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Post by The Night Phantom on May 2, 2006 17:27:05 GMT -5
Marvel is planning a six-issue limited series called Agents of Atlas, starring Gorilla Man, Venus, Marvel Boy, the Human Robot, and Jimmy Woo, principally set in the present day. The connection to the Avengers is of course that this same group founded the so-called 1950s Avengers in What If? vol. 1 #9, later revisited in Avengers: Forever. The original group also included the 3-D Man, who is almost a member of the “real” Avengers via a strange link with Triathlon. There’s no word as to whether the 3-D Man will be involved in this new series. (The Agents of Atlas title harks back to a period when Marvel’s predecessor Timely used the Atlas name, and the 3-D Man hadn’t been created yet; he’s a 1950s-homage character created in the 1970s.) A couple of comments: - Just the other day some of us were saying Marvel needed more humanlike gorillas. Welcome back, Gorilla Man! (Not the same Gorilla-Man I mentioned on the other thread, though...)
- Marvel Boy is supposedly long dead. I’m curious to see how this will be handled.
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Post by dlw66 on May 2, 2006 21:07:24 GMT -5
Can anyone give me a quick link that will explain the Marvel Boy/Crusader/Quasar relationship? It's all about the Quantum Bands, isn't it? If I recall FF #163-64, the Crusader was Marvel Boy -- or did he just think he was?
Man, that is shaking some serious cobwebs off... By the way, as a total aside to this topic, the Thing/Hulk story (by Perez) that followed the Crusader story was one of the all-time greats!!
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 2, 2006 21:48:48 GMT -5
Can anyone give me a quick link that will explain the Marvel Boy/Crusader/Quasar relationship? It's all about the Quantum Bands, isn't it? If I recall FF #163-64, the Crusader was Marvel Boy -- or did he just think he was? I did think of mentioning this additional linkage to the mainstream Avengers, but I was trying to keep it simple. ;D Yes, the Crusader was Marvel Boy—or, at least, that’s what we’ve always been told. But the seed of doubt you just planted may blossom into the character’s return! (Such would be a welcome retcon. The Crusader story seemed such an ignominious end to the character.) I don’t have a hyperlink to provide you, but Marvel Boy’s quantum bands are indeed those now worn by Quasar. After the Crusader’s disintegration, the bands were seized by SHIELD. A SHIELD agent named Wendell Vaughn ended up donning the bands and becoming the superhero Marvel Man, later changing his alias to Quasar. |
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Post by dlw66 on May 3, 2006 7:32:49 GMT -5
And if memory serves, Wendell Vaughn and the story you mention occurred in a Marvel Two-In-One, circa 1979 or 1980, correct? If so, I believe I had the story at one time (how often do longtime collectors say, "Now, where the heck did that issue go??").
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 3, 2006 21:17:05 GMT -5
And if memory serves, Wendell Vaughn and the story you mention occurred in a Marvel Two-In-One, circa 1979 or 1980, correct? You’re probably thinking of Quasar’s appearance in the “Pegasus Project” storyline that ran through Marvel Two-in-One #53–58 (1979)...but no, that’s neither an origin nor a first appearance for ol’ Q-Ball: - First appearance as Marvel Man (member of the Super-Agents of SHIELD): Captain America #217 (1978)
- First appearance as Quasar: Incredible Hulk #234 (1979)
- Origin story, showing Vaughn donning the quantum-bands for the first time: Quasar #1 (1989)
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Post by dlw66 on May 3, 2006 21:22:57 GMT -5
OK, so my memory doesn't serve me. 40-year old Alzheimer's, I guess.
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 3, 2006 21:27:05 GMT -5
No worries. I had to do some research myself! ;D
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 12, 2006 17:35:15 GMT -5
More details on Agents of Atlas, courtesy of Comic Book Resources and series editor Mark Paniccia: The CBR article contains additional information and also includes lettered artwork. I’m quite looking forward to this one!
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Post by dlw66 on May 12, 2006 22:19:25 GMT -5
I hope this is a fun book, somewhat like when Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire were doing Justice League. I need a book like that after a year and a half of NA...
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 13, 2006 9:31:11 GMT -5
I hope this is a fun book, somewhat like when Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire were doing Justice League. I need a book like that after a year and a half of NA... I’m hoping not quite like Giffen and DeMatteis’ Justice League or Defenders. I prefer my superheroics to have some underlying degree of seriousness, even if there’s a lot of fun and humor too; but I think the Giffen–DeMatteis approach tends to sacrifice the “import” for empty laughs. I often like stories that DeMatteis writes solo. I guess it’s the Giffen influence I dislike, for his solo stories tend to leave me cold. The article mentions Gorilla Man’s recent appearance in Giffen’s Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos, which I tried for one issue and dropped like a hot rock. So, I’m hoping for a fun Agents of Atlas, but fun à la Stan Lee, Dan Slott, Robert Kirkman, etc. |
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Post by von Bek on May 13, 2006 12:18:21 GMT -5
I´m looking forward for this series, but I hope it is more in the way Busiek showed those characters in AvengersForever.
Many of those characters are a little odd, so making them too funny could turn the book into lame slapstick comedy.
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Post by dlw66 on May 13, 2006 16:52:13 GMT -5
I think you can have a good team book with some playful dialogue. I am not calling for a totally silly take on superheroing -- but, I think if you go back you've always had some lightheartedness between the Thing and the Torch, the Beast and Wonder Man -- that sort of thing. The right author can kick butt and still have a little "buddy comedy" along the way. You really think it's going to be serious with a dude named "Gorilla Man" as one of the leading characters?  |
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 13, 2006 18:24:08 GMT -5
I think you can have a good team book with some playful dialogue. I am not calling for a totally silly take on superheroing -- but, I think if you go back you've always had some lightheartedness between the Thing and the Torch, the Beast and Wonder Man -- that sort of thing. The right author can kick butt and still have a little "buddy comedy" along the way. You really think it's going to be serious with a dude named "Gorilla Man" as one of the leading characters? I said “ some underlying degree of seriousness”  ...really, I agree with the assessment you give in this post. I just think the Giffen–DeMatteis œuvre doesn’t fall in the same tradition as FF and Avengers. |
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Post by dlw66 on May 13, 2006 22:01:47 GMT -5
I just think the Giffen–DeMatteis œuvre doesn’t fall in the same tradition as FF and Avengers.[/quote] Agreed -- those books were never outrightly silly. No G'Norts running around  . Although I would say the FF issue (#176, maybe?) where the Impossible Man runs amok in the Marvel Bullpen comes close! |
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 14, 2006 7:48:42 GMT -5
The Impossible Man—touché!
Impy beleaguered the Bullpen in FF #176 (in which Stan declared, “Marvel Comics hasn’t got time to waste on silly-looking characters!”—as he passed before a poster of Howard the Duck!). But we would be remiss to forget that Doctor Doom also wreaked havoc at the Bullpen in #10 (one issue before the Impossible Man’s original appearance), even revealing his mysterious visage to Stan and Jack!
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Post by dlw66 on May 14, 2006 17:28:21 GMT -5
And -- the extension of Impy's havoc was the try-out for the 4th member of the Frightful Four, which is the storyline immediately after FF 176. Perez was very good at this time, but as has been said before -- FF always had consistent art due to the influence of Joe Sinnott's inks. Most other books lacked that continuity (say what you will about Joe S. "burying" other artists...).
But overall, I do hope they play it for the most part straight with only a line here or there for lightheartedness. We could use another classicly-written and drawn book on our shelves these days.
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Post by von Bek on May 15, 2006 8:21:49 GMT -5
You really think it's going to be serious with a dude named "Gorilla Man" as one of the leading characters? That´s what I fear. With characters like Gorilla Man, Human Robot, Venus Godess of Love, Jann of the Jungle and so on the book can easely degenerates into sillyness... |
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Post by dlw66 on May 15, 2006 12:16:04 GMT -5
Any speculation on who the 5th "mystery member" will be? Didn't a character named Golden Girl (or was it Sun Girl?) take over the Sub-Mariner's or the Torch's book in the 1950's?
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Post by von Bek on May 15, 2006 13:29:29 GMT -5
Any speculation on who the 5th "mystery member" will be? Didn't a character named Golden Girl (or was it Sun Girl?) take over the Sub-Mariner's or the Torch's book in the 1950's? There is a Golden Girl (two actually, one Golden Age heroine, and one Roy Thomas created and retconned into Golden Age continuity) and also a Sun Girl (who had adventures with Cap and the Human Torch and even starred her own monthly in 1948 - it lasted 3 issues), but they´re all Golden Age heroines, not 50 girls. |
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 15, 2006 16:48:14 GMT -5
Any speculation on who the 5th "mystery member" will be? Yes, but my speculation is quite idle. ;D Since the previews show Jann of the Jungle (in ’50s flashback), I thought she might be the fifth member. Namora is also shown (again, in flashback), but she’s supposedly long dead (and apparently her daughter/clone is not doing so well either). My preference would be that the fifth member be someone who hasn’t had a new appearance since the ’50s—I think Jann would qualify. Since I have little knowledge of Marvel characters who have appeared only before the “Marvel Age”, I could be surprised by just about anyone. Maybe some horrid thing from a monster comic (à la Fin Fang Foom) would be nice. |
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Post by dlw66 on May 16, 2006 7:34:40 GMT -5
What is the status of the Original Human Torch? What about Toro? I believe the last time I know he turned up was in a 60's/early 70's Sub-Mariner comic.
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 16, 2006 16:56:12 GMT -5
What is the status of the Original Human Torch? Last I knew, he was with the new Invaders. He supposedly died in Sub-Mariner #14, but he may have survived and gotten involved with Power Pack (source: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004 [what a weird name!]). |
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Post by dlw66 on May 17, 2006 7:39:03 GMT -5
So Toro, who would now be around 75 years old, is hanging out with a bunch of little kids. VERY scary...
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Post by von Bek on May 17, 2006 8:34:45 GMT -5
What is the status of the Original Human Torch? Last I knew, he was with the new Invaders. Yes, and I read on another board that he died in the last issue of that series (New Invaders) saving that female Torch. But being an android, is not very difficult to find a way to bring him back. |
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 17, 2006 19:45:52 GMT -5
Yes, and I read on another board that he died in the last issue of that series (New Invaders) saving that female Torch. But being an android, is not very difficult to find a way to bring him back. Yeah, they could rebuild the (pre- Young Avengers) Vision’s hardware...  |
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Post by dlw66 on May 18, 2006 7:41:30 GMT -5
Toward the end of the original Invaders series, there were some new characters created, led by Bucky and Toro. A holdover from that era (retcon, yes) would be OK. Also, it would be nice from time to time to see some members of the old Liberty Legion. I know I'm overlapping 40's characters with 50's characters, but DC has had so much success keeping their Golden Age heroes going, it would be nice to see some of Marvel's properties get new life.
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Post by von Bek on May 18, 2006 9:34:57 GMT -5
Toward the end of the original Invaders series, there were some new characters created, led by Bucky and Toro. A holdover from that era (retcon, yes) would be OK. Also, it would be nice from time to time to see some members of the old Liberty Legion. I know I'm overlapping 40's characters with 50's characters, but DC has had so much success keeping their Golden Age heroes going, it would be nice to see some of Marvel's properties get new life. yes, shame that the New Invaders book was so bad. A Marvel book like DC´s JSA would be great! The old generation introducing new heroes, like DC did with the original Flash, GL and Wildcat and the second and third wave of DC´s legacy heroes. |
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Post by dlw66 on May 18, 2006 12:08:52 GMT -5
Does Namor have an heir? To my knowledge he does not.
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Post by The Night Phantom on May 18, 2006 15:54:08 GMT -5
Does Namor have an heir? To my knowledge he does not. There’s his cousin Namorita, who may have died in the New Warriors fiasco in Civil War #1. |
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Post by dlw66 on May 19, 2006 9:35:54 GMT -5
I'm sure at some point a creator will retcon a male heir between Namor and Lady Dorma, or Namor and the lady cop he knew back in WWII (see Sub-Mariner #8 where he fights the Thing -- I can't remember her name).
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...really, I agree with the assessment you give in this post. I just think the Giffen–DeMatteis œuvre doesn’t fall in the same tradition as FF and Avengers.
. Although I would say the FF issue (#176, maybe?) where the Impossible Man runs amok in the Marvel Bullpen comes close! 