Reviews

Golden Age Marvel Comics Omnibus, Vol. 1 by Cory Sedlmeier, Steve Dahlman, Al Anders, Ben Thompson (cartoonist), Stockbridge Winslow, Ray Gill, Paul Gustavson, Bob Oksner, Irwin Hasen, John Compton, Paul Lauretta, Bill Everett

kmccubbin's review

3.0

Let me start by saying that I really revel in the naivete of stuff like this. I love 40s radio drama. I love early comics and pulp writing. I love melodrama. That all said, this is solidly a historical document and pretty rough going, entertainment-wise. The earliest appearances of the original Torch and the Sub-Mariner are very interesting and you can definitely feel, with Namor, a sea change (See what I did there?) in how this kind of pulp was told in comics. He's a true anti-hero and sometimes is just anti. It's a shot across the bow to see how more complex characters might do and his success is important to Marvel's future.
That said, the supporting features, The Angel, Ferret, Ka-Zar, etc... Are pretty rough going. The art occasionally perks up, but the writing rarely does.
More interesting than fun and you will find yourself pretty desperate for a Jack Kirby to show up soon.