(Note: this title should be part 4-B, since its more a continuation - or an expansion of topics covered there)
What got me interested in the X-men was the fact that here was a group of teens. Period. If for any other reason, this got my attention, since I myself (back then anyway) was a teen. I wanted to read up on their adventures, and how they - as teens, were coping with the fact the they too were heroes by choice. It did not really dawn on me what being a Mutant was. All I know was they were the good guys (era teens), fighting against some bad guys - sometimes, not teens.
I was a bit late in entering their adventures, though... So I had to contend myself with reading their reprinted adventures. But that was all right too. I guess, a second reason why I might have gravitated to the X-men was because my friends may have already been collecting the Fantastic Four and Avengers, and I - in an attempt to find a different identity and become recognized as a peer, wanted to start collecting things that my friends did not pursue... hence the third team by Marvel, being the X-men.
To be sure, this team did not seemingly share the popularity (and possibly following) of the Avengers or the FF, but I did not care - I followed their adventure and enjoyed it. Little did I know back then, that this 'status' would change real soon, with the help of Len Wein and Dave Cockrum by way of spinning of the All New, All Different X-men.
What a concept! I was still too young to appreciate Star Trek's concept of a team with multi-national individuals, but this was likewise the case of the X-men. Yes, the team I liked was back - no longer relegated to being has beens in limbo, this new team had a few familiar faces and a lot of new ones as well. I could even say that the discovery of this new team happened (for me) by accident.
See I normally went to down town (basically the streets of Quiapo and Sta. Cruz, for those familiar with Philippines and Manila in particular), a trip I normally had to plan, since it was no way near any of my favorite hang outs - for the purpose of hunting down some comicbooks. Looking at news stands, lingering on the ones that seemed to have piles of comics, to find those treasures - and it was here that I spotted, the title X-men. I got a copy and wondered... who are these guys? Cyclops (I think - since his visor looked different) and banshee I recognized - but the rest? Who was this white haired, black, and somewhat revealing costumed woman who could fly? Who was this seeming Indian? Who were they fighting - see, I beheld , for the first time, X-men #95. In opening the page I saw Cyclops seemingly falling down. Closing it, I did not hesitate. I bought the issue and went home - devouring the comic's story while on the bus.
I had heard of the New X-men, but until now - had not seen as issue. Now I had a copy and I got to know who they were. Month after month, I would go back to the same shop to see if they had new issues of X-men, and I followed their stories and talked to anyone who'd listen (remember what I said about the X-men not being too popular back then?)
As the popularity rose, the issues seemed harder to find. It would be years still until some enterprising person would consider importing comics on a regular basis, and setting up shops specializing in such? give it another decade. But I persevered - and naturally had a few holes in my collection. Wherever I went, I would look for a grocery, hope they had comics - but held by breath, for they normally did not have such items.
I was definitely around when Byrne started in the title. His art looked more refined than Cockrum and it even hinted at a Neal Adams style once in a while. In short, this was cool. I might be talking Greek (or geek) here, so let me explain a few things - Neal Adams may have been the one person in the 70s to single-handedly bring the artform of the comicbook heroes medium to greater heights. His drawings were dynamic, realistic and - a revolution to behold. Many artists following him did feel the heat and tried to copy his style to ensure that they stayed credible - many fans, myself included, did take notice of his flair. It could be argued that he brought the Batman (then suffering from the campiness image of the TV series) back to his dark knight detective roots - it was also here where we see the definitive visage of a creepy Joker. Adams also tried his hand on the X-men, but only go to draw a few issues before cancellation (a bit prematurely decided, it would seem) became the X-men's fate - and the title languished in said state of mere reprints.
To say that your art imitated Neal Adams was not just a complement to the artist, it was a nod to the fact that Neal's work - even to this date, can be considered a standard to follow. The guy should do more work for the comicbook medium.
Next - as promised earlier - how comics did affect my life, post college.
What got me interested in the X-men was the fact that here was a group of teens. Period. If for any other reason, this got my attention, since I myself (back then anyway) was a teen. I wanted to read up on their adventures, and how they - as teens, were coping with the fact the they too were heroes by choice. It did not really dawn on me what being a Mutant was. All I know was they were the good guys (era teens), fighting against some bad guys - sometimes, not teens.
I was a bit late in entering their adventures, though... So I had to contend myself with reading their reprinted adventures. But that was all right too. I guess, a second reason why I might have gravitated to the X-men was because my friends may have already been collecting the Fantastic Four and Avengers, and I - in an attempt to find a different identity and become recognized as a peer, wanted to start collecting things that my friends did not pursue... hence the third team by Marvel, being the X-men.
To be sure, this team did not seemingly share the popularity (and possibly following) of the Avengers or the FF, but I did not care - I followed their adventure and enjoyed it. Little did I know back then, that this 'status' would change real soon, with the help of Len Wein and Dave Cockrum by way of spinning of the All New, All Different X-men.
What a concept! I was still too young to appreciate Star Trek's concept of a team with multi-national individuals, but this was likewise the case of the X-men. Yes, the team I liked was back - no longer relegated to being has beens in limbo, this new team had a few familiar faces and a lot of new ones as well. I could even say that the discovery of this new team happened (for me) by accident.
See I normally went to down town (basically the streets of Quiapo and Sta. Cruz, for those familiar with Philippines and Manila in particular), a trip I normally had to plan, since it was no way near any of my favorite hang outs - for the purpose of hunting down some comicbooks. Looking at news stands, lingering on the ones that seemed to have piles of comics, to find those treasures - and it was here that I spotted, the title X-men. I got a copy and wondered... who are these guys? Cyclops (I think - since his visor looked different) and banshee I recognized - but the rest? Who was this white haired, black, and somewhat revealing costumed woman who could fly? Who was this seeming Indian? Who were they fighting - see, I beheld , for the first time, X-men #95. In opening the page I saw Cyclops seemingly falling down. Closing it, I did not hesitate. I bought the issue and went home - devouring the comic's story while on the bus.
I had heard of the New X-men, but until now - had not seen as issue. Now I had a copy and I got to know who they were. Month after month, I would go back to the same shop to see if they had new issues of X-men, and I followed their stories and talked to anyone who'd listen (remember what I said about the X-men not being too popular back then?)
As the popularity rose, the issues seemed harder to find. It would be years still until some enterprising person would consider importing comics on a regular basis, and setting up shops specializing in such? give it another decade. But I persevered - and naturally had a few holes in my collection. Wherever I went, I would look for a grocery, hope they had comics - but held by breath, for they normally did not have such items.
I was definitely around when Byrne started in the title. His art looked more refined than Cockrum and it even hinted at a Neal Adams style once in a while. In short, this was cool. I might be talking Greek (or geek) here, so let me explain a few things - Neal Adams may have been the one person in the 70s to single-handedly bring the artform of the comicbook heroes medium to greater heights. His drawings were dynamic, realistic and - a revolution to behold. Many artists following him did feel the heat and tried to copy his style to ensure that they stayed credible - many fans, myself included, did take notice of his flair. It could be argued that he brought the Batman (then suffering from the campiness image of the TV series) back to his dark knight detective roots - it was also here where we see the definitive visage of a creepy Joker. Adams also tried his hand on the X-men, but only go to draw a few issues before cancellation (a bit prematurely decided, it would seem) became the X-men's fate - and the title languished in said state of mere reprints.
To say that your art imitated Neal Adams was not just a complement to the artist, it was a nod to the fact that Neal's work - even to this date, can be considered a standard to follow. The guy should do more work for the comicbook medium.
Next - as promised earlier - how comics did affect my life, post college.
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