RickSp

I was collecting ASM monthly at this point in the run and read through all of JMS's time until the Brand New Day stuff. It's a shame the Vol 1 omnibus is hard to get hold of now as there is a general theme that follows through the run. However it's not a problem to just dive in to the second volume as they are still their own stories and easy to follow. The highlight for me in Vol 1 would just be his alternative take on the character and his origins. It hasn't necessarily stuck in the continuity but is a fun read, the Morlun storyline was great. Some of the single issues are nice self contained stories too but nothing you couldn't catch up on later.

That’s some incredible money being talked about. Obviously circumstances were unprecedented but what a shame for his final outing if it’s seen as a bust. I’ve liked him in the role all these years.

I still just don't get this Avatar thing. There was a post I saw quoting Stephen Lang saying he got emotional reading the Avatar 5 -script.... Eh?!

It's an interesting view, if they'd stayed the course who knows what could of worked out. As a comic fan since being a kid I still find it crazy to see lists like this. Imagine your younger self finding out all this was coming your way on the big screen.

Nice image, gives me more of Jackson's LOTR vibes than Jacksons Hobbit vibes, which is definitely a good thing IMO.

I still don't see this Venom as anything like the comics character but it looks just as watchable as the first one, so a 'watch once' type of deal. The problem is still the same though, we already got all the symbiote vs symbiote action in the original. This is going to come down to how good Hardy and Harrelson are together and if there is a decent story to go with it. Fortunately I like both actors so that's what will hold it for me! Story isn't usually what these films are particularly interested in

Spider-Man is easily their main man for now. If they were thinking that Reed Richards is going to lead a number of films in the same way they are going to need to get the actor spot on. RDJ elevated Iron man as a character more than another actor could probably do at the time to make him interesting enough that everyone loved to see him in all the films. In the context of the MCU they can probably do a lot with Mister Fantastic but I guess we'll have to see who's willing to take on the multi film deal....

And just what are those big plans I wonder.... the DCEU is a confusing prospect right now....

I've only just started trying to add a few X-Men books to my collection, 12 and 14 are 2 I'd love to get. Those copies are brilliant. I'm also in the UK and realise they don't come around too often. However for grading purposes have you considered going through one of the approved dealers that CGC have listed? Takes away the hassle of arranging all your own insurance etc.

If I was lucky enough to afford some original art pages then I'd get it from one of these guys, nostalgia all the way: McFarlane John Romita Jnr Mark Bagley Jim Lee Ditko

Stan Lee - My first exposure to super hero comics were with some old re-prints of silver age Marvel and this guy was the name plastered all over it, he hooked me J M DeMatteis - My first steps into actually collecting were right in the middle of the Spider-Man clone saga in the mid 90's. It took me a while to realise (as a young reader I just never paid enough attention to the writers names!) but JMD's contributions were the strongest amongst some very messy storylines and when I went back and found more of his work (Kravens Last Hunt / Justice League International etc) I ended up enjoying it all Ed Brubaker - For his Daredevil run and the likes of Gotham Central, brilliant crime level stuff Bendis – Back when Ultimate Spider-man started I picked up everything he started doing right through the likes of Avengers and Daredevil. Dropped off towards the end of his Marvel tenure and then after the move to DC but he’ll remain on my list for those glory years Grant Morrison – Because he’s Scottish and nuts and allowed to play with all the big hitters no matter how insane his ideas may be

Ah yes of course, I keep forgetting this is DC black label. I always thought that brand was meant to be DC universe stuff but just more adult orientated. Is this the first black label series that is so far seemingly disconnected by anything in the DCU?

Well shut my mouth....

That's a great cover. The standard cover A issues seem to still be easily available (here in the UK at least) but it wouldn't take much for them to get a bump if the series keeps getting better and/or an inevitable 'option' gets mentioned.

The Motion Comic is an interesting idea but it's a shame that DC didn't decide to go with their own official comic follow up series to run with the rest of the storyline. Considering Jim Lee did the storyboards it would have been a cool collaboration to have him pencil it in full. Never say never but the chances of an actual ZS led JL2 film happening seems to be getting further and further away.

I guess as he's the Iron Man protégé, the MCU Spidey will forever be changing suits. It will be down to Maguire and Garfield to show up wearing the classics! (Maybe just Garfield as ASM2 was the closest I think we've seen on screen)

Will save you a lot of space too.... It's fun to look through an old short box and remember a run you once loved but I've found it quite satisfying to sell it off if I know I'm contributing to something bigger. In a way I'd love to be able to give some away to up and coming collectors rather than sell to a random on ebay. Obviously it's not always financially possible to do this but I'm still trying to get a stack together that I'm happy to hand down as a freebie if the opportunity comes up. Nothing big, just good stories that I remember peaked my own interest back in the day.

I can see why people would collect these. Anyone can get a collected edition or a digital copy of the original stories to read but having it in a physical single issue format is pretty cool for display purposes or even to share with someone getting interested in comics. I don't quite see the slab appeal of a facsimile and believe they should always be available at cover price. Seems easy money for the likes of Marvel or DC and as most collectors nowadays will never be able to afford an original it's the next best thing to holding it in your hands!

Episode 4 was much better, quite glad the 'Time Keepers' turned out the way they did, gives us more to look forward to in upcoming reveals. I'm still not convinced they will have a character like Kang actually show up though. In the same way there was no chance that WandaVision was going to introduce Reed Richards (remember the speculation about the special engineer....). The MCU shows so far have been ok but lack the grandeur of an event level film where the real A lister characters make their debut.

Secret Empire is one of those storylines that passed me by whilst I was out of collecting new comics for a number of years. Sounds like it's not too bad if you can find it cheap enough as a one off. I've been re-reading mostly 90's related event storylines again. Got myself Vol 2 of the Spidey Clone Saga Omnibus, so much goodness (or trash depending on your view)! I'm trying to pick up the new release of Batman:No Mans Land and the Death Of Superman omnibus 3rd printing (the black cover version). Such a nice looking book but annoyingly it's very highly priced as it went of print very quickly. I've read the original Death storyline but never continued with the Return element so I fancy reading it all in one go.

This is exactly why I really didn't enjoy Ep 3. It was the same confrontation over and over. I'll enjoy it more when it gets back to the mystery of the TVA and where it links to the other goings on in the MCU.

I haven't seen all of Snyder's films but I've watched his DC films multiple times now and for me they stand up better on repeat viewings because of the details in the visual storytelling that you miss the first time round. I agree with some of the other posts that having a strong writer alongside him is a positive, not all directors are suited to be the one doing all the big jobs on their own. But with the likes of JL and BVS there is a lot to go back for and enjoy (if you're a fan of the characters of course...).

Nice, maybe a teaser later this year then.... 2022 shaping up to be a big one for DC on the big screen.

An uncanny resemblance! It's quite funny when actual comic writers/creators call out stuff like this. It would seem almost courteous to let them know if a film is going to be using their ideas, particularly as they all work for the same company...

I'm enjoying this show and a big fan of both the leads. Based on the fact this is a series about mischief and illusion there are bound to be lots of twists and turns about characters so let it be a warning for all those speculation ebay chasers out there!