Hello all, Jim here. It‘s another week and this week we got a load of questions, opinions and of course my synopsis to Civil War 7. So I hope Daron will have a lot of fun with this one.
What about our readers? Don’t you want them to have as well? We already know all I care is my own entertainment…
Hey Daron I‘m hoping I got this in on time. Cory was a bit late so I wanted to get in his email.
Not that it matters since I’m only now getting to it on Sunday…
Cool let‘s start then.
Haven’t we started already?
Jeff Ritter emails
Jim,
Jeff
I had a flashback just now. I was picturing myself as a child, sitting on the floor of my room and playing Marvel Comics on records. Do you remember those? They were comics but they had a 45rpm record that played with it and provided a bit of soundtrack plus the dialogue and narration. I’m pretty sure Stan Lee was on it.
I do believe I recall those records. I think I might even still have a few around myself. I haven’t checked what I have because I got them buried somewhere. I’ll have to find them now. Man Jeff you remember some classic stuff. I doubt many will recall them. I know DC did them to.
Anyway, one of the ones I had was the Hulk, and in it he fought the Rhino (my favorite) and the Abomination. And it just hit me: Abomination always claimed to be the “strongest mutant of all!” My question then, obviously, is: HOW is he a mutant? Wasn’t he a spy or KGB thug or something that got the gamma treatment like Banner? I don’t think Hulk or other radioactively transformed heroes like Spidey or the FF cont as mutants, even though scientifically speaking their genetic makeup obviously mutated. So how is he a mutant, what powers did he have before becoming the mean green Hulk fighting machine (I don’t think he ever had any, but then why would he be a mutant in the Marvel sense if he didn’t?) and why wasn’t he affected by Wanda’s “No more mutants,” spell? Or was he, because I didn’t think House of M was all that great and if he got depowered I completely missed/ignored it.
Well Abomination isn’t mutant. He’s a mutate. You should send in for a no prize for this one. It was an error on a record.
As a communist spy at Gamma Base in New Mexico, Blonsky activated Dr. Bruce Banner’s gamma ray machine and bombarded himself with a greater dosage of gamma rays than that which transformed Banner into the Hulk. Since specific gamma ray mutation is determined by variations of genetic material, Blonsky’s transformation resulted in a less human-looking form than Hulk’s.
I know we have a toy and figure section but I’ll say it here: HASBRO SUCKS!! Gimme my ToyBiz Marvel Legends back. At least they could paint a little. Emma Frost looks like she was captured by island headshrinkers and Hercules smiles through a badly placed beard in every package I’ve seen! Grrrrr…. Thanks!
I do agree. I liked the Toy biz versions much better then the current line of Marvel Legends. I‘d love to go back to old style myself
Shay emails
Folks
Hi shay
Just a couple of short questions
1) how about picking a title (eg uncanny x-men) and having a poll to see what was its best ever calender year?
Hmmmmmm interesting Idea. I think we can do that for a weekly thing with he column and the site. Daron can we do that with the site? Plus we can go by the decades or writers maybe too. I‘ll come up with how to run it and start next week
It’s on you bud. I honestly don’t think I can remember the various titles by calendar year…but that’s just me. The mind goes as we get old you know…
2) Have there been any Marvel reptile themed heroes? I can think of loads of villians but not one hero (and no, Diamondback doesn’t count)
Heroes huh? Hmmm How about Triton? He looks some what like a reptile.
love the column
Thanks
And we love us too…er…wait.
wolfbaronxylo posted
Speaking of Hulk questions: I just finished Earth X, and can’t help but wonder, why is the The Hulk referred to as David Bruce Banner? This is, of course, in lieu of Robert Bruce Banner. Is this a f*ck up on the part of the editors and writers? Is this an homage to Bill Bixby? Or is this a signal to continuity nuts that this is a “What if” storyline?
Could be a little bit of a continuity mix up. After all Earth X isn‘t exactly Marvel continuity. It‘s more of a What If reality. As an answer to DC Comics Elseworlds tale Kingdom Come which featured the competition’s heroes some 30 years in the future, Alex Ross (the artist of Kingdom) and Jim Krueger teamed up and did the Marvel equivalent. The difference being while Kingdom Come was a 3 book series, Earth X was a three part trilogy that spanned 3 years (from late 1999-early 2004) totalling to 54 issues. It is by far one of the most extensive & continuity heavy Marvel tales ever, covering material from Marvel’s humble beginning to its most recent storylines
Nice nonanswer there Jimbo!
Beadle posted
Oh, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim….. tut, tut, tut.
Firstly, of those in your “others to consider” list, only Mad Thinker, Apocalypse, Forge and POSSIBLY Xavier should be considered. And Forge only because that’s his mutant power. Hank McCoy should be considered before at least half the people on that list, and he STILL wouldn’t make my Top 10.
Secondly, we dismiss considering people from alien races because they start from a higher technological basis, but we allow Kang/Immortus from the future?
Thirdly, I don’t think Nathaniel Richards is THAT smart. He’s smart, sure. But in the Top 10? I think most of his tech comes from the future, so unless Marty McFly would be among the smartest people on Earth in Back to the Future, that doesn’t count.
Fourthly, you want guys who compete with Reed Richards brain-for-brain and your list is missing Mad Thinker? And you’re not even willing to consider The Wizard? Or High Evolutionary? For shame Jimbob, for shame.
Finally, Banner and Stark. Stark is a genius, yes. I’ll grant you. But in quite a limited field. His real skill is in his business acumen. He should be in the Top 10, but not at 4. And Banner shouldn’t be on the list. He’s a brilliant genius/specialist in Gamma Radiation, and that’s about it. And Otto Octavius is more of an expert than him in THAT field. So is Leader, and possibly even Dr Chen Lu.
My alternative list for your perusal:
1. Mister Fantastic
2. Doctor Doom
3. High Evolutionary
4. Mastermind Excello (Amadeus Cho) Kudos for that pick!
5. Mad Thinker
6. Wizard
7. Mister Sinister
8. Hank Pym
9. Apocalypse
10. Iron Man (Tony)/ Black Panther
And I don’t think Stark would complain about being at the bottom of that list.
You know Beadle you make some great points. I do agree with your list. But I do question Wizard some. I mean he seems smart and all but he doesn’t seem to fit that high on the list.
soak1313 posted
can i get a rundown on the FF villian diablo? he came off as pretty bad ass in the newest ult ff book and i would like to know more about him.
Sure thing
Real Name: Estéban Corazón De Ablo
Nicknames: Estéban Diablo
Former Aliases: Estéban Corazón Del Diablo
Other Current Aliases: No other known current aliases
Occupation: Alchemist
Legal Status: Spanish citizen with a criminal record in the United States
Identity: Secret; known by the authorities
Marital Status: Marital status unknown
Group Affiliation: Leader of the Primary Elementals and of Dragon Man; former ally and mentor of Guilded Lily
Base of Operations: Base of operations unknown
Alchemist.
Place of Birth: Zaragoza, Spain
Known Relatives: Father (name unknown, deceased)
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #30 (1964)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 180 lbs (72 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Unusual Features: Mustache
Known Powers: Due to his use of alchemy potions, Diablo is apparently immortal, or at least does not age. He also has a greater stamina than could be expected, and has shown some kind of telepathic hypnosis.
Known Abilities: Alchemy. Fluent in Spanish and English languages. He has a genius intelligence and probably is a gifted hypnotist (although this could be one of his powers).
Strength Level: Diablo possesses the normal human strength of a man of his age, height, and build who engages in moderate regular exercise.
Equipment: Diablo always carries an arsenal of alchemy potions and pills he discovered or invented, in the hidden pockets of his suit. Although the range of his power is wide, all of the feats are temporary unless Diablo provides a second dose. The only exceptions are the elixir he used on Dragon Man and his longevity serum.
Diablo can affect his own body by changing his appearance to look like a different person, or by becoming a nerveless protoplasm blob, which protects him from certain forms of damage.
Diablo can control other people with gas pills, including nervous gas or hypnotic gas, or even a pill to resist death through cell regeneration. Some potions knock down people by reducing their body temperatures, and of course he has pills to increase the susceptibility of people to his hypnotic orders.
He can also perform temporal molecular transmutation (stones to feathers), modeling surface features and cause explosions equivalent to 56 pounds of TNT. He can create objects from nothing or transform an object from one state to another (water to ice, for instance) He can also animate inanimate matter and control items and beings formed from alchemy elements (earth, air, water and fire).
Transportation: No known transportation.
Weapons: No known weapons.
Estéban Corazón De Ablo was born the son of a nobleman in Spain during late 9th century (or 19th century upon some). A curious, inventive and insatiable young lad, De Ablo was fascinated when researching the ancient science of alchemy.
When his father died, De Ablo managed his state to get funds and travel through Europe looking for documents and artifacts about alchemy, and for potions and herbs he intended to use to perform experiments. In ten years, De Ablo became the greatest living authority in alchemy in the world, having discovered, re-discovered or invented countless potions with strange properties.
Arrogant and cunning, De Ablo began to use his knowledge for personal profit. Eventually, he became too powerful and the Order of Deacons banished him from Spain.
De Ablo traveled to Transylvania to continue his researches. He decided to settle there and build a permanent laboratory. He bought a specious castle (upon some historians in suspicious circumstances) and began working. De Ablo was worried because most of his potions had a transitory effect, although no secondary effects.
Apparently, De Ablo sold his own soul to the demon Mephisto in exchange for the secret of eternal life. De Ablo thus eventually discovered an elixir that could hamper aging. He drank it and slowly became mad. Calling himself Diablo (a clear perturbation of his surname, and also a Spanish word meaning “devil”), he began a reign of terror on Transylvania and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, the peasants eventually rebelled, took him by surprise and buried him at a massive crypt. Fortunately, he could access to his long-live serum from the crypt.
De Ablo was buried until the 1950s, when he was freed because of the actions of superhero team First Line and Doctor Strange, but he was returned to the crypt soon afterwards.
Later, De Ablo managed to mesmerize another superhero, Thing from the Fantastic Four, and forced him to open the crypt. De Ablo had not aged appreciably although he had spent one century trapped. He then began planning new alchemy schemes.
De Ablo explained the Thing that he had been trapped and needed a very strong person to free him. He also rewarded the Thing by partially returning him to his human form. He offered the Thing a permanent return to it, in exchange for his help during one year. The Thing agreed, even as the rest of Fantastic Four objected.
Mister Fantastic stole a sample of the serum De Ablo had used on the Thing and discovered that De Ablo’s potions were dangerous and temporary. Meanwhile, De Ablo performed “miracles” all over the world with his potions, and secretly amassed an army. Then, the Thing unexpectedly returned to his rocky form, breaking De Ablo’s control over him. The effects of his other potions over the world also vanish. The Fantastic Four, including the Thing, confronted and defeated De Ablo.
De Ablo was famous as a patient villain who does not want to conquer a world too advanced for his time. He commonly acts ons his own or using alchemy servants such as the Primary Elementals, five creatures he himself created (Water, Air, Earth, Fire and the Trans-Mutant). He does not trust in human allies, and became obsessed with the destruction of the Fantastic Four.
At some point of his career, De Ablo took a woman as his apprentice and lover, Lillian von Loont, alias Gilded Lily. Probably Lily was a accomplished alchemist way before meeting De Ablo – she seems to enjoy the style of the 1920s and De Ablo only awoke in the 1960s. Apparently, Lily and De Ablo parted ways at some point.
As a part of one of his schemes, De Ablo took control of a giant, lifeless android built by Professor Gregson Gilbert. Using alchemy, De Ablo gave live to the android and dubbed it Dragon Man. Dragon Man was incapable of speech, but he understood De Ablo’s order and became a foe of the Fantastic Four. Being easily manipulated and provoked to violence, Dragon Man gave them a good fight, but was eventually defeated. De Ablo abandoned Dragon Man, who would eventually serve other super villains, and escaped. Notice that the serum that gave life to Dragon Man is permanent, unlike most of De Ablo’s serums.
Diablo also met Desmond Pitt, a USAF pilot who had been genetically mutated by Doctor Doom to resemble a demon called Darkoth, and memory-wiped to believe he was the legendary demon, rescued from the Netherworld. Diablo enhanced Darkoth’s powers. Later, Darkoth would became Doctor Doom’s enemy and the Thing ally, but kept no contact with Diablo.
Meanwhile, Diablo used his powers to transform Baru, the deposed king of Canaan, into living Vibranium.
He eventually tried to retire from a criminal life and went to prison to serve his time – not very important for him, being immortal.
Meanwhile, Lily had been apparently destroyed in a battle with Alpha Flight, but she came to consciousness again and craved for revenge. Manifesting only as an alchemical mist, Lily recruited the help of Diablo, summoning him with electricity from a NY prison and forcing him to create a potion which would allow Lily to possess the body of Aurora.
During the battle with Alpha Flight, Diablo gravely injured Madison Jeffries. Jeffries’ casual girlfriend Diamond Lil remained with him even risking her own life, and they confessed their mutual love. Jeffries asked Lil to marry him “if we make it out alive”, which they would.
The battle with Alpha Flight ended in disaster because Aurora grabbed the potion and forced Lily to take it. This canceled Lily’s immortality potion and thus Lily died. Diablo left, swearing not to trust another living being, specially an alchemist, ever again.
Recently, sorcerer Nicholas Scratch summoned to Earth demon Shuma Gorath. Scratch intended to offer his services in return for his life, and Barbados. Understanding that Shuma Gorath was a threat to himself and to all life on Earth, Diablo allied with his former enemies the Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange and the Salem’s Seven. Together, the expelled Shuma Gorath.
Sup J & D, Cory here with my weekly wrap-up, Ready? (Until the next installment of “Cory’s 10,000 Things About Marvel I’m Not Afraid To Ask…HAHAHAHA)
Hey Cory
That was a great line wasn’t it?
1. Remembering characters that used to smoke, but didn’t Lockheed used to smoke?
Cigars? I know he has smoke that comes out of his nose and all but I think I do recall a cigar in his mouth for some reason to.
2. About Moon Knight; Marc Spector’s Mooncar was very shortlived and its wreckage was also used as sight gag later on. When and what was the gag/joke?
You know I can’t even recall the Mooncar. But knowing them they might have made a joke about the car with the fact that Moon Knight has been compared to Batman his full time as a character. So it’s possible a remark was made him putting it in a cave or something.
3. “I never really liked Cyc. Don’t ask me why because really you had listed most of the reasons why I can’t stand him. I don’t mind answering the questions. Just not a fan”. So Jim what are these infamous other reasons?
Well I always saw Cyc as boy scout. Always following the rules and of course making sure the others do the same. He’s got this stick up his ass. I just think he had no personality all his own for a long time. Now I know this isn’t exactly the same way as it is now of course but it won’t change my feelings.
4. “That’s definitely better than it is now. I could be happy with Wolvie just in his own book, or just in one of the X-books.” So guys why no Wolverine in New Avengers??? I know that he isn’t typical “Avenger” material, but he is different in any Avenger group. He is willing to “cross the lines they refuse to cross”; after the events of Avengers Disassembled, Iron Man recognizes the need to have someone who is prepared to kill on the team, should something like what happened to the Scarlet Witch happen again.He gives the New Avengers that “New”, that edge! I’ll go against the grain here, why not keep him in New Avengers, and take him out of X-Men for a while! Hmmmm?
Now I have no personal complaints with Wolverine in New Avengers. In fact I enjoy reading him in the title. I was thinking if your going to lessen his appearances in comics you can take him off that group a lot easier then say taking him out of X-Men entirely.
Well the whole point of pairing down his appearances means he’d have to come out of some titles. And I think at the end, he should only either be in his own book or one of the X-books and that’s it.
5. Okay. Civil War is over now. Though not a thrilling, kickass ending, I did enjoy it a lot. So what’s your guys opinions on Cap’s decision? I think he was right but he morally succeeded, instead of physically succeeded. But does his “pyrrhic victory” make him the loser? (def: Pyrrhic victory: a victory with devastating cost to the victor.)
I actually thought the ending was pretty good and made a ton of sense. I mean it’s exactly what Cap would do. He would sacrifice himself for his country and seeing all of that destruction crushed his spirit in fighting this SHRA. But that’s Cap. He’s not a coward. He’s not a loser.
6. Since this decision, Cap is almost non-existant (jailed), while Iron Man/Tony Stark is everywhere. We all know that Cap won’t let anyone try to break him out, so any ideas of his chances at freedom? (we know he will return)
Well Cap can get himself out. That’s an option. Well as long as he’s put in the 42. The reason= Back door or key. Recall Thunderbolts tie ins.
Thunderbolts #105: Baron Zemo confronts Captain America, Falcon, Daredevil and Hercules to offer them a key to escape the Negative Zone prison. The heroes attack him but most of them are sent away. Leaving just Cap and Zemo. Cap continues his fight until Zemo decides to talk. Zemo shows his face as scared from saving Cap’s life. Elsewhere Songbird talks to Dallas Riordan. The Thunderbolts capture Iron Maiden. Nighthawk reports back to Grandmaster saying he’s just a spy. Radioactive Man scolds Reed and Hank about the jokes the two are speaking. Zemo reveals he can time travel. We learn more of his relationship with Cap and shows him that he can trust him and offers him a key out of or into the prison. Zemo leaves Cap after saying the heroes will step aside for the war to help him.
7. The 50-State Initiative, which will put a superhero team in every state. Will it ever be revealed which state will get what team/and what heroes? (This is a good move at Marvel to showcase lower-tier heroes and resurrect those in limbo, or currently unused).
I believe we’ll get to find out all of the teams in the long run. We know some things:
Colorado: Thunderbolts: (Bullseye, Green Goblin, Moonstone, Songbird, Swordsman, Radioactive Man, Venom, Penance
Texas: Rangers: (Firebird, Phantom Rider, Red Wolf, Shooting Star, Texas Twister, Armadillo)
Seattle: Earth Force (Earth Lord, Skyhawk, Wind Warrior)
New York: The Mighty Avengers (Ares, Black Widow, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, Sentry, Wasp, Wonder Man)
Canada: Omega Flight (Arachne, Beta Ray Bill, Guardian, Sasquatch, Talisman, U.S.Agent)
Now this is just the start of things. The teams and all I can pick out from Frontline and Civil War 7. I‘ll work on personally keeping track of this 50-State Initiative.
This would be cool if they actually did something with it. However, I’m sure it will be quickly be put aside…
8. The Ronin Theory: Talking about the new Ronin, writer Brian Michael Bendis has stated, “Once Echo is done in Japan, there will be no need for her to be Ronin anymore. The suit – the identity – will have served its purpose. There will be another person in the Marvel Universe without a theme (Hawkeye or DD)… without a motivation (Hawkeye or DD) … or who may have lost their desire to wear the costume they were wearing, and this person will don the costume as the masterless samurai of the Marvel Universe for the time to come… It’s someone with a long history in the Marvel Universe (all Hawkeye or DD). There are quite a few people it could be, and it’s not necessarily the person you immediately go to, but it’s someone I have an affection for who also has a history of donning a guise that best suits his or her mental tone.(Both have used a multitude of costumes in the past) And this is his or her mental tone right now. And it just so happens there is a costume that needs filling and a person who can fill it, and so it’s taken.” (Clint threw away his costume & DD is currently out of his) Ronin shows up with the New Avengers led by Luke Cage to rescue Echo from Elektra and the Hand, and gives off the impressions of being unschooled in Avengers’ habits.(Hawkeye….unschooled possibly because of his lack of samurai training or the fact that he’s arrowless). Gotta be one of em! Also Brian Michael Bendis is an DD writer, so it’s almost a toss up. He has also been criticized for killing characters, such as Hawkeye, Scott Lang, and the Vision. It should be noted though that since killing Lang, Vision and Hawkeye in “Avengers Disassembled”, Hawkeye and Vision have returned. (So what justice could he give a character that he “killed”?)
Interesting theories I must say Cory. I mean really some good ideas on why it could be Hawkeye or Daredevil of course. I’m not ruling either out myself. I also won’t rule out this new Ronin turning traitor either. I‘ve thought of that option since the image of Ronin‘s sword in Strange‘s heart came out
9. Ronin, pt 2. Isn’t it highly possible that some of the New Avengers would already know the identity of Ronin. Wolvie’s heightened senses of whoever he/she is. Echo noticing his movements. (if it is Hawkeye, I don’t think she ever met him or DD possibly by acting un-DD like to fool her). Hell maybe Dr. Strange knows his astral form, lol. Now that i think of it, has any of the current New Avengers roster members ever had any interaction with Hawkeye in the past? Cuz almost all have interacted with DD)
Quite true Wolverine and Strange likely would know who Ronin is. Heck as we know they may all know even though the readers don’t at the moment.
10. Marvel launched the MAX imprint in 2001, with Bendis’ Alias being the first title of the new imprint. The first issue drew a large amount of controversy for its prolific use of the word “f*ck” and a controversial scene where Jones solicits and receives sex from her on-again/off-again boyfriend Luke Cage. The sex scene became a running joke amongst comic fandom; perceived as the most identifying moment of the series. Whoa….what became of this with those in charge at Marvel? I never knew this, WOW!
You know I never heard that one myself. I’ve read the book. I saw the scene. Heck I didn’t think anything of it in reality either. I may just have to do some investigating on this one.
Was there a question in there? I’m confused…
11. The question everyone wants to know is this: What, in the world, is the Punisher gonna do with Cap’s mask???? Though they don’t get along, with him not fighting Cap back, it shows that he respects Cap.
I personally think he picked it up in respect. I don’t think he wanted one of those registered guys to take it and take up the mantle either. I don’t know if Frank will use the mantle himself either. Heck maybe he’ll give it back to Cap.
12. The Punisher has been described as a “unaddressed chronological anomaly”. Since his timeline has remained untouched when Marvel adjusted the timeframes of other characters. The MAX version of the Punisher ages in real time, propelling him into his late 50s, significantly older than most of the mainstream Marvel Universe. On the cover of issue #44, it was revealed that he was born on February 16, 1950, but was later removed during the book’s publication. This warrants 2 questions: 1- What other heroes have actaul b-days? (I know that Wolvie is a Gemini, born in late June around the late 18th century). I figure Cap & N. Fury may have one as well. 2- Could you give me approx. ages on the more famous Marvel characters? (this maybe hard due to Marvel’s floating timeline, eh Daron?)
Now we don’t exactly know ages but we can approximate.
As like I think I recall reading somewhere the date of the FF flight was actually Sue’s birthday. That would put it around November if I’m right
Also we know certain that with a floating time line it allows the characters to stay young. We know some are still born on the right years:
1890: Thanos (Eternals don’t normally age so I can see this still being cannon)
1901: Gargoyle born (again I can see this still as cannon)
1910 High Evolutionary born, Original Baron Zemo as well
1914: Nick Fury and Red Skull
December 1920: Namor’s birth
1923: Cap/Steve I think.
1925 Xavier (reason this likely is still cannon is unsure) also Spitfire born this same year
1928 Magneto (this should still be cannon)
1930s I believe I’ve read a lot of the Inhumans where born. (Not sure if still cannon)
About 1935: 3-D Man born
1937: Jack Monroe born
1939: The original Human Torch is built.
Now those should still be in place. I’ve got to take a lot of time to get a good time line up to date. So I think I’ll come back to this one
Yeah good luck with all that. This is one of the major problems I addressed some time ago. There’s no way to know how long the time line has been running.
13. In the miniseries Born, Castle’s roots are traced back to Vietnam, during his third tour of duty in Vietnam, where he undergoes a psychological and possibly supernatural transformation into the Punisher in order to survive a massive assault. What transformation was this they speak of? Supernatural?
The Punisher: Born documents Frank Castle’s time in Vietnam as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps during his final tour in Vietnam in 1971. The story is told primarily through the eyes of Stevie Goodwin, a marine counting down the days of his service and Frank Castle, a tough Captain with a finely honed killer instinct and survivalist skills. The story chronicles a crucial 4-day period of the platoon stationed at Firebase Valley Forge, a strategic yet remote outpost on the Vietnam-Cambodian border.
Goodwin’s primary motives are surviving his tour of duty and returning home to a peaceful future, and he observes his best chance of achieving those goals are sticking close to Captain Castle. Castle however, despite at home in the jungle and seemingly, the conflict, maintains an internal dialogue with a voice that continually questions and debates and goads Castle into justifying his endless thirst for combat and some of his more questionable duties. The volume and persuasiveness of the voice increase throughout the four-day period, where the commanding officer and half the marines are addicted to heroin and during which time Castle receives news that Valley Forge will be abandoned, amidst increasing opposition to the War on the home front.
Despite the news, Castle continues leading a squad on routine patrols, though his men are thinned by sporadic ambushes by the Vietcong. By the fourth day, the platoon’s numbers have dropped staggeringly, leaving the encampment severely undermanned and outgunned. When night falls, bringing a hellish downpour, the Viet Cong and elements of the North Vietnamese Army attack the fortification, this opportunity to attack, as the storm has kept Air Support entirely out of the realm of possibility. A unit of no less than one hundred VC swarm Firebase Valley Forge, overtaking the base rapidly, despite heavy losses.
One by one, Castle’s unit drops, and he finds himself surrounded and hemorrhaging ammunition. The voice in his head becomes louder and louder until it can be heard over the scream of the storm and roar of the gunshots. It offers Castle the strength and stamina needed to survive, to maintain an eternal state of vigilance, and to wage the permanent war. Faced with no alternative, Castle gives in to this voice within him, and the massacre turns in his favor. By the next morning, the air support has returned with an EVAC helicopter to inspect the assumed destruction of the mutually unloved encampment, but are stunned (horrified may be a better word) to find Castle standing in a field of mutilated and broken VC carcasses, bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds and apparently having suffered severe physical trauma, but remaining unaffected by it, eyes still red with fury.
In the next scene, Frank Castle returns home, a decorated officer on a crutch, to his waiting wife, Maria and children, and in the midst of the smiling return, the internal voice speaks again of the price of Castle’s choice. We find now exactly what Castle’s eternal war will cost him, as a picture details Castle’s family in a Punisher Skullesque targeting reticule. Castle embraces his smiling wife and eager children, as the voice instructs him to “Hold on to it,” implying that it will not last
14. The one-shot Punisher: The Tyger, went even further and showed that Castle had lived with murders, deaths and criminals his entire life. Any details on this one-shot???
Young Frank Castle is ten years old, raised by blue collar parents in Brooklyn. Even at this young age he’s a quiet boy, prone to eavesdrop and observe and keep his own counsel. And though he is already a physical boy, he has tendencies toward art that annoy his father and encourage his mother. Frank likes poetry, so much so that he spends his evening with a pretty classmate reading them, discussing them, living and breathing them. Two points converge in his life: the evocative lyricism of William Blake’s “The Tyger†and the rape of his pretty classmate by the protected son of a made man. The fathers of the neighborhood approach the made man and are silenced, and the pretty classmate opens her arms, wrist to elbow. The law fails, community justice fails, and the criminal walks free. Until vengeance is taken and punishment meted out.
15. While still in his first tour, Frank met Burt Kenyon. Lieutenant Burt Kenyon was a soldier serving in the same combat company as Castiglione in Vietnam. When the platoon came under fire, Castiglione was badly injured by a V.C. explosive and surrounded by the enemy. However, Kenyon calmly appeared, gunned down the Viet Cong, and dragged Castiglione to safety. Kenyon told Castiglione that he now “owed him a life”. Two months later, Kenyon was declared mentally unfit for service and discharged. Did Castle ever return what he owed?
Ah the Hitman
Real Name: Burt Kenyon
Identity/Class: human, military training; technology user
Occupation: former U.S. Marine Lieutenant; later assassin, mercenary
Affiliations: former member of the U.S. Marines; former employee of “Boss” Morgan; former employee of the People’s Liberation Front; formerly Frank Castle (the Punisher )
Enemies: J. Jonah Jameson; Punisher; Spider-Man; the Vulture (Adrian Toomes)
Known Relatives: none
Aliases: none
Base of Operations: New York City
First Appearance: Spectacular Spider-Man II#4 (March, 1977)
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 210 lbs.
Powers: The Hitman was an extraordinary combatant with conventional military weaponry and in hand-to-hand encounters; he was easily the equal of the Punisher in these areas, and managed to shoot Spider-Man despite the latter’s danger sense and superhuman agility. He was also a superb marksman and was unflappable in armed combat. He carried a small arsenal of weaponry and devices on his person, including handguns, rifles, automatic weapons, flares, gas and concussion grenades, and electronic tracers. The Hitman also employed exotic devices from time to time, such as his mini-helicopter and jet-powered motorcycle. He was apparently based in a private jet outfitted with surveillance devices and a database, much like the Punisher’s Battle Van.
Lieutenant Burt Kenyon was a soldier serving in the same combat company as Castle in Vietnam.
In Vietnam, Marine Frank Castle was badly injured by a Viet Cong explosive and surrounded by the enemy. However, Kenyon calmly appeared, gunned down the Viet Cong, and dragged Castle to safety. Kenyon told Castle that he now owed him a life. Two months later, Kenyon was declared mentally unfit for service and discharged.
After Castle became the vigilante Punisher, the underworld hired and outfitted Kenyon as a sort of opposite number to the Punisher. Kenyon became a high-priced hit man and mercenary.
After his protection racket and his offer of recruitment were violently rejected by the Vulture, a humiliated “Boss” Morgan hired the Hitman in vengeance. Seeing television reports that the Vulture had lured Spider-Man into battle, Morgan instructed the Hitman to humiliate the Vulture in return by killing Spider-Man before he could. The Hitman interrupted the battle between the Vulture and Spider-Man, announced his intentions, and was promptly assaulted by the Vulture. Spider-Man took the opportunity to briefly fight, and thus gauge, the Hitman. The Hitman was forced to deal with the Vulture using a gas grenade, allowing Spider-Man to escape.
However, the Hitman had planted tracers on both the Vulture and Spider-Man. The Hitman soon found and attacked the Vulture, leading the criminal on a chase that took them near Spider-Man’s location (Peter Parker’s apartment). Drawn outside by the sounds of the battle, Spider-Man found himself in an aerial battle with the Vulture, while the Hitman took potshots at him the whole time. Finally, as Spider-Man and the Vulture battled near a radio tower, Spider-Man feigned weakness and left himself dangling from a webline. As he expected, the Hitman couldn’t resist teasing the swooping Vulture until the very last moment, and thus by turning at the last moment Spider-Man allowed the Hitman’s shot to strike the Vulture’s power pack, defeating him. The Hitman himself fled the scene, and Spider-Man determined to give the Hitman’s tracer to the Punisher in hopes of tracking him down.
Some months later, the Punisher, apparently looking for the Hitman, found himself battling a terrorist group called the People’s Liberation Front (PLF). Meanwhile, the PLF’s leader hired the Hitman to kidnap and kill J. Jonah Jameson, who had been writing a series of damaging editorials about the group. Despite the Punisher’s surveillance, the Hitman managed to slip into Jameson’s office, confronting the publisher and his lover Marla Madison. Madison managed to run on the Daily Bugle’s intercom system, broadcasting the Hitman’s threats to the entire office. This drew Spider-Man and the Punisher into the office, but the two broke in simultaneously, and between the resulting confusion and the cramped confines of the office, the Punisher was unable to reach the Hitman as the latter battled Spider-Man.
The fray also brought the Bugle’s security guards running, and the Hitman used the confusion to drop a gas grenade and head for the roof. Spider-Man was able to follow him, and the two continued fighting, tossing Jameson back and forth as they did so. Finally, the Hitman overcame Spider-Man (whose arm was injured from a recent battle with the Molten Man) and loaded Jameson aboard his mini-copter. The Punisher finally made it to the rooftop, was recognized as Castle by the Hitman, and exchanged gunfire with Kenyon, but Spider-Man feared the Punisher would kill Jameson accidentally and stopped him. Spidey managed to plant a spider-tracer on the Hitman’s copter, and he and the Punisher fled the Bugle’s security troops to pursue the Hitman.
After the Punisher explained his link with the Hitman, the two crime fighters beat information out of some PLF goons, and thus learned that the Hitman, Jameson, and the PLF’s leader were headed for the Statue of Liberty. The PLF planned to blow up the statue with Jameson in it as some kind of symbolic gesture. However, Spider-Man and the Punisher appeared and routed the PLF forces. When the PLF leader tried to blow the statue up with everyone on it, the Hitman gunned him down and tried to escape. Spider-Man destroyed his mini-copter, but was left so groggy that the Hitman was able to shoot him in the arm, throwing him off the statue’s crown. The Punisher and the Hitman found themselves in a standoff, with Kenyon using Jameson as a human shield. Before anything could happen, Spider-Man made his way back to the crown and pulled Jameson away from the Hitman. The Punisher blasted the Hitman, leaving him dangling from the crown, as were Spider-Man and Jameson. Forced to choose between saving the injured Spider-Man and Jameson or Kenyon, the Punisher chose Spider-Man. Kenyon told the Punisher that though Castle owed him a life, that life didn’t have to be Kenyon’s, and then allowed himself to fall to his death.
Thanks guys, sorry for the lateness, but you know. Keep up the good work, thanks, and I’ll see ya in 7. ~Cory out!
Yo!
Top 10 forgot to give you a new one last week. Let’s go
Pranksters
Top 5 best Marvel titles of the week
1. ANNIHILATION: HERALDS OF GALACTUS #1
2. CIVIL WAR: FRONT LINE #11
3. DOCTOR STRANGE: THE OATH #5
4. ETERNALS #7
5. DAREDEVIL #94
Civil War update:
Ghost Rider #8: Johnny is being held by the police as the story starts. The officer accuses him of killing a boy and beats him into becoming Ghost Rider. The officer winds up in the hospital and the room he held Blaze was burnt up. Two more kids die and someone with a flame head killed them. Elsewhere we a see mother tied up and the son who did it has turned into Jack O’ Lantern
Amazing Spider-Man #538: Spidey calls MJ and tells her he loves her. We see parts of the fight happening in Civil War 7 as Spidey wonders if everyone knows why they are truely fighting. Kingpin and a few criminals watch the fight on TV he knows he’s got a hit on Pete’s family. Jonah picks a headline for the paper as we see the remains of the fight with many fallen. Mj hopes Pete comes home save. Pete shows up as the assassin fell asleep. as he prepares to Shoot Pete senses it and moves MJ out of the way as Aunt May is shot instead
Civil War # 7: Cap’s Avengers fight Iron Man’s group as the battle started last issue continues. SHIELD tries to close the prison so no one escapes but Panther deals with is and Cloak teleports everyone out in mid air as many crash in horror. Citizens watch in horror as the police try to calm the crowd. We see Spidey take out a few of the pro side as Cap is surrounded by the Thunderbolts. Namor though comes and saves him with the Atlantians. Thor, Captain Marvel and the Champions arrive to join the battle. Cap and Tony prepare to fight as Vision screws up Tony’s armor. Thing returns and saves lives as Taskmaster goes after Sue. Reed gets hit as Sue gets angry taking out Taskmaster. Hercules takes out Clor with his own hammer. Cap continues to take on Tony giving him a very good beating. He’s about to go for the kill as normal people stop him. He tells them let him go but he sees the destruction around them. He knows that this must end. So he ends it and throws his mask to the ground in surrender. Punisher picks up the mask. We see the Mighty Avengers announced as wall as a Texas based team, formation of Omega Flight and the New Avengers underground with Spidey in black. Cap in jail as Hank is named man of the year and Sue comes home to Reed. Reed asked her to come home and explained it all. Tony now head of SHIELD meets with Hill and Sharpe. He tells Miriam why the name of the prison is the 42 because it was plan No. 42 of 100 that Tony, Hank Pym and Reed Richards concocted for making America better. His next job is to clean up SHIELD and promises the best is yet to come
Black Panther #25: Panther reveals he wants to have Photon help break into the Negative Zone Prison. Monica becomes her energy form and finds the back door. Storm goes to see Reed and explains why Her and Panther are with Cap. Reed still believes Panther is on the wrong side. We see the group storm the prison as Panther tells his people to evacuate the embassy. We see the fight take the streets. Storm helps get Panther’s people away from the embassy as Clor shows up and scares most of Cap’s crew. As he threatens Panther, Storm shows up and battles the clone. The clone destorys the embassy as Sue helps Storm in the battle. Storm short circuits Clor as Hercules comes in and finishes him off. After it’s over Panther tells Storm Cap surrendered
Civil War Frontline #11: We see the end of the fight from 7 as Ben and Ally come out of hiding. The city is destroyed as we see Cap arrested. Sentry and Yellowjacket help clean up. We learn the death toll of 53 killed with 6 of them super beings. Sally and Ben go to visit Cap in prison as they hear Cap apologize to Tony and not registed. Sally attacks him by shouting at him about what he was fighting for. We see Ben and Sally work on their story as Sentry registers. Sally and Ben start frontlines.com. Everyone fears an Atlantean attack as the Fifty State Initiative is in place. Sally and Ben go to see Tony telling him they know everything. They say he was behind the Goblin attack and he’s the real traitor using the war to make over $90 million to help charitable organizations providing pensions for firefighters, police and registered heroes. They even tell him he built the prison to scare the heroes to register. Everything he did was to get the heroes to join him and get the public behind him. Tony kicks them out as Ben tells him the story won’t be published for the greater good. They leave as Tony breaks down and cries
Well I liked seeing a ton of questions yet again and some great opinions as well this week. What did you think Daron?
â€Trying not to kid.â€
I‘m glad to see it and hope to see it more. Keep those questions coming folks.
Or else!
1. Digital comics Comics you can read online
2. Marvel is in the process of adding new bios and added a ton of new ones. Check them out here
3. 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.
4. Keep those emails coming and make sure to label them Marvel Handbook. The more emails the better the article is.
