More Bronze-Age back-issues

I'm clearly on a little bit of a back-issue kick at the moment because I've just bought these three back issues off ebay. Nothing expensive but they just caught my eye,

Iron Man #90 is actually an upgrade copy as it was one of the first US Marvel comics I ever bought. This slightly better condition copy will go into the box and I'll frame my original copy. I love the cover!

Added to My Collection: Giant-size Spider-man 3

Well, I've gone and bought another Giant-size issue as I'm clearly in the mood for a few back-issues at the moment. Here we have another Gerry Conway/ Ross Andru story. It's not one I've read before so I'm sure this will be a real treat when I get round to reading it.

Bought off a "buy-it-now" on Ebay for £10 incl. P&P.

Asterix and the Missing Scroll

I got the latest Asterix book for Christmas. Just like I did during my teenage years. Lovely.

So I've read it and it was pretty good. I miss Goscinny's clever plots but this was fun with the best action taking place in the Gaulinh village when Asterix and Obelix weren't there!

Still the new creators are trying hard to recreate the old magic and fair play to them.

Added to My collection: Giant-size Spider-man 1

I guess I always knew I would get this comic someday even though I've a reprint of it. But I never wanted to pay £15+ for it.

Anyway, this cost exactly £8 including p&p so I'm very happy with that.

Great cover even though I seem to remember the story is not that great. Still Gerry Conway and Ross Andru Spidey is always going to bring out the fanboy in me. 

Darth Vader Vol 2 Shadows and Secrets

First new purchase of 2016 is a vol 2. And I've not read vol 1 yet!

Review of 2015

So it's now 2016 time to look at how I did in 2015. This is the forth year I've been keeping track of what I've bought and what I've read (with a count of movies seen at the cinema too)

2015 has really been a year of Star Wars. The Force Awakens finaly arrived in December but before that we had lots of new SW books from Marvel. Not read them yet but will do soon. I've also been reading SW role playing books from Fantasy Flight and we've got a nice Force and Destiny campaign going.

I've also completed my back issue collection with the purchase of Fantastic Four #72 but I've recently decided to get a few more back-issues.

This is what I bought in 2015 ( The numbers in brackets are the 2014 figures);

New comics/back-issues purchased      (33) 17
New trade collections                (33) 26
New copies of Epic Collections, Masterworks  & Omnibus editions     (16) 6


So it looks like I've continue to successfully cut-back on the purchases. As I've said before, I've now got the key material to start reading Marvel from the beginning but there are a number of collections and mini-series I want to read first.

So what did I read in 2015?

The Black Lung Captain
Order of the Stick - Blood Runs in the Family
Black Science 2
Wicked Divine
Guardians of the Galaxy by Abbnett and Lanning vol 1 & 2
rocket racoon
Izombie 1
Harley Quinn 2
Iron Jackel
Denver
Black Science 3
Ace of Skulls
Hawleye 1-4
Scarlett 1 – 4
DH Star Wars 1 – 4
Doc Unknown 1 -3
Black Widow 1 -3

To compare what I've read with what I've bought (which is the main purpose of this blog)

Comics/Back-issues read      (5) 5
Trade collections read          (34) 24
Epic Collections, Masterworks  & Omnibus editions  read   (1) 0
Movies 5
Books 3

So although I've bought about 33% less stuff last year, I've managed to read less. Part of the reason for that as I said in my half-year summary, is that The Order of the Stick "Blood Runs in the Family" was massive and the Guardians of the Galaxy trades took quite long as they were 12 issues each.

Another reason is that I've been reading RPG rulebooks. In fact reading plenty of them but they aren't included in the tallies above.

Plans for 2016.

Read another Robin Hobb trilogy
Read Miracleman
Read Brubaker Batman and Catwoman and Fatale series.

And of course I have things on pre-order.

Happy New Year.

Giant-size superheroes number 1

It was not long ago when I thought I'd completed my back-issue collection with the purchase of Fantastic Four #72. And to some extent I still have but I now want to add a few more issues. A bit of gravy if you please.

So some Hulk issues because they are no longer publishing the paperback Masterworks, I've noted that there are a few gaps in my Marvel Two-In-One issues and I also quite fancy picking-up all the Spider-man Giant-Size issues.

So I've started with this one which has a Gerry Conway/ Gil Kane story I've not seen before so quite nice for £8.80.

Black Widow by Edmonson and Noto

I've just read all three trades of the recent Black Widow series. A very good read which really captured  a super-spy feel. Nice work by both Edmonson (writer) and Noto (artist).

Reading this I can tell how out-of-touch I am with current Marvel continuity as during Natasha's brief interactions with the Avengers I didn't know who the Black Captain America is! Oh well.

It's a shame this series ended at issue 20 as it was a good run.

Christmas Present - Rat Queens Vol 1

Although I didn't buy this myself, because it was a present from my nephew, I thought I should record this as a new purchase because it's added to my reading list.

Mike is a big fan of this series and has been trying to get me into it for some time, I'll give it a go soon.