Retro-Read #5 Avengers: Fairy Tales

May 7, 2010

Retro-Read #5 Avengers: Fairy Tales

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 7:53 am

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Number of Issues: 4
First Issue: May 2008 ($2.99)
Last Issue: December 2008 ($2.99)
Writer: C.B. Cebulski
Artist: various

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

This is a mini-series comprised of four done-in-one stories. Each issue reimagines a classic fairy tale using characters from the Avengers.

Issue one tells the tale of Peter Pan (Captain America) as he brings two siblings (Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch) back to Neverland. When they’re attacked by Captain Hook (Klaw), they’re joined by Tinkerbell (Wasp) and the Lost Boys (other Avengers) to defeat the villain and his henchmen.

Next up is a re-imagining of Pinocchio with Hank Pym playing the role of Geppetto and the Vision as the son trying to find his humanity. Naturally, no Vision/Pym story would be complete without the Ultron and Jocasta. And we all know that a Pinocchio story needs a Jiminny Cricket … even if it’s filled by the Wasp!

The third issues follows Cassie Lang as she explores Wonderland, encountering the Caterpillar (Ant-Man), Chesire Cat (Tigra), and other familiar characters (filled by the Young Avengers).

Finally, the She-Hulk is joined by a scarecrow (Thor), a tin man (Iron Man) and a cowardly lion (Captain America) on a mission to reunite the Wizard of Oz (Magneto) with his estranged daughter (Scarlet Witch).

The Bad: The only thing I can pick on this series for is that each tale could easily have been fleshed out into a four issue mini series of its own.

the Good: The artwork in each story did a wonderful job of fulfilling that unique storybook quality. All four stories are familiar and embedded in our cultural fabric so seeing them reinvisioned is no sleight to the original. And, seeing them played by Avengers characters makes it even more fun. Besides, where else can you find the line “No More Munchkins“?

The Verdict: Fans of these stories are often curious to see them told in many different ways and styles. Well, here’s yet another way … told with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Fans of the Avengers, who are familiar with these stories, will get a kick out of seeing how much thought was put into the “casting”.

On Ebay: Avengers | Fairy Tales | C.B. Cebulski

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May 6, 2010

Famous Fan Mail #5 William Stout

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 7:29 am

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

William Stout has had work featured in comics, usually dealing with lizards or dinosaurs. His illustrations of dinosaurs have gone on to inspire the creators of movies like the Land Before Time and Jurassic Park. He was the production designer of the Masters of the Universe movie and has worked on at least thirty other films including Conan, Return of the Living Dead and the Prestige. With all these impressive credits to his name, he still finds time to keep up with independent comics once in a while. One such book was Diebold, A Silent Partner‘s Production, published from 1994-1995. In fact, he even got a letter published in issue #2, which you can read below.

On Ebay: Willliam Stout | Diebold

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May 5, 2010

Glow in the Dark Comics #2 Evil Ernie: Revenge

Filed under: Glow in the Dark Comics — Doorman @ 9:23 am

During the speculator boom in the 1990s comic book market, publishers enhanced comic covers to increase sales. These gimmicks included shiny foil, holograms and even pop-ups! But, one of the coolest enhancements was the glow in the dark cover. Let’s shed some light on the subject, shall we?

Evil Ernie: Revenge #1 Publisher: Chaos! Comics
Cover Date: October 1994
Cover Price: $2.95
Cover Artist: Steven Hughes

Evil Ernie was an ongoing series originally published by Eternity Comics. After six issues, he later became one of the flagship characters for Chaos! Comics. His first mini series, Evil Ernie: Resurrection, lasted four issues as did his second mini-series, Evil Ernie: Revenge. To celebrate its first issue, Chaos! enhanced the Steven Hughes cover with a glow in the dark finish that illuminuates Lady Death as well as Ernie’s face and claws.

On Ebay: Evil Ernie

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May 4, 2010

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #5

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 7:10 am

After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.

In 1995, Marvel Comics made a bold move by temporarily cancelling all of the then-current X-Titles (their best-selling comics). Each series was replaced by a four-issue mini-series showing what that team would look like in the Age of Apocalypse alterniverse. Prior to these series hitting the market, X-Men: Alpha presented a first look at this strange, new world. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Marvel hired mega-popular Joe Madureira to provide the cover art for the book and gave it an enhanced cover, as well.

Years prior to this, Marvel had an ongoing series entitled What The –?! that spoofed on themselves as well as other comic companies. It lasted for 26 issues and was canceled in 1993. However, in the same vein of this canceled parody series came 1995’s Marvel Riot, a one-shot special with an all-new target to poke fun at: the Age of Apocalypse! And, what better way to kick off the fun-poking than to start off with a satirical cover swipe?!

X-Men: Alpha #1
February 1995
Joe Madureira

Marvel Riot #1
December 1995
Hilary Barta

On Ebay: X-Men | Age of Apocalypse | Joe Madureira | Marvel Riot | Hilary Barta

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May 3, 2010

One-Shot At Greatness #5 the Skunk: Unmasked

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 6:53 am

Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

the Skunk: Unmasked by Bill Maus Publisher: Entity Comics
Cover Date: December 1996
Cover Price: $2.75
Writer: Bill Maus
Artist: Bill Maus

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

The Skunk and Macy are sent on a mission by the government to stop the Roll and Cyber-Licious from hijacking a satellite. Cyber-Licious and the Roll are on a mission to use the satellite to brainwash the inhabitants of Earth to act violently. I’ll let you in on a little secret here … only one of these duos is going to succeed in their mission.

In the battle that follows, the Roll removes the Skunk’s mask! (Something that had not been done in the six issues of the ongoing Skunk series). However, the “shocking” site is quite a large let-down and certainly doesn’t live up to the hype on the cover.

As with every other Skunk comic, the series is light and fun with nice, slick artwork. All action … no characterization … and farts.