Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities The All Avengers Thread

The problem with the Omnibus is that his run is divided almost right down the middle between Milgrom and Buscema. Perhaps the first Omnibus could sweeten the pot by including the first few Buscema issues (the arc popularly known as either The Nebula Saga or The Legacy of Thanos?)

I just thought of something else related to this -- as mediocrely scripted as the Heavy Metal arc (286-290) is, it IS drawn by Buscema and the first two issues ARE plotted by Stern. So if the first Omnibus covers issues 227-260, then the second can cover 261-290, and it more-or-less evens out!

I guess it's a question of whether Marvel will want to wait until its regular Avengers Omnibuses (currently on Vol. 4 and around half of the Englehart era) catch up to Stern or if they think it merits separate packaging. It would be years down the road if they go with the current volumes. Spider-man and FF felt that Stern's run on the former and Byrne's on the latter merited separate treatment. Obviously, other popular ones like MacFarlane's Spidey got it as well. I think Stern on Avengers merits this. We'll see.....

We can hope.

I've been thinking some more about this era. I came to the conclusion that what makes it special is the way it ticks off more of the right boxes than any other era from the past 40 years. Certain other creators provided storylines and characters which have sentimental value to me, but Stern's Avengers feel the most...I guess the word I'm looking for is "quintessential." Stern's runs on Captain America, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man feel equally quintessential to me. They may not be everyone's favorite eras, but I believe you'll find very few fans who outright dislike Stern's works. In a modern fandom which has, sadly, come to be defined by a toxic polarity, Stern's 80s work for Marvel feels especially comforting.

A new collection of Marvel comics from various eras focuses on stories which reveal key aspects of the Eternals mythos:

https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=52330268

One issue included is Avengers #361, by Steve Epting & Bob Harras.

I'm happy, happy, happy, happy!

I don't remember this one although I should have collected it.
Was it good Ann?

It's better than good, Stile, it's superb! If you can find a copy, or if you can find it online, I give it the highest possible recommendation.

I'll check it out then. Thanks!

Avengers: Heroes Reborn 2021 preview:

https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/marvel-comics-announces-heroes-reborn

One or two intriguing images, but overall...YAWN.

OTOH, it can't be much worse than Jason Aaron's Avengers run. What a letdown that's turned out to be!

Hmm. Yes a couple of intrguing mashups and hints or just tease of DC influence. Hard to pick any that actually say "Avengers" though. We'll see.

UPDATE on Heroes Reborn 2021:

https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/the-marvel-universe-without-avengers

Strike One: Aaron and McGuinness are still the creative team

Strike Two: It's the same plot as House of M.

Strike Three: The first two are bad enough, we don't even need a third.

Typical. I buy the Avengers Masterworks on sale in good faith, only to end up in a paradox as the Avengers never existed! Thanks a bunch Marvel!

It'll be all right, Thoth. In six months, they'll be retconned back into existence.

Are you sure? The hyperbole involved in every comic Event suggest long lasting, irrevocable changes...oh, no... never mind. I'm back already.

Thoth, I'm curious -- how many Avengers Masterworks volumes have you gotten so far? And what are your immediate impressions?

I've got 4 or 5 of them, plus the first masterworks of the likes of Thor, FF, Shield, Hulk and Iron Man. The first volumes were less than a quid, and the later ones less than 2 quid. Far too good to turn down.

With DC and their Justice League you got expansionist stories. Interchangeable, square jawed heroes would reach out to the stars, defeating villains in large scope, high concept stories mirroring the Golden Age of science fiction writing, where a number of the writers/ editors came from.

With Marvel, and the Avengers, you get insular stories. Flawed characters rage against themselves and nearly anyone within earshot to find their place in the world, as they are threatened from within, or with the Mole Man, below, mirroring the monster Comics which preceded Marvel.

After getting into the second one, where I'm now at, I was noticing that Don Heck's art hadn't reached out and grabbed me. Then I realised that's because it's so good it had been effortlessly carrying me through the stories. I'd first seen him mainly on the much later JLA issues. While they were okay to my eyes, I confess to it being a bit of a step down from the likes of the Perez, Patton and some others I'd got used too that early on.

Back then, I'd have read my first Sekowsky JLA stories. Like Heck, the art took everything thrown at it, and propelled you through the tale. The cast might have looked old and less than the idealised figures we'd get used to seeing. Later, I'd think it a little dated. But when you see Sekowsky's work on something he had more control over, or even more when he had the time, you saw just how talented he always was. The JLA issues, that he relentlessly got out every single month, were condensed versions of the artist, necessary to meet the deadlines. It takes a real craftsman to be able to adjust and get that level of quality out each month.

I mention this, as you can see the same thing with Heck. This is a monthly gig, and perhaps not the only one. But there's loads of craft in there. Sometimes it's so effortless, I'm onto the next scene when I realise I've just seen a really superb panel.

Um...sorry, Thoth, but I have seen very little Heck work I've found satisfying and absolutely zero Sekowsky work I've found satisfying.

Part of if is, to paraphrase what you say, that the cast looks too old and not idealized enough. Perhaps I have a lot more of a problem with that than you do? As He Who Wanders says, your mileage may vary.

Moreover, I don't think it's enough for a comic book artisan to be able to tell a story without calling attention to themselves. There has to be *something* extra, something stylish and distinctive, or else I find it lacking.

Finally, while I do agree that it's admirable how this generation of artisans were able to have individual golden moments under such tough deadlines, I think there are ones other than Heck and Sekowsky who averaged far more of them per issue.

If you're partway through Volume 2, then you should be just about at the point where I think the quality of the book takes a big leap, script-wise and art-wise. A lot of that has to do with Heck getting better inkers, even though none stuck around for more than a few issues. Overall, I like issues 20 through 30 best of the Heck/Lee Avengers era. I look forward to learning what you think.

At last, at long last, the entire Gatherers Saga in one omnibus volume:

https://www.amazon.com/Avengers-Gat...7918a8a016b74d3c7b986&language=en_US

I'm in!

YAY!

Hmm. Sounds interesting. This was just after my comic -collecting stopped back then. the last Avengers story I have is Galactic Storm. When I have heard the Gatherers mentioned I would get them confused with the Brethren which I didn't really enjoy (Celestial enhanced microbes in human form was a stretch too far for me). The Gatherers sound much more interesting. I will have to think about this one.

Hope you decide to give it a chance. But, looking objectively at what you said, I have to admit there is a strong possibility you might not enjoy this story if you didn't enjoy The Collection Obsession/The Brethren storyline. It's from the same creative team.

Fick, if you're lurking out there, I ordered it this week!

Hi, Lardy,

I haven't been lurking, but a kind & helpful Legion Worlder alerted me to your shout-out. Thank you!

I'm still figuring out what my exact future with Legion World is, but I can certainly see myself continuing to be at least semi-active here in the Gy'mll's forum.

Hope you enjoy "The Gathering," and if & when you review it, I will absolutely be happy to discuss it with you in this thread!