Category Archives: Marvel
Going “All In” With Wolverine And The X-Men On The Wednesday Run – February 22, 2012
“One hundred quatloos on the newcomers!”
Oh man – I’ve waited, like, a loooong time to say that. And by “loooong time” I mean “weeks”. It’s probably been a good few months since I last uttered those words (I just love that particular Triskelion quote so much) a favourite original Star Trek television series line of dialogue for the few of you that don’t know. Go on. Look it up. Q-u-a-t-l-o-o-s.
“One hundred quatloos on the newcomers!” … at the casino; …amidst a business-oriented request for quotation; …in a battle of domestic chore duties between newlyweds; …when making sports disagreements between pals - interesting.
It never fails to amaze me just how many real life situations actually call for that particular sci-fi statement. Today marks an entirely new scenario: with the weekly Wednesday Run to the local comic book shop still before me, the “quatloo” quote is, now, perhaps more apt than any other time before. Here’s why: Wolverine & The X-Men #6
Tales from the Longbox – Star Wars #86 (1984)
Every other week, Jason Shayer will highlight an issue or a run of issues pulled from the horde of comic book long boxes that occupy more room in his house than his wife can tolerate. Each of these reviews will delve into what made that issue or run significant as well as discuss the creative personalities behind the work. “Long Box” refers to the lengthy, white cardboard boxes most comics find themselves stored within – bagged, alphabetized and numerically ordered.
A long, long time ago in a decade known as the 1980s, fans didn’t easily have the option to rewatch their beloved Star Wars trilogy over and over again. It was a big deal to watch a bootleg copy of Empire Strikes Back on Beta (if you don’t know what Beta is, don’t ask). The action figures were the primary means to re-enact your favourite movie scenes and there was the Marvel Comics’ Star Wars series.
I can’t exactly recall why I never picked up the Star Wars comic book, but it might have had something to do with so many other great comics on the shelf in 1984. Reading through some of these issues, the first thing that struck me was how many great creators worked on this book. The creative teams on licensed books tend to be weak because of the expensive licensing fees, but this book enjoyed work by Walt Simonson, Al Williamson, Howard Chaykin, Tom Palmer, and Ron Frenz.
Biff Bam Pop’s Favourite Couples – Wolverine and Phoenix
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and those of us who indulge in the pleasures of pop culture tend to like our romantic fantasies with an edge of latent tragedy.
So on the subject of doomed love, why not take a look at the pairing that comic book writers have spent decades trying to convince us wouldn’t work. From the moment the compact, rough-hewn, cantankerous Canadian mutant Wolverine was introduced to the X-Men by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum in Giant-Size #1 (in all its leprechaun-fighting silliness), he and the telekinetic Jean Grey found themselves in a protracted, broken love triangle. As they struggled with their feelings, X-Men writers (and for a while, that meant Chris Claremont) seemed to be telling readers that the conventional pretty-boy Scott “Cyclops” Summers was forever and always to be Jean’s one-and-only, only to be undone time and time again because of the characters’ natural chemistry.
And yet they would never really bridge that gap and enter into a relationship, at least in “mainstream” continuity.
It’s hard to say why they make such a compelling couple. It’s not just that they look like Fred and Wilma Flintstone (or Peter and Lois Griffin, or even Barney and Miriam Panofsky). But from the first time the characters meet, you see a spark of emotion – something primal and undeniable. There’s fire there, but there’s also something unspoken. Somehow there is a personal connection. And with Jean and Cyclops together in a conventional, “Bye Bye Birdie” sense, it’s also sort of transgressive, and dangerous.
Trailer Time: The Avengers Extended Super Bowl Trailer
I’m guessing you likely saw the Suoer Bowl trailer that aired last night for The Avengers, and maybe you’ve also seen this extended version which has been making the round all day. Whichever the case, I’m guessing you’re like me in thinking The Avengers looks like it will kick serious ass. Watch it one more time and tell us what you think.
We have a Hulk. ‘Nuff said.
Biff Bam Pop’s Favourite Couples – Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson
You know your love is strong when the only thing that can tear it apart is an editorial decision.
That’s how Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson had their love torn asunder, at least. If not for the need of some sort of retcon to make Spider-Man a swinging single again after nearly 20 years of marriage, the two of them would still be going strong in the Marvel Universe.
Sure, Gwen Stacey was the first to capture Peter’s heart and see past his geeky love of science, and there’s no question that her death was one of the most tragic Spidey stories, but it’s that amazing love between Mary-Jane and her tiger that gave us a fun yet mature comic book couple, trying to maintain a marriage and a superhero identity.
Some of my most favourite Spider-Man stories have been linked to the marriage of Peter and Mary-Jane. Think back to Kraven’s Last Hunt (first known as Fearful Symmetry) – while much was made of the fact that Kraven managed to put down his longtime enemy, writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Zeck put just as much emphasis on MJ and her fear and worry about the fate of her husband. When the two are ultimately reunited, the fade to black is perfect.
It’s hard being a superhero’s wife, but Mary-Jane managed to cope and succeed. This was a couple you wanted to see make it. And if not for the need to turn back the clock to a younger Spider-Man, much like the one of the late 60′s and 70′s, their love would have continued on in the comics.
As for the films, the Spider-Man trilogy managed to make Peter and Mary-Jane’s relationship believable and just as difficult, with its own iconic moments thrown in. No doubt about, they’re one of pop culture’s greatest love stories.
