This third Masterworks collection, containing issues from 1966-1968, is a marked improvement over the first two entries in the series. The series slowThis third Masterworks collection, containing issues from 1966-1968, is a marked improvement over the first two entries in the series. The series slowly but surely continues to improve, with highlights including Hulk taking on the Leader’s last remaining android to save NYC, Hulk, under the Puppet Master’s control, battling Namor, and especially a two-part story featuring the first appearance of Abomination.
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Still, Hulk remains a mediocre Marvel title when compared to its mid-60’s peers. Hulk as a hero is still too one-note, his rogues’ gallery continues to be subpar (although the introduction of Abomination is a welcome addition), and too many storylines are repetitive and predictable: Hulk is hounded by someone (often due to a misunderstanding), Hulk is reluctantly backed into a fight he wasn’t looking for, Hulk prevails, and Hulk wanders off on his lonesome. Some of these problems are issues that would plague the series and its creative teams for decades to come.
There are some fun moments here, and fans of the Stan Lee style will find much to enjoy. But overall, this series still has plenty of room for improvement. 3.0 stars....more
When I was a kid, I would read reprints of the original X-Men comics when I could get my hands on them. I enjoyed them a great deal, but I always feltWhen I was a kid, I would read reprints of the original X-Men comics when I could get my hands on them. I enjoyed them a great deal, but I always felt that I was getting a look into just a small window of the early Marvel Universe. I wondered what I was missing, but didn’t have any way of getting my grubby little hands on anything other than the odd comic here and there.
In recent years, thanks to the glories of the internet (and Marvel Unlimited), all of the Silver Age Marvel titles are just a click of a mouse away, and over the past few years I’ve worked my way through most of the 1960’s Marvel comics. Along with The Amazing Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four gets my vote for the best Marvel title of its era. Taken as a whole, this volume was my favorite Fantastic Four collection to date, and quite possible the best Marvel Masterworks collection of comics published through 1968. The heart of this collection is a great Galactus storyline involving the Silver Surfer and Micro World, but other strong plots involve Ben being “permanently” changed back to human, the introduction of Annihilus, and the birth of Sue and Reed’s child. Classic artwork by Jack Kirby complements the storylines and makes the collection a joy to read.
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Silver Age stories can seem awfully dated at times, and the style is not going to appeal to all readers. But I find them to be great nostalgic fun, and the Fantastic Four collections are about as good as they get. This volume is no exception. 4.0 stars, recommended!...more
Another good Spider-Man collection from the '60s. Half of this volume consists of two multi-part stories. “Spider-Man No More!”, continued from volumeAnother good Spider-Man collection from the '60s. Half of this volume consists of two multi-part stories. “Spider-Man No More!”, continued from volume five, features Spidey’s first encounter with the Kingpin and was the highlight of the collection. “Doc Ock Wins” (where Doctor Octopus ends up moving in with Aunt May!) is also a strong four-parter.
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While there aren’t any bad issues in the bunch, a few are underwhelming, particularly a two-part tangle with Ka-Zar. As good as this collection is, it isn’t quite as strong as the fourth and fifth Masterwork collections; the series may have passed its apex under Stan Lee by this point. Still, in my opinion Spider-Man was among the very best (along with The Fantastic Four) Marvel offerings of its era, and that hadn’t changed by mid-1968. An excellent collection of ‘60s cape comics. 4.0 stars, recommended!...more
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