tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post6810458223822642469..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: Marvel Comics - June/July 1979!Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-12760181860943955372011-02-15T07:30:13.278-06:002011-02-15T07:30:13.278-06:00If you consider the direct market, limited series...If you consider the direct market, limited series, company-wide crossovers to be some of the markers of the end of the Marvel Bronze Age, I don't think the limited series and company-wide crossovers realy got underway until Contest of the Champions in 1982, and the direct market didn't really start until 1982, or late 1981, I think. Anyway, I agree with Magnus. I'll go with the 85-86 marker, especially as I really got into comics around 1978 or '79. I would also consider the Roger Stern Avengers comics to be Bronze Age, and he was on the book until 1987. Oh well, the end of the Bronze Age will always be fuzzy.dbutler69noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-21076068802641107002010-08-11T03:37:44.456-05:002010-08-11T03:37:44.456-05:00Interesting how you mentioned the summer of '7...Interesting how you mentioned the summer of '79 as sort a personal "end of era" for you. For me, 1979 was roughly when the comics bug really hit me - it was about then that I really started following a number of series regularly rather than just "sampling" a few issues here and there.<br />By the way, re: the endless debate about the terminal points of the Bronze Age. I personally think Marvel started to move out of the Bronze Age by 1980. As you noted, Frank Miller gradually taking over Daredevil marked the beginning of something new. Also, as you noted, it was around 1980 that the entire market started to change - personally, I saw the appearance of the now unfortunately defunct Pacific Comics as a harbinger of change.<br />As for Milgrom, I agree with you on his art: never liked it, probably never will. But I have tons of respect for Milgrom the editor, and if nothing else, he deserves heaps of praise for the Marvel Fanfare series, which I enjoyed immensely.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-41544863913995443092010-08-10T14:18:05.893-05:002010-08-10T14:18:05.893-05:00That makes sense, Doug.That makes sense, Doug.MaGnUshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06351888054411049033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-44400291664008766552010-08-10T14:09:18.697-05:002010-08-10T14:09:18.697-05:00Some replies:
MaGnUs -- I don't necessarily c...Some replies:<br /><br />MaGnUs -- I don't necessarily consider 1979 to be the end of the Bronze Age, typically zeroing in on the specific books you cite as my more standard measuring stick. However, points were made in earlier Forums that (perhaps specifically at Marvel) one could choose 1979-80 as a dividing line between the characteristics of the post-Lee/Kirby et al. Marvel Age of Comics and the what came after that post-era (specifically, the direct market, limited series, company-wide crossovers, etc.). Looking through that lens, I can go with 1979-80. <br /><br />However, if I factor DC into the mix, then the books you cite would definitely push my date back further. So, while I am still waffling on how I want to view this, the "1979" remark I made was a deference to comments made earlier, and was Marvelcentric.<br /><br />J.A.-- I have long expressed my disdain for the art of one Al Milgrom, most recently on the message boards over at avengersassemble.us. Milgrom, while perhaps a good editor, never (ever) appealed to me as a penciller nor as an inker. It is very difficult for me to put my finger on just what it is about his work -- maybe it's too stiff, perhaps the postures he draws characters in seem a bit off, maybe it's the faces... I'm thinking it's an extreme case of "all of the above". <br /><br />My snide comment about the "Al Milgrom School" brings in other artists who worked at Marvel and DC in the early 1980's who showed the same style (that I personally find unappealing) -- Richard Howell would be one example (see Vision and Scarlet Witch limited, volume II), and I'll admit that off the top of my head no other names come to me. So that's what I meant -- it was a knock that cast a very wide umbrella over the industry at that time.<br /><br />Which is certainly not to say that there was no talent or no new good talent in that era. There was. If you want to know specifically what I meant, check out the full version of that Defenders cover.<br /><br />Hope that helps, and thanks to both of you for the comments!<br /><br />Have a great day,<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-15681469260972756442010-08-10T13:26:47.030-05:002010-08-10T13:26:47.030-05:00Forgive my ignorance,but could you elaborate on wh...Forgive my ignorance,but could you elaborate on what you mean by "the Al Milgrom School" of artists? Do you mean the next wave of artists was inferior,or trying to hard to emulated earlier artists? Just curious,thanks(and yes,I know who Milgrom is/was).J.A. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800901321134394272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-49092913819532338312010-08-10T08:54:10.115-05:002010-08-10T08:54:10.115-05:00You consider 1979 to be the end of the Bronze Age?...You consider 1979 to be the end of the Bronze Age? I've read 85-86 as more commonly referred to ending points, and I'd have to agree (perhaps using Crisis On Infinite Earths and the general revitalization of DC with that, Watchmen, Dark Knight, and others as a marker).MaGnUshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06351888054411049033noreply@blogger.com