Still on the Shelf #35 – The Marvelous Adventures of Gus Beezer
Marvel Month Part 4(of 5)
The main character has been described as ugly and irritating. The art has been called childish and cartoony. In the words of one particularly misguided reviewer – “The story? Actually, I couldn’t care less. Who cares about a little boy, playing Spider-Man with a sister who’s a bully. And the comic made by Gus, same there.” My response to reviewers like these is – You need to take yourselves a lot less seriously.” Mind you, several well-placed explicatives were deleted from my quote in the interests of an all-ages column suited to this title.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that this book can be used as a test for any comic reviewer. Anyone who judges this title so harshly as those examples I gave above is really not worth your time, and you should probably look elsewhere.
So what exactly is The Marvelous Adventures of Gus Beezer all about? Read on …
Cast of Characters
The title character, the lovable Gus Beezer, is your typical little boy. Just like most boys his age, he loves playing, loves superheroes, loves pretending to BE a superhero, and by extension loves comic books. In fact, as might be expected, sometimes his imagination runs away with him, and he can take his games a little too far.
He also loves making his very own comic books, starring himself, of course, as the heroic Marvel Kid, with his pet Zabu as his sidekick, Marvel Dog. His origin? One boring day, a kid and his dog were walking around when they were struck by lightning (Blue Blazes!). They then tripped over a microwave into a vat of dangerous radio-active proto-slime! Thus they were granted their amazing powers. Sounds like something you would write as a child?
Gus Beezer is a Marvel Universe character, and as such, he exists in the very same world that the heroes he idolizes do. So of course, he wants to meet them. What fun would this title be if he did not get the chance? In the three issues of Gus Beezer to date, he has met Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the X-Men. A little kid’s dream come true.
Gus has two sisters. His older sister, Emily, terrorizes her unsuspecting little brother as all older sisters do. His younger sister, the toddler Tillie, terrorizes him in an entirely different way (to tell you any more about Tillie would constitute a SPOILER!). Little boys Gus’s age of course despise girls, so he reacts to his own sisters the very way you would expect. They often pop up as villains in his comics and his imaginary games.
Gus has a nemesis – the portly Dunbar Dilpepper, who lives next-door, wears a bow tie to class (on purpose! Gasp!), and will torment Gus any way he can.
Thoughts
This is a kid’s book, and should be treated as such. But as great entertainment material for children often does, it makes a real effort to appeal to the adults who may happen to read it (by choice or otherwise). Loony Tunes is a classic example of this style- cartoons which we all enjoyed as kids which have an entirely different appeal when we grow older. Gus Beezer will not make you roll your eyes in disgust as something like Barney might- you will actually enjoy reading this “kids” comic. Beyond that, I really think this title is a great comic to actually READ to a child. Who would have thunk it?
Each issue is neatly divided into two parts. The top portion of each page is the main story, while underneath the tear at the bottom is the story by Gus Beezer himself, featuring his very own art. The bad reviewers out there are already rolling their eyes in disgust. “The pages lack BALANCE! You mean I have to go back and read the same book again? I get lost if I read them both at once!” The format actually is unique and appropriate. Sure the format is off the usual “beaten path” of comics today, but kids don’t care about that stuff. Each page has different things to look at and quite frankly a kid is not going to care if they have to flip through the book a couple of times. They were going to do that anyway.
One thing that this comic does that should appeal to your run-of-the-mill comic reviewer is Gail Simone’s writing- she really demonstrates her character prowess with this series. One thing I have always liked about Simone’s work was her ability to write a wide assortment of believable characters. Men and women, heroes and villains, and everyone else, Simone has the rare ability to craft unique and deeply realistic individuals in her stories. I am sure many of you have read work by otherwise good authors who just could not get something right about a particular character- the most common instance of this is the portrayal of female characters by male authors (or vice versa). In Gus Beezer, she demonstrates that she can also write believable children, and that is quite an accomplishment. Though somewhat exaggerated (quite intentionally I am sure), the kids in Gus Beezer are distinct and real- you would almost think that Simone herself was a little BOY growing up. Once again, my admiration of her work goes unchallenged.
The art is what you might expect from a title like this- deliberately cartoony. The best artistic aspect of Gus Beezer is the representation of “his” artwork. It is a bit more detailed than your average young child could probably accomplish, but the style is uncanny. Stick legs, no perspective, boxy objects, all drawn on typical notebook paper – Jason Lethcoe manages to capture the feel of a child’s drawing without stooping to total slop- quite an accomplishment.
One thing that bugs me more than anything about the comic industry today is the lack of real titles for kids. The one real problem with Simone’s representation of Gus is his obsession with comic books- that was a trait kids of my generation were the last to really possess. Comics today are too hard to find, and quite frankly, big-name books like Spider-Man are simply not suitable for readers that young. I have written at great length about this subject in the past, and I have always pointed a finger right at the comic publishers. They are not the only ones to blame though- a certain portions of comic fandom shares the blame for this as well.
In reading some reviews (some were outstanding, and my hats are off to those few) for the three Gus Beezer books on the shelves today, some (like the one I quoted at the beginning of the column) are quite representative of certain readers of comics today- the type of person who has a “formula” for a great comic. They require a deep story (no matter how superficially deep), highly detailed or “artistic” drawing, and a serious feel. These “Comic Elitists,” a product of the modern comic age, seem to have lost touch with what comics are all about and have lost any real perspective. Universally, when a book aimed at a younger audience comes out, these people will bash it relentlessly for not living up to their ridiculous standards. Sadly, these people don’t realize that their attitude is most unhealthy for the future of the comic market. It is imperative to judge a comic for what it is, and along those lines, Gus Beezer is a treasure.
I have said it before, and I will say it again. The comic industry cannot survive as specialized as it is now. Comics have the stigma of being for “geeks” generally, at worst, and a quirky form of pop-culture at best. Comic Elitists don’t particularly care about this, but some do feel that the key to ending that stigma is to make comics a real art form, something to be respected by the general world. Unfortunately, while a noble concept, that approach would inevitably lead to the death of comics. Books of that nature are hard for a new reader to get into, and brand new comic readers would likely not have the patience required to get hooked. As such, fewer and fewer new readers would come to stay, resulting in even higher prices and less circulation. You can see this happening today. Kids are the key to the future of the comic industry.
Bottom Line
Children’s comics are absolutely essential to the future of the industry. And fascination with popular heroes like Spider-man and Batman are simply not enough. Most young kids today, while fans of the characters, have likely never read a comic in their lives. I know of several myself. Comics are not accessible to children- they are not cheap enough, not readily available enough, and most responsible parents would not allow their kids to read the comics of today anyway.
Spider-man would survive if comics were to die out today- living on through other mediums like television and the silver screen. It is not enough to rely on the draw these characters to get people to try comics when they are old enough to really seek them out on their own. The answer is to make books available to kids, and to have the existing comic fans not only support them, but to spread the word to get these titles in the hands of kids.
Every other form of entertainment has a thriving array of children’s material, so why not comics? Books like Gus Beezer are an excellent start. The Marvelous Adventures of Gus Beezer & Spider-Man #2 (with a new art team) will hit shelves next month. I urge all of you not only to go out and pick up a copy, but to also pick up another copy for a child, any child, you might happen to know. We all hate rising comic costs and cancelled titles due to low sales- but we also like the books we read to remain a consistent high quality. The more kids that read comics, the better things get for the industry on all fronts. So go out there and spread the love.
Credit where credit is due-
The Marvelous Adventures of Gus Beezer is
Written by- Gail Simone
Pencilled by- Jason Lethcoe
and Colored by – Hi-Fi
Post your comments in the Forum!
November 17, 2003
Still on the Shelf #34 – Ultimates
Marvel Month Part 3(of 5)
Marvel’s “Ultimate” line has been one of its more successful experiments to date. I am sure we can all remember things like MC2, and 2099, which seemed like a good idea at the start, but slowly waned in sales and resulted in eventual cancellation. Even recent gimmicks like Tsunami and Epic seem to suffer from lack of long term interest. Whether that is the fault of a poor product, or Marvel’s marketing team, it is impossible to say.
The Ultimate line, on the other hand, has been going full steam ahead since Ultimate Spider-man was first released. Fans ate up the modern retelling of classic heroes, and to be honest, I think it was a great idea. Bendis’s run on Ultimate Spider-man has been hailed as fantastic from all corners. Ultimate X-Men (which Bendis recently took over) has gone through some rocky periods, but has stuck in there rather well. The fourth title out of the line was The Ultimates, an “ultimization” of the Avengers. This title has had more of a troubled history than its two predecessors have, but it has not suffered one bit in quality.
Cast of Characters
General Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., is the head of the superhuman task force called the Ultimates. He is a special blend of military man and political machine- he weighs all his actions in terms of public opinion, and military effectiveness. He established this public group of superheroes on an island off the coast of New York City at a facility called the Triskelion.
Steve Rogers had not lost a fight since 1941. One would presume that it was then that he was injected with the Super-Soldier Serum that made him Captain America. As in the normal continuity, Captain America fought along side the Allies in World War Two against the Nazis. As chronicled in The Ultimates #1, Captain America sacrificed himself by jumping on to a nuclear missile launched at Washington DC by the Nazis, destroying it, and seemingly falling to his death somewhere over the Atlantic. Fifty-seven years later, he is found drifting in the Arctic, encased in a block of ice. He is thawed out, and finds everyone he has ever known to be either old or dead. He joins up with Nick Fury’s super Human task force to continue fighting for his country.
Tony Stark is every bit the eccentric playboy you might imagine, and then some. In his own words, he often finds himself bored if he is not doing fifteen things at once. In Nick Fury’s words – he has never seen anyone who could “conduct a multilingual business deal, satisfy a girlfriend over the telephone, and memorize a six-hundred page military briefing all at the same time.” Tony uses his stunning intellect to design his Iron Man armor- an all-purpose combat suit that he wears while in combat with the Ultimates.
Robert Bruce Banner was the scientist in charge of re-creating the Super-Soldier Serum that gave Captain America his power. The goal of his project is to create an entire army of these soldiers. Unfortunately the original formula was lost along with Cap when he went missing. He injected one of his early versions of the formula into himself, but it was flawed. As a result, he turned into a rampaging monster- the Hulk. He joined up with the Ultimates in the hopes that he could perfect the serum- and the discovery of Captain America made that possibility even more likely. Unfortunately he decided that since the Ultimates were suffering bad PR from the lack of a real superhuman threat, he would help them out by inducing a transformation to the rampaging Hulk. He continues to assist the Ultimates, only in a nice, secure cell.
Thor claims to be the very same Norse God who he shares a name with, but most people just think he is a crazy hippie. No one can deny his abilities, however. He wields thunder just like the ancient deity, and has the very same arrogance you might expect from an immortal. He does not consider himself officially part of the team, as he despises the idea of working for the government, but he is more than willing to lend a hand when the world truly needs his help.
Hank Pym is another of the Ultimates’ bright minds. Two of his more impressive achievements are the development of a pheromone language which allows him to communicate with ants- the other is his Giant-Man technology, which he uses to grow up to sixty feet in height. His wife- Janet, otherwise known as the Wasp, has the ability to shrink down to the size of her namesake. Most thought that this ability was another byproduct of her husband’s research. But as it turns out, she is a mutant- something she desperatly wants to keep secret.
The Black Widow and Hawkeye, up until recently, have belonged to the “Shadow Team” branch of the Ultimates. Both are espionage specialists, and are used primarily in missions of that nature. Two other Shadow Team members are the Brotherhood’s own Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, who cooperate with S.H.I.E.L.D. in exchange for the release of certain political prisoners.
Thoughts
Right out of the gate, this became one of my favorite Ultimate titles. Sure I enjoy Ultimate Spider-man a great deal, but I am a lot older now, and teenage angst issues really do not appeal to me as much as they would have ten years ago. The themes they deal with in The Ultimates are much more mature, and much more thought provoking than those presented in Ultimate Spider-man. Ultimate X-Men has suffered, in my opinion, from a real lack of focus and far too many characters for its own good. The Ultimates boast several characters, but have stopped short from crossing that line where the sheer number of bodies coming in and out of the title become a jumbles mess. It is a good balance.
The art on The Ultimates is simultaneously the best and the worst aspect of this title. Bryan Hitch has done a fantastic job creating the imagery for this title- it has a realistic feel that lives up to the ultimate line. Unfortunately, the man is chronically late. It is always a huge surprise to see a copy of The Ultimates in my bin, and that is a very bad thing. Almost two years into its run, The Ultimates has issue #13 solicited for a January release. Ambitious to be sure as issue #12 has not seen the light of day, and I can’t find specific release date info for it on Marvel’s website – in other words, a big fat “I’m not sure when this issue is coming out.” Marvel is making a big hubbub about “Ultimate Starts” month in December, but the Ultimates is strangely absent from this event. The problem? Bryan Hitch.
Now supporters of this title have defended Hitch, propping up his artwork. “I would rather wait for amazing art than have the issue on time each and every month.” I have to admit that for the longest time, I was in this camp. I felt that I would be willing to wait for a quality book, rather than get upset over the fact that it was chronically missing from the shelves. Upon reflection, I have to say that my opinion has changed. There are countless great comics out there today with some really high quality art that still manage to come out on time, every month. The occasional delay is of course forgivable, artists are human and sometimes life gets in the way. But on the other hand, commitments are commitments, and when a book is this late this often, you have to call into question the commitment of the creator.
It all comes down to commitment in the end. And Hitch is not the only person who is guilty of this. Take Kevin Smith, and his ill-fated Spider-man/Black Cat book. Here we have a man who’s work I admire, who made a commitment to write a monthly mini-series for Marvel (A MINI for crying out loud), who just stopped handing in scripts because he got “too busy making movies.” The man of course has his defenders- but quite frankly, Kevin Smith made a commitment to Marvel and to the fans, and for lack of a better description – he flaked out.
Now I may not be an artist, and I may only be a “wanna-be” writer. Some may say I cannot judge because I am not in the situation they are. But I do understand the nature of a commitment. When I take on a job, I make damned sure I can fulfill my commitment. It is a question of integrity and work ethic. If I make a commitment to a client in my real job that I will complete a task by 5 PM on any given day, and I do not, my client suffers. As a result, I suffer because they are less likely to use me in the future. As comic fans, we are essentially these creators’ clients- our hard-earned cash goes to pay for the product these people put out. Creators should be held to the same standards we all are in our normal lives. Marvel has made it very public that any future Kevin Smith projects would be handled under the strictest of guidelines, but I get the feeling that his star-power would override all of these concerns in the future.
In Kevin Smith’s case- his lack of commitment is egregious. The man is not simply late, he simply decided he was too busy to write the book any longer. I spent real money on the first couple issues of that mini-series, money that gave him a paycheck, and I only got half a story. That would be like paying $10 to see a movie, watching the first half, then being shooed out of the theater because the director did not feel like finishing the film. Selling half a story to an audience is breaking a promise. I bought the first couple of issues of that series expecting an entire story, and instead I got nothing at all but a tease. A nine-dollar tease- a lap-dance is cheaper, and at least you know what you are getting when you buy one of those. Maybe you think it is over-reacting, but I will be very wary of buying another comic with his name on the cover again.
Hitch’s sin is less sinister, but bad nonetheless. I do know that Marvel is restarting The Ultimates after issue #13 with a new #1, and they are promising a more strict schedule in the future. In this case, I agree with a fresh start, and it is one of the few times when I will not call them on a cheap marketing gimmick. The Ultimates has a tarnished reputation because of its tardiness, and does need a fresh start. Rumor has it that Hitch was presented with an ultimatum, and has agreed to keep to a monthly schedule. If he follows through, I will be more than happy.
If not, I say it is time for a new artist. Yes, the quality of the artwork is essential to this book, but there are dozens (if not more) quality artists out there that would sell their mother for a chance to work on this book, and who WILL put out this quality of art. Hitch is good, but he is not irreplaceable. Either solicit The Ultimates quarterly or do whatever it takes to make it come out on time… all I ask.
Bottom Line
My anger over the timeliness of this title aside, it is one seriously amazing comic. Especially when you read the issues back to back instead of one at a time, so you get a real feel for the story. I have to say that if you have never read a single issue of The Ultimates, pick yourself up a copy of issue #6 and enjoy the terrible reality this title has to offer- that has to be the most shocking single issue of any comic I have ever read.
With any luck, The Ultimates Volume 2 will keep up the quality and remain on-time – this title will be a real addition to the line that is really over-dominated by Ultimate Spider-man at this point. Marvel seems to have a vested interest in this title (imagine the damage a failed Avengers book would do)… so I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon.
Credit where credit is due-
The Ultimates is
Written by- Mark Millar
Pencilled by- Bryan Hitch
Inked by – Paul Neary
and Colored by – Paul Mounts
Post your comments in the Forum!
November 10, 2003
Still on the Shelf #33 – Supreme Power
Marvel Month Part 2(of 5)
Much like DC, Marvel Comics has been trying its hand at new imprints- an idea that has been very well received by pretty much everyone. For DC, imprints like Vertigo and Wildstorm allow the publisher to put out titles that either don’t really fit into the DC continuity, or are of a mature theme.
While Marvel Knights, though pretty successful at this point, has been little more than darker stories about normal Marvel-continuity heroes, Marvel seems to be willing to experiment a little more with MAX, a line of comics intended to be a little more adult oriented.
MAX has seen some unusual titles, like the resurrected Howard the Duck and Rawhide Kid (who could forget the “gay cowboy” comic), and other, more appealing projects like the popular Alias. The one MAX title that really caught my attention, however, was Supreme Power.
I have to admit, I never read, let alone heard of Squadron Supreme prior to picking up this book. Fortunately that was not a problem. Straczynski’s take on the Squadron Supreme starts from scratch, and it is the better for it. No longer a simple “JLA rip-off,” Supreme Power retains those character arch-types and takes them somewhere the “original” JLA could not possibly go today.
Supreme Power has been described as a gritty look at a real world where those gifted with special powers emerge. While somewhat accurate, in this case, I really feel that it is an oversimplification. Most new comic concepts begin with this principle, in the beginning, but their success in the long-term depends on what else they bring to the table. Supreme Power, thus far, has brought a grabbing character story to the page thus far. It also, on the whole, contrasts sharply with previous MAX efforts like Howard the Duck, which relied heavily on a bit of raunch as its main draw.
Cast of Characters
Quite surprisingly, Supreme Power has really only focused on Hyperion, developing this character rather than trying to develop the entire team at once. While I am enjoying this approach, it makes discussing the characters at this early point in the title difficult. Rather than going through a list of old “Squadron Supreme” players that have not made an appearance in this book, I prefer to tell you about who IS there, instead of speculating about who might come in the future.
Thus far, Supreme Power has focused on Mark Milton, an alien child who crash-landed in a cornfield during the late seventies. Unlike his well-known counterpart, Mark was quickly taken from the small-town couple who found him. Testing soon determined that though the child appeared human, his skin was highly dense, nearly invulnerable, and he possessed incredible strength. It was decided that the government would raise the child. So, the highly secret project known as Project Hyperion was born. The government decided that though highly secure, his upbringing would be as “American as apple pie,” in order to instill in this extraordinary child a strong sense of patriotism. Ironically, they succeeded in this task, despite using other “American as apple pie” tactics like polling and focus groups to determine the best course of action. Mark was sequestered from most of humanity, well past the time when he realized that he could quite easily escape, until such time as he was ready to emerge to serve the country he was raised to love as “Hyperion.”
Though a great deal of time during the first four issues of Supreme Power was spend developing the character of Hyperion, brief interludes within each issue have started the process of introducing what are sure to be the future members of a “Squadron Supreme.” Several of these characters have very plain ties to a single event- Mark’s crash to earth when he was a toddler.
The government’s interest in Mark did not stop at his upbringing. Quite naturally, they seized the wreckage and began studying it, in an effort to understand its technology and where it came from. One curious aspect of the vessel was its power source- a small crystal that seemed to respond to the thoughts of those around it. Because of the chaotic nature of most humans’ thoughts, Joe Ledger, often called “The Doctor,” was brought in to perform some tests on the crystal. Joe is an agent who is renown for his single mindedness, and the government quite rightly believed that his extra-ordinary will would be enough to control the crystal’s raw power. The results were something of a surprise. The crystal allowed Joe to fire beams of energy, or to manifest just about anything he could imagine. During one of the trails, the crystal became permanently embedded on his hand. We are sure to hear more from Joe in future issues.
A strange virus afflicted Stanley Stewart soon after his birth, which nearly killed him. As he grows older, he becomes quiet and reclusive, much to his mothers concern. Though his mother worries about his aloof behavior, she does not dote on him enough to notice that he has been gifted with incredible speed. Recently, sightings of something called “The Atlanta Blur” have caused something of an uproar, and late in the last issue, Hyperion was sent to investigate. Mark realizes that the urban legend is indeed real, and more importantly, he is not alone.
Kyle Richmond took up the mantle of Nighthawk after his father, a successful entrepreneur, was gunned down by a white supremacist. Much like another popular hero, he roams the city streets protecting the innocent from the street crime common in his city. Unlike that renowned hero, his tactics can be lethal, and are much more brutal.
Two other characters have been introduced up to this point who have had little development. One was still in utero on the night of Mark’s crash. His parents saw the ship, thinking it was a falling star. Later, their car broke down by the ocean on the way to the hospital. The baby was born, hideously deformed. The mother, in a fit of insanity, took the child into her arms and walked into the waves, to her death. The child, on the other hand, survived. Its deformity was actually a mutation of sorts- the child was something of a mere-creature.
The other is even more mysterious than the mere-creature. A long dead princess of myth lies entombed in a temple, where faithful supplicants leave food for her consumption, awaiting the day when she returns to walk to earth. As “something is stirring in the world outside,” it would seem that this princess has arisen from her long slumber. The only thing we see of this princess (aside from an inscription on the walls of the tomb) is a decayed hand reaching out an opening to the waiting basket of fruit.
Thoughts
Supreme Power shares a great deal with Straczynski’s acclaimed (but tragically unfinished) Rising Stars series. Both deal with a world very similar to our own that has seen the emergence of super powered individuals for the first time.
The difference lies in the origin of these powers for the characters, and that difference makes Supreme Power far superior to its conceptual predecessor. Rising Stars dealt with a group of children who were “in utero” at the time of an astronomical event. Though an interesting plot device, this lead to a somewhat limited origin, forcing any conflict in the story to be centered on that event. All of the children were treated the same by the world around them. Though Straczynski created some incredible characters, any conflict between them was a product of their differing personalities alone, and the fears of the world around them that reacted to them as a group. Supreme Power adds another dimension to this.
The widely differing origins allows for another dimension of conflict unavailable to Straczynski in Rising Stars. Hyperion, having been raised from birth by the government, is almost totally brainwashed to the ideal “American way of life.” Joe, on the other hand, though a trusted agent, will undoubtedly distrust his own government far more, having grown up in the real America, where independent thought is revered. Nighthawk will undoubtedly be much more extreme, and distrusted wholesale because of his methods. It is clear that these characters will come together at some point, whether to work as a team or as enemies and they will not have the common ground of their births to start with. This is a much stronger position to bring conflict into a group, than “This woman is insane,” or “This guy is a dark, foreboding loner.” While Supreme Power shows the same strength in character development as Rising Stars did, it has a much more impressive setting and plot, and that, thus far, is making for a much more enjoyable read. As much as I enjoyed Rising Stars, and agreed with all of the acclaim it received, I would be dishonest if I did not express how much more I enjoy this title.
The art truly lives up to the story. Gary Frank has done a fantastic job creating believable looking characters- even “known” characters like former presidents are drawn with incredible skill, and are wholly recognizable. The action scenes are fluid and realistic, and the manner that the individual characters behave is completely believable. When something is supposed to hurt, like Joe using the crystal to fire off a beam, you can see it in the character’’ face. When a power is to be used with great ease, like Mark’s flight, the character does it as if it is no more difficult than walking. Too often I have seen a hero straining to fly, and I find that to be a bit campy. You can’t talk about the art without mentioning Chris Sotomayor’s colors- his special touch has made this title a vibrant visual experience in addition to an enjoyable read.
Bottom Line
This title, so far, fits perfectly into the mission of MAX: to produce quality comics with a more mature orientation. You always have to express the “mature” when talking about MAX, and rightly so. However, when it comes to Supreme Power, the mature content fits with the story. Past MAX titles have used the R-rated content as a gimmick- the explicitness of the art and story was the drawing point. Rawhide Kid, for example, was not being billed as an amazing Western, it was billed as the “gay cowboy” comic. Supreme Power gets it right.
Unfortunately, I really feel that Marvel is making some serious mistakes with the MAX line. For Marvel Knights, the line was always blurred between that universe and the normal Marvel continuity- there were shared characters, and for all intents and purposes, things that happened in Marvel Knights books did mean something in the normal Marvel Universe. MAX to me, at first, was going to be Marvel’s answer to Vertigo. Sadly, it seems, they are starting to ignore the disctinction between the two imprints. With the addition of the new Punisher MAX series, it is clear that Marvel has little intention of truly keeping the universes separate, nor do they have any intention of making MAX more than a place you can go to see even more blood and guts and nudity. MAX really needs to be more than a bloody extension of the Marvel Universe, and Supreme Power is a step in the right direction.
As far as where Supreme Power fits into the Marvel Universe, it is unclear at this point. It has been completely separate thus far, which is really best for the title. Unfortunately, I can see the day where these characters are brought back into the fold- what that will mean for the story itself and the characters- I can’t say. Honestly, from the tone and general feel of the book, it would fit much better into the Ultimate Universe. Only time will tell if Marvel goes down that path.
If you are not reading this book (and are old enough to) you really ought to be. This book has been selling remarkably well for a MAX title, and hopefully it continues for the sake of the line.
Supreme Power #4 was just released. Issue #5 is due out on shelves December 3rd. I have heard nothing on a Trade Paperback up to this point- hopefully we see one soon. The deliberate pace of this story is ideally suited to that format.
Marvel Month will continue next week with Ultimates, and then I will round off the month in two weeks on something of a lighter note.
Credit where credit is due-
Supreme Power is
Written by- J. Michael Straczynski
Pencilled by- Gary Frank
Inked by – Jon Sibal
and Colored by – Chris Sotomayor
Post your comments in the Forum!
November 4, 2003
Still on the Shelf #32 – Amazing Spider-Man
Marvel Month Part 1(of 5)
As most of you know, last month I delved into several CrossGen titles, in an effort to explore the company as a whole. I rather enjoyed the whole process (I honestly don’t know about the rest of you, but hey, some of you read it), so I thought that I would give it another whirl this month. So I thought I would jump right to the top of the pile, and take a look at Marvel.
Right from the beginning of Still on the Shelf, I made it something of a rule that I would only cover titles that were lower on the sales chart- and absolutely nothing in the top 25. I decided to make an exception this month, for several reasons- most important of all that it is nearly impossible to discuss the bright points of the company without talking about its top sellers and big names. Most important of all, in my eyes, is Amazing Spider-man.
Some believe that the Fantastic Four, Captain America (or the Avengers as a whole, for that matter), or the X-men are the real core of Marvel- I find that to be the somewhat skewed perception of the hard-core comic fan at work. Spider-man truly is the heart and soul of Marvel Comics, through and through. There is a reason that Marvel’s first major foray into their newfound film empire and first entry into their wildly popular “Ultimate” line was Spider-man. In fact, most Marvel experiments, MC2, Mangaverse, 2099, Tsunami, and others all include something that grew out of everyone’s favorite web-slinger. And there is a reason for that.
With the possible exceptions of DC’s Superman and Batman, Spider-man is the most universally recognizable comic character in the world. Ask any kid on the street who Spider-man is, and they will tell you without a moment’s thought. Ask the same about “Watchmen,” and you will probably get blank stares.
So I am not telling you anything you don’t already know- so why all the fuss? Sometimes I really think people tend to forget the obvious and it every now and again needs to be repeated. Titles like Amazing Spider-man are truly the lifeblood of the industry. Image, CrossGen, Dark Horse, or any Small Press publisher you can think of can come out with the greatest comic ever, but without books like Spider-man, those titles never see ink and paper.
Once upon a time, perhaps it was a different story. Kids could pick up a bunch of comics anywhere for pocket change. Sadly, kids are not even the target audience for comics anymore. True “kids comics” are tucked away on a shelf somewhere, out of the way in the comic shop, and far too expensive for them to normally afford on their own. As a result, there is a vast potential audience of comic readers, which goes virtually untapped. The entire future of the comic industry rests on something – anything, hooking these new readers into trying out a comic, liking it, and growing bold enough to try something totally new. Enter Spider-man.
The success of titles like the Amazing Spider-man is absolutely essential to the industry and making that happen is likely one of the toughest jobs in all of comics. Not only do you have to make the story good enough, and consistent enough to satisfy your core comic audience (all of us), but you have to make the title interesting and accessible enough, to appeal to and hook totally new readers. So how does J. Michael Straczynski’s popular take on the Amazing Spider-man measure up?
Cast of Characters
Spider-man – Peter Parker has gone through some changes- including taking up teaching at his old high school, to pay the bills. His life under the mask, however, is one of the biggest changes of all. He has come to learn that his powers, though the same as ever, may not have been given to him on accident, as he once thought. An enigmatic man named Ezekiel, who happens to have the same powers that Peter is cursed with (minus the radioactive kick, of course) visits him. Ezekiel explains to Peter that the spider is a totem, and the arachnid that bit him did so intentionally to give him is incredible abilities. And unlike the most “hollow” totems of his rogue’s gallery (Vulture, Lizard, Scorpion, etc), his power source is true, and part of the natural order. Peter, of course, rejects this wholesale, but events soon make him realize that there was something to Ezekiel’s claim.
Mary-Jane Parker, B-movie actress fresh off the set of “Lobster Man,” and estranged wife to Peter has finally returned, and is once again attempting to make her marriage to the wall-crawler work.
Aunt May is one character that has really shined under JMS’s pen. She recently discovered that her nephew is indeed Spider-man, and has been trying to come to grips with that ever since. I can’t say much more about it other than if you have not read it- check it out. Aunt May is interesting (for a change), and the issues in which she comes to grips with her nephew’s identity are among the best in Straczynski’s run.
Thoughts
Straczynski’s run on the Amazing Spider-man has certainly gotten people talking, which is something that has not been true for quite some time. People are buying as well, which is good news for Marvel.
Problem with the story is that it is too different. Don’t get me wrong, I love his take on Spider-man, but the supposed earth-shattering change in Spidey’s origin was really nothing more than a different way of explaining it. A vocal minority of avid comic fans have complained, of course, but for the most part, many of them complain about pretty well anything new.
On the whole, I think it is safe to say that Straczynski’s story is a success among avid comic readers, but it leaves much to be desired for the new fan. Very little in Peter’s world is familiar- his normal Rouge’s Gallery has been virtually absent during JMS’s run, and the problem’s he has faced are very a-typical to say the least. Most new readers picking up a copy of Amazing Spider-man for the first time after watching the movie or cartoon are bound to wind up scratching their heads in confusion- “Totem whaa? Morlun who???”
The art kind of falls under the same category. John Romita Jr.’s work on the Amazing Spider-man has gotten some acclaim, but it is also somewhat unusual. The faces are usually very strange looking, and while he has demonstrated great skill in “posing” Spider-man, almost every aspect of his art seems stiff and lacks fluidity. I don’t dislike it- but I am not a huge fan either. It does work well with the story, however, which is all I ever ask for. Problem is, again, that it is a unique style, and very atypical of Spidey. New readers may find it off-putting.
The easy answer to the Amazing Spider-man’s lack of accessibility to new readers is, of course, Ultimate Spider-man. But the “easy” answer is not always the right answer. Avid comic fans may know that Ultimate Spider-man, though a re-imagining, of sorts, is more in tune with what people unfamiliar with comics expect to see out of Spider-man. I know when I was a kid my very first comic book ever was the Amazing Spider-man #260. My dad bought it for me, because that was the Spider-man comic he was familiar with. Does “Amazing” versus “Ultimate” really make a difference in the title? Will naïve parents pick up Amazing Spider-man; not knowing Ultimate is the better choice for their child? Probably not, but it is worth considering.
Bottom Line
the Amazing Spider-man, having just celebrated its 500th issue, is not going anywhere anytime soon. Ultimate Spider-man may have been something of a rebirth for the character, but I can’t see the original going out with a whimper. It may not be as accessible to new readers as I would like, but the title is a fantastic read.
What I said earlier about Amazing Spider-man being the heart and soul of Marvel is really demonstrated in the success of Straczynski’s run. When ASM does well, Marvel prospers. This title may not be #1 on the charts week in and week out, but its sales are strong, and have been consistently so over the course of his run.
Anyone who did not pick up the Amazing Spider-man #500 (for whatever strange reason) probably should. It is a great read- Peter has to face his entire past, and his possible future in a really well told overview of his entire life. Issue #501 will be a good place to start as “Happy Birthday” just wrapped up. #501 is due out in stores on November 26th.
Check back next week when I will delve into another Straczynski title (purely coincidence, I assure you) – Supreme Power.
Credit where credit is due-
the Amazing Spider-man is
Written by- J. Michael Straczynski
Pencilled by- John Romita, Jr.
Inked by – Scott Hanna
Colored by – Dan Kemp
and Created by – Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
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