Welcome to the Marvel Handbook I’m Jim Trabold, your host. I believe Daron is my editor today but with him you never know. We could get a guest editor or just a guest chiming in on the conversation. Let’s find out together. Mister Editor who’s helping this week?
You know, I have someone fill in for me like once every four months or so (if even that often) and you make it sound like it happens all the time…talk about holding grudges. Yeash!
Good to have you on board again this week. Let’s start up and you can chime in as always.
Thanks ever so much for your permission…
Steve emails
Hey, I haven’t read any of the new MAX Squadron Supreme series, but if my memory of the 1980s series is intact, there were a multitude of villains (including Redstone, Lamphrey, and Pinball) that were brainwashed into joining the Squadron, but they were not based on an existing DC counterpart.
I’d assume that the same goes for this new version of Redstone.
Ah that explains it. There is no DC counterpart. Thanks for getsting that question out of my hair. Now I won’t have to worry about the JLA.
Dwoods emails
I wanted to reply to Graham’s email about certain Marvel characters having power enhancements.
As for Magneto, it’s no surprise that they extended his power to cover the E-M spectrum. It was first hinted way back when Storm’s lightning was redirected, and again in X-Men/Avengers when he showed some control over Photon’s powers.
Heck for Kitty Pryde, her first actual appearance in an X-Men uniform, her future self Kate Pryde showed the ability to partially solidify herself when she stopped Destiny from killing Sen. Kelly. So in her case, it was shown from the start that she only needed to learn how to do it.
As for the Invisible Woman, IIRC she has ALWAYS been able to turn other people invisible or visible. It’s just a facet of her powers that never got used much. Biggest example was when she turned Terrax’s power visible when he raised Manhattan into orbit and threatened to toss it against Galactus’s ship, and she did it so the people wouldn’t panic at seeing themselves in space.
Now for others who have enhanced their powers, Hank Pym learned how to shrink or enlarge OTHER objects. Iceman learned better uses for his power. She-Hulk went on a strength training regimen and upped her strength a LOT. Dazzler learning to focus her light display into a laser. Havok propelling himself into the air with his blasts (okay it makes no sense).
Thanks Dwoods for chiming in to help Graham. Another little bit I forgot to add last week. Hell I didn’t even realize I skipped it.
Some other characters.
Iron Man: He always advances his armor and makes it better. Big improvements have been added over the years.
There’s Wolverine. He was basically just a berserker with claws when he first appeared.
Polaris of course has a massive amount of power now
Jean. She got Phoenix power and more over the years.
We can go on forever. These characters have grown a lot over the years.
I think that’s pretty much what I said last week… – Daron
Jason emails
Hello,
I am still enjoying all of your site’s comic book content. It is consistently a fun and informative read.
I have some comments regarding the latest column and a question:
1) The Fastball Special. During the Dark Phoenix Saga, Wolverine picked up an un-armored Colossus and threw him at Dark Phoenix. Colossus turned into his armored form in mid-air and delivered a metallic smackdown to the villainess. Now, what this shows me is how insanely buff Wolverine is. I mean, Peter Rasputin is a veritable mountain of a man, yet Wolverine is able to pick him up and toss him through the air! What do you suppose ol’ Logan can bench-press, anyway?
Colossus weighs around 200 without the armor. I would suspect Logan may be able to press about 250 or so if under right conditions.
Personally, I would write that one up to comic book physics. Wolverine would need to be able to bench press a HELL of a lot more than 250 to be able to pick up and throw ANY grown man like a baseball, let alone Colossus. In the Martial Arts studio where I teach, I’ve worked with a bunch of other instructors who could bench press over 300 pounds, and not one of them could throw me like that, and I weight 200 lbs. That’s just one of those things you have to take with a grain of salt. – Daron
Late update: They where on the moon. We’ve have like 10 emails about this now.
2) Sidekicks in the Marvel Universe. It is true that the Marvel Universe has never really embraced the hero/sidekick relationship, but they have their own version…the “partner” of various heroes. Marvel heroes never so much as have sidekicks as we know them, but instead work with another fully capable adult hero who is generally the hero’s equal and is respected as such.
You can see this has played out with many of Marvel’s solo operators over the years:
Daredevil-Black Widow
Spider-Man-Black Cat
Silver Surfer-Nova II
Nick Fury-Dum Dum Dugan and various other SHIELD characters
Iron Man-Jim Rhodes
Captain Britain-Meggan
Doctor Strange-Clea
Hawkeye-Mockingbird
Hellstorm-Hellcat
Vision-Scarlet Witch
Captain America-(this guy has had LOTS of collaborators in his superhero career) Nomad, Demolition Man, Vagabond, Diamondback, Falcon, Free Spirit, Jack Flag, Sharon Carter, Zack Moonhunter, John Jameson.
And the long-defunct USAgent-Battle Star partnership. (Maybe Lemar Hoskins could pop up in Invaders as a team co-leader?)
In fact, the only true superhero/sidekick relationship that I can think of (besides Cap/Bucky and Torch/Toro) is Moon Knight and Midnight, and we all know how badly that turned out. And maybe Namor and Namorita.
Marvel just isn’t a sidekick kind of place, I guess.
Yep all of those would count as good team ups and most would be considered “sidekicks” as well. Thanks for the help Jason
3) My question: I have always wondered something about Wolverine, and that is the origin of his incredible senses of smell and hearing. Obviously, his mutant power is his healing factor. So where do these other powers come from? Are they products of his ninja training, the Weapon X program’s tinkering, or are they a very early example of ‘secondary mutations’?
Early example of secondary mutation right there. He’s had those abilities since he was young. They go with the claws since they where bone originally.
I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say they were a secondary mutation, but he’s definitely always had them…as long as he’s been an “active” mutant anyway. – Daron
Abdul emails
Jim usually you do little reviews on the various Marvel movies that
come out but I don’t think I’ve caught anything from you about Elektra.
Maybe I’m wrong and overlooked it but if you have already than I guess ignore
this email but if you haven’t then I’m curious if you’ve seen the movie and what you thought of it or if you haven’t seen the movie yet is it because of the bad publicity and reviews its gotten thus far?
You know I’m surprised I forgot this myself. Thanks, Abdul.
Actually I loved Elektra. I’d say it was ten times better then Daredevil and had some great action. I mean the martial arts alone where good. The portrayals of the characters where great as well
Stick was perfect and very believable
Typhoid seemed as evil as she was in comics, but she went out way to easy for me. I would’ve loved it if she lived on to fight Elektra or Daredevil in some type of later movie.
Some good flash backs to Daredevil and no Ben or Bullseye so it’s wide open for a possible DD II if possible. I just hope they make DD II as good as Elektra because they got this right. I loved it and give it a 9 out of 10
As for bad reviews I think those reviewers must’ve been watching a different movie. I personally found it really good and would recommend everyone go see it themselves. Don’t go by bad reviews, half these stick in the mud would not know a good movie if they saw it.
Promo:
Following the events of Daredevil, Elektra Natchios (Garner), sai enthusiast and assassin for hire, is revived by the Order of the Hand, a group of assassins who helped train her. Assigned by the Hand’s current leader, Kirigi, to kill a man, Mark Miller (Visnjic), and his 13-year-old daughter, Abby, Elektra soon befriends them and decides to stand up to her ninja peers. Elektra is especially motivated to do so when she discovers that Miller’s grandfather was an ally of her former mentor, Stick (Stamp). Together, they must take on Kirigi’s lethal quartet (which includes Tengu and Typhoid).
A few friends of mine at Bagged and Boarded posted a few on their boards.
4 posted
Question: Pop Quiz lol
1. What was the first appearance of Super Skrull and the last time he was in a comic?
First: Fantastic Four Vol.1 #18
Latest: Fantastic Four Vol.3 # 37 I believe.
2. What Villian was in FF #100?
Puppet Master and Mad Thinker.
Plus a bunch of androids.
3. Who “killed” Jean Grey and Magneto in the “Planet X” story arc?
Magneto/Xorn killed Jean.
Wolverine killed the fake Magneto/Xorn
4. On the cover of FF #1 what is the Human Torch saying?
Just wait and see, sister! The Fantastic Four have only begun to fight!
My buddy Garrison posted these
YOUR ridiculous sir. Now I know you know YOU’RE marvel and you said you used to read DC back in the day, So I’m going to drop a train on you if I may, and ask WHO came first Thanos or Darkseid? Support your answers with years and issue numbers of they’re First appearances…. and one more…
Hard one. I’m not great with DC first appearances.
I know Thanos was Iron Man volume 1 # 55 Feb 1973.
Here’s one to get you scared.
Written by James Starlin and Mike Friedrich
Art by James Starlin
Darkseid
First appearance: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 Dec 1970
So in reality Darkseid came first.
Who founded at the age of 22, in 1932 the company that would later become Marvel, in 1939? What was it called? What did they publish?
The company was called Timely.
Martin Goodman created the company.
Marvel Comics #1 was the first book published under Timely. Dated Oct. 1939.
The first issue had The first Angel (Paul Gustavson), The original Human Torch (Carl Burgos), Sub-Mariner (Bill Everett), Ka-Zar the Great (Ben Thompson), Jungle Terror (Tohm Dixon) and Masked Raider (Al Anders).
One last one. Who created Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner?
Bill Everett in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly.
Wow, as long as no one comes back and retorts all of this, I have to say I’m impressed. – Daron
That’s it for today. A long issue of emails and Q & A. Mister Editor care to sign out?
Pretty light week for me there. I didn’t get to really lay into anyone…
Anyway, I have a quick announcement to make. As many of you may already know, the comic strip over at 144Anima.com is coming to an end (at least for now). The announcement came this last week, when our artist (Sean) effectively turned in his resignation so that he can pursue some more “lucrative” projects. Who can blame him for that? We still have a few strips that we’re going to run, and the message board will remain up for the now so people who met there can continue to talk. We had a blast doing the strips for the last year and I hope you all enjoyed them as well. If anything changes (like finding a new artist) I’ll announce it here and on the message boards.
Thanks everyone,
Daron
My turn.
A sneek peek at Avengers # 7 Cover
Question at Marvel.com is the same as before, Who do you think ordered the breakout in New Avengers?
Check out the Punisher game in stores now. I’ve played it and I think it’s a damn fun and cool game.
Also check out Black Panther # 1 in stores today. It’s a great read with some great art. I got a promo from Marvel last week and thought it was pretty good new origin to Black Panther.
Reporting from the Marvel Universe I’m Jim Trabold. Have a good week. Keep those emails coming and if you can’t email, post your questions here
