Which would you keep - Dilemma on Martha Washington

[u/Willing-Aside8486]

I got myself the first (recently) and second (a while back) edition of Frank Miller's & Dave Gibbons' masterpiece of The Life and Times of Martha Washington...(I got each of them for ~20,-- per, knowing both are money savers!)

...now I am heavily considering which one to keep...

I love the original white-red-blue calm design, i love the somewhat busy military design on the second...

...Martha looks gorgeous on both, but second edition Martha in her military outfit just kills it.

The first edition (2010) backcover sports minatures of the four trade cover illustrations...the second edit (2017) one sports of the initial mini covers...both compelling and representative.

the interior is pretty much the same on both of them despite some really minor changes in layout of intro pages...

...so which one would you keep? 😭

🤷 don't misunderstand me, but I really want to make a descicion on that...even if I savor the momentum of having both editions! 🙈

late edit: 🤪 maybe I should wait with a descision until the original HC shows up! * gets carried away in nonesmokers' jacket by very kind medical personal *

[u/shammer501]

I've always thought the second had the more striking cover and design

[u/Willing-Aside8486 → u/shammer501]

Second this. 🙄

Also Martha rocks heavily on 2nd front...more...grounded? 

...she looks soooooo 😍 ...awwwwie with her helmet and the cheek and chin paddings. 🤷🫠

[u/yourpaljim]

Red, white and blue all the way. When I think of those issues, that’s how they looked.

[u/518gpo]

This is a flex post.

[u/Willing-Aside8486 → u/518gpo]

? What is a flex post?

[u/jc1of2 → u/Willing-Aside8486]

I think he's joking that you're bragging. Like I don't know which to keep this steak or the lobster.

[u/clarksonbi]

How is this? I’ve been wanting to read it for a while, but affordable copies are hard to find.

[u/AdLow5682 → u/clarksonbi]

The best, most underrated of both Miller and Gibbons

[u/Willing-Aside8486 → u/AdLow5682]

Yes. This...

[u/Willing-Aside8486 → u/clarksonbi]

Martha-Cycle is simply an overlooked (since it somehow came under the radar & shadows of Watchmen & DKR! look back at the times!) masterpiece of Miller and Gibbons.  Go, get it. Have seen a complete single/tp for Goes to War set on bay just today for ~75,--.

Good luck hunting. (Got the tpbs for ~ 20,-- each, I know, I was lucky on both)

[u/Sky__Hook → u/clarksonbi]

Have you looked in the Bat-cave?

[u/Android-13 → u/clarksonbi]

Pretty good, I enjoyed it.

It took me a little to get into and it kind of lost me towards the end as it felt a little repetitive but overall it was fun.

[u/Willing-Aside8486 → u/Android-13]

Nah, not repetitive at all...just hard to maintain a line over the course of ~20 years! Miller & Gibbons put in all their love to Martha!

*ed: even when they put her to eternal rest! 🥲

[u/AdvertisingFew6224]

I find first edition more iconic

[u/VoidWalker72]

I think the design of her on the left, wrapped in the flag with the white cover is more striking.

[u/joeycraw5]

Cut the helmeted Martha picture from the second cover and paste it over the first one and it's perfect.

[u/Willing-Aside8486 → u/joeycraw5]

😶💭💭💭🫤 ...no.

[u/Bufete2020]

it's been a while since I had both books in my hand. ultimately, I got rid of the earlier printing and kept my 2017 edition. i can't remember if it was the colors or the paper that was the deciding factor...

[u/Willing-Aside8486]

🤷 if Martha was real...I would propose her...😳

[u/IllustriousCrew2641]

I don’t like Martha wrapping herself in the flag like that. The kind of cheesy demonstrative patriotism she would see right through.