I made a mistake not buying Marvel Firsts: The 1960s when it first came out. It’s a great collection, but a quick flip through it convinced me I didn’t need to spend $30 on these first issues and first appearances, most of which would be duplicated elsewhere in my collection. (In point of fact, the only story from the collection which I do not already own in any form is Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #1.) Luckily, I found a copy on clearance at Half Price Books and, for $15, I couldn’t pass it up. So what does this collection hold for me? Read on.
Beyond the obvious, that it’s simply a great collection, it also prints covers of other significant milestones, interspersed in chronological order throughout, giving an historical overview of the entire decade. It’s a little bit like reading the Essential Marvel Saga, but more comprehensive, with no continuity implants, and in color. I may quibble with a few of the choices (such as reprinting three stories each from the revamped Rawhide Kid (#17) and Two-Gun Kid (#60), including two non-title character westerns by Don Heck, instead of the first appearance of Ant-Man on costume), but what’s included is far more important than what’s been left out.
As well as reprinting covers for non-superhero titles and placing them in historical context of the rest of the company’s output at the time, it also reprints the stories themselves of such relatively unknown series as the Wasp’s back-up series, the Watcher’s back-up series, the first solo appearances of Ka-Zar and Dr. Doom, plus some house ads and Stan Lee’s two-page typewritten synopsis of Fantastic Four #1. Although the focus is super-heroes, monsters, westerns, war, romance and teen humor are all represented in one way or another.
Similarly, I did not pre-order Marvel Firsts: The 1970s Vol. 1, at least not until I saw the solicitation for Marvel Firsts: The 1970s Vol. 2. I have most of what’s in volume one, but need enough of volume two to make the purchase worth my while… and my dollars. The fact that I was able to score the 1960s volume at half price is just icing on the cake. This collection… these collections… would make great gifts for completists and non-completists as well.
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I mentioned this one elsewhere ... bought it for Action Lad as (IMHO) a worthy successor (better, really) to Origins of Marvel Comics. I gave it to The Lad just this weekend, and he loves, loves, loves it ... even though he has the originals of the FF, the Avengers, Thor, Iron Man and Spider-Man in their respective (tpb) Masterworks.
$30 is steep, if you already have the stories reprinted. But as a handy-dandy "first" collection, it's a humdinger. Makes a dandy gift!
Did I not post my thoughts on 1970s volume one? Evidently not. Anyway, volume two is where I came in. I bought a good deal of the stories reprinted therein off the spinner rack, but even more of the first issue/first appearance covers that are reprinted. Because they are all (both the stories as well as the covers only) reprinted in chronological order, it gives me a better idea of what I read when than simply relying on forty year-old memories. It’s interesting to note when I must have been taken (in those pre-driver’s license days) to Ahmann’s Newsstand or Droste drugstore, because I have whole chunks of these comics, then I’m missing whole chunks, then I have whole chunks again.
Even though I still have most of the comics and could, theoretically, read them whenever I want, I haven’t re-read most of what’s reprinted here in decades, and about half of it I’ve never read at all.
Droste Drugstore was too far away, but Ahmann’s Newstand was close enough that I could ride my bike in the next year or two. Consequently, I will own everything from 1970s volume three bought new off the spinner rack.
These collections are amazing. Buy them for yourselves, give them as gifts.
I bought '70's Vol. 1 for myself and I intend to buy the next two. (I'd buy a copy of the '60's volume for my own personal self if I didn't think The Lovely and Talented would blow a gasket at that.) These books are cool.