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Post by michidiers on Sept 29, 2010 10:30:49 GMT -5
Us Avengers # 176„The destiny hunt“ With combined forces, abilities and a sophisticated computer the Avengers are able to locate the source of the cosmic power in a villa in Forrest Hills Gardens/Queens. According the computers readout there must live the long time searched unknown “Enemy” (we readers know more than the Avengers: it is “Kovac”). Arriving at the villa, it comes to the first contact with “Michael”. And the Avengers doesn´t know: “Michael” is the human shape of “Kovac”. The Avengers arent´t able to discover Kovacs disguise, only Starhawk senses the adversary. After Kovac is discovered, the clash begin… In this issue writer David Michelinie comes off a mix of drama, tension and humor in huge amounts. Image the follow crazy scene of the story in figurative: To bear the distance from die HQ to Forrest Hills the Avengers are forced (the priority to fly by the Quinjet was been revoked in #170) to drive by a common motor coach. Iron Man has to be the bus driver and all the costumed team-mates are sitting in the seats. After 35 min through the NY traffic the bus arrived in Forrest Hills. They are getting off the bus gaped distrustfully by a crowd of residents. A harsh discussion for the tactic in this uncommon terrain begins in the team. Thereafter the colourful company is walking decently one after another to the villa they are assuming the source of the Enemy. Then Iron Man is properly ringing the doorbell. “Michael”, the training-dress wearing human shape of the deity “Kovac” is opening. The annoyance in “Michael” is not lost on the Avengers. They are embarrassing and a further discussion begins… This is scathing humor for a reader who is expecting a big assault of the combined superpower of the mightiest team of the world. Instead of crashing the door and the whole villa, they are properly ringing the door-bell! And it proofed a perfect balance of tension, dramatic and crazyness. Wow, what a story!!!!
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Post by michidiers on Sept 29, 2010 12:44:47 GMT -5
Us Avengers # 176„The destiny hunt“ With combined forces, abilities and a sophisticated computer the Avengers are able to locate the source of the cosmic power in a villa in Forrest Hills Gardens/Queens. According the computers readout there must live the long time searched unknown “Enemy” (we readers know more than the Avengers: it is “Kovac”). Arriving at the villa, it comes to the first contact with “Michael”. And the Avengers doesn´t know: “Michael” is the human shape of “Kovac”. The Avengers arent´t able to discover Kovacs disguise, only Starhawk senses the adversary. After Kovac is discovered, the clash begin… In this issue writer David Michelinie comes off a mix of drama, tension and humor in huge amounts. Image the follow crazy scene of the story in figurative: To bear the distance from die HQ to Forrest Hills the Avengers are forced (the priority to fly by the Quinjet was been revoked in #170) to drive by a common motor coach. Iron Man has to be the bus driver and all the costumed team-mates have to sit on the seats. After 35 min through the NY traffic the bus arrived in Forrest Hills. They are getting off the bus gaped distrustfully by a crowd of residents. A harsh discussion for the tactic in this uncommon terrain begins in the team. Thereafter the colourful company is walking decently one after another to the villa they are assuming the source of the Enemy. Then Iron Man is properly ringing the doorbell. “Michael”, the training-dress wearing human shape of the deity “Kovac” is opening. The annoyance in “Michael” is not lost on the Avengers. They are embarrassing and a further discussion begins… This is scathing humor for a reader who is expecting a big assault of the combined superpower of the mightiest team of the world. Instead of crashing the door and the whole villa, they are properly ringing the door-bell! And it proofed a perfect balance of tension, dramatic and crazyness. Wow, what a story!!!!
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Post by humanbelly on Sept 29, 2010 16:52:58 GMT -5
Us Avengers # 176„The destiny hunt“ To bear the distance from die HQ to Forrest Hills the Avengers are forced (the priority to fly by the Quinjet was been revoked in #170) to drive by a common motor coach. Iron Man has to be the bus driver and all the costumed team-mates are sitting in the seats. After 35 min through the NY traffic the bus arrived in Forrest Hills. They are getting off the bus gaped distrustfully by a crowd of residents. Ha! Oh yeah, this is one of those great, "I-remember-when" moments in Avengers history! An absolutely classic tribute to one of the founding pillars of Marvel's original philosophy of presenting superheroes in a real world with real, often mundane, problems. It had been awhile since we'd seen much of that-- much more common with Spidey in the 60's, f'rinstance-- and not nearly so much in the Avengers. How the heck does Tony Stark know how to drive a bus? Heck, that was the biggest credibility stretch of all-! ;D HB
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Post by sharkar on Sept 30, 2010 17:46:09 GMT -5
Mich, looks like you were trying to add #176's cover to your post. Here's the cover:
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Post by sharkar on Sept 30, 2010 18:29:17 GMT -5
Us Avengers # 176„The destiny hunt“ With combined forces, abilities and a sophisticated computer the Avengers are able to locate the source of the cosmic power in a villa in Forrest Hills Gardens/Queens. According the computers readout there must live the long time searched unknown “Enemy” (we readers know more than the Avengers: it is “Kovac”). Arriving at the villa, it comes to the first contact with “Michael”. And the Avengers doesn´t know: “Michael” is the human shape of “Kovac”. The Avengers arent´t able to discover Kovacs disguise, only Starhawk senses the adversary. After Kovac is discovered, the clash begin… In this issue writer David Michelinie comes off a mix of drama, tension and humor in huge amounts. Image the follow crazy scene of the story in figurative: To bear the distance from die HQ to Forrest Hills the Avengers are forced (the priority to fly by the Quinjet was been revoked in #170) to drive by a common motor coach. Iron Man has to be the bus driver and all the costumed team-mates are sitting in the seats. After 35 min through the NY traffic the bus arrived in Forrest Hills. They are getting off the bus gaped distrustfully by a crowd of residents. A harsh discussion for the tactic in this uncommon terrain begins in the team. Thereafter the colourful company is walking decently one after another to the villa they are assuming the source of the Enemy. Then Iron Man is properly ringing the doorbell. “Michael”, the training-dress wearing human shape of the deity “Kovac” is opening. The annoyance in “Michael” is not lost on the Avengers. They are embarrassing and a further discussion begins… This is scathing humor for a reader who is expecting a big assault of the combined superpower of the mightiest team of the world. Instead of crashing the door and the whole villa, they are properly ringing the door-bell! And it proofed a perfect balance of tension, dramatic and crazyness. Wow, what a story!!!! There's a short scene I especially liked, at the beginning of #176 when Hawkeye was concerned about what Moondragon did to Pietro (Hawkeye: "If you've hurt Quicksilver!")...it's just so true to Clint's fiercely loyal nature--he's very protective of his teammates. Another nice touch was the repartee of the two ex-Champions, Natasha and Herc. I noticed that the letter column contained a letter from Peter Sanderson (address is Columbia University). Yes, it's that Peter Sanderson, the comic book historian. He was quite the prolific letter writer back then. The gist of this (lengthy) letter is that while he may not write to the Avengers every month, he keeps up with the title and based on the last several issues, he pronounces the Avengers as "unmistakably better" than it ever was in the Thomas-Englehart years. And he mentions the two moving men (Mack and Meyer, from #170--Mich mentioned them too in his post about #170, these were the guys with the "funny freaky accent" ;D) as the " best comic relief in a Marvel book in a long time." Seeing his letter here reminded me of a book I own, The Hollywood Beauties (I may have mentioned in the past that I am a huge cinema fan and have tons of books on the topic). The book was published in 1978 (same year as Avengers #176); I bought the book a looong time ago, sometime in the early '80s. Why am I mentioning this book here? Well, the book contains the names of author James Robert Parish's staff, including --you guessed it--Peter Sanderson! The book's bio blurb on Sanderson states he "is currently completing his doctorate in English literature at Columbia University. He has long been interested in the cinema, as well as in theatre and opera." Hmmm, no mention of Sanderson's long-time interest in comics! Well, I guess admitting a serious interest in comics and/or graphic novels (I don't think the latter term was in widespread use back in '78) would have been frowned upon in academic circles back then. BTW, for those who like Old Hollywood, this is a great resource: it covers not only the usual suspects (Liz, Lana, Ava, Grace, Harlow) but also Dolores Del Rio and Kay Francis (a fave of mine).
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Post by michidiers on Oct 2, 2010 11:55:23 GMT -5
Thank you both for these interesting replies and the correct cover. It was a mistake with the false cover. I think, I would´t forget this story for the rest of my life. Now I have to make a pause for a few weeks. At monday I have to drive to Munich Town for three weeks. I was sent to Munich by my office to take part at a course to learn the polish language. But good luck for me: Monday I will go there to the Oktoberfest. ;D
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Post by sharkar on Oct 3, 2010 11:23:43 GMT -5
Your company is paying for your Polish language lessons, Mich? Wow, you must be a VIP (Very Important Person! ;D) Well, we'll miss your reviews while you're away these next few weeks. Anyway, have a great time at Oktoberfest!
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Post by humanbelly on Oct 3, 2010 12:43:56 GMT -5
Wait, wait-- Mich! Are you leaving before you finish the last chapter of the story?? Good heavens-- tell Poland just to wait for a few minutes. . . ! I'm sure they'll understand. . .
;D ;D
HB
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Post by michidiers on Nov 4, 2010 9:01:23 GMT -5
US Avengers #177The hope...and the slaughter! Continued from #176: In a villa in the contemplative suburb Forrest Hills Gardens/NY begins the final showdown: Avengers/Guardians of the Galaxy vs. space/time-entity Korvac in his human shape called Michael and his girl-friend Carina. The Avengers deserve the whole reality and defeat Michael Korvac after a bad fight. Sensing that Carina doubts him, Korvac commits suicide through an act of will. In a last gesture Korvac rescues a few bad-hurted Avengers from death. An angered Carina is finally slain by Thor. The battle is watched by Moondragon, who realizes that Korvac only wanted to help mankind, with his dying act being to restore the Avengers and Guardians to life. A lot of the Avengers are now in a dying condition. Thor has to shift into Dr.Blake to rescue the bad hurted teammates… Wow! This 10-issues long story got all, what a terrific story must have: high tension, drama, love story, action and droll humor! And in the end the common schema Hero – Villian isn’t clear in consideration of the motives of Kovacs and the Avengers acts. Questions raises in me. What is Korvac justified to sacrifice for a better world/reality? Is he allowed to sacrifice human life, and …. how many human life? The whole mankind, 10 humans, 100, 1000, millions? And similar questions are in me about the Avengers: Is an Avenger allowed to harm Carina, only to stop Michael? Because Michael hasn’t bad motives for his acts. The Korvac Saga is personel for me the best Avenger story I´ve ever read. Yes, and my opinion is, that this story is even better than the Kree/Skrull - war. Oktoberfest: What big marquees...you didn´t believe, here a picture of the Hakker-PSchorr-Zelt: And this is a picture of the Hofbräuhaus - Zelt, one of the biggests tends of the Oktoberfest:
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Post by humanbelly on Nov 4, 2010 11:59:45 GMT -5
This has always been one of my favorite covers, although I'm not sure if I've ever thought about why that's so.
It's certainly an atypical cover image. Don Blake? When's the last time he was front & center on a cover (w/out a Thor "image" hovering nearby, at the very least)? And clearly struggling mightily in what has to have been the most critical moment of extremis in Avengers history-- I mean, every one of them was dead for pete's sake. There's absolutely nothing "super" or larger-than-life going on, and yet there couldn't be more tension and drama packed into that one frame. There is a LOT of story going on, obviously (one even might argue that it's too much, given where this moment occurs in the story), and this cover couldn't do a better job of sucking the spinner-rack spectator in to find out what's going on. In that sense, it's even the perfect cover.
It's also quite unusual (although I don't think unprecedented) for a cover to faithfully depict the very last moment of a story like this. A dangerous editorial call, and it can't help but lessen the impact of the mortal toll taken during the battle-- but the payoff of new readers' hands picking up the book may certainly have been worth it.
HB
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Post by humanbelly on Nov 4, 2010 12:06:55 GMT -5
By the way, Mich, I'm having a little trouble spotting you in those photos. . . which table are you sitting at? ;D (Ha! I'm so doggone funny-!) HB
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Post by sharkar on Nov 4, 2010 19:19:02 GMT -5
Wow--great pictures, Mich!! This has always been one of my favorite covers, although I'm not sure if I've ever thought about why that's so. I love this cover too; there's a real sense of desperation (Don's) and futility. Very powerful cover. You know, when I got back into comic a few years ago, and after having not read a comic in 30 years, this was one of the first back issues I bought. So when I saw this cover I initially had no idea who the good-looking blond was--until I saw the doctor's bag and then it all came back to me ("Of course--it's Thor in his human form!") Boy, it's like riding a bike...
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Post by humanbelly on Nov 4, 2010 21:04:40 GMT -5
You know, when I got back into comic a few years ago, and after having not read a comic in 30 years, this was one of the first back issues I bought. So when I saw this cover I initially had no idea who the good-looking blond was--until I saw the doctor's bag and then it all came back to me ("Of course--it's Thor in his human form!") Boy, it's like riding a bike... Oh wow, hiya Shar-- looks like we're inadvertantly online at the same time! Aaaaaaand you've even sort of proven my why-this-was-indeed-an-unusually-effective-cover theory-- it's one of the first ones you picked up when you were getting back into comics. (Although I guess this wasn't a case of it catching your eye off of a spinner-rack. . . ) Sounds like that cover sucked you right in, yes, yes? HB
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Post by sharkar on Nov 4, 2010 22:38:38 GMT -5
Oh wow, hiya Shar-- looks like we're inadvertantly online at the same time! Aaaaaaand you've even sort of proven my why-this-was-indeed-an-unusually-effective-cover theory-- it's one of the first ones you picked up when you were getting back into comics. (Although I guess this wasn't a case of it catching your eye off of a spinner-rack. . . ) Sounds like that cover sucked you right in, yes, yes? HB Yep, HB, once I actually had the comic in my hot little hands, I immediately thought, wow, what cool cover. I thought it was unusual to see a civilian so prominently displayed on the cover (and as mentioned, it took me a moment before I realized it was Don Blake--he sure looked more muscular than I'd remembered!). As you aptly stated, there's nothing "super" going on the cover...but it sure is memorable. I think what gets to me most is Don's expression. I don't think the cover was what induced me to buy that issue, though. I'd only seen an image (and not very large one) of it online. You see, when I set about replenishing my collection, I bought from online vendors (mostly Mile High and Metropolis) and every few days I would peruse their sites and just select as many Avenger/X-Men/ FF issues as I could--my only stipulation was that the issues be in at least "good" condition--even though like you, I am definitely a reader and not a collector!.
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Post by badgermaniac on Nov 7, 2010 14:46:50 GMT -5
As I have stated many times, the whole era from about 150-180 is by far my favorite extended run in the entire series: Ultron, Korvac, revival of Wonder Man, uber-Nefaria...just great stuff.
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Post by michidiers on Nov 8, 2010 12:18:29 GMT -5
I enjoyed the last issues, too. No, that isn´t right. I enjoyed all readings of the Avengers from no. #1 - until #176.
The issue #176 is very difficult to buy here in Germany. I ordered it one day with luck on EBay Germany for 3,50 Euro in a fair condition. A proud price for an Avengers Comic higher than #150! The other issus around #176 are far easier and cheaper to get, ...for one Euro in a far better condition!
You haven´t spotted me on the pictures? No problem, I´m not on the pictures!
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Post by michidiers on Nov 23, 2010 4:40:48 GMT -5
US Avengers #178
"The Matyr perplex!"The „Manipulator“ is an artificial being. It is able to confront other persons with their own deepest fears and sorrows to control and manipulate them. In cooperation with the agents Mardsen and Stern from the „company” (the CIA?) Manipulator confronts the Beast with a lot of his fears. In doing so they intend to arrest three crime lords… This short summary sounds strange just as the strange plot actually is. The story is without coherence, without relation and is very crude. After the fantastic climax of the Kovac Saga in #177 I have to read a horrible story with a two-faced android out of any reference whatsoever. At the end of #177 all Avengers were lying almost dying in a villa in Forrest Gardens/NY and Dr. Blake wrestled for life or death. And now, as nothing had happened, Wasp, Cap, Wonderman are as fresh as a daisy… A terribly story in every department! I suppose this was a fill in story. Do anybody know more about it?? Only fine was a lyric sung by the Beast from The Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" under Manipulators control. In this lyric he replaces the following part of the text: „ Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear “ with „Professor Xavier writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear “
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Post by humanbelly on Nov 23, 2010 9:18:23 GMT -5
US Avengers #178
"The Matyr perplex!"The „Manipulator“ is an artificial being. It is able to confront other persons with their own deepest fears and sorrows to control and manipulate them. In cooperation with the agents Mardsen and Stern from the „company” (the CIA?) Manipulator confronts the Beast with a lot of his fears. In doing so they intend to arrest three crime lords… This short summary sounds strange just as the strange plot actually is. The story is without coherence, without relation and is very crude. After the fantastic climax of the Kovac Saga in #177 I have to read a horrible story with a two-faced android out of any reference whatsoever. At the end of #177 all Avengers were lying almost dying in a villa in Forrest Gardens/NY and Dr. Blake wrestled for life or death. And now, as nothing had happened, Wasp, Cap, Wonderman are as fresh as a daisy… A terribly story in every department! I suppose this was a fill in story. Do anybody know more about it?? Only fine was a lyric sung by the Beast from The Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" under Manipulators control. In this lyric he replaces the following part of the text: „ Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear “ with „Professor Xavier writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear “ Aghh! The bad, bad memories!! You're bringin' 'em all back, Mich! Nonononononoooo!!! This drove me INSANE when it happened, as I was buying the book from the drugstore and grocery store magazine racks at this point! You wait a month (or more), only to have an unforgivably sub-standard book be your reward. I must have checked ten times to make sure I hadn't somehow missed an issue or an annual or some kind of crossover or something (crossovers were a much, MUCH rarer item in those days). Although I couldn't claim official knowledge of it, I would imagine that this is considered one of the BIGGEST and most egregious one-issue-to-the-next quality lapses in Marvel's long history. It's magnified, of course, by how tremendous the prior story was, and by its supremely dramatic semi-wrapped up ending. And then it's followed by an inane fill-in issue that would have been questionable even in the 1950's. Okay, and Mich this is sort of a spoiler-- except I think of it more as being fair warning. Or perhaps like quickly pulling off a sticky band-aid: There are two more fill-in issues after this one. We don't get back to the consequences of the Korvac Saga until issue #181. The good news, though, is that the book is, if anything, even better on the whole at that point. We pick up John Byrne as penciller, and he's really at the peak of his talents in many folks' opinion (before he sort of fell all in love with himself). And the two-part fill-in for 179 & 180 isn't quite as awful--- although it's surely not good. But, boy, imagine picking up this title for 3 MONTHS after that momentous story, and IT'S LIKE IT NEVER EXISTED!! In fact, the more I think on it, the more I recall that I was disgusted enough to give up buying comics for quite awhile. HB
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Post by scottharris on Nov 23, 2010 16:17:19 GMT -5
One of the worst Avengers issues of all time.
As has been said, #179-180 are also a fill-in story and are only marginally better than #178.
Basically, what happened was that the creative team behind the Korvac Saga actually left the title before that story was over; there's no drop off in quality, so you may not have noticed, but both 175 and 176 were scripted by David Michelinie from Jim Shooter plots, because Shooter was too bust being Editor-in-Chief to devote his full time to writing; and Dave Wenzel took over as regular artist from Georgre Perez starting with #164, with #173 being done by a mishmash of whoever they could find. And Wenzel was really just a fill-in himself, as he only did three issues.
The point being that they really had to scramble just to finish the Korvac Saga itself, because they didn't have a regular creative team in place. As soon as the story was over, then, they put together the new team of David Michelinie and John Byrne, but because it took some time to get them up to speed, they decided to fill in the intervening months with these 3 fill-in stories. Back then Marvel had a policy of not missing a deadline, which is why we also saw fill-ins with #163 and #169, but the fill-ins from #178-180 were by far the worst -- and the ones with the worst timing.
I think I suggested this a long time ago, but for the sake of a positive reading experience I would recommend skipping #178-180 entirely and going right from #177 to #181. You don't miss anything at all and #181 starts another good run of fun comics. If only #178=180 never existed, this world would be a better place for everyone.
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Post by michidiers on Nov 26, 2010 6:43:43 GMT -5
Thank you for the interesting information! But it´s too late! I´ve already read issue # 179. US – Avengers # 179„Slowly slays the slinger“ DeFalco/Mooney/Al Gordon In this issue appears a new foe named „Slinger“. Slinger plans to destroy the Avengers. At first he beated the Black Panther with his deadly beams and stings. Meanwhile the other Avengers are helping two guys, the mutant Bloodhawk and his teacher, from the island Muara (South Sea). They need a religious totem from Muara, exhibited in the Museum of Natural History in NY to stop a earth quaking colossal, living under the fragile island. This big walking skyscraper-golem now threads the island by trampling it down. The Avengers, Bloodhawk and his teacher hurries with the artefact to Muara… Bad story, basically it is fractionally better than #178. But despite all I will fight my way until #181. But there are at least a fistful issues from 100 to 170 which are actually more unpalatable than this issue. For example: The Graviton Story around #160.
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Post by michidiers on Nov 29, 2010 12:57:23 GMT -5
Avengers #180“Berserkers´Holiday” DeFalco/Mooney/Mike Esposito Continued from #179: Maura Island, South Sea: The Beast puts the totem on the head of the stomping behemoth. After doing this the giant stops immediately and freezes at his position. The danger is avoided. Turning back to the HQ the Avengers Thor and Beast have to face the Stinger (#179). Stinger has overwhelmed all in the mansion remained Avengers (Wasp, YJ, Iron Man, Wanda and Black Panther). With the cooperation with the new friend “Bloodhawk” (#179) the last Avengers Thor and Beast are able to beat Stinger. But tragically Bloodhawk pays his aid with his life, Stingers deadly beam hits him. This story wasn´t as bad as feared. Not least because of the tragically end of Bloodhawk. Bloodhawk was a mutant. And Beast persuaded Bloodhawk to turn back to NY to visit Xaviers Institute. There, so Beast schedule, Bloodhawk could join other mutants with similar problems and unkind fate and would begin a new human life. But only this well-maning proposition of the Beast caused eventually Bloodhawks tragically dead. An interesting advertising is on the backcover. Four solo album from the members of the rock group KISS. Wow, as I was a child I´ve become the album of Gene Simmons from my elder brother for my birthday. Now it´s on my artic since 25 jears, but not even for long time more, soon I will hear it.
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Post by michidiers on Dec 23, 2010 11:55:10 GMT -5
US Avengers 181„On the matter of heroes!“ D. Michelinie/J. Byrne/Gene Day After the incidents of the Korvac-Saga the Avengers received the „Avengers Priority“ back by commissary of the government Gyrich. But Gyrich has got requirements: to regain the priority the Avengers have to pare down the membership to a core group of seven, selected personally by Gyrich! This means for a lot of the members to take leave from the Avengers. The new core members are Cap, Iron Man, Wasp, Vision, Witch, Beast and The Falcon… Well, an issue without any punch-up. The characters and the different reactions after the devastating decision of the government are standing in the foreground of the story: disappointment, angriness, frustration, but even luck, easement and gladness are shown too. A very good story is dealing with luck and bad luck in a social group. And a very tensioning cliffhanger: After a breakdown of Pietro and Wanda a Russian accent speaking stranger is putting up in a morbid hotel near the HQ. In the room he reveals two little bird cages with little marionettes looking like Pietro and Wanda. And the stranger said: “My Children” to them: And an interesting opening-panel with a mix of drawing and photo: I wish you all a merry Chistmas! Ich wünsche Euch allen ein schönes Weihnachtsfest!
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Post by sharkar on Dec 28, 2010 15:13:39 GMT -5
I wish you all a merry Chistmas! Ich wünsche Euch allen ein schönes Weihnachtsfest! Thanks, Mich! The same to you, hope you are enjoying the holidays. Btw, re Avengers #181: what a treat it is to have not one two great depictions of the assembled Avengers --the cover by Perez and the interior page by Byrne. I realize the cover has to spotlight star players such as Cap and Iron Man and that figured into the positioning of the characters...but I prefer Byrne's version, mainly because of the way he's positioned Pietro and Vizh surrounding their cherished Wanda.
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Post by owene on Dec 29, 2010 5:15:58 GMT -5
They are interesting takes on the same image aren't they, despite the number of characters there and Perez' reputation for throwing everyone into crowd shots you can look at Perez version and the characters in prominent positions are the ones who were an important part of the book at the time. The ones around the table are the key figures in the avengers for that period. those are the characters who people would be buying the book for at the time
The Panther's prominence in both being the only real exception.
byrne's is more of a mass of characters with the Guardians and Moondragon and Herc a lot more prominent because they were cool and as guests their presence is probably more important to flag up once someone is inside the comic.
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Post by humanbelly on Dec 30, 2010 7:44:58 GMT -5
Great comparison of two terrific images! I think I favor Perez' just slightly, mostly because I find his facial work superior to Byrne's.
I did a quick count-- I believe there are 23 heroes shown on the cover, and 22 depicted on the splash page. Who slipped through the cracks? (Or at least may have been covered up by a word baloon?) Yep, I've already figured it out. . . heh. . .
HB
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Post by owene on Dec 30, 2010 9:32:31 GMT -5
It's the blue alien-indian guy from the guardians, can't remember his name without googling
I was going to say that Mar-Vell was on the splash but wasn't on the cover but I guess that could be his blond hair right at the front. Can't see Nikki on the cover either.
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Post by starfoxxx on Dec 30, 2010 15:57:51 GMT -5
It's the blue alien-indian guy from the guardians, can't remember his name without googling I was going to say that Mar-Vell was on the splash but wasn't on the cover but I guess that could be his blond hair right at the front. Can't see Nikki on the cover either. Yondu
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Post by sharkar on Dec 30, 2010 18:29:13 GMT -5
I was going to say that Mar-Vell was on the splash but wasn't on the cover but I guess that could be his blond hair right at the front. Can't see Nikki on the cover either. Of course those wavy blond locks belong to Mar-Vell ;D! (Though I have always preferred the classic coloring, i.e., the white-haired Mar-Vell). Btw, Nikki is to the left of Mar-Vell and Jocasta. Great comparison of two terrific images! I think I favor Perez' just slightly, mostly because I find his facial work superior to Byrne's. On Byrne's work here we have Gene Day's finishes, so perhaps we're seeing more of Day in the faces. But I know what you mean about Perez' facial work, HB; in particular, his Black Widow here is so beautiful. And both Perez and Byrne-Day do a classic, craggy-faced Vision, which is my preferred look for that character. IMO the only miscue Perez makes is T'Challa-- what's with those cartoony eyes? Anyway, both renditions are stunning. Again, the intent of the cover is to SELL, with the most recognizable characters--the major players among the Avengers-- center stage. Also, since it's a cover we get Gyrich's dramatic announcement and the Avengers' resulting expressive reactions. In Byrne's shot some members look bored ("Ho hum, another meeting and we have to listen to this guy again?"). I think Byrne was great at capturing the nuances of the characters, such as the Pietro-Wanda-Vision arrangement I mentioned; Jan sitting on the table; and Jocasta's timidity (head down). These sorts of touches may not be necessary for a cover, but they're perfect for the story.
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Post by humanbelly on Dec 31, 2010 16:03:29 GMT -5
I wonder which image was drawn first? Clearly, one was the basis for the other, yes? (Unless there was a third, working draft somewhere done by yet another artist. . . done as a guide to both-?? Boy, wouldn't that be something. . . )
Another consederation for the differences in grouping is the fact that the AVENGERS logo on the cover necessitates the shifting of an entire row of folks elsewhere. . .
. . . which makes me think Byrne's panel would have come first, in fact.
HB
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Post by michidiers on Jan 15, 2011 5:57:34 GMT -5
Both pictures, the cover and the panel, are distinguised...just as the terrific opening panel and ending (cliffhanger) panel i showed in my post before. US Avengers #182 „Honor thy father“ Michelinie/J. Byrne/Klaus Janson Continued from #181: The Avengers are buffed and don´t know why Quicksilvers and the Scarlet Witches vital signs have ceased. Their bodies got non of the degenerative effects normally associated with death or coma. But then, after scenting a faint energy beam by Jocasta from a nearby hotel, the Avenger are heading to the source. There they meet opponents: an old man with telepathic skills and some living weird theatrical dummies (see the cover) wearing historical uniforms. These opponents aren’t a big problem and fast beaten. After the fight the old man pops up as a european gypsy named Django Maximoff. He is profoundly convinced that Pietro and Wanda are his children Ana und Matéo. After it the regenerated Pietro and Wanda have charity on that poor old fellow and decide to accompany him to Europe to check his story out. Some of the things Mr. Maximoff said before made them think… Here in this story is showed one of the advantages of the stories at that time (the 70th). Next to a little brawl in particular the characters and figures of the story stood in the foreground. Wanda and Pietro are shown as human superheroes standing in an own difficult family-situation (Magneto – father, Vision – husband). Both are searching for a kind of family identity. And the new figure Django Maximoff (perhaps Magnetos brother?, I don´t know and will see it) brings lot of new trouble in that situation. But despite that, or in consequence of that, both are ready to help the strange “father” to clear up his problem. Ah, well, Klaus Janson was the Inker! A geman fellow!
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