tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734283773701136760.post4776282069762187123..comments2024-03-26T20:11:01.933-04:00Comments on NOT BLOG X: UNTOLD TALES OF SPIDER-MAN (the book)G. Kendallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12279461069684403792noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734283773701136760.post-78389637468027279702012-05-29T15:10:50.658-04:002012-05-29T15:10:50.658-04:00I read several of these back when they first came ...I read several of these back when they first came out! Looking at the list you linked to, I know I owned (and probably still own someplace):<br /><br />The Avengers & The Thunderbolts<br /><br />Daredevil: Predator's Smile <br /><br />Fantastic Four: Redemption of the Silver Surfer <br /><br />Generation X <br /><br />Iron Man: The Armor Trap <br />Iron Man: Operation A.I.M.<br /><br />Spider-Man: The Venom Factor<br />Spider-Man: The Lizard Sanction<br />Spider-Man: The Octopus Agenda<br /><br />Spider-Man & The Incredible Hulk: Rampage (Doom's Day Book 1)<br />Spider-Man & Iron Man: Sabotage (Doom's Day Book 2)<br />Spider-Man & Fantastic Four: Wreckage (Doom's Day Book 3)<br /><br />X-Men: Codename Wolverine<br />X-Men: Empire's End<br />X-Men: Smoke and Mirrors<br /><br />X-Men: Mutant Empire Book 1: Siege<br />X-Men: Mutant Empire Book 2: Sanctuary<br />X-Men: Mutant Empire Book 3: Salvation<br /><br />X-Men & the Avengers: Gamma Quest Book 1: Lost and Found<br />X-Men & the Avengers: Gamma Quest Book 2: Search and Rescue<br />X-Men & the Avengers: Gamma Quest Book 3: Friend or Foe<br /><br />I have memories of all the above, ranging from extremely vague to very detailed. The two Iron Man novels in particular really stuck with me for some reason.<br /><br />One thing I liked about these books was the introduction of SAFE, the domestic U.S. version of the U.N.'s SHIELD. SAFE agent Joshua Ballard figured into several of the books, as I recall -- I think mostly in the ones written by Cox. I'm amazed I remember the character's name since I haven't read any of these books in over a decade.<br /><br />I was always bugged that the writers of these books never seemed to care too much about keeping them in line with the comics' continuity. I didn't expect or need the comics to acknowledge the novels, but since the novels (unlike the various animated cartoons) seemed to want to take place in the comics' universe, why didn't they do a better job of observing the status quos of the time? They were usually close, but not quite right.<br /><br />Since comics are always ongoing and novels are written far in advance, I get that it could never be perfect... but they could've at least picked a status quo and declared that the book took place at that time. As it was there were always inconsistencies ranging from little to very large, which were always just enough to bug you.<br /><br />There was one of these novels that seemed to be an exception, though -- <i>Avengers/Thunderbolts</i> was clearly set after <i>Thunderbolts</i> #25, and as I recall, it fit pretty seamlessly into the comic book continuity of the time. I was very impressed when I read that one, and as a result it's the only paperback Marvel novel I still have on my bookshelf (I kept all the hardcovers because they look nice).<br /><br />Anyway, it sounds like this "Untold Tales" book adheres strictly to continuity, though I would expect no less from a project edited by Kurt Busiek. The fact that it was set at various points in the past probably helped too.<br /><br />I look forward to your novel reviews!Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734283773701136760.post-2547309426174006692012-05-29T08:32:28.375-04:002012-05-29T08:32:28.375-04:00i remember reading this back in the day. was a way...i remember reading this back in the day. was a way that i could get around my parents dislike for comic books, but still get my fix. i loved how the book referenced where in the timeline the short story fit.<br /><br /><i>the venom factor</i> was an exceptionally good book from what i remember; diane duane did a fantastic job with the spider-man/venom dynamic. unfortunately the other two books in the trilogy weren't as good.m!kehttp://rockingthemike.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.com