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Post by bobc on Apr 24, 2013 7:32:50 GMT -5
HB--someone posted a bunch of covers that showed the Wasp being held captive on every single one, and then posted some FF covers that showed the same thing with the Invisible Girl.
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Post by bobc on Apr 23, 2013 6:30:29 GMT -5
Wow--how did this thread explode so rapidly?
Yeah, The Wasp and Invisible Girl were basically kidnap bait in the 60's--it's kind of funny in hindsight! I recall a letter to Avengers back in the 80's complaining about the Wasp always flitting around but never actually defeating anybody--this fan even complained that her personality had changed for the worse, calling her a "shy, timid imposter." Thankfully John Byrne gave her a sorely needed power up in Marvel Team Up and she became a big asset in the Avengers.
You know I think the whole Masters of Evil/Under Siege storyline is probably my all-time favorite amongst many.
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Post by bobc on Apr 18, 2013 13:51:05 GMT -5
Do you know there are whole websites devoted to bashing Liefield? My favorite was Rob Liefield Can't Draw Feet--not sure if it's still around.
I never read West Coast Avengers.
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Post by bobc on Apr 15, 2013 8:27:19 GMT -5
"What's the brain leech doing in this issue? Starving." LOLLLL!!!
You know, there have been worse Avengers runs, but the cover introducing this new (at the time) team fills me with dread! I remember seeing and thinking what the____?!!!! I'm supposed to get all tingly over this lineup? And "the forgotten one?" If he was so hot, why'd everybody forget him? that costume makes him look like a dull-witted, transsexual steer!
HB--I sure hope no one at Marvel thought Gilgamesh was gonna be the next big thing.
! There's an audio book out right now called the History of Marvel Comics (something like that) on Itunes that allegedly tells all the background stories of the various eras of Marvel--but I really doubt Gilgamesh makes the cut. But who knows?! The book is or was about $100 so I skipped it. Maybe if it comes down in price I'll buy it.
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Post by bobc on Apr 14, 2013 18:23:08 GMT -5
I'm confused too. Is it Loki, Kang, or some combination of the two?
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Post by bobc on Apr 13, 2013 9:10:13 GMT -5
I liked it. They are finally linking the Illuminati (New Avengers) to this Avengers book with Tony Stark's "weaponized star." I really love the villains' personalities and how they're drawn.
I do NOT like how Hickman is writing Captain America. A kid has all this power thrown in his lap that he can't control, and is thrown into a crazy situation he doesn't understand, and Captain America pretty much blames the kid, saying he has to "take responsibility?" That isn't fair IMO and totally out of character. CA should take the high ground.,
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Post by bobc on Apr 13, 2013 9:04:51 GMT -5
I sort of liked it but like Shiryu, when I buy an Avengers book I want it to be an Avengers book, not Thor solo. I was really looking forward to the Grim Reaper storyline, which didn't happen. It seems like they are rushing to put this book out to fast--this issue seemed like the "filler issues" of yesteryear where they'd just cram in a solo Iron Man or Thor story when the regular book was behind schedule.
Good story but it belongs in Thor.
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Post by bobc on Apr 8, 2013 15:19:33 GMT -5
Right. I liked Busiek's writing because he wrote some serious stuff but he never forgot to put some funny, light hearted stuff in there--like Beast's "reunion" with Wonder Man or the parade that New Yorkers had for the Avengers.
You know what I'd like to see? Howabout fans of mutants? Most kids would love to have super powers so it stands to reason that the X-Men would have fans!! Kids start off very accepting of things --so why not have an X-Men fan group that gets in fights with the humans who don't like them, maybe? You know, stuff like that to balance out the flip side.
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Post by bobc on Apr 7, 2013 12:55:34 GMT -5
I'll throw my two cents in here. I am counted in two different minority groups (Don't care to go into it) and I understand what the author was trying to say, although maybe he wasn't upfront enough. No matter what "group" you belong to, being identified with that group carries with it endless baggage. Who needs it? In fact I resent it. I want to be known as Bob--my work, my personality, my writing, whatever. I hate the fact that because I belong to a certain group, that I am politically liberal or less often conservative. I am proud of who I am as a person, not a group member. I will be turning 50 in less than two years, and I recall a time when everybody wasn't shoved into little boxes defined by race or other things. I looked at my high school year book the other day and was shocked to realize how many other "minorities" I went to school with--frankly, it never crossed my mind. Kids were just kids. Today everyone is walking on eggshells, banning words, and worst of all, morally preening. We have gone backwards, IMO.
Now I don't agree with banning the word mutant, but I understand bristling at all the baggage. I think Havok was just saying that. Maybe joining the Avengers was his way of setting down that bag. After all, the Avengers have never been without mutants on the team but they have never been seen as "a mutant team." The X-Men, of course, are known as that because the team is exclusive to mutants.
Now you may argue that they are technically a school for mutants--but I don't think that secretly separating themselves from the general public did them any favors. And why deal only with training mutants? Didn't Bruce Banner need a bit of help that he never got? Peter Parker? She Hulk?
When mutants like Beast, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, etc joined the Avengers, their mutant problems, for the most part, disappeared. They were no longer in a box.
One of the reasons I stopped reading the X-men was all the self-pity. I say proudly be yourself and to hell with anybody judges you before they know you.
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Post by bobc on Apr 7, 2013 12:22:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. I'm glad Gulacy is still working --this is a very tough time for artists.
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Post by bobc on Apr 6, 2013 13:31:43 GMT -5
Thanks--that actually seems like a good way to bring her back.
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Post by bobc on Apr 6, 2013 11:27:56 GMT -5
Marv--don't misunderstand. I don't think Kung Fu (as in the sport/training) is cheesy, nor is Taekwondo (I have a bit of experience in that area myself)--I'm talking about the whole Kung Fu craze in the 70's that I thought was just as cheesy as disco when I was a kid. When songs like "Kung Fu Fighting" and "Disco Duck" hit number one, I know a cultural fad has jumped the shark.
Anyway--yeah I do recall Tony Stark approaching Shang Chi about weapons but haven't read one thing that leads me to believe that has actually occurred.
I agree that Master of Kung Fu was one of the best ever Marvel books and i was a huge Gulacy fan. His use of shadow in illustration was very original and innovative in its time. Whatever happened to him? I don't recall seeing his work since the 70's
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Post by bobc on Apr 6, 2013 9:48:34 GMT -5
I just read this issue and I have to say it is dynamite!! Finally they have a great artist (this guy's ability to draw human anatomy is phenomenal) and the fight scenes were really spectacular! I have to admit that Uncanny Avengers sounded like a bad idea when I first heard it, but I've been proven wrong. I really like the tensions between the X-Men and old school Avengers! Does anyone know how The Wasp was brought back? Didn't she die? I think I missed something but she's such a great character, I don't mind her coming back at all.
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Post by bobc on Apr 5, 2013 8:17:40 GMT -5
Thanks, Shiryu. I've grown attached to the members of this forum
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Post by bobc on Apr 3, 2013 11:59:27 GMT -5
Hey Shiryu--I wanted to make a public apology to you. I sort of stormed out of this forum a couple of moths ago because you moved a thread of mine to a place I never go to in this forum. The truth of the matter is that my beloved Black Lab of nearly 14 years (Otis) was dying a very ugly and agonizing death from cancer and I was absolutely overcome with grief. You did nothing wrong and I was a jerk for taking my personal issues out on you. So I just wanted to say sorry and I am not that person who stormed out. I hope you can forgive me--you keep this forum together and I shouldn't have acted like a frikkin' diva.
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Post by bobc on Apr 3, 2013 11:53:41 GMT -5
I'm on the fence about Shang Chi. I'm old enough to dimly recall the whole King Fu craze in the 70's, where people thought that all you had to do is learn Kung Fu and you could suddenly beat the crap out of somebody twice your size. It was cheesy then and IMO it's cheesy now. It was a fad. There is no way a human arm could cut through a robot's leg no matter how you slice it (yes, pun intended)--I loved that whole Mars fight except for that. Tom I totally agree that it's problematic having non-powered heroes on a team with people like Thor. Maybe you recall the storyline during the Byrne years where Thor admitted that he was as powerful as all the rest combined, and that he held back so as not to embarrass or overshadow them.
I'm not dogging the non-powered characters, but they'd better have some pretty awesome weaponry if they want to be standing up there next to the Hulk and Hyperion against Galactus. I loved the concept of the original few Defenders (Sub Mariner, Hulk, Doc Strange and Silver Surfer) because all of them were mega powerful so it made sense for them to face the biggest threats.
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Post by bobc on Apr 2, 2013 9:31:29 GMT -5
Do you all like Shang Chi in the Avengers?
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Post by bobc on Apr 1, 2013 14:18:57 GMT -5
I am absolutely loving this book--but I sort of have to wonder why Hickman needs to do two separate Avengers titles? They seem sort of connected, but not really. And the fact that both titles seem to be heading towards some enormous event is kind of confusing. Are they the same event?
If the two books are connected, I wish he'd get to that and move it forward. I also think he's making Namor a bit too much of an a-hole in hindsight. Namor's always at his best when he is morally ambiguous.
Minor gripes--overall I am very excited about New Avengers. And I like Uncanny Avengers and Secret Avengers
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Post by bobc on Mar 28, 2013 10:35:42 GMT -5
Wait--are you guys talking about The Avengers or New Avengers with the Illuminati? I really liked the first three issues of The Avengers but since then it has gone downhill.
By the way--the latest Essential Thor volume is out and if you are a fan of John Buscema, you'll love it. The issues contained in it are some of his best work IMO.
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Post by bobc on Mar 26, 2013 9:18:41 GMT -5
New Avengers #4 is magnificent! Can't wait for the next issue!
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Post by bobc on Mar 5, 2013 12:25:39 GMT -5
I agree, MB! Hickman's stories definitely go somewhere--unlike the endless, eventless meanderings of you-know-who. I don't understand what this White Event is though--did it appear somewhere else that I missed?
Tom I agree the Hulk makes for a very interesting character--no doubt about it--I'm just saying that if I were running the Avengers, I would never recruit him due to his volatile nature.
Hey--did you all catch the hilarious line Hickman wrote for Thor regarding Surtur? I re-read it twice and at first I didn't think Hickman would write something like that, but after a second reading I bursted out laughing.
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Post by bobc on Mar 4, 2013 12:54:11 GMT -5
I want to stress here that I am not talking Hickman down--in fact, I am a huge fan and loved the battle on Mars. My GOD have we even seen an Avengers battle in the last ten years? it was refreshing!! I'm also loving his Illuminati storyline but when I saw the last issue was mostly talking, I got Bendis flashbacks. Not fair to Hickman!! I slapped myself in the head after posting that the other day.
Re: The hulk--you have to admit that having him around is never boring--but I just wouldn't want the liability of having him on the team.
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Post by bobc on Feb 27, 2013 13:28:57 GMT -5
I'm not trying to be unduly negative, but if what you are saying is true--that Hickman is doing single character focuses to get to know the new characters better--then it's going to take over a year to get to know these new Avengers. I buy the Avengers to see them working together --I've always gotten annoyed by single character stories especially if/when they have their own books. Anyway, Hickman is a fine writer so maybe he has something up his sleeve. Hey--was it just me or did the whole battle on Mars storyline end really abruptly? I really liked that issue where the captured Avengers were rescued but I guess I was hoping that storyline would go on longer since it was so intriguing.
I love how Hickman is writing the hulk, and loved how Opena drew him. But just for the sake of discussion--having the Hulk in the Avengers always turns out bad and having the hulk get mind-controlled and taking out Thor was further proof of that. Do you guys like the hUlk in the Avengers?
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Post by bobc on Feb 26, 2013 9:52:53 GMT -5
I have to say I am very disappointed in the last two issues. I agree with you, Tom, that the art is a disappointment after Opena's amazing first few issues. This whole Smasher storyline just isn't grabbing me--Marvel is so awash in super heroes that I find myself asking why we need dozens more? Especially Avengers. I stopped reading the X-Men years ago because there were so many of them--it was like being in a faceless crowd where it's impossible to care about anybody. I am liking the New Avengers (Illuminati) much better but even that took a step backward last issue. I didn't really think Captain America even needed to be there and I didn't like how the Black Panther sort of betrayed him--I hope Hickman makes BP likeable again, not so cold and calculating. I can see him acting that way towards Namor, but not CA.
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Post by bobc on Feb 10, 2013 12:43:15 GMT -5
I thought it was fantastic! I think Gage is a stellar writer, loved Avengers Academy, but this annual brought back the Vision in a big way--if you loved the 70's period when the Vision was questioning his human/android identity, I think you'll love this issue. The Vision is one of the worst casualties of Bendis' reign of terror (Oy) but what Gage does with him in this issue wraps up what Bendis did in a nice little, on fire, brown bag of doggie doo and disposes of it, bringing the character back to where he belongs--in the Avengers.
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Post by bobc on Jan 25, 2013 14:36:33 GMT -5
Boy what a big dummy I've been. There are actually two different Avengers comics, both written by Hickman (Apparently one is just Avengers and the other is New Avengers) and I thought they were both the same book. They both use the same Avengers logo, both have the same red strip across the bottom of the cover, and both have the Illuminati in them. This whole time I thought they were the same book!
Anyway, now that I stand corrected, The Black Panther has been given a power upgrade at the end of Hickman's--I don't have that issue because it was sold out by the time i got to the comic store. From what I read online, BP now has the abilities and knowledge of all the former Black Panthers. What this means exactly, I'm not sure. He has new weapons too (a force field, a teleporter).
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Post by bobc on Jan 21, 2013 17:01:54 GMT -5
Captain America is Steve Rogers. Thank God.
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Post by bobc on Jan 21, 2013 16:30:29 GMT -5
Hold on there guys--maybe I missed something, but I don't think Black Bolt, Dr. Strange or even Namor are Avengers in this book. I think these are just the characters Reed and T'Challa called together to fight this new threat. At least Hickman is making the whole dull concept of Illuminti interesting. Look at the bright side, Dr Strange seems to be restored as the world's top sorcerer, not that asinine Brother Voodoo, and Captain America is acting like captain America, and Namor is acting like Namor. It's as if Hickman is quietly undoing the damage Bendis did and is bringing the Avengers into a new era that takes a lot from the pre-Bendis Avengers. I am thrilled
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Post by bobc on Jan 20, 2013 13:19:03 GMT -5
Hey HB and everybody!
I see a lot of people are bothered by lack of continuity but I gave up on that years ago--in fact I didn't even know Black Bolt was supposed to be dead. Things have been such a convoluted mess at Marvel that I have had to alter the way I think--I am treating New Avengers like it is its own entity, based on the original concept of the Avengers but not tied around the neck by 40 years of continuity. I see New Avengers sort of like the original Ultimates series.
I will happily toss away anything to do with the years of Bendis's run. Even though Hickman is using the Illuminati concept, it doesn't really feel like it. The characters involved are together for a reason and it seems pretty damned scary.
I know no one here likes Black Panther , but I love him and am ecstatic at how he is being handled by Hickman. BP is finally formidable enough to be a major player. And Namor has never been more arrogant than this--he is an amazing character.
It has been years since I rushed to the comic store for one comic. God I hope Hickman doesn't drop the ball.
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Post by bobc on Jan 18, 2013 11:43:40 GMT -5
This New Avengers is the best Marvel comic series I've read in years. Brilliantly innovative, imaginative, and beautifully illustrated. I can't recommend this comic more highly.
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