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geekwayne's review
3.0
I grew up in the 1970s, so I'm familiar with all the science fiction shows that aired, especially after the popularity of Star Wars. Buck Rogers was one of those shows. It was conceived of by Glen Larson, who created the iconic Battlestar Galactica tv show. After that show was cancelled, along came Buck Rogers (which used a lot of the props and sets from Galactica). I even remember watching the pilot at the movies.
This volume collects the issues that were from the movie tie-in and a few additional entries. The art is pretty standard for Gold Key and Whitman comics of the time. Good, but not great. The art references the actors and creatures in the show and does a fairly good job of portraying them.
Of more interest to me, was Buck Rogers #1 which is featured in this volume after the tv show tie-ins. It's from 15 years earlier, but the artwork by Ray Bailey is more indicative of an earlier era and seems to suit the character better. Little green men swarm the pages (and Buck at one point), perhaps in warning of what we might have found on the moon in a few short years.
The book finishes with a collection of memorabilia from the show and earlier. I was never a big fan of the show. It seemed to lack the nostalgia of it's origins. I wanted rocket packs and strange ray guns. For fans of the show, this is a well presented collection, and may find a more appreciative audience among those particular fans.
This volume collects the issues that were from the movie tie-in and a few additional entries. The art is pretty standard for Gold Key and Whitman comics of the time. Good, but not great. The art references the actors and creatures in the show and does a fairly good job of portraying them.
Of more interest to me, was Buck Rogers #1 which is featured in this volume after the tv show tie-ins. It's from 15 years earlier, but the artwork by Ray Bailey is more indicative of an earlier era and seems to suit the character better. Little green men swarm the pages (and Buck at one point), perhaps in warning of what we might have found on the moon in a few short years.
The book finishes with a collection of memorabilia from the show and earlier. I was never a big fan of the show. It seemed to lack the nostalgia of it's origins. I wanted rocket packs and strange ray guns. For fans of the show, this is a well presented collection, and may find a more appreciative audience among those particular fans.
mxsallybend's review
3.0
Back when I was a kid, Buck Rogers was probably the second coolest thing on television - the first being, of course, Battlestar Galactica. I mean, Buck was a way cooler hero, but Galactica had the cooler robots, the better ships, and - supremely important to a kid - awesome toys, just like Star Wars. In fact, I can still remember the neighborhood gift exchange where 3 of us boys got Cylon Raiders . . . and the other one got clothes. That was probably the first time I heard a kid my age swear out loud, in front of our parents!
Anyway, the point of all this reminiscing is that I recently got my hands on a copy of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Western Publishing Years Volume 1. From the cover of the first issue to the cast photos and memorabilia at the back, this is a collection that's just chock full of memories.
The first thing that struck me about these comics is just how recognizable everything is. The artwork is pretty standard, late 70s kind of stuff, but so were the Batman and Spider-Man comics I remember reading at the time. This ships looked exactly like I remember, and I was able to identify most of the characters without even reading their dialogue. The only real exceptions are Wilma Deering and Princess Ardala, neither of whom looks at all like the galactic beauties I had such a crush on.
The collection opens with the 3 issue adaptation of the original Buck Rogers movie, and does a decent job of conveying the basics. While I found it lacked the charm and the sarcasm I remember so well from Gil Gerard, it did capture the coldness of Wilma from early in the series, as well as the guiding wisdom of Dr. Theopolis - absent the comic chirping of Twiki. It definitely leans hard on the post-apocalyptic element, far more so than I remember as a kid, but that very well be because I was focused on the robots, the spaceships, and the women.
Following that, we get a standalone issue that takes Buck to one of Saturn's moons - the one with an atmosphere comparable to Earth (somehow, I think my science classes overlooked that). There he encounters a beautiful, big-headed alien woman, and negotiates a deal to obtain grain for Earth. It's actually an interesting issue, because it tackles just how easily life in Earth's only remaining domed city can fall apart.
After that, we get part 1 and 2 of a story that puts Wilma on trial - with none other than Dr. Theopolis as the prosecutor - for aiding and abetting her brother, who was previously banished as a traitor. It's a great story, one that nicely resolves the question of what happened to Princess Ardala, and one that gives us our first real hint of romance between Buck and Wilma. Unfortunately - and here is my only real complaint - the collection doesn't include the part 3, so we're left hanging, with multiple lives in the balance.
Instead of giving us part 3 of that story, the collection ends with a copy of the first Buck Rogers comic, dating back to 1964. While it's a bit off-putting for fans of the television series, it's an interesting look at where the character came from, complete with very 1950's sort of costumes, plastic helmets, and big-eyed little green men. It's almost impossible to compare the two interpretations, but it's clear they share the same source material.
That peek back at the origins, combined with the memorabilia featured at the back of the book, is what makes this collection more than just a hardcover reprint of some average 70s science fiction comic books. It really ties everything together nicely, reminding us in vivid color of the television series we fell in love with, but also reminding us that it was just the latest in a long line of interpretations.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Anyway, the point of all this reminiscing is that I recently got my hands on a copy of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Western Publishing Years Volume 1. From the cover of the first issue to the cast photos and memorabilia at the back, this is a collection that's just chock full of memories.
The first thing that struck me about these comics is just how recognizable everything is. The artwork is pretty standard, late 70s kind of stuff, but so were the Batman and Spider-Man comics I remember reading at the time. This ships looked exactly like I remember, and I was able to identify most of the characters without even reading their dialogue. The only real exceptions are Wilma Deering and Princess Ardala, neither of whom looks at all like the galactic beauties I had such a crush on.
The collection opens with the 3 issue adaptation of the original Buck Rogers movie, and does a decent job of conveying the basics. While I found it lacked the charm and the sarcasm I remember so well from Gil Gerard, it did capture the coldness of Wilma from early in the series, as well as the guiding wisdom of Dr. Theopolis - absent the comic chirping of Twiki. It definitely leans hard on the post-apocalyptic element, far more so than I remember as a kid, but that very well be because I was focused on the robots, the spaceships, and the women.
Following that, we get a standalone issue that takes Buck to one of Saturn's moons - the one with an atmosphere comparable to Earth (somehow, I think my science classes overlooked that). There he encounters a beautiful, big-headed alien woman, and negotiates a deal to obtain grain for Earth. It's actually an interesting issue, because it tackles just how easily life in Earth's only remaining domed city can fall apart.
After that, we get part 1 and 2 of a story that puts Wilma on trial - with none other than Dr. Theopolis as the prosecutor - for aiding and abetting her brother, who was previously banished as a traitor. It's a great story, one that nicely resolves the question of what happened to Princess Ardala, and one that gives us our first real hint of romance between Buck and Wilma. Unfortunately - and here is my only real complaint - the collection doesn't include the part 3, so we're left hanging, with multiple lives in the balance.
Instead of giving us part 3 of that story, the collection ends with a copy of the first Buck Rogers comic, dating back to 1964. While it's a bit off-putting for fans of the television series, it's an interesting look at where the character came from, complete with very 1950's sort of costumes, plastic helmets, and big-eyed little green men. It's almost impossible to compare the two interpretations, but it's clear they share the same source material.
That peek back at the origins, combined with the memorabilia featured at the back of the book, is what makes this collection more than just a hardcover reprint of some average 70s science fiction comic books. It really ties everything together nicely, reminding us in vivid color of the television series we fell in love with, but also reminding us that it was just the latest in a long line of interpretations.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
eoghann's review
3.0
Products like this have a very niche audience.
A large number of you will recognize Buck Rogers. He along with Flash Gordon symbolize pulp sci-fi. Many of you will also remember the late 70s tv adaptation with Gil Gerard as Rogers and perhaps more importantly to the average male teenager at the time Erin Gray as Wilma Deering.
This hardcover compilation contains the comic book adaptations from the initial movie and then subsequent tv series. And, given the standards of the time, this is decent stuff. Not exceptional, not special. But decent.
I remember the movie pretty well. I've actually seen it several times. It was campy even in the early 80s when I watched it. The four part comic book adaptation is exceptionally faithful and exposes that campness even more 30 years later. The whole Buck Rogers concept is dated in many ways, but this version is dated in it's own special way.
The artwork actually has very credible likenesses for everyone except Wilma Deering. I'm not quite sure why that is. Clearly the source material was studied carefully as all the costumes and ships are very faithful to the tv show. All round this is a very competent and professional job. But it doesn't rise above its origins at any point.
Far more interesting to me at least was the inclusion of the Buck Rogers #1 issue which was published many years before the tv show and actually features little green aliens. It's very much a product of it's time (the 50s) and as such was fascinating. Also really nice was the memorabilia section at the back which showcased memorabilia from all decades and versions of Buck Rogers. I love that sort of material.
In terms of quality they've done what they can here to present these strips in the best condition possible. The artwork and particular the coloring are of their time and they haven't been re-worked. this is very much an archive edition.
So I'm giving this three stars, but with the understanding that if you're in the target market this is probably a 4 star book and if you're not... 2 stars at best.
A large number of you will recognize Buck Rogers. He along with Flash Gordon symbolize pulp sci-fi. Many of you will also remember the late 70s tv adaptation with Gil Gerard as Rogers and perhaps more importantly to the average male teenager at the time Erin Gray as Wilma Deering.
This hardcover compilation contains the comic book adaptations from the initial movie and then subsequent tv series. And, given the standards of the time, this is decent stuff. Not exceptional, not special. But decent.
I remember the movie pretty well. I've actually seen it several times. It was campy even in the early 80s when I watched it. The four part comic book adaptation is exceptionally faithful and exposes that campness even more 30 years later. The whole Buck Rogers concept is dated in many ways, but this version is dated in it's own special way.
The artwork actually has very credible likenesses for everyone except Wilma Deering. I'm not quite sure why that is. Clearly the source material was studied carefully as all the costumes and ships are very faithful to the tv show. All round this is a very competent and professional job. But it doesn't rise above its origins at any point.
Far more interesting to me at least was the inclusion of the Buck Rogers #1 issue which was published many years before the tv show and actually features little green aliens. It's very much a product of it's time (the 50s) and as such was fascinating. Also really nice was the memorabilia section at the back which showcased memorabilia from all decades and versions of Buck Rogers. I love that sort of material.
In terms of quality they've done what they can here to present these strips in the best condition possible. The artwork and particular the coloring are of their time and they haven't been re-worked. this is very much an archive edition.
So I'm giving this three stars, but with the understanding that if you're in the target market this is probably a 4 star book and if you're not... 2 stars at best.
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