Best of the Marvel Bronze Age

[TheBronzeMarvel]

The Bronze Age lasted from 1970 to 1979. To some folks, it was just a slightly campy transition period between the Silver Age and the Modern Age. But I think that, at least for Marvel, it was one of the best periods (nostalgically and historically speaking -- I don't know what sales were :rolleyes: ) in their history. The company was a serious presence with several established titles, but they also took risks on numerous new titles in that era.

I wonder what you think was the best series during the Marvel Bronze Age. I would sort of like to limit this to series' that had their entire lifespan in this era, but I know most overlapped into the Silver or Modern. So, if you prefer, you could state a run of a creative team in a longer lasting title -- but their run should pretty much be limited to the Bronze Age. Kosher?

I am going to break my own rules, sort of, by suggesting Super-Villain Team-Up. It's very final issue came out in 1980 -- but that issue was a reprint of a Bronze Age story, so I think it's OK :cool:

[tangentman]

Steve Englehart's Avengers tenure ran from 1973 or so to 1976 or '77. Groundbreaking stories that shook up the Avengers with new additions, departures of old favorites, world-busting menaces, ball-busting heroines, weddings, and a death. We saw several important moments happen: Swordsman rejoining with the mysterious Mantis to seek redemption; Vision's origin revealed; Scarlet Witch learns Witchcraft; Swordsman dies; Mantis becomes the Celestial Madonna; Vizh weds the Witch; Moondragon confounds Thor with talk of godhood vs. "common man"; an old romance comics heroine is updated for the 70's as Hellcat; Hawkeye and Thor leave, YJ and Wasp return, Beast joins.

I also enjoyed Werewolf by Night, the Tigra runs in different comics, Killraven in Amazing Fantasy, and both Englehart's and Steve Gerber's runs on Defender!

[JulianPerez]

Steve Englehart's Avengers tenure ran from 1973 or so to 1976 or '77. Groundbreaking stories that shook up the Avengers with new additions, departures of old favorites, world-busting menaces, ball-busting heroines, weddings, and a death. We saw several important moments happen: Swordsman rejoining with the mysterious Mantis to seek redemption; Vision's origin revealed; Scarlet Witch learns Witchcraft; Swordsman dies; Mantis becomes the Celestial Madonna; Vizh weds the Witch; Moondragon confounds Thor with talk of godhood vs. "common man"; an old romance comics heroine is updated for the 70's as Hellcat; Hawkeye and Thor leave, YJ and Wasp return, Beast joins.

Darn! You've already given props to the greatest genius that comics have ever known, "Stainless" Steve Englehart, before I could get a chance to! :)

You left out Nelson Rockefeller becoming president of Squadron Earth and ruling it with the Serpent Crown, and the nutty "Human Bomb" suicide bombers that killed themselves with the switches on their heads, who while trying to destroy the Vision for his lack of humanity, ironically enough, SHOWED how human the Vision really was.

This period is arguably the greatest period in comics' history. Witness the incredible heights: the aforementioned Englehart AVENGERS as well as his DR. STRANGE, but also the Doug Moenich MASTER OF KUNG FU, the incredible SON OF SATAN, Bill Mantlo on IRON MAN and CHAMPIONS, the justly famous Don MacGregor JUNGLE ACTION.

And don't forget all the concept titles that dealt with interesting, non-superhero work: GIANT-SIZED CREATURES, KILLRAVEN, SKULL THE SLAYER, HOWARD THE DUCK.

The Sword & Sorcery books; nobody did it better than Roy the Boy! I would argue his KING KULL SPECIALS were better than the SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN.

And the team-up books! Don't forget MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE, MARVEL TEAM-UP, and the aforementioned SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP.

Jack Kirby did some of his best work in this period: DEVIL DINOSAUR, his amazing BLACK PANTHER run.

[TheBronzeMarvel]

How have I never managed to read a copy of the Black Panther? I have got to get me some o' that.

Thanks for mentioning the Defenders and Avengers. Actually, I knew someone had to. Heck, the 80s was-- in ways-- just rehashing the story lines of the 70s as far as the Avengers went. (Not a regular reader, but I looked at friends' copies -- both Bronze and Modern.) The moments you mentioned were certainly historic points for the Avengers. Some were also key for the whole Marvel U, esp. Scarlet Witch. The Defenders were the original non-team. How cool was that. And how anti-establishment (I would even say anti-Avengers -- love the Defenders-Avengers war concept! Ground-breaking "long" story-arc that span two titles for four months!)! Their members included the Hulk and nearly every cult figure on the scene: Devilslayer, Hellcat, Dr. Strange, Son of Satan, Gargoyle. Add Namor and the Silver Surfer to the mix and you have a combination of seriously potential conflict. Man!

I'll do some thinking and see what I can contribute to my own topic -- but you guys have some really thought-provoking titles.

[Tragix]

JIM STARLIN'S CAPTAIN MARVEL Run