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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2022 9:19:57 GMT -5
Which are your favorite anniversary/retrospective/character-celebration issues? I'm going with Superman 400.
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Post by EdoBosnar on Nov 8, 2022 12:52:00 GMT -5
Superman 400 is a personal favorite of mine, too. And while they don't focus on a single character, but rather are more celebrations of their respective series, I'd add Showcase 100, Detective 500, and - especially - JLA 200. Another one I really liked, although it was published as a separate tpb rather than as an issue of an ongoing series, is Captain America: Red, White and Blue.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2022 13:04:20 GMT -5
Superman 400 is a personal favorite of mine, too. And while they don't focus on a single character, but rather are more celebrations of their respective series, I'd add Showcase 100, Detective 500, and - especially - JLA 200. Another one I really liked, although it was published as a separate tpb rather than as an issue of an ongoing series, is Captain America: Red, White and Blue. Team celebrations are welcome, too. I was surprised by how much I liked Showcase 100 when I picked it up a few years ago, since I have no nostalgia for, or interest in, the title or the characters. Or Silver and Bronze Age DC in general, for that matter.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2022 13:56:59 GMT -5
Detective Comics 500 and Action Comics 500 were the first to come to mind.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Nov 8, 2022 15:19:41 GMT -5
I'll doubtless think of others later, but @draketungsten 's post reminded me of how much I enjoyed Legion of Super-Heroes #300, despite having just been introduced to the characters.
It was a celebration, but it also explained away the continuity problems accumulated after years of "Adult Legion" stories (none of which I had ever read). Furthermore, it featured some key events from the Legion's past.
The issue also had artwork by classic artists who had contributed to the mag's history.
Celebration of the past, clearing things up for the future, and an overall festive mood despite a dramatic story... It was an excellent anniversary issue!
(Bonus: a cameo appearance by Spider-man!)
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Post by tarkintino on Nov 8, 2022 17:41:54 GMT -5
Detective Comics #387 (May, 1969): the comic's 30th anniversary had a fine example of how far Batman had come with the anniversary story, "The Cry of the Night is – Sudden Death!", followed by a reprint of #27's "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate", which was a bookend of sorts, as the main story was a tribute of sorts to #27, and part of the return of mystery/crime stories that had been absent throughout most of the 1960s. On the cover, Batman asks Robin if he's ready for another 30 years, and for readers, i'm sure they were, since Batman was restored to his former glory.
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Post by Batflunkie on Nov 8, 2022 17:55:28 GMT -5
Captain America: The Legend, which I've mentioned before, was one of the earliest comics I remember getting.
It was done like one big-send off to Volume 1 (68-96) with I think Heroes Reborn on the horizon. Surprisingly I don't remember getting another Marvel or Captain America title until I got older (late teens/early twenties)
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Post by Ricky Jackson on Nov 8, 2022 18:16:42 GMT -5
I had this one multiple times when I was a kid. Back then one of my favourite things in comics was supervillian team ups, and this is one of the biggest
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Post by berkley on Nov 9, 2022 2:46:27 GMT -5
I'm not sure I can remember any, off the top of my head. I assume that not every "anniversary" issue - e.g. the #100th issue of a series, is considered a celebration story, since they're often distinguished by nothing more than an extended page count or perhaps an attempt at an especially dramatic story, not an explicit celebration of the character. If there were character celebration or tribute issues of my favourite Marvel characters back in the 1960s and 1970s I'd have something to think about but nothing comes to mind right now.
Which makes me wonder, what would have been the ideal tribute issue for some of those characters?
I'd love to see, for example, a mid-1970s Doctor Strange tribute issue with Ditko, Colan, Brunner, Marie Severin, Dan Adkins, Tom Palmer, BWS, Tom Sutton all contributing stories. Not many characters can boast such a line-up of great artists after only 10 years or so of existence. Englehart could write all the stories, unless some of the artists wanted to do their own writing - Ditko, for example.
Or a Black Panther tribute from around the same time or perhaps a couple years later, with Kirby, John Buscema, Gene Colan (drew the Panther beautifully in a Daredevil issue), Bill Graham, George Perez, John Byrne (drew a great Buscema-style Panther in the Avengers Nefaria story). Maybe multiple writers for this one? Not sure, but Kirby would likely write his own story and McGregor would have to be there somewhere, and not necessarily only with Graham.
Apologies for the thread drift - I think there's already a thread for imaginary comics or creative teams but I can't remember what it's called now. But I'll find it and if I think of any more along the above lines I'll put them there.
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Post by badwolf on Nov 9, 2022 10:01:12 GMT -5
It's been a long time since I read this comic but the story involves a surprise party for Archie. Even Reggie was in on it. The whole issue his friends are acting strange and he doesn't know why but it's all a set up for the celebration. I can't remember what the in-story reason was (I doubt it was 300th anniversary) but the number "300" kept appearing throughout the comic, made by clouds, etc. I enjoyed spotting them as a kid.
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Post by tonebone on Nov 9, 2022 11:22:16 GMT -5
Which are your favorite anniversary/retrospective/character-celebration issues? I'm going with Superman 400. Yes, a thousand times, yes. Hey, DC, if you want to print money, just offer up a nice hardcover of a bunch of these "anniversary" issues... you're welcome. Also, Brave and the Bold 200... one of my personal favorites. Sad it was the last issue.....
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