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| Images copyright DC COMICS |
Nope, hadn't forgotten, even if it has been around three months since the first two parts in this series of SECRET ORIGINS cover galleries. So let's not waste another second of boring intro from me, let's get straight into the pretty piccies. (Before we do though, what about that DOLL MAN? Somebody surely must have been high when they came up with that stinker of a name. I can't see criminals trembling at the sound of it. Laughing, yes - trembling, no.)
I have never seen these. Love the Murphy Anderson art! I was going to say I love that Bolland cover but I do not. The Sandman looked great but Guy Gardner..nope. And I just don't understand why Bolland draws certain characters, who are heroes, with strange evil looking faces. Hal Jordan looks like the devil. He's done that before, I remember he did a Clark Kent who also looked like some sort of evil Spock. It's strange because usually I love his work.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for Skyman let us just pretend that never happened shall we. If you don't repost that story I won't mention it.
Some really nice artwork here especially that great Bolland Green Lantern(s) cover and Murphy Anderson Doll Man strip (yeah I agree even for the golden age that was a daft name). This version of "Secret Origins" was always worth looking at as it usually had some interesting art and stories but personally I always preferred the original reprint series.
ReplyDeleteOkay, PS, it's a deal. I won't mention - h'mm, I've forgotten what I wasn't going to mention. That's handy.
ReplyDelete******
I haven't read past the first few issues, PM, so I can't really comment with any authority on the run. However, some good artists aside, I had the distinct impression that a lot of the stories were drawn by 'B' or 'C' listers. For origin stories, they seemed to lack the dynamism that one expects from a hero's 'debut'. I'd agree that the original reprint series had the edge, but my collector's mentality meant I had to buy all 50 issues of the new series at the time. (I'd started, so I had to finish.)
I only ever bought issues of this version of "Secret Origins" that had artists I liked such as Kevin Maguire, Michael T Gilbert, Stephen De-Stephano, John Byrne etc but as you say a lot of the artists were very much in the " B" list category. I ve never been a big fan of most origin stories (Dr Strange being my favourite) but I would agree even taking that into account that the origins here were not great rushed due to page count I assume.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I love that Bolland cover I do see what Phil means I have seen that less than heroic "look" in some of Bollands covers but I quite like that.
I really must read them sometime, even if it's only the characters that interest me. For some odd reason I couldn't find issue #29 at the time, and only acquired it a few months back, thereby completing the set. Talking of origins, my favourite Marvel ones are Thor, Iron Man and Dr. Strange. They just have something extra-special about them. Of course, The FF and Spidey are up there too. As for DC origins - well, they seemed to be functional in explaining the heroes' reasons for being, but they never quite seemed to have the impact that Marvel's had (that I remember anyway).
ReplyDeleteThat's strange as issue 29 is one of the very few comics I am after (for the Red Tornado -original character - origin by the brilliant Sheldon Mayer. Thor is another origin that I like a lot. DC origins (even Batman for me) were never as good but I do like Spectre (golden age and the 70s version) and Deadman origins even although they are pretty standard fare (in Deadmans case a bit daft),
ReplyDeleteI read #29 the day it arrived in the mail (obtained via eBay), but I can now remember nothing about it, PM. That's either because my memory's not what it once was, or because the issue was unmemorable (or perhaps a combination of both). I'll leave it to you to decide when you finally acquire a copy.
ReplyDeleteI would assume based on the premise of the original Red Tornado (a big woman with a pan on her head etc) and the fact Mr Mayer's style was not what comic fans at this time liked (and he was getting on a bit by this time) that this story was only done in 2 or 3 pages - I can't actually recall who the main origin character was for this issue so probably a boring character (to me at least).
ReplyDeleteJust dug it out to take a look at for you, PM. Red Tornado is 3 pages, and I remember it now after seeing it again. The ish also contained the origins of The Atom and Mr. America (alias The Americommando).
ReplyDeleteThanks Kid - I thought it would be one of those small 3 pager origins so wont pay a lot for this when/if I see it. I have never heard of Mr America / The Americommando though.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of him before either (that I can remember). You should be able to pick up a good copy of of this ish for about 3 or 4 pounds I'd say - tops.
ReplyDeleteJust looked on eBay. There are a few available now, starting bids 99p, some copies to buy at the prices I mentioned. Even cheaper from America, but don't be fooled. Postage from the States can be anything from £15 to £20, even when the comic is just over £1.