Help Slam Decide What to Read Next

[Slam_Bradley]

I'm in the process of finishing up Essential Thor, Vol. 2. After that I've pretty well settled on reading Showcase Presents Metamorpho. However, beyond that I'm at an impasse. I have a ton of stuff, but can't decide what to read. I have narrowed it to 5 choices, so give me a hand.

Essential Iron Man, Vol. 2; Colan art, though I'm not a big IM fan.

Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 4. I'm sure this will be great, but I'm just finishing up Lee/Kirby Thor.

Essential Avengers, Vol. 4. Ends up with the Kree-Skrull War. I've already read quite a few of these issues, though not all of them.

Essential Killraven.

Essential Daredevil, Vol. 2. More Gene Colan goodness.

[Lone Ranger]

Essential Killraven.



I just picked this up on sale today - got it for $14 Canadian.

I have only read an issue or two of the series, so I am going in blindly but I am looking forward to it as I could use a little space opera in my life these days.

It will be interesting to compare notes when we are both done.

[K'Nort]

I think it would depend in part on what you're reading now. What would have the best chance of continuity things you'll see popping up in your current titles?

[Slam_Bradley]

I think it would depend in part on what you're reading now. What would have the best chance of continuity things you'll see popping up in your current titles?


Chronologically, the Iron Man and FF stories are the oldest. But there isn't a lot of cross-over concerns with any of these volumes.

[InfoBroker]

Hands down winner from my perspective is Iron-man Volume #2.

These stories span the years 1965-69, a period that starts when the Marvel Silver-Age was peaking (65-66) and runs to 1969, which is a strong delineation point for the end of the Silver-Age for this particular character.

The Sub-mariner crossover is a classic, and I'm glad to see the essential includes Astonish #82.. Be a clumsy read without it.

Iron man was the second super-hero title that Gene Colan(Adam Austin) took on following his move from DC to Marvel in 1965. I consider his Suspense run definitive for the character.

The plots are heavily laden with soap opera, but it is excellent super-hero soaps.

The second appearance of Titanium Man (starts with Suspense #81) is classic material. I loved watching Tony load his armor into his skinny little briefcase. It was a nice counter balance to the powerful scenes of Titanium Man's new and improved armor being tested. Take heed, I may be a bit prejudice as that was my first ever Suspense comic.

I also enjoyed Tony taking the old original Iron-man armor out of mothballs a few issues later.

When Archie Goodwin took over the comic with the later Suspense issues, I think the stories become even more intact and better structured.

This collection also includes Johnny Craig's premiere into the world of Marvel Super-heroes. It took me a couple of months to warm to his style (I was very loyal to Gene's work), but once I became aquainted with it, I found it very appealing.

Runner up vote would be the Killraven series.

Reading these comics as a set make for an interesting study in just how much a comic series can bend and twist as the creative staff shifts. The series starts off strong with some very definite ties to H.G. Wells' War of the World material. But it warps significantly by the time Don McGregor and Craig Russell take control. It becomes a Sci-Fantasy extravaganza with a supporting cast that I remember fondly. Lots of interesting characters, and while the styles are very different, the series Firefly has a certain amount of cast-interactive similarities. They both boil down to a series of outcases banded together by chance and conflict.

And what they hey Slam, you will even encounter a smattering of Gene Colan artwork here as well.

-jb the Iron Man 2020 ib-

A hasty P.S. Astonish #82 was my also first Astonish, and it contains one of the all time best fight sequences, and it was two pages of Gene Colan followed by 10 pages of King Kirby dynamic drawing. It was the first and I believe only time that Roy Thomas had the opportunity to script Jack’s work at Marvel.

[Slam_Bradley]

Hands down winner from my perspective is Iron-man Volume #2.

<snip>

-jb the Iron Man 2020 ib-


This is exactly why I nominated you for the "Speak up" Corrie.

Thanks, JB.

[Mike Kuypers]

I'm putting in a vote in for Daredevil. To me Gene Colan was the definitive DD artist. Iron Man would be my second choice.

[Cei-U!]

I voted for the Avengers volume. It is, after all, Roy Thomas in his creative prime weaving the disparate elements of the Marvel Universe together with the aid of the Buscema brothers, Neal Adams and, yes, Gene Colan (#63-65). (Not that all the other choices aren't just as yummy.)

Cei-U!
I summon the goodies!

[InfoBroker]

Well DANG! I should have looked before I leaped. The Essential Fantastic Four #4 covers earlier material than I expected. I thought this would all be post Kirby material. Don't ask me why, because I bought this volume for one of my Spanish cousins just a few months ago.

These is a jewel of tremendous delight. It stands head and shoulders above the other material, good as some of it may be.

The introduction of the Kree into the Marvel Universe opens the book (FF# 64 and 65). The next two issues are tremendous! Alicia disappears in a mysterious fashion, Ben Grimm is frantic and the FF are tasked with more than a simple rescue mission.

Minor pause after issue #67 to bask and enjoy FF annual #5.

But Jack and Stan don't take a single break, as they launch into a multi-issue arc that provides a tremendous amount of dramatic detail focusing on returning the Thing's cosmic-altered physique back to his human form. Yea, it all seems trite now, but this is perhaps the most detailed and best version ever told!

Still no break in action, the Silver Surfer goes on a Rampage and guess who has to tame him down.

The stand alone reprint of FF#73 is going to read much better if you have access to Daredevil #37 and #38. Minor warning.

Then things get really cool! A detailed exploration of the Microverse and the Second Coming of Galactus do a spiffy overlay of plot and action.

Next comes the Wizard and his Wonder Glove, followed by a really goofy Oddball issue (#80), which Scott Shaw! has most definitely and recently reviewed.

Fortunately FF annual #6 will refresh the grandeur of whart Kirby-Lee can do at there best.

The final issues in this tomb have a couple of focused escapades of the Inhumans, who had been space-crushed out of the continuity for quite awhile.

All in all, some of the finest silver-age comic stories, and easily some of the best super-hero tales of all time.

-jb the Kirby-ized ib-

[InfoBroker]

This is exactly why I nominated you for the "Speak up" Corrie.

Thanks, JB.

Yea I saw it, and I'm blushing. Thanks! Right back at you!

I also noticed that Cei-U is (to no great surprise) the run-away fave for comic-guru. Now since he voted for me in that category, by default that means (since he's the proclaimed knowledgable one), all the votes divert to me. Right Cei-U? That's the proper way to interpret it isn't it?

Er, um... just ignore my choice in that category. It only causes a re-diversion and a lot of confusion for the corrie-tabulators.

-jb the greedy, double-blushin' ib-

[telerites]

I voted for Killraven, mainly because I have always wanted to read these stories in continuity. I don't see how you could go wrong with any of the choices.

My second choice would be the Avengers - Roy Thomas, Big John Buscema and Neal Adams, et. al. Nuff said!

[The Wayner]

My vote went to DD. All those Essentials present some good stuff, but have to love me some ol' horned head!

[Ryan K]

I'd vote fro the Essential Fantastic Four volume, but you said you're just finishing Lee/Kirby Thor stuff so I voted for Killraven. Personally, I like to alternate genres or periods when reading the classic stuff.

I just picked my copy of Killraven up last week and was flipping through it and can't wait to jump into it after I finish Showcase: Superman and Essential Werewolf by Night.

[Babylon23]

Any opportunity to read Lee/Kirby FF should be embraced. Vol. 4 brings you in at the tail end of their 2nd creative burst (vol. 3 covers Galactus/Silver Surfer/Inhumans/Black Panther). You get the first Enclave/Him story (Him of course eventually becoming Adam Warlock) plus the Kree/Ronan the Accuser.

I can understand wanting a bit of variety after Essential Thor. My second recommendation would be Avengers. John Buscema and Neal Adams are in fine form in this volume, plus you get Gene Colan and Barry Windsor-Smith thrown in for good measure. Other than the Kree/Skrull War, you get some great stories featuring Ultron and the Lethal Legion.

[Shellhead]

This was a really tough choice, because those all sound like excellent collections, and I've read at least some of the issues from all of these. But ultimately I recommend Killraven the most, because after some early awkward issues by another writer, Don McGregor takes over, and he was one of the very best comic writers of the 70's. And those P. Craig Russell pencils were so excellent. I still have a complete run of the Killraven comics, and just thinking about it is going to send me burrowing to the back of my walk-in closet to get at my comic boxes again. Great stories, great artwork, and some interesting commentary on American culture.

[Graham Vingoe]

I voted for Essential Avengers 4- as this is the start of the best run on the title ever. Runner-up is Killraven which I found is marred by the fact that the colour reproduction of the graphic novel and Joe Linsner's single issue is extremely muddy and grey. The storyline is one of my favourites, but I do wish that they hadn't included the 2 issues in it as it is defintely not the way they were intended to be seen.

[Slam_Bradley]

Excelsior, True Believers! I appreciate all the thoughts and the votes. It's citizens like you that make this the classic age of CBRdom. Since I'll almost unquestionably finish up Showcase Presents: Metamorpho before the long weekend is up, I'm going to go ahead and designate its successor right now. It appears that Killraven is the odds on favorite, so I'll be reading it next. I'll be following it up with Showcase Presents: Superman and then we'll be back in Marvel mode. Stay tuned...you'll be glad you did.