Doug: With the holidays nearly upon us, we thought we'd take a minute to give a few thoughts to what we'd like to find in our stockings or under the tree come the end of December. And in this mythical drawing of names and exchanging of gifts that we'll pretend today, be sure to comment on your "needs" this year!Doug: On my radar for several months, but no trigger pulled by me yet, is the Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD trade paperback by Steranko & Co. I'll confess -- I don't own any original copies and have only one reproduction of Steranko's SHIELD work. When I first saw this advertised on Amazon.com several months ago, I wanted it immediately. This will make it on to some list that goes out -- bank on it.
Doug: As I've mentioned briefly in passing a time or two over the past few months, I am interested in selling my comic books. With that in mind, there are several mini-series that I'd like to replace with compendiums. The Alex Ross/Jim Krueger/Doug Braithwaite series Justice is now collected in one trade paperback; it formerly had been released in three smaller volumes. Of course, if I had a gift giver with a bottomless well, I'd ask for the Absolute Edition -- not happening, so I'll settle.
Doug: Lastly, I think I'll put it out there that an Amazon gift card would be nice. For my birthday my wife got me a Kindle Fire HD (the 8.9" screen). I've never purchased any movies for it, but would like to have The Avengers, maybe Logan's Run, on it. And now, let me re-introduce you to your co-host, newly blogging after her well-deserved vacation!
Karen: I'll just mention that I would love to get the two volumes of Inhumans Masterworks. Although I have most of the Amazing Adventures issues, I have only a couple of issues of the short-lived 70s series. I'd also be thrilled to find Star Trek: The Art of Juan Ortiz under the Christmas tree. Ortiz has created posters for each episode of the original Trek series and many of these are striking works of graphic design. One last plug: I really adore the artwork of painter Eric Joyner, who specializes in scenes of robots and donuts -yes, together. I already know I will have a calendar of his fantastic work for next year, because I ordered it as a gift for myself!
Doug: OK, I had never seen that art before -- but I love it! Robots and donuts -- who said everything was better with gorillas?!
26 comments:
Doug, I have that Nick Fury tpb and I can warmly recommend it: the art is, obviously, beautiful and the reproduction quality is quite good.
Karen, I'm with you on that Juan Ortiz Star Trek art. I think getting the book, or a few of the actual posters to put on my wall, would be cool, as I noted in this thread a few months back: http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2013/09/saturday-morning-memories-fantastic.html
...and I'm betting this one's probably somewhere on David_b's list as well...
Personally, after treating myself to that tpb that collects Frazetta's White Indian and other comic stories from the 1950s last summer, I'd really like to get the trade collecting his Johnny Comet newspaper strips as well. Other books I wouldn't mind receiving are Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Avengers vol. 1 and Walt Simonson's Judas Coin.
Right now my Amazon wishlist is brimming with mostly comic-related stuff. . . ranging from independent/alternative comics I love to a couple of volumes collecting strips of Krazy Kat and Peanuts to Marvel Masterworks Books of Black Panther and the Fantastic Four Omnibus. . .
I even have a few academic books on comics on the list, like
Demanding Respect: The Evolution of the American Comic Book by Paul Lopes. Oh and some bags and boards.
Doug, why do you plan on selling your collection? Do you plan to replace it electronically or in trades?
Osvaldo --
I think it's just time. I have no illusions about making major bank on it -- I plan to get a new price guide and over Christmas see what I have in terms of value. Of course I'll be expecting a bid of around 40-45% and I can deal with that. I have around 8 longboxes, with the complete run of the Avengers being the cornerstone. I have nice Bronze runs of ASM, FF, and X-Men. I also have worn copies of FF #s 48-52, and decent copies of ASM #s 39-40. All of the above I have either on the dvd-roms or in trades. There are some more recent mini-series, mostly DC, that I'd like to replace in tpb or hardcover format.
Doug
I've had my eye on the new Steranko collection too. Other things I'd like to see- Marvel Masterworks Iron Fist vol 2 and the Iron Man omnibus of Michelinie/ Layton. Oh and Absolute Vision by Stern- vol 1 comes out in December, volume 2 early next year (I think).
Karen, those Inhumans masterworks sound good. I liked their 70's series back in the day, not sure how they'd hold up now but it would be nice to have a collection. May have to look into those perhaps...
I hear ya Doug. I am working hard to keep my collection to 7 short boxes - but it is hard when I am still getting contemporary comics, too.
My problem with switching to trades - is part of what I love about comics are the covers (not always included in trades) and I love the ads and letters pages, too!
The dvd-roms were so awesome because they scanned entire comics. But specifically in the case of the Avengers disc, they didn't include the five Giant-Size issues -- sort of kills the Celestial Madonna storyline! The Essentials are more inclusive, but I prefer to have the color comics when possible.
Doug
You folks are braver than I.. I could not part with the floppies of old. I only have about 6-7 shortboxes now, but they're pure gold (to me, anyhow..).
Actually as a gift my wife recommended, I'm actually giving my next door 11yr old neighbor kid (my wife takes care of him on occasion for his single mom) my original copies of CA&F 169-176 (with the cut-out value stamps 'holes') on the condition I can buy nicer replacements on eBay for myself. Win-Win.
He's such a nice kid, and no other story excited me as much as that did in my youth, so it's a splendid gift for him since I've been gifting him other vintage comics I've replaced previously in the same fashion...
I did have a thought of collecting the '80s Deluxe reprints of the Steranko SHIELD stories (with those wrap-around covers..). I picked up the Captain America-Steranko '80s deluxe reprints earlier this year for pretty cheap, and I like pulling 'em out on trips, probably more so than a book.. PLUS I wouldn't feel bad about cutting out a page or two to matte/frame here in my office..
So as for gifts this year.., even though I've gotten away from Captain Action and 1:6 figure collecting, that new Iron Man set looks pretty darn awesome.
David_'s story reminds me that I'd love a BAB topic stories of storing/gifting/selling/trading comics from past and present.
I love stuff about the materiality of comics collection almost as much as the stories and art!
Unless there is a previous topic along these lines you can just link me to and I can jump in on late. :)
The second Russ Manning Tarzan comic strip collection should hit stands around the holidays this time. I want it, and might have to take steps (begging and pleading come to mind) to get a copy.
Rip Off
Themiddlespaces hit it on the head for me as well. I still have a somewhat-sizable library of Masterworks, but the whole 'first love' of mine was turning the pages past all the ads to those kooky, nutty Bullpen updates and letters pages each month.
I dare say it's an 'artform all it's own'.., quite frankly.
Fantagraphic's latest two Prince Valiant collections (volumes 6 & 7) are pretty high on my list. Man, I'm loving the ongoing discovery of that series.
I'd be delighted to have a family memeber track down the complete NIGHT STALKER series, which is readily & cheaply available, so I expect that'll be an easy find for a hasty shopper (*cough*- my Mother- *cough*).
The new Beatles Live at the BBC collection is looking REALLY attractive to me, as well. And not too ridiculously overpriced on Amazon.
But- hmm- I've been so preoccupied already w/ Christmas shopping that I actually haven't gotten down to working out much of a list for myself, yet. . .
Oh! Big one! THE COMPLEAT ANKH-MORPORK CITY GUIDE-- an exquisite (and huge) map and "tourist guide" to Discworld's largest city.
And. . . probably any older Doctor Who collections. . . although they've ALL inflated in price shamelessly w/ the advent of a new Doctor coming aboard in a few weeks. . .
Well heck, that certainly gives folks some stuff to choose from, eh?
HB
I'm not the collector that most of you guys are so is it OK if I take a slightly different tack on this discussion and ask for some advice? I'd like to get some Thor.
I have Mighty Thor from about '73-'79 and also the Spectacular reprints from the '70s. Can anybody recommend a particular tbp or essentials that they would consider must have? Whether it be back to the Lee/Kirby era or the Simonson run, whatever. I don't know much about Beta Ray Bill or Thunderstrike. Do I wanna?
Tom
Tom, I was not a huge fan of the Simonson run mainly because I just don't care for his artwork, but I seem to be in the minority. I wasn't reading during the Thunderstrike era either.
I do think the Lee/Kirby stuff can't be beat, particularly from about issues 125-165 or so. For later stuff, you could pick up the two TPBs of Thor and the Celestials saga -my only warning would be, the Celestials stuff is fantastic, but the story takes a long detour through Roy Thomas' version of the Wagner Ring of the Nibelung saga that I found to be incredibly boring, so just beware. But seeing Thor go up against the Celestials is one of my all time favorite comic thrills.
Tom, as the other side to Karen's coin (i.e., I love Simonson's art, but also his writing for the most part) I say getting his run is well worth it. However, my personal advice is to avoid the omnibus - when I had the opportunity to hold it in my hands and flip through it, I found that I really didn't like the new computerized coloring. So I would recommend the tpbs - get the first one, which includes about 12 issues. If you like it, you just go on from there.
Oh, and Osvaldo: over the years I've managed to get all of the Fantagraphics volumes collecting the Krazy Kat Sunday strips - often quite inexpensive used copies in really good condition. They're quite nice, especially the last few in color; they're also filled with nice additional art, etc. Even if you're only a casual fan of Herriman and/or Krazy, they're well worth having.
Not to belabor a point, and we're going to get a whole lot of Alex Ross art in December, but Walt Simonson's art would be WAY down the list of artists whose work I admire (speaking visually only here -- not about his writing). He is not a bad artist, and that is certainly not what I am saying. But his style is simply not my cup of tea. I am much more in the "realism" camp than I am in the "stylistic" camp.
I love talking about our personal tastes. I always find that fascinating how any two people can see something and take it in two different ways.
Carry on.
Doug
Thanks Karen and Edo. I will research those suggestions and then start dropping hints to the family.
Tom
Just adding to what Doug said: I can't help but think that one reason we've been able to work so well together on the blog, despite never having met or spoken to one another (Still amazes me!), is because we have similar tastes. Not 100%, more like 80%, but still, close enough that we can agree on many things and work together on them. And he's even gotten me to look again at some artists with clear eyes and view them anew, like Sal Buscema, who I had lumped into a journeyman class for his later stuff but now have a real appreciation for.
Tom --
Not sure exactly what Thor issues you have from the late 70s, but I'd recommend the Marvel Premiere Harcovers for The Quest for Odin and If Asgard Should Perish. There's also a tpb called Ragnarok from about that same period. If you want John Buscema and Walt Simonson's 1st Thor run (much more to my liking, as would be his Manhunter stories at DC), those would be hits.
Doug
Comic related stuff I'm looking to get this X-Mas are the trade paperback "Amazing Spider-Man: Mark of the Tarantula", the Batman: Arkham Origins video game, and the Square Enix Play Arts Kai 70's Batman action figure.
See, I love Simonson because I love stylistic to "realistic."
I would put Kirby (God of Gods, he is) in the former camp, too.
It is for that reason that I love artists like Bobillo and Allred.
Interesting, Osvaldo. Personally, I can't say I have any preference in that stylistic/realistic dichotomy - I tend to like artists in both camps (i.e., obviously I like Simonson, but also, say, Adams and Garcia Lopez). And since you mentioned Kirby, I don't like his art as much as most other comic fans do.
Edo, I was about to agree with you somewhat on Kirby, as I felt that his later work, (such has his mid-70's run on Captain America) was not up to the same standard as his earlier Marvel work, and looked too bulky, stiff, and angular.
But then I opened up a couple of those comics on my computer and started perusing the artwork, and I changed my mind. - Kirby truly was awesome! (In any era).
Looking at his artwork just makes me happy. It's so kinetic and explosive. His action scenes actually seem to give movement to the static page. (His writing on the other hand...)
This Christmas I'll probably be gifting my son and grandson each with a few back issues. Each year a few comics manage to slip in between the folds of their giftwrapped sweater or shirt. Of course, now we must figure the flat rate shipping to Arizona...
As for me: the DVD collection of Batman-The Animated Series would be nice. Passed it up last year at a discount store and have regretted it since.
Also, the Showcase Sugar and Spike edition , the above- mentioned Simonson Thor TPB and maybe a gift certificate to the local comic shop for a stocking stuffer...
When it comes to art styles in comics I enjoy the school of art guys like Adams, Garcia Lopez, Byrne, etc. come from. Not so much guys like Bryan Hitch and many other "realism" artists. I would almost qualify the guys I mentioned before as "illustrator style" rather than "realism". They held a certain comicbooky magic to their work even though they obviously know their anatomy backwards and forwards.
but I also like "cartoony" and some stylized art like a Mike Weringo or Bruce Timm. I consider Kirby more cartoony than realist. When I discovered manga and anime in those days you had the cartoonyness of it but that was also combined with this lush illustrative quality to the line work that made it pop. To my eyeballs it held up well against the american comicbook artwork I had always enjoyed.
Which brings me to Walt Simonson. I like his art but it's only occasionally been married to a concept that I liked to go with it. Thor being one of those times. Drawing the Hulk sporting armor and a buzzcut being NOT one of those times.
Just time to brush up on my slide guitar and Open-chording work on the guitar would be a swell gift., just got 'Dear Prudence down in 10 min this morning...
Would be nice to polish up my 'Roll Over Beethoven' intro and solo to actually perform it..
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