Customer Reviews

Marvel Visionaries: John Buscema

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I thought this would be a nice compendium of Buscema's best stuff all in one volume, but it's really just a fairly random collection of stories with his artwork. I don't know what criteria was used in choosing these stories over the much better work he has done-- it seems as though the material was chosen randomly. The only truly great work here is Silver Surfer vs. Thor, though Thing vs. Hulk is also good. Buscema looks best when inked by either himself, his brother Sal or Frank Giacoia. Where is the Sub-Mariner in this collection? Where are the great Avengers issues with the Vision vs. Ultron-5? Where is the truly stupendous work Buscema did in Thor vs. Mephisto? Instead we get ordinary, work-a-day issues inked by guys with no inspiration and little grasp of how to handle Big John's pencils. I can see reprinting a panel or two of "early work" to see how far he came with maturity, but to take up space with two whole stories from before his art was up to par is just using it as filler. Some stuff in here I've never seen before, and it barely looks like anything I would call classic Buscema. One awful- and long- section where somebody did 'colored pencils' over John's layouts- allegedly- is completely out of place here. I could have put together a far more historically significant book than this from memory. What was the editor thinking? I'd like to check out the other "Visionaries" books, but if this is an example, forget it.

Putting together a posthumous collection is always a chancy proposition. How does anyone decide what to include and what to pass over? In this case, 22 stories were selected, showcasing a broad spectrum of John Buscema's talent. There are several pieces from different stages of the artist's early career, two horror stories, two humorous pieces (one "straight", one cartoony) and a romance tale, in addition to the "Avengers," "Thor," and "Silver Surfer" stories he was known for.

The choices are curious. I enjoyed the "Nick Fury" story -- it was interesting seeing Buscema musculature over Kirby layouts -- but I thought the 3-part Hulk story unnecessary and not a good example of his work. And why include a romance story that is so horribly inked? (It's not like it's that well-written.) I suppose licensing agreements precludes printing the "Conan" and "Tarzan" stories Buscema preferred doing. But why didn't they print those two great "Spider-Man" stories he drew? Or "Weirdworld"? or another "Silver Surfer"? (You get the picture.)

With an artist with SO MUCH really good stuff, the inclusion of a couple of substandard stories is strange.

Despite the occasional clunker, I am happy with this book overall.