posted March 22, 2003 06:41 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by India Ink:

This is from Showcase 61.

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that's it! Thanks

posted March 22, 2003 06:41 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by IndianaBoo:
I bought them about 12 or more months ago. Can't hurt to check with them. But they are missing a few issues of More Fun because they have not been able to find any of those particular issues to film.

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I don't think they are missing more than a couple of the Spectre More Funs. They are missing quite a few of the early, early issues. I bought the first two New Fun/More Fun sets only a few months ago, so I'm pretty sure these are all still available.

posted March 22, 2003 06:47 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by stoter1:
To me, on some occasiosn, the colors look more enhanced, and on other occasions, less enhanced. In both Sgt. Rock, and Enemy Ace, I recall seeing several colors that I don't even theink were being used at the time these comics came out. In Spectre as well, theer are a few panels that just look like there are too many colors. i really dont know what the problem is. Still, it's only a minor criticizm. I like the book, and I like the archive line. I certainly hope DC continues to put out more mystic archives. By the way, I never pay 50 bucks for an archive. The most I have ever paid is 35, and I usually pay around 30.

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I never pay 50 bucks either. It just sounded better that way. I just checked all the Archive Spectre covers against the versions in the Gerber book. The one that's furthest off is #60, which is missing all the modeling on the Spectre's face, thus turning a spectacular cover into a mediocrity. In general the coloring on all the originals is more sophisticated than the new coloring in the archive. There are more earth tones, more color gradient screens, more color holds, etc. than in the new versions, which are much more primary. In particular, the Spectre's cloak was originally an olive green. The new version is forest green.

Not a big complaint. Except for the cover to #60. They really screwed that one up.

posted March 22, 2003 10:14 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by India Ink:

This is from Showcase 61.

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Holy COW!! The Earth has an expiration date???

posted March 23, 2003 03:08 AM            

Firs observation is the nice mix of stories, from mundane gangsters to cosmic threats to low-rent supernatural. There never seemed to be more than 2 or 3 stories of type in a row, which helped to keep things fresh. But what really kept things fresh was the variety of ways Pale Face used to to twart the bad guys. If Seigel is this inventive with the Superman stories of the same period, I'm going to have to look into those soon (I was a bit underwhelmed by "Superman Archives, V1", and haven't bought any other Superman books yet).

Bailey's art is dynamic and inventive, but the execution is very uneven. The people are by turns misshappen or perfect. Maybe it's an artifact of the reproduction.

I was intrigued by some of the little things in this book. First, on the copyright page, Jenette Kahn's name is still there. Didn't she retire about 6 months ago? There's also a disclaimer on this page concerning "a less racially sensitive time in our society". I imagine this disclaimer concerns the Sylvester character, seen on pages 102 and 103.

The final panel in the stories is interesting. Some of the final panels are generic promos for the Spectre, a curious practice when you consider the fact that the reader has just finished reading The Spectre. Others are copies of the cover cameo. Are these original, or modern replacements for "inappropriate" material. A couple advertise features over in Adventure. There's at least one that is a promo for next issues story. But the coolest one is on page 120. An ad for a "Superman Krypto-Raygun"! COOL! Whoever left that in, I thank you! This must be the kind of thing that the cameo replaces.

posted March 23, 2003 11:55 AM            

Thanks for the insight into DC's attitude torwards reproducing the Golden Age comics as they originally appeared,that's a shame really. The first few Kitchen Sink comic reprint issues of the Spirit sections were laser scanned from original sections as were the Flash Gordon Sunday pages and I liked them a great deal more than the recolored pages done for the Prince Valiant reprints. The current colorists lack the subtlety that was employed back then when they tried to "paint" with their pallette,not that they aren't doing impressive things with Photoshop in the latest newstand books. There's no reason for the scanned images to be blurry except for a bad scan,the original color registration of the comic is a whole other matter but those small imperfections are part of the charm of those old books. I still find the dayglow colours on the glossy stock unappealing and garish. If they insist on using this glossy stock then some care should be made in the choice of colour,as has already been pointed out 100% process green is NOT preferable to a subtler shade of olive green as was used in the original Golden Age book. This would at least accentuate the art and not detract from it. Still all in all something IS better than nothing and I'm grateful to get these stories to read in any format.

posted March 23, 2003 12:38 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Professor Zoom:

Thanks for the insight into DC's attitude torwards reproducing the Golden Age comics as they originally appeared,that's a shame really. The first few Kitchen Sink comic reprint issues of the Spirit sections were laser scanned from original sections as were the Flash Gordon Sunday pages and I liked them a great deal more than the recolored pages done for the Prince Valiant reprints. The current colorists lack the subtlety that was employed back then when they tried to "paint" with their pallette,not that they aren't doing impressive things with Photoshop in the latest newstand books. There's no reason for the scanned images to be blurry except for a bad scan,the original color registration of the comic is a whole other matter but those small imperfections are part of the charm of those old books. I still find the dayglow colours on the glossy stock unappealing and garish. If they insist on using this glossy stock then some care should be made in the choice of colour,as has already been pointed out 100% process green is NOT preferable to a subtler shade of olive green as was used in the original Golden Age book. This would at least accentuate the art and not detract from it. Still all in all something IS better than nothing and I'm grateful to get these stories to read in any format.

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True, but the first few issues of the Kitchen Sink book were OK, but then they too became blurry and distracting. This coloring issue is nothing new. I have some Golden Age Fawcetts and the coloring of some Captain Marvel stories from the 1940s differs from the 1970s 100 pager reprint, particularly true form Captain America. I agree the subtle differences may distract a bit, but the option of not having these books is much worst.

Further, how about the coloring on Plastic Man archives. Are those books great or what? They seem to come alive.

I would like to see more of the Quality books reprinted because I thought the Black Hawk book looked very clean and very vivid.

posted March 23, 2003 12:40 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by batfan63:
I have some Golden Age Fawcetts and the coloring of some Captain Marvel stories from the 1940s differs from the 1970s 100 pager reprint, particularly true form Captain America. I agree the subtle differences may distract a bit, but the option of not having these books is much worst.

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I meant Captain Marvel later 1940s-to early 1950s issues. Sorry about that.

posted March 26, 2003 05:15 PM            

I thought Jerry Bails intro. was one of the best I've read in a long time - really entertaining, informative, and set up your expectations perfectly for what follows.

Several things so far have been surprising - I had no idea, for instance, that Spec beat the Atom to using the phone lines for transportation - and he's used it twice so far.

And the disembodied Voice seems to figure frequently in these stories - and in one strange interlude, in a fit of Old Testament capriciousness, even tantalizes poor Jim with a second chance to pass through the pearly gates!

It's also amusing to see the devices that Siegel employs to challenge his omnipotent hero - in one story resorting to a "cosmic storm" to shift him to another dimension for no apparent reason. Zor was by a long shot the most interesting antagonist - a shame he had only these 2 showdowns, as he actually forced Spectre to break a sweat.

One question someone asked about comparisons with the '70s run - while Fleischer definitely took his cue from the original series, there's an element of whimsy that's unique to the Siegel/Baily era. This Spectre looks to me very bemused as he's tormenting his prey, and is not above cracking a joke or a smile while he's doing it!

posted March 26, 2003 09:36 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Osgood Peabody:
One question someone asked about comparisons with the '70s run - while Fleischer definitely took his cue from the original series, there's an element of whimsy that's unique to the Siegel/Baily era. This Spectre looks to me very bemused as he's tormenting his prey, and is not above cracking a joke or a smile while he's doing it!

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This is one reason I love the More Fun Comics' Spectre -- even the Perceval Popp issue.

It's almost like the Spectre is the only one "in" on some cosmic joke.

And I think it's even good characterization for a cop whose every dream can become reality.

Like I said in a nother thread -- the only thing scarier than a grim, vengeful Spectre is a smiling one.

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Bgztl a/k/a Jack Holt

All of human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.

posted March 28, 2003 02:50 PM               

Anyhow, reading his appearances in All Star archives, I always noticed how Bailey drew the Spectre and Hourman segments in uniform rectangle shaped panels. I notice in the Spectre archives that Bailey didn't start drawing the books this way, but seemed to opt into this format during the course of the stories in the archives. Is there any significance to Bailey's use of this layout?

Alos, I've always loved Nick Cardy's Secret Origins cover featuring the Spectre's origin. That cover really made me want to read the two origin stories, and I finally got to read them!

posted March 29, 2003 09:08 PM               

To my non-expert eyes, the colors looked fine...but I'm not exactly Adrienne Roy here.

I rank it with the SA Flash archives (which remain my favorites of the Archives I've gotten so far...(17, I think!)

'scuse me, gotta test out my new auto sig, even if it doesn't go into effect for another hour...

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