Redartz: Welcome once again, folks, to another assessment of the finest comics offerings of the year. The year 1976, that is- and a mammoth year it was. Treasury Editions, Annuals, beginnings and endings, it had it all. Loads to choose from, and as always my picks are subjective, based upon my own readings and memories. And in this case, the tally is heavily Marvel-tilted. Ah, but the House of Ideas was running in high gear in '76. Let's have a look...
Superman vs. Spider-Man- "The Battle of the Century", by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru and Dick Giordano. How could the initial meeting between the marquee characters of the Big Two not make a best-of list? An oversize edition, fitting the big story. Oh, and Neal Adams and John Romita helped out a bit, too.
Howard the Duck 3- "Four Fingers of Death", by Steve Gerber, John Buscema and Steve Leialoha. One of my favorite HTD tales. Gerber ponificates a bit, but the story is great and so is the art. Brunner and Colan may be better known as Duck artists, but Big John delivers here, as always.
Tomb of Dracula 44- "His Name is Doctor Strange", by Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. This nomination could go to either this book or to the conclusion of the story in Dr. Strange 14. But ToD gets the nod, in consideration of the overall high quality of the book...
Avengers 148- "20,000 Leagues Under Justice", by Steve Englehart, George Perez and Sam Grainger. The Avengers was hitting another high point here, and this wild tale with the Justice League (excuse me, Squadron Supreme) is one of the best of a solid run.
Warlock 15- "Just A Series of Events", by Jim Starlin. Starlin wraps up his Warlock series with his typically talented tendencies. And he inks himself, bonus!
X-Men 101- "Like A Phoenix, From the Ashes", by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and Frank Chiaramonte. Juggernaut and Black Tom Cassidy are there to help introduce us all to Phoenix. And her story was just beginning...
Amazing Adventures 39- "Mourning Prey", by Don McGregor and P. Craig Russell. The final issue in McGregor's Killraven epic, and it was a memorable sendoff. And Russell's linework is a beautful thing.
Fantastic Four 176- "Improbable as it May Seem- the Impossible Man is Back in Town", by Roy Thomas, George Perez and Joe Sinnott. A romp of a story, generously filled with humor and many Marvelous guest stars.
Thor Annual 5- "The War of the Gods", by Steve Englehart, John Buscema and Tony DeZuniga. A Cinemascope-sized look at a younger Thor, battling with a younger Hercules. If Cecil B. DeMille did a comic, it would have looked like this.
All-Star Comics 64- "Yesterday Begins Today", by Paul Levitz and Wally Wood. Vandal Savagevs. the JLA, by Paul Levitz. And Wood art on top of that? This book was at the apex of DC's stack in76.
Ten titanic tales, culled from the cream of comics in the Bicentennial Year of the USA. These books all reside very fondly in my memory, but the question remains: do they bring a smile to you as well? Or did you have other favorites that year, and if so, enlighten us all; and share your Best of 1976 list!
