tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post3804385649435712855..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: It's Memorial Day - Here's to Beating the Nazis! Invaders 35-37Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-80723906970672127232016-05-30T10:35:41.204-05:002016-05-30T10:35:41.204-05:00Ballerinas in the throes of rigor mortis! Indeed! ...Ballerinas in the throes of rigor mortis! Indeed! That may be the best description I've ever heard of early Invaders art. As a kid I was aware of the art in only the most peripheral way, only later realizing that I gravitated to one artist or another. But the Invaders always struck me as being "out there" with crazy flailing limbs and rectangular jaws and strange shadows. I still actually associate that art with the WWII era of comics. In my mind it was how you depict the '40s much in the way that grainy, black and white, slightly off-speed newsreels were common for the times.<br /><br />In a similar way, Don Heck's work embodies the early 1960s for me. I always liked his run on the Avengers with the detailed backgrounds, the ornate costumes for villains, and a rather serious style that in retrospect fit well. Some of my favorites (like the first Living Laser arc and the Super Adaptoid battle) come from Heck's Avengers run. It is hard to compete with a superstar like John Busccema who took over that title, but I think Heck was way above average. His style and Kirby's early FF ( much prior to the arrival of Galactus) had similarities. The characters were more classically depicted with heroic stature: perfect posture and well-coifed, rock- chinned features. The machines were elaborate but still restrained. The characters were less exaggerated and always grimly concerned. The late 60s exploded with Kirby's freedom and experimentation, much like the evolution of the Beatles and other musicians.<br /><br />For throwbacks I do think Heck was very well suited. It is interesting, as Rip mentioned, that this story was a piecemeal of a rejected run. I always found Liberty Legion intriguing, although that may be because of their limited exposure. I did like the oddballs like Flatman, Blue Diamond, and Red Raven. As recently discussed here, those second tier teams allow for a stretch in creativity and are not limited by the characters' stardom. Red Raven made appearances in the X-Men and Sub-Mariner years prior to this story, so I was curious. But shortly after this the Invaders fell from my top pull choices.<br /><br />Great review for this Memorial Day. Martinex1https://www.blogger.com/profile/15772734018573677099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-45597166120095767322016-05-30T10:12:48.486-05:002016-05-30T10:12:48.486-05:00'Ballerinas in the throes of rigor mortis'...'Ballerinas in the throes of rigor mortis'? Ouch! Someone's artistic pride certainly took a beating here...<br /><br />Anyways, great review Doug! Personally, I'd take Heck's artwork, even his Bronze Age output, over Frank Springer's any day. Roy Thomas really loved his WW2 era superheroes!<br /><br /><br />- Mike 'war relic' from Trinidad & Tobago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-56515476312987963652016-05-30T08:16:49.899-05:002016-05-30T08:16:49.899-05:00Nicely reviewed, Doug! 'Back in the day', ...Nicely reviewed, Doug! 'Back in the day', I regularly purchased Invaders off the stands, and read the whole series (as well as the Liberty Legion's appearances in Marvel Premiere). They never ranked high on my list, though, and don't recall giving any a second read beyond the initial. As a teen, my interest in history was limited, and pretty much filled by the lessons in school. Only later, as an adult, did the intricacies of history begin to appeal to me. Now it fascinates me; perhaps I'd enjoy these comics more now in this different perspective.<br /><br />Speaking of history, thanks for sharing with us about your experiences with the Holocaust Museum. That's important work, and crucial lessons to be learned for now and for the generations to come. Hope to visit the museum if I'm ever in that area.<br /><br />Regarding the art= just following the pack here. Much preferred Heck's Silver Age work to his later, and the inks made a huge impact. My favorite- Wally Wood's inks during that too-brief stint on Avengers...Redartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-73710463508612713922016-05-30T07:57:39.451-05:002016-05-30T07:57:39.451-05:00Yes, I'll concede that the art here is pretty ...Yes, I'll concede that the art here is pretty lackluster compared to the work of the big stars and/or up-and-comers of the time, but man, it is so much better than the Robbins art that preceded it.<br />And again, I have to defend Heck's 1970s work: he may have been past his best work from the 1950s and 1960s, but he was still producing solid material. It got the job done, and never, ever looked eye-gougingly bad. Like Graham, I was never dissuaded from buying a book just because it had Heck's art in it.<br /><br />Otherwise, nice job on another multi-issue review, Doug. It was somewhere around here that I began to read Invaders regularly (instead of piecemeal) - and then the series was cancelled a few issues later.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-27803806102853082092016-05-30T07:12:52.971-05:002016-05-30T07:12:52.971-05:00I feel the same way about Don Heck. I think it de...I feel the same way about Don Heck. I think it depended on who was doing the inking. Some of his Bronze Age work was okay.....though none of it really matched his earlier work. The fact that he was drawing a book never stopped me from buying it. However, I was not a big Alan Kupperberg fan, and he did stop me from picking up several books. I used to visit his site and he seemed like a good guy with some good behind the scenes stories, but to me, some of his figures were on a level with Frank Robbins', especially in those issues of the Avengers that he drew. Again, may have depended on who was inking. To each his own, I guess.Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547751537787941998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-88830988414627014842016-05-30T06:49:43.041-05:002016-05-30T06:49:43.041-05:00There was indeed some discussion of a Liberty Legi...There was indeed some discussion of a Liberty Legion series and the Don Heck artwork you mention was produced for it. When that series didn't take flight, Roy in one of those moves which made for some delightfully wonky comics used those pages as the jumping off point for a new story. <br /><br />Weirdly the same thing happened when Roy was at DC in All-Star Squadron when unused Steel pages were incorporated into a new story. Ironically the often abused Don Heck drew both unused stories. <br /><br />I appreciate that you put your dismissal of Heck's 70's work into context, and I know what you are talking about, but I've always been a fan and comparing the storytelling of Heck to modern mavens, I cringe a little that he doesn't get more love. <br /><br />Rip OffRip Jaggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936426877024852134noreply@blogger.com