Where's My Rage, Marvel?

The Panther's Rage story arc from Jungle Action (by Don McGregor, Rich Buckler, and Billy Graham with Gil Kane covers) is well recognized as the grandaddy of superhero graphic novels; an early example of comic books for the long format. It has superb script with rich and detailed art.

Why hasn't Marvel collected this in a glossy TPB (or any TPB ever), or an Essential Black Panther volume with a few of T'Challa's Fantastic Four and Avengers issues included? Is there a reason it's been omitted by their collections department, while Essential Dazzler exists?!

Here's what Dwanye McDuffie has to say about Panther's Rage:

"This overlooked and underrated classic is arguably the most tightly written multi-part superhero epic ever. If you can get your hands on it (and where's that trade paperback collection, Marvel?), sit down and read the whole thing. It's damn-near flawless, every issue, every scene, a functional, necessary part of the whole. Okay, now go back and read any individual issue. You'll find seamlessly integrated words and pictures; clearly introduced characters and situations; a concise (sometimes even transparent) recap; beautifully developed character relationships; at least one cool new villain; a stunning action set piece to test our hero's skills and resolve; and a story that is always moving forward towards a definite and satisfying conclusion. That's what we should all be delivering, every single month. Don McGregor and company did it in only 17 story pages per issue."

Update 1: Obviously, other people agree with me.

Update 2: Apparently, here's my rage.

Update 3: And now there's finally Essential Black Panther v1, containing Panther's Rage and the best of the Kirby solo series. Here's my review of it on Amazon.

5 comments:

Girl said...

Because I LIKE Dazzler MORE! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, i recently tracked down all the single issues of this arc. Marvel *always* releases something in trade form soon after i buy all the single issues, just to spite me.

Unknown said...

I know exactly what you're saying fnord. I could get most of the single issues, but there's the cost! They're going to run $3 to $6 an issue (unless someone knows of a magical back issue bin). Plus the pages will be yellowing and the smell of old comics is not my favorite...

Unknown said...

apparently, here's my rage: http://www.collectededitions.com/marvel/mm/bp/bp_mm01.html the Jungle Action Masterworks comes out in June 2010. only three years after this blog post!!! seriously though, it would be nice of them to offer an Essential option now that the issues have been retouched like this...

Unknown said...

i am now the proud owner of an excessively priced hardcover collection of Panther's Rage (as well as BP vs. the Klan). THX JEN!!!!!!! XD

in all seriousness, i've just finished Don's introduction, and it's beyond moving. i'm so excited to have this collection, so excited that this collection exists, so excited that Don and Rich and Billy and everyone else in involved had the moxie to even tell this story in the first place. i can't wait to read it as a whole.