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| Images copyright MARVEL COMICS |
It was originally intended to be a single-series revolving-door showcase mag for a roster of MARVEL's mightiest heroes, but no sooner had the 1st ish hit the stands than those plans underwent revision. GIANT-SIZE SUPER-STARS #1 starred The FANTASTIC FOUR, with the second issue scheduled to feature none other than your friendly neighbourhood SPIDER-MAN. (PETER PARKER's amazing alter-ego would doubtless be first choice to launch any new alternating series nowadays, but, back then, the Fab Four were still accorded premier position in the Mighty Marvel firmament of Super-Stars.)
However, it soon became apparent to the 'powers-that-be' that, rather than restrict the idea to one title, it would be potentially more profitable to give each chosen group or hero their own giant-size mag. And so, Spidey was awarded his own 68 page comicbook series and what would've been the 2nd issue of Super-Stars evolved into GIANT-SIZE FANTASTIC FOUR #2, followed by another four successive issues over the course of the next fourteen months or so.
There were quite a number of different titles in the various Giant-Size quarterly series on sale back in '74-'75. GIANT-SIZE SPIDER-MAN, GIANT-SIZE AVENGERS, GIANT-SIZE CONAN, GIANT-SIZE CAPTAIN MARVEL, GIANT-SIZE DOCTOR STRANGE, GIANT-SIZE DRACULA, GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS and a host of others got the same treatment, proving the when Marvel has an idea, they exploit it to the full. However, it's only the good ol' FF that we're concerned with today.
I didn't even know of the existence of these mags at the time they first came out - it wasn't until 1979 or '80 that I obtained the 1st issue when I ordered it unseen from a back issue dealer in Bournemouth. And it was a battered copy containing only the main story, the back-up features having been 'surgically' removed from the comic. It must have been sometime around the mid-'90s perhaps, before I was able to obtain the full six issue set and finally see the complete contents of issue #1. (Only to find that the missing pages were pin-ups reprinted from FF ANNUAL #1, which had been in my collection for some time.)
The main stories in the first four issues were all brand-new material, with reprints from the early days of the FF as back-up content. (Annual #1, and regular issues #13, 21 & 28.) The last two in the series reprinted FF Annuals #5 & 6 as their main features, with #5 also including another tale from the quartet's early days. (Issue #15, and not the MOLECULE MAN story from #20 as erroneously stated on the cover-blurb.)
So, let's return to an earlier, more innocent time; the seemingly sun-soaked, carefree days of the sizzling '70s, and enjoy all six scintillating covers in their full, unadulterated, cataclysmic glory. And if you had any or all of these mags back in the day and would like to leave a comment, then don't let anyone try and stop you.
Giant Size FF #1 was re-printed in the UK as an FF Summer Special in 1979.
ReplyDeleteThe Giant-Size issues were my introduction to Marvel, along with the Marvel Treasury Editions. Where I lived, it was really hard to keep up with multi-issue stories, so I was always reluctant to jump into the regular series. The Giant-Sizes were usually one-off (at least the ones I read, other than Avengers) and they also included reprints of older stories. When the latter issues went all-reprint, I think I got nearly all of them.
ReplyDeleteI know, CJ, 'cos I've still got the one I bought back then.
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I'm not a fan of those multi-issue tales, G (with the exception of the classic Lee/Ditko Dr. Strange drama where he was pursued by Baron Mordo). I don't mind occasional 4 part adventures, but I much prefer single stories where, continuing sub-plots aside, the main tale is done and dusted in one ish.
I was there for these when they first dropped onto the racks and it was way exciting. Getting additional adventures of those robust Marvel heroes was all I wanted back then. (Aside from a date with a girl.) These filled the bill nicely and I loved the larger format. DC was experimenting with the 100-Pagers at around this same time and comics were available in large chunks before the days of Showcase, Essential, and Epic volumes. The Avengers giants were even in continuity! Yahoo!
ReplyDeleteRip Off
Funny to think back and realise that comics were once the most important things in our lives, eh, RJ? (Apart - and even then it's a maybe - from that oft-elusive date with a girl - ANY girl.)
ReplyDeleteKid, wasn't that FF Summer Special actually called Marvel Superheroes Summer Special?
ReplyDeleteYour listing of Giant-Size titles omitted the greatest of all - and how did it get past the Comics Code? - Giant-Size Man-Thing!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was, CJ, but I knew what you meant. Essentially, the Special was mainly about the FF, with a Surfer story from an FF Annual as a back-up tale. So although it was called Marvel Superheroes, it was really an FF 'vehicle'. There's a piccie of it on the blog I'm sure.
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It wasn't meant to be an exhaustive list, O - there were quite a few Giant-Size titles I didn't mention. It got past the Code because it wasn't the giant-size man-thing that nature gifted me with.
CJ, I seem to recall there being a Lee/Ditko Dr. Strange back-up tale as well, but the main story was an FF one, which took up most of the mag (I think).
ReplyDeleteI only ever saw Giant Size Man Thing 4 at the time, which I bought as it had Howard the Duck by Gerber and Brunner. I also picked up a couple of Giant Size Chillers a few years later which were really good.
ReplyDeleteI've also got Giant-Size Avengers, Power-Man, Spider-Man, and perhaps Invaders - and maybe one or two others, McS. You know you're getting old when you can't remember what comics you've got (or not). Don't think I've got the ones you mention though.
ReplyDeleteOk, she's no Paige Spirinac, but shouldn't Susie be on more than one cover?
ReplyDeleteI suppose depicting invisibility in a dramatic and exciting way is kind of difficult, which is why she's not seen so much on the covers. (Hey, see what I did there?)
ReplyDeleteGood collection. Sue wasn't a member at the time, replaced by Medusa.
ReplyDeleteTa. Sue was still a member in the back-up tales though, and j murphy likely means she could've been featured on a cover or two, in the same way as on #6. My comment, of course, was deliberately ignoring the reason for Sue's non-appearance for the purpose of cracking a joke.
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