I just spent an indeterminate amount of time reading the TPB, “Marvel Firsts, The 1980s”. Let me start by saying that I’m not only disappointed, I’m a bit annoyed. This has to be one of the worst collection of origin stories or series debuts that I’ve ever encountered. This says nothing of the 39.99 list price on the book; in my view a complete waste of coin. I would have preferred having to sit through reading a 1960’s Aqua-man comic. I tried. I truly did. Heck, after purchasing the book, I did everything in my power to sway my initial thoughts on this offering.
I have to ask… Who decided on the stories contained within? The trade notes Mark Beazley as the collection editor. I would love to meet him at a cocktail party and out of the blue just ask… Mark, what were you thinking? Now, there are a few enjoyable moments, but not where you’d expect. The Mephisto vs. the FF story was decent, but what ground did it break? Havok vs. Wolverine was a good read… decent anyway. I think the strength of the story itself was in the visual presentation. Nam #1 stands out as being deserving of note, and as a fan of Michael Golden, I’m pleased it made the cut. The rest of the trade is just full of what feels and reads like throwaway issues. The other issue which I find truly off-putting as a fan of newsprint color comics is that the paper and inks used on these trades are just overpowering and downright awful. There’s no warmth. Perhaps this also contributed to my overall feelings on the trade. I honestly cannot say. Is it just me?
At the end of the day, I’d say avoid this one unless you find it marked down to 3 or 4 dollars at your town’s local flea market. There’s thrills to be had elsewhere. My tastes have changed over the years in terms of what I find enjoyable, but this one just stands out as a “must miss” for any true comic fan. End of rant.
RetroDude
RetroDudeZ 