This publish is Filed Under:
Home page Highlights,
Interviews as well as Columns,
Product evaluations
Wayne Markley
by Wayne Markley
I have long been fascinated by the different paths marvel as well as DC took in their style of storytelling, especially in the 1960s. While I discovered both business output entertaining as well as extremely readable, they had extremely different methods as well as kinds of stories. these days it is at times difficult to tell the difference from a marvel story from a DC story from a Valiant story from an picture story, etc. What I mean is there has ended up being a extremely specific style of storytelling, with superheroes fighting it out, soap opera drama as well as almost every story being designed to run six problems so as to fill up a trade collection. While this present style of storytelling is originated from the 1960s marvel stories, it lacks the appeal as well as warmth of those books. To be fair, there are a number of books that do not in shape into this category, however most of them tend to be from smaller publishers, as well as an occasional one from the huge two, as well as a number from Image, with Saga as well as Paper women coming promptly to mind (noting both have the exact same writer).
Flash #123
What made the difference between marvel as well as DC stories in the 1960s were the range as well as breadth of the stories told. DC stories focused on short stories, generally a 16 page as well as a 10 page story. The stories tend to be upbeat as well as fun as well as performed in a extremely clean style that had open areas as well as bright colors as well as a sense of fun as well as adventure. marvel tended to tell stories set in the genuine world (generally new York City) as well as the stories were 24 pages as well as they were full of drama, action as well as at times, death. marvel had a world where whatever connected together, so there would be references where Spider-Man would see Daredevil swinging by as well as make a recommendation to the story taking location in that present problem of Daredevil. As Stan Lee composed (or edited) almost all of the marvel titles at the time it was much easier to do than at DC where you had a number of editors each who had their own steady of books, such as the Superman household of titles (Superman, Action, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olson, etc.) or the Batman household of books, or the war titles, or the science fiction line of books, etc. DC did have occasional crossovers with other characters, as Superman as well as Batman teamed ever month in Worlds Finest Comics, as well as Flash as well as eco-friendly lantern would team up one a year in an annual tradition. however DC had nothing close to Marvel’s tight continuity up until the late ‘70s. just recently two big volumes of reprint material have been published by marvel as well as DC as well as they are both fines examples of both of these type of stories. marvel released the third legendary Collection of Thor legendary Collection Vol. 3: The Wrath of Odin which reprints the Thor stories where Stan Lee as well as Jack Kirby (and unfortunately Vince Colletta) had started their finest work on Thor, which together with Thor legendary Collections #4 as well as #5, are a few of the very best stories Lee/Kirby ever did together (rivaled only by their amazing four run). DC has likewise released the second volume of the Flash: The Silver Age. This is a traditional example of DC’s comics from the 1960s, as it has traditional Flash stories, plus the annual team-up with eco-friendly Lantern, as well as introduced the idea of earth 2 as well as the return of the golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick in the famous story, The Flash of two Worlds. all of the Flash stories were written by John Broom as well as illustrated by Carmine Infantino. These two books are fine examples of the differences between marvel as well as DC, in addition to being an excellent read, even though both are extremely different from each other.
Thor legendary Collection Vol. 3: The Wrath of Odin
First off there is Thor legendary Collection Vol. 3: The Wrath of Odin. This big tome is available in at over 500 pages with brilliant storytelling by Stan Lee as well as Jack Kirby as well as reprints Thor #131-153 as well as annual #2. These stories are from 1966 with 1968. These are a collection of stories that develop on one one more month after month, while telling two-part stories there were constant subplots that ran from problem to problem for many years at a time, ranging from palace intrigue in Asgard to romance issues between Don Blake/Thor/Jane Foster. Lee was able to seed these bit subplots in each problem as well as would grow these subplots in later issues. Lee did this in almost all of the marvel titles of the ‘60s as well as is a big reason for the success of the comics. Lee added the soap opera elements to comics which have endedup being a mainstay of today’s books. Thor was a different than other marvel books as it has a lead story with Thor as well as a short back-up story featuring Tales of Asgard. These short back up stories were a method for Lee to broaden on the vast mythos that he had developed around Thor as well as his friends, as well as it let him plant the seeds for stories down the road. Thor was Lee’s book where he explored the world of the cosmic side of the marvel Universe. This was long before the Infinity Gauntlet as well as all of the cosmic material that marvel would later do, as Thor was the location to discover the most exotic as well as bizarre characters. In this legendary Collection you will discover appearances by Ego the Living world (which includes one of Kirby’s early picture montages as well as is one of my preferred Kirby images), the High Evolutionary, the super Skrull, as well as the Destroyer. These stories checked out at a break neck speed as well as are almost non-stop action as well as adventure. general this is both a fine checked out as well as is a fine example of what marvel was in the 1960s. just like most of Marvel’s legendary collections, these volumes are not released in order, as well as as this is volume 3, volumes 1, 2 as well as 4 have come out in the past. So now you can checked out journey into Mystery/Thor #83-173 all in sequence. A excellent checked out for any type of comic fan.
Thor legendary Collection Vol. 4: To Wake the Mangog
Just for those who may be curious, right here is a summary of the other Thor legendary Collections. Thor legendary Collection Vol. 1: God of Thunder collects journey into secret #83-109, all by Stan Lee as well as Jack Kirby. These early stories tend to be more like the old monster stories than the majestic Thor that was to come. It is 480 pages. Thor legendary Collection Vol. 2: When Titans Clash reprints journey into secret #110-125, Thor #126-130, as well as annual #1. With the title altering from journey into secret to Thor you begin to see the full breadth of the story that Lee as well as Kirby were trying to tell. likewise with each problem Kirby ended up being more as well as more adventurous with his storytelling. It is available in at 504 pages. Thor legendary Collection Vol. 4: To Wake the Mangog, which came out before volume three, reprints Thor #154-174. By this point Lee as well as Kirby were in their prime as well as were telling stories that would take your breath away. These stories together with the amazing four of the exact same time period would define marvel in the ‘60s. This volume is 456 pages.
Flash: The Silver Age Vol. 2
Flash: The Silver Age Vol. 2 reprints Flash #117-132. This volume picks up where volume one (which reprinted Flash appearances in showcase as well as Flash #105-116) are all written by John Broome as well as have art by Carmine Infantino. What I like about this volume is it is a who’s who of Flash’s traditional rogues gallery, everybody from the top to the Mirror Master to Gorilla Grodd as well as many more. plus there is the occasional science fiction as well as time travel story that was typical in the Flash in those days. The backup stories were a mix of a shorter Flash stories as well as at times they featured a youngster Flash story. It should be explained that youngster Flash at this point was still Wally West in a little red Flash costume, as opposed to the yellow fit he would later wear. The exceptions were the annual guest appearance of eco-friendly lantern which would always be a full length story. other guest stars include the lengthened guy as well as the golden Age Flash who ended up being a routine guest star after his very first appurtenance in Flash #123. It is arguable that Flash #123 is one of the most important books in comic’s history as it introduced a direct link between the golden Age as well as the Silver Age. This was the very first time in DC Comics where they exposed their past history as well as would lead to the return of the Justice society as well as many of the golden Age characters. I believe it is likewise notable that this story tying the golden Age to the Silver Age took location two years prior to Stan Lee bringing Captain America back from the golden Age. While the Thor stories are full of drama as well as tight continuity, these Flash stores are fun as well as whimsical. The drama never last more than 24 pages, as well as generally were 16 pages. These stories are a fun as well as mainly light checked out that leaves you feeling great as well as happy. It goes back to an earlier time (these stories were from 1961-1963) as well as they are kind of like watching Leave it to Beaver, a flashback to a easier time.
Both of these books, Thor as well as Flash are almost total opposites of each other in terms of style as well as storytelling as well as even art. Yet both of these books are the epitome of marvel as well as DC Comics in the 1960s. Both are excellent however are so extremely different from one another. Both are similarly worth reading though as well as I extremely suggest both books. (As well as the other Thor legendary Collections as well as the very first Silver Age Flash volume.) have you checked out these books? What did you think? Do you agree with disagree with my view of why marvel as well as DC are different? I would like to know. I can be reached at MFBWAY@AOL.COM or on Facebook at Wayne Markley. whatever I have written right here is my viewpoint as well as does not show the thoughts or opinions of Westfield Comics or their employees. As always…
Thank you.