Giant-Size Marvel TPB [Paperback]

While I have not been impressed with the majority of Marvel's choices for their recent "high-quality" format (aka: overpriced) trade paperbacks, GIANT-SIZE MARVEL is a welcome addition to the ranks. You'll shell out some dough for this one, but you know what? It's actually worth it.

For a `70s Marvel zombie like myself, this trade paperback is pure candy, as it collects a good chunk of the comics published under the Giant-Size banner. The featured stories are from Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4, Giant-Size Avengers #1, Giant-Size Defenders #4, Giant-Size Super-Heroes #1 (Spider-Man), Giant-Size Invaders #1, Giant-Size X-Men #1, and Giant-Size Creatures #1 (Werewolf by Night). For the most part, the G-S books were reserved for special stories: either intros of new characters, major revelations, or plot developments. Consider that this book contains the introductions of Madrox the Multiple Man, Nuklon, the Invaders, Master Man, and Tigra; a shocking revelation from the Whizzer (stop laughing); the return of the Squadron Sinister; the formation of the new X-Men; and Spider-Man vs. both Man-Wolf AND Morbius! That's more than enough material to fill any fanboy's plate and leave them satisfied. While this trade may not qualify as a "best of Marvel" to some, it's certainly a collection of quality stories that should give any reader a clear sign of why Marvel ruled the `70s.

As far as the line-up of talent goes, it's a who's who: writers Len Wein, Roy Thomas, Steve Gerber, Don McGregor, Roger Slifer, and Gerry Conway are teamed with artists Dave Cockrum, John Buscema, Rich Buckler, Don Heck, Gil Kane, Frank Robbins and Don Perlin. In contrast to most Marvel reprints, the color looks superb (though I didn't know the FF's Human Torch had worn a red and yellow uniform at one time???). Also, here's a special mention in the art department: I have to give props to Don Heck - while I have never been a fan of his, his penciling on G-S Defenders is primo.

Wow...this book really takes me back to the early and mid 1970's when I first started reading comics. I'm pretty sure I owned all, or just about all of these titles. The Giant-size books were always special and were basically annuals. For some reason marvel stopped doing annuals and did these Giant-sized books for a few years before going back to annuals. Obviously the most famous story in this collection is from Giant-size X-men #1 which was the first appearance of the new X-men by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum. It may be the single most important comic of the Bronze Age and introduced fans to Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Thunderbird and also included Wolverine, and Banshee.

Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 introduced Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man who could duplicate himself whenever he was hit hard enough. madrox was a mutant who would later be a member of X-Factor.

Giant-size Defenders #4 featured a battle between the Defenders and the Squadron Sinister, who were Marvel's version of the Justice League.

Giant Size Super Heroes #1 is one of the earliest books in this collection and fatures Spiderman battliing Morbius The Living Vampire and Man-Wolf.

Giant Size Invaders #1 I think came out before Invaders #1. This was basically a re-teaming of the golden Age All Winners and they were still fighting WWII. Terrible artwork from Frank Robbins makes this tough to read.

Giant Size Creatures features one of Marvels trio of big horror characters from the 1970's, the WereWolf by Night.

Giant Size Avengers were normally always good but this was probably the worst, featuring the All Winners squad and a story by the dependable Roy Thomas.

All in all this is a pretty decent collection. I'm not sure how much interest there is among modern comic buyers but for fans from the 1970's it's a nice bit of nostalgia. Funny thing is, that with the exception of the X-men issue, you could actually get all of these original comics for less than the price of this book as long as you're not looking for them in near mint shape. So that's something to consider.

Giant-Size Marvel collects seven of Marvels "Giant Size" issues frequently seen during the 70s, some good, some not so good.

The first is Giant Size Fantastic Four #4 which sees the FF taking on Madrox The Multiple Man. Madrox would later become popular as a character in the X-Men comics. Here we see his origin as he tangles with The Thing, Mr. Fantastic, Johnny Storm and the Inhumans "Medusa" filling in for Susan Storm as well as Professor X. Not a very exciting issue. It's written by Len Wein, Chris Claremont and drawn by John Buscema. In spite of that, it's a rather dull story.

Second is Giant Sized Avengers #1. Here we see the Avengers and the golden age hero The Whizzer take on the radioactive Nuklo. This story is actually kind of fun. We get the first puzzle pieces regarding Scarlet Witch's origins and some interesting flashbacks showing post war Whizzer and wife Miss America. Written by Roy Thomas with some mediocre art by Rich Buckler.

The third story is Giant Size Defenders #4, written by Steve Gerber with some better than usual art from Don Heck. The story has the Defenders taking on the Squadron Sinister. However, the appeal of the story is a subplot involving Hank Pym and old enemy Egghead who orchestrates a rather ugly revenge plot against his own niece and the Defenders leader Kyle Richmond aka Nighthawk.

The fourth story is Giant Size Superheroes #1, and features Spiderman taking on Morbius The Living Vampire and Man-Wolf. This is probably one of the best in the collection. An entertaining story with some attractive art by Gil Kane.

The fifth entry is Giant Size Invaders #1 which has Winston Churchill uniting Cap, Bucky, Torch, Toro and Submariner against Nazi threat The Master Man. Not one of the better Invaders stories.

The sixth story is the now classic Giant Size X-Men #1. This issues reputation is pretty well known by now. This was the beginning of a whole new era for the long dormant team of mutants. Written by Len Wein and drawn by Dave Cockrum, the story introduced Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Thunderbird to the X-Men and also featured Wolverine, Sunfire, Banshee, Havok and Polaris.

The seventh and last entry is the rather anti climactic Giant Size Creatures #1. This has the origin of Tigra who fights and then teams with the "Werewolf by Night". This is probably the least entertaining of the bunch.

I purchased this because I collect Giant Size Marvels and this had several that I didn't have. I bought my copy used and for me it was worth it for the Spiderman, Defenders and X-men entries. This wouldn't have been my first choice of stories to compile into a special volume and isn't representative of the better Giant Size stories. I can only recommend it for bronze age completists.