Marvel Comics simultaneously pays tribute to and pokes fun at their monster books of the 1950s and 1960s with the must-have MARVEL MONSTERS collection. As befitting of that era, Marvel’s creatures were Godzilla-inspired, oversized creatures of the post-atomic age, brought to city-smashing life in tryout titles like WHERE MONSTERS DWELL, STRANGE TALES, JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY and TALES TO ASTONISH (in contrast, DC’s monsters of the time were largely horror).
Five of those “classic” stories are reprinted here in vibrant color, featuring the monsters Fin Fang Foom; Droom, the Living Lizard; Titano; Hulk (no, not that one); and Experiment 247, aka a snapping turtle turned giant thanks to an experimental growth hormone. All of these stories follow a distinct formula – the same as the eerily similar B-movies, incidentally – but are enjoyable for their very antiquated nature. Plus, all but one are drawn by the legendary Jack Kirby. And without those as a point of reference, you wouldn’t be able to appreciate the rest of the book, which is where the real meat lies.
For that reprints four 2005 one-shots, each taking on one Marvel monster of the past with a decidedly comedic bent. First, THE GOON’s Eric Powell has the red DEVIL DINOSAUR spar with Hulk (yes, that one), while WHERE MONSTERS DWELL features three shorter tales, with talent like Peter David and Mike Allred spinning stories of the Bombu (think Tiki gods from space), Monstrollo (invading Hollywood, albeit as a suit) and Manoo (in the book’s one story that most resembles yesteryear’s material).
Writer Steve Niles wrings lots of mileage out of his MONSTERS ON THE PROWL issue, having Hulk and The Thing team up with Beast and Giant-Man (of the X-Men and the Avengers, respectively) to rid their fair city of a whole shitload of creatures, accidentally loosed by Mole Man. It contains the finest, funniest Blythe Danner reference in comics history. But Scott Gray’s FIN FANG FOUR is the best of the lot – not to mention laugh-out-loudy – with the Fantastic Four helping to rehabilitate the monsters and have them serve society as valets and chefs. Aided immensely by Roger Landridge’s wonderfully cartoony art (not to mention a cameo from that annoying Herbie), it takes the proverbial cake.
A chunky “from the files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters” guide is also included, providing lots of info about Marvel’s horrific horde, presented in the form of blog entries, e-mails and various clippings. But I skipped that, because I like my comics with not many words and a whole lotta pictures. Oh, and big-ass monsters. –Rod Lott
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OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• MARVEL ROMANCE
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