tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post4331926312018764477..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: Titanic Troubles, Part 3: Avengers 125Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-61054716671083205882016-10-26T20:44:13.026-05:002016-10-26T20:44:13.026-05:00Glad to see the praise for Buscema & Cockrum. ...Glad to see the praise for Buscema & Cockrum. I thought Cockrum never topped his LSH stuff (X-Men # 100 came close), but he was always his own best inker and a superior inker of others as well. Particularly in these early years.drivingovercanaanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07044638847400003359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-53370868481454474962013-06-17T21:01:17.233-05:002013-06-17T21:01:17.233-05:00I would have loved to see Big John Buscema and Dav...I would have loved to see Big John Buscema and Dave the Dude Cockrum do the art on almost any character in the Marvel universe back then!<br /><br /><br />- Mike 'Excelsior!' from Trinidad & Tobago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-70377068752508564742013-06-17T17:17:19.945-05:002013-06-17T17:17:19.945-05:00One further note, forgot to mention (sorry...)..:
...One further note, forgot to mention (sorry...)..:<br /><br />I'd see this chapter working as a great framework for the movie sequel with Thanos, logically taking the fight into space. 'Course, give or take a few liberties with the team members, since T'Challa, Mantis and some others obviously aren't part of the movie team.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-82114203087146045362013-06-17T17:11:45.633-05:002013-06-17T17:11:45.633-05:00Another sidenote (surprised with the low responses...Another sidenote (surprised with the low responses for SUCH a great story..).<br /><br />I like Steve's return to form on classic Avengers stories..: It's great to have the 'big three' on board, but as it was with the Pyms, T'Challa and Clint (and the kooky quartet before that..), the substance of all great Avengers stories were the group dynamics with the less-than-mightiest heroes, with the 'big guns' of Thor, IM and Cap added for extra robust and flavor. <br /><br />Steve really was the best writer for this type of dynamics, which as HB correctly recognized.., WHERE was this Steve Englehart on WCA..?? When I started recollecting comics in the late 80s, I thought I was in for a treat, with one of the old schoolers at the helm. Between the terrible stories, terrible covers and Milgrom interior art, my interest died a very quick death. <br /><br />Where was that zest from the fun Limited Series..?<br /><br />Just how much Master Pandemonium can one take..?<br /><br />A long Tigra story arc..?<br /><br />Yessir, I'd boldly call this Bronze Avengers stint among Steve's best, second only to his CA&F storylines.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-85476727833973076322013-06-17T17:01:48.532-05:002013-06-17T17:01:48.532-05:00Another great chapter in both the original Thanos ...Another great chapter in both the original Thanos epic and the slowburning Tragedy of the Swordsman. I like that Englehart kept adding bits to the latter drama even amidst the various cross-overs, including the clash with the Defenders and the upcoming tie-in with the FF for the wedding of Pietro & Crystal. <br />Very convenient that Thanos couldn't bring himself to just blink all his enemies out of existence with the cube but that's a standard variation of fantasy tales going back at least to whoever first came up with the idea of good dieties and bad dieties duking it out but never quite able to permanently do away with one another.<br />And even in the midst of this Titanic clash, the Swordsman can't put aside his anxieties over personal issues and continues to dig his own hole. This whole scenario, for me, could only really work in a long, ongoing series, such as comics or tv shows, as I can't see anyone doing this well in a movie (oh, so this guy with a sword who tricked his way into being an Avenger ages ago now returns with his new girlfriend and is allowed to join for real, but then he gets jealous because he thinks there's something going on between her and an android who is involved with another woman ....)Fred W. Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07602124919964053532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-57564892361353858562013-06-17T16:30:44.829-05:002013-06-17T16:30:44.829-05:00Sorry to go off-topic, but this may interest the J...Sorry to go off-topic, but this may interest the Jack Kirby fans here. Kirby's grandson is asking for funds in a Kickstarter project, to put together a new book on Kirby, with as yet unseen photos and art, and even...a play written by Kirby!<br /><br />http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1478125734/personal-look-into-the-life-of-jack-kirby-the-kingGarettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-78282569761497493702013-06-17T16:04:41.356-05:002013-06-17T16:04:41.356-05:00Nice review guys, as always.
I remember being big...Nice review guys, as always.<br /><br />I remember being big into the Avengers at this time and the whole quadrangle soap opera. But, I wasn't too into Captain Marvel. So my reaction was sort of like Cap's - who or what is Thanos? Yet it was stories like this that fostered my appreciation of the Marvel universe. You had the Captain Marvel-Avengers crossover and also the subplot of Captain America being in and out of the group because of the Secret Empire mess. Englehart and Starlin really had some great ideas. And yes, the art is visually stunning. Love the Buscema/Cockrum pairing.<br /><br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-84271238752438688462013-06-17T13:38:24.258-05:002013-06-17T13:38:24.258-05:00Now, see, I read this script and dialog, and I LOV...Now, see, I read this script and dialog, and I LOVE it! And I remember hanging on pins & needles w/ this soap opera back when I first read it nearly 40 (!!!) years ago. But I've been involved in a discussion elsewhere lately about Englehart's run on West Coast Avengers about 10 years after this. . . and THIS writer seems nowhere to be found in that later run. What the heck-?<br /><br />And I don't think it's the superior art here. Mr. No Human Emotions Vision, barking at Swordsman to "Snap to!"-?? Priceless! His spoken, "Swordsman--" (only to be cut off by an aggravated Wanda), is CLEARLY an android who has reached an all-too-human end to his patience. And it's put together well, and flows quickly, and acts as a great disfunctional counterpoint to the effecient way they're still conducting the mission.<br /><br />Karen- ". . . this makes Wanda look like she's about to have a heart attack." is a flippin' hilarious summation of that earlier moment, 'cause it's dead-accurate-! Heh. Y'know, that whole beloved arc had those characters exhibiting all of the steadfast emotional maturity of the Sophomore quadrant of the high school lunch room. . . Holy Hoppin' Hormones. . . <br /><br />Hey, and the Panther flying alone? Man, he ALWAYS did that, and I never got exactly what the deal was, there. When he first joined the team, he would invariably eschew joining the rest of the team in the Quinjet, and would fly alongside in his one-man WakandaHopper, or whatever. The captions would refer to him as "The Man Alone". A really, really unfortunate choice to make for the ONE Avenger of color at the time, y'know??<br /><br />HB<br />Humanbellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-14558219429170712422013-06-17T10:41:22.719-05:002013-06-17T10:41:22.719-05:00Personally I see a LOT of Cockrum in the facial fe...Personally I see a LOT of Cockrum in the facial features. I compare these renditions to GS#2 and while the layouts are pure Big John, as in this awesome foursome shot..<br /><br />http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yue705gd5hI/UbzuQqov0VI/AAAAAAAAD-4/wuA58un6650/s1600/universal+translator.jpg<br /><br />I see far more Cockrum influence in the second half of the book.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-74695165619067657762013-06-17T10:16:24.982-05:002013-06-17T10:16:24.982-05:00This one brings back interesting memories: I proba...This one brings back interesting memories: I probably mentioned it before, but the guy who later became my brother-in-law loaned me his huge box of early '70s comics in the summer of 1981 (I'm pretty sure). Full of mainly Marvel comics from 1975 and before, including Avengers and Defenders. I remember finding this issue kind of confusing, because there were no Capt. Marvel comics in that box. However, one thing that did stick in my memory was the bickering between Swordsman and Vision and Wanda's sulking.<br />And I love this art. Buscema and Cockrum really mesh well, although Doug makes a good point (at least based on what you've posted here) - it's kind of hard at times to recognize either of them, like it becomes something entirely new. Would have been cool if they had had an extended run as the title's art team.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-53812049475092842492013-06-17T09:08:36.928-05:002013-06-17T09:08:36.928-05:00One of my early favorite Avengers (or Marvel overa...One of my early favorite Avengers (or Marvel overall) issues ever. Just AWESOME art, I recall being happily pleased when Big John was back doing another issue, without Mr. Heck popping up like he had in ish 123. <br /><br />I had just thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed Cap's 'Secret Empire' saga, so it was a great time in Avengers cross-connectivity that Cap came zooming back, just as we know he would. Pretty seamless Englehart shtick here.<br /><br />I must admit, despite it being one of the favorite Thanos saga chapters, I was a bit concerned by the wonky timing of this..: The MarVell flashback was from his ish 28, released September '73.. This ish came out July of '74, about 10 months later. Doesn't seem like much now, but I bet Starlin and Englehart had a few conversations when Jim had his Avengers scenes in MarVell just prior to Steve's Avengers-Defenders Clash (Avengers 115 came out the same month as CM 28..). <br /><br />That's quite a wait, but SO worth it.<br /><br />As for covers, yeah, I didn't think much of this cover, I scarcely recognize that huge face as Thanos, unless I really focus on it. I did find it odd as well that the 'front' cover of 'Avengers vs Thanos' TPB doesn't even feature an Avenger (at that time anyways).<br /><br />Ah, the 'love quad-angle', one of the best quieter Avenger moments on Steve's watch. C'mon, who DIDN'T want this to play out more, perhaps in the next ish..? <br /><br />(Oh wait, it did..) <br /><br />For years I lamented the loss of Jacques DuQuesne and 'ol 'This One'. What a nice foursome we had with them, along with T'Challa and the Big Three..? As much as I loved Steve's tenure here as writer and how he basically focused on this quartet since ish 114, it could have gone a lot more interesting had he kept the dynamics as it stood. So much to explore, it nearly made Hawkeye's return a bit anti-climatic. Don't know about anyone else, but quite frankly, the return of the Pyms, Clint and the Beast's entry seemed quite dull next to what we had going on right here. It was so well played out.., I was so irritated to find out Jacques died, again blaming poor midwest distribution to find out second-hand. <br /><br />All in all, coming off of the stupendous summer Clash and Zodiac story arc and just prior to Kang, this ended up as one of the last great Avengers highpoints for me back in the day.<br /><br />david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.com