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a KC COLUMN by KC Carlson

“Eagerly Awaited” is a film publicist saying that’s particularly apt for the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2 (release date in the US: may 7, 2017). film trailers as well as teasers have been offered for a bit, as well as the buzz that’s been produced by them has been incredible. (Much of it being: “Awwww… infant Groot!”) I, for one, cannot wait — not just for this film however a number of other upcoming films this summertime (such as question lady as well as Spider-Man Homecoming, to name just two). appears like much of my summertime will be spent in the dark! (Or, at least, more so than usual.)

“Awwww… infant Groot!”

As always, there will be a great deal of product that ties into the film — including a number of books particularly about the Guardians’ comic book adventures. two new ones are in stores this week (as well as offered with Westfield) as well as are worth inspecting out:

Guardians of the Galaxy: producing Marvel’s Spacefaring super Heroes: The total Comics History

Guardians of the Galaxy: producing Marvel’s Spacefaring super Heroes: The total Comics history by mark Sumerak (hardcover, 184 pages)

This is a big book (physically, at 11” x 14” as well as almost 200 pages) published by insight Editions that captures the history of the different Guardians of the Galaxy comic books published by marvel Comics. They really date back to the extremely very first (and oft-forgotten) Guardians team, which debuted waaaaaay back in 1969 in the pages of marvel Super-Heroes #18. It was written by Arnold Drake as well as illustrated by gene “The Dean” Colan.

Colan was a marvel mainstay by then, having drawn Sub-Mariner as well as Iron guy (under the pseudonym “Adam Austin”). Later, under his own name, Colan ended up being understood for great runs on Daredevil, Captain America, Dr. Strange, The tomb of Dracula, as well as Howard the Duck, to name just a few. After a falling out with marvel in the 1980s, he went to DC Comics, where he primarily illustrated Batman, in addition to a number of moody, esoteric features like night force as well as Nathaniel Dusk. much of Colan’s finest (and least seen/seldom collected) was his work for DC’s traditional romance titles of the 1950s as well as 60s.

Arnold Drake, on the other hand, was just starting his career at marvel after being unceremoniously terminated by DC (after decades of service) since he (and others) tried to unionize comic creators. Drake’s best-known DC work includes co-creating Doom Patrol as well as Deadman. I likewise liked his humor work, which includes DC’s Bob hope as well as Jerry Lewis comics, in addition to his development Stanley as well as his Monster (mostly published in The Fox as well as the Crow).

Unfortunately those two men most likely won’t be participating much in this book, since they both passed on to that huge galaxy in the sky a while back.

Anyway, we were speaking about Guardians of the Galaxy before (ahem!) I went off on a tangent. This new book by mark Sumerak (a former marvel Comics editor) interviewed many creators who told Guardians of the Galaxy stories over the decades — including Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Al Milgrom, Valerio Schiti, as well as Scottie Young. (I particularly delighted in the a number of pages dedicated to Scottie Young’s artwork — since I like my Guardians as whimsical as possible!)

Guardians of the Galaxy: producing Marvel’s Spacefaring super Heroes: The total Comics history is extremely much a deluxe art book, with numerous great reproductions of traditional as well as breathtaking GotG artwork pulled from throughout their long publishing history. It’s a truly awesome book, of which the only genuine drawback being is that there is no index. Also, it may be tough discovering a bookshelf big sufficient to fit it.

MORE GUARDIANS… more GUARDIANS… more GUARDIANS…

Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy: The ultimate guide to the Cosmic Outlaws

Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy: The ultimate guide to the Cosmic Outlaws (hardcover, 200 pages) is more of a encyclopedic look at the different GotG characters, planets, weapons, friends, foes, as well as events. since one of the things that publisher DK does finest is these type of books, it may be all you ever requirement to unravel the lightly twisted history of the different Guardians of the Galaxy teams. I understand my mind was somewhat blown by the four-page timeline of the series that opens this book, before diving into deep background on the original 1960s/70s/80s series.

It’s worth discussing up front that this book is all about the comic book history of GotG — absolutely no movie or animated stuff. most of the material is organized under these categories: key Comic, key Character, key Theme, Characters,as well as key Storyline. fans of the original Guardians will be delighted to understand that the contemporary team doesn’t even appear in the book up until around page 90. (Technically, characters like Rocket Raccoon, Groot, as well as Star-Lord aren’t precisely “modern”, although the present versions are vastly different from their original interpretations. marvel history is most definitely more fluid than firm.) This book’s smaller style (9.3” x 11”) is more conducive to quick flipping.

This isn’t a extremely detailed, densely packed (and boring) encyclopedia. believe of it as a huge collection of factoids, all organized as well as curated by author Nick Jones. just like all DK comics publications, this is stuffed with fantastic illustrations (by numerous artists, past as well as present), yet doesn’t scrimp on factual details. just don’t expect dense entrances of the likes of Marvel’s traditional official Handbook of the marvel Universe. Me, I like both styles of info — however when I’m trying to discover something quick, I usually turn to DK books.

The humorously informational ahead is by Dan Abnett, the writer of the 2008 GotG series that the films are mainly based on. So he understands what he’s speaking about when he states “As Groot may say, ‘I am Groot.’ as well as I believe you understand precisely what I mean.” Wait… What?…

BONUS GUARDIANS (older) STUFF:

Because I was truly tired when I woke up at 5:30 this morning, here’s a useful guide to all the contemporary Guardians of the Galaxy material offered (or not) in the wonderful (yet foot-crunching) Omnibus format, all published by marvel Comics:

Guardians of the Galaxy Solo traditional Omnibus

Guardians of the Galaxy Solo traditional Omnibus

by as well many creators to list!

Collects: incredible Hulk (1968) 271; incredible Hulk annual 5; Iron guy (1968) 55; Captain marvel (1968) 27-33, 43-44, 58-62; strange Tales (1951) 180-181; Warlock (1972) 9-11, 15; Avengers (1963) 219-220; Avengers annual 7; marvel Two-in-One annual 2; marvel preview 11; marvel spotlight (1979) 1-2, 6-7; marvel Premiere 61; Rocket Raccoon (1985) 1-4; Star-Lord special edition & more!

hardcover 1,122 pages 7.6” x 2.2” x 11.2”

Guardians of the Galaxy by Abnett & Lanning Ominbus

by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Paul Pelletier, Brad walker as well as others

Collects: Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) 1-25; Thanos Imperative: Ignition 1 1-6, Devastation 1; material from Annihilators 1-4; material from Annihilators: Earthfall 1-4

hardcover 936 pages 7.5” x 1.8” x 11.2”

Annihilation Omnibus

by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Keith Giffen, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Simon Furman, Christos N. Gage, Stuart Moore, Mitch Breitweiser, Scott Kollins, Kev Walker, Jorge Lucas, Andrea DiVito, Mike McKone as well as many others.

Collects: Drax the Destroyer 1-4; Annihilation: Prologue; Annihilation: Nova 1-4; Annihilation: Silver Surfer 1-4; Annihilation: Super-Skrull 1-4; Annihilation: Ronan 1-4; Annihilation 1-6; Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus 1-2; Annihilation: Nova Corps Files

hardcover 880 pages 7.6” x 1.6” x 11.2”

(It appears that this volume is currently out of print, however it may still be offered in comic shops as well as bookstores.)

Annihilation: Conquest Omnibus

Annihilation: Conquest Omnibus

by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Keith Giffen, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Christos N. Gage, Sean Chen, Mike Perkins, Paul Pelletier, Tom Raney, as well as others.

Collects: Nova (2007) 1-12, annual 1; Annihilation: Conquest prologue 1; Annihilation: Conquest: Star-Lord 1-4; Annihilation: Conquest: Quasar 1-4; Annihilation: Conquest: Wraith 1-4; Annihilation: Conquest 1-6; Annihilation Saga

hardcover 872 pages 7.5” x 1.8” x 11.2”

War of Kings Prelude: road to war of Kings Omnibus

by David Hine, Ed Brubaker, Joe Pokaski, Dan Abnett, Roy Allan Martinez, Trevor Hairsine, Peter Woods, Frazer Irving

Collects: son of M 1-6; X-Men: Deadly Genesis 1-6; silent war 1-6; trick Invasion: Inhumans 1-4; Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) 1-12; Nova 13-22; Nova: The origin of Richard Rider; war of Kings Saga

War of Kings Omnibus

War of Kings Omnibus

by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Ed Brubaker, Chris Yost, Billy Tan, Clayton Henry, Paco Diaz, as well as Paul Pelletier

Collects: Uncanny X-Men 475-486; X-Men: Emperor Vulcan 1-5; trick Invasion: war of Kings; X-Men: Kingbreaker 1-4; war of Kings: Darkhawk 1-2; war of Kings: Warriors 1-2; war of Kings 1-6; war of Kings: Ascension 1-4; war of Kings: savage world of Sakaar; Nova 23-28; Guardians of the Galaxy 13-19; war of Kings: who will Rule?; marvel Spotlight: war of Kings

hardcover 1,304 pages 7.5” x 2.2” x 11.2”

War of Kings Aftermath: Realm of Kings Omnibus

War of Kings Aftermath: Realm of Kings Omnibus

by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Scott Reed, Leonardo Manco, Pablo Raimondi, Wellington Alves, Kev Walker, Miguel Munera

Collects: Realm of Kings 1; Realm of Kings: Inhumans 1-5; Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard 1-5; Realm of Kings: son of Hulk 1-4; Nova (2007) 29-36; Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) 20-25; Thanos Imperative 1-6, Ignition, Devastation; Annihilators 1-4; Annihilators: Earthfall 1-4; Thanos Sourcebook; material from I Am an Avenger 3

hardcover 1,248 pages 7.5” x 2.2” x 11.2”

Guardians of the Galaxy by Brian Michael Bendis Vol. 1 Omnibus

Guardians of the Galaxy by Brian Michael Bendis Vol. 1 Omnibus

by Brian Michael Bendis, mark Bagley, Steve McNiven, Sara Pichelli, Francesco Francavilla, Kevin Maguire, Nick Bradshaw, Ed McGuinness as well as others.

Collects: Avengers Assemble 1-8; Guardians of the Galaxy 0.1, 1-27; Guardians of the Galaxy annual 1; Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow’s Avengers 1; all-new X-Men 22-24; free Comic book Day 2014 (Guardians of the Galaxy) 1; Guardians of Knowhere 1-4; Guardians Team-Up #1-2; as well as material from free Comic book Day 2014 (Guardians of the Galaxy) #1

hardcover 1,168 pages 7.5” x 2” x 11.1”

Don’t fail to remember to support your regional comic book shop! as well as if you don’t see it… request IT!

AND ONE more DK THING…

Marvel Year by Year: A visual History

Also out this week is the updated version of DK’s marvel Year by Year: A visual history — a capsulized publishing history of marvel Comics. The last version of this book was published in 2013 (at the beginning of marvel NOW!), as well as this new version of the book adds the subsequent years as much as October 2016. (So, not totally up-to-date, however close, thinking about publishing deadlines.) A special benefit includes the volume — two framable prints of the new covers by artist Dan Panosian. whatever else in the book is quite much the exact same as before.

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KC CARLSON can’t choose which is funniest, the different trailers for GotG2 or the just-released Thor: Ragnarok teaser. Or perhaps they’re not that funny at all. perhaps it’s just me. (No, they’re truly funny. just wished to head off the marvel fans who always take whatever as well seriously. Shhh! Don’t tell them!)

WESTFIELD COMICS is not accountable for the stupid things that KC says. particularly that thing that truly irritated you. KC is not an worker of DK, although their names are incredibly similar. (No vowels…)