Marvel Comics Presents

[Cosmic]

That is one of the setbacks, that and the fact that you might have to persevere through 12 issues for an underwhelming ending, or your just buying the 12 issues for that one story.

Well, if you bought 12 issues, you must have liked something along the way, right?

Its a hell of a way to suck people in to keep buying the dam magazine though, they always have something else starting when one is ending, and it just might be something good.

Exactly!

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Not at all. That Namor story from #7 was very short, but the satisfaction I gleaned from reading it matched or exceeded what I get from most full comics I read. The other stories, while they didn't exactly enthrall me, were at least worth a look. So, I don't feel that I only got 1/4th of a comic.

I know, not everyone would feel that way. Just saying, it's a possible perspective. Anthology series have usually sold badly, and that's probably part of the reason why. Hell, I've felt a bit ripped off by MCP when the only story I'm really enjoying is the Guardian one. I didn't even bother reading the last part of the Ka-Zar story, it sucked so much.

 

[Cosmic]

I didn't particularly care for the bit of the Ka-Zar story that I read in #7 either, but I don't remember the art being that bad. Somebody else might look at that story and enjoy it for all the action. Either way, I can understand what you're saying, but I just think it's going too far to say that you're getting ripped off.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I guess. I'm not saying it for myself, either. If I felt I was getting ripped off, I'd just stop buying MCP.

 

[Dread]

I am reading MCP, but the sales are terrible and while the stories aren't that bad, I won't miss the series when it is gone. 8 pages of story a month, vs. twice a month in the 90's, just doesn't work. That, and anthology series at Marvel have been dead for a decade. X-MEN UNLIMITED died after a few tries and so did SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED, and MCP is basically MARVEL UNLIMITED.

Still, I am mildly curious how some of the series wrap up. I commend VANGUARD for getting Blade to do anything that doesn't involve vampires for about 3 seconds.

 

[Bubonic]

Well, if you bought 12 issues, you must have liked something along the way, right?

I definitely have been enjoying the stories, obviously I haven't gotten twelve of these ones, but I was referring to some of the back issues I have of the old MCP. I loved the 8 part Ghost Rider/Typhoid Mary issues, and Iron Fist, even American Eagle was cool(and his old outfit was way better then his motorcycle look!), but sometimes they'd have some lame Spellbound storyline I didn't even want to deal with.
I also liked the Vengeance storylines.

I know, not everyone would feel that way. Just saying, it's a possible perspective. Anthology series have usually sold badly, and that's probably part of the reason why. Hell, I've felt a bit ripped off by MCP when the only story I'm really enjoying is the Guardian one. I didn't even bother reading the last part of the Ka-Zar story, it sucked so much.

Its too bad, like I said before it is a prime chance to see some unsung heroes, and villains as well. I hard great things about the original Marvel Fanfare as an anthology series, need to get my hands on some back issues of that.

I am reading MCP, but the sales are terrible and while the stories aren't that bad, I won't miss the series when it is gone. 8 pages of story a month, vs. twice a month in the 90's, just doesn't work. That, and anthology series at Marvel have been dead for a decade. X-MEN UNLIMITED died after a few tries and so did SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED, and MCP is basically MARVEL UNLIMITED.

Still, I am mildly curious how some of the series wrap up. I commend VANGUARD for getting Blade to do anything that doesn't involve vampires for about 3 seconds.

Sucks to hear the sales are terrible, you figure its a matter of time before they can the series?

 

[Dread]

Sucks to hear the sales are terrible, you figure its a matter of time before they can the series?

Without question. March 2008 sales were down 7% across the entire industry and it still couldn't sell in the Top 100. The series has to last to issue #12 to finish the stories, but beyond that I can't see why Marvel would keep selling it. It bleeds readers every month and it is below 19k. In terms of sales, it is a dud.

Again, the market has not supported a monthly anthology series for a good decade now.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I am reading MCP, but the sales are terrible and while the stories aren't that bad, I won't miss the series when it is gone. 8 pages of story a month, vs. twice a month in the 90's, just doesn't work. That, and anthology series at Marvel have been dead for a decade. X-MEN UNLIMITED died after a few tries and so did SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED, and MCP is basically MARVEL UNLIMITED.

Still, I am mildly curious how some of the series wrap up. I commend VANGUARD for getting Blade to do anything that doesn't involve vampires for about 3 seconds.

I felt just the opposite about Blade. I found myself wondering why the **** he was even there. Seems like another in a long line of failed attempts to expand Blade beyond what the movies defined instead of just doing the smart thing and making a comic book that portrays Blade the same way the movie does.

 

[Bubonic]

What they should do after they dump this title, they should do Marvel Fanfare again, same way they did volume 1.
Mind you, I only read one of them, but the concept is great, according to wiki anyways.

"It was envisioned as an anthology and a showcase of the comics industry's best talent. Each issue featured 36 pages of material with no advertisements and it was printed on magazine-style slick paper. Creators who contributed were paid a bonus 50% over the standard page rate for their work on the title. Consequently it was more than twice as expensive as standard comic books ($1.25 in 1982 when most titles were 60 cents and $2.25 in 1992 when most were $1)."

So nowadays maybe it would cost 7 bucks, but you'd have the very top talent in the industry showcasing some of our favourite characters, in two stories that start and end there.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

$7 for 36 pages is pretty steep.

 

[Bubonic]

Well it probably be cheaper, just throwing a number out there.
But if it's bi-monthly, and has the very best art, and the very best storytelling, who knows.

 

[JewishHobbit]

3.99 is a price tag I can barely bring myself to pay and I've already decided that when they hit 4.99 I'm either done or dropping my buying list by half to afford it. If something came out more than that I'd just laugh and not touch it with a ten foot pole.

And I think MCP is a great concept but my problem is the choice of stories. For me, I don't care about just about everything they've released. The 3.99 price tags of so many comics nowadays have dwindled down my bying list, so even though I wanted to give this book a shot, I couldn't afford it and there weren't any characters in it that made me want to sacrefice another book. The Magneto story was the only one that got me close. I was curious about the Guardian story, but not for all 12 issues.

Maybe if they did more of a format where 2 or 3 of the stories are bigger characters, and the other 1 or 2 be the smaller stories with the minor characters. For ever Sleepwalker an Darkhawk that I'd like to read, there's 2 or 3 other minor characters that I just don't care about, and when 2 or 3 of the stories are on them, it's not worth my money.

 

[Dread]

I felt just the opposite about Blade. I found myself wondering why the **** he was even there. Seems like another in a long line of failed attempts to expand Blade beyond what the movies defined instead of just doing the smart thing and making a comic book that portrays Blade the same way the movie does.

The problem is that "niche" will not sell a comic book. For movies, vampire films are their own genre, with enough movies to fill a section of a rental shop. Much like, say, zombie movies. Hence breaking out in terms of films was possible for Blade.

In the 616 MU, though, that isn't as likely. Horror comics have not been big for about 20-30 years. Vampires are not much of a major threat in the MU. That, and one could say Blade's comics have been saddled with poor creative teams since the films began. But even a top notch creative team would have difficulty making Blade "matter" without some tweaks to his formula.

An effort would have to be made to either make Blade hunt other supernatural beings aside for vampires (which he technically has, as member of the Midnight Sons during the 90's), or efforts are made to intermingle vampires into the Marvel criminal underworld that is done competently instead of seeming obligatory; an uneasy balance.

He also desperately needs a supporting cast that doesn't all die on him and some sort of conflict, because Blade is a rather one-note character.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I could see him hunting other stuff; that's not my problem with his recent comics. My problem with his recent comics is that they eschew the very simple formula for Blade himself and go for weird other **** that isn't as appealing. Remember Bart Sears' series, where Blade was half-naked with some crazy metal armbrace or something? Right off the bat, that visual is not appealing to people who've come to recognize Blade as a badass loner covered in black leather who kills vampires. The rest of his recent comics have done similar weird things, or if they get Blade right, they **** up something else or try to mesh him too much into the Marvel universe, etc. Blade's another character like the Punisher or Daredevil--they work best when you keep them in a relatively confined corner of the universe and just let them do their thing.

 

[Dread]

I could see him hunting other stuff; that's not my problem with his recent comics. My problem with his recent comics is that they eschew the very simple formula for Blade himself and go for weird other **** that isn't as appealing. Remember Bart Sears' series, where Blade was half-naked with some crazy metal armbrace or something? Right off the bat, that visual is not appealing to people who've come to recognize Blade as a badass loner covered in black leather who kills vampires. The rest of his recent comics have done similar weird things, or if they get Blade right, they **** up something else or try to mesh him too much into the Marvel universe, etc. Blade's another character like the Punisher or Daredevil--they work best when you keep them in a relatively confined corner of the universe and just let them do their thing.

I just don't think it is as simple as simply aping the movies. Especially since his star has passed, the franchise is finished and Snipes is in the pokey for staking the Taxman.

If it was that simple, wouldn't it have been done?

Oh, wait, nevermind.

Blade still would need a supporting cast or some sort, and some sort of conflict. But honestly I don't think his comic audience would be very big.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Eh, I don't think his comic audience would be that big regardless. But you'd think they'd at least try to come as close to the movies as possible--at least in the beginning--since those were actually popular, as opposed to anything Blade's been in in the comics. Instead they just go way beyond the pale from the start and do weird stuff with him.

 

[Cosmic]

Well, I finally got #8 in the mail, today. Guardian goes head-to-head with US Agent in awesome (and extremely brutal) sparring match...Machine Man's new storyline starts off with a high-flying, battle-royale against Ultron and Spider-Man...and Cyclops faces off with Logan out in the woods. Blade's storyline gets a surprise appearance by a popular character.

Guardian's story has a new artist: Marco Checchetto. His pencils are insane. Every panel looks so good. No more steroid-abusers in spandex. US Agent looks lean, agile and strong...he looks better than ever. Guardian is getting his ass kicked, but when he gets angry, he looks awesome. Can't wait for more of this.

The X-Men story was like Namor's last month. Exquisite art, and writing that really gets to the heart of the characters. I wish the story would continue. It's great stuff.

Machine Man, also brilliant. The art jumps off the page. Spider-Man looks great. Always love to see the celestials make an appearance. I have a good feeling about this one.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Eh. Machine Man's story was weird. I thought the new Guardian artist was a huge step down from DiVito, too. He's nowhere near as consistent as DiVito. The X-Men story was so melodramatic that it felt goofy to me.

The Machine Man art was very good, though.

 

[Cosmic]

Eh. Machine Man's story was weird. I thought the new Guardian artist was a huge step down from DiVito, too. He's nowhere near as consistent as DiVito. The X-Men story was so melodramatic that it felt goofy to me.

The Machine Man art was very good, though.

I somewhat agree on the X-Men. I went too far in my praise. But I think it had potential. I do really like the art, though.

DiVito draws US Agent's biceps larger than his head.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

USAgent's a guy who spends 99% of his time training out of his inferiority complex to Steve Rogers. Makes sense to me.

The X-Men story sounded like a great idea when I figured out what it was about after a page or two, but it didn't pull it off too well.

 

[Cosmic]

That doesn't necessarily mean he's going to get bigger, though, does it? I mean, THAT big? This is a guy who dodges bullets. He looks bulky. I like the new artist's rendition much better. Not to mention, the faces on all the characters look sharper, and their expressions are more defined. It's really nice work. Not that I completely dislike the old art...I just prefer this to that.

You're right about X-Men, lol...I was thinking the same thing. The art makes up for it. ;p

 

[TheCorpulent1]

USAgent's super-strong. Like, really super-strong, not just Cap's strength level. He went through a different process to get his powers, so he's not at his peak in all areas like Cap, but he is much stronger.

 

[Dread]

Reposting my review, with spoilers:

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #8: This issue seemed later than usual, and seeing that ALL of the regular artists on the 2 ongoing storylines need fill-in's, I see why. Even though the two 12-parters are interesting in a way, I am steadily losing interest and while I will finish out the run, the sales all but ensure this title will die after issue #12, and I won't miss it one whit.

Spoiler

The mystery of VANGUARD continues on as Stacy Dolan is told by Blade (who, in a bit of 4th wall punning she calls "Wesley" a few times) that the man see seemingly murdered (and was investigating) was yet another super-soldier experiment retconned onto the Steve Rogers story, thereby bringing the total to approximately...over nine thou-sand! (Catch the ref). Naturally, Colonel America nukes a Japanese island, feels bad about it, becomes a hermit who never uses his power except for eternal youth, and Stacy kills him. She's just as confused as I am and then suddenly the Thing is fighting everyone. At the other end of the book, WEAPON OMEGA continues as U.S. Agent spars with Pointer and he starts draining the powers of the rogues Agent Brown is stockpiling against the wills of his masters, and once again seems to become an ultimate weapon. Hmm, yeah, never saw THAT before.

Schmidt & Turini submit a one-shot Cyclops & Wolverine story about Cyke hearing about Havok's troubles with the Starjammers and dealing with the death of his father, Corsair (I don't care how well Claremont & Bryne/Cockrum drew those stories, Cyclops' father being a space pirate is still one of the dumbest parts of the X-mythos to me, like if Peter Parker's parents were heralds of Galactus). There is talking about hunting and Logan helps Cyke come to terms, but it isn't anything exceptional that couldn't have been a subplot in an actual X-book.

Ivan Brandon and Niko Henrichon start a 5 part story about the cover character, Machine Man. He is talking to a shrink about his crisis of psyche after all of his life's trials, from attempting to be accepted as a man (told with a flashback of he and Spider-Man fighting Ultron) to some of the crap that presumably happened in NEXTWAVE, and it just reads like someone trying to ape Ellis, and doing it poorly. It wasn't without charm, mind you, but just shows now NEXTWAVE has taken a rather simple character and turned him into something that has to be off the wall. Maybe it makes Machine Man less bland, especially alongside Vision who always had the same dilemma, but it still read a little awkwardly.

MCP is a "meh" book, which isn't good for $4. At least the first volume of MCP had Wolverine and some occasional break-out talents (like Sam Keith). This incarnation has none of that, at half the pace.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It always comes down to four stories just being way too much for me. Just do two stories per issue--one long arc and one done-in-one or -two.

 

[Dread]

It always comes down to four stories just being way too much for me. Just do two stories per issue--one long arc and one done-in-one or -two.

Yeah, that would have been logical.

But, who needs logic? All Marvel has to do is outdo the self-defeating DC these days.