X-MEN ’97 MARVEL COMICS
Well, I guess I really shouldn’t be surprized that Marvel’s newest animated show on streaming is now a comic. But for once, I have to give Marvel some credit. Recreating the classic X-Men cartoon of the 1990’s was bound to attract the nostagia hounds. Writer Steve Foxe could have worked on the original cartoon as his story definitely has that Saturday Morning feel while incorporating the more adult plot points that made the cartoon a hit. Jean being pregnant, the death of Professor X, the weighty responsibilities Cyclops must face as he tries to lead the team are all handled well. Salva Espin’s art is animation on the page which is a true compliment. And even with an extended team roster, none of the characters feel left out. A worthy effort that earns itself an 8 out of 10 Grahams.
And while we’re on the subject of nostalgia, nothing brings me back to the good old days like a good rummaging through the back issue boxes! And we found a few gems for a Wayback Wednesday …
THE SUB-MARINER #12 MARVEL COMICS (APRIL 1969)
Twelve issues into his own series that sprang from his gig in Tales To Astonish replacing Ant-Man/Giant-Man starting in issue #70 a mere 4 years earlier, Prince Namor was still torn between his royal duties and his relationship with the surface world. Roy Thomas’s writing spotlights his sword and sorcery leanings as the awe-inspiring Marie Severin illustrates an early tale of the Serpent Crown. One of the long-lived Marvel artifacts that would plagued everyone from the Avengers to the X-men. An artifact that Thomas and Severin had created 3 issues earlier. Namor, still sporting a pair of green trunks with wrist gauntlets and little wings on his feet, would prove his regalness with his battle cry of “Imperius Rex”! Here Namor fights illusionary battles with Naga, the Master of Lemuria and in the process may have killed his beloved, Lady Dorma. Amazing stuff! 9 out of 10 Grahams.
GIANT-SIZE DRACULA #2 MARVEL COMICS (SEPT. 1974)
During the early 1970’s, there was a bit of a renaissance for the classic movie monsters. Comics, Black and White Magazines, we couldn’t get enough. And Marvel was right there making a fortune with title after title featuring our nightmarish heroes. The Living Mummy, the Monster of Frankenstein, Werewolf By Night, the list goes on and on. But no one more popular than Tomb of Dracula. And while the creatures continued in their own titles such as Supernatural Thrillers and Monsters Unleashed, some were gifted with one of the 1970’s trends Giant-Sized comics! And along with 5 back up horror short features Dracula took center stage in a story that filled 30 pages of these 68 BIG pages. With “Dandy” Don Heck illustrating the dark and stormy nights, Chris Claremont (YES! That Chris Claremont!) has our favorite batman coming across a woman who looks like his murdered wife. Only to lead to a small town controlled by one of the Elder gods called Y’Garon who sounds like something from a Lovecraft story but looks like seaweed. In the end Dracula provails and safely rescues the woman. Back then the Marvel Universe was a dark and scary place where the Prince of Darkness had to step up and be in hero. And we loved it. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
