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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Sunday, May 22, 2005
It's a "Make Mine Marvel!" kind of day here at Casa Isabella. GIANT-SIZE MARVEL [$24.95] hit the comic-books shops this week and reprints the origin of Tigra the Were-Woman as written by me, drawn by Don Perlin, and inked by Vince Colletta. The story comes from GIANT-SIZE CREATURES #1 [July, 1974].
Because of my involvement in the this trade paperback, I won't be reviewing it. However, I've fond memories of these longer-than-the-average tales and look forward to reading them again.
Here are the contents:
"Madrox the Multiple Man" by Len Wein, Chris Claremont, John Buscema, Chic Stone, and Joe Sinnott from GIANT-SIZE FANTASTIC FOUR #4 [February, 1975];
"Nuklo--Invader That Time Forgot" by Roy Thomas, Rich Buckler, and Dan Adkins from GIANT-SIZE AVENGERS #1 [February, 1974];
"Too Cold a Night For Dying" by Steve Gerber, Don Heck, and Vince Colletta from GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS #4 [April, 1975];
"Man-Wolf at Midnight" starring Spider-Man in a story by Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, and Mike Esposito from GIANT-SIZE SUPER-HEROES [June, 1974];
"The Coming of the Invaders" by Roy Thomas, Frank Robbins, and Vince Colletta from GIANT-SIZE INVADERS [June, 1975];
"Second Genesis" by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum from GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 [1975];
the afore-mentioned Tigra story; and,
"Waiter, There's a Werewolf In My Soup!," a text piece by Roy Thomas from the same issue of GIANT-SIZE CREATURES.
To answer the frequently-asked question, yes, the creators of these stories do receive payment from Marvel...based, I believe, on the sales of the book. When folks buy the books, they get a bunch of fun tales and the writers and artists get a few bucks. I don't see a downside here.
In case you haven't kept track, in the past year or so, Marvel has reprinted my stories in MARVEL VISIONARIES: GIL KANE, ESSENTIAL SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP, ESSENTIAL IRON FIST #1, ESSENTIAL LUKE CAGE #1, ESSENTIAL TOMB OF DRACULA #4, and now this book. Across town, DC has reprinted...ah...well...none of my acclaimed BLACK LIGHTNING stories. Kind of a shame that.
I'll keep you posted on other Isabella reprints as well as any new material which appears.
******
FRIENDS OF OLD MARVEL
In late 2003, RICK KELSEY interviewed me on my professional participation in F.O.O.M. [Friends of Old Marvel], the company-run fan club. The first part of Kelsey's interview ran in yesterday's senses-shattering column.
Senses-shattering? Old habits do die hard.
After I sent Kelsey answers to his initial questions, he came back with some follow-ups:
When you mentioned you had written for Marvelmania [another Marvel-sponsored fan club], I suddenly realized that it was you who wrote those articles on the Avengers in the Marvelmania magazine. How did you get to write for the magazine?
Mark Evanier asked me to write for the Marvelmania magazine. Mark and I got to know each other through fandom. Between us, we must've contributed to 90% of the zines published during our teen years and were fans of each other's writing. Early on, we started exchanging letters and became close friends, which we remain to this day.
With Mark editing Marvelmania, it was a given I'd be writing for the magazine, though I don't remember exactly how we settled on the Avengers series. It was likely my suggestion; the Avengers as written by Roy Thomas was my favorite Marvel title then and I still consider it one of the high points of Marvel history.
So you were a member of the Merry Marvel Marching Society. Do you remember what that was like and what was your reaction to it? I have talked to some people who were members and they all remember as very thrilling and very memorable time. One guy told me that in those days, there wasn't much else but the comics. There weren't any cons, there was practically no merchandise. Having a club for their favorite comics was just an unbelievable thrill. Was it like that for you?
Joining the MMMS and receiving the membership kit was a huge deal for me. Locally, I had two friends who read comics and that was it. This was even before I had started contributing to comics fanzines. So, all of a sudden, artificial as it might have been, I was part of a community. I must have played the Marvel Bullpen record a dozen times that first day.
Do you still have your MMMS stuff?
Alas, no. Somewhere along the line, it was either misplaced, sold, or stolen. The price I pay for having too much stuff.
What was it like to grow up on Marvel comics, be a member of the club, and then actually work there?
It was a dream come true. I can't put it more eloquently than that. I got to work with some of the best writers and artists in the history of comics. I became friends with many of them. I was part of a very special time in comics. No matter what twists and turns my career may have taken since then, nothing will ever quite compare with the magic of my first days as at Marvel.
Did you get the MMMS membership kit with the record with the Bullpen people talking or the record with the songs? Several members have told me the record with Stan, Jack, and everybody else talking was great, even though that today, it's considered pretty corny. What did you think of those records?
I had both records, but the one with Stan and the Bullpen was my favorite of the two. I now know that the actual Marvel Bullpen was just a handful of people with the various artists working from their homes, but, back then, there was the myth of Jack Kirby and the others working side-by-side with each other.
The Bullpen record was corny, but it was also wonderful. I smiled every time I played it. When I worked with Stan at Marvel, I was pleased to discover he wasn't all that different from the exuberant host of the record. I loved working with him.
When I interviewed Evanier about Marvelmania, he mentioned that when you were editor of the FOOM magazine you listed him as a contributing editor. Evanier was amused by that because he said he never contributed or did anything for FOOM. What was going on with that credit line?
Mark Evanier is the secret master of all comicdom. Why, his mere presence on this plane of existence contributes mightily to any and all creative endeavors.
In other words, I can't remember why I did that.
THUS ENDS THE INTERVIEW
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with stuff and a special announcement.
Tony Isabella
<< 05/21/2005 | 05/22/2005 | 05/23/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
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840 Damon Drive
Medina, OH 44256
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