Added to my collection - some Bronze Age Incredible Hulk

My Hulk collection took a giant step forward to being complete (or as complete as I'm ever going to get it) with the purchase of a small lot on ebay which included #153 and #159. With only the (very expensive) issues with the first appearance of Wolverine missing from my run once I get the next soft cover Masterworks , I'm pretty much sorted.

This lot went for £10.67 so I'm pleased as I've seen these two issues go for more then that individually.

Daredevil Vol 3 by Mark Waid

It's actually not that long since I purchased Vol 2 of these nice over-sized DD collections. So I'm happy that Vol 3 is already out. However, as I'm not reading Marvel in 2014 it's only the comfort that it's safe and sound on my bookshelf which I can take at the moment.

Incredible Hulk 238 - 243

Read some more Hulks over the last few days.

I was going to read a few more but issue 243 is the end of Roger Stern's fine run and was an excellent place to take a break for a short while. I do plan/hope to read to #250 before the end of the year.

Time to read some more Star Wars related stuff to get me in the mood for SW roleplaying in a couple of weeks.

Incredible Hulk 228 - 237

 Been cracking/plodding on with Hulk back issues. All Stern and Buscema efforts and an enjoyable read.

Pity Al Milgrom takes on cover duties as I'm not really impressed with his efforts such as below.

Thank goodness the interior art is alright. (And for the record - I'm generally OK with Milgrom's interior art but his covers generally are poot IMHO.

More Marvel Masterworks and a Classic Graphic Novel

 Incredible Hulk Masterworks vol 3softcover

 Iron Man Masterworks Vol 8

Dr Strange & Dr Doom Triumph and Torment Graphic Novel

All 3 arrived on the same day courtesy of the Book Depository who are often significantly cheaper than Amazon.

This means I've completed my Iron Man run.

Back to reading the Incredible Hulk

I thought it was time to read some back issues and before I got side-tracked by Howard the Duck I was reading the Incredible Hulk.

In my opinion this is a good period with Roger Stern writing and Sal Buscema on art. However, the highlight of these latest issues I've read (Hulk 225-227) was actually the annual by Stern and Byrne. I'd heard this was a significantly above average annual and it was. Nice to see it also neatly fitted into the regular series continuity too.

Good stuff this and I'm going to continue with the Hulk to read at least a years worth (that'll be 1978 if anyones' interested).

Added to my collection: M.O.D.O.K & Team-Up #97

I've acquired a couple of cheap comics this week. This first one is a One-shot from 2009 set during the Dark Reign. I ws actually buying singles at the point but it seems so long ago. This $3.99 (i.e £3.20 when new) issue was snapped-up from ebay for 99p.

M.O.D.O.K. Reign Delay is actually really funny. It's written and drawn by Ryan Dunlavey who seems to do this sort of thing a bit. It's interesting for me to see this sort of comic as it helps me develop my style for the ACES. I've actually read this already!

Marvel Team-Up #97 completes a little run of issues which means I now only need issue numbers 8 and 23 to have 1-100. This is unusual as it stars The Hulk rather than Spidey...but I guess having Spider-woman as the other guest star sort of compensates.

This was a real bargain as I got it for 50p. I missed out on a previous auction only at the beginning of the month when the item went for £2.80. Just goes to show that there's no need to panic!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Hulk 207 -212

I've finished reading the next 6 issues of the Incredible Hulk which means I'm halfway through the 2 years worth of issues I plan to read at this time.

These issues continue the entertaining run by Len Wein and Sal Buscema.

I absolutely love this cover. I'm sure it's John Romita but the Grand Comics Database guesses Ed Hannigan who was doing a few of the covers around this period. This is much better than those so I still think I'm right.

It's a good run so far. I'm enjoying this much more than older issues. Len's scripts are easy to read. He's got more variety in his storylines and Sal's Hulk is a joy to behold.

Incredible Hulk 201 - 206

 I've been (slowly - it's been a busy week) reading some Hulk back-issues. I might of read bits of these issues way back when, but on the whole, this is a first reading of this Bronze Age title. I'm going to read it in 2 year (24 issue) chunks in-between all the other stuff but it would be nice to at least get towards the end of the Peter David era. At the time of writing I have all the issues up to 290 and then from 313.

I'm also aware that I was reading the Spidey titles (as evidenced from earlier posts on this blog) and I will read some more Spidey soon.

These 6 issues were good with Len Wein and particularly Sal Buscema on form. They feature the dealth of Jarella in issue 205 and I honestly can't remember her coming back to life, but I'm sure she does. This is comics after-all.

Some awesome covers too. I've always liked Hulk covers and 203 and 206 above are excellent examples!

Added to my Collection: Defenders!

Whilst I'm collecting The Defenders, I'm not wanting to spend much so the condition of some of the issues I end up buying is probably not the greatest. Issue #8 is a VG condition and is perhaps on the borderline of what I consider acceptable as a collection standard.

No. 30 surprised me as it's written by Bill Mantlo not Englehart or Gerber. It's drawn by Sam Grainger and is a done-in-one issue. I like the cover!

I'm please to have aquired these as they fill a couple of gaps and just a handful left to get.

Added to my collection: Hulk 257 and Iron Man 46

I've been busy on ebay the last few weeks and picked up some bargains which have filled some gaps in my collection.

Hulk 257 by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema completes a run from 191 to 290. Exactly 100 issues! I suppose I should get 291 -312 which will complete a run upto 444.

Iron Man 46 in VFN condition was a One-Day only sale and I was the only bidder at the starting price of 4.99. Very nice too. For Iron Man I now just need the next issue and I have a run from 44 to 161 which covers the era I'm most interested in for the bronze age. Other earlier issues will be collected via masterworks unless I'm lucky enough to pick them up cheap.

Added to my collection - More Bronze Age goodies

Just added via one ebay purchase 2 more comics to my collection and an upgrade of Marvel Team-Up 84. My old copy was water soaked so it was nice to pick up a FN+ copy for 95p together with Defenders 38 and Two-In-One 86.

The Defenders fills a gap so I now have16-39 except for No. 30. That's a priority. At the time of writing I can't decide if to get some Masterwork editions to get the early issues some of which are quite expensive. No. 10 is approx £40. Too steep for me on this title. All the others I've bought have been about £2.

The 2-in-1 Sandman issue is supposed to be notable due to the fact it goes towards redeeming the Sandman. I know that storyline has now been abandoned but at the time it was popular. I couldn't resist adding this so I could read it even though 2-in-1 beyond issue 75 were not really high one my wants list.

Added to my collection...Defenders!

Wow. A whole bunch of Defenders back-issues have arrived today and yesterday. No. 4 featuring the return of Valkyrie is written by Steve Englehart and was picked up in VG+ condition for approx £2.50 which was pretty good. The later issues are all Steve Gerber and are FN/VFN for £1.77 each. Some nice copies and I'm looking forward to reading those sometime.

Not too many Defenders issues to get now. I've noticed #10 with it's classic cover and Avengers x-over going for a fair price (£40+!!) so I'll probably not bother with that one but others I will continue to pic up cheap. The priority issues are No. 30 and 38 which are need to fill two conspicious gaps.

Added to my collection...

I've received these comics this week. All from various Ebay sellers and all at 99p except for the Hulk where somebody had the cheek to also bid on on the item taking it to £2.04!!

I've mentioned before that I'm collecting early Defenders issues when I can find them cheap, the Hulk #264 fills a gap which just leaves # 257 to get and the Marvel Two-In-One Annual comes recommended after being voted the 2nd best Thing story of tall time on Comics Should Be Good.

UPDATE:  I actually sat down and read the 2 in 1 annual before storing it in the longbox. Now that doesn't happen very often! It was a fun read but I wouldn't have put it in my top 10 Thing stories.

Incredible Hulk 200

I've carried on with the Incredible Hulk back issue reading this week (in between the Euro 2012 footie) and really enjoyed Len Wein's and Sal Buscema's run. These issue's slowly build on the plot to restore Betty's then husband Glenn Talbot's mind. The way that Doc Samson managed it, by sending a miniturised Banner/Hulk into Talbot's wiped brain was totally ridiculous. But as they say..."That's comics!".

Terrible cover to issue 199 but the rest are really nice.

Time for a change....so up next, Ed Brubaker's "Criminal"