DC Bronze Age Omnibus and Marvel Epic Thor

Some big collections have arrived through the post recently,

The Swamp Thing Omnibus has been on pre-order for over a year but due to DC re-solicitations and Amazon confusion I had to re-order it at a slightly higher price to make sure I got it.

This large volume covers all the issues up to the Alan Moore run which I will also buy in this format although I've got some of the original issues.

I've been coveting the Brave and The Bold Bronze Age Omnibus Vol 1 for some time but had been undecided about whether or not to buy it because I had a few issues already in other collections (particularly my Jim Aparo books) I own. However, this is a great format with oversized pages and covers before each issue (unlike the other ones I had) so I finally succumbed. It looks fab.

The Thor Epic collection is volume 3 which means when combined with my other Epics, Masterworks and original comics I currently have all the issues up to issue 267. Which is enough to be going on with.

I've a couple of other DC Bronze Age Omnibus editions on pre-order but things are generally looking pretty good in my collection right about now and I predict that 2018 will be a year I read more than I buy!!

Added to My Collection: Bronze-Age Thor!

I still occasionally check ebay for bargains and I recently picked-up 11 issues of Thor in two separate lots from the same seller for the total of £3.87.

I got issues 255-267 but #256 and #262 were missing. All in Fine condition too. Still these issues comprise the next Masterworks so I've saved myself some money by buying the originals. I will look out for those two missing issues though.

These issues feature the change in art from John Buscema to Walt Simonson. I haven't got Simonson's later run where he takes over the writing too but a quick glace through these issues I can tell he adopted a similar style to JB for his initial issues.

A nice bargain and I've now achieved my aim to get all the JB issues. Very soon I'll get Vol 3 of the Epic collection which will Mean I've probably got enough to be going on with.

Double-dip on the X-Men

So in the last couple of weeks I've purchased these two collections. They reprint almost the same material - so why the double-dip?

The first one I bought was the Epic Collection which reprints GIANT-SIZE X-MEN (1975) 1, X-MEN (1963) 94-110, MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) 53, 69-70, ANNUAL (1976) 1, IRON FIST (1975) 14-15, MATERIAL FROM FOOM (1973) 10. 

It's a nice collection which includes lots of issues but as it's reprinting some of my favourite comics I was looking at it a bit more critically than some of the other Epics I own and was disappointed in the small gutter on the spine edge which meant it wasn't quite as easy to read as it should have been.

Therefore, because I've been on the Masterworks site looking a discussions regarding Omnibus editions reminded me that I was previously coveting the UnCanny X-men omnibus edition.

This reprints slightly different material (X-Men(1963) 94-131, Giant-Size X-Men 1, Annual 3) plus letters pages and other extras.

The great thing about the Omnibus editions is the oversize format and the reproduction is brilliant. So this will be my copy and I'll persuade Luke to read the Epic. I do own some of the original comics (issue 111 upwards) but I'm still a happy customer!

Oh yes, my old 1st print masterworks will be put away too. These original editions are not as good as later formats with inferior colouring, binding etc.

Giant-Size Spider-man No. 2 and 3

These are two comics from 1974 which I'd not read before. The stories are definitely not classics but they were fun. The best part was seeing "new" Ross Andru Spidey art because, as I've said on this blog before, Ross Andru  was my first Spidey artist and as a result his portrayal is one of my favourites.

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: 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: 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.

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: Two x Two-In One

It's funny how last month I was getting Marvel team-Up. Well I've started this month with a couple of 2-in -1s from 1976. The Annual is quite rare and is the middle part of a three parter. No. 22 I got for 60p!

A Mixed post bag of New Purchases

Well everything arrives at once!

Marvel Team-Up #11 by Len Wein and Jim Mooney is a hard to get and slightly more expensive early issue . My FN copy was picked up on ebay for £4.70.

The two books are pretty hefty, The Jim Aparo Batman collection is 510 pages and The Rex Mundi Omnibus clocks in at 582 pages. Plenty for me to go at there!!

Just finishing X-Men Masterworks at the moment. Should finish that soon.

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"

The Incredbible Hulk Back-issues

I've read Hulk issues 194 &195 by Len Wein and Sal Buscema. Issue 194 is Sal's first issue of what is an extraordinary long run. Sal's Hulk is definitely the one I can relate to most. I remember reading the British reprints of these issues back in the late 1970s.

Really enjoyavle issues. Onwards to issue 200....

Bank Holiday reading

 It's a double Jubilee Bank-Holiday which has given me more time to read my Incredible Hulk back-issues. All of these are from 1975 and by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe.

I love the cover to No. 189 and it's an issue I've been waiting years to read have seen the cover on adverts for superhero merchendise in comics from the late 1970s.

It was a good issue too. The highlight of these particularly 6 issues.

I'm missing issue 190 but it seems to be a rare one  as I've not seen it on EBay very often and when it is, it's not cheap.

Some great Bonze Age covers here.

 

Issue 193 featuring Doc Samson is the last one of Herb Trimpe's long stint on the title. I've got to say the quality of the art varied considerably. Herb was certainly a decent storyteller but sometimes the pictures weren't too pretty. However, he finished on a high as Joe Staton's inks worked well.  Onwards to a new era..the great Sal Buscema!

                                                     

This weeks reading

I've read a few more Incredible Hulks from 1975. Written by Len Wein they are fairly typical Hulk stories from this period. Herb Trimpe on the art is inking himself though and it's not a good look. Herb needs a strong inker in my opinion and the poor art is quite distracting at times.

I've also read Catwoman Vol 1 by Darwyn Cooke and Ed Brubaker. I've had to sit around in hospital for a few hours a couple of times in the last week and this certainly helped pass the time. I actually think this is my first exposure to Cooke's work and I was mightly impressed. Brubaker takes over the writing for the 2nd half of the book and, whilst probably not as strong as his Captain America or Criminal work, the crime stories were certainly entertaining.

Going to push on with some more Hulks this Bank Holiday weekend. I'm aiming to get to issue 200 before switching to something different again.