|
Post by Dr. Hank Pym on Jul 23, 2008 14:12:59 GMT -5
Here's one! I just bought it yesterday. The cover is pretty cool, but the story itself is pretty short. Oh well! The two sci-fi tale reprints were fantastic! I really must remind myself to buy more Marvel Feature's that have Hank in them! The story was really good, but the first few pages were sort of disturbing to me! The ending was cute, though. And for all of you Marvel buffs, the first three issues of this series gave the world the first three adventures of The Defenders!
|
|
|
Post by scottharris on Jul 23, 2008 16:32:45 GMT -5
That's a really... weird... costume for Hank. I don't think I like it. It looks like he's about to participate in an equestrian show. And is that a sword he's carrying in the corner bubble?
I also love the name "Doctor Nemesis". He's not just a Nemesis. He's also a doctor. Didn't this guy reappear at some point? I'm thinking in a Solo Avengers story or something.
Also, the cover is great, but unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Didn't Hank retain his normal strength even when he's tiny? I seem to recall that being one of his powers, that he's a strong as a normal guy even when tiny. If that's the case, he should be able to just bust open those tongs very easily. I could be wrong on this.
It's a very cool cover, though.
|
|
|
Post by scottharris on Jul 24, 2008 21:31:33 GMT -5
So, here's one for you. You may remember this cover of Avengers #136: But of course, the story in this issue is a reprint from Amazing Adventures #12. Here's the original cover: A couple interesting notes about the cover. Obviously, they added the floating heads into the picture. They also recolored Beast to his now normal blue instead of the greyishness he was originally. If you look closely, you can see that they also fiddled with Iron Man as well; in the original, there's some shading done using color, whereas in the reprint they took out that subtle coloring and added stronger inking instead. This has the effect of making him look more metallic; it's particularly noticeable on the left side of his face. And they added some little... holes or something... to his chestplate. Overall, though, this is also particularly interesting to me because I love cover design on comics. While the reprint is okay, when shown in comparison to the original it points out all the things I love about the design era when the original came out. I love the frame design, it's probably my favorite era in Marvel history. The original also has that wonderful yellow cover, which again, is a favorite of mine; yellow covers just really pop. The Beast logo is also quite bold. The design also has other things going for it. The "Marvel Comics Group" banner is much higher up towards the top, which I think looks better, and the font for the 20 cents and the issue number is nicer than the font for the 25 cent era. Plus, the number 20 is just more visually appealing than 25. Mostly, though, the framing really makes the image stand out for me. I know some criticize this era because it supposedly reduces the space for the image, but looking at these side by side the only thing the reprint does with extra space is paste in some floating heads. Otherwise, that "extra space" is almost always used for just background sky and dirt, like in this cover. Allowing the figures to seep out over the border, as they do in this image, not only provides essentially the same space for the image, it also emphasizes the figures by having them cross that border as well as by making the picture distinct form the logo and text. All in all, not just a great era for Marvel design, but a superior individual example. Now, can anyone tell me who did those floating heads? The rest of the cover is by Gil Kane, but the heads look more like a Buscema. Or... someone. Any ideas?
|
|
|
Post by scottharris on Jul 24, 2008 21:39:22 GMT -5
Here are more Avengers cover from Amazing Adventures: Note that it mentions Halloween on the cover. I haven't read this issue, but I'm guessing those aren't actually the Avengers, they're just people in costume. This is written by Englehart, whom, along with Roy Thomas, just loved to include people from that Rutland Halloween thing every year, and I'm guessing this is yet another trip to Rutland. This one is also pretty minor, it's got Beast fighting Iron Man up in the left corner.
|
|
|
Post by dlw66 on Jul 24, 2008 22:50:10 GMT -5
The rest of the cover is by Gil Kane, but the heads look more like a Buscema. Or... someone. Any ideas? I think it's a safe bet to say that the Cap and Thor heads are by John Romita, Sr. Vision I'm not sure...
|
|
|
Post by sharkar on Jul 25, 2008 13:35:56 GMT -5
The rest of the cover is by Gil Kane, but the heads look more like a Buscema. Or... someone. Any ideas? I think it's a safe bet to say that the Cap and Thor heads are by John Romita, Sr. Vision I'm not sure... The Vision head does look atypical for Romita (for Cap and Thor, the jaws/chins and mouths are unmistakably JR Sr.), but in any credits I've seen for this cover, all the insets are attributed to the Jazzy One. He was on staff (as art director) and did a lot of this sort of thing (cover touch ups, etc.).
|
|
|
Post by sharkar on Jul 25, 2008 15:01:35 GMT -5
sharkar: Ahhh, Namor looks so much different as compared to what he would look like a year later! It seems like after that appearance, his look was changed (I'm guessing to establish his tweener style?) I think it's more of a matter of artists' styles (when Wally Wood drew Namor in a Daredevil issue back then, he drew him without his pointy ears!) The way Namor appeared in this X-Men issue was pretty typical of how Kirby drew Namor...you can see more of the same some months later in FF #33 (Namor is featured). Anyway, when Namor received his own feature in Tales to Astonish, Gene Colan (credited as Adam Austin) was the artist. Now, if there was ever a style unlike Kirby's, Colan's was it. Plus, Colan has written that he just could not get the hang of drawing Namor's trademark flat head...so Colan rounded the head off and made it look more "normal."
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Hank Pym on Jul 25, 2008 16:31:23 GMT -5
sharkar: So I'm guessing no one was really sure on the best way to draw Namor, huh? I always like Colan's better, anyway. He looked less like an alien! Here's a neat-o cover from the Black Widow era of Daredevil!
|
|
|
Post by hunterrose on Jul 30, 2008 20:30:43 GMT -5
i had a lot of fun with this cover challenge. so how about we start a new one. i had thought........ of obscure titles staring avengers (24 issues or less) like the marvel feature with antman or amazing aventures with the beast? anyone remember red wolf? anyone have some ideas for a new cover challenge?
|
|
|
Post by scottharris on Jul 30, 2008 21:34:11 GMT -5
I just pulled Red Wolf #1 out of my box yesterday, with the intension of reviewing it for the "From the Vault" thread, but it was so boring I couldn't bring myself to read more than the first couple pages. This is technically a different Red Wolf from the Avengers guy; this one is in the old west. I like westerns okay, but this one didn't do it for me. As for the new challenge, well, he never appeared on the cover as far as I can tell, but who is more forgotten (as can be seen by our current poll) than Dr. Druid himself, a.k.a. Dr. Droom, who anchored Amazing Adventures a.k.a. Amazing Adult Fantasy right up until Spider-man knocked him out of the book. Droom's last appearance came out the same month as Fantastic Four #1, so he was an interesting prototype for Marvel: The sad thing (for me) is that I used to own one of these comics. Back when I was a kid I'd scour the 25 cent boxes for the oldest comics I could find, and I actually got a solid, complete copy of Amazing Adventures #6 featuring Dr. Droom for a quarter. Alas, just like the copy of Flash #137 I pulled out of the same box, I no longer have it, having long, long ago sold it to someone wiser than myself.
|
|
|
Post by Tana Nile on Jul 30, 2008 23:18:25 GMT -5
That's a really... weird... costume for Hank. I don't think I like it. It looks like he's about to participate in an equestrian show. And is that a sword he's carrying in the corner bubble? This series was Hank's "Incredible Shrinking Man" phase. IIRC, he was was stuck at doll size. A girl (Egghead's niece?) made the costume for him, and that 'sword' is actually a sewing needle. No, I am not making this up. Obviously they were trying to find some gimmick to build a series on, and just as obviously, it didn't work.
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Hank Pym on Aug 1, 2008 20:32:08 GMT -5
That's a really... weird... costume for Hank. I don't think I like it. It looks like he's about to participate in an equestrian show. And is that a sword he's carrying in the corner bubble? This series was Hank's "Incredible Shrinking Man" phase. IIRC, he was was stuck at doll size. A girl (Egghead's niece?) made the costume for him, and that 'sword' is actually a sewing needle. No, I am not making this up. Obviously they were trying to find some gimmick to build a series on, and just as obviously, it didn't work. Tana Nile (and scottharris): It seems to be hinted at the idea of it being made into a series -- Marvel Feature #9, which showcased letters from an apparently horrible story in one of the older issues, has a small mention saying "And if fan response goes well, a future solo series is definitely going to happen." And unfortunately, that never came to be. One high recommendation from this series is issue number 6, which showcases The Whirlwind at his evilest: He burns down Hank and Jan's lab! Trish Starr was Egghead's niece, right? Or is this my bad memory coming into play? I seem to remember that name from the Trial of Hank storyline from the 80's.
|
|
|
Post by badgermaniac on Aug 18, 2008 0:44:17 GMT -5
The Marvel Team-Up 59-60 duo with Yellowjacket, Spidey, and Wasp is one of my favorite mini-runs.
|
|
|
Post by sharkar on Sept 17, 2008 21:25:58 GMT -5
Post your favorite Avengers covers, but not from any Avengers title. So in other words, you're looking for a Defenders cover featuring the Avengers, or a Dr. Strange cover featuring the Avengers. Rules are that there must be at least 2 Avengers on the cover, or the team name must appear. Hey, is it cheating if I post this cover- -even though it has not been released yet? It meets the requirements...
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Hank Pym on Sept 18, 2008 11:59:23 GMT -5
You really do love that "House of M" stuff, sharkar!
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Hank Pym on Dec 6, 2008 22:39:58 GMT -5
Time to revive one of my favorite threads! Here's a fun little story I got a few weeks ago! EDIT:... Whoops! sharkar already posted that one. Oh well, here's another cool one. I got this one last week for $5, an odd story!
|
|
|
Post by sharkar on Dec 7, 2008 19:50:38 GMT -5
You really do love that "House of M" stuff, sharkar! Doc Pym: yes, I have always been a fan of Wanda and Pietro, and Lorna, from waaaay back in the '60s. So far, the "House of M: Civil War" limited series has not (IMO) been particularly illuminating...but it's still a decent read. There's a couple of more issues to go. EDIT:... Whoops! sharkar already posted that one. No problem- -the DD cover deserves a second viewing! Oh well, here's another cool one. I got this one last week for $5, an odd story! Despite the cover caption describing our heroes as "helpless", Iron Man seems to be holding his own...but as for poor Hank- -well, he looks like he's in a lot of pain. By the way, Pym, I must once again commend you on your avatar--nice work! The Santa hat is adorable, and I am a fan of Heck's 1960s Avengers work-- so your shot of the classic Goliath brings back great memories. EDIT: Replaced Iron Man cover (in Pym's quote) with one from coverbrowser.com
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Hank Pym on Dec 11, 2008 11:19:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliment, sharkar! And Hank does look like he just got a shot in the gut, doesn't he? Here's another great one that I picked up at my comic shop recently! Fun, yet silly story. Loved the letters page the most! Stan made a mention of everyone paying compliment to the then new "Marvel Comics" top left trademark, and the first ever Dr. Strange in Strange Tales was advertised! Who says 1963 WASN'T the Marvel Age of Comics?
|
|
|
Post by dlw66 on Dec 11, 2008 11:28:33 GMT -5
I guess Ant-Man was surprising everyone in the book but not the spinner rack browsers, huh?
|
|
|
Post by dlw66 on Dec 11, 2008 11:42:09 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Hank Pym on Dec 11, 2008 21:47:00 GMT -5
Trying to sucker us in with an awesome Vizh appearance.
|
|
|
Post by scottharris on Feb 13, 2009 4:36:30 GMT -5
I just re-read this issue, and I had forgotten the cool Avengers stuff in it. The Avengers on the cover turn out to be a group of Soviet agents, each of whom matches up with an Avenger in terms of powers. Much more interesting, though, is the not-quite Avengers team that is inside the book. The story takes place as Cap is holding tryouts for the Avengers! Yes, this is right after the team reformed in Avengers #300, and apparently, while they were disbanded, a number of people applied to help reform the team. So Cap decides to give them a tryout. While they are hanging around, waiting for a training exercise, Darkstar, Vanguard and Ursa Major show up, and the recruits, assuming it's an attack on the Avengers (this all takes place on Avengers Island), attack them. The "Avengers" roster: Speedball, Blue Shield, Gladiatrix (an unlimited class wrestler) and the Mechano-Maurader himself, Fabian Stankowicz. Now there's an awesome Avengers team. Cap ends up breaking up the fight and tells the recruits they still need to work on their fighting and teamwork skills, and tells them to come back in 6 months to try out again. Another forgotten chapter in Avengers history!
|
|
|
Post by starfoxxx on Feb 14, 2009 15:22:57 GMT -5
Fantastic cover, scott. I'm gonna have to dig this one up for a re-read.
It was a great time to be an Avengers fan, as they were always popping up in other titles.
Sure, the X-men were too, but i always thought it was cool that the Avengers were called in for the "big jobs" (and so were the FF), that required the best of the best.
|
|
|
Post by scottharris on Jun 30, 2009 0:36:22 GMT -5
In this one, at least the Avengers aren't getting their ass kicked, even though they are pretty much useless anyway: This cover, and the issue inside, is one of my all time favs. Spider-Man vs Firelord, two issues of complete slug fest, but showing how much of an hero Peter can be, even against hugely more powerful enemies. Besides, the story has its epilogue in the Avengers. I think Stern was writing both books at the time. As I was messing around online looking for people's opinions on covers, I found a site that claimed that this cover is a tribute to my all-time favorite Avengers cover, Avengers #96. The similarities are obvious (even though I somehow never noticed this fact) but I'm not sure this is really an homage cover. I think the similarities may be coincidental, but I'm not sure. Thoughts? Also, I don't think I saw anyone bring up this cover, and I was wondering if anybody knows about the story inside. I get the idea this is some sort of dream sequence, so I'd like to know before I decide whether to buy it or not:
|
|
|
Post by sharkar on Jun 30, 2009 11:44:14 GMT -5
[As I was messing around online looking for people's opinions on covers, I found a site that claimed that this cover is a tribute to my all-time favorite Avengers cover, Avengers #96. The similarities are obvious (even though I somehow never noticed this fact) but I'm not sure this is really an homage cover. I think the similarities may be coincidental, but I'm not sure. Thoughts? IMO there's no doubt the Spidey cover is deliberately modeled after Avengers #96. And thanks, Scott, for reviving this thread--and I see I have my work cut out for me as I'm going to have to replace my old comics.org covers with ones from milehighcomics or coverbrowser.
|
|
|
Post by scottharris on Jun 30, 2009 19:08:06 GMT -5
Yeah, I guess you're right. Cap is sort of emulating Thor's stance on the one side, while Black Knight and Starfox are generally emulating Cap and Iron Man on the original. What's throwing me here is that most homage covers are pretty straight up homages, with people in exact positions and poses. More importantly, most artists will acknowledge the homage in their signature to make it known that they aren't just swiping art. Maybe that is a more common practice now than it was back in the 80's. While I'm at it, I have another cover besides that Hulk one that I am looking for info on. It's this: Now, the Avengers also appear 2 issues later in #157, a story which I have already commented on. I'm wondering if this story leads into that other one or if its just coincidence that the Avengers appear in DD twice in a 3 issue span. They are nowhere to be seen on the cover of #156 and I don't recall #157 making any mention of this prior story. Anyone know about either this issue or the Hulk one I mentioned before?
|
|
|
Post by spiderwasp on Jul 1, 2009 0:28:16 GMT -5
I don't think anyone has posted this one. And a couple of my favorites Well, it's sort of the Avengers Finally, does it count if they weren't Avengers quite yet - but soon.
|
|
|
Post by humanbelly on Jul 1, 2009 9:12:30 GMT -5
Also, I don't think I saw anyone bring up this cover, and I was wondering if anybody knows about the story inside. I get the idea this is some sort of dream sequence, so I'd like to know before I decide whether to buy it or not: Hmmm. Let me go downstairs & look. (Muzak interlude) Ahhhh yes, now I remember. No, don't buy this. It is, indeed, a "controlled" dream-- one of Doc Samson's zillion ego-driven attempts to cure the Hulk via cutting-edge psychoanalysis. This was during Roger Stern's tenure on the book, and- much as I liked him on the Avengers & elsewhere- his time on the Hulk was contrived, forced, unfocused and very forgettable. Just not an instinctive feel for the Hulk at all, and I think he tried to compensate by creating a large supporting cast (at this point, we had Samson, Jim Wilson, a dog, a downtrodden stage magician-"Kropotkin the Great", and a couple of Shield agents). You can't hold it against Stern too much, though, 'cause there's definitely a sense of him trying to DO something--- it just never clicks. The art is solid- Sal Buscema inked by Klaus Janson. Not spectacular, but certainly above average. And I think the Herb Trimpe cover's not bad-- but certainly helped along by Joe Rubinstein's inks. Boy, I don't think I've pulled that issue out since it was published! HB
|
|
|
Post by scottharris on Jul 1, 2009 20:37:29 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by bobc on Jul 2, 2009 12:15:10 GMT -5
Who won the fight between the Avengers and X-Factor?
|
|