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 Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
Pile UPDATE (8/9/15)
Currently Reading
Essential Spider-Man Vol. 4 (starting at ASM 78 from where Masterworks left off)
Recently Read
Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Jansen Omnibus
To-Read Pile (new stuff since last time in bold)
Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders Vol. 4
Mage Vol. 2: The Hero Defined
Legion Archives Vol. 10
West Coast Avengers Omnibus Vols. 1 & 2
Goldfish
Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus Vols. 1 & 2
Scout Vol. 2
Frank Miller's Ronin Deluxe Edition
Spider-Man by Roger Stern Omnibus
Marvel Masterworks: Silver Surfer Vol. 1
Iron Man by Michelinie, Layton & Romita, Jr. Omnibus
Tales of the Batman: Len Wein
Murder Me Dead (David Lapham)
Stray Bullets Uber Alles Edition
Amazing Spider-Man: The Original Clone Saga
Grimjack Omnibus Vol. 2
Jon Sable: Freelance Omnibus Vols. 1 & 2
Avengers Omnibus Vol. 2
Secret Six Vol. 1: Villains United
Underwater Welder
Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange Vol. 6
Lost Girls Vols 1-3
Flex Mentallo
Nemo: Heart of Ice
Nemo: Roses of Berlin
Orion by Walt Simonson Omnibus
Shaman's Tears (Mike Grell)
Howard the Duck Omnibus
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2
Marvel Masterworks: Iron Fist Vol. 2
Silver Surfer (current series) Vol. 2: Worlds Apart
Essential Spider-man Vol. 5
Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Vol. 7 (Englehart)
New Teen Titans Vol. 2
Just the Tips (a Sex Criminals companion by Fraction/Zdarsky)
Essential Spider-Man Vol. 6
Thor Omnibus Vol. 2
Marada the She-Wolf
Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle Vol. 1
Bandette Vol. 2
Thor God of Thunder (Jason Aaron) Vol. 1
Nemo: River of Ghosts
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872
More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
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More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872 |
As always, thanks for the update, Lardy. Looking forward to the next review.
I noticed you were posting a lot recently in the So What Are You Watching thread. Were you taking a breather from comics reading?
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
I noticed you were posting a lot recently in the So What Are You Watching thread. Were you taking a breather from comics reading?
Reading less, certainly. I've been binge-watching Sons of Anarchy on Netflix and Marvel's Daredevil series before that. (The latter obviously inspired me to choose the DD/Miller/Janson Omnibus from the Pile.) That's been consuming a lot of time I might have otherwise spent doing more reading. I also was focusing solely on floppies on the reading side for a couple of weeks, so that I'm not as hopelessly behind on those. REALLY behind on Pile reviews, though.... 
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
As an amusing side-note, btw, the eponymous "Pile" is now mostly located on a small 3-tier shelving (instead of the titular coffee table) that my wife bought for me because of its rather...unruly...appearance!  I may just have to modify the thread title to reflect this new reality... :nod;
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872
More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
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More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872 |
As an amusing side-note, btw, the eponymous "Pile" is now mostly located on a small 3-tier shelving (instead of the titular coffee table) that my wife bought for me because of its rather...unruly...appearance! I may just have to modify the thread title to reflect this new reality... :nod; LOL  Soon the pile will achieve sentience! 
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
LOL Soon the pile will achieve sentience! Seriously! I mean, when I went back to edit the title in the first place and looked at the original Pile list and compared it to the latest--  --at the very least, it appears to have gained the ability to reproduce exponentially!  
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872
More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
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More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872 |
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
Yesterday, I finished Silver Surfer Vol. 2: Worlds Apart, which is the second collection of the current Slott/Allred collaboration on the character. Having enjoyed the first volume immensely, I knew this was one trade that wouldn't linger in the Pile for very long. Vol. 2 certainly didn't disappoint--far from it! Worlds Apart collects issues 6-10 of the series. Issues 6 and 7 are two enjoyable standalones which focus on what it's like for Surfer to journey with earthgirl Dawn Greenwood and how she impacts the lives of him and the third regular cast member, Toomie. (Toomie is one of the unexpected delights of this series, so much so that I won't spoil here Toomie's identity here.) Both are delightful stories that showcase how a presence like Dawn's is what has been needed to humanize our historically morose and aloof hero. The real show-stopper, though, is the excellent 3-parter that concludes the trade and provides us with our inevitable Galactus story. Surfer, Dawn and Toomie happen upon a world populated exclusively by refugees of worlds consumed by Galactus. Surfer is, of course, recognized by much of the populace, and Dawn learns for the first time exactly what Surfer's former occupation was and how he came to get his powers. She doesn't take it well, and things go from bad to worse when Galactus arrives to consume this world populated by people who'd already lost their worlds to him. I won't spoil it any more, but I was really taken aback by the emotional impact this story had. If there's anything that Galactus stories typically lack, it's an emotional component to really hit home the loss that such huge cosmic devastation would bring. Well, that's certainly not the case any more as Slott and Allred manage to get me to tear up a little bit with the rousing conclusion to this tale that really speaks to the the power of the human (sentient) spirit and to the desire for redemption. It's a really beautiful story and one that the Silver Surfer really needed to have, even if you never realized it before that moment. Needless to say, Dan Slott and the Allreds really nail the story and make this trade a very memorable read despite its relative brevity. I maintain, as in the quoted Vol. 1 review below, that this is the Michael Allred work that finally causes me to connect with what he does best on every level. In short, I think he was born to draw Silver Surfer using exactly this take on the character that only he and Slott could create. Looking very much forward to Volume 3, which will be released in late October. It'll be bittersweet, though, as it will apparently be the final one in what has been nothing less than a wonderful collaboration. Wow! I just finished that Silver Surfer: New Dawn TPB and thought it was just terrific!
You know, I've sampled a number of Michael Allred projects (X-Force/X-Statics, Mad Man, FF, iZombie, among them) over the years, and none of them grabbed me the way they've grabbed others. They each lacked that certain something that would make me a fan. I don't know if it was the scripts or if there was something about Allred's art that caused some disconnect. Or maybe it was both. I don't know.
However, when this series launch was announced, I had about 90% made up my mind that I was going to pick it up. Certainly, it helped that the writer this time was Dan Slott, who has been wowing me on Amazing/Superior Spider-Man for several years now and basically resurrected my interest in buying the adventures of my favorite hero again after a long absence. Plus, the preview images just made it look like this would be the Allred project I've been needing all these years.
But then came the reviews. they were mediocre at best. "Too derivative of Dr. Who," they said. I don't honestly know why that was a turn-off for me because I've been enjoying the recent Dr. Who series for several years now. This and other "meh" reviews and that the aggregate score on Comic Book Round-up (based on numerous reviews from all over the place) put it at a solid "yellow" (on the green/yellow/red spectrum) convinced me to pass, especially as this would be another $4 book on my budget.
Well, luckily, praise from pals like Cobie and the miracle of TPBs gave me a second chance to discover this wonderful book. It's honestly hard to describe, but what it is is wonderful in every way that that word can be used. It has a sense of whimsy, is fun and light in tone, features some big universal themes and ideas, has a fresh "not your run-of-the-mill comic" vibe to it and just lets Allred spread his artistic wings in a way that has finally made me understand and appreciate his talent.
But I think what really sells it for me is the character of Dawn and how she grounds both the Surfer and the book itself with her humanity. We are immediately introduced to her and the bullet points of her backstory, and we instantly relate to her. Dawn's not the most complex character ever to grace the pages of comics, but she represents exactly what a character like Norrin Radd needs to be something more than someone who is almost as impenetrable to the reader as his silver shell is to his enemies. To see her and other characters be non-plussed and casual around him is just the take the book needed.
It just goes to show that the critics aren't always right about a book, and often it's better to go with what your gut tells you. I'm pretty pissed that I passed this over but at the same time glad I didn't miss it altogether. If the book has maintained anywhere near this level of quality, it's a crying shame that Marvel is going to end it. It may just be one of the best books on the market, right now. As it is, I hope my CBS has the remaining issues in stock, so that I don't have to wait until the next trade to be released in June!
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 34,634
Bold Flavors
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Bold Flavors
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 34,634 |
Glad to see you catching up with Volume #2. I agree wholeheartedly with all you say, and the usage of Dawn to humanize the Surfer has injected new life into the character after he's been in "character limbo" for decades. The relationship between Dawn and the Surfer (and their sidekick Toomie) is one of the best I've seen in comics in a long, long time.
I have been hearing rumors that perhaps the Silver Surfer series will continue and I really hope that's the case. It's one of the best things going in comics, and a really high point for both Slott and Allred, both of whom I love. I'm glad you've gotten a chance to connect with Allred's work through this series, Lardy!
The Galactus story which you've praised is probably the best Galactus story in 30 years. Hell, there are really only a handful of truly great Galactus stories--the first two in FF, the two Kirby Thor ones and the one by John Byrne. The rest are mostly retreads. Until now, with this incredible character piece chalk full of emotional punch.
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
I love how Toomie communicates, btw! 
I have been hearing rumors that perhaps the Silver Surfer series will continue and I really hope that's the case.
I've also heard rumors of some kind of Surfer series coming out with the latest Marvel relaunch but nothing solid. I also could swear that I've seen Allred's next post-Surfer project announced, but I can't recall what it is for the life of me. If that's true, at the very least, the dream team is broken up for any new Surfer series. (I hope, btw, that you've seen my latest entry on the All-Spider-Man Thread. It's totally Cobie Bait! )
Last edited by Paladin; 09/04/15 12:34 PM.
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,188
Legionnaire!
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Legionnaire!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,188 |
Allred has a new Vertigo series starting soon called "Art Ops", about special ops teams that track down works of art that come to life and go rogue.
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
^ I knew it was something. I'd prefer he and Slott do more Surfer.
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 31,847
Tempus Fugitive
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Tempus Fugitive
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 31,847 |
... Vertigo is a walking corpse!) But not like the Walking Dead 
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
GOOD! I will get gladly get this one as floppies.
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
Pile UPDATE (9/28/15)
Currently Reading
Avengers Omnibus Vol. 2
Recently Read
Amazing Spider-Man: The Original Clone Saga (thru ASM 151)
Essential Spider-man Vol. 5 & 6
Lost Girls Vols 1-3
To-Read Pile (new stuff since last time in bold)
Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders Vol. 4
Mage Vol. 2: The Hero Defined
Legion Archives Vol. 11
West Coast Avengers Omnibus Vols. 1 & 2
Goldfish
Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus Vols. 1 & 2
Scout Vol. 2
Frank Miller's Ronin Deluxe Edition
Spider-Man by Roger Stern Omnibus
Marvel Masterworks: Silver Surfer Vol. 1
Iron Man by Michelinie, Layton & Romita, Jr. Omnibus
Tales of the Batman: Len Wein
Murder Me Dead (David Lapham)
Stray Bullets Uber Alles Edition
Grimjack Omnibus Vol. 2
Jon Sable: Freelance Omnibus Vols. 1 & 2
Secret Six Vol. 1: Villains United
Underwater Welder
Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange Vol. 6
Flex Mentallo
Nemo: Heart of Ice, Roses of Berlin & River of Ghosts
Orion by Walt Simonson Omnibus
Shaman's Tears (Mike Grell)
Howard the Duck Omnibus
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2
Marvel Masterworks: Iron Fist Vol. 2
Silver Surfer (current series) Vol. 2: Worlds Apart
Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Vol. 7 (Englehart)
New Teen Titans Vol. 2
Just the Tips (a Sex Criminals companion by Fraction/Zdarsky)
Thor Omnibus Vol. 2
Marada the She-Wolf
Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle Vol. 1
Bandette Vol. 2
Thor God of Thunder (Jason Aaron) Vol. 1
Animal Man (Morrison) Vols. 2 & 3
On the Way
Swamp Thing (Brian K. Vaughn) Vols. 1 & 2
Locke & Key Vols. 1-6
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872
More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
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More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872 |
Currently Reading
Avengers Omnibus Vol. 2 Awesome. I'm so envious (in a good way) that you'll be reading most or all of those stories for the first time. IMO it's the cream of the Roy Thomas era, and #58 is the perfect place to end the volume. Can't wait to find out what you think.
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,894
Wanderer
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Wanderer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,894 |
Pile UPDATE (9/28/15)
On the Way
Swamp Thing (Brian K. Vaughn) Vols. 1 & 2
Locke & Key Vols. 1-6 The local graphic novel reading group is discussing Locke & Key Vol. 1 in October. It's in my stack of to-reads.
"Everything about this is going to feel different." (Saturn Girl, Legion of Super-Heroes #1)
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
Pile UPDATE (9/28/15)
On the Way
Swamp Thing (Brian K. Vaughn) Vols. 1 & 2
Locke & Key Vols. 1-6 The local graphic novel reading group is discussing Locke & Key Vol. 1 in October. It's in my stack of to-reads. I've been curious about it for a long time. It's been hard to find a good bargain on the trades, even for individual volumes. I finally got this lot containing all volumes for what amounted to $8 per volume, including shipping! I've been wondering about this Joe Hill, son of Stephen King, for a while, especially with the buzz Locke & Key has gotten. I guess I'll know more soon! 
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
Currently Reading
Avengers Omnibus Vol. 2 Awesome. I'm so envious (in a good way) that you'll be reading most or all of those stories for the first time. IMO it's the cream of the Roy Thomas era, and #58 is the perfect place to end the volume. Can't wait to find out what you think. Yep, I couldn't hold off anymore! I've now read nerarly half of it, having just finished the Red Guardian story!
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872
More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
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More Polyanna than Poison Ivy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,872 |
Currently Reading
Avengers Omnibus Vol. 2 Awesome. I'm so envious (in a good way) that you'll be reading most or all of those stories for the first time. IMO it's the cream of the Roy Thomas era, and #58 is the perfect place to end the volume. Can't wait to find out what you think. Yep, I couldn't hold off anymore! I've now read nerarly half of it, having just finished the Red Guardian story! John Buscema drew a great many-headed monster, didn't he?
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
John Buscema drew a great many-headed monster, didn't he?
Purty good, purty good! I thought it was funny how the caption had to explain what it was and how it inspired the name of SHIELD's nemesis!
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
WHEW! It's a good thing no one paid too close attention to what I'd read recently and didn't press me for more! Saves me from a rather difficult review.... 
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 34,634
Bold Flavors
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Bold Flavors
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 34,634 |
That best better not mean you ain't doing a full Spidey review! 
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Re: The Big Pile o'Trades on the Coffee Table Next to My Recliner!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248
Time Trapper
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OP
Time Trapper
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 29,248 |
I pretty much did one, Cobert! Or did you forget...?!?  
Still "Lardy" to my friends!
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