tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post3871961391040972529..comments2023-06-16T05:57:18.370-07:00Comments on STANLEY STORIES: Melvin Monster Vol. 1: The John Stanley Library-- a reviewFrank M. Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673579882180372546noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post-19029443591433097622009-09-06T16:13:15.196-07:002009-09-06T16:13:15.196-07:00The slimness of this volume is just a shame. What ...The slimness of this volume is just a shame. What could have been a treasure trove of comics and supplemental historical material turns out to be little more than a novelty.afduminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17220619899553738870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post-14319296007585698182009-06-11T19:10:49.898-07:002009-06-11T19:10:49.898-07:00Superb review.Superb review.Jeffrey Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08555472715577841881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post-24903819582571272852009-06-08T13:05:23.975-07:002009-06-08T13:05:23.975-07:00Well, like I said, I expect comic book reprints to...Well, like I said, I expect comic book reprints to give me 5 or more issues. Am a little bothered when I see some of the slim reprint volumes out there. 3 is just too few.<br /><br />Also, when it comes to reprints of historical materials (comic books or comic strips), I really *expect* to see some amount of extra materials (something I don't expect from a reprint of recent comics). Intro and overviews (even if only a few pages) is a must is such archive series. If you're only giving me 3 issues, you better be giving me some more stuff. Take a look at the reprint series for some of the classic comic strips from IDW, D&Q, FBI, etc, and they give you several pages of intro/overview materials. In some cases a ton of materials (see the Scorchy Smith reprint from IDW).<br /><br />So if D&Q just gave us 3 issues of Melvin and nothing else, they really blew it. Which I find it strange, as they've done such a good job with their Walt & Skeezix volumes...<br /><br />I'll get the volume, but there are now a lot of other works that are in front of it.Michael Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16577632385379561930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post-87609900079743447102009-06-08T11:40:38.955-07:002009-06-08T11:40:38.955-07:00Michael, I appreciate your comments. The book is w...Michael, I appreciate your comments. The book is well worth purchasing. I hope D + Q will put more editorial content in future volumes of the John Stanley Library.<br /><br />It would seem, from the feedback my review has gotten, that this is an important aspect to potential purchasers. People want more than mere reprints. I hope D + Q will adjust their program to make these books more substantial...Frank M. Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673579882180372546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post-13127039970274623632009-06-08T11:33:24.168-07:002009-06-08T11:33:24.168-07:00Hmmmm.
I have to be honest that whereas the book ...Hmmmm.<br /><br />I have to be honest that whereas the book was on my buy list, certain things I've found out have dropped it in statue on that list.<br /><br />Originally, they were going to reprint Melvin in 2 volumes, covering about 4/5 issues each. I thought that reasonable. The Little Lulu volumes have been doing 6 issues each!<br /><br />Now I find out they will do 3 volumes, with 3 issues each. :( 3 comics reprinted in hardcover is just too few. Especially since the volume of Thirteen coming out is 3 times as long as the Melvin volume, they could have done ALL of Melvin in 1 volume (and saved us money in the process).<br /><br />Now I find out from this review that there is NO introductory materials! I expected some amount of extra materials. Some background on Stanley, info on creating Melvin, etc. So there is NOTHING, just the 3 issues?<br /><br />No covers????<br /><br />The poor reproduction on issue 2 isn't acceptable, IMO.<br /><br />I was really planning on getting this volume RSN. Now, I'll hold off. You blew it, D&Q.Michael Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16577632385379561930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post-91660145951347024562009-06-07T18:13:19.837-07:002009-06-07T18:13:19.837-07:00I just hope that Seth's design doesn't rai...I just hope that Seth's design doesn't raise the price of that book, Seth's books, made or designed by him are usually quite expensive, and it's OK when it's a book of his own, the design is as important as the comic itself, its part of his personality, but in this case the most important thing for me as a reader is the content, John Stanley's work, not the fancy hardcover by Seth :(Juanelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16995692110937383985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post-2031743257541818132009-06-06T21:41:06.970-07:002009-06-06T21:41:06.970-07:00I agree with prof. grewbeard... they shoudl have h...I agree with prof. grewbeard... they shoudl have had Frank Young write an introduction. (They do give Frank a thank you by mentioning his name in the fine print). One other thing that bugged me about this book is that John Stanley is never identified as the artist. The brief bio of him only refers to him as a writer, which would lead a reader to conclude he wrote, but did not draw the Melvin Monster stories. This is a pretty huge gaff for something that called itself the 'John Stanley Library!' A pity the book doesn't have a bit more thought into the framing of the work... because the production values are the nicest I've seen on a comic book reprint. Thank you for the fantastic review, Frank!Paul C.Tumeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05398929835829679477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157513690234917810.post-66318902517948508522009-06-06T13:44:59.361-07:002009-06-06T13:44:59.361-07:00glad to know this book is finally out! they should...glad to know this book is finally out! they should have had you write an introduction. reading Melvin #10(alias #1)at the age of ten made quite an impression and re-reading as an adult was a grim remnder of how scary childhood can be. as a child it creeped me out a bit, now i see the amazing sense of humor Stanley had and it encouraged me to seek out more of his work, and this site thankfully has provided me with just such an opportunity. thanx again for sharing your collection and thoughts.Prof. Grewbeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16132543249418576650noreply@blogger.com