#RetroReview: No-Prize Book #1 (1983)

Do yourself a favor and read the fine print!

When you think Marvel can do no wrong. Way back in the year 1983 Marvel were amidst a very strong competitive comic book industry. Unknown to many comic book fans, 1983 was a time where many independent publishers were making headway, publishers such as First Comics, Pacific Comics, Eclipse and many more were releasing books created by many writers/artists working for the big 2 (Marvel & DC).

Reed definitely can’t shop at Ned Flanders’ Leftorium store.

Marvel made their humble beginnings by taking a very rewarding risk even further back in 1961 with The Fantastic Four – Marvel’s first family! Then an array of titles of household names such as Daredevil, The X-Men, The Avengers, Spider-Man and more followed in consecutive years. In short from the late 1970s to the early 1980s Marvel was the number one publisher with books coming out in multiple directions. In 1983 one would think Marvel is invincible, especially with Jim Shooter at the helm.

To release a book like this, No-Prize Book #1, this is quite the surprise considering their success. This is really a treasure trove of bloopers and mistakes made throughout the years. When you get into it with every little bit of detail, you’d be estonished as to how these errors happened in the first plan. Some would wonder if the editor was asleep or was there an editor to begin with! All in all this is the perfect satire book, poking fun at blunders throughout the history of Marvel’s finest books such as Captain America, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man among others!

Peter Palmer? Maybe it’s the Spider-Man from Wish.com or Temu.com?

The book begins with our host Stan Lee in caricature form apologising and reminding the readers he had nothing to do with this book, admittedly this book was difficult to put it down. Part of the reading experience gave a Mad Magazine feel at the same time a comic book historian perspective. Each page in this book take snapshots of listed ‘Goofs’ (which was repeatedly referenced in this book) and dialogue identifying such Goofs ranging from the simple yet obvious typos from esteemed writers such as Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Roger Stern to anatomy errors which also lovingly named and shamed legendary artists such as Jack Kirby, Rich Buckler to characters who didn’t appear in said book – when looking back you can’t help but wonder how the editors at the time missed these errors.

All in all this looks like a book an independent (non-Marvel book) would publish to make fun of or slam Marvel for the errors throughout, in 2023 this kind of book would not see the light of day. This is a book that got lost over time and is a real treat, the score this fellow comic fan rates it:

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Why? Please look at the past paragraphs in this review to answer why. You may find this book at conventions & your local comic book store dollar bins or on eBay, thankfully the speculation boom has left this alone.

Writer: Jim Owsley
Penciled: Bob Camp
Inker: Vince Colletta
Cover Art: Mike Golden
Beth Firmin: Colorist
Letterer: John Morelli
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

Shane Tydeman

The Wonder from Down Under,
Dodgy is a senior contributor to Comic Crusaders. Co-Host of The Yeah-Nah Wepa Show! An advocate of indie comics and is creator of Indie Comics podcasts Flipside Focus, Sunderkatz and Think Indie Podcast!

An unapologetic movie fan, NBA fan, action figure, trading card fan! Also an advocate for Depression awareness!