Blog Archives
The History Of A Universe – Marvel Comics: The Untold Story Reviewed
Otto Von Bismark is renowned to have said that people who respect the law and like sausage should never watch either being made.
After reading Sean Howe’s Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, I think we can add comics to that list.
I’m fairly familiar with comics history. I’m a fan of the subject, and was around for a number of sequences outlined in this history. But Howe’s book gathers the entire history of Marvel for one engaging ride.
Fan Expo Canada 2012 Preview
Fan Expo 2012 is about to hit Toronto and for the weekend of August 23-26th, nerds will rule. This marks the 18th year of Fan Expo and probably the 3 or 4th time I’ve attended… going to comics, sci fi, horror, anime, gaming conferences steels you against the extremes of fandom.
I expect this to be another crazy, cosplay filled, celebrity spotting type of conference; certainly nothing out of the ordinary for Fan Expo.
For a quick look at what’s in store and schedule hilights, read on.
Comic-Con 2012 Countdown: Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope Reviewed
This Thursday, thousands upon thousands of pop culture fanatics from around the world are going to arrive in San Diego for Comic-Con 2012, mecca for the uber geek in all of us. Now, while I’ve never been to San Diego Comic Con , watching Morgan Spurlock’s wonderful documentary Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope, I felt as though I received a crash course in what all the hype is about. Check out the trailer and then read more after the jump.
The Amazing Spider-Man Pregame: Who Were Peter Parker’s Parents?
Who were Peter Parker’s parents? This is not a concept that many of us ever think of. As readers, as fans, we are far too invested in Aunt May, worrying over her health, and how she herself worries over Peter. And then there’s Uncle Ben, whose death is the not only the catharsis for the true origin of Spider-Man, but also the core of the famous phrase, “With great power comes great responsibility.” It is shameful but it’s true, Peter’s aunt and uncle are so important in the Spider-Man mythology, that no one hardly, if ever, gives any thought to his parents.
Who were Richard and Mary Parker? Let’s find out after the jump.
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Saturday At The Movies Exclusive: The Amazing Spider-Man
Too soon.
That’s what I thought when it was announced that Sony would be rebooting their Spider-Man franchise after Sam Raimi’s attempts to get a fourth film in his Toney Maguire -staring franchise fell flat. Regardless of what you thought about the failed third film (and I say failed only from an artistic standpoint, since Spider-Man 3 was still a huge financial success), there was a world created, a beloved character brought to life. Did we really need to start all over again so soon?
Turns out we did. Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man is an excellent entry in Peter Parker’s mythos, and like the best reboots, combines the old and new into the unique. Find more about what this Spidey freak thought of the film after the jump.
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The Amazing Spider-Man Pregame: Beware the Lizard!
In just a matter of days the world will finally get to see the cinematic version of one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous foes, the Lizard. What some might not know is that the Lizard, much like Two-Face to Batman, is also one of the web-slinger’s closest friends and allies. Who is the Lizard? How did he come to be? And what might we expect on the big screen in The Amazing Spider-Man?
The Origin of the Lizard
The Lizard, also known as Dr. Curt Connors, first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #6 waaay back in 1963, in a tale called “Face to Face with… The Lizard!” Gotta love them Marvel Age exclamation marks. Yeah, he showed up early in Spidey’s career, in his first year of web-swinging, created by the legendary team of writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. He was probably the fourth or fifth (it’s subjective, do the Tinkerer and/or Doctor Doom really count?) of Spider-Man’s major classic foes to be introduced. This is the real thing, baby.
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Tales from the Longbox – The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (1982)
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.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16
1982
“Who’s That Lady?”
Writer: Roger Stern
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inking: John Romita Sr.
This annual turned out to be more of a team-up story with co-star Captain Marvel stealing most of the spotlight. Captain Marvel’s 17-page origin was a textbook example of how to concisely craft and introduce a new superhero. Stern leveraged her point-of-view as a rookie superhero with access to almost unlimited powers, but was still trying to understand and control them.
In an interview for Back Issue magazine #54, Roger Stern admited: “With Captain Marvel, I did my best to create a character in the Lee/Kirby/Ditko tradition, a down-to-Earth person who suddenly acquired extraordinary power. And I wanted her to be a straightforward, likable superhero.”
Tales from the Longbox – Fantastic Four #232 (1981)
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.
Fantastic Four #232
July 1981
Writer/Artist: John Byrne
Fantastic Four #232 was John Byrne’s first issue as both writer and artist and his run would last over five years on the title. Byrne had pencilled the book a few years earlier working with writers Marv Wolfman and Bill Mantlo. The Fantastic Four is more of a family than a super-hero team and no one understood that better than Byrne.
What made Byrne’s take on this title so memorable was how he handled the characters and their relationships. All team books tend to be formulaic, but what Byrne couldn’t succeed at doing with Alpha Flight, he was able to do with the Fantastic Four. He grew them from the archetypes created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and changed them subtly, but meaningfully.
