Customer Reviews

The Superhero Women

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Superhero Women" was one of the early volumes in the Marvel Origins series, although technically few of the stories reprinted herein are origin stories. Included are: (1) "Make Way for Medusa," which features the scarlet haired Inhuman from an issue of "Spider-Man," story by Stan Lee and art by John Romita (Sr.); (2) "Eyes of the Gorgon," a Red Sonja story by Bruce Jones and Frank Thorne; (3) "The Return of the Mole Man!" from a very early issue of the "Fantastic Four" by Lee and Jack Kirby; (4) "This Woman, This Warrior," featuring the debut of Ms. Marvel, by Gerry Conway and John Buscema; (5) "The Icy Touch of Death" and "And So, To Die!" a pair of tales about Hela, Norse goddess of death from "The Might Thor," by Lee and Buscema; (6) "Beware the Claws of the Cat," one of the least memorable Marvel heroines, by Linda Fite, Marie Severin and Wally Wood; (7) "The Creature from Kosmos," which introduced the Wasp, by Lee, H.E. Huntley, and Kirby; (8) "The Fury of the Femizons," featuring Lyra from "Savage Tales" #1, by Lee and Romita; (9) "The Sahara Connection," with Shanna the She-Devil, by Carole Seuling and Ross Andru; and (10) "Beware...the Black Widow," another "Spider-Man" issue by Lee and Romita.

The two Spider-Man stories are probably the best, but nothing in this collection is particularly memorable in terms of story. The introductions are by Stan Lee in his inimitable patter and are probably the best part of the book. Interesting enough, what stands out in the artwork is not the early stuff by Jack "King" Kirby, but the "Savage Tales" story by John Romita which is done pretty much in pencil. Romita did have a talent for drawing the ladies (not quite in Gene Colan's league when it comes to drawing the Black Widow), but this pencil work is quite good. "The Superhero Women" is worth a look over, but does not qualify as a must have collection of Marvel comics from the 60's and 70's.

I first read this book as a young girl, and was inspired by both the great comic-book art and the strong female role models. Red Sonja, The Black Widow, and Marvel Girl, among others, are represented here. Any young woman would find this inspiring and very entertaining. I plan to pass a copy on to my own little girl.

Stan Lee at the time was cranking out these books with Fireside Press. This is part of the same series that brought us the reprint heavy Origins of Marvel Comics, Son of Origins of Marvel Comics and Bring on the Bad Guys.

The book is heavy with reprints. Stan Lee provides buffer pieces between reprints. He did this in the other books in the series but here they have shrunk to one page or so. I really don't think people read the things and looking back now I wonder if they are as objective as they could have been in regard to who created what.


Now I enjoyed the reprints, though these are the stories only without the covers. But some of the choices of stories had me scratching my head, until I realized that unlike other volumes in the series the "O" word (Origins) was not in the title.

The format allowed stories to be presented that were not origins (though there are some in there) such as the first time Sue (Invisible Girl) Storm uses her force field.

Over all, this is the Marvel equivalant of the DC 100 page Super Spectacular Comics a big book of fun reprints (and judging by the used prices its cheaper than some of them).

So if you like your women super powered this is the book for you. If you are trying to do some serious research regarding the behind the scenes stuff that went into the creation of these characters you might have to look elsewhere.

This book brought back fond childhood memories for me. Great stuff. The vendor was a complete pro and shipped the book quicker than anticiapted. This entire transaction was perfect.

"The Superhero Women" was one of the early volumes in the Marvel Origins series, although technically few of the stories reprinted herein are origin stories. Included are: (1) "Make Way for Medusa," which features the scarlet haired Inhuman from an issue of "Spider-Man," story by Stan Lee and art by John Romita (Sr.); (2) "Eyes of the Gorgon," a Red Sonja story by Bruce Jones and Frank Thorne; (3) "The Return of the Mole Man!" from a very early issue of the "Fantastic Four" by Lee and Jack Kirby; (4) "This Woman, This Warrior," featuring the debut of Ms. Marvel, by Gerry Conway and John Buscema; (5) "The Icy Touch of Death" and "And So, To Die!" a pair of tales about Hela, Norse goddess of death from "The Might Thor," by Lee and Buscema; (6) "Beware the Claws of the Cat," one of the least memorable Marvel heroines, by Linda Fite, Marie Severin and Wally Wood; (7) "The Creature from Kosmos," which introduced the Wasp, by Lee, H.E. Huntley, and Kirby; (8) "The Fury of the Femizons," featuring Lyra from "Savage Tales" #1, by Lee and Romita; (9) "The Sahara Connection," with Shanna the She-Devil, by Carole Seuling and Ross Andru; and (10) "Beware...the Black Widow," another "Spider-Man" issue by Lee and Romita.

The two Spider-Man stories are probably the best, but nothing in this collection is particularly memorable in terms of story. The introductions are by Stan Lee in his inimitable patter and are probably the best part of the book. Interesting enough, what stands out in the artwork is not the early stuff by Jack "King" Kirby, but the "Savage Tales" story by John Romita which is done pretty much in pencil. Romita did have a talent for drawing the ladies (not quite in Gene Colan's league when it comes to drawing the Black Widow), but this pencil work is quite good. "The Superhero Women" is worth a look over, but does not qualify as a must have collection of Marvel comics from the 60's and 70's.