Two HUGE Marvel anniversary issues go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday July 22 here at Flying Colors. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 and INCREDIBLE HULK #600 both sport painted covers by Alex Ross, a number of limited variant covers by other fine comic artists, and supposedly earth-shattering stories that both complete long-running story arcs while setting up new stories to come.
I've been a comics fan for more than 40 years and round-numbered issues still are a big deal for publishers and fans. So here they are--and they both look like fun for long-time fans while occasional readers will find something to like in these thick colorful mags.
Historically, these round-numbered issues with marginally milestone content continue to be sought after by fans for years after their publication.
Weird thing is.... in both these cases, I'm not 100% sure these even are accurately the 600th issues of these two titles. With the various changes in publishing over the last 15 years, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN has started over at #1, while the HULK has gone from a couple of re-boots in numbering to switching back to previous high-numbered issues, to being INCREDIBLE for a time and adjective-less other times--- and all of those issues don't quite add up to an even 600.
It's not like it matters, though. Marvel is in the midst of celebrating its 70th Anniversary this year, so as far as we're all concerned, they can do whatever they want to re-jigger the numbers to squeeze another couple of "event" books onto the schedule. More fun for th fans---and hopefully more sales for Marvel and its retailers.
I say that all as a prelude to another 600th issue that will be coming soon. In August, ARCHIE COMICS will publish issue #600 of, d'uh, ARCHIE. And this little milestone issue, with a regular cover price that is half that of the HULK and SPIDEY will get more publicity than Marvel's big guns combined.
Why?
Because ARCHIE #600 features a story in which Archie Andrews, a few years int the future, finally makes his choice between girl-next-door, beautiful and practical Betty Cooper and the rich and conniving, mansion-dwelling Veronica Lodge. Written by Hollywood writer and producer Michael Uslan (he produced the BATMAN movies!) and drawn by long-time Archie cartooning star Stan Goldberg, ARCHIE #600, in a summer filled with really cool event comics, promises to be the event comic book of the summer. It's due to go on sale August 19. Peace!
FlyCoJoe
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