Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,199 
|
Post by Confessor on Dec 18, 2018 1:53:38 GMT -5
#8 John Carter, Warlord of MarsMarvel comics, 1977-1979 (28 issues plus three annuals). Great pick! This series just fell off the end of my list. It would've been my #13 pick, so it's nice to see someone else choosing it. Marvel’s John Carter remains THE real version for this particular fan. Forget Frazetta, forget later comics; THIS is what my mind pictures when I read a John Carter novel, and THAT is what a proper Dejah Thoris looks like. I totally agree. I only read A Princess of Mars for the first time recently, but it was Marvel's series that I was seeing in my head as I read. Actually, I have a feeling that it might've been you who got me into this comic series. I think we discussed it at one point during the course of my Star Wars review thread and my interest was so piqued by your obvious enthusiasm for it that I bought the whole lot, plus annuals, off of eBay. If that's right and my memory isn't faulty, I should say "thanks" for getting me into such a cool series and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoomian setting generally. |
|
|
|
Post by foxley on Dec 18, 2018 2:13:02 GMT -5
My complaint about Marvel's John Carter is that the green Martian's are portrayed as too bulky. I've always seen Tars Tarkas and co. as taller, leaner and more insectoid: the way Michael Whelan or Joe Jusko draw them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 18, 2018 5:41:00 GMT -5
My complaint about Marvel's John Carter is that the green Martian's are portrayed as too bulky. I've always seen Tars Tarkas and co. as taller, leaner and more insectoid: the way Michael Whelan or Joe Jusko draw them. True, they were pictured as typical comicbook bruisers. The same went with their longswords, which in the novels seemed to be really long and needle-like. The characters also went around dressed, while Burroughs often described them as basically naked with a few straps to hold equipment. I didn’t mind, though, since the comic was my first exposure to the concepts! It’s a bit like Marvel’s Conan, who rarely sported the square cut hair that Howard described. I’ll ascribe to artistic license. |
|
|
|
Post by wildfire2099 on Dec 18, 2018 14:44:58 GMT -5
Tales of the Jedi Dark Horse Comics (1993-1998) Tom Veitch/Kevin Anderson/Chriss Gossett/Tony Akins and various others This was the series that sold me on the fact that Star Wars could work as an Extended Universe, much like Star Trek is... Veitch was able to tell tell far, far in the past of the movies, using very little 'modern' tie in (just the setting of the Manassi Temple) and craft an excellent tale that was most definitely Star Wars. As time went on, they got more carried away and things were always a bit less good.. but the original couple series stand out as some of the best EU stuff, IMO.  
|
|
|
|
Post by coke & comics on Dec 18, 2018 15:11:51 GMT -5
8. Murder Mysteries
by P. Craig Russell Dark Horse, 2002 Here is one I almost didn't think of. P. Craig Russell adapts a Gaiman story to comic form. It's the story of the first murder. Of an angel in heaven before the creation of the universe. Gaiman. Russell. Not sure what else one would need to say, really. Many of Gaiman's short stories or novellas have unsurprisingly been adapted to comics, and I've read very few of them. Mostly the ones by Russell. 
|
|
|
|
Post by foxley on Dec 18, 2018 17:11:18 GMT -5
8. Murder Mysteries
by P. Craig Russell Dark Horse, 2002 Here is one I almost didn't think of. P. Craig Russell adapts a Gaiman story to comic form. It's the story of the first murder. Of an angel in heaven before the creation of the universe. Gaiman. Russell. Not sure what else one would need to say, really. Many of Gaiman's short stories or novellas have unsurprisingly been adapted to comics, and I've read very few of them. Mostly the ones by Russell. Damn! That one didn't even occur to me. Good choice. |
|
|
|
Post by Paste Pot Paul on Dec 18, 2018 23:18:03 GMT -5
Tarzan Joe Kubert DC Comics 1972-77  I have an utterly irrational love for Tarzan due entirely to the Ron Ely TV series and the Johnny Weissmuller serials. It helps that as an adult I can point to Frazetta covers on paperbacks or the sheer power in every cover by Joe Kubert, but the reality is still that 8 yr old me thrilling to Ron wrestling crocs and lions after running through the jungle dodging savage tribesmen. Now theres a hero to aspire to be. How many characters can boast the creator list that Tarzan does? Hogarth, Manning, Kubert, Buscema, Frazetta...be still my beating heart. This could as easily have gone to the Marvel series but I have more admiration for Joe's work on the Jungle Lord. |
|
|
|
Post by MWGallaher on Dec 23, 2018 9:46:26 GMT -5
8. Pelléas et Mélisande, Eclipse Comics, 1985, published in Night Music #4-5 Adapted by P. Craig Russell from the opera by Debussey & Maeterlink  I knew that there would be some of Russell's magnificent opera adaptations on the list. In my opinion, this is his best. Pelléas et Melisande is more of the WTFiction that I love. While the story is straightforward, the sense behind it is obscure. Russell is at his best here rendering complex emotions with a dreamy sadness as the characters play out their unsettling drama of love and death in eerily lit castles and dank caverns and oppressive forests. Darkness seems to have fallen permanently in this kingdom, Mélisande is a flickering candle burning down slowly, and the reader can sense an inevitable doom from the first page. And the scene where Pelléas' brother Golaud urges him to look down into the pit while Golaud holds him by the arm, promising not to let him drop? Brr...nerve-racking and intense in its simple menace! I loved this so much that I went out and bought the opera on CD, and later a DVD performance. It's on my bucket list to see it performed live. I'm not an opera lover in general, but this one I adore, and it's Craig Russell's vision I see when I listen.
|
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,864
|
Post by shaxper on Dec 23, 2018 10:19:36 GMT -5
I love how much representation P. Craig Russell is getting this year!
|
|
|
|
Post by DubipR on Dec 23, 2018 10:29:58 GMT -5
I love how much representation P. Craig Russell is getting this year! The one Russell adaptation I had that I dropped last minute didn't make everyone's list.... still great to see all the opera love |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 23, 2018 10:47:16 GMT -5
I love how much representation P. Craig Russell is getting this year! Yeah, and so much was unknown by me! I had read his version of the Ring of the Nibelung thanks to many suggesting it in years past. I've loved Russell's work from Killraven and Elric of Melnibone but this years entries have really made me want to take a deeper look at his career. |
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,864
|
Post by shaxper on Dec 23, 2018 10:50:15 GMT -5
...oh, there will be more of that coming tomorrow  |
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 23, 2018 13:34:30 GMT -5
Random thoughts on day five. Because I wanna, not because people care...
Ring of the Nibelung - Have we talked about this one? I feel we have. I bought this when it came out. Pretty book.
Gang Busters / Gangbusters - I've never read any of these. But I've listened to the radio show.
Frost and Fire - I think I've said it before...but the DC SF GN's were great. I need to read them again.
Tomb of Dracula - I didn't think of ToD. I should have. It wouldn't have made my list. But it's a great book.
Superman War of the Worlds - I think I talked about this one too. Great book.
Master of Kung Fu - I need to re-read this. I remember a lot of it being great. But it's been eons.
EC Ray Bradbury Stories - I cited this. MDG has good taste.
The Real Ghostbusters - This was way after I'd stopped watching cartoons.
Demon With a Glass Hand - Ditto, Frost & Fire above.
Alien: An Illustrated Story - I should probably read this. Sigh.
Conan at Marvel - I've talked about REH. A lot. Sigh
Jonny Quest - This was great.
SUPERMAN'S METROPOLIS - I know I read this along with, at least, the Batman sequel. But it's been eons. I need to re-read them. I'm smarter now.
John Carter, Warlord of Mars - I should re-read this too. I remember not loving it. But maybe I would now. Or not.
Joan of Arc - Well...that' cool. I've never seen this.
G.I. Joe: Special Missions - Again...way after I'd stopped with cartoons. I never had much use for the tiny Joes.
Warp - I didn't think of this. I don't think it would have made my list. But I should re-read it.
Tales of the Jedi - Have we talked about Star Wars. I kind of feel about Star Wars like I do about Star Trek.
Murder Mysteries - DAMN!!! How did I forget this. I want a do-over. There is also a great radio dramatization of this.
Tarzan (Kubert) - Kubert's Tarzan made my initial list but fell off. At least in part because I haven't read it in forever.
Pelléas et Melisande - More P. Craig Russell I should read.
|
|
|
|
Post by Farrar on Dec 23, 2018 14:32:37 GMT -5
8. Pelléas et Melisande, Eclipse Comics, 1985, published in Night Music #4-5 Adapted by P. Craig Russell from the opera by Debussey & Maeterlink Oh, I will have to pick this up--thanks for the write-up! I love P&M the opera, although I have to admit it was a difficult opera to warm up to, but very rewarding once I did get into it. And it was actually a stage play first, by Maeterlinck, and one of the high points of the avant-garde Symbolist artistic movement. Maeterlinck's play debuted in Paris in 1893 and was a hit. Many composers including Debussy thought it would make a great opera. Debussy sought out Maeterlinck and the latter gave his approval, giving Debussy carte blanche to make cuts in the play in order to make it more suitable for an operatic treatment. The opera debuted in Paris in 1902 with Melisande sung by the Scottish-born soprano Mary Garden. Melisande became one of her signature roles. Garden's not really well known today except to hardcore opera-history aficionados. But she was very popular back in the day, made a couple of silent films, appeared on the cover of Time in 1930, and ran the Chicago Civic Opera for awhile.  |
|
|
|
Post by Jeddak on Dec 26, 2018 16:42:29 GMT -5
Day 5 Godzilla #18 Marvel, 1979  When I heard that Marvel was bringing Godzilla to the comics, I was wary. Could the comics convey the grandeur, the majesty, the incredible action of the films? (Please remember, I was a lot younger then.) Turned out, the comic wasn't bad. I did think they relied too much on SHIELD and the Marvel heroes. But it was their involvement that led to my most memorable moment of the series. To capture the Big G, Hank Pym and SHIELD contrive to make him the Little G, shrinking him down to a more manageable size. I thought that was a terrific, innovative move. (Remember, a lot younger.) And it did lead to that great fight between Godzilla and a sewer rat. |
|
