The success of the “Infinity Gauntlet” miniseries led to the hero Adam Warlock getting his own title (with a team of cosmic adventurers by his side) in “Warlock and the Infinity Watch” #1 in December 1991.

This is the last in my series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look at the comics I bought in December 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.  In the case of Valiant Comics, I’m using a shipping list from Valiantfan.com.

At the conclusion of the “Infinity Gauntlet” miniseries, Adam Warlock is in possession of the six Infinity Gems, which give the bearer near-infinite power.  To prevent this power from corrupting him, Warlock splits the gems up among himself and five allies; the last member remains secret from the rest of the group.  Jim Starlin, who wrote the “Infinity” series for Marvel, and artist Angel Medina were the creative team.

Also out this month (though I don’t think I bought it until a little later) was “Star Wars: Dark Empire” #1 from Dark Horse Comics, which was the first shot at a full-on revival of the Star Wars universe in comic books.

Other Marvels bought this month were Amazing Spider-Man 359, Captain America 397, Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher Hearts of Darkness #1, Incredible Hulk #390, Spider-Man 19, and a host of X-books: Wolverine 51, X-Factor 75, X-Force 7, X-Men 5.

From DC, I got Armageddon: Alien Agenda #3, the Ray #1, Robin II #4 and Superman 64.  I’m pretty sure I also got the new issue of the Sandman, #35.

Valiant was becoming more key to me; though I believe I missed this month’s Magnus, I got Rai #1, Solar #7, Harbinger #3 and X-O Manowar #2.

Want to share your thoughts on anything you bought in 1991 or your comments on the comics of the era?  Let me know!

- Matt Price

Much like he is now, Wolverine was a key component in the Marvel Comics of 21 years ago.  His ongoing series, written by Larry Hama and drawn by Marc Silvestri, was reaching a milestone 50th issue.  Since it was the 1990s, this was celebrated with a cover enhancement: A die-cut cover cut as if Wolverine’s claws were slicing through the outer cover, designed like a manilla folder.  Like many comics since (and some before), “Wolverine” #50 promised major revelations about Wolverine’s history.  In this third part of the 3-part story, Logan finds a warehouse in Windsor, Ontario where he finds sets that were apparently used by Experiment X to create and alter his memories, along with the memories of Sabretooth and Wolverine’s girlfriend Silver Fox.  The Hama-Silvestri run helped define the Wolverine character for this generation.

This is the latest in my continuing series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look at the comics I bought in November 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.  In the case of Valiant Comics, I’m using a shipping list from Valiantfan.com.

The much-hyped “Wolverine” #50 also featured the first appearance of Shiva, a computer program that took on an android body, and was assigned to kill the survivors of the Weapon X program.   Other X-related books bought this month were Uncanny X-Men #284, X-Factor #74, X-Force #6 and X-Men #4.

Erik Larsen, who in the next year would become an Image Comics founder, moved onto “Spider-Man” with #18, after a recent run on “Amazing Spider-Man.”

Other Marvel Comics bought were Amazing Spider-Man #357 and #358; Captain America #396; Daredevil #300; Deathlok #7; Incredible Hulk #389; and Silver Surfer #61.

DC Comics that I picked up this month included Aquaman #2; Armageddon: Alien Agenda #2; Robin II #2 and #3; Sandman #34; and Superman #63.

Valiant Comics launched a new series, “X-O Manowar” #1, featuring an ancient warrior brought into modern times with a science-fictional suit of armor.  Other Valiant Comics this month I picked up included Magnus, Robot Fighter #9 and Harbinger #2. Solar: Man of the Atom #6 also came out, but I don’t think I got it until later.

A couple of big Dark Horse releases came out, though I think it was later when I got them as well. John Byrne’s 2112 was a graphic novel that tied in with his “John Byrne’s Next Men” series.  And in “Dark Horse Presents” #56, a giant-sized annual issue, featured “Sin City” by Frank Miller; part three of the four-part “Next Men” introductory story by John Byrne; an “Aliens” story by John Arcudi and more.  I bought this issue, but not until 1992, when I was working at the Archives in Norman.  That location would eventually become my shop Speeding Bullet Comics, which is still there today.

- Matt Price

In October 1991, DC comics released “Sandman Special” #1, a one-off story adapting the mythological story of Orpheus, with a glow-in-the-dark cover.

Because I’d heard good things about the series, and because I was interested in both cover gimmicks and first issues, I bought this one.  It probably was responsible for my sticking with comics throughout college.

This is the latest in my continuing series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look at the comics I bought in October 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

“Sandman” was the acclaimed series by Neil Gaiman, a revamp of the 1940s “Sandman” character with a completely new twist.  Working with a variety of artists, over 75 issues Gaiman told the tale of Morpheus, aka Dream or the Sandman.  The Sandman is one of the Endless, seven immortal siblings who personify seven concepts: Dream, Death, Destiny, Destruction, Desire, Delirium and Despair.

This issue was deeper and more intense that what I was used to at the time; it led me to quickly pick up issue #33 of the series, on sale at the same time, and to eventually go on to read Hellblazer and some of DC Comics’ other books aimed at adult readers.  I’m pretty sure both “Sandman” comics were picked up at the New World Comics that was then at Main and 24th in Norman.

Also bought at New World – though not seen at Mike’s site – was “Harbinger” #1, which deepened my interest in Valiant Comics. I had previously tried “Magnus, Robot Fighter” #5, and was interested in “Solar: Man of the Atom.” I may have picked up issue #5 this month, though I’m not positive.  When I saw a chance to get in on the ground floor with “Harbinger” #1, I jumped on it, and even bought two copies.  Soon after, I was buying the entire Valiant line.

Other comics I bought that were out this month included “Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham,” which crossed Batman over with the 2000 A.D. character.  This was my first exposure to Dredd, drawn here by Simon Bisley.

Other DC Comics included a new first issue of Aquaman; Armageddon: Alien Agenda #1, spinning out of “Armageddon 2001″; and the first issue of a new “Robin” miniseries, “Robin II: Joker’s Wild.”  This issue had a multitude of covers, including several with holograms. I just bought one, though the covers were actually kind of cool.

From Marvel, I got the much-anticipated conclusion of “Infinity Gauntlet,” with issue #6.  Thanos also appeared in “Spider-Man” No. 17, the first post-McFarlane issue.

I was still very into the X-Men, as I bought “Wolverine” 49, “Uncanny X-Men” 283, “X-Factor” 73, “X-Force” 5 and “X-Men” 3.   “X-Men” 3 ended Chris Claremont’s 17-year run on the X-characters.   Though I stuck with X-Men for a while after, the coincidence of the last issue of the extended Claremont X-run and my first title from what would later be Vertigo being bought in the same month signifies the beginning of a shift in my comic-buying habits.

Other Marvel comics bought included Adventures of Captain America 4, Amazing Spider-Man 355-356, Captain America 395, Deathlok 6 (guest-starring the Punisher), Marvel Comics Presents 90-92, New Warriors 18, probably Silver Surfer 60 and Punisher 57.

As a side note, many of these comics were bought alongside my brother Chris, my first and best comic-collecting buddy.  Since it’s his birthday today, I’d like to take a moment to wish him a happy one!

- Matt Price

In September 1991, DC wrapped up Armageddon 2001 with issue #2, revealing the identity of the Monarch.

This is the latest in my continuing series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look at the comics I bought in August 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

Spoilers for a 21 year old story ahead:

“Armageddon 2001″ #2  is sort of an infamous issue, in that reportedly the original plan was for Captain Atom to be the Monarch. But when that leaked, the story was changed, to make Hawk of Hawk and Dove into the Monarch, despite that not making a lot of sense as I recall.

In other comics this month, I picked up Captain America #394 and Adventures of Captain America #3.

See below for more covers from Sept. 1991

The comic book that’s still the best-selling comic book of all time hit comic shop shelves in August, 1991 – “X-Men” No. 1!

This is the latest in my continuing series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look at the comics I bought in August 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

As mentioned, this was the month of the biggest-selling comic book of all-time.  “X-Men” No. 1, by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee, would sell more than 7 million copies (with five different covers).   The X-Men have split into two strike forces, and this one somehow as all the popular characters at the time.  The Blue Team is made up of Cyclops, Wolverine, Psylocke, Beast, Rogue, and Gambit; the Gold Team would be the focus of “Uncanny X-Men.”   Storm still got prominent placement on the first “X-Men” No. 1 released (as I recall it, there was a cover released each week leading up to the big final release of the “deluxe edition” with the gatefold cover).  I bought the Storm cover so I could read it first, then followed up with a deluxe edition.  I’m pretty sure my brother got the Cyclops/Wolverine cover.  We didn’t initially get them all, I don’t think, though I imagine since we’ve owned them all one way or another.

“Uncanny X-Men” #281 also came out this month, starting a new arc and a new starting point with the Gold X-Men team: Storm, Colossus, Jean Grey, Iceman and Archangel.  “X-Factor” got a completely new team this month with issue #71. With the original X-Men leaving the name fallow, the team became a government-sponsored team of mutants: Havok, Polaris, Multiple Man, Quicksilver, Wolfsbane and Strong Guy.  This series was written by Peter David, and would become my favorite X-book for a while in the future.   I also picked up “Wolverine” #47, even though it was a fill-in (non-Marc Silvestri) issue.   X-Force fought the Juggernaut in this month’s “X-Force” #3.  Just to really beef up the X-Men tie-ins, I also got “Excalibur” #42, which featured writer/artist Alan Davis’ return to the title.

Amazingly, I also bought some non-X-Men books this month.

Other Marvels included Adventures of Captain America 2, Captain America 393, Infinity Gauntlet 4, Marvel Comics Presents 86-87, New Warriors 16, Punisher 53, Silver Surfer 56-57, and Spider-Man 15.  Erik Larsen filled in for Todd McFarlane as the writer/artist of that issue.  I’m pretty sure I also got “Daredevil” 297 and “Guardians of the Galaxy” 17.

From DC, I got the Armageddon 2001 tie-ins “Adventures of Superman” Annual 3 and “Detective Comics” Annual 4.   I may have also picked up Batman #469 and Superman #60.

While it’s unlikely all 7 million copies of “X-Men” No. 1 got into the hands of readers, it cemented Jim Lee as one of the most successful comic book artists of all time. He’d later become a founder of Image Comics, then later a DC Comics executive when he sold his WildStorm studios to DC.  Jim Lee today is the co-publisher of DC Comics and recently finished a run as artist of “Justice League.”

- Matt Price

My look back at the comics of 1991 continues with July 1991, most notable to me for starting my long infatuation with Valiant Comics!

I always like finding new heroes and new stories.  I had read about Magnus, Robot Fighter and Solar, Man of the Atom in Comics Values Monthly, a magazine that I found in bookstores in the early 1990s.  They sounded cool, even though I hadn’t read the Gold Key originals at that time.   So I was on the lookout at my next comic-book store stop.

I remember seeing this on the bottom shelf at the New World Comics that was then in Oklahoma City.  I picked it up and was hooked.  From then on, I was buying everything Valiant put out, at least for the next year, as I also went back to get all the back issues I could find.  I missed a few here and there, but I was super-excited about this new superhero universe being crafted by Jim Shooter, former Marvel editor-in-chief.

This issue also featured the first appearance of Rai in the flip-book story (a cool concept that I like).   I reviewed the entire “Invasion” storyline last year, which you can check out here.  “Solar, Man of the Atom” No. 2 was also out this month, but it had already sold out, so I had to track it down as a back issue.

I continued on my “Captain America” collecting, with two issues of the regular series — #391 and #392 — and the first issue of the prestige miniseries, “The Adventures of

Adventures of Captain America 1

Captain America,” by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire.  I liked both of these guys’ work, but $4.95 for a comic sure felt like a lot to me at the time, with a regular issue of “Cap” selling for $1.  I also picked up “What If” No. 29, which featured Captain America.

Other Marvels I picked up were “Infinity Gauntlet” #3, continuing the cosmic saga; “Marvel Comics Presents” #85, the first part of a new Wolverine storyline; “New Warriors” #15; “Sensational She-Hulk” #31, featuring the return of John Byrne; “Silver Surfer” #54 and #55, tying into “Infinity Gauntlet”; “Spider-Man” #14, by Todd McFarlane; “Uncanny X-Men” No. 280; “Wolverine” No. 45 and 46; “Wonder Man” No. 1; “X-Factor” No. 70 and “X-Force” No. 2.

The “Uncanny” and “X-Factor” storylines were wrapping up as the teams would merge in the next issues into new “X-Men” teams.  “X-Force” featured Deadpool, introduced not long before in the already hard-to-find “New Mutants” No. 98.   I think “X-Force” No. 2 was another flea market booth buy; it’s crazy to remember how excited I was to find it at the time.  I was still at least a few months away from setting up a pull list at a comic shop, which I eventually did to keep up with my Valiant purchases.

It was summer, and I needed entertainment even more than during the school year, making July a pretty big month for purchases.

From DC, I got “Batman” No. 467, featuring Robin on the cover; and the next issue, “Batman” No. 468, continuing the storyline; some “Armageddon 2001″ tie-ins with “Action Comics” Annual 3 and “Flash” Annual 2, as well as “Flash” No. 54, which I remember as a particularly good issue; I’m pretty sure I also tried out “War of the Gods” No. 1, but I didn’t stick it out through the entire series.  The “Action” annual features a peek into Superman’s future that sees him being elected president of the United States.

My brother and I started picking up some of the “Impact” all-ages superhero line as well, based on the Archie characters, being licensed by DC.   I think that started this month with “The Fly” No. 1, and we may also have gotten “The Comet” No. 2.

- Matt Price

June 1991:  A comic that was briefly the best-selling comic of all time hit this month. With an estimated 5 million sold, it’s still considered the second best-selling comic of all time. “X-Force” #1, by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld.

This is the latest in my continuing series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look at the comics I bought in June 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

As far as “X-Force” No. 1 goes, I remember at some point hearing some older fans bashing the layouts being very similar to Perez’s “New Teen Titans” #39, but I didn’t have that comic and I thought this one was awesome. I bought two copies. (I could have gone crazier — there were five different trading cards included with copies of the comic.) I was all-in on the Liefeld thing at this point, for some of the same reasons I mentioned about “New Mutants” #100. New characters showing up all the time with crazy, different designs. The feeling of foreboding over our heroes. The all-out excitement and action. Liefeld has taken his share of criticism. But back then I couldn’t have been more excited about being in on the ground floor of something cool. This was probably a harbinger of how the Image revolution would grab fans in a way no indie launch has before or since.  My brother and I remember picking up this issue while stopped for gas on a road trip to my grandparents’ house.

Also in June, “Amazing Spider-Man” #350 featured Spider-Man vs. Doctor Doom by David Michelinie with art by Erik Larsen. Since the Spider-Man-Doctor Doom fight from “Amazing Spider-Man” #5 was one of my all-time favorites, this was a natural for me. (I unfortunately never had an original ASM #5; I first read the story in Marvel Tales #142.)  This may have been bought on the same trip as the “X-Force.”

“Batman” #465 featured Tim Drake Robin on the cover, so I picked that one up.  Also from DC was “Adventures of Superman” #463, featuring a race between Superman and the Flash.   “Deathstroke the Terminator” #1 was a first issue with a Mike Zeck cover, so I picked it up. It’s one of the most prominent comics to be drawn by the Tulsa-born Steve Erwin, who’s now in the Oklahoma Cartoonist Hall of Fame.

I always liked the black Spider-Man costume, so I was excited to see its return in “Spider-Man” #13 by Todd McFarlane, in a cover homage to his own “Spider-Man” #1. I also picked up “New Warriors” #14, “Silver Surfer” #52 and #53,”Uncanny X-Men” #279, “X-Factor” #79, and two of “Wolverine,” #43 and #44. I believe I also picked up “X-Factor” Annual #6, part of the “Kings of Pain” crossover with New Mutants and New Warriors. “What If” #28 featured Captain America, so that was one I had to pick up as part of my Captain America solo collection going on at the time.  I also got two Captain America issues, #389 and #390.

Also out this month was “NFL Superpro,” as Marvel tried to tie in with the NFL with a comic about a former football player turned superhero.  I know I read this at some point, but I can’t remember if I bought it or my brother did.  While there probably is some way to cross over sports and comics, I think it’s rarely worked out terribly well in American comics.  Spider-Man guest stars in this issue, written by Fabian Nicieza.  Despite their series debuting in the same month, and being written by the same person, I don’t think NFL Superpro ever crossed paths with X-Force.

Previous entries: January 1991, February 1991, March 1991, April 1991, May 1991.

- Matt Price
See below for more art

Moving on to May 1991 in my continuing series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look at the comics I bought in May 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

“Infinity Gauntlet” No. 1 hit the stands, and based on my experience with “Silver Surfer” 50, I definitely wanted in. Plus, it was all the superheroes versus an apparently unstoppable force – how can you beat that? I got this on from one of the AMC flea market dealers. I can’t remember his name at this point, but he was a dark-haired guy who also helped me with my Captain America back-issue collecting.

“Captain America” was shipping biweekly for the summer, so I picked up #387 and #388, part of the Superia Strategem, which was ultimately somewhat goofy. At the time, I was really digging Ron Lim on art, though, and Mark Gruenwald could still do no wrong with me.

It seems like I got the New Mutants/New Warriors annual crossovers in annuals #7 and #1 respectively. I tried out another issue #50, with “Punisher” issue 50, and continued on “Silver Surfer” with #51.

Superman launched a new series with “Superman: Man of Steel,” and how could a mini-speculator like myself at the time turn down a first “Superman” issue? Why, it might be the next “Action Comics” No. 1! It was a good issue from a good creative team, as well. As I recall I picked this one up at one of the mall bookstores.

McFarlane’s “Spider-Man” continued with issue No. 12, and I managed to snag that plus a couple of X-books, “Uncanny X-Men” #278 and “X-Factor” #68.

I picked up “Wolverine” No. 41 this month, probably because it guest-starred Cable. It featured Wolverine fighting Sabretooth, and between Larry Hama’s writing and Marc Silvestri’s drawing, I was hooked. I was quickly becoming a fan of the various Image founders. I think this one was picked up on a grocery store run. Wolverine was biweekly for the summer, as well, so I believe I also picked up #42 this month.

DC had started the Impact line, which was based on Archie Comics’ superhero characters (often referred to as the Red Circle characters based on an Archie imprint that published them for a time).  “Legend of the Shield” No. 1 was out this month – a very early work of Mark Waid – and I may have picked this one up; I remember reading it at some point.

Previous entries: January 1991, February 1991, March 1991, April 1991.

- Matt Price
See below for more art

This is the latest in my continuing series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look back at the comics I bought in April 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

The issue that started me as a Jim Starlin fan and a Silver Surfer fan was this month’s “Silver Surfer” #50. I remember this purchasing trip better than most.

I was attracted, of course, to the really cool foil cover, but was debating the price of $1.50 for a book that didn’t have any of my favorite characters in it. For some reason, my dad was with me at Planet Comics, then across from the high school in Norman. My recollection is that Bart Bush, longtime manager of the store, recommended this issue to me. (I haven’t checked my recollection with his, though there’s really no reason he’d remember selling a comic to a kid. That’s what he did every day!) What I remember him saying is, “I don’t think you’ll regret it.” I really haven’t! This is one I still have in my collection. It looks a lot cooler in your hand than it does in a scan. This was a prelude piece to “Infinity Gauntlet,” which kicked off in the summer.

Otherwise, I seem to remember following “Armageddon 2001″ into “Batman” Annual 15 and “Superman” Annual 3. I also returned to DC for “Flash” #51.

John Wesley Shipp as the Flash.

From Marvel, I went with “Captain America” #386, “Captain America” Annual 10, “Spider-Man” 11, “New Warriors” 12, and two X-books: “Uncanny X-Men” 277 and “X-Factor” 67.

My interests were still heavily in the creators who would later form Image Comics, plus favorite characters Superman, Batman and Captain America.

I enjoyed the “Flash” TV series that was then on the air, so that may have affected my increased interest in the character in comics. (Even though at the time, Wally West was the Flash of the comics, while Barry Allen was the TV show star.  Some elements from the Wally West Flash — like the necessity to eat large quantities of food after expending speed energy — were brought into the series, as was scientist Tina McGee, a character invented by writer Mike Baron in the early part of this “Flash” series.)

My brother picked up Daredevil 293 in a comic booth that was at that time in Oklahoma City’s Farmer’s Public Market, 311 South Klein Avenue:

Farmer’s Public Market in Oklahoma City in 2001. Photo by by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman

According to The Oklahoman’s archive, the Farmer’s Public Market was built in 1928 by John J. Harden, then one of Oklahoma’s richest men.  The market has a long history of food sales, dances, festivals and boxing matches.  We visited there quite a bit in the 1990s; our favorite stop was of course the comics booth, though I don’t have any recollection at this time of who ran that, nor could I tell you definitively how long it was there.  The Farmer’s Public Market, of course, still exists today, and hosts events including weddings, festivals, and public events.

According to the Farmer’s Public Market web site, Hank Williams Sr., Count Bassie, and Bob Wills have all played in the Auditorium.  At one point, the site reports, the building also housed a grocery store, meat market, candy store, bakery, café, and drug store.

The main building was placed on the national register of historic places in 1982. It is the second largest building in Oklahoma City on the national register.

- Matt Price
See below for more images.

March 1991! Armageddon is here!  This is the latest in my continuing series looking back at the comic books of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look back at the comics I bought in March 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

In March, DC lured me back with the beginning of their big crossover, Armageddon 2001.

This crossover event has a lot of things that I still find interesting: time-travel, post-apocalyptic futures, and alternate histories. The story would continue through DC Comics annuals over the next few months.

I also picked up Batman 462, Captain America 385, New Warriors 11 and Spider-Man 10.I remember being pretty pumped about the “Days of Future Past” vibe that the New Warriors issue had.   At one point later, I had a tie with the art from the cover to “Captain America” #385, by Ron Lim.I tried out “Flash” for the first time in a while, at least, and enjoyed the Wally West Flash a lot, though I didn’t become a regular every-month reader until Mark Waid’s run. It was the 50th issue – I have on occasion been known to try out 50th issues, which sometimes works out and sometimes doesn’t. This may have been the first time I did that intentionally.  This issue was written by William Messner-Loebs.”X-Factor” 66 also drew me in with a Whilce Portacio cover. “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” No. 112 looks familiar, but I think it was one my brother bought. “Uncanny X-Men” sold out before I got a copy, which happened from time to time back then.None of these are really jumping out at me as far as where I bought them – I think they were probably mostly bought at the Homeland grocery store.

- Matt Price
Check below for more art.

This is the second of a series of looks back at the comics of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look back at the comics I bought in Feb. 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

In February, it looks like a lighter month for my remembered purchases.   I continued on my main interest at the time, Captain America, with #384. I also kept up with another favorite at the time, “Spider-Man,” with #9.  Back before Wolverine and Spider-Man were New Avengers together, this was a more rare team-up of the pair, by writer/artist Todd McFarlane.

I would have bought Uncanny X-Men #275, but I think it was sold out and I had to get it later.  I think I also picked up “New Warriors” No. 10.  This might have been a month I didn’t get to the comic shop specifically.  I think I got the “New Warriors” at a Wal-Mart and the other comics this month at a Homeland grocery store.

My big exciting purchase for the month was New Mutants #100.  This was scripted by Fabian Nicieza from a Rob Liefeld plot; Liefeld also draws. This issue wraps up an X-Men spinoff series that had been pretty innovative at times in its day.  The events of this issue lead directly into X-Force #1. It’s the first full appearance of Shatterstar, an otherworldly sword-wielding warrior who has hung around in X-related books since, and the second appearance of Feral, a Morlock with cat-like powers.  Looking back at this, it’s crazy full of action, and I think that’s why I was so enthralled.  Liefeld’s comics, for all their detractors, when they work do a few things well: wild action, new characters, hints of portentous events.

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images.

Here’s the first of a series of looks back at the comics of 1991.  In this post, I’ll look back at the comics I bought in Jan. 1991, and at some of the other comic books that were available.  I’m using the newsstand option at Mike’s Amazing World of Comics as my reference guide for this.  When I remember, I’ll share details about how and where I bought comics at the time.

In January, Clark Kent revealed to Lois Lane that he is also Superman, in “Action Comics” No. 662.  The status quo of Lois knowing Superman’s secret identity lasted more than 20 years, until the “New 52″ relaunch in 2011.   I also picked up “Adventures of Superman” No. 475 and “Superman” No. 53.

“Captain America” #383 was the 50th anniversary, which featured Jim Lee inks on a Ron Lim cover, so that was a must-buy even at the then-higher price of $2.  (It was a 64-page issue, though, so still a similar value for the dollar, all things considered.)

Todd McFarlane’s “Spider-Man” No. 8 was a definite purchase, as I was still on board with McFarlane anything at this time, as was my brother.  He was going back and collecting the McFarlane “Amazing” issues at this point, as well, though I was only getting the new stuff.

The Jim Lee cover featuring Rogue, Magneto, Ka-Zar and Nick Fury was a cool one, and it continued my “Uncanny X-Men” buying habits from the previous year.

I missed out on New Warriors #9 this month, though I picked it up later.  I also eventually got “New Mutants” #99 after next month’s purchases.  I’ve since owned the “Incredible Hulk” issue of this month, #379, but I think I started on Hulk later on.    Barry Windsor-Smith kicked off his trumpeted “Weapon X” storyline in “Marvel Comics Presents” also in January, but I think that’s another I missed out on at the time of release.

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more art.

This month, I’m kicking off what will be a multi-part weekly series, taking a look back at one of comics’ greatest sales years, 1991, through the eyes of a then-teenager obsessed with comics, a little more than 2 decades later.

About a year and a half ago, I did an extensive post on the comics of 1990 through the lens of what I was buying at the time.   I was able to do this via the “Time Machine” and “Time Platform” at Mike’s Amazing World of DC Comics, which take you to indexes of comic-book releases, sorted by month, with cover scans.   I really recommend checking out Mike’s site.

Though I wasn’t sure if this might entirely too nerdy for anyone to read, it was actually a popular post.  I meant to follow up with later years, but my “2,011 in 2011″ comic-book reading project kind of kept me from it last year.

So now I’m going to go through 1991, looking at what I bought, and why if I remember, as I analyze my comic-book tastes, and how they’ve changed, or not changed, over the years.   As before, if this sounds a little tedious for you, just take a look at the covers!  Given that 1991 was the year of the “X-Force” and “X-Men” launches, this list is going to have a lot of “X” on it.

Over the course of 1991, I shifted from making most of my purchases at grocery stores to making most of my purchases at a comic shop.  The main one I was able to visit at that time was the New World Comics that was then in Norman, Oklahoma, since it was near a parental shopping location.  (A little more than a year later, I’d be more independently able to travel, and buying comics at the comic store where I started work. That means the 1992 list of new comics, if I ever get to it, will be extensive.)

Of course, in ’91, I was still picking up comics wherever I could get them, including frequent flea market and garage sale buys.  There were a few guys who set up with new comics and back issues at AMC Flea Market, so whenever my parents decided that would be a fun Saturday excursion, my brother and I would gleefully get all the comics we could afford.  (The AMC Flea Market was demolished in 2011.)  There was also at least one outlet selling comics in the Farmers’ Market, and we’d pick up stuff there whenever we got a chance as well.

It seems to me 1991 influenced a lot of what I’m still interested in as far as comics; while I’ve had years where I’m far more into indie stuff, my mainstream tastes were formulated in part by the excitement of the popular X-Men and Spider-Man franchises, the beginning of the Valiant Comics Universe, and interesting soap opera in the Superman universe, which all struck a chord with me at the time.

In places it’s hard to remember what I picked up off the shelf versus what I may have bought later, but this will be my best guess.  Feel free to share your own remembrances of 1991 in comics as we go!

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images!

With Marvel Comics’ recent announcement of the return of Cable in the new “Cable and X-Force” title, it seems a good time to tease to my latest in-depth nostalgic project here on the blog.

Starting Thursday and continuing weekly in a multi-part series, I’ll be discussing the comics of 1991 with a particular emphasis on the comics I bought at the time.

Sales records, variant covers and big, big shoulder pads are coming up as I roll through the year’s highlights.  Be sure to share your favorites as well!

- Matt Price