My pal Jerry Smith is back with a guest review of a classic issue of Marvel Fanfare (it's one of my favorites)! Be sure to check out his blog, Humble Opinions - here's the link: http://jerryshumbleopinions.
Here's Jerry:
This issue of Marvel’s upscale anthology title (it was a whole $1.50 when most 1984 comics averaged 60 cents) features one of my all-time favorite Fantastic Four stories.
Writer/artist Barry Windsor-Smith gives readers a window into the practical joke war between Ben (The Thing) and Johnny (The Human Torch).
When Ben wakes up with a certain condition, he eventually realizes it’s a practical joke, then quickly figures out the joker.
Then he sits down to a pile of pancakes for breakfast, only to find another meal-ruining joke!
When he chases after the Torch for some well-deserved come-uppance, he runs smack into some of the FF’s most terrifying foes!
Next, he lands face down in a mess of balloons, only to be taunted further by his flaming tormentor!
Later, thinking he has the final laugh, Ben sets up his own practical joke for revenge (which includes water hoses, a motion detector and a sleeping Johnny).
Satisfied, Ben finds his favorite easy chair to relax and smoke one of his new cigars in triumph. But Ben, didn’t Johnny buy you those cigars...?
The art, pacing and banter between Ben and Johnny in this story are perfect on every level. Seek this one out of the dollar box and prepare to be entertained.
The book also has a decent Daredevil story by Roger McKenzie and Jack Sparling. Daredevil chases an arsonist who was one of the children he grew up with. Extra credit to this story for using the word “skalawag.”
Grade: A
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9 comments:
I love these Classic comics reviews (and the guest posts). The last several months I have found myself buying a lot of 80s books (DC and Marvel), as comics today just do not have the same....feel (for lack of a better word). I can't think of a single comic on the shelf today that has the same sense of fun that Jerry talks about in this review. This is one book I think I need to add to my collection. :-)
Great issue!
This is a great issue - one of the best in the run (and one of the few that stand out in my memory). Highly recommended!
Thanks for letting me guest, Chuck. It's always fun!
Thanks, Jerry - you're welcome back anytime!
By the way the latest issue of Back Issue focuses on the history of Marvel Fanfare! Cool issue. Loved that book.
Great issue and great review Jerry. Marvel Fanfare had some great issues. I only picked up a few of these back when they came out, but have been able to find some pretty great issues in the last few years in quarter bins (more like 50 cent bins these days!)... Some good stuff by P. Craig Russel, George Perez, and Mike Mignola...
Great issue. I think I saw it recommended in an old issue of Wizard and picked it up. Ah Wizard...
I love this issue. It was great fun.
Bobby
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