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| Copyright MARVEL COMICS |
Not long arrived here at Castel Crivens (though pre-ordered some months back), four great Facsimile Editions - one a doubler - including Silver Surfer #1, and Action Comics #242 & #419, the original of which I bought around 9 months ago. As well as the normal version of SS #1, I got the variant foil edition, though I'm not sure it will scan properly due to its silvery sheen. If it's not included in the following images then it clearly didn't.
Glad to see Marvel have gone for the square-binding of the '60s ish, instead of staples, which diminishes the historical integrity of such publications in my opinion. Hopefully, they'll reissue previous stapled reprints in their original format in the future. Good to see the foil edition has no barcode box on the front cover, instead being relegated to the back as DC now do with all their facsimiles. Wish Marvel would adopt the same approach with future standard reissues.
Also, the reproduction of the ads in the DC mags is spot-on, not having the wishy-washy, faded look to them of some previous facsimiles. Looks like they're finally getting the hang of it.
Anyway, if you don't already have these titanic titles, rush round to your nearest comics shop or get on to eBay and nab 'em for your collection. Incidentally, if you were thinking of not buying the SS #1 reprint because you already have the Fantasy Masterpieces presentation from the '70s, be aware that this issue had a few pages omitted and isn't complete. It was edited in such a way as not to be obvious, but I'm sure you'd prefer to own the complete story.
Anyway, feast your eyes on these covers.
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| Copyright DC COMICS |
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| Copyright DC COMICS |
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| Copyright MARVEL COMICS |
I picked up the Essentials for Silver Surfer a couple of years ago. The first few issues were very compelling, but it ran out of gas for me about midway through. Not sure if Stan Lee lost interest or what, but it started to be a slog after a point. Maybe I need to revisit them. Loved the Buscema art throughout though.
ReplyDeleteI think I actually enjoyed the later issues more than the earlier ones, G. 1-7 were just a tad too long sometimes. And obviously they were more thrilling to look at in colour as opposed to the b&w of the Essentials volumes.
DeleteWas Action #419 picked as it is ( I assume) the first appearance of the Human Target or is there another reason?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything about them, McS, but I think it's a safe bet it was because of The Human Target. The Neal Adams cover wouldn't have hurt its chances though. I assume #242 was chosen because it was the first appearance of Brainiac.
DeleteI'm the same as you Kid I particularly preferred the issues from 10 onwards.
ReplyDeleteMephisto was used a little too much throughout the run, in my view. The stories were better without him, but I suppose Stan was trying to promote the Surfer as a 'Christ-like' figure, hence the use of the 'Devil'.
DeleteI have not really worried about tracking down these facsimile editions
ReplyDeleteover here in Aus (not sure where I'd find them) but I think I'll make
the effort with the Surfer. Especially being square finish like the
original. After the Hulk the SS is my favourite Marvel character.
Hopefully they reprint more of the original run as I have given up
thoughts of ever seeing them in an Epic Collection so maybe I'll have to
settle for this format.
Marvel are going to publish the first 7 Surfers, PC, which were all square-bound, the remainder being 36-page issues with stapled spines. Hopefully, they'll get around to releasing them before too long.
DeleteI wonder why the cover of Silver Surfer #1 wasn't used as the cover of The Super-Heroes #1 in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI think because Buscema's cover was a bit flat and static compared to Kirby's cover, CJ. One of the few times Kirby's Surfer was the right choice, I'd say.
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