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Tales To Astonish #60
The Incredible Hulk

October 9, 2014 | Drew | (No Comments)

With Tales to Astonish #60, the Hulk returns to the forefront, being given his own feature again for the first time since his own title was canceled with Incredible Hulk #6. This issues cover date being a year and a half after that fateful event. But to look back to just his last feature title, would not to the Hulk justice. In all after Incredible Hulk #6 we have had 10 appearances including the following key stories:

  • Avengers #1
  • Fantastic Four #25 and Fantastic Four #26

Then even just the prior tales To astonish we had Giant-Man vs. The Hulk, a good way to welcome him to the tile. But now that we are here, we have to ask how does his first solo story rank up? (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Tales To Astonish , ToA The Hulk
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Tales to astonish #60
The Beast of Berlin

October 8, 2014 | Drew | (No Comments)

The tale for Giant-Man and the wasp (although just barely) for Tales To Astonish#60 is a communist fighting adventure titled  “The Beast Of Berlin”.  In this tale,  Giant-man goes off alone (after telling her for the first time about how his wife died) to Communist controlled Berlin to rescue a friend captured by the communist as well as deal with the threat of a powerful weapon that he leaned about from the same friend. (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Tales To Astonish , Ant-man / Giant-Man
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Avengers #8
Kang, The Conqueror!

March 24, 2014 | Drew | (No Comments)

 

This issue is a fitting follow-up to Fantastic Four Annual #8, as in this issue we find out that we indeed know who Kang is, and that we have seen him -although briefly- in that issue.    You see Kang, The Conqueror the time traveler the Avengers are facing off in this issue, by his own admissions is the same man as Rama-Tut!  In his telling of the story, and events,  what occurred in Fantastic Four Annual #2 was a part of his recent Past.   Having traveled back to the future –in fact further into the future then whence he came.

I find myself glad, in this telling; all references and suggestions of him and Doctor Doom being one and the same removed.  Be it he came to his senses or Stan Lee decided to drop that plot idea, I know not.  But at least for now – Kang gets to be his own man.

But the big question we have to ask ourselves is how can the Avengers stop Kang with weapons from 2,000 years in the future?  Even Kang thinks it impossible, and even the Avengers need a little help from Rick Jones and the Teen Brigade.  But if you want to know just how they succeed, I would suggest you read this classic Avengers story. (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Avengers
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Sgt. Fury And His Howling Commandos #8
The Death Ray of Dr. Zemo!

March 3, 2014 | Drew | (No Comments)

You have likely already read my review of Dr. Zemo’s first avenger appearances, but now we get to see him in a World War II setting, facing against the Howling Commandos. This appearance helps to even further join this series to the main marvel universe tales taking place in the other comics. But what business does the howling commandos have with Dr. Zemo? Quite simply, they have to set out to steal a death ray he invented for the Nazi’s.

This issue, also brings with it, the first appearance of Percival “Pinky” Pinkerton, a british solder who is assigned to the commando’s to fill the spot vacated by the death of “Junior” Juniper (that happened in Sgt. Fury And His Howling Commandos #4). (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Sgt. Fury and his Howling commandos
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Avengers #6
Masters Of Evil!

October 17, 2012 | Drew | (No Comments)

Just from the first moment you look at the cover, you can get a good idea what to expect, the Avengers facing off against a team of super-villains; the Masters Of Evil.  Lead by an unknown and new menace “Zemo”, leading a cast of antagonist that each of our hero’s has faced in a solo adventure.  we have  Radioactive Man,  The Black Knight, and The Melter back and together for the first time, to stop there former opponents new team.

But will this team of Super-villains stand a better chance united then they each did on there own? and what is Zemo’s motivation?  lets just say he is being put in via retroactive continuity, as a historic Captain America opponent. (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Avengers
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Tales Of Suspense #55
A Special Bonus Featurette
All About Iron Man

August 27, 2012 | Drew | (No Comments)

This is not a comic book review in the normal way, as I see these few pages in Tales Of Suspense as a bonus section designed to give us more information and background on Iron Man and his supporting cast then  a comic story.  In fact, there is no story in this extra bit, but what follows is there:

  • a visual description on how Iron Man suit’s up.
  • A diagram of the key features of the Iron Man costume.
  • an explanation as to the limits of his powers.
  • a reason for why he keeps from getting serious with any of the woman who are after him.
  • Why Happy never smiles.
  • a Pepper Potts Pin up, with loads of information!

These few pages, is something I would suggest any fan of the early iron man stories glance over!  it was a lot of fun.

Categories: Marvel , Tales of Suspense , Iron Man
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Tales To Astonish #56
The Coming Of The Magician!

July 6, 2012 | Drew | (1 Comment)

In this issue, just as the cover promises, we see Giant-Man using his power to his advantage, and then just as the last tale foretold, we get the hint of a looming proposal from hank Pym to Janet van Dyne.   But will this story be as magical as we hope, or just a bunch of tricks?

(more…)

Categories: Marvel , Tales To Astonish , Ant-man / Giant-Man
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Spider-Man:Season One

May 9, 2012 | Drew | (No Comments)

Just as I reviewed Fantastic Four: Season One, and X-Men: Season One, I now review Spider-Man: Season One. This one featuring without a doubt one of marvel’s most famous hero’s Spider-Man, as much a classic and great back in the 60’s as he is now.  But just like the other Marvel books in the Season One event, we have his earliest tales being told again with a modern perspective.  all while trying to maintain a connection to the original continuity, to serve as a starting point for new fan’s and yet to offer something for long running fans as well.  The question’s I must ask myself in writing this review is how well it lived up to those goals, as well as how well it entertained me.

Then we have to consider that this is far from the first retelling of his early days, Just to name the ones that pop into mind right away for spider-man would be, Ultimate Spider-Man, that started in 2000,  then in 2002 we had The first of 3 films featuring spider-man Staring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker.  then this year we have a new movie set to debut and start from the beginning once again.  and i barely scratched the surface of spider-man origin retelling’s so in this case, one must keep in mind what makes this one special and different? But I will get to that, later at the end of my review. (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Marvel Season One
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Tales To Astonish #50
The Human Top!

February 29, 2012 | Drew | (No Comments)

For today’s comic book review I read Tales To Astonish #50, containing the “Giant-man and the wonderful Wasp Battling The Human Top!” But also being the first part of a two-part story (our second two-part story reviewed this week!)

This one, gives us a good focus and background for the menace of the issue, whom is nothing more than a criminal and bully named David Cannon and  known as The Human Top.

The story is told to us, almost like a background for David, starting when he was young and leading  us to the current time,  and then showing us how Giant-man almost does not see this common criminal as worth his time. Giant-Man however is quickly proven wrong, in his failed attempt to apprehend the talented criminal. (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Tales To Astonish , Ant-man / Giant-Man
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Strange Tales #115
The Origin of Dr. Strange

February 21, 2012 | Drew | (No Comments)

That’s right, after having several Dr. Strange stories under our belt, today we get to the origin of our Strange hero. but before i dive into that, if your here looking for the Human Torch story of this issue, please click here for my review of that one.

Dr. Strange is not so unlike our other marvel hero’s , and in fact may have a lot in common with the now cancelled  Dr. Droom stories.   He was a normal man, a surgeon, with very normal motives. Then like most Marvel comic hero’s  a tragic event put him though is paces and lead him down the path that changed his life forever.

But I am not going to spoil the origin for you, it is good enough to be worth reading yourself, so I suggest that you pick it up in reprint, you can get it here:Doctor Strange, Vol. 1 (Marvel Masterworks) (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Strange Tales , doctor strange
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Fantastic Four: Season One

February 16, 2012 | Drew | (No Comments)

For today’s comic book review I am braking from my trend of working up though the classics to cover one that was released recently, even if it is a retelling of stories I already read and reviewed.   Today I read the Graphic Novel Fantastic Four: Season one

but with sitting down to read and review the first such retelling for Marvels ongoing Season one releases, I have decided I was going to approach it  a bit differently then I do the classics that where completely new and original when they where released.  If you want to read more about Marvel Season One, here is a link to information from Marvel itself. (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Marvel Season One
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Sgt. Fury And His Howling Commandos #3
Midnight On Massacre Mountain!

January 23, 2012 | Drew | (No Comments)

For today’s comic book review I read Sgt. Fury And His Howling Commandos #3, and the story titled “Midnight On Massacre Mountain!“.   As Comic Book Stories go, I feel comfortable before even diving into the details of my review to say that this issue is a classic.

for a short synopsis of the story, we have Sgt Fury, and his howling commandos sent on a mission to Italy, where they meet up with a member of the O.S.S, Major Richards.  This Major fills them in on their mission,  to help an US squad that is trapped on the far side of Massacre Mountain Escape. But can the Howling commandos get the message to them in time? the story may not go just as you would expect.  (more…)

Categories: Marvel , Sgt. Fury and his Howling commandos
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Tales To Astonish #44
Ant-Man and the Wasp! Vs. The Creature From Kosmos!

December 3, 2011 | Drew | (No Comments)
tales to astonish #44

In sitting down to do my comic book review for the Ant-Man and Wasp story in Tales To Astonish #44, I realize the importance of this issue. These simple, and short facts must be stated first before I begin even thinking about being critical of the 18 page story.

This issue is the first appearance and the origin of the Wasp,  ant-man’s lovely partner, but is introduced to us first as Janet Van Dyne, the daughter of a brilliant scientist.

While I mention the wasp first, it is far from the first important element written into this issue, before we even meet the wasp, we get a good amount of depth built into the background of Dr. Henry Pym, an epic tale of love and death that will build upon the origin we already know.

(more…)

Categories: Marvel , Tales To Astonish , Ant-man / Giant-Man
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Fantastic Four Annual #1
Sub-Mariner Versus the Human Race

November 24, 2011 | Drew | (1 Comment)
Fantastic Four Annual 1#

Today for Thanksgiving, and for my last comic book review this holiday week, I present a great classic comic book.  Here we have Fantastic Four annual #1, To my research this 75 page issue came out in  July of 1963, with the feature story taking place between Fantastic Four #15 & #16.

While being a 75 page epic issue,  the feature story is only about 37 pages but the issue includes a lot more than just that, here is a complete list:

  • 37 pages for the feature story
  • 11 pages of Fantastic Four Famous Foes Pinups
  • 6 page retelling of part of Amazing Spider-Man #1, where spider-man meets the Fantastic Four
  • Reprint of the Origin of the Fantastic Four from Fantastic Four #1
For for today, a day where many of my readers will be going back for seconds and even desert, lets serve up this extra big, extra special issue, as i will discuss all that it offers below.
Categories: Marvel , Fantastic Four Vol. 1 (1961)
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Fantastic Four #11
A Visit With The Fantastic Four

October 18, 2011 | Drew | (No Comments)

Much like the last couple issues of Incredible Hulk, This issue of Fantastic Four, featured 2 stories. The first one, Titled A Visit With The Fantastic Four I will Review first. For The Impossible Man. Check out the 2nd review.

The issue starts, right away the top of page one  with the most important bit of information, and information I believe to have been fully true, not just hype.  it said, clear as day:

special Bonus to our Readers!
Presenting: The type of story most requested by your letters and post cards…
A visit with the Fantastic Four

I feel this is true, Because even I have been craving a story that gets us into the heads, history, and lives of our hero’s.  This story proved to be for the whole team what I would have hoped Strange Tales was for Johnny Storm.

Before I delve into the review, let me say one thing. This story alone, makes the issue worth reading.
(more…)

Categories: Marvel , Fantastic Four Vol. 1 (1961)
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Fantastic Four #5
Prisoners of Doctor Doom!

September 3, 2011 | Drew | (No Comments)

After the last issue of Fantastic Four knocked my sox off, I went into reading this one filled with high hopes. Would the tale that introduced Dr.Doom be as compelling and as good as the tale that reintroduced Namor?

The cover and the opening pages offered such promise, starting off with the view of our new antagonist. Then leading into the home of our hero’s.  where some character development by way of a skirmish between The Thing and The Human Torch is about to be underway.

What’s the matter with the four of us? Whenever we’re not fighting some menace to mankind, we end up fighting among ourselves!

While the issue starts off good, I must say it does not live up to the expectations I had after  last issue.

(more…)

Categories: Marvel , Fantastic Four Vol. 1 (1961)
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