Happy holidays everyone and welcome to yet another Marvel Handbook. The last one of the year. I’m looking forward to a new year of fun and excitement here on Comics Nexus and of course answering your questions. I wonder though how my partner is. Hey Daron how are you this week?
Well without trying to depress everyone lets just say I’ve had better weeks. But I’m here and am gonna try and get through this today. Let me apologize now if I’m a little gruff with everyone.
Cool. Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?
Well since I haven’t started a new job yet I’d have to say no. I got a few “things” that I wanted but this week is shaping up to the worst Christmas week ever”¦ :(
Well there I go depressing everyone. Let’s start this before everyone starts crying.
Cory emails
1- I’ve been reading the Marvel/DC handbooks from Day 1, and I must say to the staff: Congrats, and keep up the good work.
Thank you. We both do our best here.
Agreed. Thanks for the props, we love bringing the columns to you every week, its always nice to hear people enjoying them.
My 1st official question (way more to come) is about the DC vs.Marvel battle of Wolverine (my fave of all time) and Lobo. Now “although intended to be an over-the-top parody of Marvel Comics” Wolverine, the character became hugely popular  more so than his creators had intended for a one-note gag character”, sounds like a carbon copy to me. Anyway everytime I hear about this fight, I hear that it was close, or Wolverine “controversially” beat him…what the hell? I also heard a rumor, that Lobo was paid to lose, by a “bald headed individual”, this true as well?
Now wouldn’t Wolvie have beaten him WAY worse if he actually had the adamantium?? I can understand Storm/WW, so what made this fight so controversial???
See this is why DC ticks me off. Excuse my language. I could say worse. Wolverine beat Lobo in Marvel vs DC fair and square. Hell Wolverine was a better character and more popular one. He was a fan favorite and DC still don’t like that I think.
So DC came up with the idea in an issue of Lobo that Lex Luthor payed him to lose. Bunch of crap. You can say DC is run by a bunch of dick heads who didn’t like losing to Marvel if you like. They lost because fans liked the Marvel heroes more and they know who would win the fights. Fans are smarter then the guy who wrote Lobo at the time.
Plus I admit Wolverine would’ve gutted him or worse with the adamantium. Heck I’d give Wolvie the fight either way. We never really see the full fight though since both fall behind a bar. I think that’s why it’s also controversial.
Wow, Jim, tell us how you really feel. I have no problem with you venting, but don’t make stuff up. To say “They lost because fans liked the Marvel heroes more” is a bit rash, especially since you can’t know that, and even more so since they didn’t win all the fights.
Anyway, the answer to the original question is no. Wolverine won the fight fair and square due to reader responses, excuses after the fact or not.
2- Me and my co-wrker always argue about this one: Who would win, and why/how, between Wolverine & Batman??? I email this guy at Wizard, who compared this fight to the Undertaker vs. HHH, is that a accurate assumption?
Not a bad comparison. Two of the biggest names in wrestling fighting. Bats and Wolvie are the biggest names in comics. It’s one of the most debated fights too. Some people give it to Bats with prep time. But who says he has prep time. Wolverine is able to track anyone at any time. Let’s give Logan his adamantium. Logan would just find Bruce and kick his ass. Even without the Batgarb since he could find his scent. I always give this fight to Wolverine.
Well I think we all knew who Jim was going to give this one to. In all honesty the fight could probably go either way and would completely depend on who was writing the story and the story he/she wanted to tell.
Now not to sound like a DC fanboy I’ll defend the Dark Knight a bit (since Jim defended Wolvie already). Without going into the laundry list of heroes and villains Bats has defeated, lets look quickly at his abilities. Besides his “wonderful toys” Bruce is without a doubt one of the most highly trained fighters in the world. And in a comparison of Martial skill Bruce’s multi-art knowledge far surpasses Logan’s ninja skill. Jim makes a big deal out of Logan’s tracking ability, but let’s not forget that Bruce is one of if not “the” world’s greatest detective. I think it goes without saying that he knows how to cover his tracks.
Both characters have impressive abilities, but they’re probably more equal combatants overall than not. And I again think this would completely depend on who was helming the story.
3- Has there ever been any teamups/crossovers between the two?
Never seen one. Which is odd. We do see them merge in Amalgam though. But that’s it. DC won’t do it now with the the JQ thing over their heads either. So fans will have to wait.
Thanks a million!
Welcome.
*Nods*
Loren emails
Hey Jim and Daron,
Again let me just say that I thoroughly enjoy the Handbook every week.
Hey Loren
Great to hear you enjoy the Handbook. Daron and I do our best.
Indeed we do, and again, the props are always nice :)
I had a question that I’m sure will be answered soon in the X-titles but I wanted to get your opinion on it. So after HOM Wolverine had received all of his memories back, reaching as far back as the “Origin” storyline. My question/gripe is then why haven’t the X-Books really addressed that. I was just reading New X-Men and they had Logan bring X-23 in and he just seemed the same as he always was.
Same goes for X-Men when fighting alongside the sentinels and even in New Avengers. Are they just going to play it off like “yeah he knows everything that happened to him and he’s cool with that.” I mean after all these years we’ve been lead to believe that Logans life was so horrible that it was a good thing that he can’t remember anything. I think that if we know anything about his character it’s that he would go off on one of his sabbaticals or go all one man killing machine again. Not that I think they should get rid of Wolverine, he’s a cash cow for them and can be a great character (if not an overused one), I just feel that this is how he would react.
What’s your take on the situation.
Well let’s say that New Avengers hasn’t caught up to House of M yet. The stories right now where pre House of M. I believe they will be after the House of M point after the Spider-Woman arc. I can’t be positive.
As for the X-Men. Well if you read Wolverine you know they know and of course they understand that he wants to find out more. He has no problems with the X-Men. It seems that none of the back log of memories have anything to do with Xavier or anything. Plus he still has to piece it all together. He remembers stuff its just not all making sense yet. He’s going to search out the truth more and put it together in his book.
So even though Wolverine has everything in there it will be some time to figure it all out. He’ll do that and you’ll be seeing all the sparks fly in his book. I’m betting the X-Men will have to deal with him in the X-titles to at some point. But a lot of times his book doesn’t impact the main X-titles like when he was brainwashed. Blame the X-editors. I’d have him leave and figure it out and come back.
As always keep up the good work.
Will do.
soak1313 posted
ok i got a question for the newest issue of the ultimates. who are all the “bad guys” on the last page? i know it is loki, crimson dynamo, and what looks to be the abomination, but who are the rest?
Ok anything I say here is my theory on who they are. As many people know it’s the only Ultimate title I will read other then the Galactus stuff and Ultimate Iron Man
I’m going to go with the vague guesses
The big green thing: Abomination
The guy in they Red containment suit: Crimson Dynamo
The General: Red Skull or Red Guardian
The armored chick: Jocasta
The guy with the Thor like outfit: Vanguard
The guy in the green with the long hair: No clue but with combination of countries here it’s possible he’s anyone. I even could see them going Radioactive Man or something
The black man or woman. Could be from Wakanda or something. Maybe a possible foe of Black Panther or something.
Loki is Loki.
I’d like to know too. So we’ve got a month to find out.
so i just got done reading baker’s review of x-factor #1 and he mentioned that the evil madrox dupe is back. when was there an evil dupe and what was the story behind him? i was out of the loop for awhile and got hooked back on madrox during his recent mini. i am now going to be picking up x-factor so any background on this evil dupe would be sweet. oh and also i know that little girl character that appeared this issue was from house of m(which i did not read), and there was another girl on the cover i did not recognize(and her name escapes me) so help with those 2 would be cool too. thanks guys!!
Now this story of the evil dupe is really old. It’s back from the old original Peter David X-Factor run.
X-Factor #72-75 was when we see him:
The evil dupe was the one in Fallen Angels. At the time the real deal was actually on Muir Island. The evil dupe started developing separate traits then the real deal.
He became more evil thanks to Mister Sinister though. That’s right Sinister. This is the point Sinister was still used more. Madrox joined the Nasty Boys and at that time we also had the first fake death of Madrox as well. Multiple Man in reality was fine and would reabsorb him in the end.
Well as much as I’d love to answer the second part of your question, Soaky, I haven’t even been able to find a copy of the new X-Factor yet”¦so I honestly have no idea who they are :(
Frosty_has_snowballs posted
Here is one for next week.
What do you and Mr. Editor consider the best Marvel Christmas stories?
ok I’ll do my top ten but of course we all know Christmas for Marvel don’t mean it’s a perfect holiday.
1. Incredible Hulk 378
2. Uncanny X-Men 143
3. Amazing Spider-Man 314
4. Marvel Holiday Special 2005
5. Mighty Thor 444
6. Spectacular Spider-Man 112
7. Fantastic Four 361
8. Daredevil 229
9. Punisher: Red X-Mas 1
10. Spider-Girl 54
Wow”¦I don’t know if just because you put me under the gun or not, but I honestly can’t think of a single Marvel (or DC for that matter) Christmas story.
Wolverine0712 posted
I want to know yours and Daron’s top 5 mutants you wished would/did lose their powers? I have a feeling I know Daron’s Number 1.
Hmmm this could be good.
I’m not doing the ones already being done in comics
My 5
1. Marrow (maybe they can finally do something with her)
2. Wraith (Hector Rendoza he looks ugly now. What would happen if he went human?)
3. Jesse Bedlam (Reason: Not a fan of the character)
4. Empath (Again they don’t anything with the character)
5. Rogue. (even if it didn’t last she would get what she always wanted. She would be able to touch)
Also, from a writing stand point, which 5 would have the most interesting story about losing powers.
hmm Are we talking about who’s been done in comics or who we could work with? I’ll do both
in comics:
1. Blob (That could be interesting. Hell will he kill himself?)
2. Magneto (I would like to see how one of the most powerful mutants alive will be after turning into what he hates the most)
3. Archangel (I think they are going to do this one in a limited. I want to see it)
4. Quicksilver (I like Son of M.)
5. Wanda herself (Is she or isn’t she? I want to see myself)
I would do and cover:
1. Rogue (again she can touch. What’s she do?)
2. Mystique (I know I didn’t do her above but what happens if she can’t change?)
3. Marrow (Again now they can do something with her)
4. Emma Frost (What’s she do? I meqan she loves being the powerful)
5. Cyclops (Who leads the X-Men and what does Cyc do?)
Mine will answer both questions at once.
1. Gambit (As Wolvie guessed”¦for no reason other than I hate him and wish him dead).
2. Beast (Great stories could come from this, he deserves it, and he’d still be a viable member of the X’s as their scientist).
3. Rogue (So she’d quit bitching about her powers all the time).
4. Wolverine (How cool would it be to see him not able to use his claws because he couldn’t heal from their extraction, and to watch him have to revert to his ninja training).
5. Cyclops (As much as I like Cyke, he could use the break, and I’d love to see Alex – Havok step up and become the leader he should be).
Marvel 2005: Year in Review: Alright I’m going month by month with some of the bigger highlights. Using the solits for each month for help I did this one.
Jan: Marvel Next line began, Sarah Stacy’s story took over Spidey, We had real life tales from Iraq in Combat Tales, Wolverine was still the Enemy of the State, Beta Ray Bill got a series, Peter David returned to Hulk, the New Avengers formed, Johnny Storm became Galactus Herald, Phoenix returned, Peter Milligan joined X-Men.
Feb: You could say it was a month of new series: Black Panther, Young Avengers, Livewires, Runaways volume 2, Daredevil Redemption, Shanna the She-Devil,. Hobgoblin showed up in Ultimate. We also saw a few series end. Some would come back later.
March: Again more new series: Ultimate Iron Man, Spellbinders, Ultimate Secret, Mary Jane Homecoming, and Wolverine Soultaker. Marvel Adventures replaced Marvel Age. We had the return to the Age of Apocalypse. Wolverine joined SHIELD
April: Spidey and family moved to Avengers Tower, Reginald Hudlin took over Marvel Knights Spidey. New series: Toxin, Spider-Man Breakout, Power Pack, Hercules, G.L.A.. Spectacular Spidey ended. The new Scorpion appeared in Amazing Fantasy. Rama Tut came back in MK 4.
May: J. Michael Straczynski took over Fantastic Four, Marvel faced the Imperfects. New series: Machine Teen and New X-Men: Hellions. The Defenders where seen in Ultimates. Spidey had problems a man named Ethan. Winter Soldier started in Cap. We found out about Sentry in New Avengers.
June: The Marvel Event of the year began. That’s right House of M. It would change the Marvel universe in new ways. We saw the deepest dreams of our heroes come true. Other new series: Gravity, Kitty Pryde, Last Hero Standing, New Warriors, Ororo: Before the Storm.
July: The month of House of M tie-ins and limited series. We see Iron Man, Spidey, Hulk, the FF, Mutopia X, Uncanny X-Men, New X-Men, Cable/Deadpool, Pulse all impacted. Mark Millar started working on Ultimate FF. Moon Knight appeared in Ultimate. New series: Punisher/Daredevil, Defenders, Hulk Destruction, Weapon X: Days of Future Past. Also Rogue gained Sunfire’s powers.
Aug: More House of M as Black Panther, New Thunderbolts, and Captain America join in. The Ultimate Inhumans are seen. Daredevil Father finally returned. Brian Bendis final arc started on Daredevil.We returned to 1602. Other new series: Wha Huh and Mega Morphs.
Sep: House of M tie-ins continued with new additions Wolverine and Exiles, also in issue 7 we hear the now Famous words: NO MORE MUTANTS! Garth Ennis brought Ghost Rider back. A new Black Widow series arrived. Black Panther and X-Men crossed over. Sentry began another series. Ronin finally appeared in New Avengers. Franklin Richards got a series as well as Drax, Thor:Blood Oath, Colossus: Bloodline and two Supreme Power heroes Hyperion and Nighthawk.
Oct: House of M ended. Peter David came to Spidey with Friendly Neighborhood and the story arc THE OTHER started. She-Hulk’s series returned. Other new series included: Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos, Book of Lost Souls, FF/Iron Man, and X-Men/Power Pack. Secret Wars finally ended. Vegas came into Amazing Fantasy. the old Marvel Monsters returned.
Nov: The Other continued with Reginald Hudlin at the helm. Wolverine regained his memories out of House of M. Amazing Fantasy reached a milestone. Daniel Way took over Hulk. Invincible came to Marvel for a guest shot. Ronin was revealed as Echo. Sentinel got another run. Captain Universe returned.New series like Puinisher/Bullseye, Books of Doom, Thing, as well as a few one shots hit stands. Mutants started losing their powers as DECIMATION began. We also saw he beginning of new X-series: Generation M, New Excalibur, X-Factor, and X-Men: Deadly Genesis.Plus Craig Kyle and Chris Yost took over New X-Men.
Dec: Ultimate Hulk started a fight with Wolverine. J. Michael Straczytnski started his work on the OTHER. Spidey/Black Cat finally came back. Nicholas Scratch came back in MK 4. Punisher dressed as Santa. Marvel Zombies got it’s own series. Death’s Head returned in Amazing Fantasy. GLX celebrated Christmas. New series include: Iron Man: Inevitable, Spider-Woman Origin, Spider-Man Loves MJ, Son of M. She-Hulk reached 100. Plus we saw more What If. New Universe and Longshot came to Exiles.
Decimation update:
Powered:
Armando Munoz (Deadly Genesis 2)
Beast (House of M 8)
Bishop (House of M Day After 1)
Bruiser (Runaways)
Cable (Cable/Deadpool 18)
Cannonball (Cable/Deadpool 18)
Colossus (House of M 8)
Cyclops (House of M 8)
Dazzler (New Excalibur 1)
Domino (House of M Day After 1)
Dust (New X-Men 20)
Elixar (New X-Men 20)
Emma Frost (House of M 8)
Erg (House of M Day After 1)
Firestar (House of M Day After 1)
Forge (Cable/Deadpool 18)
Franklin Richards (Fantastic Four)
Gambit (House of M Day After 1)
Gregor Smerdyakov (Mutopia X 5)
Havok (House of M Day After 1)
Hellion (New X-Men 20)
Icarus (New X-Men 20)
Justice (House of M Day After 1)
Madrox (House of M Day After 1)
Magma (House of M Day After 1)
Mammomax (House of M Day After 1)
Marvel Girl (House of M Day After 1)
Meltdown (Cable/Deadpool 18)
Mercury (New X-Men 20)
Mister M (Mutopia X 5)
Mystique X-Men 179)
Nightcrawler (House of M 8)
Nocturne (New Excalibur 1)
Outlaw (X-Men 179)
Peepers (House of M Day After 1)
Pete Wisdom (House of M Day After 1)
Petra (Deadly Genesis 1)
Pulse (X-Men 179)
Psylocke (House of M Day After 1)
Rockslide (New X-Men 20)
Rogue (House of M Day After 1)
Sage (House of M Day After 1)
Shadowcat (House of M 8)
Silver Samurai (Wolverine 36)
Siryn (Cable/Deadpool 18)
Stepford Cuckoos (New X-Men 20)
Storm (House of M Day After 1)
Strong Guy (House of M Day After 1)
Sunspot (House of M Day After 1)
Surge (New X-Men 20)
Tito Bohusk (Exiles 72)
Valeria Richards (Fantastic Four)
Wallflower (New X-Men 20)
Warpath (Cable/Deadpool 18)
Wither (New X-Men 20)
Wolfsbane (House of M Day After 1)
Wolverine (House of M 8)
X-23 (New X-Men 20)
De-Powered:
Aero (New X-Men 20)
Angel Salvadore (Exiles 72)
Armena Ortega (Mutopia X 5)
Beak (Exiles 72)
Blob (House of M Day After 1)
Bugman (Mutopia X 5)
Callisto (House of M Day After 1)
Chamber (Generation M 1)
Daymond Harris (Generation M 2)
Dynamite (Generation M 2)
Feral (House of M Day After 1)
Gary Peterson (Generation M 1)
Gazer (X-Men 178)
Hannah Levy (House of M Day After 1)
Hydro (New X-Men 20)
Iceman (Secondary mutation (House of M 8))
Jeanie Martin (Generation M 1)
John Mairs (Generation M 2)
The Juicers (Mutopia X 5)
Jubilee (House of M Day After 1)
Lara the Illusionist (Mutopia X 5)
Latonya Jefferson (Generation M 1 killed in Generation M 2)
Magneto (House of M 8)
Moonstar (House of M 8)
Ned Ralston (Generation M 1)
Polaris (X-Men 177)
Preview (New X-Men 20)
Prodigy (New X-Men 20)
Quicksilver (House of M Day After 1)
Rictor (X-Factor 1)
Roach (Generation M 2)
Scarlet Witch (House of M 8)
Spector (New X-Men 20)
Stacy X (Generation M 2)
Tag (House of M 8)
Thornn (House of M Day After 1)
Tim Hacker (Generation M 2)
Tony Romeo (Generation M 1)
Wind Dancer (House of M 8)
All Beak/Angel kids but 1 (Exiles 72)
Dead:
Chamayra Ortega (Mutopia X 5)
John Grey (Uncanny X-Men 466)
Other matters:
X-Corp building in France bombed
Sentinel O*N*E activated against the mutants
Xavier Institute Student Body from 182 to 27
Wolverine remembers everything
Mutants start getting killed randomly
An X-Man comes for Revenge on the team in Deadly Genesis
That’s it for this weeks column. Pretty good week for a holiday really. I didn’t expect it really. Especially after I went MIA for a week. I’m hoping to see an even better one next week.
Daron care to sign off?
Sure thing. First, I’m sorry again for my mood. Second, I pulled an email or two out this week for space and time. If you sent an email in and are waiting for a response, I’ll include them next week.
I hope everyone had a good Holiday and will have a good New Year. See you all next week.
My turn
1. Marvel.com Who is your favorite cosmic character?
2. Marvel Legends Cover Poll Cool covers to vote for as always
3. Marvel Digital Comics. Comics you can read online
4. superherohype poll. How would you rate Ghost Rider’s look?
5. As always your opinions on anything in the article or out on the shelves is welcome. After all you never know what type of response you will get.
6. Keep those emails coming and make sure to label them Marvel Handbook.
That’s it from my end. Reporting from my corner of the Marvel Universe I’m Jim Trabold. Have a great week and see you at the comic shop.
