Seven Secrets #1

 

Comic: Seven Secrets #1

Where Purchased: Online at Rubber Mallet Comics via Comic Collector Live

When Purchased: May 2, 2021

When Read: November 12, 2024

I am not sure if I mentioned that I like Tom Taylor's writing.  He has a strong handle on characters and his stories really pop.  Somehow I missed this series when it started in August of 2020 and it looks like I bought the first 7 issues in May of 2021 from two different vendors on Comic Collector Live before adding it to my pull list in June of that year with issue 8.

From there, I finished buying the series and bagging and boarding them....and setting them aside.

And now having finally read issue one...wow!  I wish I had jumped into this sooner.  The book just STARTS and doesn't let go.  There is no cabbage-heading here.  Buckle up and let's see everything unfold.

The overall premise is that there are "seven powerful secrets-words, wonders, weapons, and worse-with the power to change the world."  According to a press release from publisher BOOM! Studios:

In the world of SEVEN SECRETS, the Order has trusted in Keepers and Holders to guard the Secrets in seven briefcases against all harm for centuries but when their stronghold is attacked and the secrets put in peril, the entire Order must face their greatest fear—an enemy who knows too much and is willing to kill to get what he wants.

Now, the Order’s newest member, Caspar, must discover the truth of the Secrets before the enemy does, or risk losing everything.

This was a solid 9 out of 10.  I'm going to make time over the next week to finish this series.  I will probably skip reviewing each issue but maybe do some sort of wrap up post when I finish.

Feeding into my collector mentality and coupled with the overwhelming fear of missing out that often accompanies it, I went with the variant cover for this issue.  I did the same with four of the others that I bought online three and a half years ago.

This issue's cover is by InHyuk Lee.  According to the interwebs, InHyuk Lee is an illustrator from Seoul, Korea, who is known for his digital artwork.  He has contributed covers to 8 comics in my collection...five of which are variants and three of which are the main cover.

E-Man #6

 

Comic: E-Man #6

Where Purchased: The Joker's Child in Fair Lawn, New Jersey

When Purchased: September 4, 2024

When Read: November 11, 2024

I do not know anything about E-Man.  When I started collecting comics, I stuck mostly to mainstream superhero books you could find on the newsstand.  

As an unabashed fan of John Byrne and currently on a quest to collect all of his published work, I purchased this comic for its back-up story which features his professional comics debut.  It is about what you'd expect from a recently turned pro who would go on to have a nearly 50 year career in comics.  It is enjoyable but a far cry from the artist he would become.

As of the time of this post, I only have one more John Byrne drawn book on my want list.  It is a 1992 colorized reprinting of a story that first appeared in 1980's "The Art of John Byrne".

I have never seen a copy in the wild.  There is one copy for sale on the comic marketplace "Comic Collector Live" right now for only $2.00 and the seller has 2 other books on my wish list but the three in total does not meet their minimum order amount.  It is way too expensive on eBay.

A recent work trip had me in New Jersey with a lot of extra time on my hands.  The Joker's Child had popped up in my research for other trips but it was either too far from where I was going or it was closed on the day I was near enough to justify stopping in.

It is a neat little shop.  The day I visited there were several kids with their parents poking around.  Back issues were reasonably priced and the layout was conducive to browsing.  In addition to this issue, I was able to get two decently priced issues of X-23 that I needed.

This was one of five (!) stops I made this day.

Marvel Two-In-One #23

Comic: Marvel Two-In-One #23

Where Purchased: Anytime Antiques in Wells, Maine

When Purchased: May 30, 2024

When Read: November 11, 2024

Another recent addition to our lives has been finding antique stores during our travels.  In all honesty, I don't think I ever really shopped at one until Nan discovered Five Corners Antiques in Essex Junction, Vermont before we moved.  

I can't remember why or when exactly she went but she texted me pictures of comics that she found there.  After that, we went somewhat regularly and I would try to find something worth picking up.

From there, and especially while we were house-hunting and after the move, antique stores have become a fairly regular staple for us.  On longer trips it gives us a chance to stretch our legs and get some steps in.  There is more than enough for Nan to search for and I can speed through to find any hidden cache of comics.

Most places are hit or miss.  Often times places will vastly overprice the most common or worthless comic.  Some times I will find something worth purchasing but it comes with a degree of impulsivity or regret later at the condition or price I paid.

But I do enjoy looking and the thrill of just finding some is always a treat...even if it is rare for me to find something that is actually on my want list.

All of which brings us to this past May where we decided to take a mini-vacation to Maine.  After checking in to our hotel and before meeting Haley and Brian for dinner, we found an antique store in Wells.  We arrived right before closing so I did a hurried search through the boxes of comics they had.  I was happy enough with what I found that we went back the next day before leaving the area.

This issue of Marvel Two-In-One was on my want list in that I was actively trying to complete the series at this point.  I found three MTIO in total here, in addition to a slew of Captain America issues and a Rom Annual.  This was one of three issues I probably overpaid for but it is balanced out by the deals I got on the Captain America issues.

As far as issues go, this one is actually the conclusion of a three-part story.  That is fairly unusual for this book, as I always thought part of the appeal of this series (and Marvel Team-Up) was to rotate guest stars and focus on one-off stories.

It isn't a bad story.  It is fun to see The Thing team up with Thor and have them visit the Egyptian gods.

The Thing # 35

 

Comic: The Thing # 35

Where Purchased: Double Midnight Comics in Manchester, New Hampshire

When Purchased: May 10, 2023

When Read: November 10, 2024

I 100% picked this up on a whim.  I have the next issue, like the art on the cover, and the concept of the second Ms. Marvel always intrigued me.

The issue itself is...underwhelming.  Perhaps because it is the penultimate issue of a canceled series but I also remember one of the reasons I didn't collect this back in the day was the whole wrestling angle which was never really my bag.

There are some interesting themes here, as the new Ms. Marvel, Sharon Ventura, visits a shady figure in the Marvel Universe know as the Power Broker.  I surmise, as the Thing's potential love interest, she felt a need to find a way to enhance herself.  Her character is a stunt woman and always shown to be quite capable.

But it is another product of its time with some stilted writing and interior art doesn't live up to the cover.

I purchased this issue during our team's annual in person meeting last year.  I think it was about a week before we moved.  

Double Midnight is a great shop in Manchester, NH.  I've visited them nearly two dozen times over the years.  They recently moved closer to downtown and I really like the new spot.  I think they still have a second location in Concord, NH which I have been to once.

One of my first visits ever was sometime shortly after my son was born.  I remember chatting with one of the owners and telling him we named our son Logan.  He shared that his last name was Parker and was sorely tempted to name his son Peter.

Thing & She-Hulk: The Long Night

 

Comic: Thing & She-Hulk: The Long Night

Where Purchased: Time Capsule in Seekonk, Massachusetts

When Purchased: June 21, 2023

When Read: November 10, 2024

I think I mentioned that I have always been a fan of She-Hulk.  She was a member of the Avengers when I started reading comics.  After the events of Secret Wars in 1984, she joined the Fantastic Four, taking over for The Thing, who stayed behind on Battleworld.  As I was collecting the Fantastic Four at the time, this just meant I got to see her written and drawn by my favorite creator, John Byrne.

I also collected She-Hulk's solo book in, a comedy series that broke the fourth wall, when it debuted.  

But, there came a time where I stopped collecting and when I returned, it took me quite awhile to start gathering things I missed.  As I made an effort to collect the original She-Hulk run, I also started hunting down the more recent relaunches.

At some point, I was made aware of this title and added it to my want list.  I couldn't recall many stories with these two together and I really like the artist so it was a no-brainer to pick this up.

It really is a fun romp.  It requires a little more knowledge of Marvel history than one would expect from a one-shot and I am not entirely sure how self-contained the story really is.  But all things being equal it is a solid 7 out of 10.

I had forgotten that artist Bryan Hitch took over on the Sensational She-Hulk series when John Byrne quit in the first year.  There had been a rumor that the art for this book was from unpublished issues of Bryan Hitch's earlier run on Sensational She-Hulk.  It seemed likely, as he only drew the fist 25 pages, with the final 14 drawn by Ivan Reis, with inks by Randy Emberlin.

However, Bryan Hitch himself explained that these pagers were originally intended to be part of a Thing/She-Hulk miniseries that had been announced in the late 1990s.  That project was canceled before it could be completed.

You can read all about the origins of this one-shot here: https://www.cbr.com/she-hulk-thing-bryan-hitch-mystery/

I bought this issue on my first work trip after we moved last year.  Time Capsule has two locations, one in Seekonk, MA and one in Cranston, RI.  I have been to both of them twice over the years.  They are great places to stop for back issues.