In final week’s article titled,”With Great Power – Marvel’s most iconic phrase,” I discussed a Spider-Man-themed audiobook. This Vinyl Rock comedian was launched in 1972 and contained what I consider to be the primary point out of Peter’s Uncle Ben saying his well-known quote.“What was it Uncle Ben used to tell me? I remember. He used to say: Petey, never forget. The stronger the man, the heavier the load. With great power comes great responsibility.”
Now, as I discussed final week, this doubtless isn’t thought of canon, as it’s in a totally completely different format from the unique story and comedian ebook run. But it was nonetheless an attention-grabbing half of Spider-Man’s historical past. And it acquired me eager about some of the opposite audio-themed Spidey content material we’ve got obtained through the years, most notably The Shan Lon Bronze Age Comics.
An Obscure Find
Early final yr I used to be shopping by way of some Amazing Spider-Man comics once I seen a ebook barely smaller than all of the others and canopy artwork I didn’t acknowledge. At first, I didn’t know what to make of it and questioned if it was merely a Pocket Book, one thing we within the UK used to see so much of within the 70s and 80s. But then I discovered one other – solely this second one was a canopy I acknowledged.
I pulled them out of the field (after discovering a 3rd) and, upon additional inspection, seen it had a small field subsequent to the “Barcode Art” stating that they have been half of an audio version.
These have been Shan Lon Bronze Age Comic Books – variant copies of common comedian books that have been bought in toy retailers within the early ’90s. These books have been often reprints, however this specific Amazing Spider-Man copy that I had discovered was truly a brand new ebook with a complete new unique story inside!
These Shan Lon books have been mini-comics that got here with an audio cassette so you might take heed to the story as you adopted by way of with the panels of the ebook. They have been very related in look to an everyday comedian, and likewise had the Comics Code Authority stamp on the highest proper of the quilt and barcode bins within the backside left. Some even had inside advertisements, although not all.
There have been a complete of 18 books created by Shan Lon: X3 Captain America, X3 Batman, X6 Man of Steel, X3 Spider-Man titles, and X3 Archie Books.
Spider-Man 0 (the one I discovered first inside this assortment) was the one unique ebook within the collection that retold the Spider-Man origin, whereas the others have been all reprints of traditional tales.
The Last of Marvel’s Audio Comics
The Shan Lon Bronze Age Audio Comics, I consider, have been the final of an already-dying format for Marvel. By this time, the kids studying the comics have been studying the comics alone and never listening to the audio cassettes or vinyl information that have been being bought alongside them.
But how might we talk about Marvel audio books with out going again to the place it began, the Golden Record Reprints?
Golden Record Marvel Reprints
The Golden Record Reprints are doubtless probably the most useful reprints out there. They have been produced in 1966 and reprinted the unique first appearances of well-known Marvel characters similar to: The Fantastic Four, The Amazing Spider-Man, Journey into Mystery #83 (First look of Thor) and Avengers #4. (First look of Captain America within the Silver Age).
The 4 Marvel Golden Record LPs got here with a single reprint comedian, and every initially bought for $2.49 (for each the report and comedian). Readers would buy these units and comply with the story within the comedian reprint whereas the report performed.
The narrator would learn the story to us and to verify we didn’t lose our place, he would say “turn page,” every time he completed the final panel on a web page.
Know the Difference!
Although the reprints, at first look, appear to be the originals, there are variations. For instance, there is no such thing as a cowl worth on the reprint and the again cowl. Also, the within covers promote the Golden Record LP collection. (Always request to look contained in the books you’re buying!)
Did you personal any of these Audio Books if you have been a rising up? Do you continue to have them now?
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