 190 was near the end of Byrne's 11 issue run on the series. I didn't have X-Men Annual 3 ready to post but thanks to a slow night at work, that's been rectified!!!
As of now, I have issues 181-183 of the Avengers up and X-Men Annual 3 if anyone else wants to flip through the pages. Just click on my name or type in bronzeagejuniorgroovyDOTblogspotDOTcom...
(Sail on down the line 'bout-a half-a mile or so,
and-a don't really wanna know-a where you're goin'.
Maybe once or twice, you see, time after time
I tried-a to, to hold on to what we got, but-a now you're goin';
and I don't mind about the things you're gonna say, Lord,
I gave all my money, and my time.
I know it's a shame, but I'm givin' you back your name, yeah, yeah.
Yes I'll be on my way, I won't be back to stay,
I guess I'll move along, I'm lookin' for a good time.
Sail on down the line, ain't it funny how the time can go on-a
friends say they told me so, but it doesn't matter.
It was plain to see that a small town boy like me
just-a wasn't your cup of tea,
It was wishful thinkin'.
I gave you my heart and I tried to make you happy,
and you gave me nothin' in return.
You know, it ain't so hard to say, "Would you please just go away, " yeah, yeah.
I've thrown away the blues, I'm tired of bein' used.
I want everyone to know I'm lookin' for a good time, good time, yeah.
I gave you my heart and I tried to make you happy,
and you gave me nothin' in return.
You know, it ain't so hard to say, "Would you please just go away, " yeah, yeah.
Got nothin' else to lose, I'm tired of bein' used,
I want everyone to know I'm lookin' for a good time, good time,
whoa, oh, sail on honey, good times never felt so good.
Sail on sugar, good times never felt so good).
I'm going to go there, Prowler. Especially if there's more song lyrics.
Post a Comment