Back Issue #152 July 2024 (magazine review).
This issue of ‘Back Issue’ is oriented around the theme of Marvelmania. Editor Michael Eury focuses only on the second Marvel fan club for a few pages, explaining why it ended so disastrously. However, he does showcase some of the merchandise that a few lucky subscribers actually owned. Sal Buscema’s cover featured one of these items.
The look at ‘The Avengers’ as drawn by Sal Buscema lacks an interview because he wasn’t available, although writer Robert Menzies brings together existing information about the artist’s work there. The cover of Avengers #67 persuaded Stan Lee to hire Sal, despite his initial apprehension about working on such a collaborative project. At times, he filled in for other artists who were running late before embarking on an extended run himself. He also notes that he preferred the Defenders because he liked the characters better, and there were fewer of them.
There is a look at the eleven Marvel superhero paperbacks on Pocketbook. There would have been a twelfth, but since no one but Stan Lee was allowed to write the Silver Surfer, that one was cancelled. Paul Kupperberg wrote book 8, ‘Crime Campaign’ featuring Spider-Man, and book 11, ‘Murdermoon’ featuring Spidey and the Hulk. We have an insightful look at how Marv Wolfman and Len Wein had to become packagers and get other writers in to meet the deadline. I wish there had been a full list of the books and covers, but I suspect page limits prevented that.
Writer Ed Lute looks at Marvel’s Value Stamps. I have already addressed this topic in my review of Abrams’ book a few years ago. He hits on all things except that the comicbook price guide doesn’t see a ‘defaced’ or value stampless Incredible Hulk # 181 as being worthless.
Writer Douglas R. Kelly looks at Marvel’s Classic Comics. This largely came from Doug Moench, who admired the Pendulum Comics version, and Marvel ended up reusing some of their stories with Marvel covers before doing their own. Adapting novels into comicbook form will always present challenges, primarily due to the amount of content that must be omitted to fit the format. You certainly wouldn’t use it as a means to save for exams.
Considering it’s been a long time since ‘FOOM’ and ‘The Amazing Worlds of DC Comics’ have been examined, it’s only now that ‘Marvel Age’ is examined by writer Ian Millsted. The 140 issues and three annuals were short, but it was useful to know Marvel’s happenings. Since then, neither of the Big Two have revived their own in-house magazines, and with the advent of the Internet, the need for websites has diminished, indicating a shift in the times.
Those who saw the first ‘Captain America’ film and read ‘The Adventures of Captain America’ mini-series would quickly realise where its key source was. Robert Menzies conducts an interview with the series’ writer, Fabian Nicieza, who concurs and expresses astonishment at the lack of acknowledgement in the end credits for both him and main artist Kevin Maguire. Despite the original plan to release the series on Cap’s fiftieth anniversary, it came out a year later. However, it provided a wealth of additional detail about the basic origin. What struck me was that, despite Cap’s shield, poor Bucky had no means of self-defense. Their adult counterparts didn’t seem to care much about protecting their sidekicks.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Alex Ross and Kurt Busiek did the ‘Marvels’ mini-series, and Bryon D. Stroud interviewed them about it. Lots of art from it.
There must be enough here to entice you to buy a copy.
GF Willmetts
September 2024
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $10.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6904. Direct from them, you can get it for $10.95 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=1786
