New Omnibus Purchases

It's well past time to catch-up on this blog with What I've been buying, reading and watching.

First up are two Marvel Omnibus volumes the second of which is very close to the perfect book for me.

The Savage Sword of Conan Omnibus Vol 1 is a companion to Conan the Barbarian Omnibus I bought early on this year. It's another big book, full of stories that I've never read and a real interesting purchase for me.

John Buscema's art also looks fantastic in black and white.

By the way, I've read about half of the CtB omni. It's good but a little bit "samey" when reading one issue right after another and so after 13-14 issues I felt I needed a little break before resuming.

The second omnibus is Amazing Spider-man volume 4. This is just perfect.

The issues reprinted include my first ever Spider-man purchased story and so many other Bronze-Age classics which captured my imagination and made me a Spidey fan for life.

So even though I've all the originals of these issues (except for #129 1st Punisher) I just felt I had to get this and I absolutely love going through it. I guess it will help keep my originals in better condition.

Giant -Size Spider-man 4 & 5

Although the aim was to read the Giant-size issues I'd bought this year, I couldn't resist continuing with the series as these two issues are good reads and issue 4 with the Punisher is a particular favourite of mine. This is because I bought this on a summer holiday in 1979 when I was 12.

I loved it. And it felt more special as it was a surprise purchase and it was a an extra long Spidey story. I think it was also the first time I'd read a reprint of Amazing Fantasy 15.

GSSM #5 is also a good story by the same creative team. It ties in well to what was going on in the main book at the time as it develops the Clone Gwen sub-plot. I personally love that story.

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.

1974 Giant-size Marvel Comics

 These Giant-size issues were always a bit of a mystery to me growing up in the UK in the 1970s as they were just not available. I never saw one for sale - but I did see plenty of house adds for these extra-long stories.

And when reference was made to events in the regular title ( I remember the Spidey/ Man-Thing team-up in issue 5 being referenced as a "story for another day") was was really curious.

So purchasing and reading these issues is always a bit special, even if the stories themselves are very average if truth be told.

Great covers on both these books and Ross Andru artwork on Giant-Size Spider-man is always a pleasure for me.

I'll be reading these Giant-Size books in-between some New Teen Titans by DC!

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.

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. 

Defenders Masterworks Vol 1

This Masterworks volume finally arrive in the post today. It's taken two weeks and it seems that this is a replacement copy. Anyway, it's here and I'm pleased that I've got these early Defenders stories.

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.