Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

Collected Editions

Crushing Comics S01E068 – Rick Remender’s Fear Agent + The Impermanence of Information

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I begin today by musing on the ephemeral nature of the vast amounts of information we publish daily in this digital age. How will the archeologists and historians access all of this data, and what will they think of it?

After those deep thoughts, I unwrap the pair of library editions of Rick Remender’s Fear Agent. My memory of the plot of this modern take on sci-fi pulp is a bit dim, but I share some of the history of the series as related in  and attempt to explain why I don’t love this series.

Want to start from the beginning of this season of videos? Here’s the complete Season 1 playlist of Crushing Comics.

Episode 68 features Fear Agent Library Edition Volume 1 and Volume 2 from Dark Horse Comics. These editions are about to get very scarce, as Rick Remender has moved the publishing rights for this series back to Image Comics!

Crushing Comics S01E067 – X-Men, Vol. 1 & Ed Piskor’s X-Men: Grand Design (+ My Origin Story)

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This episode is all about humble beginnings.

First, I share a story about my t-shirt, Philly, and how I became comfortable performing on stage and in front of the camera thanks to a connection to a relatively new super-star, as I’ve related in the past.

Then, I unwrap the legendary first volume of X-Men’s classic Silver Age run by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, and Werner Roth! Is this volume still worth reading now that you can simply read Ed Piskor’s terrific summary in 40 pages in X-Men: Grand Design #2?

Want to start from the beginning of this season of videos? Here’s the complete Season 1 playlist of Crushing Comics.

Episode 67 features the X-Men Silver Age Omnibus, Vol. 1. For more information (and details on how to collect this run other than in its hard-to-find omnibus), see my Guide to Silver Age X-Men.

Crushing Comics S01E066 – Women of Marvel Omnibus (+ Who are your idols?)

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I reflect on my idols growing up and ask about yours. Are they people that you know, or celebrities you’ve never met? Afterwards, I unwrap the Women of Marvel Omnibus (apt, since all of my idols are women) and explain why it’s one of the best and most-overlooked Marvel omnibuses.

Want to start from the beginning of this season of videos? Here’s the complete Season 1 playlist of Crushing Comics.

Episode 66 features the Women of Marvel Omnibus, which contains key issues of Tigra, Night Nurse, Black Widow, She-Hulk, Monica Rambeau as Captain Marvel, and more!

Crushing Comics S01E065 -The Oldest Thing You Own + Fantastic Four by John Byrne

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As I try to break into a massive brick of comic books I wonder about the oldest thing you own, a discussion inspired by my 10th anniversary post from 2011. Then I talk about John Byrne’s lengthy mid-80s run on Fantastic Four, collected in its entirety in a pair of omnibuses. Is it the most classic team comic book after Claremont’s X-Men?

Want to start from the beginning of this season of videos? Here’s the complete Season 1 playlist of Crushing Comics.

Episode 65 features Fantastic Four by John Byrne, Volume 1 and Volume 2. Visit the Guide to Fantastic Four to learn more.

Crushing Comics S01E064 – Master of Kung Fu, Vol. 1 + how Marvel should change their omnibus marketing

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I finally open the first Master of Kung Fu omnibus, and after talking a bit about how Marvel used anthology series in the 70s to audition new heroes, I dig into how Marvel got the marketing of this line of omnibuses so right.

Want to start from the beginning of this season of videos? Here’s the complete Season 1 playlist of Crushing Comics.

Episode 64 features Master of Kung Fu, Volume 1. Visit the Guide to Shang-Chi to learn more!