By Kurt Busiek & various (Marvel/Panini UK)
ISBN: 978-1-905239-74-0
Here’s another compilation dedicated to the career of a star Marvel creator, but this time it’s a writer, not an artist. Kurt Busiek has a twenty-five year history with the House of Ideas, and in that time he’s written some remarkable and memorable tales. Sadly very few of them are reprinted in this current compendium…
From 1983 come three issues of Powerman and Iron Fist (#98-100) illustrated by Ernie Chan, Andy Mushynski and Mike Mignola; a rambling fight-fest against evil wizard Master Khan that is tolerable action fare, but fatally disadvantaged here by being the conclusion of a much longer tale. Surely it’s in nobody’s interest to commemorate a writer’s achievements but only by presenting incomplete snippets of his work?
Immediately following is the origin of the Golden Age Human Torch as first seen in the landmark miniseries Marvels (actually the contents of issue #0) and painted by the then blossoming Alex Ross. This at least is not harmed by appearing as a stand-alone tale. 1997 saw Busiek writing Untold Tales of Spider-Man – a series designed to tell stories set chronologically during the early Lee/Ditko days of the character, and represented here by “Menace!†from #21, and featuring Spidey’s first meeting with The X-Men. This solid piece of fun and games is drawn by Pat Olliffe and inked by the great Al Williamson.
“Looking Forward†is from Iron Man, volume 3, #1 and illustrated by Sean Chen and Eric Cannon. In it the Golden Avenger returns to the Marvel Universe after more than a year away as part of the Onslaught/Heroes Reborn/Heroes Return publishing events. Although in many ways a competent recap of the character, it might present a few problems for any first time readers unfamiliar with the Marvel Universe.
Another extended epic follows, this time from Thunderbolts #10-12, and illustrated by Mark Bagley with Vince Russell, Scott Hanna, Larry Mahlstadt and Greg Adams. The Thunderbolts were a team of heroes that formed after the Fantastic Four and Avengers were seemingly destroyed (but actually went to another dimension in the aforementioned Onslaught/Heroes Reborn/Heroes Return brouhaha). This fast-paced and competent thriller is the culmination of a year’s storylines as the World and those freshly returned heroes discover that the replacement champions are in fact the villainous criminal gang The Masters of Evil.
The volume ends with a true delight and a familiar complaint. From The Mighty Thor: Godstorm #1 comes 32 magnificent pages of nostalgic magic illustrated by Steve Rude and Mike Royer in the style of Jack Kirby. In this story a sentient Thunderstorm battles the heroic Norse God through the ages. I won’t say any more as this tale (the first of a three part miniseries) remains uncompleted in this book. Why the most approachable, best written and drawn story in the volume should be afforded such treatment whilst a frankly inferior tale is granted 84 pages is simply beyond me. Perhaps the Editors assume we’ll all buy a Godstorm volume to finish the tale but would not be tempted by a Powerman and Iron Fist collection of any sort. If so that’s a very cynical way to treat fans let alone a creator you’re honouring with a Masterwork Edition.
Even with all my kvetching however, there’s still a hefty amount of quality entertainment to be found here if you can get past the appalling attitude of the publishers. Buy it, enjoy what you can and then send them a stroppy letter. I’m sure somebody’s listening…
© 1983, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2008 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.