Essential Coloring Books

[The Wayner]

Glancing through the Marvel price hike thread, I immediately thought of Shadow and his opinion that the Essential line is nothing more than a phone book-sized coloring book.

Hmm.

I forget to mention this a while back (and I wonder why :rolleyes: ), but a friend gave me an Essential FF. I already had it, but since he was going to toss it, no matter what, I accepted it.

That night, I was looking at a box of crayons---my wife is a school teacher and always has a Crayola box of 64 lying around---and started to think about Shadow's comments. So, I figured what the heck?

I colored a few pages with the crayons, and have to admit I got a kick outta it! I haven't finished the entire Essential, and there's a good chance I never will, but it was an interesting way to kill time.

I doubt anyone else has ever done this, but if you have---speak up! And, if not, do you think you ever would? Whether buying it for the sole purpose, or getting one before it's trashed, ever think the crayolas, or markers, or colored pencils, would ever call you to get down to work?

[scratchie]

I probably wouldn't have, but now that you mention it, that might be fun. Esp. some 60s Kirby or something like that. Based on comments in another thread, the thing will probably just fall apart in a few years anyway, and we'll probably have the entire Marvel library available on DVD-ROM by then. I'd use colored pencils rather than crayons if I were to try this.

[Mike Kuypers]

How about scanning the pages -- they're probably falling out anyway, right? :) -- and coloring them on the computer?

[Slam_Bradley]

I'd like to add once again that none of my Essentials are falling apart. And my four year old reads them. You guys are tough on books.

And no, I haven't colored any of them. But it might be fun.

[Shellhead]

Glancing through the Marvel price hike thread, I immediately thought of Shadow and his opinion that the Essential line is nothing more than a phone book-sized coloring book.

Hmm.

I forget to mention this a while back (and I wonder why :rolleyes: ), but a friend gave me an Essential FF. I already had it, but since he was going to toss it, no matter what, I accepted it.

That night, I was looking at a box of crayons---my wife is a school teacher and always has a Crayola box of 64 lying around---and started to think about Shadow's comments. So, I figured what the heck?

I colored a few pages with the crayons, and have to admit I got a kick outta it! I haven't finished the entire Essential, and there's a good chance I never will, but it was an interesting way to kill time.

I doubt anyone else has ever done this, but if you have---speak up! And, if not, do you think you ever would? Whether buying it for the sole purpose, or getting one before it's trashed, ever think the crayolas, or markers, or colored pencils, would ever call you to get down to work?

When I was in grade school, Marvel published a couple of black-and-white puzzle books featuring lots of Marvel characters. Some of it was just standard stuff like crossword puzzles or word searches or mazes, but some of it required some knowledge of the characters, like "guess who this character is based on seeing just one small section of their costume."

Anyway, I was young and not at all concerned about the collectiblity of these books, so after I finished most of the puzzles, I started coloring in the costumes on the characters. I didn't have any artistic ability and didn't have confidence in my writing skills back then, so I fantasized about working as a colorist for Marvel.

Here's what I learned about coloring and paper stock. Where I used markers, the colors bled through the page and ruined the other side. Crayons tended
to smudge the opposing page after you closed the book. So color pencils were the best.

I was actually pondering the coloring stuff while re-reading Essential Defenders Volume 1, but the artwork still looked fairly decent in black and white.

[JKCarrier]

I haven't done it lately, but back in the '70s I remember coloring an issue of the B&W Rampaging Hulk magazine. I'm sure I did a horrible disservice to Walt Simonson's art. :o

Come to think of it, an Essential collection of those stories would be a natural, wouldn't it?

[dr_cyclops]

The idea struck me years ago. For those of you out there with "Essentials" that are falling apart, this is going to easy. To keep the opposite image from copying on to the page you are trying to scan. Make an ALL-BLACK copy by leaving the scanner lid open. place this ALL-BLACK page (wait until ink drys) facing the back of the page you are scanning. Light that travels through the paper will not be reflected back, bringing with it the image of the opposite page.

[The Wayner]

When/if I return to my newfound hobby, it's color pencils I shall use!

[TomGun13]

I was at a con a couple of years ago and some of the colorists recommended using the Essentials to practice on. Obviously scanning them and then coloring using your computer.

[Rich L]

I'd like to add once again that none of my Essentials are falling apart. And my four year old reads them. You guys are tough on books.

And no, I haven't colored any of them. But it might be fun.

Mine either, aside from the Uncanny X-Men Vol 1 where the cover & spine have come off neatly. I could glue 'em back on but never seem to get round to it.

I like the idea of the colouring book...someone try a Dr Strange one, that's going to be trippy!

[The Humanist Hero]

My Essentials aren't falling apart, though my second volume of Amazing Spider-Man isn't in the best of shape.

[Slam_Bradley]

Nathan has been sleeping with FF Vol. 1 lately.

[dr_cyclops]

Nathan has been sleeping with FF Vol. 1 lately.
Save the pages! :D

[Cei-U!]

I doubt I'll be coloring in 'em but I did just order two more "coloring books": Showcase Presents Metamorpho and The Essential Defenders. Can't wait to see all that glorious art in b&w, especially Ramona Fradon's.

Cei-U!
I summon the elemental goodness!

[Tadhg]

My wife wants to color the Showcase Justice League I got her for Christmas. She'll probably use Pencils. I haven't colored Essentials but I did start to color my extra copy of Akira Vol. 1

[scratchie]

I doubt I'll be coloring in 'em but I did just order two more "coloring books": Showcase Presents Metamorpho and The Essential Defenders. Can't wait to see all that glorious art in b&w, especially Ramona Fradon's.Plus all the Sal-Buscema-drawn Hulk you can eat!

[Paradox]

I used to practice coloring on those old paperback-sized black and white reprints where they'd cut the panels up to fit the new format. I'd use watercolor paint rather than crayons to get more of the "Dr. Martin's Dyes" flat effect. I'd photocopy things out of the comics to color, too.

[Nate C.]

Nathan has been sleeping with FF Vol. 1 lately.

How'd you know that was my pet name for my wife?