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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 Thursday, August 25, 2005
This is the cover of SHIELD #5 - if you believe the indicia - or NICK FURY AND HIS AGENTS OF SHIELD #5 -if you don't. The cover was pencilled and inked by Jim Steranko. Still, my admiration for Steranko's legendary comics work is not why I'm sharing this cover with you today. No, my friends, the cover is here to set the stage for me to tell you a story...
...the story of my worst comics job...
...ever!
SHIELD #5 was cover-dated October, 1973, which means it would have hit the newsstands in late summer of that year and would have gone through the Marvel offices in the spring. I had gone to work for Marvel in October of 1972, so I was still a relative neophyte. I was editing the company's British reprints, assisting on its new black-and-white magazines, and, when called upon, helping out the color comics department.
The early 1970s were a thrilling time to be working in the comics industry and for Marvel in particular. There were many new voices coming into the field. Publishers were exploring new genres and formats. The ranks of comics fans were swelling.
Freed from restrictions imposed on it by a former distributor, an outfit affiliated with rival DC, Marvel could publish as many comic books as it could physically produce. Reprints were a way to increase our visibility on the newsstands, so we did a whole bunch of them. However, while it was kind of cool for us assistant types to get paid for reading beloved old comics, there was a downside to the task as well.
By 1973, content in Marvel comics had shrunk to 17-18 comic pages per issue. Most of the super-hero tales we were reprinting were 20 or more pages in length. That meant cutting two pages from every story we reprinted. Daily, you could hear hideous screams of anguish emanating from our cubicles.
Then and now, I believe the world needs all the comics pages by the likes of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Jim Steranko, and others that we can get. One office-pal of mine couldn't bring himself to slice pages out of two of Steranko's brilliant 12-page Nick Fury stories from STRANGE TALES. I took the bullet for him, but I hated every moment of it.
A warning and an apology. Before buying a Marvel reprint book from the 1970s, check the Grand Comics Database [www.comics.org] to make sure you're getting a complete story.
Finally, though I wasn't an architect of this policy, I extend my sincere apologies to anyone who bought one of these comic books that came under my editorial knife.
You wuz robbed and I was an accessory to the crime.
I pray you can forgive me someday.
******
ADDENDUM
The above is a somewhat expanded version of a sidebar that ran in COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1609 [October, 2005]. It's shorter than our usual TOTs - as was yesterday's column - because World Famous Comics web-wizard Justin and yours truly are working on separate projects which are demanding a great deal of our time and effort. With a little luck, we'll be back to full-size TOTs in a column or three. I would cross my fingers, but that just makes it harder to type these daily dollops of comics fun.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 08/24/2005 | 08/25/2005 | 08/26/2005 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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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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Medina, OH 44256
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