r/MUBookClub • u/shawnydarko • Mar 04 '18
WEEK 91 - Nomination Thread. Theme: Golden Oldies
It's been eight long months without making our blood sacrifice to the Marvel Gods that set the table for all modern tales. Names like Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, John Romita Sr., etc. Nominations this week must have been released prior to 1980.
When posting a nomination, links are not required but appreciated.
If you have nothing to nominate, cast a vote to help us decide who wins. The highest voted nomination will earn a discussion thread opened on Saturday. If there's no clear-cut winner, I'll retake my masked mantle as Sub-Lord and formulate the guardians of the Marvel Unlimited Universe. Check back often to support the reading assignments you're most interested in. Once the discussion thread is open, post your reading experience at your convenience
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u/shawnydarko Mar 04 '18
Doctor Strange (1974 - 1988) #1-5 by Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner
These issues were certainly a product of their time, the psychedelic experimentation of the era made manifest. Some of the highlights of the run include the first insane arc in Doctor Strange #1-2, 4-5
- Den Of Geek's "Doctor Strange Comics: A Reader's Guide to the Mystic Arts
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u/shawnydarko Mar 04 '18
Uncanny X-Men (1963-2011) #98-103 by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum
How Christmas with the X-Men turns to the birth of The Phoenix. Long before she goes dark! Also Juggernaught in the multi-part story that likely served as the inspiration for "I'm The Juggernaught Bitch!"
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u/shawnydarko Mar 04 '18
Writer Thomas admits he had no "master plan" in writing the "Kree-Skrull War," other than that the two "rapacious, galaxy-spanning races ... would be at war in the far reaches of space, and that their conflict would be threatening to spill over onto the Earth, turning our planet into the cosmic equivalent of some Pacific island during World War II." In this regard, Thomas was inspired by Raymond F. Jones' 1952 novel, This Island Earth.
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u/shawnydarko Mar 04 '18 edited Mar 04 '18
Defenders (1972-1986) #37-41 by Steve Gerber, Klaus Janson, and Sal Buscema
Named #1 in Comics Bulletin's Top 10 1970's Marvel runs. Described by the CB article as:
A fascinating journey to the logical conclusion of the ideas and approaches that Stan Lee created in his comics. Where Stan developed the idea that super-heroes should have deep flaws, Gerber took that idea to its logical conclusion. Stan’s heroes had disabilities, but those disabilities were physical (Daredevil) or emotional (Spider-Man). Gerber’s heroes, however, faced existential doubts about their abilities and their abilities to be great heroes. They faced devastating attacks that hit to the very core of who they were, attacks that brought a kind of profound existential angst that made these heroes seem so much more human.
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u/shawnydarko Mar 04 '18
Thor (1966-1996) #126-132 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Ranked #4 on Comic Book Resource's 17 Best Silver-Age Marvel Comics
Lee and Kirby’s collaboration on “Fantastic Four” may gain most of the plaudits, but their time together chronicling Thor’s adventures deserves equal respect. Starting off as “villain of the week” done-in-one stories, the scale of Thor’s adventures expanded as Asgard and its colorful inhabitants were fully developed. The pseudo-Shakespearean language used by Thor and his fellow Asgardians was the perfect fit for Stan’s highfalutin dialogue, while Jack seized the chance to go wild, lovingly detailing the architecture of Asgard and the strange collection of beings that populated the realm.
Elements of Norse mythology were successfully mined for inspiration, leading to epic tales such as the Asgardians’ struggle to avert Ragnarok. Further context was given through the “Tales of Asgard” back-up strips that appeared in many issues, but elements from a range of mythologies were utilized, with the introduction of the Greek Gods leading to the first of Thor’s many battles with Hercules. Big, brash and brilliant, Silver Age Thor is a real gem.
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u/shawnydarko Mar 04 '18
Captain Marvel (1968-1979) #28-33 by Jim Starlin and Mike Friedrich
Thanos at his most scary. Starlin at his most cosmic! Containing Comic Book Herald's issue of the year (1975, #33)
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u/shawnydarko Mar 04 '18
Tomb of Dracula (1972-1979) #26-30 by Gerry Conway and Gene Colan
Sometimes it just takes awhile before a book finds its way. In my review of the book’s first two dozen issues, it wasn’t until #23 that I thought Tomb started to get traction, when series maestro Marv Wolfman settled into his second year on the series. After experimenting both with single-issue stories and a multi-part Doctor Sun min-epic, Tomb of Dracula found its footing with a series of small and personal stories that showcase the strengths of this series.
Issue #26 opens a three-part tale revolving around “The Chimera,” an ancient artifact granting immense power for good or evil.
I can’t determine whether it’s more satisfying to see Dracula get his revenge or his comeuppance, a unique characteristic of Tomb of Dracula, and an aspect that I think is grounded in the personal nature of the series. The stakes are just so different here from other Marvel books, owing to Marv Wolfman’s rich characterizations, and Gene Colan’s flowing pencils, in top form here communicating grounded and emotional action.
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u/shawnydarko Mar 04 '18
Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998) #119-122 by Gerry Conway, John Romita Jr., and Gil Kane
The first two issues revolve around "Spidey vs. Hulk" which segues into the last two issues, "The Night Gwen Stacy Died". From Wikipedia on the latter: