New Trades: Fatale and Morning Glories

Lots of new purchases at the moment - as I'm on leave and my credit card has just "clicked over".

Fatale was a no-brainer considering how much I've enjoyed Brubaker and Phillips's work so far.

Also got Vol 3 of Morning Glories and I'll be reading all three trades next. Despite the fact that I only read vol 1 a few months ago.

Invincible Iron Man by Matt Fraction

I've just finished reading four hardcover collections of Matt Fractions and Salvadore Larrocca's current Iron Man series. I think this is the only current Marvel title I am reading and the end is in sight for this one too when the creative team leave as part of the Marvel NOW strategy.

The hardcovers were vols 7,8 and 9 with Fear Itself slotting inbetween 8 and 9. Vol 8 featuring Doc Ock was poor but Fear Itself was an improvement. However, I really enjoyed Vol 9 "Demon" with Tony being manipulated by the Mandarin, Stane and Hammer. The story continues in Vol 10 but that hardcover hasn't been published yet.

Hector Umbra

Something a bit different. A 216 page graphic novel in the style of of Hellboy or Constantine by a German writer/arist Uli Osterle.

It was pretty cool. Some great visuals, dialogue and ideas.

A nice change of pace - but now back to the Iron Man hardcovers.

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: Marvel Team-Up 37 from Sept 1974

Just purchased this nice FN/VFN copy of Team-up 37 for £1.95 incl. P&P from ebay. Quite a bargain -esp as it was a buy-it-now!

Avengers/FF Annual x-over from 1985

I read these two annuals which I bought from Fantasy World back in 1985 because Bronze Age Babies were doing a review of them on their site and I thought it would be nice to chip in with a comment.

Unfortunately, what with the Olympics and all that, I've only just finished both double size-issues so it's a bit late now. :-)

I thought they were a bit harsh at first, but although it's an interesting experiment to merge the end of the story at the end of each annual, the FF annual in particular was a bit of a mess in terms of script but fantastic with Byrne and Sinnott on art.

Batman in Comics and at the Movies!

Batman Illustrated by Neil Adams Vol 1 arrived on the same day I went to see "The Dark Kinght Rises" at the cinema.

Well pleased to finally get this trade. The paperback version at £10.06 was considerably cheaper than £29.99 hardback version I'd been coverting for some time.

The movie was good. Not as good as "The Dark Knight" but still gripping.