2013 Comics Resolutions Part One

So many great comics so little time!  I have decided to make a list of six comic runs or series I must read (or re-read) during 2013.  Here are the first three:

Peter Parker's sad demise at the hands of Dan Slott and Disney has prompted a yearning to re-read Silver Age Amazing Spider-man. I aim to read the entire sixties run and continue through to the death of Gwen Stacy.  Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and John Romita established a legend.  Reading these classic tales will remind me of Peter Parker's ascent to greatness.

Amazing Spider-man #41 (October 1963)
Pencil Art by John Romita, inks: Mike Esposito

Happy Birthday Stan Lee!

Stan Lee is celebrating his ninetieth birthday today!  A milestone that must be acknowledged.

Stan Lee

Stan Lee is the most famous comics creator of all time.  To the general public Stan = comics = superheroes. We comics fans regularly discuss the most minute contributions made by creators to the comics mythos and often ignore the vast influence of Stan.  For a period of years every time I surfed the comics related web invariably the words "Stan Lee" would launch a bitter tirade from die hard Kirby fans. This may be some sort of justice for the distorted public perception that Stan created everything but to my mind did not address  the following:

Marvel Comics The Untold Story

I just finished reading Marvel Comics The Untold Story by Sean Howe and if you have not already read it I can most heartily recommend it.  Sean Howe provides an engaging narrative covering the entire history of The House of Ideas, re-enforcing some of my opinions and opening my eyes regarding some of the characters behind the scenes.

Captain America by Jim Steranko

Captain America by Jim Steranko, inks:Joe Sinnott, script: Stan Lee
Captain America #111 (March 1969)

To my mind Jim Steranko is the second greatest Captain America artist ever and he only drew three books! Pencils on #110 and #111 with inks by Joe Sinnott and script and pencils on #113 which was inked by Tom Palmer.  Each issue is a true classic.