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Post by Shiryu on Sept 7, 2011 20:35:18 GMT -5
Marvel did offer a fairly lucid explanation early on in this process: Peter has, over the years, gone from being a completely non-physical scholar (w/ the proportionate strength of a spider) to an INCREDIBLY buff, world class athlete (w/ the proportionate strength of a spider), due to the fact that, super-powers not withstanding, he engages in a tremendous amount of extreme physical exercise on a regular basis. The level of powers simply increased with the level of the base physical specimen. That was the story 20 years or so ago, anyhoo-- HB You know -- as someone who often recommends physical exercise to patients, I've always had a heard time buying the exercise explanation for superheroes. If anything, they should get weaker due to the impossibility of exercising properly. There is a great scene in The Incredibles where the main guy is seen lifting trucks - or perhaps they were train coaches - to go back in shape, and it seems to take him some time. Spidey's most regular exercise is swinging his own body weight across town, which requires sensibly less strength than 10 tons and looks more like a cardio type of exercise than one to build muscle power. This is even more true for Superman. With his powers fueled by the sun, the muscles under his costume should look like those of a very sedentary type. Instead, he is as ripped as Batman who is said to exercise daily. Oh well... Wasn't there something similar in the very first annual? I vaguely remember him lifting a scale carrying Thor, Hulk and the Thing, with Spidey saying there is always someone stronger than you.
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Post by owene on Sept 8, 2011 11:25:02 GMT -5
Just had a look at the first annual, it has him lifting weights watched by the Thing, Thor and Hulk and the text box says they are the only three heroes stronger than spider-man. It does suggest that he will get stronger as he gets older though. Not sure how Giant Man and Namor would have fitted in out of the heroes around at that point. I'd imagine Stan just didn't bother to include them rather than it saying anything conclusive about their placings. Here's the one I remember, interesting choice of characters, you can almost date it by them
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Post by Doctor Bong Crosby on Sept 9, 2011 3:21:54 GMT -5
Marvel did offer a fairly lucid explanation early on in this process: Peter has, over the years, gone from being a completely non-physical scholar (w/ the proportionate strength of a spider) to an INCREDIBLY buff, world class athlete (w/ the proportionate strength of a spider), due to the fact that, super-powers not withstanding, he engages in a tremendous amount of extreme physical exercise on a regular basis. The level of powers simply increased with the level of the base physical specimen. That was the story 20 years or so ago, anyhoo-- HB You know -- as someone who often recommends physical exercise to patients, I've always had a heard time buying the exercise explanation for superheroes. If anything, they should get weaker due to the impossibility of exercising properly. There is a great scene in The Incredibles where the main guy is seen lifting trucks - or perhaps they were train coaches - to go back in shape, and it seems to take him some time. Spidey's most regular exercise is swinging his own body weight across town, which requires sensibly less strength than 10 tons and looks more like a cardio type of exercise than one to build muscle power. This is even more true for Superman. With his powers fueled by the sun, the muscles under his costume should look like those of a very sedentary type. Instead, he is as ripped as Batman who is said to exercise daily. Oh well... Wasn't there something similar in the very first annual? I vaguely remember him lifting a scale carrying Thor, Hulk and the Thing, with Spidey saying there is always someone stronger than you. Pretty much why I was reasoning a while back that Tony Stark, relying amost completely on his IM armor, shouldn't have a very muscular physique either, especially considering all the hats he wears.
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Post by pulpcitizen on Sept 9, 2011 11:19:41 GMT -5
... Do you know what i find more interesting than anything, looking at that line-up Marvel's current interpretations of those same characters are probably far more recognisable than say a similar cross-section from the main rivals DC - and I say that as much more of a DC reader over the years. Sorry for the derailing tangent. :\
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Post by humanbelly on Sept 9, 2011 18:37:38 GMT -5
Oh-hohohohoho- a total exalt for Owen for posting this delightful bit o' memorabilia! This is a five-STAR, just-for-the-fun-of-it, who's-stronger-than-who?, conversation-starter! I mean, I'm sure the moment it was printed it probably started arguments. Heck, there may have been fisticuffs in the photostat room! So, granted, the passage of time has done a lot to alter these rankings, I'm sure (and I can't believe my ol' pal Werewolf by Night is represented! How cool is that?)-- but I can't help but offer my own re-shufflings. Off the very top of my head: HULK should indeed be up one level-- completely in his own class. IRON MAN down one level (sorry Van. . . ). BEN & NAMOR absolutely up to superheavyweight. BLACK BOLT probably down one level; SHE-HULK & the SURFER certainly up to Heavyweight. Probably COLUSSUS, too. POWER MAN was not at the same strength level as Spidey at that point, regardless of what Mr. Gruenwald may have believed. But his precise power set has always confused me a bit. Seems like he's Thing-level, these days. BEAST & SPIDERWOMAN definitely up a level. Of the "humans", I feel like WOLVIE and the BLACK PANTHER have at least a modest amount of strength enhancement-- but can't nail down why. Otherwise-- yup, that bunch are uber-heroes in my book, as they unhesitatingly go into any fray shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone above them on the chart. HB Just had a look at the first annual, it has him lifting weights watched by the Thing, Thor and Hulk and the text box says they are the only three heroes stronger than spider-man. It does suggest that he will get stronger as he gets older though. Not sure how Giant Man and Namor would have fitted in out of the heroes around at that point. I'd imagine Stan just didn't bother to include them rather than it saying anything conclusive about their placings. Here's the one I remember, interesting choice of characters, you can almost date it by them
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Post by owene on Sept 10, 2011 6:38:42 GMT -5
... Do you know what i find more interesting than anything, looking at that line-up Marvel's current interpretations of those same characters are probably far more recognisable than say a similar cross-section from the main rivals DC - and I say that as much more of a DC reader over the years. Sorry for the derailing tangent. :\ No it's interesting, they are a selection of characters who to me scream 1979 or so but actually it's interesting how many of them have come back into prominence in the 8 or 9 years when I wasn't following Marvel. Aside from Gruenwald's two or three pet characters (Shroud, Aquarian and to a lesser extent Thundra) they are all pretty prominent these days. Sasquatch might have dropped away somewhat and Captain Britain and Hawkeye aren't used as much as at some points in the past but they are still pretty well known. when I was really into comics, 1989-2001 or so after also reading British Marvel reprints in the early 80s, people like Luke Cage, Iron Fist, spider-Woman, moon knight and Valkyrie weren't really high profile at all, several of them had actually died, disappeared or been replaced. but they are all back at the centre of the MU these days According to the Marvel chronology project Luke Cage only appeared in two Marvel comics presents stories between 1986 and 1992, he didn't even team up with anyone or appear in a crowd scene in some cross over. I just can't think of any title character being allowed to fade away like that these days.
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Post by Shiryu on Sept 10, 2011 18:43:23 GMT -5
Hmmm... can't say I totally agree with this classification. I would probably put Wonder Man one level down, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer and Colossus one level up, and Ghost Rider one down. Perhaps Black Bolt one up too. These values really change a lot. A quick look at Marvel's site puts Colossus at level 7 (out of 7) in strength, that is in the same class of Thor, Hulk etc, whilst Spidey is 4 and Cap is 3. But then Cyclops is 4, and to my knowledge he has normal human strength, far below Spider-Man's 10-ton level.
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Post by humanbelly on Sept 10, 2011 20:00:37 GMT -5
Hmmm... can't say I totally agree with this classification. I would probably put Wonder Man one level down, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer and Colossus one level up, and Ghost Rider one down. Perhaps Black Bolt one up too. These values really change a lot. A quick look at Marvel's site puts Colossus at level 7 (out of 7) in strength, that is in the same class of Thor, Hulk etc, whilst Spidey is 4 and Cap is 3. But then Cyclops is 4, and to my knowledge he has normal human strength, far below Spider-Man's 10-ton level. Okay, okay-- I won't copy the delightful graphic yet again. But this is the kind of conversation that calls to me with all of the irresistible siren-song enticements of frosted triple-chocolate brownies. . . (aaaand now I'm hungry, too. . . ) So Shir, have I seriously misjudged Black Bolt's physical strength level, then? I truly had no idea that he might be up in the Thor/Herc range. Man, power of flight, the weird electron-projection blast thingy, possibly immortal-level of strength--- doesn't seem like he could ever be beaten. I was also thinking that Ghost Rider might be rated a little too high--- but he too has always been kinda vague. Anybody notice a surprising prevalence of buccaneer boots? I count five pairs-! Falcon's footwear is very unfortunate. Both Iron Fist and Valkyrie seem to be sporting ballet slippers. Although with Danny I've always taking it as an incredibly brave choice, and admired him for sticking with them. Are there any modern day female super-heavyweights? See, I think She-Hulk would be darned close. And I can't imagine Thundra still being considered her superior in raw strength. Where the heck are Aquarian & the Shroud these days? And hey, wasn't the Shroud even in the WCA for about a week or two? HB-- fulla questions-- [mod 9/11 a.m.] Oh man, I just can't stop myself!: NINE of these folks are barefoot! SHW's & HW's seem to have particular issues finding shoes that fit. . . (and with the Surfer, who knows? Are those his bare feet, or what?) Never, never, NEVER understood why this was considered She-Hulk's official "look" for so long. Geeze, don't let Gene Colan or John B ever draw her in this outfit on a cover, or we'd all have to avert our gaze to preserve any semblance of modesty & propriety. . . Okay, try putting on the boots that Wolverine, Thor & Colossus are sporting, and then walk around. Can't be done. Might as well strap a couple of big dog neck-cones around your knees, and head into battle. Heh. Always liked Simon's safari-jacket outfit. It bordered on silly, in a way, but it was a much-needed, overdue step away from the ubiquitous form-fitting spandex outfits that had been the standard for decades. And it sort of suited his insecure nature-- like a quiet accountant sporting a cowboy hat or biker jacket. okay, okay--- I'll REALLY let it go this time. . . ! HB
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Post by Shiryu on Sept 11, 2011 9:46:30 GMT -5
Okay, okay-- I won't copy the delightful graphic yet again. But this is the kind of conversation that calls to me with all of the irresistible siren-song enticements of frosted triple-chocolate brownies. . . (aaaand now I'm hungry, too. . . ) So Shir, have I seriously misjudged Black Bolt's physical strength level, then? I truly had no idea that he might be up in the Thor/Herc range. Man, power of flight, the weird electron-projection blast thingy, possibly immortal-level of strength--- doesn't seem like he could ever be beaten. I was also thinking that Ghost Rider might be rated a little too high--- but he too has always been kinda vague. Are there any modern day female super-heavyweights? See, I think She-Hulk would be darned close. And I can't imagine Thundra still being considered her superior in raw strength. Oook, I've double-checked and you are totally right, Black Bolt is *only* 5/7 in strength at Marvel's website so he should go down one level rather than up. She-Hulk however is a 6/7, so she should definitely go up a couple of levels. Shroud has been around very recently. He joined Paladin (a character who seems to be everywhere these days), Misty Knight and Silver Sable during Shadowland, and might have popped in Heroes for Hire since. But Aquarian... I had no idea who he was until Owen mentioned his name. According to Wiki Imagine walking around with Herc's leather... things, that try to stop you every time you attempt to flex your knees ^^'
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Post by humanbelly on Sept 17, 2011 15:04:32 GMT -5
Imagine walking around with Herc's leather... things, that try to stop you every time you attempt to flex your knees ^^' Y'know, those leg-thong-strap things have always been an awkward and uncomfortable mystery to me. I'm guessing they were a Kirby design from some point earlier, to make Herc's look more. . . masculine? (What with the little skirt and all-) I'll readily plead guilty to indulging in Nitpicker's Guide to the Marvel Universe-style kvetching, but. . . How the heck does he put those things on?? They've always appeared to be leather straps (which, yes, would hinder his movement almost comically), which would have no elasticity whatsoever, and there are no apparent buckles or realistic clasps. The round buttons/rivets on the front would certainly be how they're secured to the vertical straps. It would take 20 minutes to get these on and off if there WERE buckles, even. Hands in the air for those who believe our ol' Herc has even remotely that kind of patience when it comes to fiddling w/ his attire. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Does he sleep in them? Doesn't it seem like they go 'wayyyyyyy up his skirt? Like, attaching to a (thankfully unseen) codpiece? Oh lord. . . . the chaffing, with all that old, creaky, unwashed leather in the (*shudder*) personal regions?? I dunno-- maybe these things represent one his heretofore unknown mighty labors. . . and he appallingly grew to favor wearing them. Oh, the mind reels and reels. . . HB
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Post by owene on Sept 17, 2011 17:39:29 GMT -5
I'd guess Kirby saw a picture of something like this and extended them a bit to avoid him having the bare legs a greek warrior actually would have had. the ancient coins website i got the image from says they were sometimes knee length
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Post by sharkar on Sept 24, 2011 15:35:27 GMT -5
Okay, okay, it's mighty tempting but I'll refrain from posting the HB-coined "delightful graphic" again. Instead I'll exalt Owen for posting it in the first place; and I want to say that whenever I see Doc Samson I can't help but wonder if he and Lorna Dane were separated at birth...
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Post by sharkar on Sept 24, 2011 16:03:29 GMT -5
Anybody notice a surprising prevalence of buccaneer boots? I count five pairs-! Ah yes, the ubiquitous buccaneer--aka Musketeer--boots, a perennnial favorite of comic book artists everywhere (at least, back in the 1940s-1980s). I mean, Musketeer boots really cut the leg off at an unflattering point--maybe Cap can get away with it, and Black Canary (her heels help a lot)...but on most characters it looks silly. Speaking of Musketeer/buccaneer boots, did anyone like Medusa's 1970s FF uniform? Okay, I'll concede that some readers probably liked the skin showing , but those boots and gloves --ugh!!
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Post by owene on Oct 2, 2011 5:07:21 GMT -5
Sorry this has taken so long, schools restarted and I haven't had time to think about comics at all. Music to Scream By. By Stan Lee with Earnie Hart and Don Heck. Villains: Trago Guest Appearances: none So What Happens?: Ant-Man and the Wasp stop crooks from stealing a massive Indian diamond and learn a quick lesson in Indian mysticism from its grateful owner. To celebrate, the Wasp takes Hank out to a jazz club but he has a hard time matching her appreciation of the trumpeter Trago. During the intermission they hear Trago trying to rob the club and intervene. The club owner decides not to press charges but instead pays for Trago to flee the country. Trago finds his way to India where he is recruited by a local mystic and taught how to use his music to charm snakes and hypnotise people. Trago makes it back to the states and starts playing the clubs again, this time in a turban. He is soon testing out his hypnosis by bringing clubs full of people under his control. This was just a test of his powers and in the end he robs them but then gives them back their valuables so as not to cause an alarm. Aiming much bigger Trago heads to a TV station and by playing over the airwaves takes control of the whole city and sends his band mates out to rob defenceless banks.. Wanting to ensure he also deals with Ant-Man he takes control of the cities snakes and sends them to hunt for the hero. Hank and Jan have actually fallen under Trago’s spell but Hank’s faithful ant Korr drags them both to safety in an anthill. While they might be safe from Trago they aren’t safe from his snakes and one bursts in and eats Korr and countless other ants. Hank manages to shrink the snake down with pym particles until it is can be eaten by the rest of the ants. Mourning Korr Hank and Jan head to the TV station where Hank manages to get inside Trago’s trumpet and change the notes he is playing, breaking his hold over the city and wiping his own memory. Weeks later Hank and Jan spot Trago playing in a local club, his memory and most of his talent gone. Jan wants to stay and listen but Hank wants to go home and mourn Korr. So is it any good?: Like some of Hart’s other issues it is very overwritten and crammed with unnecessary details that suggest the writer had a wider range of interests than a lot of silver age writers (or at least was prepared to drop them into a story more than most) and this actually makes it quite fun. I like his jazz-fan Wasp and he actually manages to convince that she knew what she was on about and had seen a bunch of greats play. Given that the story could easily have just had a bunch of ‘hey.. cool vibe’ hipster dialogue (although to be fair there is some) the story goes out of its way to actually make the Wasp seem fun and knowledgeable. Even armed with a long pin she’s a lot more competent and strong willed here than in most of her silver age avengers appearances. I like Jan as shown here a lot, she really seems to enjoy being an adventurer and is far more interesting than Pym. Hank wanting to go and have a quiet moment to mourn the faithful Korr weeks after his death is a little over the top. but you can see that Hart is having fun with the melodrama of it all but it’s actually good to find someone enjoying writing the series and you overlook Pym’s pompous side. The art is fun as well, with the mixture of jazz and eastern mysticism it does come close to the campy Nick Cardy Teen Titans comics of a few years later, there are a few panels of freaky dancing on show and Jan comments on the how much she liked Trago’s ‘mellow horn’ but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I’m not saying it holds together very well, other than Jan nobody really makes a lot of sense in the story, the Indian mystic clearly doesn’t like or trust Trago but just keeps saying he has to help his apprentice, the club owner’s actions make no sense at all. It’s very silly but it is fun. Are there any goofy moments?:Most of the jazz stereotypes are pretty funny. The idea that Trago’s punishment for attempted robbery is for his intended victim to pay for a plane ticket around the world for him is a bit weird. The two Indians in the story have names which are Ghandi and Nehru with an extra syllable inserted in the middle. Not exactly goofy but the Wasp drops a surprising amount of detail about different jazz musicians, Trago plays a lot like Wild Bill Davison, presumably Hart was a fan. Trivia: Trago has never returned, I’m not sure Hank’s growing tolerance for jazz ever did either. Is it a landmark?: No
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Post by owene on Oct 2, 2011 5:10:35 GMT -5
Okay, okay, it's mighty tempting but I'll refrain from posting the HB-coined "delightful graphic" again. Instead I'll exalt Owen for posting it in the first place; and I want to say that whenever I see Doc Samson I can't help but wonder if he and Lorna Dane were separated at birth... Every other Polaris plotline ever seems to have been a mystery about her being related to some character or other so why not. My favourite was when Chris claremont linked her to obscure Ka-Zar villain Zaladane due not to their hair colour but that final syllabyl of the villains name (despite Lorna Dane being adopted)
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Post by owene on Oct 2, 2011 5:15:02 GMT -5
Journey Into Mystery #96 Defying the Magic of the Mad Merlin By Stan Lee with Robert Bernstein, Joe Sinott Villains: Merlin (Maha Yogi), Loki Guest Appearances: none So what happens?:Blake annoys Jane Foster by leaving a surgery full of patients waiting while Thor goes off to rescue a bus that has fallen into the bay. Meanwhile archaeologists at the museum are investigating the remains of Merlin, recently brought over from Britain. That night Merlin climbs from his sarcophagus, it turns out that he is a mutant with a range of non-magical powers and had faked his own death. He gets up to date on American presidents and moon rockets from a discarded paper. He then uses his levitation powers to disrupt the latest rocket launch only for Thor to fix its trajectory. Merlin then heads to the White House to show the president who is boss. Thor originally suspects Loki of wrecking the launch but his brother informs him of Merlin’s plan and Thor heads to Washington to find the villain. After battling it out using the Washington monument as a spear and trying to bury Thor under the Pentagon Thor eventually beats Merlin by turning back into Donald Blake and convincing Merlin that he has the power to change form into whoever he wants. Merlin agrees to go back to his coffin and sleep for another 700 years. So is it any good?: Some of Sinnott’s art is pretty good. I quite liked the Arthurian scenes and he draws a good likeness of Kennedy. I quite like the cover as well but it might be down to me missing Kirby. The plot isn’t dreadful but a lot of the overwritten dialogue is and the battle scene where Thor lies in a ditch and has the pentagon lowered on top of him is almost exactly the same as the Sandu story. I quite liked Thor checking to see whether Loki was at fault and getting clued in on what is going on from his brother. Otherwise it’s pretty dull with a really silly ending. Not as bad as the previous story by any means but not any good either . Are there any goofy moments? Some of the scenes involving Merlin in the white house, not believing anyone as young as JFK could be president are intentionally funny and quite well done. Thor’s incredibly verbose internal monologue regreting annoying Jane foster is very very corny and dated. TriviaMerlin here classifies himself as a mutant and seems to take a line that all his sorcery is actually a cover for his inherent powers. This is quite an early appearance of the mutant idea (the same month as X-Men 1). It was eventually debunked but might explain why his next appearance, under the name Warlock, came in the pages of X-Men. This Merlin was eventually distinguished from the Arthurian sorcerer who primarily appears connected to Captain Britain. I'm not sure the attempts to distinguish them actually make any sense. Is it a landmark?: not at all
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Post by ultron69 on Oct 25, 2011 12:54:13 GMT -5
Just had a look at the first annual, it has him lifting weights watched by the Thing, Thor and Hulk and the text box says they are the only three heroes stronger than spider-man. It does suggest that he will get stronger as he gets older though. Not sure how Giant Man and Namor would have fitted in out of the heroes around at that point. I'd imagine Stan just didn't bother to include them rather than it saying anything conclusive about their placings. Here's the one I remember, interesting choice of characters, you can almost date it by them Owene, this is a great image. What comic is it from. I'm not sure I agree 100% with it, or rather, I would say some strength levels have changed since this was publushed. The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe contradicts some of this. Still, this is pretty cool stuff.
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Post by owene on Oct 26, 2011 3:09:05 GMT -5
It's from Amazing Spider-Man annual 15. I think I first saw it in some british reprint holiday special or other.
As someone who just regularly read spider-man at the time (he has a weekly reprint here, other titles tended to fold quite quickly) it introduced me to a lot of characters. Another one of the spider-man specials reprinted the Captain Marvel introduction story and included the avengers info from the OHTMU, seeing all these characters I'd never heard of and when they joined the team was a real step towards becoming an avengers fan for me. I remember poring over that page for hours.
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Post by Shiryu on Oct 26, 2011 13:54:17 GMT -5
BTW we are waiting for new reviews here!
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Post by owene on Nov 13, 2011 10:55:37 GMT -5
Sorry, I've been going through quite a bad break up over the last 6 weeks or so and I've pretty much stopped reading comics dead. I hope my interest returns as i was really enjoying it, particularly spider-man.
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Post by humanbelly on Nov 13, 2011 20:41:23 GMT -5
Ah, me. Very sorry, owen. There's just no easy way to navigate through that, is there? But, of course, your priorities in that arena (real life vs an enjoyable diversion/hobby) are well-placed, I do imagine. Wait until that lighter-spirited muse feels comfortable inhabiting you again, and we'll certainly be hanging around here, delighted to have your conversation-inspiring posts.
Keep your chin up- HB
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Post by owene on Nov 14, 2011 14:44:33 GMT -5
thanks hb, I'm sure my interest will return in time, just not right now
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Post by sharkar on Nov 14, 2011 20:58:35 GMT -5
Owen: you'll certainly be missed, but take all the time you need. I was just looking over the last few pages in this great thread, and I noticed something about some of the covers from the last few pages. Here are the covers Owen posted, plus I took the liberty of adding the cover of Tales of Suspense #44 (from coverbrowser). These covers all have the caption "The Marvel Comics Group Ushers In the Marvel Age of Comics!" This slogan had appeared within some of the comics' house ads earlier, but it looks to me that this is the first time it appeared on a whole slew of covers. This is a good example of Salesman Stan drumming up excitement as well as emphasizing a visual connection among the (relatively) new comics being offered by Martin Goodman's company. Each of these comics was on sale in early May 1963 (except for the Strange Tales Annual, which, according to the "Special Announcements" section in FF #17, went on sale in mid-June). However, by the next month's (June) wave of issues (exc. for the ST Annual as I just mentioned), this blurb was gone from the cover--for examples, see the covers of JiM #95 and FF #18 that Owen posted.
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Post by humanbelly on Jun 10, 2012 19:54:23 GMT -5
Golly, I miss Owen's contributions on this truly enjoyable thread. I'm really just popping up here to mention that the latest travails of Spidey in Stan Lee's daily (and Sunday) newspaper comic strip have truly brought him to a new low worthy of some of the earlier howling clunkers we've seen on display in this thread. I'll hazard a guess that almost no one here reads the strip-- and I can't rightly blame them. I'm unable to tear myself away-- mesmerized by the onrush of horror. After a loooooooong plotline involving Thor, Loki, Asgard, Sif and a rapidly dying MJ, we're now back on Earth, where MJ's broadway show is being threatened by the menacing antics of. . . Hardy Laurel; aka CLOWN 9 (a jilted, sacked understudy in the show MJ's doing). Spidey is swinging to the rescue, sure to be menaced by the tiny clown car and relentless clown gags being wielded. Spidey Superstories had more legitimacy. . .
Larry Lieber's still doin' the art for the daily, and Alex Saviuk and Joe Sinnott (!!!) take care of the Sundays. It is unquestionably cool to see that Joltin' Joe is still putting brush to paper, though-- make no mistake.
As always, "Reading It so You Won't Have To"--
HB
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Post by Doctor Bong Crosby on Jun 11, 2012 8:54:04 GMT -5
From what I understand, Peter and MJ's marriage was "taken care of" in the paper strip as well, only for the situation to be (quickly...?) reversed. I wonder what made them reconsider. I'm jealous of that stripverse, where good sense prevailed, as opposed to "our" Spider-man universe.
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Post by humanbelly on Jun 11, 2012 11:04:27 GMT -5
From what I understand, Peter and MJ's marriage was "taken care of" in the paper strip as well, only for the situation to be (quickly...?) reversed. I wonder what made them reconsider. I'm jealous of that stripverse, where good sense prevailed, as opposed to "our" Spider-man universe. Heh, well, I don't know if good sense is generally making dominant appearances in the strip these days, but there is still no doubt a certain kind of integrity on display. And Stan clearly likes the idea of his keystone creation being able to maintain a happy(ish) domestic life in at least one possible universe. I only have a vague memory of the marriage un-happening in the strip-- I couldn't even swear it came about. Turned out to be a dream, or something? Wasn't there something about negative reader reaction being immediate and quite vocal? Y'know, they've tried to cut it from the Washington Post a couple of times (along w/ Mark Trail), and the devoted comics page folks have a major cow each time. It's a very endearing and gratifying testament to the surprising loyalty that these strips still command. HB
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