Search Results for: image comics

Originally published November 30, 2001, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1463

Remember when the Hulk was inarticulate, and his alter ego had the first name of David, and a fall from a helicopter could kill him instead of simply resulting in a Hulk-shaped dent on whatever piece of ground he landed upon?

Remember when Doctor Strange’s mentor, instead of a venerable Asian named the Ancient One, was an affable British guy named John Lindmer?

Remember when Captain America had a clear plastic shield that doubled as a windshield for his motorcycle? Or that other time when he fought the Red Skull, who was Italian instead of a Nazi?

Remember that glorious period when Don Blake was able to summon the spirit of Thor, who was not a god, but instead a Viking warrior with attitude who bore a resemblance to nothing so much as a biker? And Blake would stand there and argue with Thor about how obnoxious he was being and how little he understood the Twentieth Century?

Remember when the Kingpin had a full head of hair, and Daredevil wore a black costume with a blindfold and no horns? Remember when the Punisher had no costume?

Weren’t those fun times?

It was all during the Hollywoodization of Marvel Comics, and it was a time that drove true believers absolutely stark-staring nuts.

Continue Reading “The Hollywoodization of Marvel Comics” →

Originally published June 15, 2001, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1439

Assorted stuff…

* * *

 Oh yes… summertime memories of comics…

There I was, six years old, relaxing on a playground, hearing the sounds of childish laughter from all around. I was leaning against a tree, enjoy a cool breeze wafting from the east. I was reading a Harvey Comic, the adventures of Casper.

I heard a low chuckle and looked up. Several boys towered over me. They appeared to be behemoths, gargantuan in stature. In retrospect, they were probably about nine years old.

“Look at the baby reading baby comics!” they hooted, grabbed it out of my hand and ripped it to shreds, leaving me fighting back tears.

Ah, summer memories…

Continue Reading “Those summertime comics memories…” →

Originally published October 6, 2000, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1403

It was the moment I nearly resigned from The Incredible Hulk.

I had embarked upon a storyline in which Betty Banner was pregnant. Several issues had already come out, and suddenly I was informed by the powers that be that the storyline was to be—you should pardon the expression—aborted.

Continue Reading “Redefining comics for adults, Part 2” →

Originally published September 29, 2000, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1402

The release of the “Ultimate Marvel” line, the first of which launches this week (as of this writing) with Spider-Man, serves several purposes. The first, of course, is that it downgrades the previous forty years of Marvel tales by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, et al, into merely a Penultimate Marvel line, leading up to the overwhelming greatness represented in the new series. A sizable legacy to live up to, indeed. However, it also seeks to address a genuine problem facing many potential new readers: Where to start?

Continue Reading “Ultimate Marvel and redefining comics for adults” →