tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post2022336430467658741..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: If I Had a Buck... Marvel Limited SeriesDoughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-26799370101161118502016-03-27T08:43:58.038-05:002016-03-27T08:43:58.038-05:00Is 1987 too far down the line? If not, then I sho...Is 1987 too far down the line? If not, then I should mention that there were aspects of X-men versus the Fantastic Four that really impressed me. The idea that Mr. Fantastic planned for Cosmic Rays to give them super powers, lied about it, and had his cover blown years later is actually my personal favorite interpretation of the Fantastic Four's origin.... Dark, but mind blowing...lordjim6https://www.blogger.com/profile/05473780205710055521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-33334288778723489742016-03-27T08:37:50.996-05:002016-03-27T08:37:50.996-05:00I adore the Gargoyle Mini by J. M. Dematteis (who ...I adore the Gargoyle Mini by J. M. Dematteis (who had just created that character a few years previously in the pages of Defenders). I recently read an interview with J. M. online were he listed that mini as one of his personal favorites. It cemented the Gargoyle in my mind as one of those "truly different super heroes". That's a term that's been applied to just about everybody ever published by the big two, but rarely fits. Seeing the descriptions of Rawhide Kid's mini here has really interested me in a character I've never given a second thought before. I've read the issues of Vision/Scarlet Witch that had them fighting Toad (was that the second mini?). I remember thinking it was one of the better renditions of that often dismissed villain. I'd also be interested in reading the issues were the Whizzer dies. I've recently read the Iceman mini. I'm honestly shocked that everyone here describes it as "breezy". My impressions were the opposite! Heck, the villain was named Oblivion, and stood for the emptiness and alienation that Bobby Drake was going through after ditching the X-men, Champions, and Defenders all in a row!lordjim6https://www.blogger.com/profile/05473780205710055521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-71197422707245017262016-03-26T15:13:09.163-05:002016-03-26T15:13:09.163-05:00When I was a kid I had a lot of issues from these ...When I was a kid I had a lot of issues from these series, but very few (if any) complete ones. Nowadays I have gone back and acquired them to fill in the gaps. <i>Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men</i> have also been responsible for my hunting some down b/c they covered them on their podcast and convinced me of their value (not monetary value, of course).<br /><br />So I have <i>Beauty & the Beast</i> (yes, Humanbelly, Beast showed up in Dazzler's own book and they had an on and off relationship in the 80s - I also own a complete run of her book, one of my favorite characters, and a comic I'd actually like to write)<br /><br />I have <i>Fallen Angels</i> (which I still haven't read). When I was a kid I got the first issue, was so disappointed that Sunspot had not actually accidentally killed Cannonball, as the ads had made it seem, that I didn't get the rest until 2015!<br /><br />I have <i>Machine Man</i> (nowadays called "Machine Man 2020" - and while I love the art and the character (he is characterized very differently in contemporary comics), the story is terribly paced and the conclusion makes no sense. As someone who loved the idea of MM and Jocasta (from Avengers) being in love (something that was introduced in a MTIO two-parter), I wanted something more from this dark future reunion.<br /><br />I have <i>Magick</i> (another one that I only had two issues of til recently. #1 and #3) and speaking of incomplete, I am still one issue short of having all the <i>Jack of Hearts</i> issues. He's a character I had a unreasonable obsession with as a kid, after chancing on his <i>Marvel Premiere</i> issue and then seeing him in a <i>Marvel Team-Up</i> and in <i>ROM</i>.<br /><br />So, if I were to spend my buck now, I'd probably get the four issues of the Falcon book, or maybe Nightcrawler's.Dr. Oyolahttp://themiddlespaces.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-66244463076480632812016-03-24T21:37:41.063-05:002016-03-24T21:37:41.063-05:00OK, I'll go with Hercules (I still have the is...OK, I'll go with Hercules (I still have the issue where he meets Galactus!), Nightcrawler, Iceman and Contest of Champions!<br /><br /><br />- Mike 'limited attention span' from Trinidad & Tobago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-24436467586384628942016-03-24T21:13:59.943-05:002016-03-24T21:13:59.943-05:00Ha-- good one, Logan!
It's neat to see all the...Ha-- good one, Logan!<br />It's neat to see all the interest and love for that Rawhide Kid mini! Talk about yer non-commercial, forgotten properties!<br /><br />Oh, and Colin, the MAX Rawhide Kid series(es)(Serieses??)-- were just about perfect, as far as I'm concerned. Such incredibly tricky ground to tread, with making the humor as gay-campy as a terrific drag show, and yet maintaining an obvious fondness for the old genre, and NEVER resorting to being crude or derogatory or insulting or (especially) judgmental. The Kid is, if anything, even more ridiculously unbeatable in this incarnation, and at the same time has a depth that even he seems to be unaware of. The juggling act, for me, was flawless. Ohhhhhh man, and the John Severin ART! The book truly struck the funny bone of that small Venn-Diagram segment of my theater pals who were gay AND read comics.<br /><br />Heh-- "Them jeans look like they was PAINTED on. . . !" Even HBWife uses that catch-phrase, and she's never read the book!<br /><br />HBHumanbellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-12560890494004165092016-03-24T21:01:00.828-05:002016-03-24T21:01:00.828-05:00Laugh at me if you like, but I still love the Rawh...Laugh at me if you like, but I still love the Rawhide Kid LS. I would buy it 4 times. That is all I need.<br /><br />And the Hercules. That and Rawhide Kid. Ali I need...but the second Herc was also excellent. So those three are it. All I need.<br /><br />And West Coast Avengers. But that's it.<br /><br />And Falcon...and this lamp...Logan Marcumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-57260449338439421832016-03-24T20:28:07.511-05:002016-03-24T20:28:07.511-05:00To be honest, I never knew that Rawhide Kid serie...To be honest, I never knew that Rawhide Kid series existed until today.J.A. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800901321134394272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-11913660431367975062016-03-24T19:55:22.499-05:002016-03-24T19:55:22.499-05:00Thanks for all of the comments today everybody. I...Thanks for all of the comments today everybody. I myself will have to read some of these. I skipped Fallen Angels and Magik. <br /><br />Richard, the X-Men/ Alpha Flight book is good from what I recall; the art was definitely the stronger point. <br /><br />Like most here I really enjoyed Hercules. I haven't read it in many years, but remember thinking at the time that the humor was a nice change of pace from the darker stories of that era and that it deserved a series. I liked Falcon and also enjoyed that battle against the Sentinel; some of the covers were sharp. i liked Rawhide Kid, but that particular Byrne cover on the first issue was not my favorite<br /><br />Colin Bray mentioned that the iceman cover was light and breezy;the whole series felt that way. Even the coloring, pastels, pinks, and yellows made it feel very much that way. I was very surprised that book made the cut at the time, when at that point Cyclops, Angel, Colossus and others hadn't warranted a book. But then again, iceman made the Saturday morning animated rotation with the Amazing Friends. <br /><br />Beauty and the Beast was indeed a mess. <br /><br />I don't know much about DC Limited Series, but perhaps some version of that list will show up here someday. Cheers!Martinex1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-25860705398342602422016-03-24T13:58:08.653-05:002016-03-24T13:58:08.653-05:00PS Quick correction - maybe it would be fairer to...PS Quick correction - maybe it would be fairer to say Claremont was more of a traditional comic book writer than Miller...? Wolverine was pretty good for what it was, just not up to expectations after what Miller had been doing in Daredevil.<br /><br />-seanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-27097977219309400652016-03-24T13:52:06.228-05:002016-03-24T13:52:06.228-05:00I bought them all and still do for the most part. ...I bought them all and still do for the most part. <br /><br />If I only had a dollar and faced with those choices I'd go with Hawkeye (waited for years for him to get a series), The West Coast Avengers (see previous answer), Vision and Scarlet Witch (loved their saga as it weaved into Marvel history) and finally Rawhide Kid just because. <br /><br />They are all tasty though. Tough choices. <br /><br />Rip OffRip Jaggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936426877024852134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-57566890815217942302016-03-24T13:51:47.068-05:002016-03-24T13:51:47.068-05:00I recall the first Wolverine mini-series - a littl...I recall the first Wolverine mini-series - a little disappointing after the hype, as Claremont simply wasn't as good a writer as Miller - but otherwise... of the pictured limited series, I only read Machine Man, largely because it marked the return of Barry Windsor-Smith to comics (even if it did begin with him inking Herb Trimpe!). But it wasn't a particularly good read.<br /><br />I have to say, a lot of the Marvel stuff at this point just seemed like so much product; and I was more interested in the (then) new independent publishers anyway, more up for a book like American Flagg than, say, an X-Men spin-off.<br />And I have to agree with Doug about these being exciting times at DC. Nathaniel Dusk springs to mind (despite the awful colour!)<br /><br />The only Marvel limited series I enjoyed came out under the Epic imprint, my favourites being Marshall Law and Stray Toasters (although they were slightly later).<br />So... I'd probably hang on to the dollar, Martinex, see what else is on sale.<br /><br />-sean<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-59153070552141410772016-03-24T13:33:00.059-05:002016-03-24T13:33:00.059-05:00I had a couple of these back in the 80s and I'...I had a couple of these back in the 80s and I've read a couple more since then. I had Jack of Hearts but I remember being disappointed with it. I also bought the first issue of Hercules, but lost interest when I found out it was set in the future (which is why I never had any interest in Machine Man, since it was set in the impossibly distant future of 2020...or 2025, something like that).<br /><br />So, I'd go for West Coast Avengers, Contest of Champs...and maybe Falcon and Rawhide Kid since I've never read those two.<br /><br />Mike WilsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-75885327995689349842016-03-24T13:24:54.103-05:002016-03-24T13:24:54.103-05:00Agreed, Edo -- I am pretty sure what I've seen...Agreed, Edo -- I am pretty sure what I've seen advertised is a new edition. Not THE New Edition, because that would make "Candy Girl" go through your head, and we don't want that!<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-4007864215043311722016-03-24T13:23:01.407-05:002016-03-24T13:23:01.407-05:00Doug, the Legends trade has been around for quite ...Doug, the Legends trade has been around for quite some time, hasn't it? In fact, it may even be out of print at this point. But yes, that was a pretty solid mini - I read it in single issues as it was coming out.<br />Otherwise, though, I refrained from mentioning any specific DC titles because I also figure Martinex is planning another, similar post...Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-24424148360389860712016-03-24T11:58:47.033-05:002016-03-24T11:58:47.033-05:00Edo brought up DC, and without stealing any thunde...Edo brought up DC, and without stealing any thunder from Martinex for a future post, have you seen that the Legends mini has been given the trade treatment? I do have fond memories of that, but wonder how it would play without some of the periphery stuff (like the Cosmic Boy mini) attached? Those were exciting times at the Distinguished Competition.<br /><br />"Millennium"? Not so much...<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-44544951453147734262016-03-24T11:10:20.799-05:002016-03-24T11:10:20.799-05:00I agree with William that most of these seemed sub...I agree with William that most of these seemed sub-standard. Nightcrawler written and drawn by Cockrum is one I haven't seen though, and it looks like fun.<br /><br />Hercules rocks! Both the first and second series by Bob Layton are great. Fun witty adventures! There was a third part, a graphic novel that came out in '88, that picks up the story many years later. It's not as delightful as the first two, but worth a read if you need more Hercules. Layton also wrote a fourth part in 2010 that was drawn by Ron Lim, which I haven't read. Garettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-62166928565103026552016-03-24T11:04:14.493-05:002016-03-24T11:04:14.493-05:00Oh! I forgot about Jack of Hearts. I had that one ...Oh! I forgot about Jack of Hearts. I had that one and really enjoyed it. That costume must have been a bear to draw. At the time I thought he was a really unique character. Such a cool look. I wonder how it holds up? JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053716133555080531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-46758869740385643342016-03-24T11:02:31.765-05:002016-03-24T11:02:31.765-05:00I really liked the mini-series being put out at th...I really liked the mini-series being put out at that time by both Marvel and DC, but I'd agree that they were hit and miss.<br /><br />Of the ones pictured, I had and quite enjoyed:<br />Contest of Champions - which I really enjoyed at the time, and remember fondly, even though HB's criticisms are probably warranted<br />Hawkeye - a solid outing, and an interesting factoid is that Mark Gruenwald both wrote and drew it<br />Hercules - a bombastic Greek god in a space opera setting, this is the definition of fun comics<br /><br />I also had, in whole or in part, but liked less, in a descending scale:<br />Vision and Scarlet Witch - not bad, I suppose, but I was never the biggest fan of them as a couple, and didn't really like that they were being domesticated even more, i.e. moving to the suburbs<br />Machine Man - I have the tpb and only read this for the first time about 2 years ago, and I have to admit, I found it rather disappointing; the art, however, by Herb Trimpe and inked by Barry Windsor Smith (he did the compete are in the last issue) is quite lovely<br />Magik - had the first issue and then called it quits (I remember just seeing the house ads for Beauty and the Best and thinking, "Not even...")<br /><br />All of my picks, though, are books I never read but would like to:<br />Nightcrawler (especially)<br />Iceman<br />Jack of Hearts<br />Falcon (I have the Falcon tpb from a few years back, scored a cheap, $8, copy from Better World books early this year, but have read it yet).Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-12688833184341781072016-03-24T11:00:56.234-05:002016-03-24T11:00:56.234-05:00I was so excited by these Limited Series when they...I was so excited by these Limited Series when they first appeared. Wolverine was my favorite by far but I had a wonderful time with Layton's Hercules. Funny stuff. I can't believe I missed Cockrum's Nightcrawler series. Major oversight considering how much I adore his artwork. So, I'd pick that one up, followed by Hawkeye, then Cloak and Dagger, and finally Contest of Champions for old times' sake. The only Limited Series I have left now is Wolverine. I'd love to have a few more in the collection. Such a fun idea.<br /><br />By the way, Secret Wars was the end of my steady collecting back in the day. One of the main reasons was that I'd already read (and enjoyed) Contest of Champions. My teenaged self thought Secret Wars was such a retread. So tacky. I checked out not long after.JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053716133555080531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-25966697402340244922016-03-24T10:30:31.669-05:002016-03-24T10:30:31.669-05:00Contest Of Champions gets my "buck," it ...Contest Of Champions gets my "buck," it was a favorite when it was new. I still enjoy it even if the ending was a big No-Prize. The Falcon series was a mixed bag. I enjoyed the issue where Falcon battled a Sentinel, but the story where Electro captured Ronald Reagan was a bit silly.<br /><br />I re-read the Hawkeye and West Coast Avengers miniseries when I reviewed the reprint books. I thought they were both pretty good even if they weren't exactly "essential" stories. J.A. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800901321134394272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-21738205563144829412016-03-24T09:52:30.926-05:002016-03-24T09:52:30.926-05:00googum --
I do believe this is your first commen...googum -- <br /><br />I do believe this is your first comment -- no offense meant if it's not.<br /><br />Welcome!<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-38906292080893719512016-03-24T09:46:27.070-05:002016-03-24T09:46:27.070-05:00I read some of these straight out of the racks: Ni...I read some of these straight out of the racks: Nightcrawler is one of my favorite books ever, full stop. It's breezy and charming and absolutely recommended. Hercules is also a ton of fun, although weirdly not in regular Marvel continuity. I still have a lot of love for the West Coast Avengers mini--it's way better than the regular series usually was. (And I only had the last issue of Contest of Champions!)<br /><br />Barry Windsor-Smith's art on Machine Man makes it a must. It's been reprinted a few times just on the strength of that!<br /><br />Falcon and Hawkeye I got years later: they're alright. There's Reagan and Electro in the former, Mockingbird in the latter, so if you see 'em cheap, heck yeah.<br /><br />Beauty and the Beast is a surprising failure. It just doesn't come together at all. Skip!googumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17843267619711712271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-51106541486133132262016-03-24T08:59:57.712-05:002016-03-24T08:59:57.712-05:00Of those pictured, the only one I bought off the s...Of those pictured, the only one I bought off the spinner rack was Fallen Angels. I have the two Hercules minis in a hardcover, but have not read them. I should, because I've never heard a bad thing about them. Fallen Angels was bad.<br /><br />Not as bad, however, as the second, 12-issue (yup - a whole friggin' year) Vision and the Scarlet Witch mini-series that completist me felt compelled to finish. Finish, whilst I felt like punching myself in the face. Lordy, it was baaaaaaaaad. But I kept buying it.<br /><br />You'd have thought I was 10, not 20. How about a little consumer discretion, man? Too much to ask from college-aged Doug?<br /><br />Like many have said, mini-series were generally forgettable. There were a few hits, but more often misses. <br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-20139202556773641232016-03-24T08:54:49.019-05:002016-03-24T08:54:49.019-05:00Four for a dollar?! What a bargain!
I'll take...Four for a dollar?! What a bargain!<br /><br />I'll take:<br /><br />West Coast Avengers<br />Contest Of Champions<br />Hawkeye<br />and The Falcon<br /><br />I actually got all 4 of those when they came out. (Also had Fallen Angels and Jack Of Hears). Don't recall reading any of the others. I wasn't really too keen on mini-series. Mainly because (with the rare exception) they usually featured sub-standard art and writing. At least that's the way I saw it.Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988016825582035390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-65686478133151446812016-03-24T08:40:10.321-05:002016-03-24T08:40:10.321-05:00Never saw any of these and Colin Bray explained wh...Never saw any of these and Colin Bray explained why - there were no specialty comic shops near me...in fact, I didn't know comic shops even existed (wow, shops that sell only comics...seriously ??). So I'll pick The Falcon, Hercules, Hawkeye and either Iceman or Rawhide Kid just for the covers. HB, a new Rawhide Kid came out (literally) in 2003 - this Rawhide Kid was gay and was part of Marvel's more adult-oriented MAX line. I bought Rawhide Kid #1 and Shang-Chi #6 (also MAX) which were the first Marvel comics I'd bought for 20 years. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com