Added to My Collection: Judge Dredd by Bolland!

This book also arrived today. It's a 250 page, oversized hardcover collection of Brian Bolland's Judge Dredd work. From a cursory glance  - it looks great! Can't wait to read it!

Added to My Collection: Bronze Age Bargains

It's happened again, as it seems to have done a few times this year. Lots of parcels in one day. Just like Christmas!

First was a parcel containing multiple ebay wins from one seller. Hulk #190 and Marvel Team-Up #3 both fill gaps in the collection and are in VFN- condition. Both were good prices too! Hulk is quite scare but I picked it up for £1.50 and Team-Up was £5.50 whereas "Buy-it-now" sellers have a £20+ price tag on it.

This issue features art by Ross Andru one of my favourites as his art graced the comics the first time I read Spidey.

I also picked up my final 4 issues of Tomb of Dracula which complete my collection. Issues 64,67,68 & 69 for less that £5 for the lot. Amazing because these don't come up for sale especially in this condition!

A nice way to finish the year with my comic collection.

Added to My Collection: Captain America

Finally received this buch of 1970's Captain America comics. Issues 177-182 to be exact. 6 FN issues for £2.25 plus P&P  so a real steal in my opinion.

These issues cover the time when Steve Rogers quit as Cap ( one of many) and the Falcon takes centre stage before Steve returns as Nomad. All the issues are written by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema draws them all except for 182 when Frank Robins takes over.

 Issue 182 appears to finish on a cliff hanger and a bit of research on the net ondicates that I need to acquire upto 186 (the end of Englehart's run) to finish the story. If I can get them at such cheap prices then that won't be a problem.

ACES issue 6

It's ready!

Issue 6 of my own comic (wriiten primarily for my son these days - but I do enjoy doing it too) is now finished.

The second issue this year too as issue 5 only came out in March! That's quite good going for me!

The start of a brand new story and the introduction of the ICE BURGLAR!

It's not Turkey for Xmas it's duck...Howard the Duck

 Only getting time to read an issue of HTD per day during the Christmas period. Too many other distractions (i.e. LEGO building) but I'm continuing to enjoy the title.

Great cover and art by John Buscema for issue 3 but Gene Colan comes on board with issue 4 and he's a good fit to the title too. Still wish Brunner had done more though.

 

The general theme is Howard travels around with his companion (girlfriend??) Bev meeting various crazy people and getting into ridiculous situations. I'm happy with stories of that nature and it's got the same light-hearted tone as my own comic (of twhich the next issue will be finished very, very soon)

Howard the Duck

When I think of Marvel  titles from the 70s I think of Ms Marvel, Nova, Marvel Team-Up and Howard the Duck. I know there's lots more but those are the sort of titles which were distributed to newsagents in those days before Comic Shops.

Over the last couple of years I've completed my runs of Nova and Ms. Marvel and eventually got to read the entire run in order. Unfortunately both series were not as good as I remembered.

Howard was slightly different. I only had one Howard the Duck comic from my childhood (issue 27) but Howard was so popular for a few years (1975-1978) that my curiousity was peaked. I've now managed to get the whole of the run (with my latest purchase) except for the very first appearance in two Man-Thing strips and the last issue of his own title.

The 10 page back-up feature in Giant-Size Man-Thing No. 4 was actually Howard's first appearance on Earth and was a good place to start reading (and a cheaper place too!). I've also read another back-up from GSMT#5 and those stories directly lead into Howard the Duck #1

After just finishing No.2 I can say that I am enjoying this so far and I'm looking forward to more. These two issues were drawn by Howard's co-creater Frank Brunner and the art is fantastic. Really, really good.

Steve Gerber's script is also enjoyable and it's a good thing I'm reading these as a 45 year-old because my 11 year-old self wouldn't have understood what was really going on at all.

I wonder how many I can read before Christmas?

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Went to see this on Sunday. Not quite on the first day of release as I did with all three Lord of the Rings films but at least it was in the first week!

It was worth the wait and the "stretching" out of the storyline was no problem for me. I love Middle-Earth and am happy to see and spend as much time in it as I can.

My only criticism was of the stone giants of the Misty Mountains. Just didn't take to their visualisation. But as they were only in the film for 5 mins out of 2.5 hours it was not a big deal.

Now I have to go through the wit for the extended dvd (assuming there is one) probably at the end of Nov and the next film next December. Aarrrgh!

The Ballard of Halo Jones

Well it's not been that long since I won these three trades on ebay and I've not wasted too much time getting round to reading them.

It's early Alan Moore and it's very good. I'm not a massive fan of Gibson's angular work (although the three covers are lovely) but he's OK and the story more than compensates.

 I particularly liked the way it was neatly diveded into 3 parts (or books) and the ending was never obvious. In fact I half suspected our heroine not to survive. Ballards can be sad after all.

I'm very glad I have managed to read these after all these years. This originally came out in 1985 for goodnessake!

Camelot 3000

This was actually a bit of a disappointment.

It did include some nice art - great in places but it was the story which let this 12 issue maxi-series down.

I just didn't care for any of the characters so when things happened to them I was a bit "meh"

But I am pleased I've read it. It was DC's first maxi-series published in 1983. i.e. a limited series on better quality paper and even covering some slightly mature themes.

File under interesting. But I won't read it again so it's time for it to go back on ebay when I put other comics up for sale.

Added to My Collection: More Defenders!

Well unless I get really lucky and snap up issue 10 or very early issues including those in Marvel Feature, these will be the last Defenders comics I will buy as I now have a complete run from 4-39 except No. 10.

These FN/VFN issues were picked up on ebay for 2.99 each including postage.

Added to my collection: Bronze Age Daredevil and Modern Age Powers

Daredevil 99p from ebay. 2nd part in a Moondragon storyline which ties into Starlin's Cap Marvel epic.

Powers Vol 14 from the Book Depository (still undercutting Amazon).

Nativity 2: Danger In the Manger!

 Although this is a children's film  - it still counts on my movie quota as I took my boy to see it at the cinema.

Not as funny as the original but they did try and make the sequel a little different.

Saga Vol 1

I finished the first trade of Saga earlier this week. Enjoyable if not a spectacular beginning but some intersting situations and characters. Image seem to do a good job of releasing the trade as the story arc concludes so I hope it won't be too long until Vol 2 is due.

Prophet Vol 1

This was weird, disturbing, thought provoking and wild all in one.

I'm still not sure if I'll get Vol 2. I hadn't much of a clue what was going on but that's partly because of the ALIEN world which the creators have imagined. Although it's sold as vol 1 it's actually printing issues 21-26.

Perhaps some research about who or what John Prophet is may help to make things clearer.

I enjoyed the "European" style art and it was quick to read...but is it worth investing in further volumes. Hmmm.

Marvel Chronology

It is my plan to re-read my Marvels in order in which they were published. I won't start this until I've completed my Avengers run which means I need to either wait for the softcover or purchase at vast expense Avengers Masterworks Vol 5 in hardcover. When I do have that I will start.

However, I was wondering how I'm getting on so far.

The Marvel Age started with Fantastic Four #1 cover dated Nov 1961.

I've completed my FF run as well as my Spidey run, but how far have I got with other titles/ characters that I collect and wish to read?

Well checking my collection...

AVENGERS - Masterworks Vol 4 finishes at #40 May 1967

CAP AMERICA - Masterworks Vol 2 finishes at #100 April 1968

IRON MAN - Masterworks Vol 2 finishes at Tales of Suspense # 65 May 1965

DAREDEVIL - Masterworks Vol 3 finishes at #32 Sept 1967

HULK - Masterworks Vol 2 finishes at Tales to Astonish #79 May 1966

X-MEN - reprints to #Uncanny #18 March 1966

So I am currently up-to-date to May 1965 which corresponds to FF #38 and Spider-man #24. So top priority is for another Iron Man Masterworks which would take us to August 1966 when FF 56 was published.

Agent of Empire

Well I said when I bought it I would read it soon, and I finished it this morning.

In fact I blazed through this 5 issue trade in a couple of sittings. Modern comics arn't as densely written as silver or bronze age titles.

The reviews described it as James Bond in the SW universe and I can't put it better myself.

I've noted in the latest Dark Horse solicitations that Vol 2 has just finished so I'll look out for the trade of that.

Added to My collection: Marvel Spotlight

I've picked up this comic on ebay solely because it features early Frank Miller art. A nice ND copy for £1.25. I think it's a standalone story so I'm not planning to get any other issues.

Incredible Hulk 222 - 224

In between the Mira Grant novels. I'm still going to read a few comics.

I've finished my 2 years worth of Hulk issues by reading 222 - 224. 222 was a bizzare filler by Jim Starlin but 223 began Roger Stern's excellent run for real. Some nice art by Sal Buscema inked by Joe Rubenstien.

Skyfall

                                            


I forgot to post that I saw the latest Bond film with friends last Wednesday. Yeah, it was enjoyable if not predictable. Certainly miles better than Quantum of Solace.

Added to my collection: Howard the Duck and Defenders

More ebay purchases arrived today. As I've said before, I'm trying to collect early Defenders issues without spending too much and I managed to pick these two VG/FN issues (together with #16which I've already got) for £2.25. Which is pretty reasonable.

Also picked up for 99p issue 30 of Howard the Duck by Bill Mantlo and Gene Colan. This is a pretty scarce issue to be honest having both a low print run and ND in the UK and dealers normally sell it for over £5. Just got the final issue #31 to get now for the complete run but that is also scarce and ND.

I've always loved that cover as it was featured in Bullpen bulletins but I must record some love for Defenders issue 12 cover. That's a superb bronze age cover.

Feed by Mira Grant

I finished this novel last night

It's the flavour of the month...zombies. Bit of Michael Crichton in terms of the science and tech and a bit of an unusual twist towards the end. I breezed through it so I guess it must have been pretty enjoyable. :-)

A few comics and trades next and then onto the sequel!

New trade and Masterworks

Two more of my Book Depository sale purchases arrived today.

Really, really looking forward to Agent of the Empire. That will go very near to the top of my to-read list.

The Cap Masterworks takes me to issue 100 April 1968. I need to log where I'm up to on the Marvel series which I'm aiming to complete before starting my Marvel reading from the very beginning. But this and the recent Iron Man masterworks have moved things forward. I think the Hulk is the title which is most behind.

Saga Volume 1

OK - another trade paperback. And it's the first of a few. A sale at the Book Depository has caused me to blow my budget this month.

First to arrive, Vol. 1 of Saga. Reviews have been good and soon I'll get a chance to find out if they're right.

Hulk :219 - 221

I've not quite got to issue 224 and the end of 2 years worth of Hulk issues. I got to the end of issue 221 and it was a good place to pause whilst I read a novel (the first in a trilogy). I might read the last 3 in-between book 1 and book 2.

This particular issue has an extra bit of nostalgia for me as I remember reading the UK reprint in Mighty World of Marvel. That comic got thrown out long ago.

New Purchases: Prophet Vol 1

The last of my purchases for the moment (I always do my main order just after the day my credit card clicks over) is Prophet Vol 1.

Funny enough this reprints issues 21 - 26 but in effect it's a re-launch or so I'm led to believe from the reviews. It was less than £6 for the trade so it's not too expensive to see if all the good reviews are right.

Added to my collection. Lots!

 It was a bit like Christmas today with so much arriving in the post. Iron Man Masterworks bought from the Book Depository, approx £5 cheaper than Amazon, kicked off things but I also got what was a massive ebay win/parcel. It was all won from the same seller over a couple of nights.

 This win was so big, I'm not going to post all the covers. First off a Marvel Two-In-One run from 20 -31 in VFN condition. A bargain at £6.17.

                                                    
Then there was a run of Chris Claremont's New Mutants 1-15, 18, 19 and Special #1 by Art Adams. £9.50 to me!

I've a few issues of both of these runs but they are still both worth it. The duplicates will go back on ebay.

And finally The Ballard of Halo Jones by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson in the original over-sized Titan Editions from the 1980s reprinting the 2000AD strip. Vols 1 - 3 set me back £13.02 but as they are now unavailable and are in great condition I'm glad my high bid was high enough. This is supposed to be good early stuff from Moore so I am looking forward to reading it.

Very happy with all this!

Added to my Collection: Marvel Team-up 73

My complete Team-Up run draws ever closer with this nice VFN- copy of issue 73 for 99p.

Just 4 to get (3, 8, 92 & 97) for the complete run to from 1-100 which is the priority on this title.

Hulk 213 - 218

Just finished the next six issues of the Incredible Hulk by Len Wein and Sal Buscema.

Still enjoying this much more than previous runs. Len's use of sub-plots and the use of Doc Samson as an ongoing supporting character helps too. Hulk smashing for 22 pages can get a bit repetitive.

However, issue 218 sees the start of Roger Stern's tenure on the book. He may be only scripting Len's plots for the first couple of issues but Stern is one of my all-time favourite writers and his Hulk, although some of his earliest work, is still very good!