Yeah the events are pretty predictable, and the stories are usually lackluster these days. The last even barely ended and we are already having two new ones. Marvel event after event rinse and repeat.

 

Just like the comments that haven't changed since the first page of this thread lol.

 

Improbable Previews: Marvel Gets The News About DC Digital Codes In Deadpool And The Mercs For Money #8 - Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movie, TV News

 

Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley Named Marvel Entertainment President

 

I finished Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Volume 1 last night and overall it was... amazing.  

The stories were well written and a blast to look at. My favorite panel in the book is probably the one towards the end in the return of the Molten Man issue where Spidey is in MM's room with the lights out. The way that panel is drawn and colored is so bad ass. Nevertheless, there was a lot of great artwork to be found here and it was interesting to finally read the issue with the infamous flooding scene. That was kind of cool how the panels kept getting bigger and bigger as the struggle progressed. I'm not sure which story I would say is my favorite though, as there are a lot ot choose from. It would probably be a toss up between the Annual that introduces the Sinister Six, the "Master Planner" trilogy (as they called it in the essays), and the 3 parter where Peter gave up being Spider-Man for the first time Aunt May was sick (17-19 I believe).

Another thing I love is how the identity of Green Goblin has yet to be revealed and that Norman was not even introduced officially until like issue 37 despite seeing him at Jameson's country club. I wonder if Stan Lee thought of Norman beforehand or if he just decided to make him GG on the fly. Either way, it was cleverly done.

The only issues I didn't really enjoy were the one with Mysterio pretending to be a psychologist and the one with a guy who gets his powers frm a meteor. Not only that, but he called himself The Looter.  

It's kind of sad that Ditko is gone from this point, but that's okay because Romita was a great successor (and my favorite Spider-Man artist from the issues I read years ago), so I'm looking forward to this. Getting to read this many issues in order is so enjoyable.

 

It's the reason Ditko quit the book. Him and Lee had a huge falling out over the identity of Green Goblin. Ditko felt it was important that the mystery of Green Goblin's identity turn out to be just a random guy no one had ever seen before, while Lee felt that would be cheating the fans.

But yeah, I love that early run of Amazing, particularly the Lee/Ditko era. The one issue that really stands out to me is the first Lizard story. I read a reprint of that as a little kid and it really freaked me out. Then while I was in junior high, Marvel started reprinting the entire series in Marvel Tales, which is when I read the rest.

 

Marvel's Monsters To Be Unleashed On Permanent Ongoing Basis With Cullen Bunn And David Baldeon In April - Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movie, TV News

 

Funny enough, someone on another board posted a quote from Ditko that is the exact opposite of that, so I'm not sure what the real story is. Either way, it was still great stuff.

 

I'm currently "auditing" and reorganising my comics, and it's amazing looking at the older comics (Mid-90's) as the art and stories are a lot more interesting IMO.

Also does anyone remember when Marvel used to use Card-stock for certain Mini-Series and Specials. I was reminded last night whilst doing the Bishop comics.

 

Yeah, I read that recently. I don't know what made Ditko change his story suddenly after so many years, after he'd already been on record as saying Lee's insistence on making Osborn the Goblin was the reason he walked. He refused to draw it and that's the reason Romita got the book. Speaking of which, it's really interesting to see Romita's early issues, which he inked with a pen in an attempt to look a little more like Ditko's work, before coming into his own with the Caniff-style brush inking he's famous for.

 

And by "permanent ongoing basis" Marvel means "6-9 issues until it's cancelled for low sales."

 

More or less.

 

These finally arrived today:



I felt the Hobgoblin book might make a nice supplement to read once I eventually get to the Stern Omnibus I picked up this past summer. I wish it was in hardcover, but at least it was only like $10.

 

As I said you should enjoy the Stern arc, I liked the original Hobgoblin arc better than many Green Goblin Stories.

 

Yeah, Stern's Amazing (amazing) run in the '80s is very close to the final great era for that book, imo (and Mantlo/Milgrom having a spectacular run on Spectacular Spider-Man at the same time). With maybe the Michelinie/McFarlane run a few years after it being the cutoff point. Up until then, there was a strong through line through everything, and the characters continued to grow and evolve naturally, if slowly. Peter's history was linear and still made sense.

Anyway, yeah, that first Hobgoblin arc was great. I loved the Juggernaut 2-part story that came soon before it, too.

 

I would much rather a street level Spirits of Vengeance team book.

Ghost Rider (danny)
Morbius
Werewolf by Night
Blade
Moon Knight
Jennifer Kale
Johnny Blaze
Victoria Montesi

Occasional appearance by Dr Strange.

Much better than Kid Pokémon and his Pacific Rim monsters cash in attempt.

 

Speaking of Hobgoblin, I just read issues 695-697 which featured Kingsley battling Ulrich. That was pretty awesome and I love Kingsley's, "You killed my brother, but I'm okay with that. He was an idiot. However, you drew the line too far when you stole my name brand." That was hilarious and now I can see why everyone loves Kingsley over Macendale. He had way more personality in just those three issues than Macendale had in the many issues I read that featured him. Plus, holy shit, the man is down right badass. He has his own criminal empire. Hobgoblin was already my favorite Spider-Man villain of all time, but that just upped it quite a bit and I haven't even gotten to the good stuff that came 20 years beforehand.

Oh, and for just jumping into those three issues without having read anything before it since One More Day, I did not feel lost in the slightest, so that was a nice bonus. There were some clever little pieces in there (and is that Tiberius Stone the Alchemax Tiberius Stone?).

 

[SPOILER's] Still Dead, Jackal Steps It Up In Spider-Man Clone Conspiracy

Interesting.

 

I know people hate the Clones, but i'm enjoying the story. i can't wait to see how it ends.

 

COMICS: Eddie Brock Is Back In The VENOM Suit This April