tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post5547582451305635532..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: Savages and Sun GodsDoughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-77870246551417056732011-07-16T03:13:56.691-05:002011-07-16T03:13:56.691-05:00Barry Smith's association with "Te Jungle...Barry Smith's association with "Te Jungle Master" dates back to the end of the Silver Age.<br />I recently bought MSH 19 (Mar 1969) which starred Ka-Zar by Tuska and written by Arnold Drake and Steve Parkhouse. I was suprised by this credit; Parkhouse later wrote Night Raven and Dr. Who in the early 80s. (Check out the magnificent " Tides of Time".)<br /><br />The Ka-Zar story is sci-fi, in terms of tone and as bonkers as you'd expect from Drake. The cover is a collaboration by Smith and Herb Trimpe.Dougiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03965448821892833703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-29869916557707630732011-07-16T02:34:32.933-05:002011-07-16T02:34:32.933-05:00Since I've never read these, I most emphatical...Since I've never read these, I most emphatically second Karen's proposal for a TPB. I've long been intrigued by these stories with the early BWS art.<br />In fact, I'd also like to see the Jones/Anderson Ka-zar series from the early '80s get the same treatment. In fact, all of this begs the question: why is there not at least a Ka-zar Essentials line?Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-80965150685709632292011-07-15T23:21:05.978-05:002011-07-15T23:21:05.978-05:00It's, ahem, astonishing to see how quickly Bar...It's, ahem, astonishing to see how quickly Barry Smith's artistry improved in a relatively short period, from those Avengers and X-Men stories of about a year or two before to his work in Conan and Ka-Zar, which here comes off as a sort of cross between Conan and Tarzan. <br />Interesting that in the credits Conway goes by "Gerard" rather than the informal "Gerry," by which he'd become better known as the scribe for Spider-Man. Anyone think he was trying to seem older?Fred W. Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07602124919964053532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-6342558076409145512011-07-15T10:40:12.648-05:002011-07-15T10:40:12.648-05:00Cool review. This looks like a really fun read and...Cool review. This looks like a really fun read and I love that Barry Smith art. Beautiful stuff. It looks like Romita did the cover (at least the Ka-Zar half anyway).<br /><br />I was actually surprised to see that this story even existed. X-Men #115-116 (wherein Garokk meets his fate) was one of the first Byrne/Claremont X-Men tales I ever read, and it's still one of my favorites. That makes me very curious about these issues of Astonishing Tales, just to see how it all began. I now may have to track these down myself.Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988016825582035390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-72094313684212743872011-07-15T09:33:06.302-05:002011-07-15T09:33:06.302-05:00Garokk is a tragic and unsettling character who de...Garokk is a tragic and unsettling character who debuts looking like one of Kirby's DNAliens but is soon revealed to be a riff on Ayesha.<br />I've been reading Giant-Size Conan this month (Kane and Smith: talk about value for money!) and I like david b's analysis: a fusion of Kirby and Steranko. I much prefer Ka-Zar as a Sword-and-Sorcery adventure.Dougiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03965448821892833703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-69900874953243994512011-07-15T09:18:52.924-05:002011-07-15T09:18:52.924-05:00I also was blown away when, about 6 years ago, I f...I also was blown away when, about 6 years ago, I found these treasure troves of classic Smith art. I was a huge fan in the 80's and tried to acquire his entire output from Marvel. How did I miss these that rival his Conan work in craftsmanship? THEN to top it off, the Doom stories are drawn by none other than Wally Wood!!!! I'm socked that most collectors miss these issues!<br />Another great early bronze age title was Astonishing Tales sister mag, Amazing Adventures! This title starts off with a Kirby Inhumans tale and for back up has Gene Colan Black Widow story! Late in their 10 issue run the great Neal Adams takes over the Inhumans tales!<br />I think this was the times that Thomas had taken over the candy shop and was pupping out all manner of comics goodness! Unfortunately it didn't last long because many of these great works died after a few issues. I guess the world was not ready for such greatness!Pipersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14403106917364296897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-19614522779184160852011-07-15T08:51:11.502-05:002011-07-15T08:51:11.502-05:00Yup, DButler, these Astonishing Tales yarns are th...Yup, DButler, these Astonishing Tales yarns are the source of Claremont's Savage Land -X-Men tale. I didn't know that til I got some of these AT books a couple years ago. <br /><br />David, I agree with you, these 'lesser titles' from the 70s are now my favorite books to collect. I've got most of the biggies from that time but there are still some gems out there with this title, Amazing Adventures, Marvel Features, Marvel Premiere, and the monster books.<br /><br />KarenKarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17032477453891087135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-36167052967919810672011-07-15T08:03:16.687-05:002011-07-15T08:03:16.687-05:00I am finding these mags as the true masterpiece hi...I am finding these mags as the true masterpiece hidden nuggets of the Silver and Bronze Age. Lured into collecting Strange Tales by the Steranko kick I was on.., these mags like Astonishing Tales, early Marvel Features, and the Inhumans/Black Widow issues really had some fun, often ignored stories and art.<br /><br />I totally agree on Barry Smith's art. Like in his Avengers stints, he fuzes a bit of Kirby and Steranko together, which works great. I haven't followed him as much except on titles he's filled in on as artist, so to me, he's like the substitute teacher in junior high you see every so often. <br /><br />But he's that one sub you know always ROCKS.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-10562510245507450012011-07-15T07:33:52.979-05:002011-07-15T07:33:52.979-05:00Ka-Zar waxing poetic? That alone would make this ...Ka-Zar waxing poetic? That alone would make this worth picking up.<br />Garokk looks an awful lot like the Petrified Man that the X-Men would battle in the Savage Land somewhere around #116. Is this the same guy?dbutler16https://www.blogger.com/profile/00046066729353639991noreply@blogger.com