Amazing Adventures Vol. 1 #1

Released just a few months before Marvel Comics changed its name from Atlas Comics, Amazing Adventures Vol. 1 #1 is the debut of an anthology series that would go through two name changes and only last 15 issues in which the last one introduced Spider-Man. But this issue, while not having Spider-Man, still has a collection of very entertaining stories that Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko all worked on. The first sees an alien conqueror called Torr land on Earth with an astronomer being the sole witness and the only one to stop him, the second is a literary romance reprinted from an older comic, while the third story has a thief hiding from the police at a wax museum soon being haunted by the figures coming to life, and the final story sees the origins of the mystical Doctor Droom who was an early take of what Doctor Strange would eventually become. While the comic is certainly of its time, the work put towards it can't be denied as the writing between Stan and his younger brother Larry Lieber manage to make the stories engaging, thrilling, and entertaining even when it's often over-wordy with its dialogue and exposition. Kirby and Ditko's art is not as highly defined as their later work, but still very breathtaking, creative in certain alien designs, and managing to make the more terrifying moments stand out. What helps out above all else is the coloring from Stan Goldberg that keeps the lighting at the right amount to convey whenever a scene is ordinary or frightening. Before Marvel became who they were, comics like Amazing Adventures Vol. 1 #1 showed that they were taking one step closer to getting to that point. Over all: 100%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:

1. The Complete Peanuts Vol. 15: 1979-1980

2. Daredevil Vol. 1 #170

3. The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #1

4. Green Arrow Vol. 1 #1

5. Star Wars: Dark Empire #1

6. Amazing Adventures Vol. 1 #1

7. Barbarella Vol. 1

8. Aquaman Vol. 1 #21

9. Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #48

10. Deadman: Love After Death #1

11. Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vol. 1

12. Blue Beetle Vol. 5 #1

13. Showcase Vol. 1 #75

14. Detective Comics Vol. 1 #441

15. Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #18

16. Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection (Eternals (1976-1978))

17. Hulk Vol. 5 #1

18. Avnegers: War Across Time #1

19. The Yellow Kid

20. Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 #8

21. Archie and Me #132

22. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1

23. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674