My First Bronze Age Set...

Godzilla debuted on film in 1954, becoming a colossal hit for Toho Production studios (Japan); the following year, the film was released in America under an altered title, "Godzilla: King of the Monsters." Marvel Comics acquired the rights to this film icon in 1977, beginning a two-year run (written by Doug Moench and drawn by Herb Trimpe), under the same title. In the first issue, Godzilla bursts out of an iceberg, a story line very similar to the 1963 film, "King Kong vs. Godzilla." Starting from the second issue, the bane of Godzilla's existence was S.H.I.E.L.D. -- taking on a role that "G-Force" performed in Godzilla films of the eighties. Godzilla met several other established Marvel characters during the series run, including the Champions, the Devil Dinosaur, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. Marvel lost the rights to the character and the series ended production (rather abruptly) in 1979, with issue #24.

I vividly recall Toho's Godzilla films and similar Japanese monster folklore (kaiju), regularly airing on weekend broadcast television during the early-1980s; this introduction to a very specialized genre of Japanese entertainment (tokusatsu), spawned a later interest that included [but was not limited to] the Ultraman series - in which similarly, not only positively affected my early cultural development, but remains a major driving force for my current, collective interest in Marvel's "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" graded books. The Godzilla (1977) set will remain my first Bronze Age target for completion. Additionally, with story lines that entertainingly illustrate the Fantastic Four and the Avengers failing to defeat the creature, Godzilla, in my opinion, remains a truly formidable and iconic character of the Marvel Universe.

I recently acquired from e-Bay a Godzilla (1977) #23 Signature CGC 9.8 WP; issue includes an appearance by the Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Yellowjacket, Wasp, Scarlet Witch and Vision). The book (06/79) is signed by Avengers co-creator, Stan Lee, and the comic's lead artist, Herb Trimpe. I really enjoy this issue's writing and vibrant cover art; this early addition to my first Bronze Age collector set, truly makes me happy, but the strike out of the newsstand bar code always puzzles me?!

Additionally, this set's last issue (#24) included at the end, a cameo (teaser) role by the ASM. I would like to eventually find a high grade copy of same. I have yet to attend a comic convention within the States, and I would love to introduce my young son to this high-energy, cultural event, while having the opportunity to meet and ask for Stan's signature on this specific book.

And the hunt continues...

To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.