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Greg Kirkman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 12 May 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 15775
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| Posted: 17 September 2014 at 11:49pm | IP Logged | 1
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So, recently, I've been reading some MARVEL MASTERWORKS
books--specifically, the first volumes of GOLDEN AGE MARVEL
COMICS and GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA. History in the
making, there.
Being in a Golden Age Marvel mood, I found myself poking around for
other books of that vintage, and then it came to me; I'd never read THE
INVADERS.
Doing a bit of searching, I found a great deal for the four INVADERS
CLASSIC reprint volumes, and snagged them all for less than $30. The
series is also currently being reprinted in two huge COMPLETE
COLLECTION volumes, but I couldn't pass up that deal for the older
CLASSIC books.
Just started reading Vol. 1, and am having a great time. Of course, the
series was (mostly) written by Mr. Golden Age himself, Roy Thomas,
and he clearly had a ball. The feel of the book is quite interesting, as it's
very 1940s in style (particularly Namor's speech patterns, which are
wildly different from the grandiose dialogue Stan Lee gave him when he
resurfaced in FANTASTIC FOUR), yet has the dynamic action and plot
complexity of a then-contemporary, 1970s-era book.
The concept itself is quite appealing. DC had the Justice Society, but
Marvel didn't have a superhero team until after WW II (the All-Winners
Squad, later retconned into an outgrowth of the Invaders, complete with
"fill-in" Cap and Bucky). There's something very appealing about the
idea of the hot-tempered Namor and Torch teaming up with Cap to beat
up Nazis (the best villains ever!) in a proto-Avengers sorta way.
Also appealing is the idea of taking of all the depth and characterization
given to Cap and Namor in the 60s and retroactively applying it to their
40s selves, which really helps to give Marvel history a more epic, long-
form feel.
I'm also digging the Frank Robbins/Vinnie Colletta art, although, based
on my research, fan options of it seem to more than a little mixed. I
think the cartoony look suits the period setting rather well.
I also get the feeling that JB and/or Roger Stern like the concept, since
their followed up on elements of the series in both CAPTAIN AMERICA
and NAMOR.
And, as I understand it, the entire gang is currently back together in the
form of the NEW INVADERS, thanks to the resurrection of Bucky. Me, I
kinda like the idea of the Invaders being left in the past. Somehow, the
notion of the entire team still running around together decades after
WW II doesn't sit sell with me. I prefer the idea of the Invaders' spirit
living on through Cap and Namor as they hang around with the
Avengers, the team's spiritual successor.
Thoughts?
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Anthony J Lombardi
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 12 January 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 9410
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 3:53am | IP Logged | 2
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I loved the series Greg. I'm a big fan of Frank Robbins because of his Invaders work. I think his quirky style is an acquired taste. I'm not a fan of the current Invaders comic. But that's cause I don't like the way Marvel is doing things now. Whenever the subject "What title would I want to see JB work on?" The Invaders is always my response. It is among the few titles I held onto when I purged my comic collection.
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Marc Cheek
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 18 June 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 1785
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 4:38am | IP Logged | 3
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I loved the Invaders as a kid. I haven't read them in a number of years though, so I'm not sure how they would hold up for me now. I too thought Robbins art fit the title very well. On a related note, I really enjoyed the Baron Blood storyline that Roger Stern and JB did in Captain America.
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Doug Centers
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 February 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 5458
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 6:20am | IP Logged | 4
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The Invaders were one of my favs, I was really into team comics so when they first came out I snatched it up and was not disappointed . I'm pretty sure it was bi-monthly because I remember it seemed like forever to get the next issue.All the "new" villains and guest starring heroes that would show up was a treat. The first time I saw Union Jack I thought "wow ,what a cool costume". I need to revisit that series.
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Brian Floyd
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 07 July 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 8349
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 12:13pm | IP Logged | 5
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Highly recommend the original series. Its also one of the
few times that Vince Colletta's inking didn't mess up the
penciller's artwork. However, I've yet to read any
subsequent INVADERS series, except the AVENGERS/INVADERS
maxi-series.
And since Marc brought it up, I'll mention that the Baron
Blood story from CAPTAIN AMERICA is hands down my favorite
two-parter. And I loved the reunion of sorts that JB did
during his run on NAMOR.
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Sam Houston
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 March 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 1693
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 5:00pm | IP Logged | 6
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I LOVE/LOVED the Invaders series from the 70's! I have always been drawn to the time period of that era and Frank Robbins art was so perfect. The various characters (new and old) were great! I also enjoyed the Liberty Legion. I don't recall if there was ever a follow up story in current Marvel time where Thor and Cap remembered meeting each other in the 40's.
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Matt Reed
Byrne Robotics Security
Robotmod
Joined: 16 April 2004
Posts: 35722
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 9:28pm | IP Logged | 7
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No to be a wet rag, but Frank Robbins was what turned me off INVADERS. Then and now. Simko gave me his Classic volumes when he was making room in his home for other things and it's still really hard for me to get past the art. Just not my bag at all. YMMV.
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Greg Kirkman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 12 May 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 15775
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 10:32pm | IP Logged | 8
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Okay, a dissenting voice! As noted, I get the vibe that Robbins' work on
the series is quite divisive.
Are you generally not into Robbins, Matt, or is it just his work on this
particular series that turns you off? I haven't had much experience with
Robbins, myself.
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Matt Reed
Byrne Robotics Security
Robotmod
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Posts: 35722
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 10:38pm | IP Logged | 9
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In general not just on INVADERS. It's never worked for me.
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Brian Floyd
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 07 July 2006
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Posts: 8349
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 10:41pm | IP Logged | 10
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I didn't care for Robbins' work on GHOST RIDER, but I
thought he was great on THE INVADERS.
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Eric Smearman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 02 September 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 5798
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| Posted: 18 September 2014 at 10:44pm | IP Logged | 11
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Robbins is one of those artists that I didn't care for as a kid that I came
to appreciate much more as I got older. Consequently, I didn't really
read INVADERS until years after it's cancellation. I scored some back
issues in the early-to-mid-90s and really enjoyed them.
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Sam Houston
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 March 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 1693
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| Posted: 19 September 2014 at 2:43pm | IP Logged | 12
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No to be a wet rag, but Frank Robbins was what turned me off INVADERS. Then and now. Simko gave me his Classic volumes when he was making room in his home for other things and it's still really hard for me to get past the art. Just not my bag at all. YMMV.
* * *
Matt, I understand. While Carmine Infantino is revered by many(!), I have always had an issue with his style (the same for Don Heck) which has distracted me from the stories he has illustrated.
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