csc@pur-phy.UUCP (Craig S. Calhoun) (11/26/85)
This being the end of the year, I expect that we will be seeing quite a few
lists (ex. "best comics of 1985", "worst comics of 1985", etc.). Well,
those are nice, but what I like to discuss even more is the question:
"What were the most important events in comics in 1985?" I suspect that
this kind of a list would be much more contriversal(sp.?) and thus one heck
of a lot more fun than any other list I could think of.
Anyway here`s my list (as of Nov.26,1985):
(in no particular order)
01. _CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS_
02. debut of _MIRACLEMAN_
03. debut of _`MAZING MAN_
04. debut of _MR. MONSTER_
05. debut of Art Adams(_LONGSHOT_, _NEW MUTANTS SPECIAL_)
06. return of Frank Miller to _DAREDEVIL_
07. Steve Bissette and John Tolben leaving _SWAMP THING_
08. cancelation of ZOT!
09. cancelation of _AZTEC ACE_
10. _AMBUSH BUG_`s success
Note: This is NOT a poll! However, I would be glad to here from anybody
who wishes to agree or disagree with me either through net.comics or mail.
I just refuse to be responsible for gathering everybody else`s list, since
finals are coming up.
UUCP:{ decvax, icalqa, ihnp4, inuxc, sequent, uiucdcs }!pur-ee!pur-phy!csc
{ decwrl, hplabs, icase, psuvax1, siemens, ucbvax }!purdue!pur-phy!csc
Thank you for reading this, Craig S. Calhoun.hutch@hammer.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison) (11/28/85)
In article <1916@pur-phy.UUCP> csc@pur-phy.UUCP (Craig S. Calhoun) writes: >This being the end of the year, I expect that we will be seeing quite a few >lists (ex. "best comics of 1985", "worst comics of 1985", etc.). Well, >those are nice, but what I like to discuss even more is the question: >"What were the most important events in comics in 1985?" I suspect that >this kind of a list would be much more contriversal(sp.?) and thus one heck >of a lot more fun than any other list I could think of. > >Anyway here`s my list (as of Nov.26,1985): > >(in no particular order) >06. return of Frank Miller to _DAREDEVIL_ Actually, if the stinking rumors are true, then the most significant things to happen in '85 are the Defections Rumor hath that J Byrne, having chosen to take the job writing and drawing Superman, and having otherwise compromised his position as Chief Blowj*b for Jim Shiiter by a) disagreeing with the insurrection of Jean Grey and b) agreeing in public that artists own their work has been relieved of all Marvel scripting and art duties. Further rumor hath that Frank Miller has been released from the DD/Elektra contract by Marvel because of "attitudinal problems"; Miller came out in public supporting Jack Kirby's right to the artwork originals from his time in Marvel. In response to these action, rumor has it that Bill Sanciewicz, Louise Simonsen, Steve Englehart (of course), have turned in resignations. There is some hint that others in the staff are preparing resignation letters. Cheeri-o! Hutch
soren@reed.UUCP (Soren Petersen) (11/28/85)
In article <1916@pur-phy.UUCP> csc@pur-phy.UUCP (Craig S. Calhoun) writes: >This being the end of the year, I expect that we will be seeing quite a few >lists (ex. "best comics of 1985", "worst comics of 1985", etc.). Well, >those are nice, but what I like to discuss even more is the question: >"What were the most important events in comics in 1985?" I suspect that >this kind of a list would be much more contriversal(sp.?) and thus one heck >of a lot more fun than any other list I could think of. > >Anyway here`s my list (as of Nov.26,1985): > >(in no particular order) >01. _CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS_ >02. debut of _MIRACLEMAN_ >03. debut of _`MAZING MAN_ >04. debut of _MR. MONSTER_ >05. debut of Art Adams(_LONGSHOT_, _NEW MUTANTS SPECIAL_) >06. return of Frank Miller to _DAREDEVIL_ >07. Steve Bissette and John Tolben leaving _SWAMP THING_ >08. cancelation of ZOT! >09. cancelation of _AZTEC ACE_ >10. _AMBUSH BUG_`s success > I have to agree with you--at least on those choices I am familiar with, however, where is X_FACTOR? Judging by netvolume, it is certainly as significant as any of the others up there (please note that I am not saying anything as to its quality). Other possibilities for inclusion: Chaykin no longer doing the art on AMERICAN FLAGG. Also, was the KILLRAVEN graphic novel this year? I didn't think it was very good, but at least it shows that Marvel still knows quality when they see it. The original series--at least the McGregor/Russell ones--may be the best things that Marvel has ever done--bar none. I remain convinced that it was years ahead of its time and could have been a huge success were it released in the '80's. Any other opinions on Killraven? I haven't heard it mentioned on the net. (The relevant issues are Amazing Adventures #27-39 (except for a couple of Mantlo fill-ins which demonstrate only that he had no idea of what the series was all about)). Thank you for the oportunity to make an unashamed plug. Have A Nice Day, Soren Petersen
jkr@gitpyr.UUCP (John Kenneth Riviere) (11/29/85)
In article <1916@pur-phy.UUCP> csc@pur-phy.UUCP (Craig S. Calhoun) writes: >What were the most important events in comics in 1985? > >Anyway here`s my list (as of Nov.26,1985): > >01. _CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS_ >02. debut of _MIRACLEMAN_ >03. debut of _`MAZING MAN_ >04. debut of _MR. MONSTER_ >05. debut of Art Adams(_LONGSHOT_, _NEW MUTANTS SPECIAL_) >06. return of Frank Miller to _DAREDEVIL_ >07. Steve Bissette and John Tolben leaving _SWAMP THING_ >08. cancelation of ZOT! >09. cancelation of _AZTEC ACE_ >10. _AMBUSH BUG_`s success > >Thank you for reading this, Craig S. Calhoun. While I doubt there could be much arguing that _Crisis_on_Infinite_Earths_ has certainly been one of the most significant events in comics in 1985 (maybe in the 1980's), I don't think that any of the others are really in the same class of importance. The debut of _Miracleman_ only seems important in that more people are finally noticing this excellent work that has been available for several years. I think it would have been more important if more comics readers had recognized that b&w comics can be well done and enjoyable. While it is certainly exciting to see the debut of an excellent new artist such as Art Adams, I think that I will reserve judgement until he has had more of a chance to prove himself. I remember when Bill Sinkeivitch (can *anyone* spell that name? :-) first appeared on the comics scene I thought that he did some excellent work (though obviously heavily derivative of Neal Adams) but the more I saw of his work the less I liked it as he was not good at telling a story (in my opinion). As a result I pretty much stopped reading the work he did and would no longer consider him to be a truly significant comic artist (has he improved any since his Moon Knight days?). I will admit that he does great paintings that are often used as comics covers. The only other item on the above list that seemed really outstanding was the return of Miller to Daredevil, and even there he is only writing it, not drawing (but, oh! what writing!). The other items are simply more titles that have started or failed, usually without major impact on comics as a whole. I guess my list would look something like this (off the top of my head, I really have not tried to study this carefully): 1) _Crisis_On_Infinite_Earths_ (actually, this could occupy several of the top spots with all of the changes it is introducing). 2) The announcement of the rejuvination of Superman. Even though this has yet to happen it is still one of the most drastic changes ever to occur for one of the premier characters in comics. 3) The introduction of Shatter, not so much for the story or art itself, but for introducing computer generated/assisted art into the comics medium. After all, computer art and computer animation have been used extensively elsewhere, why not in comics? Well, I can't think of anything else that I would put on a par with the above mentioned items. There were certainly some titles that started/stopped and some artistic changes that I either regretted or felt relieved by, but those have less effect on the industry. However, I don't think I feel like reviewing all of those tedius details. -- J. Kenneth Riviere (JoKeR) Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 ...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!jkr
pauer@puff.UUCP (12/01/85)
> Any other opinions on Killraven? I haven't heard it mentioned > on the net. (The relevant issues are Amazing Adventures #27-39 (except > for a couple of Mantlo fill-ins which demonstrate only that he had no > idea of what the series was all about)). > > Thank you for the oportunity to make an unashamed plug. > > Have A Nice Day, > Soren Petersen I have an unashamed plug too. I have been following Nexus (First Comics) since the third black/white issue, and I think it's excellent. What do the expert's on the net think? If you have yet to read an issue I highly recommend it. (But don't expect to figure out what's going on in one issue.) Vehemently yours, Pauer "Oh, they're ultra-attractive!"
henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) (12/01/85)
Unfortunately, I'm afraid that Secret Bores II and X-Factor probably have
to be on a realistic list. Remember, the criterion is significance, not
quality or desirability. Secret Snores II qualifies because its huge sales
figures are going to have a real impact on future activity at Marvel (and
elsewhere!); even if there is no Secret Pores III, you can bet your booties
that there will be more such massive-hype-and-impact-on-continuity-everywhere
series. And X-Factor has to be included because it's the flagship of the
"go for the money, never mind the quality" philosophy that is probably going
to cause a hemorrhage of creative talent away from Marvel. (Not that this
wouldn't have happened anyway, but X-Factor and the hype surrounding it are
definitive proof that said philosophy really is solid official policy, not
just a temporary aberration to be tolerated until it goes away.)
--
Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry