Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes, page 106
April 3, 2013
The Great Iron Man Stories: Demon in a Bottle
This is perhaps the most famous Iron Man story. It begins in Issue 120 and concludes in Issue 28 of Iron Man Volume 1 published in 1979.
There are two key plots here. First, there's an external plot against Iron Man. Due to this plot, his suit is having a series of malfunctions, one of which gets him accused of murder. This external plot really works out nicely. The story told by Bob Leyton and David Michelinie is very told with lots of action, suspense, twist, and turns along the way with some guest appearance by the second Ant Man (Scott Laing), Captain America, and Namor the Sub-Mariner. And the fight at the start of Issue 127 is perhaps one of the best superhero performances ever.
The internal conflict over alcoholism was the series' hallmark. Some critics and fans alike have complained that the issue of alcoholism is hardly touched on in early issues in the arch and given a too quick resolution in Issue 128.
I think the critics have it wrong for two reasons. First, I think Leyton and Michelinie were actually pretty clever in how they dealt with it. They slowly began to expose the problem with Tony and alcohol in Issue 120 with Tony having had four martinis since aplane took off and a little regretful when he put on his Iron Man costume. Each issue had an ever-increasing number of shots of booze and drinks. Leading up to a drunk Tony Stark snapping at Jarvis leading to his resignation.
One of the most stunning panels in the story is in Issue 127 when Stark realizes that he's been blaming an inanimate piece of armor (Iron Man) for his problems when in reality, they are his. The story of Tony's girlfriend and fateful butler helping back from the abyss was moving. The story didn't carry on for multiple issues because they had no idea how the public would take it. Dennis O'Neal would this alcoholism thing to another level with it forcing Tony to leave being Iron Man.
The book wasn't without improbabilities and silliness. One of the worst examples of this was the mad panic over Jarvis selling two shares of Stark International and the fear that S.H.I.E.L.D. could buy it to take over. Note: if you're two shares away from being taken over, you'll be taken over. Publicly held stocks easily trade that in minutes.
That annoyance alone stands out in what's otherwise a solid story.
So I give this one:
4.5 shellheads out of 5.0
There are two key plots here. First, there's an external plot against Iron Man. Due to this plot, his suit is having a series of malfunctions, one of which gets him accused of murder. This external plot really works out nicely. The story told by Bob Leyton and David Michelinie is very told with lots of action, suspense, twist, and turns along the way with some guest appearance by the second Ant Man (Scott Laing), Captain America, and Namor the Sub-Mariner. And the fight at the start of Issue 127 is perhaps one of the best superhero performances ever.
The internal conflict over alcoholism was the series' hallmark. Some critics and fans alike have complained that the issue of alcoholism is hardly touched on in early issues in the arch and given a too quick resolution in Issue 128.
I think the critics have it wrong for two reasons. First, I think Leyton and Michelinie were actually pretty clever in how they dealt with it. They slowly began to expose the problem with Tony and alcohol in Issue 120 with Tony having had four martinis since aplane took off and a little regretful when he put on his Iron Man costume. Each issue had an ever-increasing number of shots of booze and drinks. Leading up to a drunk Tony Stark snapping at Jarvis leading to his resignation.
One of the most stunning panels in the story is in Issue 127 when Stark realizes that he's been blaming an inanimate piece of armor (Iron Man) for his problems when in reality, they are his. The story of Tony's girlfriend and fateful butler helping back from the abyss was moving. The story didn't carry on for multiple issues because they had no idea how the public would take it. Dennis O'Neal would this alcoholism thing to another level with it forcing Tony to leave being Iron Man.
The book wasn't without improbabilities and silliness. One of the worst examples of this was the mad panic over Jarvis selling two shares of Stark International and the fear that S.H.I.E.L.D. could buy it to take over. Note: if you're two shares away from being taken over, you'll be taken over. Publicly held stocks easily trade that in minutes.
That annoyance alone stands out in what's otherwise a solid story.
So I give this one:
4.5 shellheads out of 5.0
Fly Another Day Giveaway
We have another give away opportunity on Fly Another Day. You can enter to win a signed copy if you live in the US or in Canada.
April 1, 2013
Interview with Failstate Author John Otte
I'll be pleased from time to time to interview other authors of Christian Superhero fiction.
In this case, that would be, John Otte author of the Failstate series:
Ed note: You can read my review of the first Failstate book here.
Now to the interview:
AG: When did you first become interested in superheroes out. What were some of your earliest favorites?
JO: I first became interested in superheroes at an extremely young age. I don’t remember how old exactly. My local library had a cart filled with comic books that a person could check out and I used to raid the pile every time I went. I got exposed to a lot of superheroes that way (only the stories didn’t make a lot of sense since the issues were completely out of order!). When I grew a little older, I found anthologies for Superman, Batman, and Captain Marvel in the library shelves and checked those out quite often as well. So I read a lot of “classic” stories from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
AG: Lucky you, You must have had better libraries. I lived in the small town of Kalispell and we only had one book with one Superman story from the 30s-80s and we were THANKFUL for it...But leaving my deprived rural childhood aside, on your website and there's a picture of you wearing a Flash t-shirt. Is the Flash your favorite mainstream (I.e DC/Marvel) superhero or is there another character that gets that title?
JO:That honor goes to Batman. I became a fan not only because of the aforementioned anthology, but also because I grew up watching Adam West’s cheesy TV show. The sad thing is, when I was a kid, I thought the ‘70s Batman show was the height of drama. I had no idea that what they were doing was mockery. You can imagine my chagrin when I rediscovered the show as a teenager and discovered how goofy it was.
But Batman is still my favorite. I think the reason why is because, aside from his vast wealth, he has no real superpowers. Everything he does, he does on his own. That, and he has some of the best villains. The Joker will always be my favorite supervillain, simply because he’s so unapologetically evil and twisted.
AG: What gave you the idea for a Failstate and how long from idea to publication did it take to get the story into print?
JO: A few years back, I was feeling very much like Failstate. I was extremely jealous of another author’s success. I realized how sinful that attitude was and I went to the Word. I was meditating on 1 Corinthians 12 and Paul’s thoughts about spiritual gifts, how we’re supposed to work together as God’s people, as one body, gave me an itch to write a story. My wife suggested that I write something about superheroes, mostly because my older son was really into superheroes as well. That planted the seed. I then went to my brothers-in-law, who are avid comic book readers. They helped me put together Failstate and Gauntlet’s powers.
It took me about a year and a half to two years to get the plot written, edited, and then published by Marcher Lord Press.
AG: When I read Failstate, I was reminded of a lot of the only Spider-man stories I had been reading in the Marvel masterworks in that he's this kind of hard luck hero. Was that something you were going for?
In some ways, that is sort of what I was going for. I wanted Failstate to feel very inferior to his older brother. Spiderman usually grapples with feelings of inadequacy. Plus, I love Spidey’s wit and humor. I may have infused a little of that into my characters too.
AG: On my books, people have asked a few times about whether I considered doing a graphic novel, so I'll ask you, have you thought of doing a fail state graphic novel?
JO: If I had a good partner to work with, I think it’d be a lot of fun. I don’t have any experience writing for graphic novels, so I’d be a little hesitant to do so. Plus I’m not sure how to distribute such a writing, so I guess it’ll have to remain an unrealized dream for now.
AG: It's getting easier to do technically with the Ipad and Kindle Fire being good for comics plus the birth of Comixology Submit to do it indie and free, but the partner is definitely key and the right artist is a must. Anyway, The latest Failstate book deals with zombies? Could you tell me with the runaway success of Walking Dead, what is behind the popularity of the zombie genre right now? And how is your take on it in your latest book different than what people have read elsewhere?
JO:Failstate: Legends does indeed have zombies in it. I have no idea why zombies have become so popular lately. I wish I did. I read once that zombie stories become more popular during a Republican administration but that’s clearly not the case this time around.
If I have to differentiate my zombies from the rest, mine aren’t the results of an unexplainable zombie apocalypse.
There’s a definite intelligence behind their attacks. And that’s pretty much all I can say without dropping some spoilers.
AG: We will honor the Spoiler alert and move on to the next question. I have to admit when I first saw the cover of Failstate that Gauntlet looked most like a superhero. Now you've written a short for him, Gauntlet Goes to the Prom. Tell us a little bit about it and do you plan on doing more shorts with other characters?
JO: Gauntlet is definitely the more classically heroic of the Laughlin brothers. Gauntlet Goes to Prom was written because, as much as it embarrasses me to admit it, I messed up a little between the two books. There was a plot thread that was left hanging a little between the two, and so I decided that the best route to go would be to write a short story to bridge the two books and tie off that loose thread. So I told a story about Ben “Gauntlet” Laughlin taking his girlfriend to the prom. Of course, since he’s a superhero, a lot of things are going to go wrong.
I’ve actually thought about doing one more short story before the last book comes out. I don’t have any concrete ideas yet, but hopefully something will come to me soon.
AG: It says on your bio that you're a pastor. Two question. First, have you ever had any weird reactions from people over writing superhero fiction? Second, how do you think your experience as a pastor shapes your writing?
JO: Actually, I haven’t had a lot of negative reactions. A few of my parishioners have told me that they don’t like the kinds of stories that I write, but it’s more of an apology for not buying my books. But most everyone I talk to about it is very supportive.
I think being a pastor, and more specifically, a Lutheran pastor, gives me a unique perspective on writing Christian fiction. In some ways, I need to be more careful. It’s very easy for me to slip into a sermonizing mode and try to beat people over the head with the blunt end of the premise. But it’s a fun challenge to figure out how to load in some good spiritual content and stay true to the story I’m telling.
AG: If copyright law were no object and you could have character fight against Failstate or fight alongside Failstate, who would it be?
JO: Batman and the Joker. Absolutely. That would be a lot of fun. Or maybe Spiderman, simply because he started out as a teenage superhero and I think he’d have a lot of advice to share with Failstate.
AG: That would be fun. Anything else you'd like to tell our readers?
JO: Thanks for reading!
AG: And thanks for the interview and all the best on your new releases.
In this case, that would be, John Otte author of the Failstate series:
Ed note: You can read my review of the first Failstate book here.
Now to the interview:
AG: When did you first become interested in superheroes out. What were some of your earliest favorites?
JO: I first became interested in superheroes at an extremely young age. I don’t remember how old exactly. My local library had a cart filled with comic books that a person could check out and I used to raid the pile every time I went. I got exposed to a lot of superheroes that way (only the stories didn’t make a lot of sense since the issues were completely out of order!). When I grew a little older, I found anthologies for Superman, Batman, and Captain Marvel in the library shelves and checked those out quite often as well. So I read a lot of “classic” stories from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
AG: Lucky you, You must have had better libraries. I lived in the small town of Kalispell and we only had one book with one Superman story from the 30s-80s and we were THANKFUL for it...But leaving my deprived rural childhood aside, on your website and there's a picture of you wearing a Flash t-shirt. Is the Flash your favorite mainstream (I.e DC/Marvel) superhero or is there another character that gets that title?
JO:That honor goes to Batman. I became a fan not only because of the aforementioned anthology, but also because I grew up watching Adam West’s cheesy TV show. The sad thing is, when I was a kid, I thought the ‘70s Batman show was the height of drama. I had no idea that what they were doing was mockery. You can imagine my chagrin when I rediscovered the show as a teenager and discovered how goofy it was.
But Batman is still my favorite. I think the reason why is because, aside from his vast wealth, he has no real superpowers. Everything he does, he does on his own. That, and he has some of the best villains. The Joker will always be my favorite supervillain, simply because he’s so unapologetically evil and twisted.
AG: What gave you the idea for a Failstate and how long from idea to publication did it take to get the story into print?
JO: A few years back, I was feeling very much like Failstate. I was extremely jealous of another author’s success. I realized how sinful that attitude was and I went to the Word. I was meditating on 1 Corinthians 12 and Paul’s thoughts about spiritual gifts, how we’re supposed to work together as God’s people, as one body, gave me an itch to write a story. My wife suggested that I write something about superheroes, mostly because my older son was really into superheroes as well. That planted the seed. I then went to my brothers-in-law, who are avid comic book readers. They helped me put together Failstate and Gauntlet’s powers.
It took me about a year and a half to two years to get the plot written, edited, and then published by Marcher Lord Press.
AG: When I read Failstate, I was reminded of a lot of the only Spider-man stories I had been reading in the Marvel masterworks in that he's this kind of hard luck hero. Was that something you were going for?
In some ways, that is sort of what I was going for. I wanted Failstate to feel very inferior to his older brother. Spiderman usually grapples with feelings of inadequacy. Plus, I love Spidey’s wit and humor. I may have infused a little of that into my characters too.
AG: On my books, people have asked a few times about whether I considered doing a graphic novel, so I'll ask you, have you thought of doing a fail state graphic novel?
JO: If I had a good partner to work with, I think it’d be a lot of fun. I don’t have any experience writing for graphic novels, so I’d be a little hesitant to do so. Plus I’m not sure how to distribute such a writing, so I guess it’ll have to remain an unrealized dream for now.
AG: It's getting easier to do technically with the Ipad and Kindle Fire being good for comics plus the birth of Comixology Submit to do it indie and free, but the partner is definitely key and the right artist is a must. Anyway, The latest Failstate book deals with zombies? Could you tell me with the runaway success of Walking Dead, what is behind the popularity of the zombie genre right now? And how is your take on it in your latest book different than what people have read elsewhere?
JO:Failstate: Legends does indeed have zombies in it. I have no idea why zombies have become so popular lately. I wish I did. I read once that zombie stories become more popular during a Republican administration but that’s clearly not the case this time around.
If I have to differentiate my zombies from the rest, mine aren’t the results of an unexplainable zombie apocalypse.
There’s a definite intelligence behind their attacks. And that’s pretty much all I can say without dropping some spoilers.
AG: We will honor the Spoiler alert and move on to the next question. I have to admit when I first saw the cover of Failstate that Gauntlet looked most like a superhero. Now you've written a short for him, Gauntlet Goes to the Prom. Tell us a little bit about it and do you plan on doing more shorts with other characters?
JO: Gauntlet is definitely the more classically heroic of the Laughlin brothers. Gauntlet Goes to Prom was written because, as much as it embarrasses me to admit it, I messed up a little between the two books. There was a plot thread that was left hanging a little between the two, and so I decided that the best route to go would be to write a short story to bridge the two books and tie off that loose thread. So I told a story about Ben “Gauntlet” Laughlin taking his girlfriend to the prom. Of course, since he’s a superhero, a lot of things are going to go wrong.
I’ve actually thought about doing one more short story before the last book comes out. I don’t have any concrete ideas yet, but hopefully something will come to me soon.
AG: It says on your bio that you're a pastor. Two question. First, have you ever had any weird reactions from people over writing superhero fiction? Second, how do you think your experience as a pastor shapes your writing?
JO: Actually, I haven’t had a lot of negative reactions. A few of my parishioners have told me that they don’t like the kinds of stories that I write, but it’s more of an apology for not buying my books. But most everyone I talk to about it is very supportive.
I think being a pastor, and more specifically, a Lutheran pastor, gives me a unique perspective on writing Christian fiction. In some ways, I need to be more careful. It’s very easy for me to slip into a sermonizing mode and try to beat people over the head with the blunt end of the premise. But it’s a fun challenge to figure out how to load in some good spiritual content and stay true to the story I’m telling.
AG: If copyright law were no object and you could have character fight against Failstate or fight alongside Failstate, who would it be?
JO: Batman and the Joker. Absolutely. That would be a lot of fun. Or maybe Spiderman, simply because he started out as a teenage superhero and I think he’d have a lot of advice to share with Failstate.
AG: That would be fun. Anything else you'd like to tell our readers?
JO: Thanks for reading!
AG: And thanks for the interview and all the best on your new releases.
March 27, 2013
Tales of the Dim Knight Free on Kindle Today and Tomorrow
Tales of the Dim Knight is free on Kindle Today and Tomorrow. This means you can download the book off Kindle for Free and then enter to win the sequel also for Free in paperback form. (U.S. and Canadian residents only.)
Book Review: Superman: The Greatest Stories Ever told (80s Edition)
The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told by Jerry SiegelMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A book with a title like this has a lot to live up to. Whether these are indeed The Greatest Superman stories is tough to say unless you've read every Superman story out there. But this book's title is at least plausible.
The book comes with two introductions and an afterward. The first into by John Byrne gives an overview of the series leading up to Crisis and the reboot. I suppose it could be argued that his intro was a tad self-serving but it was good.
The next intro tells why this book could probably stand as a definitive collection. Superman's most influential creators including Jerry Siegel, Julius Schwartz, and Curt Swann were part of the process of choosing the stories.
The book lives up to its promise with Superman deling Lex Luthor in Superman #4. Superman's first encounter with the mischevious Mr. Myxpitplk in Superman #30, Superboy's first encounter with Bizarro in Superboy #68, and Superman's first meeting with Darkseid in Forever People #1. There were also soaring imaginary stories from the silver like "Superman's Other Life" (a pun on a long forgotten radio show called, 'John's Other Wife," The first, "Death of Superman" story, and the the Utopian "The Amazing Story of Superman Red and Blue."
The final four stories in the book came from the 1970s and 80s and left me with mixed feelings. It fell like DC was trying to give Superman some marvelesque angst, which I don't like. On the other hand, some raised interesting questions such as "Must There be a Superman" from 1972 which portrayed the dangers of people relying too much on Superman to solve problems they really ought to fix themselves. However, all four stories from that era were worthy classics such as the sensational 1985 "For the Man Who Has Everything" which portrays an alien named Mongol immobilizing Superman with a creature that gives him the desire of his heart. The only post-crisis story, "The Secret Revealed" by Byrne left me with mixed feelings due to Byrne's portrayal of Luther as an evil businessman which was, in many ways, more over the top then the old portrayal of Luthor as a mad scientist. This issue is a bit more brutal than earlier Superman stories, buts it inclusion understandable.
In addition to not being as big a fan of the later issues, there was a small point. One thing also may have titled the selection process. According to Robert Greenberger excerpts, some of the newspaper strips that Siegel thought worthy as well as Action Comics #6 couldn't be reproduced in the book. Since then, some high quality prints have come out of both. Had current technology been available, the line up a little altered.
Overall, this is a must-have for Superman fans filled with great stories, no clunkers, and a chance to see the progress of the character. If you can find it used online at a price you can afford, buy it.
View all my reviews
March 26, 2013
Fly Another Day Giveaway
I'm giving away a paperback cop of Fly Another Day, details below:
March 25, 2013
The Great Iron Man Stories: Ten Rings to Rule the World
The second story is that often cited as one of the best Iron Man stories ever told is, "Ten Rings to Rule the World." The story runs from Issue 95 to Issue 100 of Iron Man's first volume in 1977.
The basic plot begins with allegations that Tony Stark's a security risk and he's summoned to Washington. While he's head to the area, Ultimo attacks and Iron Man has to fight the robot Ultimo and find out who is behind these attacks on Stark.
The serial had some good elements, particularly the introduction of the new Guardsman (after the old one had been driven insane) and some excellent battle scenes as Iron Man battled Ultimo, the Guardsman, Sunfire, and the Mandarin.
Unfortunately, there were problems with the series. The first thing was that these were Bill Manlo's first six issues as writer for Iron Man and Manlo's new direction really seemed like an old one. He brought back old characters who were died or had been incapacitated like the Mandarin, Sitwell (who'd not been seen in Comics for more than 5 years), gave the brother of the original Guardsman the Guardsman armor and once again messed with Tony's heart had finally gotten that straightened out.
In short, there was too much going on and much of what was going on was hard to cheer for. Rather than taking Iron Man in new directions, Manlo was reverting the character's progress. That plus the return of the Mandarin was tipped too early for my tastes.
It's not overall, but greatest not really.
Rating: 2.5 Shellheads out o5 5.0
The basic plot begins with allegations that Tony Stark's a security risk and he's summoned to Washington. While he's head to the area, Ultimo attacks and Iron Man has to fight the robot Ultimo and find out who is behind these attacks on Stark.
The serial had some good elements, particularly the introduction of the new Guardsman (after the old one had been driven insane) and some excellent battle scenes as Iron Man battled Ultimo, the Guardsman, Sunfire, and the Mandarin.
Unfortunately, there were problems with the series. The first thing was that these were Bill Manlo's first six issues as writer for Iron Man and Manlo's new direction really seemed like an old one. He brought back old characters who were died or had been incapacitated like the Mandarin, Sitwell (who'd not been seen in Comics for more than 5 years), gave the brother of the original Guardsman the Guardsman armor and once again messed with Tony's heart had finally gotten that straightened out.
In short, there was too much going on and much of what was going on was hard to cheer for. Rather than taking Iron Man in new directions, Manlo was reverting the character's progress. That plus the return of the Mandarin was tipped too early for my tastes.
It's not overall, but greatest not really.
Rating: 2.5 Shellheads out o5 5.0
March 23, 2013
Fly Another Day Is Now Flying Into Paperback
Andrea's and I's newest paperback book, Fly Another Day is now available to buy with great cover art and two fantastic Powerhouse adventures, "Powerhouse Flies Again" and "Rise of the Robolawyer."
Fly Another Day
The book is available at the Create Space store and on Amazon. Pick up your copy today.
Fly Another Day
The book is available at the Create Space store and on Amazon. Pick up your copy today.
March 20, 2013
The Great Iron Man Stories: Beginning of the End
Owning a copy of the 2006 Iron Man, "Iron Man: The Complete Comic Book Collection" has its definite advantages. The DVD collects every Iron Man issue from 1963-2006 save for the Iron Man/Submariner book that was a bridge between Tales of Suspense and Iron Man's own title.
As we gear up for Iron Man 3 on May 3rd, I'm reading through some of the great Iron Man story lines.
Actually I read all the stories right up through the first story arch cited on multiple sites as a great Iron Man Story: Beginning of the End.
Each was written by Archie Goodwin (and not the one who works for Nero Wolfe). The 7 books ran from September 1969-March 1970.
In some ways, it wasn't a modern superhero story arch. For all intents and purposes, Issues 17-19 were one arch and 21-23 were another. But they built upon each another and we see real development in the Tony Stark character.
Ironically, at the time, Stan Lee was announcing that Marvel was swearing off multi-part stories. These stories illustrate what a mistake that would be when you're talking about fully developed stories from the late Silver age.
The action kicks off when a Life Model Decoy (i.e. an android version of Stark used for security) is brought to life. The LMD determines to replace Stark believing that without Stark's frailty that it's a superior Stark and a Superior Iron Man. It supplants Tony and has everyone believing he's an impostor. Tony is quickly down and out without his Iron Man armor or any funds, replaced by his own creation.
However, a greedy super villain named Midas wants to steal Stark's fortune. Assuming Tony to be a look-a-like, he plans to recruit Tony to steal his own fortune for Midas.
And that's just the first issue! Over the seven issues, we get the first appearance of Madam Masque, guest sports by Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man, a change in Stark's health status, a guest appearance by the Avengers, a death of a supporting character, and a replacement Iron Man.
There's plenty of action and human drama. These seven issues are groundbreaking and show how much Goodwin managed to do in 2 years to revive a title that had languished in the last year of the overburdered Stan Lee's stewardship.
Rating: 4.5 Shellheads out of 5.0
This great adventure is reprinted in Black and White in Essential Iron Man, Vol. 3 and in color in Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 6
As we gear up for Iron Man 3 on May 3rd, I'm reading through some of the great Iron Man story lines.
Actually I read all the stories right up through the first story arch cited on multiple sites as a great Iron Man Story: Beginning of the End.
Each was written by Archie Goodwin (and not the one who works for Nero Wolfe). The 7 books ran from September 1969-March 1970.
In some ways, it wasn't a modern superhero story arch. For all intents and purposes, Issues 17-19 were one arch and 21-23 were another. But they built upon each another and we see real development in the Tony Stark character.
Ironically, at the time, Stan Lee was announcing that Marvel was swearing off multi-part stories. These stories illustrate what a mistake that would be when you're talking about fully developed stories from the late Silver age.
The action kicks off when a Life Model Decoy (i.e. an android version of Stark used for security) is brought to life. The LMD determines to replace Stark believing that without Stark's frailty that it's a superior Stark and a Superior Iron Man. It supplants Tony and has everyone believing he's an impostor. Tony is quickly down and out without his Iron Man armor or any funds, replaced by his own creation.
However, a greedy super villain named Midas wants to steal Stark's fortune. Assuming Tony to be a look-a-like, he plans to recruit Tony to steal his own fortune for Midas.
And that's just the first issue! Over the seven issues, we get the first appearance of Madam Masque, guest sports by Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man, a change in Stark's health status, a guest appearance by the Avengers, a death of a supporting character, and a replacement Iron Man.
There's plenty of action and human drama. These seven issues are groundbreaking and show how much Goodwin managed to do in 2 years to revive a title that had languished in the last year of the overburdered Stan Lee's stewardship.
Rating: 4.5 Shellheads out of 5.0
This great adventure is reprinted in Black and White in Essential Iron Man, Vol. 3 and in color in Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man, Vol. 6
Review: Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe, Volume 1
Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe, Vol. 1 by Stan LeeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
In 2001-2002, DC Comics published a series of comics books imagining Stan Lee what the DC Universe would had been light had Stan Lee created it (or more aptly what it would have been like had Stan Lee created in the early 21st Century.)This collects the first four issues, imagining Stan Lee's version of Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Green Lantern.
The key to enjoying this book is to remember what it is and what it isn't. The book does not set out to offer new and improved versions of DC's heroes. As Lee said on the back, "Please don't think for one minute that this is an attempt to improve on any of the truly great characters that have become legendary throughout the world." Rather, Lee creates a Staniverse, characters with the same name but entirely different origins that should be judged on their own merit.
Stan Lee's Batman is a black ex-con and pro-wrestler who fights to avenge his wrongful imprisonment the death of his parents. His father died at the hands of a local crime lord. His mother died while he was in prison for a crime he didn't committed. Wonder Woman is from Peru and receives her powers through Incan rather than Greek mythology and seeks to stop a man who killed her father. Superman is an intergalactic policeman who has to be extra tough because he's the only member of the force not genetically altered. However, when he lands on Earth, he finds himself the most powerful man on the planet. He seeks to avenge his wife's death and get home. Finally, Green Lantern is an archaeologist who finds the tree of life.
The stories occasionally pepper in the names of traditional DC characters. Steve Trevor appears in the Wonder Woman story with Diana Prince in the back up feature. Superman does adopt the identity of Clark Kent based on reading a couple signs (although, he could have just as easily adopted the identity of Peter Parker) and hires an aggressive agent named Lois Lane. It's worth noting that far more characters in this story became heroes through deaths than in the traditional DC universe. Of the four, only Batman became a hero that way in mainstream, but in the Staniverse only Green Lantern didn't, and even he lost someone he'd been interested in, though in a pretty shallow way.
Personal pain and tragedy is more often a motivator for Lee-created superheroes than for DC's traditional stable. Other Lee touches are present as well. The Batman story is evocative in some ways of Spider-man with Batman's wrestling and the Green Lantern looks a lot like a glowing green Silver Surfer.
The villain is Reverend Dominic Darrk, a classic Dr. Doomlike villain preaching hate and evil in his crossless church.
Overall, while none of the characters are going to replace the mainstream DC continuity, for a thought experiment, the book is fun and well-put together. I'll look forward to future volumes and see how the plot lines all resolve themselves.
View all my reviews
Christians and Superheroes
I'm a Christian who writes superhero fiction (some parody and some serious.)
On this blog, we'll take a look at:
1) Superhero stories
2) Issues of faith in relation to Superhero stories
3) Writing Superhe ...more
On this blog, we'll take a look at:
1) Superhero stories
2) Issues of faith in relation to Superhero stories
3) Writing Superhe ...more
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