![\"Marvel](\"http:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/03\/marvel-masters-the-tales-of-kurt-busiek.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
By Kurt Busiek<\/strong> & various (Marvel\/Panini UK) 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\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n From 1983 come three issues of Powerman and Iron Fist<\/strong> (#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?<\/p>\n Immediately following is the origin of the Golden Age Human Torch as first seen in the landmark miniseries Marvels<\/strong> (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<\/strong> – a series designed to tell stories set chronologically during the early Lee\/Ditko days of the character, and represented here by \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Menace!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Looking Forward\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> is from Iron Man<\/strong>, 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<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n Another extended epic follows, this time from Thunderbolts<\/strong> #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<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n The volume ends with a true delight and a familiar complaint. From The Mighty Thor: Godstorm<\/strong> #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<\/strong> volume to finish the tale but would not be tempted by a Powerman and Iron Fist<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n 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\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a9 1983, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2008 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 … <\/p>\n
\nISBN: 978-1-905239-74-0<\/p>\n