Starlin's Best Marvel Work?

**berk** · 06-15-2010, 08:17 PM

The first Warlock epic, from Strange Tales through the solo Warlock series. The finale, shunted off to an Avengers and then a Marvel-Two-In-One (I think?) Annual wasn't quite up to the level of the rest of the story, IMO, although they are amongst the better Avengers comics ever done. But they were Avengers, rather than Warlock stories, and I never liked Rubenstein's inks over Starlin.

Starlin's Captain Marvel would be a close second, including but by no means limited to The Death of. To be honest, I don't think as highly of The Death of as most readers do. Still a good piece of work, but nowhere near as compelling as the earlier series.

**agrich** · 06-16-2010, 04:01 AM

Originally Posted by berk

The finale, shunted off to an Avengers and then a Marvel-Two-In-One (I think?) Annual wasn't quite up to the level of the rest of the story, IMO, although they are amongst the better Avengers comics ever done. But they were Avengers, rather than Warlock stories, and I never liked Rubenstein's inks over Starlin.

Hmm, I really liked the Rubinstein inks. Also, I thought the Avengers Annual was, essentially, a Warlock story, beginning and ending from his perspective, with Captain Marvel and the Avengers guest-starring. (And the fact it was the only time Warlock and Mar-Vell were on-panel together also gives it some extra appeal.) I'm actually re-reading those right now, they hold up pretty well. That Avengers annual in particular is intense, from finding a dying Gamora at the beginning to dying himself at the end. Good stuff.

**Panic** · 06-16-2010, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Comet Man

I totally agree. Even though Captain Marvel was my favorite hero, I think he peaked with his Warlock work. His Captain Marvel run was mindblowing, but he even topped that with his Warlock.

I think Warlock has him at the peak of his art style, too. You can still see the Gil Kane influences in there, but his own style is very much in evidence. Steve Leialoha did some great inking, too.

**stelok** · 06-16-2010, 01:17 PM

Adam Warlock in the 70's.

**protonik** · 06-16-2010, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by agrich

His '70s Warlock run, without question.

Agreed, it was the first time he explored his now common themes of religion, suicide and the nature of existence and this was all the cooler because he was taking acid at the time... or so it would have seemed considering the trippy ideas and artwork.

**ForeverTaskmaster** · 06-16-2010, 03:52 PM

I think Starlin's best work is The Death Of Captain Marvel

However, he wrote lots of great stuff

I love The Thanos Quest.
I loved his Silver Surfer run.
I loved the Infinity Gauntlet.
I used to hate the Infinity War, but after re-reading it years later I liked it better.
The Warlock series was ahead of its time.

And everyone should read Silver Surfer 36 with the Impossible Man.
That was some funny shit.

**nicktem** · 06-16-2010, 04:57 PM

The Warlock stuff

Infinity Gauntlet

But his best would have to be the entire Thanos Saga, spanning 30 years of writing. He developed Thanos into the biggest bad guy in the Marvel universe. Awesome

**Gryphon** · 06-16-2010, 05:02 PM

does anyone else note the steve ditko inlfuence on starlin's work?

**genesis_pig** · 06-16-2010, 05:31 PM

Dreadstar!

**Comet Man** · 06-16-2010, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by protonik

Agreed, it was the first time he explored his now common themes of religion, suicide and the nature of existence and this was all the cooler because he was taking acid at the time... or so it would have seemed considering the trippy ideas and artwork.

That's what he's lacking these days - the acid.

**FanboyStranger** · 06-16-2010, 06:47 PM

Definitely the Warlock saga. His nicest art as well, especially when paired with Leioloha.

**LEADER DESSLOK** · 06-16-2010, 07:02 PM

Definitely WARLOCK (70S) but his writng on SILVER SURFER was pretty good too and I LO-OVE his stint on BATMAN in the late 80s!

Question: are there tradepaperbacks reprinting his WARLOCK stuff? I have the deluxe series from the early-80s but I hate taking them out and messing them up! How about DREADSTAR?

**Lord S** · 06-16-2010, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by LEADER DESSLOK

Definitely WARLOCK (70S) but his writng on SILVER SURFER was pretty good too and I LO-OVE his stint on BATMAN in the late 80s!

Question: are there tradepaperbacks reprinting his WARLOCK stuff? I have the deluxe series from the early-80s but I hate taking them out and messing them up! How about DREADSTAR?

I believe two Marvel Masterworks HC volumes have been released collecting Warlock's 70's adventures.

**Babylon23** · 06-16-2010, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by LEADER DESSLOK

Question: are there tradepaperbacks reprinting his WARLOCK stuff? I have the deluxe series from the early-80s but I hate taking them out and messing them up! How about DREADSTAR?

Marvel Masterworks Warlock Vol. 2 covers all of Starlin's 70's Warlock stories.

The first 12 issues of Dreadstar were reprinted by Dynamite a few years ago and there's also Dreadstar: The Beginning which came out a few weeks ago and reprints the early Metamorphosis Odyssey stories.