shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 20, 2014 12:20:22 GMT -5
Ah, now I know what to look forward to. Thanks!
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Aug 27, 2014 19:17:00 GMT -5
Master of Kung Fu #22  "A Fortune of Death" writer: Doug Moench pencils: Paul Gulacy inks: Dan Adkins colors: Petra Goldberg letters: Artie Simek editor: Roy Thomas grade: B So Moench is still treating Shang-Chi like a day job, just getting by in this series while also suddenly finding himself in total creative control of Planet of the Apes, Werewolf by Night, Deathlok in Astonishing Tales, and also still producing content for Marvel's black and white horror mags. I can't exactly blame the guy for not yet making the plotting out of this series a high priority. Still, this is one of Moench''s better throw-away Shang-Chi stories. He tones down the introspection a tad, utilizes no random conveniences to advance the story nor protect Shang-Chi, and the action is pretty good. Plus, Paul Gulacy is back (though his art feels more like P. Craig Russel's at times here). Is Gulacy back on Master of Kung Fu for good at this point? Essentially, we're given two back to back non-stop action stories. In the first, Shang-Chi is ambushed in a Chinese restaurant, which is fun and feels straight out of a guilty-pleasure B kung fu film. As one civilian onlooker exclaims, "Let's get outta here, baby! I've already seen this flick!" The second puts Fu Manchu back in the picture again, delivering a story that fills itself more with intrigue and tension than straight action (though we get plenty of that too). The big surprise at the end is that the mountain in which Fu Manchu had trapped Sir Nayland Smith and Blackjack Tar which he was attempting to blow up turns out to be Mt. Rushmore. Interestingly enough, almost exactly a year from now, Moench will once again use Mt. Rushmore as the backdrop for a story in Up the Nose-Tubes to Monkey Trash (Planet of the Apes #14), an awesome story that again depends upon the irony of the protagonists not understanding the significance of where they are (and the story is less bizarre than the title sounds). plot synopsis: Shang-Chi gets ambushed in a Chinese restaurant and survives, then rescues Sir Nayland Smith and Blackjack Tar from Mount Rushmore before Fu Manchu can blow it (and them) up. |
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Post by Phil Maurice on Aug 28, 2014 16:03:37 GMT -5
Is Gulacy back on Master of Kung Fu for good at this point? Yes, more or less, up through Issue #50. But the work is so powerful that it makes those few gaps almost unbearable.
Gulacy is a movie buff and part of the fun is spotting which classic Hollywood stars inspire his character designs.
Really enjoying your reviews, Shaxper. Keep 'em coming!
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Post by paulie on Aug 28, 2014 16:28:28 GMT -5
Is Gulacy back on Master of Kung Fu for good at this point? Yes, more or less, up through Issue #50. But the work is so powerful that it makes those few gaps almost unbearable.
Gulacy is a movie buff and part of the fun is spotting which classic Hollywood stars inspire his character designs.
Really enjoying your reviews, Shaxper. Keep 'em coming!
I always take time out to note the masterful pairing of Gulacy with Dan Adkins on inks. Something special. |
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Post by paulie on Aug 28, 2014 16:30:53 GMT -5
There is the abomination drawn by Starlin, Simonson, and Weiss coming up though inked by Sal Trapani. Sal's work looks like he used tar, sandpaper, and q-tips to get the job done. Just awful.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Aug 28, 2014 21:55:44 GMT -5
So whatever happened to Paul Gulacy? Considering how high profile he was in the late '70s and early '80s, it seems like his work should have been more prolific in comicdom. I know he was an early expatriot from the Big Two, but it seems like he didn't go on to do all that much independent work either.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 22:20:50 GMT -5
He recently did one of the G.I. Joe series for IDW, that was the last I saw of his stuff, that was mid-2013 or so I think. If I recall it was Special Missions or Cobra Files or something, one of the secondary series and I think (not sure) Chuck Dixon may have been writing it. Never picked it up (not a fan of modern Joe) but saw it on the shelves.
-M
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 22:30:51 GMT -5
Shax's query inspired me to do a little Google Fu on Gulacy, leading me to his website where I found this little retrospective of his stuff... site here-M |
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Post by berkley on Aug 28, 2014 22:41:57 GMT -5
I think he worked in commercial art for several years. He never was the most prolific guy as a comic book artist, so it isn't too surprising his output doesn't rival that of, say, George Perez. Would he have done less than someone like P. Craig Russell?
The most recent piece I'm aware of was something called Time Bomb. I have a copy but haven't read it yet. Looks like a kind of espionage-time-travel-thriller. I just took a look at his website, gulacy.com, but couldn't see what he's worked on since then.
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Post by paulie on Aug 29, 2014 8:55:50 GMT -5
So whatever happened to Paul Gulacy? Considering how high profile he was in the late '70s and early '80s, it seems like his work should have been more prolific in comicdom. I know he was an early expatriot from the Big Two, but it seems like he didn't go on to do all that much independent work either. Met him a few weeks ago. I think he preferred painting to comics.
But he did lots of covers. The two Six From Sirius limited series. The fantastic Prey in Legends of the Dark Knight. He wasn't one of the Buscema's or Curt Swan but he worked steadily.
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Post by Hoosier X on Aug 29, 2014 9:27:02 GMT -5
Gulacy's chapters in War Games were by far the best thing about that series. He was the artist on Catwoman at the time.
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Post by Cei-U! on Aug 29, 2014 9:31:08 GMT -5
I have two beautiful hand-colored, autographed prints hanging on my office wall, one of Shang-Chi, one of Batman, I bought from Paul Gulacy at Emerald City a few years back. Nice guy and, of course, an incredible artist.
Cei-U!
I summon the class act!
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Post by paulie on Aug 29, 2014 9:33:38 GMT -5
I have two beautiful hand-colored, autographed prints hanging on my office wall, one of Shang-Chi, one of Batman, I bought from Paul Gulacy at Emerald City a few years back. Nice guy and, of course, an incredible artist. Cei-U! I summon the class act! Cool. I bought a print as well. And he did seem like a nice guy. I'm glad to see a trend there. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 21:58:06 GMT -5
Well I just started to get back into the Master of Kung Fu . Had a few sitting around and bought a bunch . Only need 13 more issue to complete series . Also looking at special marvel editions 15 and 16 this weekend . Trying to make a package deal . So far have enjoyed re reading what I own .
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2014 20:37:07 GMT -5
Well down to 5 found a few last weekend . Need 18 22 56 60 66 . Been checking local shops lately not a lot of master of kung fu in back issue bins .
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