Marvel: Unforgettable Stories selected and introduced by Patton Oswalt & Jordan Blum (graphic novel review).
Great Scott! Holy Hardcovers! The Folio Society has gathered classic comic books in pricey luxury editions! If the old guys who made them could have foreseen this, they would have demanded a better page rate. Never mind.
This selection is by Marvel fans Patton Oswalt, a stand-up comedian and actor, and Jordan Blum, a television and comic writer. They acknowledge that every Marvel fan will hold varying opinions regarding the inclusion of ten stories, and I’m confident they are correct. Here is what they chose.
Steve Ditko plotted and drew The Amazing Spider-Man #33, ‘If This Be My Destiny – The Final Chapter’ (1966), while Stan Lee scripted and edited it. Although Ditko succeeded in securing the credit by this point, he departed shortly thereafter. This is the conclusion of the Master Planner story arc and shows Peter Parker at his heroic best in the opening pages while providing a good overview of his life: sick Aunt May, rotten J. Jonah Jameson, difficult Betty Brant, and so on. Stan’s dialogue undoubtedly contributed significantly to the drama, making it a classic.
That’s it for the Silver Age, and there’s nothing from the 70s. Frank Miller and Terry Austin wrote and penciled Daredevil #191, ‘Roulette’ (1983), which features Daredevil taking a revolver to Bullseye’s bedside and playing Russian Roulette. Bullseye is paralyzed. DD tells Bullseye a story about a young child who was inspired by vigilante violence. Matt Murdock’s actions were not typical of a hero, suggesting a potential mental breakdown. Frank Miller and his generation made comics more violent or at least made the action more graphic, so it’s nice to see what he thought about it.
The comic book royalty, Barry Windsor-Smith, pencilled and co-plotted Uncanny X-Men #205 ‘Wounded Wolf’ (1986), and also handled the inking and colouring. It looks beautiful and shows Wolverine at his best and worst in a solo adventure. For true drama, put a little girl in peril.
Captain America # 367, “Magnetic Repulsion” (1990), isn’t so much about Cap as it is about Magneto and the Red Skull. Some mysterious person who has command of trans-dimensional doorways creates a villainous team, including the Red Skull, Magneto, Doctor Doom, the Kingpin, the Wizard, and the Mandarin. Unfortunately, the Nazis have slaughtered Magneto’s entire family, prompting him to seek revenge against the Skull. Cap is caught in the middle. I believe writer Mark Gruenwald was well-known for his comprehensive knowledge of the Marvel Universe. Penciler Kieron Dwyer and inker Danny Bulanadi supplied suitably dramatic artwork for this classic.
Peter David wrote X-Factor #87, “X-aminations (1993),” penciled by Joe Quesada, and inked by Al Milgrom. After a particularly traumatic mission, the mutants must undergo counselling, and this story depicts their sessions. Therapy has gained popularity in the USA and is currently gaining traction in Britain. Not my cup of tea, but a good way of revealing character.
Of course, our magnificent National Health Service in Britain covers therapy and other care, so unlike Peter Parker, we don’t have to worry about huge medical bills. He’s back in Untold Tales of Spider-Man # 20: ‘Wings of Hatred’ (1997). Written by Kurt Busiek and G.L. Lawrence, pencilled by Pat Olliffe and inked by Al Williamson, this harks back to the Ditko days but fills in the gaps. The story takes place shortly after Spidey fled from the Green Goblin, earning him the label of a coward. I loved how cleverly it fits into the existing mythos. The Vulture features. He may not be particularly friendly, but considering his past, it’s understandable.
There’s yet more Spidey in Spider-Man’s Tangled Web # 4 (2001) ‘Severance Package.’ Our hero hardly features, though. This story revolves around a kingpin henchman who has failed and now faces the consequences. Written by Greg Rucka, pencilled and inked by Eduardo Risso, it’s another dark tale. I’m surprised the Kingpin can get anyone to work for him.
Brian K. Vaughan writes ‘Pride And Joy, Chapter One’ in The Runaways # 1 (2003), Adrian Alphona pencils it, and David Newbold inks it. A group of spoiled rich kids decide to spy on their parents, only to receive a shocking surprise. It’s a dramatic opening to a new series that will entice you to purchase issue #2.
Everyone, including his father, has their own stories they believe belong here. I chose ‘This Man, This Monster’ from Fantastic Four #51, primarily due to its emotional impact as a standalone and to acknowledge Jack Kirby’s significant contribution to Marvel. Oh well. However, I cannot dispute the selection of the FF yarn. Fantastic Four # 587 (2011) ‘Three, Part 5: The Last Stand,’ written by Jonathan Hickman, pencilled by Steve Epting, and inked by Rick Magyar, Mike Perkins, and Steve Epting. This is obviously the conclusion of a big story arc, including Galactus, Prince Namor, and Annihilus, and it ends with a huge moment in FF history. It surprised me!
Last is Hawkeye #11 (2013), ‘Pizza Is My Business,’ written by Matt Fraction with art by David Aja. Hawkeye’s dog, unable to understand English, tells the story from his point of view. Although it’s a worthy experiment and somewhat adorable, it doesn’t quite fit in with the rest.
That’s all, folks! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, which provided an excellent snapshot of significant events in the Marvel Universe since I stopped reading about it in the 80s. ‘Marvel Unforgettable Stories’ is out now. Read it yourself and bombard Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum by email and social media with your views on how daft their selection is and what magnificent stories you would have included. I expect they’re looking forward to your feedback.
Eamonn Murphy
November 2024
(pub: Folio Society, 2024. 280 page multi-stories hardback in slipcase. Price: £70.00 (UK).
check out website: www.foliosociety.com/uk/marvel-unforgettable-stories.html
