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| Original colour scheme. Images copyright MARVEL COMICS |
comic curiosities, I've got well-over 90 MARVEL MASTERWORKS
volumes, 15 MARVEL OMNIBUS editions, and more than 30 reprint
books featuring classic Marvel tales from the '60s & '70s. I just can't
stop buying them, even ones I've already got on my bookshelves.
| New colour scheme by Andy Yanchus |
Here's the problem: When Marvel first issued their Masterworks
series back in the late 1980s, they weren't quite so 'archival' in nature,
seldom (if at all) following the colour schemes of their initial comicbook
printings. As the years wore on however, it was decided to make these
volumes more faithful to their original publications, and, consequently,
they were then coloured in accordance with how they had first been
unleashed on the comic-buying public.
volumes more faithful to their original publications, and, consequently,
they were then coloured in accordance with how they had first been
unleashed on the comic-buying public.
| Original colour scheme |
So, when a new edition with more accurate reproduction of linework
and colouring was released, I'd buy it, figuring to replace the earlier, less
faithful volumes. Thing is, some of the colouring on those early books is,
in many instances, more atmospheric and effective than the original comic
printing. Consequently, I can't bear to part with them. While the 'purist'
in me craves having stories as faithful to their initial appearance as is hu-
manly possible, the reader in me enjoys seeing the recoloured stories
with their more varied and interesting colour palettes.
in many instances, more atmospheric and effective than the original comic
printing. Consequently, I can't bear to part with them. While the 'purist'
in me craves having stories as faithful to their initial appearance as is hu-
manly possible, the reader in me enjoys seeing the recoloured stories
with their more varied and interesting colour palettes.
| New colour scheme by Andy Yanchus |
I've included a few examples to show just what I'm talking about
from the first printings of SPIDER-MAN, DOCTOR STRANGE,
and IRON MAN hardcover MASTERWORKS, and the more recent
softcover editions which replicate the original colouring. As you can
see, the recoloured versions have more depth, gradation in tones,
and are far more atmospheric in mood.
and IRON MAN hardcover MASTERWORKS, and the more recent
softcover editions which replicate the original colouring. As you can
see, the recoloured versions have more depth, gradation in tones,
and are far more atmospheric in mood.
| Original colour scheme |
The Spider-Man/Tinkerer splash page in particular is stunning,
and amply demonstrates just how crucial colouring can be to the end
result. As I said, it's great to have archive editions of how these stories
first appeared back in the '60s, but the recoloured versions are classics
in their own right which I just couldn't part with. This way, I have
the absolute best of both worlds.
| New colour scheme by Andy Yanchus |
Which versions do you prefer? Or do you think it doesn't much
matter which way they're coloured? If you have an opinion on the
subject, feel free to share your views in the comments section.
Posted in: Cartoons
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