15 issues of EPIC ILLUSTRATED #2-13, #26-27, #33 (1980-85), EXCELLENT CONDITION!

Description: 15 issues of EPIC ILLUSTRATED #2-13, #26-27, #33 (1980-1985), EXCELLENT CONDITION Epic Illustrated was a comics anthology in magazine format published in the United States by Marvel Comics. Similar to the US-licensed comic book magazine Heavy Metal, it allowed explicit content to be featured, unlike the traditional American comic books of that time bound by the restrictive Comics Code Authority, as well as offering its writers and artists ownership rights and royalties in place of the industry-standard work for hire contracts. The series lasted 34 issues from Spring 1980 to February 1986. The magazine was initiated under editor Rick Marschall in 1979 under the title Odyssey and originally set to launch as an issue of Marvel Super Special. After Marschall learned of at least seven other magazines titled Odyssey, the project was renamed Epic Illustrated and launched as a standalone series. Marschall was replaced by editor Archie Goodwin in September 1979, several months before the first issue was published. The anthology featured heroic fiction and genre stories, primarily fantasy and science fiction, in a broad range of styles. Established mainstream-comics talents such as John Buscema, Jim Starlin, John Byrne and Terry Austin were featured, as well as such independent-press creators as Wendy Pini and The Studio's Jeffrey Jones, Michael Kaluta, Barry Windsor-Smith and Bernie Wrightson. Goodwin commissioned stories by many new artists, including Stephen R. Bissette, Pepe Moreno, Jon J Muth, Rick Veitch and Kent Williams. The full-color magazine format allowed for a broader range of color than the traditional three-color printing process, and many of the stories, and all the covers, were painted. Fantasy artists who did not normally work in the comics field, such as Richard Corben, Frank Frazetta The Brothers Hildebrandt, and Boris Vallejo contributed covers. The contributors to the series retained ownership of their material and were paid royalties. Epic Illustrated also included an occasional Marvel Comics protagonist, such as the first issue's Silver Surfer story by Stan Lee and John Buscema. Each issue usually featured a main story, a number of regular serials and anthological shorts. Writer-penciler John Byrne and inker Terry Austin produced "The Last Galactus Story" as a serial in Epic Illustrated #26-34 (Oct. 1984 - Feb. 1986). Nine of a scheduled 10 installments appeared. Each ran six pages, except part eight, which ran 12. Due to its expensive nature to the company and low sales, the magazine was canceled with issue #34, leaving the last chapter of "Galactus" unpublished and the story unfinished. Byrne later revealed that the conclusion would have seen a dying Galactus releasing his power, causing a new big bang and transforming his herald Nova into the Galactus of the next universe. Selected stories · "Metamorphosis Odyssey," a serial by Jim Starlin, in issues #2-9 (Summer 1980 - Dec. 1981), which introduced his Dreadstar character.· "A Tale of Elric of Melniboné: The Dreaming City" by Michael Moorcock, Roy Thomas and P. Craig Russell in issues #3 (Fall 1980) and #4 (Winter 1980).· Ken Steacy's adaptations of Harlan Ellison's short stories: "Sleeping Dogs" in issue #4 (Winter 1980), "Life Hutch" in #6 (June 1981) and "Run for the Stars" in #11 (April 1982).· "Abraxas and the Earthman" by Rick Veitch in issues #10-13 (Feb.-Aug. 1982).· "Marada" by Chris Claremont and John Bolton in issues #10-12 (Feb.-June 1982).· "Young Cerebus," a series of vignettes of the early life of Cerebus, by Dave Sim in issue #26 (Oct. 1984). These 15 magazines were purchased new by the seller, gently read perhaps once and then stored flat for the next 40 or so years. The front cover of #2 is a tiny bit loose around the staples. All other issues are in Like New (VF/NM 9.0) condition. They have been bagged and boarded with new bags and boards. Comic Book Realm gives fair market values for these books as follows: #2 (VF 8.0): $11.90; #3: $76.00; #4-10, #33: $14.00 each; #11-13: $10.00 each; #26-27: $12.00 each. This collection is priced comparably.

Price: 200 USD

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

End Time: 2025-01-11T04:35:08.000Z

Shipping Cost: 15 USD