Biff's Bit

Marvel Legacy: Re-numbering and a return to values?

By now Secret Empire #10 is in stores and the finale played out. The real Captain America is back and in shock over what has transpired. Sam Wilson has inspired the heroes to turn the tide and end the reign of HYDRA in the manner of a Steve Rogers, but for me, there is only one Captain America and he is Steve Rogers.

Marvel are trying to get back in touch with their history and are returning to a continuous numbering system, dubbed 'Legacy', that incorporates all of the history of each character or team. This month the re-launch of Captain America begins with issue #695 and the storyline has echoes of Captain America #180-183 when Steve Rogers, disillusioned with the revelation that the President of the United States was in fact the leader of the 'Secret Empire', gave up the mantle of Captain America and called himself Nomad as he travelled America searching for a new path. This time Steve Rogers is on a trip across America to restore his reputation, and not that of the President of the United States or America herself.

The series Captain America has, at peak times, been the voice of America. I found this to be most evident in the letters pages, especially during the Vietnam War when soldiers would write in and express their views on the conflict. Note to Marvel: Please can we have letter pages back? And readers, please write in to your favourite titles with intelligent and thought provoking comment.

Often thought of as a second string title, Captain America was an under rated series and, on many an occasion, it rose to great levels of art and story. Do check out some old issues such as Captain America #293-300 wherein the Red Skull and Mother Superior really tested Cap, all wonderfully illustrated by Paul Neary. Most of these issues will cost you less than a modern comic and, due to a higher level of plot and context, will likely take longer to read.

Masterful Master Of Kung Fu

Whilst writing about the higher plot level of past comics, a title has to be mentioned - Shang-Chi: Master Of Kung Fu - which highlights the different view on numbering that used to hold sway. The series ran from 1974 to 1983 and numbered #17-125. The Master Of Kung Fu numbering started at #17 as the story began in Special Marvel Edition #15-16. There was no need to launch the title with an issue one as the merit of the story and series was established in the previous showcase title and the higher issue number gave new readers the impression of a successful series. Written by Doug Moench from issue #21-122 with classic art by Paul Gulacy, Mike Zeck and Gene Day, it maintained a high level of plot, humour, script and exploration of relationships, along with observations on good versus evil and violence versus non-violence through all one hundred and two issues. Unfortunately the last three issues were not by Doug and his team and were appalling comics, the exact opposite of the previous one hundred and two - an ironic and unintended display of the Yin and Yang so effectively explored in the series up to that point.

Once again, hunt any of these issues down and you will not be disappointed (except for #123-125!)

Biff’s Tip For The Month

David Lapham came to fame via his hit independent comic Stray Bullets. He has written since for DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Wildstorm and Image to name a few. For the last three years, via Image Comics, he has quietly been producing Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses. This black and white tale of the criminal behaviour and misadventures of a large cast of characters set in "the real America" is worth anyone's $3.99. Once you have read an issue, you will be hooked. Try it, I dare you!