By Mark Gruenwald and Brett Breeding
Showing posts with label Mark Gruenwald. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Gruenwald. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Monday, October 31, 2016
1981 - Just How Strong Is... Spider-Man?
From Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15
Script and layouts by Mark Gruenwald, finished art by Bob Layton
Script and layouts by Mark Gruenwald, finished art by Bob Layton
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
1985 - The Mighty Thor #350 - The Story Behind The Cover
"This Walt Simonson THOR cover has a great story behind it, one that I heard at Mark Gruenwald’s memorial service. Mark was the editor on this portion of Walter’s THOR run.
"So, this cover was ready to go to press, but Editor in Chief Jim Shooter didn’t like the Thor face that Walt had drawn, and he demanded that Gruenwald get a correction done. Mark believed that. if he brought the situation to Walt, it would escalate, possibly resulting in Simonson quitting the series.
"Mark also knew, however, that Jim was going to be out of town on business the following week. So he came up with a plan. He had art director John Romita draw a new face for Thor on a piece of adhesive patch-paper. And then, once Shooter had left the building, Gruenwald peeled off and discarded the patch. If Shooter came back with a complaint, Mark intended to claim that the patch must have fallen off at some point while the cover was in transit.
"Weeks later, the make-ready for this cover came in from the printer, and Shooter called Gruenwald down to his office. Mark figured that he was going to get it, and readied his defense. And then, Shooter held up the cover as mark entered and said: “See? Doesn’t it look a lot better this way?”"
Grabbed from:
greatcovers1.tumblr.com/post/137581908021/this-walt-simonson-thor-cover-has-a-great-story
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Eighties August 8 part V: Best Writers Of The 1980s
By Jef Willemsen (clarmindcontrol.blogspot.com)
Ask any actor: "it starts with the writing". If it ain't on the page it ain't erm... Well, you get the idea. So, on the fifth day of Eighties August 8 it's all about the writers that made the 1980s a decade to remember. And really, eight entries barely scratches the surface... Ever so sorry, Walt, Steve and John!*
8) - Bill Mantlo (Alpha Flight, Incredible Hulk, Micronauts, Rom)
Bill Mantlo was one of the most prolific writers of the late 1970s (he co-created Rocket Raccoon!). The fact he could write like the wind ensured his popularity well into the 1980s. Editors who needed a script done yesterday would regularly call on Mantlo, who'd get the job done overnight. Mantlo gradually graduated from being a pinch hitting editor to become a full fledged writer. He first made a mark for himself on Marvel's line of licensed books Micronauts and Rom.
To his credit, Bill never treated either property as "just a way to sell toys". He poured his heart and soul into whatever he wrote, creating tons of new characters for Micronauts and taking what would be another bland, bargain basement toy and turning it into Rom, premiere Space Knight, hero of Galador and vanquisher of the Dire Wraiths. Mantlo's infectious enthusiasm for the medium and the characters under his care were undeniable. Together with Sal Buscema, he was responsible for a staggering 68 issue run on Incredible Hulk (#245 through 313) which might arguably be one of the jolly green giant's most creative periods. He only left the book to take over Alpha Flight, a book he also brought his unique brand of storytelling to.
Of course, most us know of the terrible accident Bill was in back in 1992. While out rollerblading, he was hit by a car and suffered extensive head injuries that eventually left a brilliant man a ghost of his former self, stuck in a permanent care facility. That having said, the man was not without his detractors. Check out what Jim Shooter had to say on his blog about the way Mantlo would sometimes get his ideas.
7) - Ann Nocenti (Daredevil, Longshot, Spider-Woman, Web Of Spider-Man)
Ann "Annie" Nocenti started out as one of Marvel's assistant editors in the early 1980s, taking over for Louise Simonson in the X-offices. Eventually, she tried her hand at writing. First, by taking on the bi-monthly Spider-Woman series in 1982 after Chris Claremont left. Immediately, Nocenti's penchant for the dark, strange and macabre became obvious. While Claremont's Jessica Drew engaged in semi-straightforward superheroics, Nocenti returned Jessica to her creepy roots, facing down frustrated, sometimes even downright weird villains like Daddy Longlegs, Gypsy Moth and others. In the end, she even killed Jessica Drew in #50.
Nocenti continued on as a writer, with memorable runs on Web Of Spider-Man that saw Peter Parker ending up in an insane asylum bankrolled by the Kingpin. Ann's true strength as a writer shone through, as she gave voice to the mental malady of the ward's patients. Somehow, she was able to zoom in on that undeniable spark of madness that defines the human condition, the one sideward step that can make the sanest one of us mad as a hatter... A good Nocenti forces you to take a good, long look at the darker aspects of ourselves. Ann knows where you live.
Perhaps the best possible way to mark her talent is the fact that in spite of all the doom and psychological gloom, Nocenti came up with *the* most happy go lucky character of the 1980s: Longshot.
6) - Frank Miller (Daredevil, Wolverine LS I#1)
Well, what can one say about Frank Miller that hasn't already been spelled out, regurgitated and blogged about again? Probably very little indeed. Suffice it to say Miller's early 80s contributions are varied and lasting. The man took Daredevil, a book even Stan Lee's trademark hyperbole couldn't convincingly call a bestseller and elevated it to a singular form of art.
Success in comics relies on the marriage between words and pictures, but Miller provided both during his turn at the helm of Daredevil. From the film noir style streetsof Hell's Kitchen, to the damp tunnels underneath the city where the Sewer King reigned, and from the courtroom to the Kingpin of crime's higher echelons of power... All of it sprang from the creative mind of this one man.
If nothing else, we have to thank Frank Miller for the creation of Elektra Nachios and Stick... Not to mention 1982's four issue Wolverine limited series, which Miller and Claremont all but mapped out when they just happened to be stuck in traffic together heading for a convention.
5) - Peter David (Incredible Hulk, Amazing/Web Of Spider-Man)
Jack of all trades, master of more than most of 'em...
Peter David started work at Marvel in the 80s as part of its sales division, before making the cut as a (freelance) writer. His talents are undeniable and his range is nothing short of breathtaking. He can do broad comedy, is capable of deft wordplay and provides gut wrenching, emotional drama as fast as you can name a deadline... And if you pay him enough, he'll mix all three of em together.
Best known in the 1980s for his lengthy run on Incredible Hulk, which pretty much lasted until a year shy of the century mark... David also provided a number of Spider-Man stories that were uniquely his own. Who else but Peter David could have come up with Amazing Spider-Man I#267's "The Commuter Cometh" which saw Spidey chasing a villain to the suburbs, only to find there wasn't too much to web sling from?
David to this day remains the total package, providing pathos, fun and excitement within 22 pages of colored funny pages. Who could ask for anything more?
4) - Mark Gruenwald (Captain America, Official Handbooks, Squadron Supreme, Quasar)
By the time Mark Gruenwald died of an undiagnosed heart condition in August of 1996, he had already made an indelible mark on the medium he loved so much, both as and a writer.
If "Gru" is to remembered for one thing, it was his devotion and love for continuity, which made him a stickler for all that had been established during his time as an editor, but also sparked the idea that in 1983 became the popular Official Handbook To The Marvel Universe series, which in great (some might say inane) detail outlined both the history and powers of the various characters running around the Marvel Universe.
As a writer, he helmed the groundbreaking 1985-1986 limited series Squadron Supreme that for the first time applied real world conventions to the superhuman lifestyle. Actions had consequences and no one escaped them. He also wrote memorable runs on the New Universe title D.P.7 and Quasar, but his singular writing credit has to be his tenure on Captain America, a book he took under his wing only a few months before it got rebooted in 1996's Heroes Reborn. Through it all, Gruenwald showed that continuity isn't some obstacle you have to clear, but rather an opportunity to enrich and ennoble whatever idea you might have.
3) - J.M. DeMatteis (Captain America, Defenders, Spider-Man)
Unless it's 1987 and you're the Justice League, chances are you won't be having too jolly a time when J.M. DeMatteis is your writer.
There's very little "BWAH-HA-HA!" funny about most of DeMatteis' work for Marvel in the 1980s. Starting out as a writer on Defenders, DeMatteis figured it might be fun to have the kooky team face the demon cabal called the Six Fingered Hand. He followed that up with a run on Captain America, which was symbolized by a deep rooted fascination with the psychological aspect of the heroic condition.
DeMatteis created Vermin during his run on Cap, a character he used to maximum effect during the brief, but legendary Kraven's Last Hunt storyline. A deeply atmospheric psychological thriller that showed just how intelligent, philosophic and artistic the funny pages could truly be.
2) - Chris Claremont (New Mutants, Spider-Woman, Uncanny X-Men)
The danger of lists like these is getting lost in the obvious... Yet, there's no mistaking and no denying Chris Claremont's contributions to Marvel all through the decade. He was already writing and co-plotting Uncanny X-Men with John Byrne when the 1980s started, guided by skilled editors like Jim Salicrup, Roger Stern and Louise Jones (the later Mrs. Walter Simonson, depicted on the right in the snapshot above). He continued as main X-scribe throughout the decade, finally quitting the book in 1991 after an astonishing and unequalled 16 year run.
During the 1980s, the X-Men became the X-Men we know today. And that is mostly thanks to Chris Claremont tapping away at his word processor. He married soap opera with superheroics, drafting intricately detailed storylines for most of the main characers, helped in no small part by artists like Dave Cockrum, Paul Smith, John Romita Jr., Mark Silvestri and Jim Lee who were all giants of the industry themselves.
He also helmed the X-pansion of the X-Men, turning the one little mutant book that could into a prosperous multi title franchise. Starting with New Mutants in 1982, he went on to write the first Wolverine limited series that inevitably led to an ongoing series... And, with Alan Davis, he also spearheaded the Britain based branch Excalibur. Chris Claremont may have his faults as a writer, but with the proper guidance and editorial support, he was an 80s powerhouse.
1) - Roger Stern (Avengers, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man)
... Is there anything Roger Stern can't improve?
Initially starting out as an editor, Stern brought a fan's eagle eye for detail to the work. And even as a writer, he actively incorporated continuity to inspire his current works. He did so on Doctor Strange, where he teamed with Paul Smith among others to mark a memorable run. Over on Spider-Man, he penned numerous classic adventures, proving for instance that yes, one *could* stop the Juggernaut (provided there was enough wet cement around, that is).
But Stern's magnum opus has to be his run on Avengers. Starting with January 1983's #227, Stern wrote the book for exactly five years, leaving with February 1988's #288 (he only missed #280, penned by future Avengers chronicler Bob Harras). Stern's Avengers are a showcase in how a teambook should work and evolve. Its membership flowing organically from adventure to adventure, while making sure the nature of the action was determined by the individual characters' personalities and the way they'd interact with one another. Stern had plans for the book leading up to #300, which according to him would resolve the death of Iron Fist, possibly even resulting in to him and his former partner Luke Cage becoming Avengers themselves well before Brian Michael Bendis came up with the idea to make Fist and Cage part of Earth's mightiest.
A few years back, Marvel published X-Men, New Mutants and X-Factor Forever, all alternate reality series that allowed the original creators to continue whatever story they had in mind before they were booted out... I'd love for Roger Stern to continue his original 80s Avengers run. But then again, he already co-wrote a series called Avengers Forever which was amazing. But hey, what'd you expect? He's Roger Stern.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Naturally, these picks are solely based on my own, anything but unbiased preferences. Think I'm wrong or an absolute idjit for leaving out your particular fave? By all means, join the conversation!
Ask any actor: "it starts with the writing". If it ain't on the page it ain't erm... Well, you get the idea. So, on the fifth day of Eighties August 8 it's all about the writers that made the 1980s a decade to remember. And really, eight entries barely scratches the surface... Ever so sorry, Walt, Steve and John!*
8) - Bill Mantlo (Alpha Flight, Incredible Hulk, Micronauts, Rom)
Bill Mantlo was one of the most prolific writers of the late 1970s (he co-created Rocket Raccoon!). The fact he could write like the wind ensured his popularity well into the 1980s. Editors who needed a script done yesterday would regularly call on Mantlo, who'd get the job done overnight. Mantlo gradually graduated from being a pinch hitting editor to become a full fledged writer. He first made a mark for himself on Marvel's line of licensed books Micronauts and Rom.
To his credit, Bill never treated either property as "just a way to sell toys". He poured his heart and soul into whatever he wrote, creating tons of new characters for Micronauts and taking what would be another bland, bargain basement toy and turning it into Rom, premiere Space Knight, hero of Galador and vanquisher of the Dire Wraiths. Mantlo's infectious enthusiasm for the medium and the characters under his care were undeniable. Together with Sal Buscema, he was responsible for a staggering 68 issue run on Incredible Hulk (#245 through 313) which might arguably be one of the jolly green giant's most creative periods. He only left the book to take over Alpha Flight, a book he also brought his unique brand of storytelling to.
Of course, most us know of the terrible accident Bill was in back in 1992. While out rollerblading, he was hit by a car and suffered extensive head injuries that eventually left a brilliant man a ghost of his former self, stuck in a permanent care facility. That having said, the man was not without his detractors. Check out what Jim Shooter had to say on his blog about the way Mantlo would sometimes get his ideas.
7) - Ann Nocenti (Daredevil, Longshot, Spider-Woman, Web Of Spider-Man)
Ann "Annie" Nocenti started out as one of Marvel's assistant editors in the early 1980s, taking over for Louise Simonson in the X-offices. Eventually, she tried her hand at writing. First, by taking on the bi-monthly Spider-Woman series in 1982 after Chris Claremont left. Immediately, Nocenti's penchant for the dark, strange and macabre became obvious. While Claremont's Jessica Drew engaged in semi-straightforward superheroics, Nocenti returned Jessica to her creepy roots, facing down frustrated, sometimes even downright weird villains like Daddy Longlegs, Gypsy Moth and others. In the end, she even killed Jessica Drew in #50.
Nocenti continued on as a writer, with memorable runs on Web Of Spider-Man that saw Peter Parker ending up in an insane asylum bankrolled by the Kingpin. Ann's true strength as a writer shone through, as she gave voice to the mental malady of the ward's patients. Somehow, she was able to zoom in on that undeniable spark of madness that defines the human condition, the one sideward step that can make the sanest one of us mad as a hatter... A good Nocenti forces you to take a good, long look at the darker aspects of ourselves. Ann knows where you live.
Perhaps the best possible way to mark her talent is the fact that in spite of all the doom and psychological gloom, Nocenti came up with *the* most happy go lucky character of the 1980s: Longshot.
6) - Frank Miller (Daredevil, Wolverine LS I#1)
Well, what can one say about Frank Miller that hasn't already been spelled out, regurgitated and blogged about again? Probably very little indeed. Suffice it to say Miller's early 80s contributions are varied and lasting. The man took Daredevil, a book even Stan Lee's trademark hyperbole couldn't convincingly call a bestseller and elevated it to a singular form of art.
Success in comics relies on the marriage between words and pictures, but Miller provided both during his turn at the helm of Daredevil. From the film noir style streetsof Hell's Kitchen, to the damp tunnels underneath the city where the Sewer King reigned, and from the courtroom to the Kingpin of crime's higher echelons of power... All of it sprang from the creative mind of this one man.
If nothing else, we have to thank Frank Miller for the creation of Elektra Nachios and Stick... Not to mention 1982's four issue Wolverine limited series, which Miller and Claremont all but mapped out when they just happened to be stuck in traffic together heading for a convention.
5) - Peter David (Incredible Hulk, Amazing/Web Of Spider-Man)
Jack of all trades, master of more than most of 'em...
Peter David started work at Marvel in the 80s as part of its sales division, before making the cut as a (freelance) writer. His talents are undeniable and his range is nothing short of breathtaking. He can do broad comedy, is capable of deft wordplay and provides gut wrenching, emotional drama as fast as you can name a deadline... And if you pay him enough, he'll mix all three of em together.
Best known in the 1980s for his lengthy run on Incredible Hulk, which pretty much lasted until a year shy of the century mark... David also provided a number of Spider-Man stories that were uniquely his own. Who else but Peter David could have come up with Amazing Spider-Man I#267's "The Commuter Cometh" which saw Spidey chasing a villain to the suburbs, only to find there wasn't too much to web sling from?
David to this day remains the total package, providing pathos, fun and excitement within 22 pages of colored funny pages. Who could ask for anything more?
4) - Mark Gruenwald (Captain America, Official Handbooks, Squadron Supreme, Quasar)
By the time Mark Gruenwald died of an undiagnosed heart condition in August of 1996, he had already made an indelible mark on the medium he loved so much, both as and a writer.
If "Gru" is to remembered for one thing, it was his devotion and love for continuity, which made him a stickler for all that had been established during his time as an editor, but also sparked the idea that in 1983 became the popular Official Handbook To The Marvel Universe series, which in great (some might say inane) detail outlined both the history and powers of the various characters running around the Marvel Universe.
As a writer, he helmed the groundbreaking 1985-1986 limited series Squadron Supreme that for the first time applied real world conventions to the superhuman lifestyle. Actions had consequences and no one escaped them. He also wrote memorable runs on the New Universe title D.P.7 and Quasar, but his singular writing credit has to be his tenure on Captain America, a book he took under his wing only a few months before it got rebooted in 1996's Heroes Reborn. Through it all, Gruenwald showed that continuity isn't some obstacle you have to clear, but rather an opportunity to enrich and ennoble whatever idea you might have.
3) - J.M. DeMatteis (Captain America, Defenders, Spider-Man)
Unless it's 1987 and you're the Justice League, chances are you won't be having too jolly a time when J.M. DeMatteis is your writer.
There's very little "BWAH-HA-HA!" funny about most of DeMatteis' work for Marvel in the 1980s. Starting out as a writer on Defenders, DeMatteis figured it might be fun to have the kooky team face the demon cabal called the Six Fingered Hand. He followed that up with a run on Captain America, which was symbolized by a deep rooted fascination with the psychological aspect of the heroic condition.
DeMatteis created Vermin during his run on Cap, a character he used to maximum effect during the brief, but legendary Kraven's Last Hunt storyline. A deeply atmospheric psychological thriller that showed just how intelligent, philosophic and artistic the funny pages could truly be.
2) - Chris Claremont (New Mutants, Spider-Woman, Uncanny X-Men)
The danger of lists like these is getting lost in the obvious... Yet, there's no mistaking and no denying Chris Claremont's contributions to Marvel all through the decade. He was already writing and co-plotting Uncanny X-Men with John Byrne when the 1980s started, guided by skilled editors like Jim Salicrup, Roger Stern and Louise Jones (the later Mrs. Walter Simonson, depicted on the right in the snapshot above). He continued as main X-scribe throughout the decade, finally quitting the book in 1991 after an astonishing and unequalled 16 year run.
During the 1980s, the X-Men became the X-Men we know today. And that is mostly thanks to Chris Claremont tapping away at his word processor. He married soap opera with superheroics, drafting intricately detailed storylines for most of the main characers, helped in no small part by artists like Dave Cockrum, Paul Smith, John Romita Jr., Mark Silvestri and Jim Lee who were all giants of the industry themselves.
He also helmed the X-pansion of the X-Men, turning the one little mutant book that could into a prosperous multi title franchise. Starting with New Mutants in 1982, he went on to write the first Wolverine limited series that inevitably led to an ongoing series... And, with Alan Davis, he also spearheaded the Britain based branch Excalibur. Chris Claremont may have his faults as a writer, but with the proper guidance and editorial support, he was an 80s powerhouse.
1) - Roger Stern (Avengers, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man)
... Is there anything Roger Stern can't improve?
Initially starting out as an editor, Stern brought a fan's eagle eye for detail to the work. And even as a writer, he actively incorporated continuity to inspire his current works. He did so on Doctor Strange, where he teamed with Paul Smith among others to mark a memorable run. Over on Spider-Man, he penned numerous classic adventures, proving for instance that yes, one *could* stop the Juggernaut (provided there was enough wet cement around, that is).
But Stern's magnum opus has to be his run on Avengers. Starting with January 1983's #227, Stern wrote the book for exactly five years, leaving with February 1988's #288 (he only missed #280, penned by future Avengers chronicler Bob Harras). Stern's Avengers are a showcase in how a teambook should work and evolve. Its membership flowing organically from adventure to adventure, while making sure the nature of the action was determined by the individual characters' personalities and the way they'd interact with one another. Stern had plans for the book leading up to #300, which according to him would resolve the death of Iron Fist, possibly even resulting in to him and his former partner Luke Cage becoming Avengers themselves well before Brian Michael Bendis came up with the idea to make Fist and Cage part of Earth's mightiest.
A few years back, Marvel published X-Men, New Mutants and X-Factor Forever, all alternate reality series that allowed the original creators to continue whatever story they had in mind before they were booted out... I'd love for Roger Stern to continue his original 80s Avengers run. But then again, he already co-wrote a series called Avengers Forever which was amazing. But hey, what'd you expect? He's Roger Stern.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Naturally, these picks are solely based on my own, anything but unbiased preferences. Think I'm wrong or an absolute idjit for leaving out your particular fave? By all means, join the conversation!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
1981: Marvel's Two Writing One part VII: The Kirby Crackle Conclusion
By Jef Willemsen (clarmindcontrol.blogspot.com)
In the seventh and final part of this retrospective, Ralph Macchio and Mark Gruenwald bring it all back home... If you live in Attilan, on Hydrobase or the bottom of the Atlantic, that is...
Issues # 71 and 72 marked the end of the Macchio/Gruenwald cooperation, but they left on a high note by resolving the plight of doctor Henry Croft and the other Hydro-Men from back in issue # 64. Mr. Fantastic and the Inhumans finally managed to confirm that their mutation into amphibians was indeed caused by the sacred Terrigen mists.
"It's an airquake"
... An air...quake? Ah, only in Attilan.
Yes, this was before John Byrne took over the main Fantastic Four title and had the Inhumans relocate to the Blue Area of the Moon. Attilan was still on Earth, nestled somewhere in the Himalayan mountains. Here, Mr. Fantastic and the Inhuman scientists succesfully crafted a cure that restored Croft to normal.
This gas was basically an anti-Terrigen potion, which potentially made it very dangerous to the Inhumans should it ever fall in the wrong hands...
Meet the wrong pair of hands...
They made their move when Ben and the others were on Hydrobase to cure the 500+ Hydro-Men, Women & Children. Maelstrom's Minions attempted a quick smash 'n grab, but weren unable to escape with their prize, getting overpowered and taken prisoner by Ben, Karnak and Gorgon. The cannister seemed lost at sea...
Until it grew fins and swam off.
"And when Attilan falls, the world itself shall soon learn the might of Maelstrom!"
So, just who is Maelstrom?
Well, as issue # 72 revealed, he's about the Kirbiest Kirby character without Jack Kirby's actual involvement.
- He is the son of an Inhuman father and a Deviant mother (both races created by Kirby).
- He is surrounded by a permanent 'plume of bioluminescence' (basically Kirby crackle)
- He is into wearing pointless, crazy looking headgear (like the ones uncle Jack loved to draw)
- And then there's this guy...
Meet Deathurge, another of Maelstrom's associates. Whenever he appears, someone is about to die... Mainly because he's the one doing the killing. Maelstrom sent him to Hydrobase to end the lives of Phobos, Helio and Gronk before they could be interrogated. Basically, he's a thinly disguised Black Racer clone from Kirby's early 70s DC magnum opus New Gods.
"Now I mount my skis... and ride the night!"
Some people find Kirby's scripting clunky, unpolished and silly... But how can one not love lines like that? The man's writing shared the same explosive, high octane 'what the heck?' factor as his art. It's poetry, really. Oh, wait... We're still doing Marvel Two In One, right?
Having his minions killed, didn't prevent Maelstrom from getting discovered. His hiding place was a bit obvious after all... the undersea caverns beneath Attilan's former location in the Atlantic ocean. There, the master geneticist had discovered minute trace particles of Terrigen mist that he cultivated and used in his experiments... and even sold to Doctor Hydro, the creator of the Hydro-Men.
Maelstrom wanted to use the anti-Terrigen gas to destroy Attilan to avenge the fate that befell his father Phaeder. He'll tell you himself...
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Banishing an immoral geneticist from a society that ritually exposes perfectly healthy children to mists that cause wildly unpredictable, deforming and sometimes lethal mutations? Yeah... That makes sense.
Incidentally, the name 'Phaeder' may sound fancy and Inhuman, but it's either pronounced 'Fader' or 'vader', which is Dutch for 'father'... So, in true Marvel tradition, the man's name is a bit on the nose. It's also the reason why Dutch audiences weren't all that surprised when Darth Vader was revealed to be Luke's, well, vader... at the end of The Empire Strikes Back... Heck, he'd been called that for close to two movies at that point.
Getting back to the story... Right before he recounted his own origin to the ailing Phaeder, Maelstrom had used his defense systems to knock out Ben, Karnak and Gorgon who thought they had entered the base undetected. He had them all chained up and ready for genetic experimentation and vivisection when Black Bolt showed up to save the day.
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"Hey you guys... Don't ask me how, but the three stooges are back"
While Black Bolt took on the Kirby Cracklin' Crazy, Ben and the other Inhumans had to fight Helio, Phobos and Gronk again. Or, rather, their clones. Just like Mister Sinister would clone his Marauders after they died, Maelstrom had pre-made sets of his minions ready to go.
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"While I know your every strength and weakness, you know nothing of mine!"
"Black Bolt... I heard what that creep said, you gotta go after that rocket!
I can handle high britches here!"
I can handle high britches here!"
Brave words Ben, but what you're best at is hitting stuff... and kinetic energy only makes Maelstrom stronger. Still, he gave it the old college try while the king of the Inhumans flew to intercept the rocket, only managing to disarm the device mere moments before it reached Attilan.
Meanwhile, Maelstrom was knocking the stuffing out of the Thing... Until Ben finally started to use his head to defeat the villain. Well, technically, he was thrown head first into the tubes that contained the anti-Terrigen concoction, but still...
"Here's mud in yer eye, Mally!"
Conveniently enough, the formula used to cure the Hydro-Men also affected Inhumans ánd Deviant-Inhuman hybrids like Maelstrom. Robbed of his powers and aware Black Bolt stopped the missile, he beged his father's forgiveness before ordering Deathurge to kill him. As his body turned black, his father quietly died as well. In the end, Gorgon used his mighty hooves to bring the base down around them...
"By the time the escaping mini-sub reaches the mainland, all is still beneath the waves once more. Still and dark and peaceful... Like a tomb."
And with that, the Gruenwald/Macchio collaboration on Marvel Two In One officially ended. Mark Gruenwald would write issues # 73 and # 74 that saw Ben team up with Quasar and fight the Puppet Master who had turned evil despite his change of heart back in # 60. While certainly entertaining, these tales would prove inconsequential to the greater whole of the Macchio/Gruenwald cooperation.
After making their debut on the title with the well loved Project: Pegasus saga, they wrote a year's worth of stories that, while certainly not as well known as their initial outing, were every bit as grounded in and inspired by the rich tapestry of the Marvel universe.
What's even more interesting: Macchio and Gruenwald continued the trend established in their first storyline. Marvel Two In One didn't rely on any 'stunt casting'. No popular heroes with their own titles stopped by as a gimmick to prop up sales. Who we got were types like Thundra, Moondragon, Hyperion, the Guardians of the Galaxy, even a rechristened Paragon...
Yet, picking these virtual unknowns allowed the duo to tell stories that really had lasting impact on the Marvel universe. Take their first post Pegasus arc: it introduced Her in # 61, brought the High Evolutionary back to life, revealed the existence of the Beyonders ánd gave Counter Earth a proper send off in # 63... In other words, Macchio and Gruenwald used Marvel Two In One to really play with the many proverbial toys in the publisher's sandbox, without fear of having to put them all back.
But Gruenwald and Macchio also seemed to have a distinct purpose in mind for picking these specific characters. They weren't 'just' there to fill 22 pages with loud colors and even more colorful fight scenes, their tales were intended to tell personal stories and resolve whatever dangling plots from other books they felt needed adressing...
This notion resulted in the Serpent Crown trilogy, issues # 64 through 66, which was based on two danglers: whatever happened to the alternate Earth Serpent Crown after Vision tossed it into the ocean in Avengers # 154 and the fate of Dr. Hydro's accomplices the Hydro-Men, from Sub-Mariner # 63. Using plotholes to create new tales is the mark of a true storyteller.
'Orphaned' characters like Thundra were lovingly taken in, fleshed out and eventually given a worthy send off. It was the first time the Femizonian had a proper character arc, and one that felt organic to the character and their established history. And, to a lesser degree, so did sending the Guardians of the Galaxy back to the future where they belong.
Even back in 1980, it was obvious comics were cyclical in nature and any major changes would ever be permanent. When Gruenwald and Macchio broke up Ben and Alicia, no one was convinced it would last. But at least the duo tried to make it interesting by having Ben break up with her out of fear for Alicia's safety. That's a very different and far less self pitying reason than his usual "you only love the Thing... Not Ben. And if you could see me, you'd leave me'.
So that's Marvel Two In One during the time two of Marvel's mainstays wrote it. Mark Gruenwald went on to write classic runs on comics like Captain America, the Squadron Supreme and Quasar, often using characters from his Two In One days. Gruenwald died in 1996 from undiagnosed congenital heart disease.Ralph Macchio mainly worked as an (executive) editor until his retirement from comics in March 2011.
What they leave behind is a body of work that, certainly in the case of Marvel Two In One, is enjoyable... to the Nth degree.
Friday, June 28, 2013
1980: Marvel's Two Writing One Part VI: The Thing With Movin' In & Out...
By Jef Willemsen (Clarmindcontrol.blogspot.com)
In the sixth chapter of Marvel's Two Writing One, Ralph Macchio and Mark Gruenwald start to bring their early 80s collaboration on the Thing team up book to a close by giving the Guardians of the Galaxy a proper send off, reuniting Ben and Alicia while also setting up a future Avenger...
Demoralised, it took his FF teammate the Invisible Woman to convince Ben to give it another shot. But that's a story for # 70, because seconds after this nugget of wisdom ánd breakfast was served, Starhawk of the Guardians of the Galaxy beamed into the FF's kitchen looking for help...
Fair's fair, they actually were about to return home... when one of their own went missing. Major Victory, better known as Vance Astro, went AWOL so he could have a little chat with Vance Astrovik, his younger self. Victory hoped to convince the teenager he shouldn't join NASA, otherwise history would repeat itself and he'd end up going mad in space for a 1000 years before the Guardians found him.
Sage career advice, but a meeting between the two was sure to rip apart the space time continuum, right? Well, surely, Victory wouldn't be so foolish to even look up his younger self. Let alone touch him...
Yet, in spite of the Guardians' predictions, the universe didn't blow up. What actually happened was the sudden appearance of a massive, dense black fog that covered the area and brought out most of the New York based heroes, from the X-men to Spider-Man and the Avengers. Even the Fantastic Four joined Ben and the Guardians in their quest for clarity (literally).
In the end, the Guardians managed to find Major Victory and seperate him from young Vance Astro. But that didn't exactly solve the problem...
The Guardians finally returned to the 31st century and Major Victory was pleased to know that while his own past wasn't changed, at least this younger version of himself would be spared the centuries long, maddening exile. And he was right, Vance Astrovik would grow up to become the New Warrior and Avenger known as Marvel Boy and Justice.
Sheesh Ben, if you broke up with the girl because you were afraid for her safety, why not move in with hér? But that bit of logic even seems lost on Reed who claims his latest security upgrades made the Baxter Building the safest place in the entire city. So, without furter ado...
As soon as they drive off, Ben realises something is fishy and went after them. However, the two villains actually manage to almost knock out the Thing... If not for the timely intervention of the Yancy Street Gang. After all, no one is allowed to mock and humiliate Ben Grimm... except for them. A point they emphasize in the final panels of the issue when the recovered truck takes off for the Baxter Building...
Next, in the seventh and final chapter (promise!) it's the return of the Hydro-Men and the menace of Maelstrom in Marvel's Two Writing One: The Kirby Crackle Conclusion.
In the sixth chapter of Marvel's Two Writing One, Ralph Macchio and Mark Gruenwald start to bring their early 80s collaboration on the Thing team up book to a close by giving the Guardians of the Galaxy a proper send off, reuniting Ben and Alicia while also setting up a future Avenger...
" I wuz hopin' maybe you could help me figger out what ta do!"
Issue #69 opened with Ben still troubled by his break up with Alicia. And to think he himself ended the his relationship with the blind sculptress because he was worried for her safety, soon realising he was actually feeling more miserable without her. Unfortunately, when he went to her appartment to patch things up, he saw her leave with another man.
Demoralised, it took his FF teammate the Invisible Woman to convince Ben to give it another shot. But that's a story for # 70, because seconds after this nugget of wisdom ánd breakfast was served, Starhawk of the Guardians of the Galaxy beamed into the FF's kitchen looking for help...
"Were the two counterparts to meet, it would cause untold damage to the course of time
creating a catastrophe!"
creating a catastrophe!"
How to explain the Guardians of the Galaxy? Well, first introduced in 1969, this team of 31 century space heroes fought menaces like the galaxy conquering Badoon. The team eventually travelled back to the 20th century in pursuit of their cybernetic archenemy Korvac. Together with the Avengers, they eventually tracked down and defeated him. That was back in 1978, you'd think they'd have left the next day... But by the time this story appeared it was almost 1981 and they were still here!
Fair's fair, they actually were about to return home... when one of their own went missing. Major Victory, better known as Vance Astro, went AWOL so he could have a little chat with Vance Astrovik, his younger self. Victory hoped to convince the teenager he shouldn't join NASA, otherwise history would repeat itself and he'd end up going mad in space for a 1000 years before the Guardians found him.
Sage career advice, but a meeting between the two was sure to rip apart the space time continuum, right? Well, surely, Victory wouldn't be so foolish to even look up his younger self. Let alone touch him...
"Hey, stop that mister... you're hurting me!"
... Or maybe not.
Yet, in spite of the Guardians' predictions, the universe didn't blow up. What actually happened was the sudden appearance of a massive, dense black fog that covered the area and brought out most of the New York based heroes, from the X-men to Spider-Man and the Avengers. Even the Fantastic Four joined Ben and the Guardians in their quest for clarity (literally).
In the end, the Guardians managed to find Major Victory and seperate him from young Vance Astro. But that didn't exactly solve the problem...
"I may be the catalyst, but I'm not the cause"
Long story short... Major Victory developed his powers over the millennium he spent in deep space isolation. Yet, somehow, his younger self triggered similar abilities during their meeting in Saugerties. Young Vance's uncontrolled telekinetic abilites caused the dark clouds and once he learned to control them, the threat was over.
The Guardians finally returned to the 31st century and Major Victory was pleased to know that while his own past wasn't changed, at least this younger version of himself would be spared the centuries long, maddening exile. And he was right, Vance Astrovik would grow up to become the New Warrior and Avenger known as Marvel Boy and Justice.
As promised, Marvel Two In One # 70 at last dealt with the break up between Ben and Alicia set in motion back in issue # 64. When Ben finally gathered enough courage to go up to Alicia's place again to plead his case, he was pleasantly surprised...
"Baby, I want ya to move inta the Baxter Building."
Yeah, turns out Alicia wasn't out on a date with a potential suitor, she was just meeting her business manager. But Ben was too blind to see that, pun intended. Don't let the art fool ya, it only looks as if Ben's gone evil and is about to crush poor Alicia's skull... He's actually overjoyed and he wants to move in with her... at the Baxter Building. The one place all the FF's villains take turns trying to invade..
Sheesh Ben, if you broke up with the girl because you were afraid for her safety, why not move in with hér? But that bit of logic even seems lost on Reed who claims his latest security upgrades made the Baxter Building the safest place in the entire city. So, without furter ado...
"Welcome to the Fantastic Four!"
Safest place in the entire city my foot...
The rest of the issue deals with the big move and the villainy of Shellshot and Lariat, two half forgotten FF villains who got their super powered whip and gun from the Psycho Man. These low rent thugs figured a truck full of Alicia's sculptures would earn them big money on the black market. That's why they disguise themselves as employees of the moving company, load their truck and take off with the statues.
As soon as they drive off, Ben realises something is fishy and went after them. However, the two villains actually manage to almost knock out the Thing... If not for the timely intervention of the Yancy Street Gang. After all, no one is allowed to mock and humiliate Ben Grimm... except for them. A point they emphasize in the final panels of the issue when the recovered truck takes off for the Baxter Building...
"Looks like deep down they must'a realized what a great guy I am."
By the by, nothing ever came of Alicia moving into the Baxter Building. The Fantastic Four title never made any mention of Alicia's alleged presence. In fact, regular FF writer Doug Moench wrote several stories which had Alicia in her own place.
And they said continuity died in the mid 2000s...
Next, in the seventh and final chapter (promise!) it's the return of the Hydro-Men and the menace of Maelstrom in Marvel's Two Writing One: The Kirby Crackle Conclusion.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
1980: Marvel's Two Writing One part V: Toadies, Tiaras and Thundras... Oh my!
By Jef Willemsen (clarmindcontrol.blogspot.com)
In the fifth part of Marvel's Two Writing One, the writing duo of Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio decide to shake things up by doing several oneshots that wrapped up a number of long running threads. This resulted in stories featuring Thundra, the Angel, Hyperion and the Toad... Y'know, certified sales boosters.
But wait a minute... A tiara wearing, super powered princess from a world where women rule... using her durable, metal chain as her weapon of choice... That certainly has a familiar ring to it, now doesn't it?
In the end, Thundra sided with Ben and the others in defeating the Nth Man, but there was still the matter of the Nth Command and just what they promised Thundra. That was resolved in # 67.
Yet, she grabs the device and attempts to take off with it, shooting everyone who stands in her way to lord knows where... Doesn't work on Hyperion, though.
That's why they do this...
"Instantly, thousands of volts course through the grav-mesh, forcing the struggling Thundra helplessly to the pavement"
Only to feel sorry for himself once again and leave the dancefloor to get a drink at the bar. There, he ran into Warren Worthingon, better known as this issue's guest star: the high flying Angel.
He had purchased all this equipment from a certain 'Mr. A' (for Arcade, obviously) who also helped him install everything... like those iron toadstools and the robot Scarlet Witch he had for a companion. Nah, that's not creepy at all.
In the fifth part of Marvel's Two Writing One, the writing duo of Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio decide to shake things up by doing several oneshots that wrapped up a number of long running threads. This resulted in stories featuring Thundra, the Angel, Hyperion and the Toad... Y'know, certified sales boosters.
"My name is Thundra, Sandman... not "crazy dame!"
Full disclosure: I love Thundra.
Don't ask me why, but I've been fascinated by this 23rd century alternate Earth uberfeminist ever since I first saw her in the pages of Fantastic Four # 148. For a character that hasn't appeared in more than 50 comics ever since her introduction back in 1972, Thundra's appeal has proven remarkably lasting. Heck, I cheered when she of all possible characters got introduced in the free Avengers Alliance game on Facebook.
Don't ask me why, but I've been fascinated by this 23rd century alternate Earth uberfeminist ever since I first saw her in the pages of Fantastic Four # 148. For a character that hasn't appeared in more than 50 comics ever since her introduction back in 1972, Thundra's appeal has proven remarkably lasting. Heck, I cheered when she of all possible characters got introduced in the free Avengers Alliance game on Facebook.
But wait a minute... A tiara wearing, super powered princess from a world where women rule... using her durable, metal chain as her weapon of choice... That certainly has a familiar ring to it, now doesn't it?
Remind you of anyone?
Gruenwald and Macchio seemed to share this affection for Thundra and gave her a meaty role in their Marvel Two In One run. Their take on the character was a tragic one: she felt alone and adrift in this world, longing for the Thing's love but getting spurned by Ben at every turn. She lacked a purpose in life, and that's when she was contacted by the mysterious Nth Command. This shadowy cabal of business men promised Thundra a gift that would mean the world to her, if she helped destroy Project Pegasus during the appropriately titled Project Pegasus saga
In the end, Thundra sided with Ben and the others in defeating the Nth Man, but there was still the matter of the Nth Command and just what they promised Thundra. That was resolved in # 67.
Why, yes, that is Hyperion next to Thundra. Or, rather, *a* Hyperion. The history of this alternate reality Superman analogue is complicated at best. Suffice to say, he was recruited by the Nth Command to bring Thundra back so she could get her reward.
"I have been informed that you have a device which can return me to the alternate Earth that is my home."
Ah, so thát's what they meant with 'a gift that means the world'. Using the Nth projector, Thundra would be able to return to her home dimension. One has to wonder if the projector can also transport people through time, considering Thundra hails from three centuries in the future.
But let's not get too nitpicky, it's commendable enough that Gruenwald and Macchio went through the effort to pick established characters. It would have been far easier to just come up with new ones, but they choose bespectacled business man Albert DeVoor, a Fantastic Four character involved with travelling to alternate realities... And the tiny scienitist is Abner Doolittle, better known as Brother Wonderful of the Night People, from Jack Kirby's seminal Captain America run.
Still, the story is a little odd. The Nth Command offers Thundra a trip home, free of charge. They're not making any demands or 'one final mission and you can go...' cliches. They even prove to her the process is safe when Doolittle uses the projector to pop into her dimension.
Yet, she grabs the device and attempts to take off with it, shooting everyone who stands in her way to lord knows where... Doesn't work on Hyperion, though.
"I'm faster than a speeding bullet!"
Careful there Hypes, you're dangerously close to committing a... super... case of copyright violation.
The fight between Hyperion and Thundra eventually moves to the streets of New York, where... wouldn't ya know it... Ben Grimm just happened to walk by. But the Thing was in no mood for a fight. Back in issue # 64 he had broken up with his longtime girlfriend Alicia Masters because he feared for her safety. Realising what a fool he was, Ben went to her appartment to make up, just in time to see this:
"It's Alicia... But who's that guy with her? They're doin' a lotta laughing' an' lookin' at one another, real friendly"
Lookin' at one another? ... Erm, Ben, she's blind, remember? Still, let's get back to the fighting. While Ben does his best to hold off the vastly more powerful Hyperion, the Nth Command has sent some flunkies with high tech weapons to stop Thundra from escaping with the Nth Projector. It's an invaluable piece of equipment that should not be damaged in any way.
That's why they do this...
"Instantly, thousands of volts course through the grav-mesh, forcing the struggling Thundra helplessly to the pavement"
Yeah... thousands of volts usually tend to fry my equipment, though. Not to mention the amount of artificial gravity generated necessary to hold a super powered Femizonian down would be enough to crush any device.
Ignoring that pesky bit of logic, the issue ends with Hyperion admitting he has feelings for Thundra, who is a little too busy setting up the Nth Projector to return her home... But not before saying goodbye to her unrequieted love.
"She's gone! I had my chance an' I passed it up. She slipped away, an' I just stood here and watched."
Sheesh, Ben... way to make it all about you. So you've lost two women in one day. Plenty of fish in the sea, right? That's why issue # 68 started with the Human Torch dragging Ben to a disco. After all, what better way to enjoy your newfound single status. Heck, Ben even showed up wearing a John Travolta Saturday Night Fever inspired outfit...
Only to feel sorry for himself once again and leave the dancefloor to get a drink at the bar. There, he ran into Warren Worthingon, better known as this issue's guest star: the high flying Angel.
"Mission has gone as programmed, master"
Warren and Ben get gassed and wake up in, as the cover blurb claimed, the dungeon of doom. Actually, that's not entirely inaccurate: the heroes were taken to the replica of Doctor Doom's Latverian castle the villain had built in the Adirondacks a few years ago.
"You two have been brought here to play a game for the master's amusement. The game is somple: all you have to do is escape from this castle alive!"
But it wasn't Doom they were facing in this story that seems to have inspired slasher movie franchises like Hostel and Saw. Or even Arcade, who was already well known for toying with his victims before their inevitable termination. No, after smashing through weird traps, Thing and Angel finally came face to face with the big bad... Toad?
"The terrible Toad-King!"
After leaving the original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants where Magneto treated him like a joke, the Toad had been trying to prove himself as a man ánd a supervillain. He used the powers of the Stranger a while back in Avengers # 137, rechristening himself 'the Toad King' (that never stuck) and now was ready to make it big in the assassination business.
He had purchased all this equipment from a certain 'Mr. A' (for Arcade, obviously) who also helped him install everything... like those iron toadstools and the robot Scarlet Witch he had for a companion. Nah, that's not creepy at all.
Toad tried to kill Angel and Thing with all the gadgets he had equipped his mechanical swamp with... and he almost succeeded too, if not for one little telephone call.
"Uh, yes? But... you can't. I need time! You promised...! Hello...?"
Poor Mortimer, his financial backer Mister A wanted to get paid for services rendered... But Toad didn't have a proverbial pot to piss in, that's why he did the one thing a supervillain is never supposed to do... Cry. A lot.
"I've never been able to kill anyone, not even those who deserved it. I'm just a failure..."
Releasing his superhero captives, Toad is ready to give up... But the ever clever Angel had a great idea: you have a medieval style castle loaded with tons of robots and other animatronic figures, surrounded by pristine real estate... Why not make like Disney and open an amusement park?
No sooner said than done...
However, Toadland didn't exactly last very long. In May of 1981, the X-men fought Doctor Doom and Arcade there in Uncanny X-men # 145, while in November of that same year John Byrne had the FF taken there for their classic Liddleville simulation in Fantastic Four # 234's Terror In A Tiny Town.
From amusement park to existential death trap... Guess Walt Disney was right: "It's a small world after all..."
In part VI of Marvel's Two Writing One: The Guardians of the Galaxy, Mr. Fantastic and those other two...
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