As a company, Marvel Comics has gone by many monickers over the years, but none ever stuck out more in my mind than “The House of Ideas”. Many people argue that the 1990s attempts by Marvel to boost sales via Heroes Reborn and boost profits by self-distributing hurt the entire industry so much that they ruined their claim on good ideas, only offering BAD ones. But before all of Marvel’s big heroes teamed up to fight in the Secret Wars, and long before they worked together with their cosmic contemporaries to battle Thanos and his Infinity Gems, Marvel was proving itself worthy of that name on a regular basis. Every hero and villain had not yet met one another (and fought one another), and some teams were still in their growing pains or yet to be formed. Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Two-in-One were astounding readers by having two of the most popular heroes of the time, Spider-Man and The Thing, share adventures with everybody from Dominic Fortune and Frankenstein’s Monster to Iron Man and the Fantastic Four. The reason why these books were so popular was because the characters had never before shared the same page and fans got to […]
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In my ongoing hunt to obtain every comic book Bill Mantlo ever wrote, I’ve made it through most of the easy acquisitions and started working down the rare and obscure issues. I am unsure if and when I might own a handful of them, such as Uncanny X-Men #96 and Marvel Preview Presents #7, which is currently averaging several hundred dollars since it contains the very first appearance of Rocket Raccoon. Fortunately, I was able to fill in many of the gaps in my wish list for this campaign at C2E2, the Chicago comic book convention held in late April. One of the more pricey items I picked up is something I can now cross off that “hard to find” list, The Invincible Iron Man #86. Now, it wasn’t anywhere near the original cover price of 25¢, but I found it in immaculate condition. More importantly, it is a wonderful story from the greatest age of Marvel Comics, but since it did cost me so much, I drank my cup of coffee this morning BEFORE unpacking it from its protective sleeve. I happily bring you, “The Gentleman’s Name is BLIZZARD!”.
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Like many of you, I began reading comics at a young age. In my case, it was the early 1980s at the time when Chris Claremont and John Romita Jr. were reinventing Uncanny X-Men, Walt Simonson was storming The Mighty Thor and Boisterous Bill Mantlo was penning a variety of titles simultaneously, including Micronauts, Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man, Captain America, Rom and The Incredible Hulk. At such a young age, I was quite impressionable, and all the Marvel comics I enjoyed would make me into a fan for life. During these formative years, it would be Marvel comic books which played a major influence in developing my sense of honor and duty, expanding my vocabulary, defining what interpersonal relationships could be, and weaving my own fabric of morality. After 30+ years of reading comics by hundreds of storytellers, I can say without any hesitation that there could’ve been no better writer to help build my moral center than the Boisterous One. It would be during his run on The Incredible Hulk that I would learn key lessons about kindness, humility, forgiveness, love, heroism and sacrifice. They are lessons I carry with me to this day and which affect both […]
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“Hulk will SMASH puny bug man … as soon as bobsled race is over.” I had the pleasure this year to enjoy the NBC-TV broadcasts of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, as I’m hoping many of you also did. It was thrilling to see Ted Ligety win gold in the Men’s Giant Slalom, breathtaking to see Kaitlyn Farrington win gold in the Ladies’ Snowboard Halfpipe, and moving to watch Meryl Davis and Charlie White reach the top of the podium in Couples’ Ice Dancing. My heart sank to witness Shaun White fail to win gold a third consecutive time, as well as Shani Davis competing below expectations. At no point, however, did the athletes fail to impress me with their incredible acrobatics, strength and passion. While we may take for granted the super-human feats of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Children of the Atom, I have to literally marvel at the extraordinary endeavors of the Olympic competitors, for which I would not hesitate to apply every adjective which has ever escaped Smilin’ Stan’s erudite lips! Still, in the same year our puck-wrangling patriots defeated the indomitable team from the USSR in the “Miracle on Ice”, we learned courtesy of […]
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Small Wonder You can only experience something ONCE for the first time. Whether it’s Star Wars, a Tolkien novel or a first kiss, you can never go back and re-experience that “first”. Comics are no different. While I have been enjoying the works of Bill Mantlo for 30+ years, I had never read a single issue of Micronauts. One of the things that made Boisterous Bill so special was his desire and talent for telling stories outside Marvel’s super-hero continuity. Sure, he was compelled to bring in the occasional cross-over with the X-men, Fantastic Four and other franchise properties, but the worlds of Rom, Micronauts and Swords of the Swashbucklers existed without being hog-tied to Marvel’s complex history.
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Q: What could be worse than a wet costume? A: Wet costume covered by two kinds of wet fur! After 45 of these columns, dear reader, I fear that I risk creating the impression that Comics ‘n Coffee is nothing more than a cultural wasteland. And so, it is with that concern that I attempt to elevate the discussion to one of refined taste and the utmost seriousness. And thus, the Spectacular Spider-Man (Peter Parker) and X-Man/Avenger Beast (Henry McCoy) elegantly adorn our sophisticated cover, where a powerful winged enemy boasts “Even Spider-Man cannot stand ALONE against my powers for long!”. As the fearsome foe battles Spidey in the skies above Manhattan, a blue-furred acrobat swings from a high-rise flagpole to join the fray, interjecting “Got NEWS for you, buster–Webhead ISN’T alone!”. With the excitement building before we’ve even seen page one, so begins “The Claws of the Griffin”, the first meeting of two of Marvel’s most popular heroes!
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Can justice be color-blind when it comes to super heroes? How “good” are the good guys who star in our favorite Marvel mags? We all know that Hawkeye started out as a villain before becoming an Avenger. Peter Parker allowed a thief to waltz right by him before he gave up wrestling for crime-fighting. And what about the Sandman, who established himself as a villain, yet made a genuine attempt at transforming himself into a hero? There are often shades of gray in the super-powered community, as proven in books like Thunderbolts and Punisher. The character of a hero may have chinks in its armor, and past deeds can have a way of tearing down the public’s faith in a good man. In this case, it’s the criminal activities of Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon, which threaten to bring his super-hero career crashing down around him. While it’s true that no one – be they Captain America, Thor Odinson or the President of the United States – can claim to be perfect, what happens when somebody who has done such good works, someone we believe is of strong morals, has to be judged for their crimes? Well, true believers, you […]
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Whatcha gonna do, brother, when PowerMania runs wild on you? Not every hero comes from noble or innocent beginnings, my friends. Spider-Man, Daredevil and the Uncanny X-Men were given powers through no fault of their own. Captain America chose his path to serve his country and battle the forces of evil. And the Incredible Hulk and Fantastic Four received their gifts only by accident while they were in the pursuit of scientific advancements. Typically, if a character seeks out superhuman powers on purpose, it is for their own selfish interests and, thus, they become a super-powered criminal or villain. In 1972, Archie Goodwin, John Romita Sr. and George Tuska created a hero unlike any other in the Marvel Universe. Carl Lucas, a hardened street tough serving time for a crime he didn’t commit, volunteers for a cell-regeneration experiment based on ideas from Captain America’s super-soldier formula. A prison guard with a grudge against Lucas sabotaged the experiment and the process left him with super-human strength and durability. His power allows him to escape from prison unharmed and he heads to New York City, deciding to use his new powers to launch a business venture as a “Hero for Hire” under […]
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America’s powerful patriot battles energy wasters and teaches us how to keep the power flowing long into the future! Comics teach us many valuable lessons, such as how underwear looks better on the outside and that radiation exposure is a sure-fire way to gain super powers. When it comes to solving the energy crisis, however, there’s only one hero who can fill up a bread bowl of patriotism with a red, white and blue grilled cheese on the side! Captain America and the Campbell Kids is brought to us by the Campbell Soup Company and Marvel Comics Group in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy in the crossover event of the decade (even hotter than the time Superman teamed up with the Quik Rabbit!). When ol’ Winghead takes time off from his duties as an Avenger and defender of Old Glory, he spends his days partnering up with toddlers of the pinched-cheek variety to bring us a lesson on saving energy hidden within all the joy and merriment of a comic book adventure. The Campbell Kids were a pair of children sporting the rosiest of cheeks created by Grace Wiederseim (also known as Grace Drayton and Grace Gebbie), a […]
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I tried to be a future warrior – But the Martians ever came – I know now, fighting to be a freeman – Finally found myself – Fighting for a chance! Even to this day, I find myself reading comics about characters of which I have no previous experience or knowledge. This is the fun of back-issue bin diving: finding new heroes, stories and universes which bring us sheer joy and spark our imaginations! Earlier this year, I shared with you my very first experience reading a book about the cyborg, Deathlok, in the far-flung future of 1990. Now, another hero from days yet-to-pass
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People are strange when you’re a hero – Faces look shocked when powers are shown – Villains are wicked causing us sorrow – Fiends do evil till they’re put down! Comic book fans have a few areas of disagreement. A minor one has been the question of the precise date which marks the end of the Bronze Age of Comics. As an unabashed fanatic of all works by Boisterous Bill Mantlo, I place that date firmly in the late 1980s, at the point where he retired from his illustrious scripting career to become a public legal defender (in effect, becoming a real-life super hero).
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Well, I ain’t evil, I’m just elated,Start a pot of coffee, and get caffeinated,I’m a thirsty man,But I don’t want decaf,If you mess with Frankie,It might be yer epitaph! As I listen to podcasts concerning modern comic books, I hear a great deal of angst in how writers often create interesting and clever stories but can’t “close”. The term “close” in this case refers to finishing a book with as much flair, energy and enjoyment as its beginning. When a good comic book story gets off to a roaring start, it’s disappointing if it does not come to a satisfying conclusion. In 1973, a character beloved by followers of fantasy worldwide was given his own Marvel Comics Group magazine,
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I’LL TAKE YOU TO LIMBO, BUT WE HAVE TO GO WAY BACK (or How Am I Supposed to Make Toast When Batteries Aren’t Included?) Since the dawn of comics, licensed merchandise has been a part of this world of fantasy. It was inevitable that comics would adapt other media and create new stories on the printed page, ranging from Bob Hope to Captain Action to Welcome Back, Kotter. “ROM has come…Evil is on the run!” is how Parker Brothers introduced Rom the Spaceknight, a new toy which boasted to be among the first with L.E.D. lights and electronic sounds. ROM, or “Read-Only Memory”, referred to the chip inside the toy which allowed it to perform simple electronic tasks. The 13-inch plastic figure had very limited movement of its limbs, but came with three accessories which Rom could wield and would glow bright red. These were his Energy Analyzer, a Translator device and the mightiest of high-tech weaponry, Rom’s Neutralizer! Each of these contraptions made strange noises while Rom’s eyes and rocket pods flashed red and his respirator made realistic breathing sounds, all courtesy of a 9-volt battery. “You can pretend he has come from a galaxy far away to share […]
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COLORFUL OUTFITS: THE THIRD REICH’S BIGGEST WEAKNESS (or Unless Your Name is “Wolf”, Don’t Mess With Giant Hitler) Among the eclectic super-hero teams throughout the Marvel Universe, you have your Starjammers, Sons of the Tiger and Great Lakes Avengers, along with the obscure Champions of Xandar, Band of the Bland, Rocketeers and even the Agents of S.U.R.F. One team of adventurers, however, helped to shape the definition of the word “heroes” before the world ever heard of Captain America, The Human Torch or Irving Forbush.
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THE WALKING DEPRESSED (or “The future must be met, no matter how crabby and bummed-out it be.”) With another Independence Day upon us this past week, I thought it might be fitting to do a Comics ‘n Coffee featuring the most patriotic of heroes. What better way to celebrate the freedoms we hold dear than to spotlight the adventures of a former soldier who was altered to become one of Marvel’s most dynamic super-powered champions, sporting an American flag as part of his very uniform! A man out of time, seeking his place in a world he doesn’t recognize, I’m talking about the lionhearted paragon of America’s fighting men and women, the cyborg Deathlok! This half-man, half-machine was created by Rich Buckler and Doug Moench to save all us citizens from the evil corporations and military regimes which turned America into an unfamiliar land of oppression and tyranny – all in the far-flung future of 1990! It’s your typical super-hero origin story: Luther Manning was a highly skilled soldier until he died in battle. Later, he woke up in a post-apocalyptic future to discover that he’s half-cyborg, but the human half of him wasn’t in that great of shape. In […]
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Joe Montana & Hulk’s Bogus Journey (or The Quarterback of Notre Dame) There isn’t much that throws your humble author for a loop these days, dear reader. I’ve savored the subtle scribblings of politicized parody comics and absorbed the mind-bending absurdities of Alan Moore’s most diabolical designs. What put a burr in my britches in this particular case, true believer, is that a comic book forcibly transported my mind through time, altered reality without explanation and failed to live up to my expectations for one of the best writers to ever occupy the Marvel Bullpen.
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The Sweet Seduction of Interchangeable Parts (and The Choking Hazards of Rocket Cannon Projectiles) Long has the tradition flourished, this strategically synergized system of comics and children’s toys locked in a hypnotic dance of capitalistic ecstasy. Working its way along numerous franchises, these licensed properties have helped He-Man, Voltron, G.I. Joe, The Transformers and many others to sell more toys, which promote the comics, which once again promote the toys. One of the pioneers of this delirium-inducing pirouette of marketing brilliance was Mego (mee-go) Corporation’s Micronauts. The origins of how this line of children’s toys became a Marvel Comics monthly publication are laid out in an earlier edition of Comics ‘n Coffee
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HOLD ME CLOSER, SPYING DANCER Marvel Preview was among some of Marvel’s extensive line of magazine comics from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, which were somewhat akin to miniature graphic novels, not to be confused with the actual graphic novels published around the same time. In addition to this publication, there were other variety books on the market such as Epic Illustrated, Savage Tales and Marvel Movie Premier, along with magazine-style titles focused on singular characters, including Kull and the Barbarians and Rampaging Hulk. For $1.25, you got a heckuva lot of story, usually in stunning black-and-white pencils and inks, and got to meet a variety of fascinating characters without having to follow an ongoing plot.
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Put Your Armor-round Yer Lady, Unless you Repulsor There are comics which make you excited, some you simply endure, and some which even make you tingle in that special way. Then, there are comics which make you think … where you ponder what super powers would mean to a world as complex as ours with all its hopes, dreams and variations of religion, politics and strife. When standard super hero fare becomes a lesson in morality and your humble author provides a rare spoiler, it must be another edition of Comics ‘n Coffee.
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