:flails wildly::

Teppy and other Buffistas wise in the way of comics-- halp!

Abby's really gotten into Marvel comics lately-- mostly from a drawing standpoint. We have some "how to draw" books that include histories of the different characters and she really seems to be digging it.

With her birthday coming up in a few weeks, I'd love to get her some nice bound editions-- something that gives her a good idea of the core stories.

Um... halp! She's going to be eleven-- any suggestions?

How to Draw the Marvel Way is the most famous such book - probably what you already have, Barb.

She might like to get Burne Hogarth's classic book on drawing instruction - he was one of the all-time great Tarzan artists in the comics.

eta: Oops. You meant the collections of old Marvel comics? Sorry.

Uhm, I'd really recommend the Kirby Thor comics for the art. The Kirty/Lee run on Fantastic Four, or the Ditko/Lee (early) Spider-Man comics (though Romita's artwork is some of the prettiest in comics and also a very famous run on Spider-Man).

I also loved Walt Simonson's run on Thor. The Frank Miller/Klaus Janson Daredevil is one of the legendary runs in Marvel comics.

The new Jack Kirby biography?

I got nothing -- but for the first time in YEARS, I'm writing something and I'd like some feedback in GWW.

Also? Anyone ever read Martin Millar? I got Lonely Wereolf Girl out of the library on a whim the other day, ignored it, cause it didn't seem all that interesting, and then picked it up and read it last night. I QUITE liked it.

How to Draw the Marvel Way is the most famous such book - probably what you already have, Barb.

Yep, that's the one. What I'm looking for though, Hec, are some of the actual series, so she can read the stories. Like if (switching over DC Comics) if she was into Batman, I'm not sure I'd want her reading the Frank Miller iterations, y'know?

ETA: x-post-- yeah, that's the kind of thing I'm looking for.

Like if (switching over DC Comics) if she was into Batman, I'm not sure I'd want her reading the Frank Miller iterations, y'know?

I went back and edited. Actually, Batman Year One is the great Miller/Batman. And excepting Catwoman's kinky prostitute gig, not particularly skeezy.

Anyway, I listed some old school Marvel. Others can do better for the recent stuff. Oh - she might like the Byrne era X-men. I liked it best with Paul Smith as artist.

I'll try to find particular links.

Anyone ever read Martin Millar? I got Lonely Wereolf Girl out of the library on a whim the other day, ignored it, cause it didn't seem all that interesting, and then picked it up and read it last night. I QUITE liked it.

Haven't read it yet, but I almost picked it up the other day. I may have to give it a try, now.

It took me a little while to get into it, but I couldn't put it down once I did. He's got some hitches in the whole writing process, but I really was amused and wanted to find out what happened.

Give it a whirl. I'm going to look up some of his backlist. Also, though I know it doesn't have a damn thing to do with the writing, I liked the cover art.

In the recent AARP magazine, there's an article by John Updike talking about what it's like to be an aging writer. He talks about not being able to think of the precise word that he knows it out there and feeling like all his best material was back in his 20s, when he had a shot of actually having something new to tell the world. It's a cool article, but not currently available on line. It might be available next month when the new issue is out.

Essential X-Men #3 - the reboot with Dave Cockrum's art. This was when the series put forth the characters that would become the most popular comic of its era.

Essential X-Men #4 - deeper into that run, but many classic storylines here.

These are the paperback editions though. The big fat ones.

So for hardback, I guess you want the Marvel Mastwerwork series, like Marvel Masterworks: Uncanny X-Men #5

Earliest Spider-Man in hardback

Here's the Cockrum/Wein X-men reboot in hardback.

Mighty Thor

Spider-Man by Romita