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Post by tarkintino on Apr 5, 2022 5:11:20 GMT -5
This week pays homage to the rivalry of two major fandoms that both start with "star". From their earliest comic book forms, I present to you... Gold Key Star Trek versus Marvel Star WarsSort of an odd showdown. I think DC's 1980s Star Trek comic (1984-88) would have been the right "opponent" for Marvel's Star Wars due to the shared era (the ST films were rolling on, while the SW trilogy--while finished in '83--still had its standing as definitive sci-fi movies).
Still, I've read every issue of both, and its difficult to pick because each had their ups and downs with creating original stories; the creative peak of the Marvel book was the post-Star Wars adaptation / pre-TESB period, as it successfully captured what Lucas was trying to present in his science-fantasy, and its energy and plots enjoyed a logical progression without constantly being derivative of select movie moments, which happened after TESB's adaptation. From that point until the title's well-deserved cancellation, it was very hit and miss.
Gold Key's Star Trek never attempted to adapt episodes (however, on occasion, it referred to or built on series dialogue about ST character & event history as seen in various issues of the monthly and the special features in Golden Press' The Enterprise Logs TPBs), but it did have issues written by Len Wein and Doug Drexler--Drexler would go on to be a major player in the EFX for several ST sequel series. That said, the interiors' crowning strength was the pencil of criminally underrated artist Alberto Giolitti, who was one of the first comic artists to apply a strong sense of realism and quality to a TV adaptation, rather than what used to be the practice of tossing anyone with any style (such as random hacks or artists more accustomed to superhero work) on the title.
One thing Gold Key had over Marvel's book by a considerable distance were the brilliant painted covers by George Wilson (and others), which was an excellent way to draw in readers; Wilson's imagination knew no boundaries and often cast the ST players into wild, expansive and imaginative situations that did capture some of the TV series' spirit more than the interiors.
So, as noted above, its difficult to pick a winner, due to the ups and downs of both, but overall, I had more fun with the Gold Key title than the last few years of Marvel's SW.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2022 5:36:48 GMT -5
tarkintino - Yep, I'm mixing it up on purpose a bit with some of these match-ups. Great analysis by the way, I think you hit on a lot of great points with this comparison.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2022 5:49:38 GMT -5
I definitely think Marvel's Star Wars comics did a much better job of presenting comics that felt like Star Wars. The gold Key Trek books often felt like random Sci fi stories with the Trek characters pasted in (One could agrue some of the original Trek series WAS random sci fi stories with it's characters pasted in, but I digress). I don't think Trek really got a good treatment until DC in the 80s when they let PAD and Michael Jan Friedman loose on the property. Well said! It’s eerie sometimes how a person articulates what you were thinking, almost word-for-word. I believe DC has been the best licensee for Star Trek. As for the question, at least what I have read of Marvel Comics’ Star Wars (about 60%) feels like its in the same universe. I read some Gold Key Trek about 8-9 years ago. While it was entertaining in its own way, there were a lot of out of character moments, e.g. in one story, Spock said this about an alien: “Ooh, it makes my skin crawl…”
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Post by tonebone on Apr 5, 2022 9:04:05 GMT -5
Super Powers, in my opinion, is nearly unreadable. Just a marketing ploy mess... terrible story, and Kirby's worst art. *Takes jacket off* Would you care to step outside? Ha Ha... why, will it look better in sunlight?
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Post by tonebone on Apr 5, 2022 9:29:10 GMT -5
This week pays homage to the rivalry of two major fandoms that both start with "star". From their earliest comic book forms, I present to you... Gold Key Star Trek versus Marvel Star WarsSort of an odd showdown. I think DC's 1980s Star Trek comic (1984-88) would have been the right "opponent" for Marvel's Star Wars due to the shared era (the ST films were rolling on, while the SW trilogy--while finished in '83--still had its standing as definitive sci-fi movies).
Still, I've read every issue of both, and its difficult to pick because each had their ups and downs with creating original stories; the creative peak of the Marvel book was the post-Star Wars adaptation / pre-TESB period, as it successfully captured what Lucas was trying to present in his science-fantasy, and its energy and plots enjoyed a logical progression without constantly being derivative of select movie moments, which happened after TESB's adaptation. From that point until the title's well-deserved cancellation, it was very hit and miss.
Gold Key's Star Trek never attempted to adapt episodes (however, on occasion, it referred to or built on series dialogue about ST character & event history as seen in various issues of the monthly and the special features in Golden Press' The Enterprise Logs TPBs), but it did have issues written by Len Wein and Doug Drexler--Drexler would go on to be a major player in the EFX for several ST sequel series. That said, the interiors' crowning strength was the pencil of criminally underrated artist Alberto Giolitti, who was one of the first comic artists to apply a strong sense of realism and quality to a TV adaptation, rather than what used to be the practice of tossing anyone with any style (such as random hacks or artists more accustomed to superhero work) on the title.
One thing Gold Key had over Marvel's book by a considerable distance were the brilliant painted covers by George Wilson (and others), which was an excellent way to draw in readers; Wilson's imagination knew no boundaries and often cast the ST players into wild, expansive and imaginative situations that did capture some of the TV series' spirit more than the interiors.
So, as noted above, its difficult to pick a winner, due to the ups and downs of both, but overall, I had more fun with the Gold Key title than the last few years of Marvel's SW.
Interesting that Marvel's own Star Trek comic was totally ignored here... not a lot of love for it, but I loved it as a kid. Issue 6 was published at the same time as Star Wars 39, and would be published until issue 18. The license agreement with Paramount only allowed Marvel to use concepts and characters from Star Trek the Motion Picture. They were not allowed to draw from the original TV Series, which really limited their storylines. Also, Marvel chose to do done-in-one stories, with little continuity in their storylines. There was a rotating crew of creators, also, which didn't help. Overall, it was pretty lackluster, but as I said, I loved it. The Motion Picture and Marvel's adaptation were my real introduction to Star Trek. NOTE: If you have Paramount + , today is the premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the Director's Edition, which is totally remastered in 4k, from the original negatives, with Dolby Atmos sound, and retouched or redone special effects. Can't wait!!!
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Post by tonebone on Apr 5, 2022 9:35:08 GMT -5
I definitely think Marvel's Star Wars comics did a much better job of presenting comics that felt like Star Wars. The gold Key Trek books often felt like random Sci fi stories with the Trek characters pasted in (One could agrue some of the original Trek series WAS random sci fi stories with it's characters pasted in, but I digress). I don't think Trek really got a good treatment until DC in the 80s when they let PAD and Michael Jan Friedman loose on the property. I generally liked PAD's DC Star Trek... I feel like that series really did the best job of being Star Trek AND being a comic book... I don't care for PAD, in a lot of cases, as I feel he's too "cutesy" and corny with his humor... a lot of it seems forced, to me, in Hulk, Young Justice, etc. The humor he injected into Star Trek was just right, and was more character based.
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Post by badwolf on Apr 5, 2022 9:35:09 GMT -5
I read some Star Wars on and off when it was being published, and recently read through the first two omnibuses. I have never read a Star Trek comic, from any publisher.
I remember watching the occasional ST episode on TV as a kid but was never "into" it until TNG came on.
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Post by badwolf on Apr 5, 2022 9:37:13 GMT -5
I definitely think Marvel's Star Wars comics did a much better job of presenting comics that felt like Star Wars. The gold Key Trek books often felt like random Sci fi stories with the Trek characters pasted in (One could agrue some of the original Trek series WAS random sci fi stories with it's characters pasted in, but I digress). I don't think Trek really got a good treatment until DC in the 80s when they let PAD and Michael Jan Friedman loose on the property. I generally liked PAD's DC Star Trek... I feel like that series really did the best job of being Star Trek AND being a comic book... I don't care for PAD, in a lot of cases, as I feel he's too "cutesy" and corny with his humor... a lot of it seems forced, to me, in Hulk, Young Justice, etc. Agreed; I just read his Hulk Annual from the "Return of the Defenders" arc and... well, there was a lot wrong with it but the corny humor was part of it. I do not like this interpretation of the Hulk at all.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2022 10:23:46 GMT -5
So just a refresher, the Star Wars series ran for about 3 years in the late 70's and those were key years of the run. The Gold Key Star Trek series wrapped up its run during those same years, plus older issues could be found for reading. There were some of us who really did consume both at the same time before any later Star Trek came along. I know I did. But if you don't like the match-up this week, never let it be said the Supercat can't accommodate. I'm sure this one can bring us all together Gladiator vs. Mr. T
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 5, 2022 10:26:35 GMT -5
So just a refresher, the Star Wars series ran for about 3 years in the late 70's and those were key years of the run. The Gold Key Star Trek series wrapped up its run during those same years, plus older issues could be found for reading. There were some of us who really did consume both at the same time before any later Star Trek came along. I know I did. But if you don't like the match-up this week, never let it be said the Supercat can't accommodate. I'm sure this one can bring us all together Gladiator vs. Mr. TTogether in hate?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2022 10:27:51 GMT -5
So just a refresher, the Star Wars series ran for about 3 years in the late 70's and those were key years of the run. The Gold Key Star Trek series wrapped up its run during those same years, plus older issues could be found for reading. There were some of us who really did consume both at the same time before any later Star Trek came along. I know I did. But if you don't like the match-up this week, never let it be said the Supercat can't accommodate. I'm sure this one can bring us all together Gladiator vs. Mr. TTogether in hate? Lol! I said "together"...but I made no further promises.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 5, 2022 10:45:57 GMT -5
Lol! I said "together"...but I made no further promises. I got nothing with regard to "Gladiator." I assume it's from some X-men cartoon from after my time. But I have always despised Mr. T.
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Post by tartanphantom on Apr 5, 2022 11:01:58 GMT -5
I love Mr. T, but I choose Gladiator--- solely on the basis of his greatest original meme-tastic appearance on EBaum's World-- (skip to 7:42 in the video)
(excessive adult language warning--the vid must be watched via the youtube link)
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Post by badwolf on Apr 5, 2022 11:15:14 GMT -5
Gladiator would win in a fight, definitely.
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Post by tonebone on Apr 5, 2022 15:06:16 GMT -5
So just a refresher, the Star Wars series ran for about 3 years in the late 70's and those were key years of the run. The Gold Key Star Trek series wrapped up its run during those same years, plus older issues could be found for reading. There were some of us who really did consume both at the same time before any later Star Trek came along. I know I did. Oh yeah, they overlapped for Star Wars' first two years... I was just trying to throw some light on the "forgotten" Star Trek series, and find it interesting that they were essentially produced by the same bunch.
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