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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2023 8:04:14 GMT -5
With my earliest reading years happening before the direct market really boomed, I wasn't really surrounded by the hype of collecting the first issue of a new series or certainly the crisis on infinite variant covers we experience today. While a new series launch could still be interesting, some of my fondest memories are more the milestone issues of longer running series. Yeah, we also had annuals, special editions, treasuries and digests, stuff that added to the overall mix with the regular monthlies. But when a big milestone issue came around, it really felt to me like a special occasion. I was looking back at how commemorating 100 issue (and increments of) events seemed to rise up in the 50's. I see Superman and Batman both had special #100's that contained classic reprints (EDIT: Prince Hal clarified original stories inside, just older issues on the covers), whereas Action and Detective #100's in the 40's did not. As a Bronze Age reader, I enjoyed during that time two different approaches to those issues per below, and curious to hear which format people may have preferred, as well as favorite examples of either/both from back in the day. Sometimes I liked an anniversary issue to be the culmination of a major storyline like FF #200 below with the iconic shot of Reed and Doom going at it: But I also really loved a milestone issue that was a big tribute type event, like Superman #400 with an amazing who's who of creators and just a stunning cover (Superman smiling, positivity, what a concept!): Loved the gold anniversary header DC used back then too! So again, what approach to milestone issues did you enjoy, and what were your favorites?
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Post by Prince Hal on Oct 6, 2023 8:55:05 GMT -5
Nice idea for a thread, @supercat2099.
Not to be that guy, but the hundredth issues of Superman and Batman contained all new stories, though the covers of each displayed covers of past issues.
Superman 100 (1955) showed the first, 50th and 75th issues.
Batman 100 (1956) displayed six.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2023 9:18:00 GMT -5
Not to be that guy, but the hundredth issues of Superman and Batman contained all new stories, though the covers of each displayed covers of past issues. Superman 100 (1955) showed the first, 50th and 75th issues. Batman 100 (1956) displayed six. Thanks PH, good clarification, when I took a glance at them I saw the old covers and assumed "highlights reels". I was mostly just curious how far back even acknowledging milestones went, very cool the "tradition" goes back that far!
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Post by EdoBosnar on Oct 6, 2023 9:56:42 GMT -5
Yeah, I always had a special place in my heart for big anniversary issues. The first I ever had, and still one of my favorites is Showcase #100: There's nothing about it that I don't love: the cosmic, almost literally Earth-shattering but still fun story by Pauls Kupperberg and Levitz, the wonderful art by Joe Staton, the attempt to pack damn near every Showcase headliner into it, all done in about 50 pages. Brilliant. I'm also fond of FF 200, which you mentioned, and also Spider-man 200 that came about a year later, which similarly tied in to the story line in the previous issues. However, I think DC really knocked it out of the park with several anniversary issues at around that time; so yeah, Superman 400, but also, a few years earlier, Detective #500... ...and then what I think is the platonic ideal of a big anniversary issue, JLA #200... So much goodness inside that amazing wrap-around cover. Like Showcase 100, it's a one-issue answer to the question, "So why do you like superhero comics?" Two more from Marvel that merit special mention, though. The first is Captain America #255, the 40th anniversary issue, which isn't giant-sized but is still a special issue with a retelling of Cap's origin: It was also a fitting close to the amazing Stern/Byrne/Rubinstein run. And FF #236, the 20th anniversary issue:
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Post by kirby101 on Oct 6, 2023 10:15:21 GMT -5
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Oct 6, 2023 10:28:02 GMT -5
However, I think DC really knocked it out of the park with several anniversary issues at around that time; so yeah, Superman 400, but also, a few years earlier, Detective #500... Oh yeah! I love that book sooo much. Just everything I loved about comics at the time. There was definitely something magical about those anniversary issues back then. They cut through my innate cheapness and got me to let loose with more money than I would on a regular issue. (It took me some time to understand the economic realities of price per page).
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Oct 6, 2023 10:33:20 GMT -5
And for those who might be interested, Back Issue #69 (its 10th anniversary issue) is a celebration of those Bronze-Age anniversary issues.
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Roquefort Raider
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Oct 6, 2023 10:41:19 GMT -5
Culminating an important story arc with an anniversary issue was a great way to celebrate, I think, and a cool way to thank readers for their loyalty! This was a great one : It adapted one of Robert E. Howard's original Conan stories (always a treat), and concluded the three year-long story arc "The Queen of the Black Coast", which had sent the Cimmerian away from his regular stomping grounds and onto the southern seas. It also pretty much marked the end of the classic Conan period, so in that sense it was a bittersweet landmark.
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Post by driver1980 on Oct 6, 2023 10:48:41 GMT -5
Sorry to be the “CM Punk” of this thread, I don’t mean to derail it with negativity, but after reading the great replies here, it makes me sad to think that Marvel’s modern approach means we’ll never get milestone issues. Could any comic at Marvel reach 50 issues now? I’ve enjoyed the last few years of Daredevil comics, but it seems to be having a new number one every five minutes (same with other titles). A 50th issue of Darth Vader’s comic would be great. Or how about a 100th issue of a lesser-known character? (I know Marvel has used legacy numbering, but they are fooling no-one, and I don’t always see legacy numbering on titles). There is, in my humble opinion, a value to numbers. In and of itself, a 100th issue (or 500th or 9,00th) doesn’t necessarily mean the story will be good. A 100th issue could feature a bad script, art, etc. But there is a value, I feel. Longevity and all that. As a kid, seeing Batman comics that were heading north of 350 was a little awe-inspiring, in a certain kind of way, e.g. “Wow, maybe my dad used to buy this title.” Plus, as shown here, it can be a good excuse to do something. I did enjoy that Marvel UK’s Thundercats reached 100 issues: And it’s great that something like 2000 AD, which is weekly, got to its 1,000th program: Here is its 2,000th program:
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Post by kirby101 on Oct 6, 2023 13:38:30 GMT -5
Another anniversary issue around this time was Sub-Mariner #40. Significant for the return of Bill Everett to his creation. I was sort of aware of this, and liked what Everett did. But I was too much a new fan to realize this was a bigger deal than I thought. And when I look back as these issues, I see that it was some of the best art Everett had done. I believe he had become sober and was able to produce excellent work again. Sadly he soon passed away.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2023 14:03:47 GMT -5
Another anniversary issue around this time was Sub-Mariner #40. Significant for the return of Bill Everett to his creation. I was sort of aware of this, and liked what Everett did. But I was too much a new fan to realize this was a bigger deal than I thought. And when I look back as these issues, I see that it was some of the best art Everett had done. I believe he had become sober and was able to produce excellent work again. Sadly he soon passed away. I only discovered these issues in the last few years, and could not agree more, absolutely some of his best work and a shame he was not with us longer. Those stories really are a treat.
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Post by driver1980 on Oct 6, 2023 15:29:56 GMT -5
Marvel UK’s Transformers title ran for 332 issues (weekly) and had to publish original stories after it caught up with US reprints. Anyway, here’s their 200th issue:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2023 15:43:43 GMT -5
Another great group shot, this alone was worth the price of admission for me:
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Post by Prince Hal on Oct 6, 2023 16:06:53 GMT -5
The first anniversary issue I was ever aware of (and bought) was this one. I simply could not believe that Superman had been around for twenty... five... years!
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Post by commond on Oct 6, 2023 16:32:47 GMT -5
Marvel UK’s Transformers title ran for 332 issues (weekly) and had to publish original stories after it caught up with US reprints. Anyway, here’s their 200th issue: I loved this magazine when I was a kid. I didn't have the means to collect it weekly, but I cherished the issues I had.
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