tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post8300056849112571374..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: A Modern Stone Age Fantasy - Marvel Fanfare 1-2 Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-90889898453380125132016-04-19T03:10:12.357-05:002016-04-19T03:10:12.357-05:00Martinex, the initial run of Micronauts issues dra...Martinex, the initial run of Micronauts issues drawn by Golden were reprinted in the early '80s as part of the Special Edition line, five issues in all. It's on higher quality paper and the art looks really nice as a result.<br />Generally, I agree with you about Marvel Fanfare, i.e., it was kind of hit and miss. I thought the initial dozen or so issues were generally pretty good, and that's why I really recommend that reprint book I mentioned in my first comment (Strange Tales) as it collects the entirety of the first seven issues, back-up stories and all.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-32446479801748685862016-04-18T20:08:50.513-05:002016-04-18T20:08:50.513-05:00I really enjoyed Golden's art when this first ...I really enjoyed Golden's art when this first came out. The paper, printing and coloring really helped as some of his finer line work really showed. In Micronauts the printing clouded or muddied his work; if they ever reprint that series it would benefit from the upgraded technology. I liked his Spider-Man. I thought Spidey was at his wiry best and I liked that he had the underarm webs. I also liked Golden's Angel as the wings were really good. I think this, Avengers Annual 10, and the first 8 Micronauts are his best work. Some of the pages Doug showed are etched in my memory because I looked at them frequently. I also enjoyed Golden's use of color. I like when he went monochromatic as was his habit sometimes on background characters. Or in the example on some of the savage land denizens. I like that technique.<br /><br />I remember the 3rd issue of Fanfare letting me down. I like Cockrum, but didn't feel it was his best work, and I actually think the format hurt him particularly when compared to the previous two issues. Smith bounces back in issue 4 a bit; I remember his Storm being fantastic. I think the new printing process helped the guys who had more fine lines and details in the features. And those with broader strokes seemed lacking. <br /><br />Fanfare was really hit or miss. The Perez Black Widow was worth reading and I remember a Dr Strange with Scarlet Witch that I liked. But most of the time I couldn't justify the cost. Now I find these in cheap bins all over the place. <br />Martinex1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-31529799957407716302016-04-18T15:20:34.662-05:002016-04-18T15:20:34.662-05:00I bought this when it first came out, but I don...I bought this when it first came out, but I don't own the originals anymore. I do have the TPB that reprints the first few issues of Fanfare though. I'll have to dig it out and read this one again.<br /><br />I love Michael Golden's artwork (especially his Batman work), but I think he draws Spider-Man a little to muscular in this. I've never been a fan of body-builder Spidey.<br /><br />Still though, Michael Golden is one of my favorite artists. His stuff is similar of other favorite artists of mine like Art Adams and Mike Weiringo. I've always been a fan of the guys with a more cartoony style (with a dash of realism).Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988016825582035390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-55057146953634716332016-04-18T08:50:36.682-05:002016-04-18T08:50:36.682-05:00Edo, thank you for doing your homework!
I like th...Edo, thank you for doing your homework!<br /><br />I like the panel where Spidey gets hit upside the head, specifically the way Golden draws his right eye. It evokes memories of the 1967 cartoon. And, we'll see a similar treatment of the eyes on Spidey's mask in the upcoming Civil War film.<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-81505437581074762642016-04-18T08:46:12.249-05:002016-04-18T08:46:12.249-05:00Doug, when I saw these issues were up for review, ...Doug, when I saw these issues were up for review, I pulled out my tpb collecting these (Marvel Fanfare: Strange Tales) and read them again for the first time in many years. No arguments about the art, and I still enjoyed the story for the most part - I'd say my only major criticism is just the back-story that got our heroes to the Savage Land. I can mostly look through my fingers at the Daily Bugle angle for Peter/Spidey, but why would Tanya enlist the aid of the Angel of all possible super-guys, and why would Angel not then just contact the X-men to come with him (or at least his buddy Iceman)?<br /><br />As for your point about Ka-Zar serving as a Tarzan-like 'white savior,' I recall that the ongoing series at the time by Bruce Jones and Brent Anderson (which I absolutely loved) sort of moved away from that trope, as Ka-Zar's interactions with the natives of the Savage Land and Pangea were depicted with a little more nuance. Plus, the focus was more on his bickering yet frisky relationship with Shanna.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-6663306200344674072016-04-18T08:14:00.741-05:002016-04-18T08:14:00.741-05:00I recall being pretty excited about the debut of M...I recall being pretty excited about the debut of Marvel Fanfare. Loved the first few issues, the conclusion to the story a bit less. You are right Doug, Golden's artwork sparkles. Between his work here and in Micronauts, he rivaled Byrne as my favorite artist at the time. Golden'state faces are incredible: unique and very expressive. And he seems to have had a field day with the Savage Land and the dinosaurs; that Pteranodon on the cover deserves framing...<br /><br />Redartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-45943406357562401802016-04-18T07:53:00.668-05:002016-04-18T07:53:00.668-05:00Doug - I take your point, but would argue that a m...Doug - I take your point, but would argue that a more long term approach to the (then) new direct market would ultimately have served Marvel - and the comic biz generally - better than rapid short term exploitation.<br />Weren't they on the verge of bankruptcy by the early 90s?<br /><br />-seanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-50707720487657562902016-04-18T07:25:12.050-05:002016-04-18T07:25:12.050-05:00Sean --
So am I hearing that your suggestion migh...Sean --<br /><br />So am I hearing that your suggestion might have been to forego the mini-series route in favor of a title like Marvel Fanfare where serialized short stories would have been housed? From a marketing standpoint you'd lose all the #1 issues. Like I care now, but back then...<br /><br />To all -- <a href="http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.com/2014/12/arc-of-triumph-marvel-fanfare-1-4.html" rel="nofollow">here is the link</a> to our general discussion of Marvel Fanfare from 2014. Enjoy!<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-43384259033111002832016-04-18T07:19:39.408-05:002016-04-18T07:19:39.408-05:00Yeah, whatever the ins and outs of Marvel Fanfare ...Yeah, whatever the ins and outs of Marvel Fanfare generally, I'm calling inventory on this story - what are the odds that it didn't at least start out as a Claremont MTU script?<br /><br />So its no surprise that its the wonderful Golden artwork that makes this memorable, unlike the continuation in issues 3 and 4 which was pretty standard issue for X-Men at the time. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but when Claremont wrote as "star creator" or whatever, aiming at the enthusiast, he produced stuff like those Classic X-Men shorts with John Bolton or God Loves Man Kills. Or, indeed, the Wolverine mini with Miller.<br /><br />Thats what Marvel should have been aiming for with Fanfare. If they'd been really committed to the original idea of a showcase title for their best stuff, it would have made a lot of sense for, say, the Miller/Claremont Wolverine to have been serialized over four issues.<br />But instead... as I recall, one of those two first issues also had an awful Daredevil short (with, er, Santa Claus) which didn't suggest Marvel had a particularly high opinion of their fans.<br /><br />-seanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com