Friday, September 12, 2025

I've mentioned, I miss the old Marvel Graphic Novel format, but I should go back and add it to the tags, since I don't think I realized Marvel put out 75 of 'em from 1982 to 1993, plus some more under the Epic label. (Which somehow, still included some Silver Surfer and Punisher ones!) I need to go back to my shelves and do a hard count: there are several like Killraven and the Sensational She-Hulk that I've read, or maybe have in other formats. But, here's one I didn't have before: from 1987, Marvel Graphic Novel #31: Wolfpack, written by Larry Hama, pencils by Ron Wilson, inks by Kyle Baker, Walt Simonson, and Whilce Portacio. 

This was the lead-in to their own series, although it may have been downgraded from a regular book to a 12-issue limited. If you enjoyed Hama's G.I. Joe it's worth a look: it's a New York gang with a heart of gold, and ninja training, versus a far-reaching conspiracy called the Nine. It's a little hokey in spots, but still a fun yarn; and I wish this had maybe got a little more traction. 

Man, there were like six Conan's in this format? And a Kull! I think I do have that Killraven, but it was also included in the Essential volume. The Avengers: the Vault GN was reprinted in the prestige format style, but some might be tough to find at all.

6 comments:

  1. Mr. Morbid12:03 PM

    I’m definitely intrigued enough to go hunt this down online and read all 12 issues if they keep my interest.
    If you’re interested, you can re-read them all here at link:

    https://readallcomics.com/category/wolfpack-marvel-comics/

    I definitely like how Kyle Baker’s inks totally takeover Ron Wilson’s art to where it basically looks like just Baker’s art in the first place, but it works for the tone of the story & premise.

    I didn’t know Marvel put out that many graphic novels either, wow!
    I’m certainly going look and see if there’s a blog from the past dedicated to covering all of them like I found for the Epic line. That blog was DEFINITELY an education in what was going on back then and explained why the line fizzled out and ended by ‘93. Here’s the link to that & all the books produced under the Epic imprint:

    https://totally-epic.kwakk.info/

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  2. At least two of the MGN's I have--maybe three--were complete surprises to me, in the absolute best way; like I wandered into Waldenbooks and bam! "Here's a book, specifically for you."

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    1. Mr. Morbid2:43 PM

      Nice! Which ones were they?

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  3. Honestly, I like the Super Specials better- more variety and a bunch of them got reprinted and in regular format in case you missed something.

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    1. Anonymous2:56 PM

      Hmmm, good point there.

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  4. The HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER and EXCALIBUR: WEIRD WAR III: the former is great if you enjoyed Layton's two Herc mini-series, the latter was later retconned in the regular book!

    Super Specials! I had the RAIDERS and BLADE RUNNER ones, and read them to pieces.

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