A Darker Spider-Man
April 15, 2007 | 2 Comments
I am certain that putting Spider-Man back in the black suit was primarily a marketing ply to bring him inline visually with the new Spider-Man 3 film coming out this summer. It can’t help but sell comics if the book on the newsstand looks just like the character on the big screen.
However, I have been pleasantly surprised by how they are playing out this change in the books. First of all, in the wake of Civil War, Aunt May was shot by a sniper hired by the Kingpin. All evidence indicates this bullet will be lethal, but for now she hangs on, in a coma, sustained by life support. He vows to avenge her by all necessary means. In fact, as you can see in the image on the left, he intends to find who is responsible and he “is going to kill them”.
Additionally, Peter Parker decides not to take the pardon offered by new director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Tony Stark/Iron Man. This leaves him as a criminal fugitive in defiance of the Superhero Registration Act. As part of this he remains a member of the New Avengers who are now made up entirely of heroes in a similar situation. Now led by Luke Cage, the New Avengers are made up of Wolverine (Logan), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Iron Fist (Danny Rand), Ronin (unknown), Echo (Maya Lopez; formerly Ronin), and the surprise addition of Doctor Stephen Strange. This is a group who are known far more for street level crime fighting as opposed to global/galactic/cosmic level events. They start right out fighting Elektra and The Hand, but Spider-Man is here to fight the Kingpin’s crew.
This newly formed team is certainly darker, with a much more aggressive take on crime fighting. The US government considers all of them criminals and this combined with their plans, means they will be taking out their aggressions in potentially lethal ways. I would not want to be a street thug in the Marvel Universe with these guys out for vengeance. The image below shows that they are not implying this, but stating it outright.
Al of this leaves us with a Spider-Man who has turned to much darker tactics. His life has taken a dark turn. So… using the black costume as a symbol of his new stance both to fans reading the book and to criminals he will encounter in the Marvel Universe is a nice and accurate touch. Again, the marketing aspect of this change had me a bit hesitant about their decision to make this change, but I’m loving the story lines that are emerging.
Tags: "black suit", "Spider-Man 3", aunt may, avengers, danny rand, dark, doctor strange, echo, elektra, iron fist, iron man, jessica drew, lethal, logan, luke cage, marvel, marvel universe, maya lopez, new avengers, power man, Ronin, shield, spider-man, spider-woman, stephen strange, the hand, tony stark, vengeance, Wolverine
Stephen Colbert on the Death of Captain America
March 15, 2007 | 3 Comments
I recently reported on the tragic death of Captain America. Being such a large event, it spilled over into some more conventional media spaces. Below is Stephen Colbert’s “The Word” segment titled “Comic Justice” about Captain America’s death.
As a follow up to this segment, Marvel got involved, more specifically editor-in-chief at Marvel, Joe Quesada.
From the Marvel press release:
Cap’s shield has resurfaced and is now in the hands of Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”
As you’ll see in the video below, Colbert claims to have received a letter from Marvel EIC Joe Quesada, presenting the shield to the late night talk show host. Quesada’s letter states that Steve Rogers bequethed the shield to Colbert in his Will, which was read last Friday.
After reading the letter, Colbert’s staff brought out the shield and the bespectacled host hefted the legendary weapon, stating, “Cap? I hope I make you proud.”
S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently investigating the Will, as well as the validity of the letter. Quesada, admitted “friend of the show” says Colbert’s on the up and up and gave us the full story.
“I must confess that I am the culprit,” states Quesada. After reading Cap’s Last Will and Testament, I quickly snuck out of the Marvel’s offices with the shield. As so many of you know, Steve Rogers was a humble man and wanted his last remaining wishes to be carried out as privately as possible.
“After a small “transfer of power” ceremony occurring on the Avenger’s Quinjet, followed by several intense hours of introspection and deliberation with Mr. Colbert, we both felt it would be best to make a public statement of his inheriting the shield. Not as way of raising Mr. Colbert’s status even further (How is that even possible?), nor as a cheap ratings stunt, but rather to let evildoers across the globe know that even with Cap’s demise, there is no still place for them to hide. A clear message had to be sent that the mantle had been passed and that the Marvel Universe has gained a new (Colbert) Nation and remains secure.”
It is of course well known that Colbert is a geek at heart. His on screen relationship with Quesada originated when Quesada visoted the Colbert Report last year to promote the start of Civil War. You can view that interview in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2.
Tags: avengers, cap, cap's shield, captain america, colbert, colbert nation, colbert report, joe quesada, quinjet, shield, stephen colbert, steve rogers
Marvel Civil War Concludes
February 25, 2007 | 4 Comments
Civil War concluded this week after 116 issues of lead-in and direct tie-ins. This has been a monumentally large event in the Marvel Universe. Many have criticized it for it’s delays or for it’s political allegory. I however think this was one of the most brilliantly engaging comic series ever. Even more significant will be the impact it will have for years to come.
From here on will be spoiler filled.
The series concludes with a huge fight amongst the two sides. The resistance is winning, Captain America is about to take out Iron Man when a group of civilians (firefighters, EMS, police) tackle him. As he looks around him, he realizes how much the fight has cost the people they should be fighting to protect. To prevent more bloodshed, he orders his team to stop fighting and surrenders.
Anyone who fought is offered a pardon. Some take the opportunity to register. A few leave for Canada to form a new Omega Flight. Others decide to remain underground as the new lineup for the New Avengers.
Here is a list of the major milestones from the series:
- Nitro kills 600 people and all of the New Warriors except Robbie Baldwin (Speedball) in Stamford, CT
- Superhuman Registration Act is enacted
- Spider-Man’s identity revealed as Peter Parker
- “Thor” returns, he’s actually a clone/cyborg creation
- Goliath/Bill Foster is killed
- The Thunderbolts get a new roster (including Green Goblin, Bullseye, Venom, and Penance)
- Negative Zone Prison is created
- Robbie Baldwin (Speedball) becomes Penance
- Reed Richards (Mr Fantastic) and Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) separate temporarily, their marriage rocked
- Captain Marvel returns, from the past
- Captain America surrenders and goes to prison
- Tony Stark (Iron Man) is appointed director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Maria Hill is demoted
- The 50-state Initiative begins; placing a sanctioned super-hero team in every state
- May Parker is shot; (Peter Parker’s aunt)
- Spider-Man ditches the Iron Spidey Suit, returns to the Red and Blue as he switches sides. At the conclusion he regresses further into the Black Suit
- New Avengers get a new roster (Sentry, Iron Man, Captain America leave. Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, and a new Ronin join)
- Mighty Avengers are formed
The next big thing to watch in the Civil War aftermath will be following The Initiative. There are around 63 issues in this crossover event. It will primarily highlight how the Initiative is being created, run, and what these new superhero teams will have to face. I am looking forward to this continuation.
Tags: "black suit", bill foster, civil war, goliath, mark millar, may parker, mighty avengers, mr fantastic, negative zone prison, new warriors, penance, peter parker, Reed richards, shield, spiderman, stamford, sue storm invisible woman, thor, thunderbolts
Ultimate Avengers - The Movie
February 21, 2006 | Comments Off
Marvel released the straight to DVD movie Ultimate Avengers today. This PG-13 rated animated action/adventure film is the first in a series of at least four animated feature length films and two tv series Marvel has in the works, including: Ultimate Avengers 2, an Iron Man movie, a Dr. Strange movie, a Fantastic Four series, and a “Wolverine and the X-Men” series.
The movie centers around Captain America, Nick Fury, and Bruce Banner almost equally. The story told here stays true to the basic characters and universe defined in The Ultimates. Mostly this movie stands as a setup for further Ultimate Avengers movies, but it succeeds admirably at this.
I have to say, if all of them are as good as this film, Marvel is crazy not to run them through the theater first… Go rent or buy this, Marvel needs encouragement to continue pumping out a couple of these each year!
Tags: "dr. strange", "ultimate avengers", animated, avengers, black widow, bruce banner, captain america, cartoon, comic books, comics, dvd, fantastic four, hulk, iron man, marvel, nick fury, shield, steve rogers, thor, tony stark, tv, ultimates
The Ultimates
January 12, 2006 | 6 Comments
I just completed reading the full first Ultimates run (1-13) and am now up to date on the current run (1-9). There is only one word that describes The Ultimates series.
Dark.
There isn’t a single character in this series so far without some massive flaw. But I’ll get to that in a moment…
The Ultimates is a recreation of The Avengers in the Ultimate Marvel Universe. This is a primarily non-mutant super hero team that is commissioned by the government as a division of S.H.I.E.L.D. In this reality, mutations have become somewhat common as they are cropping up all over the world. These mutants are hated and this story all plays out in the Ultimate X-Men series. However, science has also progressed to the point where manipulations are being made to “normal” humans’ genetics, giving super powers. These artificially enhanced humans are then made members of the Ultimates, or are villains.
Even Ultimate Spider-Man falls under this “requirement,” Fury informed Peter Parker that when he turns 18 he will be required to join the Ultimates.
Another interesting note about this series is the way the Ultimates don’t actually have much reason to exist. There aren’t any significant super villains in the series, no global fights to justify their existence. In fact, they wait until the 11th issue before revealing the first non-member global threat. This is only a 13 issue original series.
The second, currently ongoing series has a similar start. There is a lot of back story and character development, which I appreciate, but again no massive threat until the current issue (#9) which justifies government creation of the “super team”.
Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of action in this series. My point is that the other “bad guys” existence can be directly attributed to the work S.H.I.E.L.D and the government in general is funding. Or, in some cases members of the Ultimates themselves. Clearly the authors want the readers to wonder about the politics and justification of this super army. Maybe they want us to wonder about our own militaries on a smaller scale. Do aggressive militaristic groups spawn additional?
Anyway, one thing that kept me intrigued by this series was the lack of true hero in any of the members of this super team. Here’s a quick rundown of the flaws in each of these character which stops me from being able to idolize any of them, as I might someone like Spider-Man.
Captain America [Steve Rogers]: Uber-aggressive “old” codger, 40’s mind set. Sees things in black and white.
Iron Man [Tony Stark]: Playboy alcoholic, flaunts his place as one of the world’s richest men.
Wasp [Janet Pym]: Secretly a mutant, loaned genetic material to Hank so he could make great scientific breakthroughs. Publicly dates Steve Rogers while still married, but continues to screw Hank. She has other subtle flaws, but in many ways I like her the least.
Giant Man=>Ant Man [Hank Pym]: Secretly cheated to get where he is professionally. Wife beater. ‘Nuff said.
Hulk [Bruce Banner]: arrogance leads him to self experimentation. Hulk rampage leads to over 800 civilians killed. Cannibal.
Nick Fury: Pawn of a larger scheme he may be a part of. Plays like Samuel L. Jackson in a Pulp Fiction/XXX kind of way. An ends justify the means sort of guy.
Thor: Possibly insane. Conspiracy theorist. Ultra left wing. Violent opposition to American dominance. In many ways I find many of these traits endearing, but the writing clearly does not intend them as positives.
Scarlet Witch [Wanda Maximoff]: Daughter of Magneto. Known Terrorist, only in this for the money. Belive in mutant supremacy. Implied incestuous relationship with Pietro.
Quicksilver [Pietro Maximoff]: Son of Magneto. Known Terrorist, only in this for the money. Belive in mutant supremacy. Implied incestuous relationship with Wanda.
Black Widow [Natasha Romanova]: Her evil is a massive spoiler… Trust me though, it’s bad.
Hawkeye [Clint Barton]: The one we know the least about, and in turn, I think he’s clean…
There are also a pile of “reserves” who are all portrayed as mindless puppets to whatever S.H.I.E.L.D wants of them.
As I devour each issue in this series I find myself torn between loving and hating the series. I guess either emotion conveys conviction, and I’m still reading it. Mark Millar was successful at least in hooking me.
Tags: ant man, avengers, black widow, bruce banner, captain america, comic book, comic books, comics, giant man, hawkeye, hulk, iron man, Magneto, mark millar, marvel, nick fury, quick silver, scarlet witch, shield, steve rogers, super hero, thor, ultimate, ultimates, wasp, x-men