tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post4575853176844688642..comments2024-03-28T11:09:29.081-07:00Comments on Marvel University: March 1966: The Coming of Galactus!John Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15830334036783163702noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-8174718538839017752012-03-16T20:59:34.463-07:002012-03-16T20:59:34.463-07:00I feel a lot younger than my 47 years now! I guess...I feel a lot younger than my 47 years now! I guess there was some good stories going on here somewhere, if we're still reading 'em.Jim Barwisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06621993116774388708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-51897799869337409092012-03-16T18:55:22.815-07:002012-03-16T18:55:22.815-07:00Dagnabbit, one of you young whippersnappers has st...Dagnabbit, one of you young whippersnappers has stolen my walking frame. :)GlennMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536558149189057537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-75308176532647675822012-03-16T15:40:33.416-07:002012-03-16T15:40:33.416-07:00Happy Birthday, Professor Snarkybrook! I guess tha...Happy Birthday, Professor Snarkybrook! I guess that makes me the wise old mage in the treehouse since I was born the month Fantastic Four #1 hit the stands.Peter Enfantinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317575598411394944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-4721746247911798002012-03-16T14:33:02.648-07:002012-03-16T14:33:02.648-07:00Right behind you in three months, my brother. Hap...Right behind you in three months, my brother. Happy Birthday!Matthew Bradleyhttp://bradleyonfilm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-25257470272989183612012-03-16T12:55:56.129-07:002012-03-16T12:55:56.129-07:00I really hope I was included among the snarky, 20-...I really hope I was included among the snarky, 20-something fan boys. I turned 49 this week and am delighted to think that anyone would mistake me for someone half my age!Jack Seabrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216640325305820140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-37522075592202378232012-03-16T08:26:04.595-07:002012-03-16T08:26:04.595-07:00Plus I gather most of the faculty is, broadly spea...Plus I gather most of the faculty is, broadly speaking, fifty-ish, a far cry from "20-something." So, hardly "pups," even if I for one was too young to read the bulk of the Silver Age stuff when it came out.Matthew Bradleyhttp://bradleyonfilm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-37391830366314714642012-03-16T06:49:53.042-07:002012-03-16T06:49:53.042-07:00After the first two blogs John and I did, Thriller...After the first two blogs John and I did, Thriller and The Outer Limits, we both had our middle names changed to Snarky since most people began their e-mails, "Dear Mr. Snarky..."<br /><br />And, to deconstruct your all-encompassing description of our talents, I doubt if "snarky" and "fan boy" can be used in the same sentence. Snarky or not, I have a love for the old Marvels and get a kick out of 75% of them (even some of those Ant Mans were fun). You couldn't pay me enough money to read the DCs that were being pubbed at the same time. For our comments on those DCs, check out our "Batman in the 1970s" posts over at bare*bones every Monday.<br /><br />Thanks for contributing, Mark.Peter Enfantinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317575598411394944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-72708062192002642692012-03-15T23:22:34.043-07:002012-03-15T23:22:34.043-07:00Glad to see that even given the snarky, 20-somethi...Glad to see that even given the snarky, 20-something Fan Boy Post-Modern deconstruction you run on 1960's-era Marvel (which I DO appreciate, although it's hard for you pups to understand the cutting edge impact these torrid tales had back in the day; read some standard DC fare for contrast) you are all appropriately wowed by the first appearance of the Surfer and the Big G (Big Letter on his chest and all). And yeah, the idea of a cosmic skyrider needed a frickin' surfboard is goofy. The bottom line: it worked then. Works now.<br /><br />Excelsior. <br /><br /><br />Mark by the beachMark Barsottinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-30261886143254184912012-03-15T07:16:48.220-07:002012-03-15T07:16:48.220-07:00During the plot conference for FF #48, Stan and Ja...During the plot conference for FF #48, Stan and Jack came up with a godlike being capable of destroying the Earth. Accounts differ as to how the character originated. One version of the story has Stan, at the beginning of the plotting session exclaiming, “the only character the Fantastic Four haven't fought is God” or words to that effect, with Kirby taking the idea and running with it. Another version gives Kirby sole credit for the creation of Galactus.<br /><br />However, there IS agreement on the origin of the other character making his debut. According to Stan Lee, when the penciled pages landed on his desk, he had to phone Jack Kirby to ask him about the mysterious entity with the surfboard. Kirby told Stan that he figured a being as powerful as Galactus would have a herald at his command to act as an advance scout, and added him to the story. Jack simply identified the character as “The Surfer.” In the final script, Stan expanded that into “The Silver Surfer.” <br /><br />This tells us a lot about Stan and Jack's working methods in the mid 60s. It proves that they discussed the story together. There is a popular theory, held by Jack Kirby zealots, that at this point in time, Kirby, like Ditko, was working in virtual isolation, plotting and drawing the stories, then sending the pages to Stan Lee to script. The fact that Stan was baffled by the Surfer character means he must've been involved in the plotting, and knew that Jack had deviated from the plan. It also proves that Jack Kirby created characters with no input from Stan Lee. This contradicts another theory, perpetrated by Stan Lee zealots, that Stan created everything on his own. Okay, on to the story.<br /><br />The storytelling is top notch here, steadily building up as we learn about Galactus, the attempt by The Watcher (a.k.a. The Meddler) to hide the Earth, the rooftop encounter with The Silver Surfer, and the final reveal. One clever touch is the Skrulls. They appear in just two panels, but they're used to perfection to convey the upcoming danger, and emphasize that Galactus, whoever he is, doesn't play favorites. Everyone is a potential target. <br /><br />Compare FF#48 to similar plotlines in X-Men 12 and 17, where the story dragged while we waited for the big reveal. This time, all the pieces are in place. No complaints about the artwork either. We're treated to the first of the Kirby/Sinnott cosmic space scenes, and, put simply, this is Kirby at close to the top of his game. Ahhh, the memories. <br /><br />THE HULK<br />I always liked the Hulk, or more accurately, I always liked the idea of the Hulk … an anti-heroic, misunderstood character not in control of his own destiny. Unfortunately, the character suffered more than most by a seemingly endless parade of rushed artwork, sloppy inking, and plot repetition. Seriously, how many times can the Army hunt him down? For the most part, re-reading these Tales To Astonish Hulk stories for the first time in decades has been a frightening experience. I'd forgotten how second rate the strip looked, and read, for most of its run. <br /><br />However, there's nothing second rate about the cover of TTA#77. This is Kirby inked by Romita, and to my eye, the Hulk depicted on this cover is the definitive Hulk. This is what he looks like. I'm sure others have their favorite rendition, but this is mine. Inside the book, Romita's pencils and inks over Kirby's layouts looks pretty decent too. The storyline, begun in TTA#75, transporting the Hulk into the future, away from the Army, was a welcome change of pace. Back then, Rick Jones revealing the Hulk's identity to Major Talbot was a radical move. Up to that point, secret identities were revealed to friends, not enemies. In retrospect, it was probably a desperation measure to try to improve sales of a second tier book. <br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Glenn :)GlennMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536558149189057537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830827465735526826.post-42800868057930249772012-03-14T08:42:51.833-07:002012-03-14T08:42:51.833-07:00Since the Goblin, too, will soon come up with a fo...Since the Goblin, too, will soon come up with a formula to negate (or at least dampen) Peter's Spider-sense, we're really forced to ask certain questions. How do they even know about it in the first place, since I doubt Peter has published too many scientific articles revealing his trade secrets? I can't swear to it, but I don't think his battle-banter has included a lot of, "Hah! You thought you could surprise me, [fill in the blank], but my Spider-sense foiled you!" Second, even if they knew about it, by what method could Kraven or the Goblin--neither of whom is a biochemist, to the best of my knowledge--develop such a formula, especially without having any other subject possessing Spider-sense on which to test it before using it in battle? Yeah, I know, it's just a comic book... <br /><br />I had that Aurora model, by the way.Matthew Bradleyhttp://bradleyonfilm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com