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Post by The Doctor on Mar 5, 2018 21:56:08 GMT
Excalibur Epic Collection 2: The Cross Time Caper is here. The Cross Time Caper nearly killed me on this comic first time out. Goes on FOREVER - turns out it's 12 issues. There's fill in artists of variable quality in the middle: Chris Wozniak is capable of drawing decent looking pieces and absolute tosh in the same issue while another fill in so dramatically changes style half way through I wondered if it might be deliberate. Then there's an inventory issue (20) which made me think I'd missed something the first time I read it as it has nothing to do with the ongoing story. Alan Davis is back for the last two issues, 23 & 24, but by that point my interest had long gone. In the interests of curiosity and because it is now all in one place, it was split in the previous Excalibur classics, I am going to try reading it again! www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/series.php?seriesid=4069&page=galleryDavis leaves straight after an Claremont bails an issue or 2 later and then it gets really bad! till Davis' return in 42. I don' know how that page at Mike's is displaying for the rest of you, but for me it's 8 issues per row. Issues 37-39 are all on the same row next to each other, I'd never spotted they were a Triptych before! Bad Phil! Cross-Time Caper is great. It is after that where the book goes wonky until Davis comes back. -Ralph |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 5, 2018 22:25:29 GMT
I'm not sure Cross Time Caper is great. It's Claremont at his most self indulgent. He spends a year mucking around with alternate universe stuff.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 5, 2018 22:55:35 GMT
A quick flick through the previous epic suggests the story starts even earlier than that with the train's arrival.
The story just went on forever!
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 6, 2018 8:17:05 GMT
It was great!
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Mar 6, 2018 10:35:25 GMT
It was great and also marred with substandard artwork - Chris Wozniak's work was not up to snuff and dragged the stories down. Everyone looked puffed up.
Never noticed that 37-39 was a tryptch. I did like those three issues as I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Mark Badger's work.
The John Carter riff is my favourite (as it was my very first issue of Excalibur) purchased at Belfast Airport in December 1989 as we were about to fly back to Scotland at Christmas.
Andy
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 17, 2018 19:28:15 GMT
New Mutants Epic Collection: Curse of the Valkyries in paper form is in the post to me. MARTIN: I think you need this as it contains a lot of uncollected New Mutants from Inferno onwards. 13/03/2018 New Mutants Epic: Curse of the Valkyries - oh now this is interesting! New Mutants Classic ran from issues 1-54. Fall of the Mutants v1 prints 55-61, Cable & The New Mutants prints 86-100. This volume, which I don't think I've read all the issues in, slots in between..... but where exactly? I'm guessing we're looking at something which includes their Inferno issues, 71-71, and stretches to just before the Cable volume starts, possibly involving some of the early Liefield issues. Curse of the Valkyries is the title of issue 80 with Asgard issues before and after that marvel.wikia.com/wiki/New_Mutants_Vol_1 Those last 15 Liefield issues can be bolstered by 2 annual crossovers and Xtinction Agenda. I await the contents with interest .... VOL. 6: X-TERMINATORS 1-4, NEW MUTANTS 71-85
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 23, 2018 14:46:04 GMT
Ralph now has a second Marvel Epic Collection volume (FF: Into the Time Stream) as I have lost my old Walt Simonson FF trades. I dare not put this beside the other Epic Collection I own (AMS: Ghosts of the Past) or the very nice trade dresses will merge and do things with my brain. I must stop at two.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 23, 2018 16:04:42 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 23, 2018 17:45:59 GMT
Ok, Ralph will have three Epic Collections then.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 23, 2018 17:51:14 GMT
We must have a conversation about which of my trades you covet just in case they get Epiced. I had those Simonson volumes, still have the third.
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 23, 2018 17:53:22 GMT
I am not falling down the Epic Collection rabbit hole! They are too expensive!
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 23, 2018 18:00:26 GMT
But as you know I am deep down that rabbit hole. Even now existing trades are getting supplanted by epic collections. So if there's something there you want, say, and I'll set it aside for you when the time comes.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 24, 2018 17:50:53 GMT
I am not falling down the Epic Collection rabbit hole! But as you know I am deep down that rabbit hole. What falling down the Epic Collection rabbit hole currently looks like: (excuse the things in the way)  (5 SW volumes on another shelf, new New Mutants volume sitting upstairs, new Avengers and Masters of Kung-Fu volumes paid for) |
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Post by Pinwig on Mar 24, 2018 18:33:09 GMT
Are those shelves IKEA Ivars? I'm intending to buy some next week but wasn't quite sure how sturdy they would be for books, but they don't look like they're bending there.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 24, 2018 18:47:35 GMT
As related previous, three sharing uprights did tend to keel forward at one end for reasons I'm not sure of. We ended up bolting these to the wall!
Separate stand alone units, properly braced at the back, are fine.
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Post by blueshift on Mar 24, 2018 18:57:26 GMT
Aha I see that "Essential Internet Guide" on the bottom left. That's where Phil gets all his power from!
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Post by Pinwig on Mar 24, 2018 19:04:51 GMT
I was going to go for the 50cm deep ones, I'd planned to screw the uprights to the wall anyway because I had some success years back doing that to a cheaper equivalent from Argos. Right. I'll get some of those next week. Holiday job.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 26, 2018 19:31:28 GMT
New Epics ! www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_date-desc-rank?unfiltered=1&qid=1397466506&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_30%3Amarvel%2Cp_28%3Aepic+collection&sort=date-desc-rankAmazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Venom www.amazon.com/dp/1302911422COLLECTING: VOL. 18: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) 295-310, ANNUAL 22; WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) 33; PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) 133
Sep 11, 2018
McFarlane Spider-Man!
Vs 17 & 20 are out. The ASM issues are exactly what I predicted upthreadBeen thinking about what Epic collections I'd like to see next: Spider-Man - 14 (up to 258), 16 (273-288 GN22: Hooky marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Marvel_Graphic_Novel_Vol_1_22), 18 (295-310 ? Annual 22) or 19 (311?-325 Annual 23) - those last 2 are the McFarlane Volumes though! Iron Fist Epic Collection: The Fury of Iron Fist www.amazon.com/dp/1302912844COLLECTING: VOL. 1: MARVEL PREMIERE (1972) 15-25, IRON FIST (1975) 1-15, MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) 63-64
Sep 25, 2018
Odd one this as it's already out! www.amazon.co.uk/Iron-Fist-Epic-Collection-Fury/dp/078519164X/
Do they actually mean Power Man & Iron Fist v3? Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Menace Revealed Vol. 1 www.amazon.com/dp/1302913735COLLECTING: STAR WARS: JANGO FETT - OPEN SEASONS 1-4; STAR WARS (1998) 7-18; MATERIAL FROM STAR WARS TALES 8, 21-24
Oct 2, 2018 Thor Epic Collection: The Fall of Asgard www.amazon.com/dp/1302912747COLLECTING: VOL. 5: THOR (1966) 175-194
Oct 9, 2018
First Epic to 5 consecutive volumes! Avengers West Coast Epic Collection: How The West Was Won www.amazon.com/dp/1302914235COLLECTING: VOL. 1: WEST COAST AVENGERS (1984) 1-4, IRON MAN ANNUAL 7, AVENGERS (1963) 250, WEST COAST AVENGERS (1985) 1-7, VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH (1985) 1-2, WONDER MAN (1986) 1
Oct 9, 2018
Result! They saw Burns coming. Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Master of the Mystic Arts www.amazon.com/dp/1302911384COLLECTING: VOL. 1: STRANGE TALES (1951) 110-111, 114-146; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL (1964) 2
Oct 30, 2018 Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic Vol. 4 www.amazon.com/dp/1302913832COLLECTING: STAR WARS: HEIR TO THE EMPIRE 1-6, STAR WARS: DARK FORCE RISING 1-6, STAR WARS: THE LAST COMMAND 1-6
Oct 30, 2018 Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: The Leader Lives www.amazon.com/dp/1302913131Volume 3
COLLECTING: TALES TO ASTONISH (1959) 97-101, INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) 102-117, ANNUAL (1968) 1, MATERIAL FROM NOT BRAND ECHH (1967) 9
Nov 13, 2018 X-Men Epic Collection: The Sentinels Live www.amazon.com/dp/1302912755VOL. 3: X-MEN (1963) 46-66; MATERIAL FROM KA-ZAR (1970) 2-3, MARVEL TALES (1966) 30
Nov 27, 2018 |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 26, 2018 19:54:41 GMT
James' post upthread becomes very relevant again: On the subject of Epic Collections with the least number of issues of the named title in, what's going to be in X-Men Epic Volume 4? Volume 2 takes us to X-Men #45 and we know Vol 5 starts with Giant Size #1 and then X-Men #94 onwards. I'd assume Vol 3 would be the rest of the original 60s issues [#46-66]. Bang on the money there Jim! Going by the X-Men Masterworks it's likely to contain: X-Men #67-93 covers
Marvel Team-Up #4 [X-Men], 23 [Iceman], 38 [Beast]
Amazing Adventures #11-17 [Beast stories]
Incredible Hulk #150 [Havok], 161 [Beast], 172 [Juggernaut], 180-181 [Wolverine]
Amazing Spider-Man #92 [Iceman]
Avengers #110-111 [Magneto]
Captain America #172-175 [Banshee, X-Men]
Defenders #15-16 [Magneto]
Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 [Multiple Man] Other X-character appearances during the reprint era which weren't in the X-Men Masterworks: Avengers #88 [Prof X]
Shanna the She-Devil #5 [Prof X]
Adventure into Fear #20 [Prof X & Cyclops in a flashback sequence over a couple of pages] |
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Post by Jaymz on Mar 26, 2018 20:23:03 GMT
Bah, I want more Claremont X-Men, why won't they release exactly what I want???
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 27, 2018 12:24:09 GMT
But as you know I am deep down that rabbit hole. What falling down the Epic Collection rabbit hole currently looks like: (excuse the things in the way) flic.kr/p/FN8yLM(5 SW volumes on another shelf, new New Mutants volume sitting upstairs, new Avengers and Masters of Kung-Fu volumes paid for) And without the obstructions (and with 2 more books)  |
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 27, 2018 16:54:45 GMT
Ralph needs more Epic Collections.
-Ralph
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Post by Kingoji on Mar 27, 2018 19:44:32 GMT
Spider-Man and Hulk will be partaken.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 27, 2018 19:55:50 GMT
Spider-Man and Avengers West Coast are the highlights here for me. Both are a bit unexpected: I thought the McFarlane Spider-Man we'd have to wait for to keep the Hardcovers in print and profitable for a while yet. The lure of a big solid run from this point is tempting too: | EPIC | ISSUES | ANNUAL | OTHERS | | 15 Ghosts of the Past | 259-272 | 18-19 | | | 16 | 273-288 | | Graphic Novel 22 Hooky
Spiderman UK 607-610? | | 17 Kraven's Last Hunt | 289-294 | 20-21 | Spider-Man vs Wolverine; Web of Spider-Man #29-32
Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132 | | 18 Venom | 295-310 | 22 | Spectacular Spider-Man #133, Web of Spider-Man #33 | | 19 | 311-325 | 23 | Graphic Novel Parallel Lives | | 20 Cosmic Adventures | 326-333 | 24 | Spectacular Spider-Man #158-160, Annual #10;
Web of Spider-Man #59-61, Annual #6 | | 21 Return of the Sinister Six | 224-350 | | Spider-Man: Spirits of the Earth | | 22 Robin Bound | 351-360 | 25 | Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #11;
Web Of Spider-Man Annual #7 |
The WCA volume is very welcome, I look forward to a complete paperback reprint of the title. So we've had WCA and Marvel Two In One start this year: MARVEL TEAM UP PLEASE! |
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 27, 2018 20:01:46 GMT
My most wished for Epic Collections would be reprints of the Marvel Handbooks. I had all the Essentials and most of the modern ones in floppy formats but a series of life events mean that I now have none of them.  -Ralph |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 27, 2018 21:50:52 GMT
My most wished for Epic Collections would be reprints of the Marvel Handbooks. I had all the Essentials and most of the modern ones in floppy formats but a series of life events mean that I now have none of them. -Ralph I have the original trades and the Essentials. But I also have money for Epic Collections! |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 28, 2018 9:55:40 GMT
New Mutants Epic Collection: Curse of the Valkyries in paper form is in the post to me. MARTIN: I think you need this as it contains a lot of uncollected New Mutants from Inferno onwards. VOL. 6: X-TERMINATORS 1-4, NEW MUTANTS 71-85 Ugh. I have for a long time said that people who slag Rob Liefield off need to read the New Mutants issues before he took charge. I just have and they're dreadful! www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/series.php?seriesid=4050&page=galleryI'm not that keen on Brett Blevins art anyway but reading this volume makes it clear how much it varies according to inker. Al Williamson is good, Blevins himself, but apart from that..... The inker is rotating anyway but as the book goes on the penciller changes every issue too. One of best looking issues out the whole volume is 75, which pencilled by Byrne but even then it doesn't look up to his usual standard. The inker is Bob McLeod who I have plenty of time for usually (Hercules in TF UK) but together it's not a match made in heaven. The other decent looking issue is 78, drawn by Rick Leonardi, who's someone whose art I've grown to like a lot over the years but again something's not quite right here. Williamson inking again, another artist I like so again maybe not an ideal match. 81 is a deadline doom fill in that's been in the drawer since Claremont was writer 2+ years back so we'll sort of excuse that, and it's after 83 the artist merry go round really starts: 83 is the last Blevins/Williamson, 84 is Terry Shoemaker with our old friend Al Milgrom inking and 85 is Geof Isherwood with former penciller Bret Blevins inking! I'm not sure the art is the worst problem here, the story is more the issue. Having had a recent re-read the contrast between Claremont & Louise Simonson is stark and, despite her success elsewhere with X-Factor and Power Pack, I don't think she was a great match for the title anyway. Her X-Factor work also gets a little stale around the time this book is out with the Celestials storyline I've ranted about upthread. We start off with the 3 issues of New Mutants involved with Inferno (71-73) and the four issues of X-Terminators that tie into the same events. No problems there. The three issue aftermath (74-76) separating the kids from Magneto and allying them with X-Factor, bringing in the four older X-Terminators, no problem. 77 & 78 kick something off with Mirage's Valkyrie powers and those first two issues are ok but when they end up in Asgard (80) it all goes to pieces. And the Asgard story goes on and on. It's still running at the end of the book (85) and isn't resolved in the next issue (86). While this extended storyline is going on we keep getting a page or so of the two New Mutants left behind in issue 78 and to be honest I find their story more interesting that the attempt to do an exciting adventure in Asgard. 10 months is a long time to keep a story going: Back in the day I lost interest early on and stopped buying the title for the only time in it's run. I came back on board for issue 87 which I also re-read last night and was like a breath of fresh air! But the worst thing is that right through the Asgard story you know how it's going to end! The same month New Mutants 80 came out New Mutants Annual 5 comes out showing the New Mutants shortly after their return to Earth. Right through the following story you're waiting for them to get there and it just doesn't happen until c issue 88. VERY poor planning. I've got New Mutants Annual 5 *somewhere* in the long boxes, must dig it out. It's got Liefield's first work on the title in it too which was I think what got him the regular gig. At the time it was also not helped that another X-Book, Excalibur, is also playing out another prolonged "heroes away from their usual setting" story in The Cross Time Caper - see posts upthread - and during it Claremont kicks off a story where he scatters the X-Men to the four winds. Possibly editorial should have seen the similarities and intervened.... but this is shortly after Bob Harras ascended to the X-Throne. So yeah. First time reading some of the latter issues in this book and they didn't jell with me at all. It's not good stuff. Liefield issues on the iPad to read next as a comparison. Read 86 already and it's so much better than this. |
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Post by Jim on Mar 28, 2018 22:15:34 GMT
New Mutants Epic Collection: Curse of the Valkyries in paper form is in the post to me. MARTIN: I think you need this as it contains a lot of uncollected New Mutants from Inferno onwards. Ugh. I have for a long time said that people who slag Rob Liefield off need to read the New Mutants issues before he took charge. I just have and they're dreadful! Well, I haven't read those preceeding issues and I was _very_ pleasantly surprised when I started reading the Liefeld stuff in the Premier HCs! Even without knowing what came before they have a real energy to them, which continues even past his run with Nicieza's writing. If you take a snapshot of his art from this period and look at it out of context, sure his anatomy and perspective are all over the place, but read as part of a fun comic I hardly noticed at all (Heroes Reborn Avengers on the other hand was not a fun comic, and as my first contact with his work it soured me on him for a long time). |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Mar 30, 2018 21:37:45 GMT
I love Rob Liefeld comics.
What you see in those New Mutants/X-Force and early Youngblood days is someone clearly having fun drawing comics and enjoying them. It always marked him out (and Erik Larsen to a slightly lesser extent) from the rest of the Image big yins. He was having a blast doing all of this and it does come through in the work, however many rough edges there were to it.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 30, 2018 21:47:29 GMT
While I am not a fan of his work, Liefeld himself does seem to be a fun fellow and I do like that he is still pumping out comics when financially he probably doesn't have to. I get the impression he does it because he enjoys it. I certainly have more time for him than a certain other Image 'superstar'.
-Ralph
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