More Daredevil Masterworks

I finally bought this hardback edition via ebay after seeing that a future Daredevil Epic collection continues directly from it. When I've got that I'll have issues 1-63. Which'll be nice.

That Epic collection isn't due until March 2017 and reprints DAREDEVIL (1964) 42-63.

Masterworks Bonaza

For some reason I've had a bit of a splurge and bought 3 new masterworks volumes.

More John Buscema Thor and Gene Colan Daredeveil. Nice.

Triumph & Torment

The main story in this trade collection is a reprinting of the Roger Stern / Mike Mignola graphic novel staring Doom and Strange called "Triumph & Torment".

It's a great story and will be worth re-reading one day.

I also really enjoyed the short reprint from an old Amazing Adventures by Conway and Colan featuring ol' Doom using magic to try to free his mum's soul from hell.

I solid and worthwhile acquisition.

Finally finished Howard the Duck

It's taken me a bit of time to get here but I've made it and that's a reflection of how much I've enjoyed this series. I've enjoyed it enough to keep going but not enough to want to grab the next issue straight-away.

I always think of HtD as a key bronze age comic and I'm pleased I've read it. I know there's one more issue to read but that is rare and expensive in the UK and I'll have to give it a miss. A bit of a shame because I think Bill Mantlo took over quite well from Steve Gerber on writing duties.

I do so LOVE the cover to issue number 30 though.

More Howard the Duck

I haven't forgotten about Howard and have been reading an issue or 2 in-between the various trades. I've now read issue 27 so just 3 more issues to go.

Number 24 was the first and only HtD I bought off the newstand. It didn't mean much to my 11 year old self, but I enjoyed it this time. In fact all these issues have been a good read. Less satire and more Howard trapped in a world he never made!

New Purchases Galore

 I am having to blog more regularly to keep up with my new purchases recently. My goal of buying less than I am reading is well beyond reach at the present time. There are a few factors to blame for this. My trips to London for one and alos CBRs's greatest stories of all time series.

I really value the sites where I find out about cool comics from the past I missed and these features listing stories are a real treat. Of course, as soon as I read about stuff I investigate the net to see if I can get it! This trade of "Generations" from 1999 was the only copy I could find. It was listed as in "good nick" on ebay and I can't disagree. Definitely well read but complete. This particular story was highly placed in both the best Elseworlds stories and the best Superman stories. And it's by John Byrne who was a favourite of mine for a long time.

I did say I was going to look out for more Iron Man Masterworks. Just like the Superman/Batman book above, this hardback edition is quite rare and getting expensive. That's why I plonked down £30 for this copy from Amazon Market place. I will still try and get Vol 5 very soon too.

I haven't forgotten by actual comic collection either despite the number of trades and hardcovers I have bought recently. But there are not that many on my wants list and those that are are hard to get at a good price. These two issues of Team-Up were an exception priced at 99p and £1.04 respectively.

This isn't the end of the spending spree..more stuff on the way. Oh my giddy aunt!

Howard the Human

 3 more issues of Howard the Duck read. As I said before I prefer Howard in small chunks and 3 issues at a time seems good. I'll complete reading my run (up to issue 30) before plunging into the next novel but I'll read a few of my trade paperback collections inbetween.

In issue 19 begins the  story as a human, but hat doesn't last long. Nice cover homaging ASM#50 though.

 He soon runs into a "villan" made out of soap suds?

And then this guy, of whom I don't have a clue to his origins. Bizarre as always, but these were easy to read issues as the supporting cast took a break and Howard took centre stage again.

Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol 3

Always pleased to add to my Masterworks collection as new ones often move forward the date from which I have all the Marvel titles from FF#1 that I want to read.



This hardback (as it was good value on ebay) takes my Iron Man to August 1966 and Tales of Suspense #83. So this now means that the Hulk is languishing behind as I am only up to May 1966 with him. That equates to FF#50 and ASM#36.



I'm keen on getting more Iron Man masterworks. Vols 4 & 5 would take me up almost to the point from which I have the original comics so I'm going to look out for them soon.

Continuing with Howard the Duck

 As I said in a previous post - I'm finding Howard the Duck easier to read in fairly small doses. So I' am breaking up reading the run into 5-6 issue chunks. This last week I've read from 15- 18 plus Annual #1.

The regular issues feaure the villian Dr Bong who I gather is a bit of an arch-nemisis for old Howard.

However the story is interrupted by the infamous issue 16 where Steve Gerber, the writer, gives us a weird essay on the problems of coming up with plots as a writer. Some people loved this issue - I'm not one of them.

Things improve when we return to the regular storyline and at the end of #18 Howard has been transformed into a skinless ape. So I will find out what happens after reading some relatively modern comics featuring the art of Amanda Conner.

Added to My collection: Dracula's Daughter - LIlith!

I am pretty happy at receiving this in the post yesterday. Although I completed my Tomb of Dracula run late last year, Giant-size Chillers #1 does tie into the series and I love the cover so I really wanted to get a copy.

However, issues seemed to go for a song on ebay and byuy-it-now copies were around the £25 mark so I've lsot out on quite a few auctions. Until now that is!

This VG copy was £4.50 + P&P so I reckon I've got it as cheap as I could unless I wanted to get a reprint (if there is one outside of the trade collections).

More Howard the Duck

Reading has been a bit slow over the Christmas period due to visitors and watching episodes of Fringe back-to-back but I'v now got up to issue 14 and have read the Treasury (which unusually for the time included a brand new story).

Although the Treasury was fun these other issues haven't been quite as good as earlier ones. The whole Howard for President was probably more fun at the time but the subsequent issues when Howard "qwacks" up are a bit to odd for my taste. I'm going to give HTD a little break to see if I enjoy it is smaller doses and read a novel - the sequel to Feed!

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.

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)

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.

Added to My Collection: Tomb of Dracula

Very pleased to win these two Tomb of Dracula back-issues on ebay last weekend. I little bit more pricey than I would have liked to pay at £4 each but, if you include the trade I bought a few weeks ago, I now have issues 1-63. Just a handful of issues to get and I'll have the complete run to issue 70.

Added to My Collection...Team-Up and Dracula!

Three back-issues, great condition and amazingly cheap from Ebay with combined postage all from the same seller. Dracula 99p and the two Team-Ups bought as a lot for £1.50. The Dracula is one from my wants list but I couldn't resist the Team-Ups.

A nice surprise was that No. 140 was a Tom DeFalco/ Ron Frenz collaboration. They are a favourite partnership when it comes to Spidey.