tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34998895369913065032024-01-07T14:27:57.890-08:00Out of the QuicksandComics reviews for those of a grimier disposition.100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-85207261792909844192014-12-31T19:56:00.001-08:002014-12-31T20:06:39.439-08:00Goodbye 2014, and thanks for all the fish<div abp="1216">
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<a abp="1233" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVnz4Jsx5IGffAGtj8g9GmkzltUv1qLosMRZtlSB0icGtLbxVF3_RNHFhRHR3v9HTJOOmQqqQ7KQzmvyTB6RbroC8-s1r84N_-dEh9SojkfB64_mt-29b6FzmgHFOi_spzNdW5Cz8Me4/s1600/gamergate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1234" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVnz4Jsx5IGffAGtj8g9GmkzltUv1qLosMRZtlSB0icGtLbxVF3_RNHFhRHR3v9HTJOOmQqqQ7KQzmvyTB6RbroC8-s1r84N_-dEh9SojkfB64_mt-29b6FzmgHFOi_spzNdW5Cz8Me4/s1600/gamergate.png" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1236" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gSBWbrsZgYfoYrTvB26q1wU2zh7lDUvMIjdlw4LlRsXmttoQUNfbEFuuJD1TBi9xsYyrzUOxstElb_8HUHyvgcR2-nm6yJiW9Pi1K1WpB5htiXLnWZkgwRibnSGdEL3slfGBJj5Ltxo/s1600/howardrocket-thumb-450x315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1237" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gSBWbrsZgYfoYrTvB26q1wU2zh7lDUvMIjdlw4LlRsXmttoQUNfbEFuuJD1TBi9xsYyrzUOxstElb_8HUHyvgcR2-nm6yJiW9Pi1K1WpB5htiXLnWZkgwRibnSGdEL3slfGBJj5Ltxo/s1600/howardrocket-thumb-450x315.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1239" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONIxCBNO1Z7kOWDHUGg2EIkaNtKSNSfe1Pv6d2B2EnNFrV_SvqDcwgKf2bj93w_9Yyh1e2s3chNStL6MmhVwqSMp8x89luN6kURFqUtNqI9dCP92czW78aN_P7AuDK1zkfUs0CtHvJqA/s1600/1400958933966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1240" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONIxCBNO1Z7kOWDHUGg2EIkaNtKSNSfe1Pv6d2B2EnNFrV_SvqDcwgKf2bj93w_9Yyh1e2s3chNStL6MmhVwqSMp8x89luN6kURFqUtNqI9dCP92czW78aN_P7AuDK1zkfUs0CtHvJqA/s1600/1400958933966.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1243" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1244" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span abp="1246" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1247" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span abp="1248" style="color: lime;">-Internet
memes have finally gone mainstream, with Grumpy Cat and Trollface finally
getting their own movies:</span></span></div>
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<a abp="1250" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyrWtQLtcd2uMsmfr2r96Cb-378yqMPZZ2Ngty-c5V-h6IANgqjVYPGRHiCHifoplHGn8S0MdBmuPAzFFdN75kx2YmrH3P-nwrpCrYg0ZdvDStjXk1P7zYJmw1AtdwSQGQUAYWj6CRtY/s1600/cpt103234772_high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1251" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyrWtQLtcd2uMsmfr2r96Cb-378yqMPZZ2Ngty-c5V-h6IANgqjVYPGRHiCHifoplHGn8S0MdBmuPAzFFdN75kx2YmrH3P-nwrpCrYg0ZdvDStjXk1P7zYJmw1AtdwSQGQUAYWj6CRtY/s1600/cpt103234772_high.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1253" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQ0XQPk1X1g4adSx9u4tb3QJnFZjgLKzUqjaEbz67dGT03GFmp0w0U_-0QMOXYLDsIMa5F6qWcKVgZExnub-q7Pa5ibsr3EkxfMf7mOKJ5Mt5XyrifJuPwWeW7Hn45M7mSovj5x4AvcM/s1600/Babadook3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1254" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQ0XQPk1X1g4adSx9u4tb3QJnFZjgLKzUqjaEbz67dGT03GFmp0w0U_-0QMOXYLDsIMa5F6qWcKVgZExnub-q7Pa5ibsr3EkxfMf7mOKJ5Mt5XyrifJuPwWeW7Hn45M7mSovj5x4AvcM/s1600/Babadook3.jpg" height="274" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1256" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1257" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1258"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="1260" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1261" style="color: lime;"> -Gary Oldman
<a abp="1710" href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jun/24/gary-oldman-playboy-interview-antisemitism-mel-gibson"><span abp="1800" style="color: #93c47d;">pissed his career</span></a> down the drain.</span></span></div>
<div abp="1163">
<span abp="1260" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1261" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1262"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="1265" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1266" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="1267" style="color: lime;">-Sony’s anti-Kim
Jong Un comedy <i abp="1268" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Interview</i> was
pulled (supposedly) because of North Korean hacker attacks, then given a
limited release in indie theaters. This can only mean either one of two people
has come back from the dead: 1) Kim Jong Il, finally getting revenge over his
portrayal in <i abp="1269" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Team America: World Police</i>
or 2) William Castle, who just helped Sony pull off the greatest publicity
stunt of modern times. Either way, don’t expect to see any more Seth Rogen
movies playing at indie theaters again.</span></span></div>
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<a abp="1271" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcL8FwE1JHh1vsIDPcH-5VAAtoQ_Y-LeMowNgqQmTYD31b0lDVlHqniZUAU7NL7gTUE3CZ-p2LTPfkb8ifJ-m3V5xVGVTt2KB-g9BEzP3ntV9PvhX1ZEa0QANFZsIdbbmG5_6qfnKKIVo/s1600/MAIN-The-Interview-Sony-Pictures-Hack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1272" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcL8FwE1JHh1vsIDPcH-5VAAtoQ_Y-LeMowNgqQmTYD31b0lDVlHqniZUAU7NL7gTUE3CZ-p2LTPfkb8ifJ-m3V5xVGVTt2KB-g9BEzP3ntV9PvhX1ZEa0QANFZsIdbbmG5_6qfnKKIVo/s1600/MAIN-The-Interview-Sony-Pictures-Hack.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1275" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1276" style="color: lime;">-My fellow Californians have had to deal with a drought,
then weeks of near-torrential rain that <i abp="1277" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">still</i>
didn’t help.</span> </span></div>
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<a abp="1279" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3an2v-c89rlSUq2KhxVr9Dw5-QGV7loxG45-ukh50upnBFMoGmLeGpqpsKOkDntLF0DLCXkirtUE8SHr8RM_8yjQevKQyeVnWNWwE9gS-OZ25egiUYqhnaoTgL_tG8FS_S4sm7LiAVYI/s1600/drought-boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1280" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3an2v-c89rlSUq2KhxVr9Dw5-QGV7loxG45-ukh50upnBFMoGmLeGpqpsKOkDntLF0DLCXkirtUE8SHr8RM_8yjQevKQyeVnWNWwE9gS-OZ25egiUYqhnaoTgL_tG8FS_S4sm7LiAVYI/s1600/drought-boat.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1285" style="color: lime;">
<span abp="1286" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">-A found-footage approach, no costumes, ridiculous
casting choices and Doctor Doom being made into an internet troll, smug statements about the source material from both employees and defenders, as well as
absolutely no promotional material or set photos being offered (even though
films not coming out for another two years already have teaser trailers out). Boy,
the new <i abp="1287" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fantastic Four</i> movie sure
sounds like a winner! Ten bucks says it won’t be screened for critics.</span></span></div>
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<a abp="1289" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoISWsc2e152Zob8IOjrEII5ZOdz4aG82kSwT0cvKWPzt57LH_fiaDpPZFnK5ZGwHv7kN3YslNFd4QwWtcSxNYep0OcRSvUGjTBgzNag18E4vq11wFgNOwGBv7JiDmy81SDNH06lFupQ/s1600/ffp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1290" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoISWsc2e152Zob8IOjrEII5ZOdz4aG82kSwT0cvKWPzt57LH_fiaDpPZFnK5ZGwHv7kN3YslNFd4QwWtcSxNYep0OcRSvUGjTBgzNag18E4vq11wFgNOwGBv7JiDmy81SDNH06lFupQ/s1600/ffp.png" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1292" style="color: lime;"><span abp="1293" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="1294"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="1297" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1298" style="color: lime;">-Dracula and Maleficent were actually pretty decent.</span>
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<a abp="1300" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhBrSRGeC8xaJkE1U29Bu0q2ZwiGAGTGIlXw-q5MMSZBJMgknsni47LMdemV9rRmnCzMQpKsDb3zTevg21sc2tYMEgiWbh6SwL1TOCH72jeYL2PaV5wAipVKE4AMdXAn-NA-1nUPnKYQ/s1600/1409830795049_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1301" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhBrSRGeC8xaJkE1U29Bu0q2ZwiGAGTGIlXw-q5MMSZBJMgknsni47LMdemV9rRmnCzMQpKsDb3zTevg21sc2tYMEgiWbh6SwL1TOCH72jeYL2PaV5wAipVKE4AMdXAn-NA-1nUPnKYQ/s1600/1409830795049_10.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1303" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKHxUxhjWxqzOjfN4ZSjB3to4lU_Ylqq-uFp1n2cRr3gW2_xPLVXJxXFMRJjIP7Ks0gwMpdAahTCzjMzZ_dciRZe-aYsbxAwlH1kCsg4xQ-LHLaNZhxk8QIVYFql3jBhaFBJFsq6TuB0/s1600/Maleficent015.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1304" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKHxUxhjWxqzOjfN4ZSjB3to4lU_Ylqq-uFp1n2cRr3gW2_xPLVXJxXFMRJjIP7Ks0gwMpdAahTCzjMzZ_dciRZe-aYsbxAwlH1kCsg4xQ-LHLaNZhxk8QIVYFql3jBhaFBJFsq6TuB0/s1600/Maleficent015.png" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1306" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1307" style="color: lime;"> The characters, I mean, their movies were only so-so. I really, really wanted to like both more than I did.<o:p abp="1308"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="1311" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1312" style="color: lime;">-The mystery of Jack the Ripper has finally been
solved!!!---again, supposedly, kinda, not really, <a abp="1802" href="http://gizmodo.com/that-dna-evidence-identifying-jack-the-ripper-was-wrong-1648620271"><span abp="1228" style="color: #93c47d;">not at all</span></a>.<o:p abp="1313"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="1316" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1317" style="color: lime;">-With cringe-worthy ‘romantic’ scenes, drastic tonal
shifts (Mourning one minute, next minute “I AM DE VHRINO!!!”), poorly used
villains that make <i abp="1318" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spider-Man 3</i>’s use
of villains seem well-planned, dozens of ridiculous subplots (Peter’s parents
are <i abp="1319" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">such</i> an important part of the
mythos, don’t you know?) and forced attempts at building its own cinematic
universe to compete with the MCU, <i abp="1320" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Amazing Spider-Man 2</i> is quite possibly the most fascinating clusterfuck of
a film released in the past decade. With ASM3 being pushed back further and
further, and rumors of Marvel getting the rights back, it’s going to look awkward
as hell in a few years.<o:p abp="1321"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1322">
<div abp="1240">
<span abp="1323" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1324" style="color: lime;">Dane Dehaan
was good though, even after turning into robo-Beavis:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1325" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1326" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXEio2ec6PXPPGa09rTUayG3FlNE9WA2hPuEjvcMhv7chdO-5hCtxKCOjDGfvbUQNco2jx_2t1CfXHjV774x3JHiJoiGFI7GO3u6xGLJistBmsTCnVydl1qG0pk9XvrpJKBEJp-PMitI/s1600/The-Amazing-Spider-Man-2-Green-Goblin-550x414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1327" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXEio2ec6PXPPGa09rTUayG3FlNE9WA2hPuEjvcMhv7chdO-5hCtxKCOjDGfvbUQNco2jx_2t1CfXHjV774x3JHiJoiGFI7GO3u6xGLJistBmsTCnVydl1qG0pk9XvrpJKBEJp-PMitI/s1600/The-Amazing-Spider-Man-2-Green-Goblin-550x414.jpg" height="320" width="278" /></a></div>
<div abp="1328">
<div abp="1247">
<span abp="1329" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1330" style="color: lime;"> I also cannot
get over this display case:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1331" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1332" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Glaji9NYqjQt9exLqMJTmj52HXnAk39PG2Ui5yxy-soN75zbTboOUUdl8dFFJeJCgZR1DmfEkthJ-CWg85vz4Lk8UL1O3SmzKkbE0j3NUdYgAL2pD0NcpUC_LMM_dIXIzMLDkjAVpdY/s1600/spiderman_2_head_de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1333" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Glaji9NYqjQt9exLqMJTmj52HXnAk39PG2Ui5yxy-soN75zbTboOUUdl8dFFJeJCgZR1DmfEkthJ-CWg85vz4Lk8UL1O3SmzKkbE0j3NUdYgAL2pD0NcpUC_LMM_dIXIzMLDkjAVpdY/s1600/spiderman_2_head_de.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></div>
<div abp="1334">
<div abp="1254">
<span abp="1335" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="1336" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1257">
<span abp="1337" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1338" style="color: lime;">A friend of mine accidentally got one in advance
and we considered taking it around town and photographing it in weird places.
Thankfully, sobriety prevailed.<o:p abp="1339"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1340">
</div>
<div abp="1341">
<div abp="1263">
<span abp="1342" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1343" style="color: lime;">-A Furry convention was (supposedly) <a abp="1806" href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/12/07/369186497/chlorine-gas-leak-in-chicago-disrupts-furries-convention"><span abp="1267" style="color: #93c47d;">gassed by trolls and dozens were rushed to the hospital</span></a>, sparking an outrage online. I
don’t see what the big deal is, aren’t these people supposedly subjected to
attacks like this every day according to their Tumblr posts?</span> </span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1344" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1345" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AZbYc-3yIzezRx6CJo3G2VHFSpi8RRWrh39Wwf0Bq2vDWVWBhb2aRx7wziz2C65yCajAiKpEeF0C__52IITfwRZenw6jwvkPrbwvzDUbwbplF88LtCF81t1fYJvsqcYNskIs32PvI8g/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1346" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AZbYc-3yIzezRx6CJo3G2VHFSpi8RRWrh39Wwf0Bq2vDWVWBhb2aRx7wziz2C65yCajAiKpEeF0C__52IITfwRZenw6jwvkPrbwvzDUbwbplF88LtCF81t1fYJvsqcYNskIs32PvI8g/s1600/0.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1347">
<div abp="1272">
<span abp="1348" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="1349"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="1350">
</div>
<div abp="1351" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1277">
<span abp="1352" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1353" style="color: lime;">-Speaking of Tumblr and conventions, the first
Tumblr convention, called Dashcon, was organized. Not surprisingly, <a abp="1810" href="http://www.dailydot.com/geek/dash-con-controversy-tumblr/"><span abp="1281" style="color: #93c47d;">it failed hilariously</span></a>, with all involved trying pathetically to pretend that they had fun
and acting like they ‘get’ jokes about the con. Yeah right, if these people
could take a joke that well, the site wouldn’t even exist.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1354" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1355" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4atlj7IJVKKc0a6Xa5e0TN8ePm_64eOAKNUjvGGOlKwLblJhhof42LB8ca_giMc1a9Ho2SdnJN6WDt43-a-K0Mea-Tiv9bVCClLfix-CrX0aK9Om0KXeU4srw5XvaI1gHyFuso0RYI0/s1600/ballpit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1356" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4atlj7IJVKKc0a6Xa5e0TN8ePm_64eOAKNUjvGGOlKwLblJhhof42LB8ca_giMc1a9Ho2SdnJN6WDt43-a-K0Mea-Tiv9bVCClLfix-CrX0aK9Om0KXeU4srw5XvaI1gHyFuso0RYI0/s1600/ballpit2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1357" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1358" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7tF_ppq1qEgPW4vy5qkUlwBQXu2AyxiG-kcck6GYoow_DBOu_hB8taNtv1B-460WzaxiNf1Ygctr-YXx1StUaG3uEj4EzzMNunEpl3qxkc8MLDZ6HIwcM9zwYx_nOn3x_s2LsmMIwHc/s1600/dashcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1359" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7tF_ppq1qEgPW4vy5qkUlwBQXu2AyxiG-kcck6GYoow_DBOu_hB8taNtv1B-460WzaxiNf1Ygctr-YXx1StUaG3uEj4EzzMNunEpl3qxkc8MLDZ6HIwcM9zwYx_nOn3x_s2LsmMIwHc/s1600/dashcon.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1360" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="1361" style="color: white;">More virgins than a Monastery</span></div>
<div abp="1362" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="1363" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1292">
<span abp="1364" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1365" style="color: lime;">Also,
consider how many of these people claim to be non-white and physically
disabled. If even half of those claims were true, a quick glimpse of the con
should show, if not a majority of such people, a sizeable amount that could not
be missed in any big shot of the con. Well, there are pics showing pretty much
everyone who was there, and I don’t see <i abp="1366" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i>
non-whites or people whose physical impairments are noticeable enough to cause
them discrimination worth complaining about. “Most diverse site on the
internet” my ass.</span> </span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1367" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1368" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfq_utCOCXaDPPe3k2VABqmiKoRZ6G6ZiAEy-uzBgnceM9eBYcmTkBSb71vRgGend-VGTmWTkQ10Cz9p4HYplaEs6UqHAO1AaLqdpNzSVTcaZijtJnitjg1oalxfT0SBmUQrXXxlSTDg/s1600/10514163_10153083113518569_5085828363159786149_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1369" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfq_utCOCXaDPPe3k2VABqmiKoRZ6G6ZiAEy-uzBgnceM9eBYcmTkBSb71vRgGend-VGTmWTkQ10Cz9p4HYplaEs6UqHAO1AaLqdpNzSVTcaZijtJnitjg1oalxfT0SBmUQrXXxlSTDg/s1600/10514163_10153083113518569_5085828363159786149_o.jpg" height="153" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1370" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="1371" style="color: white;">OMG! One black guy! Sooo diverse!!!1!</span></div>
<div abp="1372" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1302">
<span abp="1373" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="1374"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="1375">
<div abp="1306">
<span abp="1376" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1377" style="color: lime;">-Look, I know <i abp="1378" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man
of Steel</i> didn’t please everyone, but did they really have to reboot it with
Godzilla?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1379" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1380" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2u07741-M6Px2ozpsq_SxwH86Imm8riD-ITNqrfZ4XXdxkCZeg1NkfGEOPdfkAV2ZoTjD3yME5_r5A4Et2R7h7g69fkZpVW4zPjxdxfL_QvkKWR50zomFGZ7Ez9CQ-xQlQnT2FTy3as/s1600/savior.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1381" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2u07741-M6Px2ozpsq_SxwH86Imm8riD-ITNqrfZ4XXdxkCZeg1NkfGEOPdfkAV2ZoTjD3yME5_r5A4Et2R7h7g69fkZpVW4zPjxdxfL_QvkKWR50zomFGZ7Ez9CQ-xQlQnT2FTy3as/s1600/savior.png" height="178" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1382">
<div abp="1314">
<span abp="1383" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1384" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1385"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="1386">
<div abp="1319">
<span abp="1387" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span abp="1388" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1389" style="color: lime;">-Internet semi-celeb Chris Chan had a pretty rough
year. First his house burned down, then he found out several former friends of
his were anything but, and now <a abp="1814" href="http://www.sonichu.com/cwcki/26_December_2014"><span abp="1324" style="color: #93c47d;">he’s been arrested for assaulting a Gamespot employee</span></a><span abp="1325" style="color: #93c47d;"> </span>(and it seems this time, he’s really going to get the book thrown at
him). Back in Chris’s glory days in 2009, someone said this whole affair would
be “so funny if it wasn’t so sad”, and five years later, that someone is still
right.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1390">
<div abp="1327">
<span abp="1391" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1392" style="color: lime;"></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="1330">
<span abp="1393" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1394" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1395"></o:p></span></span><div abp="1396">
<div abp="1335">
<span abp="1393" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1394" style="color: lime;"><span abp="1397" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1398" style="color: lime;">-Scientists have managed to successfully <a abp="1818" href="http://www.iflscience.com/technology/worms-mind-robot-body"><span abp="1341" style="color: #93c47d;">transplant the brain of a worm into a robotic body</span></a>. I for one, welcome our new robo-worm
overlords.<o:p abp="1399"></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span abp="1393" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1394" style="color: lime;">
<div abp="1400">
<div abp="1346">
<span abp="1401" style="color: black; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div abp="1513" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="1401" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a abp="1514" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiXURRAoQtQCVNlE0fvU7jr_xZf4zNnBt-KnH638Z_EB6cxFMgpbsh7oRbNeoRFholo94hS6L-anx0M9lBvcN_3MVrxmwOvQG8LyukrgHzqUkjKUdVE8yToNrYj17xYugJKQIcEDHUrs/s1600/Highpants-Worminator-Neurorobotics-200x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1515" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiXURRAoQtQCVNlE0fvU7jr_xZf4zNnBt-KnH638Z_EB6cxFMgpbsh7oRbNeoRFholo94hS6L-anx0M9lBvcN_3MVrxmwOvQG8LyukrgHzqUkjKUdVE8yToNrYj17xYugJKQIcEDHUrs/s1600/Highpants-Worminator-Neurorobotics-200x200.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1352">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="1404">
<div abp="1354">
</div>
</div>
</span><div abp="1405">
<div abp="1356">
</div>
</div>
</span><div abp="1357">
<br /></div>
<div abp="1406">
<div abp="1359">
<span abp="1407" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1408" style="color: lime;">-IMDb message boards reveal that 90% of Turks who
have internet access have never heard of Dracula (the character) prior to <i abp="1409" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dracula Untold</i> and think the movie was
intended as a serious biopic. What is it with <a abp="1822" href="http://www.today.com/id/27669362/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/christopher-nolan-being-sued-batman/#.VKTFGkPTm1s"><span abp="1364" style="color: #93c47d;">Turks not hearing of famous fictional characters associated with bats and then getting outraged by movies with them?</span></a></span> </span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1410" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1411" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B5RYi_zMA3BJCZWyZSvTnBr6_puyqhbVYCpKWwcyFEcTATyXUppuT8zmo2xnMT3hBgdu1OALCN1nB87S7OvAQ1YhF7Jm6LvTBZLuJ0hT2sV3sUoyxhHvlR9q83gzX26ohZytlGMT2IE/s1600/draculauntoldretards.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1412" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B5RYi_zMA3BJCZWyZSvTnBr6_puyqhbVYCpKWwcyFEcTATyXUppuT8zmo2xnMT3hBgdu1OALCN1nB87S7OvAQ1YhF7Jm6LvTBZLuJ0hT2sV3sUoyxhHvlR9q83gzX26ohZytlGMT2IE/s1600/draculauntoldretards.png" height="109" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1413" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1369">
<span abp="1414" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="1415"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="1416">
<div abp="1373">
<span abp="1417" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1418" style="color: lime;">-Having been abandoned by SJWs and declared
“Oppressors”, no one paying any attention to the zillions of shitty
documentaries being made every week about them, and with even the most hardcore
fans acknowledging that the show no longer has any adult appeal (As if it ever
did), Bronies are officially out of the limelight.</span> </span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1419" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1420" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_ChU63jm4Zhml3HZFHTP3jEkpPgOW01ZIuHnOPRBmxtEkejMwV_jbnPcyC_pQywhTiHSkLJhiqFiE5x-Caw1exavbceF6N4vmNbinqjn-FGwHoO4wMiQeMbiuRaGEDxQIWH7P81EYog/s1600/homelessbrony.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1421" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_ChU63jm4Zhml3HZFHTP3jEkpPgOW01ZIuHnOPRBmxtEkejMwV_jbnPcyC_pQywhTiHSkLJhiqFiE5x-Caw1exavbceF6N4vmNbinqjn-FGwHoO4wMiQeMbiuRaGEDxQIWH7P81EYog/s1600/homelessbrony.png" height="270" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1422">
<div abp="1380">
<span abp="1423" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="1424"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="1425">
<div abp="1384">
<span abp="1426" style="color: lime;"><i abp="1427" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span abp="1428" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Breaking
Bad</span></i><span abp="1429" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
fans are also out of the picture now. <span abp="1430" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the show has ended, Heisenberg is
a cultural icon. The most mainstream an “edgy” show can possibly get.<o:p abp="1431"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1432">
</div>
<div abp="1433" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1434" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69i5OJIRhB7UVKGoJDWwyys98f7yNSpu-1c9Fjjupbl2YCJy96lHW1EKSqll3uLaB6Eq5Reth2qhxP-EysdapQZM0yHtmqD3llY70UaaV884tPTMQaNNufsHJST0q9o_vlz_bKdYaKNE/s1600/FUN4343-Breaking-Bad-Heisenberg-Pop!-Vinyl_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1435" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69i5OJIRhB7UVKGoJDWwyys98f7yNSpu-1c9Fjjupbl2YCJy96lHW1EKSqll3uLaB6Eq5Reth2qhxP-EysdapQZM0yHtmqD3llY70UaaV884tPTMQaNNufsHJST0q9o_vlz_bKdYaKNE/s1600/FUN4343-Breaking-Bad-Heisenberg-Pop!-Vinyl_3.png" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<div abp="1436" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1396">
<span abp="1437" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1438" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="1439" style="color: lime;"><i abp="1440" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Doctor Who</i> fans also left the show in
droves over the new, less fanfic-able actor playing the Doctor. <i abp="1441" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sherlock</i> fans also turned against the show.
In fact, it seems Tumblr has now turned against Benedict Cumberbatch in general,
and is calling his (rumored) casting as Dr. Strange “whitewashing” (Doctor
Strange isn’t white? News to me).</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1442" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1443" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjoUwewMxnplriKDzQf9ozDIsYxYKzo2Sv9t8W_KMx9CHTLZjClw0sFFSqs-9pDgQh0dtVraUf_2pIvZLgryeX_1t1AvbzZDphcl1WRUWekAPu3HoiVt9h_HPYfPmKLQtVJ2Q7Dg7ApA/s1600/tumblr_neadsc1h0u1u00qgto1_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1444" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjoUwewMxnplriKDzQf9ozDIsYxYKzo2Sv9t8W_KMx9CHTLZjClw0sFFSqs-9pDgQh0dtVraUf_2pIvZLgryeX_1t1AvbzZDphcl1WRUWekAPu3HoiVt9h_HPYfPmKLQtVJ2Q7Dg7ApA/s1600/tumblr_neadsc1h0u1u00qgto1_1280.png" height="73" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1446" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1447" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1448"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<div abp="1411">
<span abp="1450" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1451" style="color: lime;"> So with
Bronies, <i abp="1452" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breaking Bad</i> fans and the
Superwholock fanbase out of the picture, which new obnoxious fandom will take
over the internet next?</span></span></div>
<div abp="1411">
<span abp="1450" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1451" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1453"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="1456" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1457" style="color: lime;"> -<i abp="1458" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Strange
Magic</i>, George Lucas’s rumored adaptation of Shakespeare’s <i abp="1459" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Midsummer Night’s Dream</i> for kids
suddenly popped up with announcements for a late January release. From the
looks of it, it seems more like <i abp="1460" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Midwinter’s Tax Write Off</i>, with sub-Dreamworks humor. It’s obvious no one
expects to this to be a hit, but an awful lot of care seems to have gone into
those character designs, so who knows? Actually, you know what? I’m more
intrigued by this than I was by anything in the <i abp="1461" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Force Awakens</i> trailer, and that's not even a slam against Abrams.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<a abp="1463" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YgFwxIYZUg2bKNu5NlRP9cIfFlVi69XmXaUmgTHI7hmv8TamO-N8eB4XfpNqYh6v0rSOtvQCPiv8H_ebRCpQc4ZUgOHoGxqzPwBUmRxxTX88pnLUcAYPVzbPfYiJHd0i96WWZqNVvPU/s1600/x240-GYr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1464" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YgFwxIYZUg2bKNu5NlRP9cIfFlVi69XmXaUmgTHI7hmv8TamO-N8eB4XfpNqYh6v0rSOtvQCPiv8H_ebRCpQc4ZUgOHoGxqzPwBUmRxxTX88pnLUcAYPVzbPfYiJHd0i96WWZqNVvPU/s1600/x240-GYr.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1470" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1471" style="color: lime;">-Jake Gyllenhall’s performance in <i abp="1472" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nightcrawler</i> was nothing short of
incredible, and the same goes for the rest of the film. This one deserves all
the Oscars it gets, hands down.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<a abp="1474" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGypowf45awggUuZKJoTde8jMCMlulSPyanjOTEdAR1lWdX4DmSyR4um6bxSdJxbNzEOzumF7LnHllc3r4f0CIobtuCpBFQYxlbIMF5X5V-jVvcQiKKpxIqq4eYnTAaH5mDZkxv8kiyrg/s1600/nightcrawler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1475" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGypowf45awggUuZKJoTde8jMCMlulSPyanjOTEdAR1lWdX4DmSyR4um6bxSdJxbNzEOzumF7LnHllc3r4f0CIobtuCpBFQYxlbIMF5X5V-jVvcQiKKpxIqq4eYnTAaH5mDZkxv8kiyrg/s1600/nightcrawler.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1477" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1478" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1479"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<div abp="1480">
<div abp="1447">
<span abp="1481" style="color: lime;"><span abp="1482" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">-<i abp="1483" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Captain
America: The Winter Soldier</i> was not just an excellent sequel, but probably
the best political thriller in years. And not to rip on <i abp="1484" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iron Man 3</i> again, but was also far more relevant than whatever
message that film had. That film criticized an out-of-power president and vice
president years after they were gone, this film had something to say about what is going on
NOW. </span><span abp="1485" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I also really don’t get all the “MCU films are
for kids” criticism, this was more adult and over kid’s heads than anything
Nolan did in his Batman trilogy.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<a abp="1487" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFBpoRG0JRC22x-sFJ97fYFhig1jRb6tS4p42xLIW1Tv7rtDk729k4cSrGsIxJ8OvkBG9MHDcrFUNq2FvvCDSn7PpdYxvwTJenaEiFrKa6NGbqu9oHAsn_g3nPGBAsCkr8k5_aR2E8zc/s1600/1396418825-4218993238_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1488" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFBpoRG0JRC22x-sFJ97fYFhig1jRb6tS4p42xLIW1Tv7rtDk729k4cSrGsIxJ8OvkBG9MHDcrFUNq2FvvCDSn7PpdYxvwTJenaEiFrKa6NGbqu9oHAsn_g3nPGBAsCkr8k5_aR2E8zc/s1600/1396418825-4218993238_n.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1555" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1556" style="color: lime;">Best films:</span></span></div>
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<a abp="1580" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNznIkUZLF89J0dtRKTRzXOPYSitGMXi6asvHt4lZQrD6x7g64Jsic64w65hLDsV5UPM9knrQG0ALb6ej2woA2dWNIxqQU86gJWRQczf5x9vOM-QsKy4WZXFMSgC-_PBFulK-dfIE03w/s1600/93a2e21f34_500x670_5bb7b02537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1581" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNznIkUZLF89J0dtRKTRzXOPYSitGMXi6asvHt4lZQrD6x7g64Jsic64w65hLDsV5UPM9knrQG0ALb6ej2woA2dWNIxqQU86gJWRQczf5x9vOM-QsKy4WZXFMSgC-_PBFulK-dfIE03w/s1600/93a2e21f34_500x670_5bb7b02537.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1584" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD03_vTEeQlgU5Concp2mmQadX51oTp1o4Sxg7Rvxn5KlZAQkEVT7urJ20Qia64GJwwttQzhTHUbli9GWdoBdDZVyP2TuZhyphenhyphenIBz31DxDbOdi2CdXMfttLldjB-w3VTHg07jNVdlpQuUTU/s1600/I1oPPStlZGGqaWy4gBp6FkZWJt4pnyV5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1585" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD03_vTEeQlgU5Concp2mmQadX51oTp1o4Sxg7Rvxn5KlZAQkEVT7urJ20Qia64GJwwttQzhTHUbli9GWdoBdDZVyP2TuZhyphenhyphenIBz31DxDbOdi2CdXMfttLldjB-w3VTHg07jNVdlpQuUTU/s1600/I1oPPStlZGGqaWy4gBp6FkZWJt4pnyV5.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1604" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMPpCaj_UC0Timx-tWeGgSkP_nrAwaM1VcVdwBM0LZJXw6VKDug2lLcv9RuaxzsTh3Cep3sq-kt6UqvSBsMPSLQ-H5DUq1Ev2B9ZI2juM-8hHoK36q-el2dZutZLLyjhI6KOItKliCZs/s1600/photo-2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1605" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMPpCaj_UC0Timx-tWeGgSkP_nrAwaM1VcVdwBM0LZJXw6VKDug2lLcv9RuaxzsTh3Cep3sq-kt6UqvSBsMPSLQ-H5DUq1Ev2B9ZI2juM-8hHoK36q-el2dZutZLLyjhI6KOItKliCZs/s1600/photo-2-2.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1622" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeewlMg2yUuFpwtOKe70ClRFlZqLYbeGL3ILMaTHcFCdPL-gaGCgDUj526Bswqdfnk5G-VEJiZtiOTe6FTE4OSdgwykxILmOa6Km-SYab6yj1tXsilXZs6TRsyfVP39EVtqv2HkMDlNNU/s1600/1396418825-4218993238_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1623" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeewlMg2yUuFpwtOKe70ClRFlZqLYbeGL3ILMaTHcFCdPL-gaGCgDUj526Bswqdfnk5G-VEJiZtiOTe6FTE4OSdgwykxILmOa6Km-SYab6yj1tXsilXZs6TRsyfVP39EVtqv2HkMDlNNU/s1600/1396418825-4218993238_n.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1640" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hMlr8OpBZvXt8DPXaEXE-JXX67obUDR4Nb1lPpjztmouxncTupNyYQuMwRdFYSWqUfTza7SbLqWloi9RvFDfQ3AN6q93cSZRRZuZ0DFshjloAVZZJSNGtLsP06UL6BnRapYU5d6l708/s1600/gbh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1641" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hMlr8OpBZvXt8DPXaEXE-JXX67obUDR4Nb1lPpjztmouxncTupNyYQuMwRdFYSWqUfTza7SbLqWloi9RvFDfQ3AN6q93cSZRRZuZ0DFshjloAVZZJSNGtLsP06UL6BnRapYU5d6l708/s1600/gbh.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1495" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="1496" style="color: lime;"> Anyway, Happy New Year! Maybe I'll even manage 10 posts!</span></span></div>
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<a abp="1518" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZP5-LmgJNZFXOtrgvIDVh14CdT8ycsrHMj7G6dSJmPi5GWAp6hD9s8vfgTtyEGt7-uqqk3DEFf9BFjohE7hAJBPbtKBZBuMuaz1JJj987K_NbgvSOwFNe59xwuSA0uv3Z_qSXQXKIr0/s1600/new-years-eve-party-redding-california.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1519" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZP5-LmgJNZFXOtrgvIDVh14CdT8ycsrHMj7G6dSJmPi5GWAp6hD9s8vfgTtyEGt7-uqqk3DEFf9BFjohE7hAJBPbtKBZBuMuaz1JJj987K_NbgvSOwFNe59xwuSA0uv3Z_qSXQXKIr0/s1600/new-years-eve-party-redding-california.jpg" /></a></div>
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100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-23864055884734067882014-10-31T05:59:00.001-07:002014-10-31T05:59:06.520-07:00Creepy presents: Bernie Wrightson<div abp="273">
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<a abp="819" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOywjNTkOJy2K_7ou_Go7Hm75aHFn5j6JebNeLU-0weum4VIS6xh8K9BGnxYawW0-LeYfrR-GJILxy2X6CJRxRYYgHJx64fXRIai3sVLzWMK16XvGwBoEWfRAjSVap9QUdbTOZqsa9CcU/s1600/762435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="820" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOywjNTkOJy2K_7ou_Go7Hm75aHFn5j6JebNeLU-0weum4VIS6xh8K9BGnxYawW0-LeYfrR-GJILxy2X6CJRxRYYgHJx64fXRIai3sVLzWMK16XvGwBoEWfRAjSVap9QUdbTOZqsa9CcU/s1600/762435.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<div abp="276" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="277" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="278" style="color: orange;">While I guess there’s a bit of truth that Dark Horse
has become “the place where properties DC and Marvel loses the rights to go to
die”, look at all the fantastic collections of material, much of it never
before reprinted, that they’ve been putting out. There are few comic book
artists who have gotten as much mainstream recognition as Bernie Wrightson, and
hence, as many reprints as Wrightson has, but you know what? I don’t care! This
little hardcover collecting the work Bernie Wrightson did when he was at Warren
is <i abp="279" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fantastic</i>. No enlarged or reduced
pages or panels, no garish coloring. Here’s everything as it as it was meant to
be seen. You know something has to be good when you buy it despite already
owning most of the stories contained therein!<o:p abp="280"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="281">
<span abp="282" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="283" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="284" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="285" style="color: orange;"><span abp="286" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small caveat
though, is that, famous as Wrightson’s stories at Warren are, the amount of
actual stories he drew for the company is relatively small. A good chunk of the
book is made up of his covers, pin-ups, back-covers and frontispieces, as well
as stories where he was just the inker.<o:p abp="287"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="288">
<span abp="289" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="290" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="291" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="292" style="color: orange;"><span abp="293" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But anyway, on
to the stories:<o:p abp="294"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="295">
<span abp="296" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="297" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="298" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="299" style="color: orange;"><span abp="300" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stories from <b abp="301" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy</b>:<o:p abp="302"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="303">
<span abp="304" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="305" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="306" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="307" style="color: orange;"><span abp="308" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-“The Black
Cat” from <b abp="309" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy #62</b>:<o:p abp="310"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="311">
<span abp="312" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="312" style="color: orange;"><a abp="842" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDcKle2n4YzxUcR670SJxcezDsZmo93rRWd2rQ67xlXFON29YUDgn_JAEFpH40YGBKXcqETmbyxcfSe60LGLPi2unixIuIK38PEpDlC8eazdDS1zJghzHDFdgZ1JAHHtIOPmgzifRhck/s1600/wrightsonblackcat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="843" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDcKle2n4YzxUcR670SJxcezDsZmo93rRWd2rQ67xlXFON29YUDgn_JAEFpH40YGBKXcqETmbyxcfSe60LGLPi2unixIuIK38PEpDlC8eazdDS1zJghzHDFdgZ1JAHHtIOPmgzifRhck/s1600/wrightsonblackcat.png" height="320" width="275" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="313" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="314" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="315" style="color: orange;"><span abp="316" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have
been quite a few adaptations of <b abp="317" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
Black Cat</b> in comics over the years, and I don’t think this was even
Warren’s first! But damn, when you read the introduction where Bruce Jones
talks about Wrightson won over James Warren by intentionally withholding the
pages at first and showing him work he’d done as a teenager, you believe it!
Who wouldn’t be blown away by work like this?<o:p abp="318"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="320" style="color: orange;"><a abp="868" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GXb2wLr_uejgoQ4hIgEoU7umHoxUiWGr4EOdsLpq_gMbGCc5edPYwAHadXV-S9bCoHHmzJCrskFytTKPDEY1kuZuaO63KTVnQbiXfzx7nhESRtS-ojd7FA9oYck1kub-hpuu-jsY7QE/s1600/wrightsonblackcat1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="869" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GXb2wLr_uejgoQ4hIgEoU7umHoxUiWGr4EOdsLpq_gMbGCc5edPYwAHadXV-S9bCoHHmzJCrskFytTKPDEY1kuZuaO63KTVnQbiXfzx7nhESRtS-ojd7FA9oYck1kub-hpuu-jsY7QE/s1600/wrightsonblackcat1.png" height="239" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="321" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="322" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="323" style="color: orange;"><span abp="324" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a pretty
straightforward adaptation of the story with almost no changes, but what do you
expect from a story as done to death as this? Gorgeous stuff.<o:p abp="325"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="326">
<span abp="327" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="328" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="329" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="330" style="color: orange;"><span abp="331" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="332" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> When the narrator
kills his wife. Ugh! That hurts just looking at it. Note how there’s no blood;
it’s the sheer <i abp="333" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">furor</i> that sells it.<o:p abp="334"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="335">
<span abp="336" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="893" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="336" style="color: orange;"><a abp="894" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeObu5MGVcQpi0FV7DqaKq3_68mlNCv5s9C9EXN5ZiLK688_2rhEyjsyMF-q5DY3Dcw830xZ5YvnAIH5_h9_jD2nXndegCYgttjaDjB-zl8W0e1lozwrM02q_nf4e3fT3FIjbZ-KWieI/s1600/wrightsonblackcat2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="895" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeObu5MGVcQpi0FV7DqaKq3_68mlNCv5s9C9EXN5ZiLK688_2rhEyjsyMF-q5DY3Dcw830xZ5YvnAIH5_h9_jD2nXndegCYgttjaDjB-zl8W0e1lozwrM02q_nf4e3fT3FIjbZ-KWieI/s1600/wrightsonblackcat2.png" height="320" width="273" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="337" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="338" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="339" style="color: orange;"><span abp="340" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-“Jenifer”
from <b abp="341" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy #63</b>:<o:p abp="342"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="343">
<span abp="344" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="346" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="347" style="color: orange;"> This is the
infamous shocker which got made into a <i abp="349" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Masters
of Horror</i> episode (aka “The only worthwhile thing Dario Argento has done in
years”) and always gets cited when people bring up horror comics stories along
with <i abp="350" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hoppin’ Down the Bunny Trail</i> and
<em abp="1796">The Monster of Dead End Street. </em>It's so popular Wrightson actually gets sketch requests of it. </span></span></div>
<div abp="1797" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1798" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_qIWNskA9J446zoq-6SbnAvqKPM1p_n7iF34xA74ml6uS11Zbqc95BmiWzSR5ikpvXcZbzUOlDh-FBT0TL0K6Wb6QVfvsmkouhPtnAfC3_71pqhNBeUVrnm8h49E6TqbHEPHYrGxdmk/s1600/Jenifer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1799" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_qIWNskA9J446zoq-6SbnAvqKPM1p_n7iF34xA74ml6uS11Zbqc95BmiWzSR5ikpvXcZbzUOlDh-FBT0TL0K6Wb6QVfvsmkouhPtnAfC3_71pqhNBeUVrnm8h49E6TqbHEPHYrGxdmk/s1600/Jenifer.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div abp="1817" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1818" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCuMJEHBmBrWbZMHMGFNvohwaozszmRDv0gZYA0d33YOCenYFoMU18NbL_NZjzVnWyQLs-JvR6ZIoTwIyKC_9xZRiMWOkLXU7gQF84ICdg6fVZg0lhUe3GlNRuL9i9babElqqXfiu52s/s1600/wj.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1819" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCuMJEHBmBrWbZMHMGFNvohwaozszmRDv0gZYA0d33YOCenYFoMU18NbL_NZjzVnWyQLs-JvR6ZIoTwIyKC_9xZRiMWOkLXU7gQF84ICdg6fVZg0lhUe3GlNRuL9i9babElqqXfiu52s/s1600/wj.gif" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<div abp="343">
<span abp="346" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="347" style="color: orange;"></span></span> </div>
<div abp="343">
<span abp="346" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="347" style="color: orange;"> Truth
be told, as good as the script by Bruce Jones is, I’ve never really gotten into
Wrightson’s art that much in this story. It’s great, but I always found the
titular character more comical-looking/pitiable rather than frightening,
although that’s sort of the point, I guess.<o:p abp="352"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="353">
<span abp="354" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="354" style="color: orange;"><a abp="920" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GtXDAP4i8qfDHAqfwlJ6DJBRBtjT5zM7YfrPOh4YFhXArREqcqChDCuru21wiGZSz0c13IxWQmvtPOZnAGcLzLjyrTsI7OFYSl4fPp-yvFopj9r7PsXfGV6oqv32WFVClTM4-iweR4Y/s1600/jenifersplash.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="921" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GtXDAP4i8qfDHAqfwlJ6DJBRBtjT5zM7YfrPOh4YFhXArREqcqChDCuru21wiGZSz0c13IxWQmvtPOZnAGcLzLjyrTsI7OFYSl4fPp-yvFopj9r7PsXfGV6oqv32WFVClTM4-iweR4Y/s1600/jenifersplash.png" height="281" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="355" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="356" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="357" style="color: orange;"><span abp="358" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is
about a wealthy family man who rescues a deformed and (apparently) retarded
girl from being killed in the woods by shooting a man. Not wanting to face a
scandal, he buries the body and “adopts” the girl, who he names Jenifer.
Jenifer seems to exert a hypnotic influence on the man, making him overlook all
the horrible things she does to his family, eventually causing them to leave.
Half-horrified and half-attracted to her (Jenifer has <i abp="359" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">quite</i> a body), the man and Jenifer hit the road, with the man
trying to escape but always coming back no matter what, sometimes out of pity,
sometimes out fear, with each night a living hell of cheap motels,
female-on-male rape and the dead bodies of Jenifer’s victims. Yes, it’s a story
designed solely to prey on male anxieties about being dominated and a fear of
“ugly” women, but it’s so hauntingly, unrelentingly bleak that you won’t even
think to criticize the cliché ending.<o:p abp="360"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="361">
<span abp="362" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="945" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="362" style="color: orange;"><a abp="946" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSFCAz_i1Foeq2_sEeskQFmu96i018zcSJcCmmKPpLVKzClfXQOdeTiof_7YATSpUbFnVuQGL470VV_7nm8W01lXtYmgUANof7B2x2GM5pnCzqax7GYhmCusCAWCKg7xc7nfoaiqWc0U/s1600/jenifercries.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="947" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSFCAz_i1Foeq2_sEeskQFmu96i018zcSJcCmmKPpLVKzClfXQOdeTiof_7YATSpUbFnVuQGL470VV_7nm8W01lXtYmgUANof7B2x2GM5pnCzqax7GYhmCusCAWCKg7xc7nfoaiqWc0U/s1600/jenifercries.png" height="168" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="363" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="364" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="365" style="color: orange;"><span abp="366" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="367" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> When Jenifer
decides to get “frisky”. This is probably comicdom’s most sickening rape scene.<o:p abp="368"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="369">
<span abp="370" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="971" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="370" style="color: orange;"><a abp="972" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzYbljbdsABqky1qe-zkCtPmaXojkJAv5l7F747iAwHgktQpAI6Wsf01JJ8TrBqwdsnyPykWywi5dM5hxbOkFU_SVOzCMf8ROGQVEjmuPt5AUGwQ0j8dOao-IQhDoVnu4stYNLOZFAlI/s1600/jenifergetslonely.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="973" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzYbljbdsABqky1qe-zkCtPmaXojkJAv5l7F747iAwHgktQpAI6Wsf01JJ8TrBqwdsnyPykWywi5dM5hxbOkFU_SVOzCMf8ROGQVEjmuPt5AUGwQ0j8dOao-IQhDoVnu4stYNLOZFAlI/s1600/jenifergetslonely.png" height="172" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="371" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="372" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="373" style="color: orange;"><span abp="374" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, by the
way, “feminist” community Scans_Daily sees Jenifer as the real rape victim and
completely ignores <i abp="375" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i> about
the story in order to suit their “head-canons”. I <em abp="1023">wish</em> I was kidding:<o:p abp="376"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="377">
<span abp="378" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="997" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="378" style="color: orange;"><a abp="998" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReI5EmpqTl5e5naexrfPRARd7UREkUKcVZM8Jeb_xFoKBpw5phAp77vGcj4jWz1DohTLaPigAp9XwWp6REZsjgzKT1SyvwXotQ3CgXHx88AuQBHXg_JZaG-obE2JMQwhivwoYGPsfL6E/s1600/scansdaily_jenifer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="999" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReI5EmpqTl5e5naexrfPRARd7UREkUKcVZM8Jeb_xFoKBpw5phAp77vGcj4jWz1DohTLaPigAp9XwWp6REZsjgzKT1SyvwXotQ3CgXHx88AuQBHXg_JZaG-obE2JMQwhivwoYGPsfL6E/s1600/scansdaily_jenifer.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="997" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="378" style="color: orange;"><span abp="1024" style="color: white;">All of these dissenters have probably been banned now</span></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="379" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="380" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="381" style="color: orange;">-“Clarice” from <b abp="382" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy
#77</b>:<o:p abp="383"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="384">
<span abp="385" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1025" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="385" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1026" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubFMj4eua7fbuBfohEuy-bu_sKFGAf3wzTA3wADCRzfWeoi3Wq8rA1e7OHsNMEHyoCAYPFxyXux0N0ptaQsEOICvRsBJttlEiEBrMjIFXPRIZ7vO9c5w0UOUzyIyWSsGFxrbP3ybTwEU/s1600/clarice1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1027" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubFMj4eua7fbuBfohEuy-bu_sKFGAf3wzTA3wADCRzfWeoi3Wq8rA1e7OHsNMEHyoCAYPFxyXux0N0ptaQsEOICvRsBJttlEiEBrMjIFXPRIZ7vO9c5w0UOUzyIyWSsGFxrbP3ybTwEU/s1600/clarice1.png" height="320" width="225" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="386" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="387" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="388" style="color: orange;"><span abp="389" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man whose
wife accidentally died in a blizzard returns, but is she after revenge? And
which of them is truly dead? Told entirely in rhyme.<o:p abp="390"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="391">
<span abp="392" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="393" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="394" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="395" style="color: orange;"><span abp="396" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not much to
say about this one either in terms of art or story (it is only 5 pages, with
four panels to each page), but I do like Wrightson’s snow effects and how he
tries to downplay the horror aspects to fit the romantic, melancholy mood of
the story.<o:p abp="397"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="398">
<span abp="399" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="400" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="401" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="402" style="color: orange;"><span abp="403" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="404" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> I usually try to
avoid spoilers, but the last two panels manage to be surprisingly emotional,
although the ending doesn’t really make sense to me. <o:p abp="405"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="406">
<span abp="407" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1051" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="407" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1052" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVTqh3QCkig-rYE4pZtI_if9mfPLvX9CJMNAHZlzP-W-35AXBPfddQ_uhjV4ZPBftAfKlg93dmfLyLvCEOu0wM1lUbiw09bGi7WXaZJwOOjjdyEnWvmYCL1rE8V7v_3XOVeE0SPD51us/s1600/clariceending.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1053" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVTqh3QCkig-rYE4pZtI_if9mfPLvX9CJMNAHZlzP-W-35AXBPfddQ_uhjV4ZPBftAfKlg93dmfLyLvCEOu0wM1lUbiw09bGi7WXaZJwOOjjdyEnWvmYCL1rE8V7v_3XOVeE0SPD51us/s1600/clariceending.png" height="222" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="408" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="409" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="410" style="color: orange;">-“Country Pie” from <b abp="411" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy #83</b>:<o:p abp="412"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="413">
<span abp="414" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1077" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="414" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1078" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijeAbme2j17iKAxNJemWkJbB8NqZ0Ybo5XwrVeUB_9Sar6YhS80MkMQJOztos3lzAA_TlwMXPT7halV3XRYYe08QXmKPC2P-KdW2nN1TSud5ft9bsrkqCDDLsqa4rm6GotQDbbX1ocZ4/s1600/countrypie1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1079" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijeAbme2j17iKAxNJemWkJbB8NqZ0Ybo5XwrVeUB_9Sar6YhS80MkMQJOztos3lzAA_TlwMXPT7halV3XRYYe08QXmKPC2P-KdW2nN1TSud5ft9bsrkqCDDLsqa4rm6GotQDbbX1ocZ4/s1600/countrypie1.png" height="151" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="415" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="416" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="417" style="color: orange;"><span abp="418" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one was
actually drawn by Carmine Infantino and only inked by Wrightson. It’s about a
woman hunting down a serial killer. We see a woman who is apparently the one
tracking the killer, hitchhiking<span abp="419" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>undercover along with her ‘little brother’, getting in a car with a man
who is apparently the killer on a lonely, country road. Seems pretty reckless
bringing a child along on such a mission, and we never see how our undercover
girl is communicating with the police.<o:p abp="420"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="421">
<span abp="422" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1103" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="422" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1104" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mhT7ZgR-RPvQAdTVm6RhE32n0LTm88qP9kDyxZfTvhoAVKu08bXwH1lI-vdTIZXwfTmY1Tpt-9fH48moPJp2Suw0cwAr8qxOLMKbt-Hdw_xqYyFwfeP71FHtNwg8T9KzhcrU7XyEE40/s1600/countrypie2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1105" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mhT7ZgR-RPvQAdTVm6RhE32n0LTm88qP9kDyxZfTvhoAVKu08bXwH1lI-vdTIZXwfTmY1Tpt-9fH48moPJp2Suw0cwAr8qxOLMKbt-Hdw_xqYyFwfeP71FHtNwg8T9KzhcrU7XyEE40/s1600/countrypie2.png" height="269" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="423" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="424" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="425" style="color: orange;"><span abp="426" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough,
there’s a twist, and I’m going to go ahead and give it away. The girl and her
little brother are the killers, the man is just a horny travelling salesman and
the woman hunting the killer is actually a psychic observing this all from
afar. Oddly enough, there’s a happy ending. Pretty weak overall and the
misdirections are obvious. <o:p abp="427"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="428">
<span abp="429" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="431" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="432" style="color: orange;"> Infantino
would later draw <a abp="1888" href="http://outofthequicksand.blogspot.com/2013/04/infantino-month-part-3-nightmare-highway.html"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">a much better</span></a> (or at least, more atmospheric) story about a
serial killer targeting travelling salesmen. Wrightson’s hand can barely be
felt.<o:p abp="434"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="435">
<span abp="436" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="437" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="438" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="439" style="color: orange;"><span abp="440" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="441" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> When the salesman
is thrown into a lake and observes the corpses of all the other victims. “Sis”
must be a good swimmer to have tied them all down like that.<o:p abp="442"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="443">
<span abp="444" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1129" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="444" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1130" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYHS2lq6YgIBDx3ArwyTJ26CSFTjX17egoeyCa83zCqHGPVXFFNhv9CKzKjoR10Jn0nWvAtmTuC39mfzxbREBPXaAXwRTOvpnQVeU3-2gF8dQJPCIM6Xkid_QIINrS8D5iohmTQCvUSU/s1600/countrypie3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1131" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYHS2lq6YgIBDx3ArwyTJ26CSFTjX17egoeyCa83zCqHGPVXFFNhv9CKzKjoR10Jn0nWvAtmTuC39mfzxbREBPXaAXwRTOvpnQVeU3-2gF8dQJPCIM6Xkid_QIINrS8D5iohmTQCvUSU/s1600/countrypie3.png" height="279" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="445" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="446" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="447" style="color: orange;">-“Dick Swift and his Electric Power Ring” from <b abp="448" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy #86</b>: A terminally ill young boy
is comforted by the author of his favorite dime novel hero as he lies dying.
However, the author has a secret: The electric power ring from the stories is
real, and he gives it to the boy. I’m not spoiling this one.<o:p abp="449"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="450">
<span abp="451" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1155" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="451" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1156" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx63yp9iOiv-T0lPu8ikzeXoR9lLYTFjUCZb5ANsSPPi4oruvxpTumyatYO-wfxZrrGRIo3OMBHCjKC2G8GqPblaj2Fq-kSJmS9pQ4IBAxM7TiIQIkmJlJXrl6bAhuK2eo_2EtPAv8WtQ/s1600/dickswiftpowerring1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1157" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx63yp9iOiv-T0lPu8ikzeXoR9lLYTFjUCZb5ANsSPPi4oruvxpTumyatYO-wfxZrrGRIo3OMBHCjKC2G8GqPblaj2Fq-kSJmS9pQ4IBAxM7TiIQIkmJlJXrl6bAhuK2eo_2EtPAv8WtQ/s1600/dickswiftpowerring1.png" height="320" width="301" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="452" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="453" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="454" style="color: orange;"><span abp="455" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a
very sad, sentimental story that nevertheless manages to be uplifting. Warren
re-used this plot several times, but this time was the best. Infantino &
Wrightson’s styles mesh perfectly this time, capturing the mix of sadness and
childlike wonder that pervades the story.<o:p abp="456"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="457">
<span abp="458" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="459" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="460" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="461" style="color: orange;"><span abp="462" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="463" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> The ending, but
since I’m not going to spoil it, I’ve decided to focus on the glimpses of the dime
novel itself, which are pretty funny (and spot on if you’ve ever seen any 19<sup abp="464">th</sup>
century dime novels) even though it looks more like a comic book.</span></span></div>
<div abp="1181" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1182" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECIf9CgC-6quT-y_urn3asNXJWqp0yMGMQQ242jelQVFxcMSfsDmk0gSBLWcy5CzrgB31MMdjhAdCHH1F96kPTObzA4TQcFrfaN22ri8_Xn9P_Ir8zU-CKOUcU0HAM-YDhlsUHwGEFyU/s1600/dickswiftpowerring2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1183" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECIf9CgC-6quT-y_urn3asNXJWqp0yMGMQQ242jelQVFxcMSfsDmk0gSBLWcy5CzrgB31MMdjhAdCHH1F96kPTObzA4TQcFrfaN22ri8_Xn9P_Ir8zU-CKOUcU0HAM-YDhlsUHwGEFyU/s1600/dickswiftpowerring2.png" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1207" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1208" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dxE5P8uFRQSrGjVxz-9AdB-CGAC1jdbnJowLdGuybPjmi9SmoKutWoXEfJoZxcnXJVuieIIn43ZGr5O-dTWxIw0q5L7M23_agGnRul8SJv3ZD0YTA1awZYwGxR4ZIYiLr2q63CBtsHk/s1600/dickswiftpowerring3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1209" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dxE5P8uFRQSrGjVxz-9AdB-CGAC1jdbnJowLdGuybPjmi9SmoKutWoXEfJoZxcnXJVuieIIn43ZGr5O-dTWxIw0q5L7M23_agGnRul8SJv3ZD0YTA1awZYwGxR4ZIYiLr2q63CBtsHk/s1600/dickswiftpowerring3.png" height="171" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="459" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="469" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="470" style="color: orange;"> -“A Martian Saga” from <b abp="471" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy #87</b>: </span></span></div>
<div abp="1233" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1234" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbE5CMhbD4faiaNiZlz_h2BiFfB-L2QtU5MWnYmg80LKZj3epFpiBlaE3fTsyggz8nWwj0JDOX9LJGdZMCmaiar0mSJtG3hJjEPsI2JOOKBKyb3Lr-4FgEs4lVCmsfX6xMlgaAbAkllqA/s1600/martiansaga1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1235" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbE5CMhbD4faiaNiZlz_h2BiFfB-L2QtU5MWnYmg80LKZj3epFpiBlaE3fTsyggz8nWwj0JDOX9LJGdZMCmaiar0mSJtG3hJjEPsI2JOOKBKyb3Lr-4FgEs4lVCmsfX6xMlgaAbAkllqA/s1600/martiansaga1.png" height="320" width="196" /></a></div>
<div abp="459" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="469" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="470" style="color: orange;">A stranded astronaut<span abp="472" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>with a rapidly dwindling air supply is welcomed by a Martian tribe,
kills a monster, saves a girl, is rewarded with sex, then dies from lack of
oxygen.<o:p abp="473"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="474">
<span abp="475" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="476" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="477" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="478" style="color: orange;"><span abp="479" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
worse ways to go. <o:p abp="480"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="481">
<span abp="482" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="483" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="484" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="485" style="color: orange;"><span abp="486" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kidding
aside, this is a good one, not so much for the story, but for the way it’s
told. There’s no dialogue and everything is written in limericks. I love when
writers mix comics with poetry, but I love it even more when the poetry is
good, and Nicola Cuti’s certainly is. The subject matter may be a bit far
afield from what you’d expect from Wrightson, but it’s still beautifully drawn,
and with just one look at the ‘Martian monster’ (that looks more like a werewolf)
you know you’re in Wrightson territory. Dig the full page, thin panels too on
every page, similar to “Clarice”’s four panels-a-page grid. Wrightson’s layout
skills are underrated.<o:p abp="487"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="488">
<span abp="489" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1282" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="489" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1283" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike5E9HXn5DKp3GVqD1RcnsMRSWDrUjjGAk0Uni3QJDdiope7B89iKHrvDOJP9JhYvCykb-TE9PLQyFIDSgOYVvrAKFf-_HK9XA1svVqw38qUlPwPojAbpEnARfxKoWl3NBYmF5Z5qclg/s1600/martiansaga2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1284" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike5E9HXn5DKp3GVqD1RcnsMRSWDrUjjGAk0Uni3QJDdiope7B89iKHrvDOJP9JhYvCykb-TE9PLQyFIDSgOYVvrAKFf-_HK9XA1svVqw38qUlPwPojAbpEnARfxKoWl3NBYmF5Z5qclg/s1600/martiansaga2.png" height="320" width="225" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="490" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="491" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="492" style="color: orange;"><span abp="493" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="494" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> Our hero’s tragic
death. Like I said, there are worse ways to go.<o:p abp="495"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="496">
<span abp="497" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1285" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="497" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1286" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5iit93V2IlwaPR5niCbuJPKeQa8bS1Iqqj9enRSxEOdLAMxqxmXPqsa6n8jqDeDxyhquw-hYpVrkqpUHFIhrzCnUyrDhkKiOtYA6Q2A3rfs-Z2NhPxgJswaDU45nWbjq3HApdmYpQMI/s1600/martiansagaend.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1287" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5iit93V2IlwaPR5niCbuJPKeQa8bS1Iqqj9enRSxEOdLAMxqxmXPqsa6n8jqDeDxyhquw-hYpVrkqpUHFIhrzCnUyrDhkKiOtYA6Q2A3rfs-Z2NhPxgJswaDU45nWbjq3HApdmYpQMI/s1600/martiansagaend.png" height="320" width="219" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="498" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="499" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="500" style="color: orange;">-“The Laughing Man” from <b abp="501" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy #95</b>:<o:p abp="502"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="503">
<span abp="504" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1304" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="504" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1305" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vJNdfsSooHSIUSK3uLkkAW0DpuEg0hbIC3osspJ5rdjXMggAHcO_WSBSjZrgCytnJcCDE3Jq-2HQ9CU25hVXGECS4TZ9EB9ODTnDCIYzqOTJ-zMX_jFrkW8Hh-dYR-6vVzsLwDxxRWM/s1600/laughingman1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1306" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vJNdfsSooHSIUSK3uLkkAW0DpuEg0hbIC3osspJ5rdjXMggAHcO_WSBSjZrgCytnJcCDE3Jq-2HQ9CU25hVXGECS4TZ9EB9ODTnDCIYzqOTJ-zMX_jFrkW8Hh-dYR-6vVzsLwDxxRWM/s1600/laughingman1.png" height="228" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="505" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="506" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="507" style="color: orange;"><span abp="508" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A disheveled
explorer staggers out of the African jungle and relates the strange tale of
what happened to him and his partner, Briggs. The two were on a quest to find a
tribe of intelligent apes to bring back to a freak show, which Briggs hoped to
infiltrate by skinning and dressing up as one. Unfortunately, the apes were
watching, and strong adherents to the old phrase “Monkey see, Monkey do”…<o:p abp="509"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="510">
<span abp="511" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1330" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="511" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1331" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAo4xCV6Y5g7FJKo4Coera3jykFsh3NQ6X9LijP008nt6lJEsx9T3uqobYJUjOka67lXAgl2_Cq3jzaM63BckrerTm-o5BePizd-iW-gtyXC9wEUmPnTM8A1h7GeQ99HBxygWiPDkfh0/s1600/laughingman2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1332" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAo4xCV6Y5g7FJKo4Coera3jykFsh3NQ6X9LijP008nt6lJEsx9T3uqobYJUjOka67lXAgl2_Cq3jzaM63BckrerTm-o5BePizd-iW-gtyXC9wEUmPnTM8A1h7GeQ99HBxygWiPDkfh0/s1600/laughingman2.png" height="141" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="512" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="513" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="514" style="color: orange;"><span abp="515" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can
overlook that Wrightson’s art here is cartoonish to the point of caricature,
this is easily the, well, creepiest of his stories for <b abp="516" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy</b>. I’m not including a “most memorable scene” for this one. It
needs to be seen all its own. Rarely has the image of a smirking gorilla been
so scary, and an excellent way to end Wrightson’s work for the magazine.<o:p abp="517"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="518">
<span abp="519" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="520" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="521" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="522" style="color: orange;"><span abp="523" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of me
likes to think the scene of Briggs dressing up in the hollowed gorilla’s skin
was inspired <b abp="524" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tintin in the Congo</b>.
Huh, first boy’s adventure dime novels, now Herge. The writers for <b abp="525" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creepy</b> sure loved turn-of-the-century
kid’s stuff.<o:p abp="526"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="527">
<span abp="528" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="529" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="530" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="531" style="color: orange;">Stories from <b abp="532" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eerie</b>:<o:p abp="533"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="534">
<span abp="535" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="536" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="537" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="538" style="color: orange;">-“The Pepper Lake Monster” from <b abp="539" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eerie #58</b>: A tourist sailing on Pepper Lake runs afoul of the
legendary monster of Pepper Lake and decides to capture it, gradually becoming
more and more obsessed. His plan seems to be working, but perhaps the monster
is not the biggest problem he has to face…<o:p abp="540"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="541">
<span abp="542" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1356" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="542" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1357" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCMhmsHAeFytN32JhvyzY5xz0zlRUCE2WUNSfK7MmCaTKMZ9dVVHs8oj1xnMsQgNSaJpkZZNIK5l6yvDrw2ge91e_aCvYkGli_3vZoAUD085P0CW2AHYMyVxzDp15S-zbswH6SwbnqVI/s1600/pepperlakemonster1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1358" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCMhmsHAeFytN32JhvyzY5xz0zlRUCE2WUNSfK7MmCaTKMZ9dVVHs8oj1xnMsQgNSaJpkZZNIK5l6yvDrw2ge91e_aCvYkGli_3vZoAUD085P0CW2AHYMyVxzDp15S-zbswH6SwbnqVI/s1600/pepperlakemonster1.png" height="300" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="543" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="544" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="545" style="color: orange;"><span abp="546" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is hands
down my favorite stand-alone Wrightson work. Sure there are little flaws here
and there (Pepper Lake must be the size of one of the great lakes to fit that
thing in it), but damn if the drawings of the monster and our hero’s
increasingly obsessive attitude still aren’t drawn beautifully. I’m a sucker
for lake/sea monster stories in comics (I even considered making it the theme
for one past Halloween before realizing there were several I’d overlooked), and
this one, with its cynical but perfectly believable twist, is easily the best
of them.<o:p abp="547"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="548">
<span abp="549" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="550" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="551" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="552" style="color: orange;"><span abp="553" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="554" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> There are plenty,
but the splash itself is simply incredible. Every medieval mapmaker whoever
scrawled a sea serpent would be jealous:<o:p abp="555"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="556">
<span abp="557" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1407" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="557" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1408" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2qfkIaxPJlCmb_8xdEGpFqMEdWfBgWd6cPM2wSQTBBCFTt6S0rYfnPsrGMRYlxBg2Fqb0hWJfdCq0SoCle2XMIzf4EnN6UW7yFiL0UJ-KxDTpeoBuGWOJ5JNpq0HypWHeNzSKgPk3kg/s1600/pepperlakemonstersplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1409" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2qfkIaxPJlCmb_8xdEGpFqMEdWfBgWd6cPM2wSQTBBCFTt6S0rYfnPsrGMRYlxBg2Fqb0hWJfdCq0SoCle2XMIzf4EnN6UW7yFiL0UJ-KxDTpeoBuGWOJ5JNpq0HypWHeNzSKgPk3kg/s1600/pepperlakemonstersplash.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="558" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="559" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="560" style="color: orange;"><span abp="561" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it is in
color:<o:p abp="562"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="563">
<span abp="564" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1412" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="564" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1413" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMujFtnY4wiihOfh1pJChz5D8T17VTspS999qbJNwwsuDGc964M0UyIvkV1uOF1w7GYnFq2prnDwUaTTo1zxFeT56_iiDcxpwhVRSqxPtvdmuT_b1ScHsRv5QavuP_0omgRfBkLqwzq2Q/s1600/bwmm1_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1414" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMujFtnY4wiihOfh1pJChz5D8T17VTspS999qbJNwwsuDGc964M0UyIvkV1uOF1w7GYnFq2prnDwUaTTo1zxFeT56_iiDcxpwhVRSqxPtvdmuT_b1ScHsRv5QavuP_0omgRfBkLqwzq2Q/s1600/bwmm1_0002.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></span></div>
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<span abp="566" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="567" style="color: orange;">-“Nightfall” from <b abp="568" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eerie #60</b>: A young boy named Nemo is harangued night after night by
a group of goblins, then by his parents for waking them up. The goblins insist
they just want to play, but Nemo knows better.<o:p abp="569"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="570">
<span abp="571" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1487" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="571" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1488" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKM4j9z7jvGecBV6BTz7SRX3yLGH-3QGZpNPWH0C0wCECnANed-R-yGRX_w1zxS3qbLCjA45A7NwBEeTmHkEu-5NPLmsXrRyLRZ-VVrTn8jKJLpeyjqAn1F1cMsP6qk8XgIVZ8OHLMOQ/s1600/Eerie6022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1489" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKM4j9z7jvGecBV6BTz7SRX3yLGH-3QGZpNPWH0C0wCECnANed-R-yGRX_w1zxS3qbLCjA45A7NwBEeTmHkEu-5NPLmsXrRyLRZ-VVrTn8jKJLpeyjqAn1F1cMsP6qk8XgIVZ8OHLMOQ/s1600/Eerie6022.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="572" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="573" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="574" style="color: orange;"><span abp="575" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually
love stories about primal childhood fears, but this one is just okay. The
design of the goblins looks unintentionally comical. Just look at the one in
the splash pages’ tail:<o:p abp="576"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="577">
<span abp="578" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1438" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="578" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1439" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbWuNDWIoFUcoBXgWUg5JAyG7ur8RisZ6XIvZPZMLGMilV0a5dVdVy__dJEOUwpw2_nMqRlOaFv4uQRrPxBpj-jbeRQfKfoTyNS_FlaFt259SDItGPHdSfiuLl-zGQ7q4Y0iJJQThukc/s1600/Eerie6020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1440" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbWuNDWIoFUcoBXgWUg5JAyG7ur8RisZ6XIvZPZMLGMilV0a5dVdVy__dJEOUwpw2_nMqRlOaFv4uQRrPxBpj-jbeRQfKfoTyNS_FlaFt259SDItGPHdSfiuLl-zGQ7q4Y0iJJQThukc/s1600/Eerie6020.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="579" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="580" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="581" style="color: orange;"><span abp="582" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looks like a
man in a saggy suit.<o:p abp="583"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="584">
<span abp="585" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="586" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="587" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="588" style="color: orange;">If you overlook that though, it’s a lot of fun. The
boy’s name and a few clever visual gags provide the set-up for this to be a
wonderfully dark parody of Winsor McKay’s <b abp="589" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Little
Nemo</b>, but it never goes far enough. Still, you have to love that wash work.<o:p abp="590"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="591">
<span abp="592" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="593" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="594" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="595" style="color: orange;"><span abp="596" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="597" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scen</b>e: The Little Nemo
shout-out, by far. <o:p abp="598"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="599">
<span abp="600" style="color: orange;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="600" style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_LFDHHukEsg3GM5pFhY2DJFlSqVSbxrU_Yzs3BkTFOWXa4uvmBeDhqujZwtJN6ceaxpBHdxlZk5j7h8mOevTkxamLGaTvzJ-mWZJogfn2HBveN-iW4uWt7hyWutU86I-79C-m246j6I/s1600/Eerie6025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_LFDHHukEsg3GM5pFhY2DJFlSqVSbxrU_Yzs3BkTFOWXa4uvmBeDhqujZwtJN6ceaxpBHdxlZk5j7h8mOevTkxamLGaTvzJ-mWZJogfn2HBveN-iW4uWt7hyWutU86I-79C-m246j6I/s1600/Eerie6025.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="601" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="602" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="603" style="color: orange;"><span abp="604" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dime novels,
Tintin and now Little Nemo. Yeah, someone at Warren was definitely a big fan of
turn-of-the-century children’s entertainment. Love it.<o:p abp="605"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="606">
<span abp="607" style="color: orange;">
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<div abp="608" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="609" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="610" style="color: orange;">-“Cool Air” from <b abp="611" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eerie #62</b><o:p abp="612"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="613">
<span abp="614" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="614" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1514" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb0xyNxs68lhnpHr7fwFmKbl_g6g__4ocaVvc80aV5IjaiLRLKgHcSMT5UOahLsB1BGD_EKrqtAVBQD6uUh2RJyI3G0JKlijP4Sa3rBDkFiB3zOGD0pFxOE9KZJzduTqWsRcEH2-B33Y/s1600/coolair1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1515" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb0xyNxs68lhnpHr7fwFmKbl_g6g__4ocaVvc80aV5IjaiLRLKgHcSMT5UOahLsB1BGD_EKrqtAVBQD6uUh2RJyI3G0JKlijP4Sa3rBDkFiB3zOGD0pFxOE9KZJzduTqWsRcEH2-B33Y/s1600/coolair1.png" height="295" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="615" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="616" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="617" style="color: orange;"><span abp="618" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coming away
from comics beloved in countries that don’t like comics or speak English, we come
to the world of pulp magazines with this adaptation of Lovecraft’s <i abp="619" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cool Air</i>, the story of a man made
immotal being keeping himself frozen temperatures, which has had a number of
retellings in comics (and what do you think inspired Mr. Freeze?), but this is
the best.</span></span></div>
<div abp="621">
<span abp="622" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="623" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="624" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="625" style="color: orange;"><span abp="626" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="627" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> The money-shot at
the end:<o:p abp="628"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="629">
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</span><div abp="1539" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="630" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1540" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5pgHlNsm8mdVksPXEPBzqcjhoq2kaZKKxpswp3RU1SFIC5_QcVgrpmGOrhwu5075HbFTnsmaauk-Th3QM-2GGHSbSx7mkZOoRWzGbMOWWVQybp6Z7GEy3aJeCQH1-4dRbFRU3AcDk34/s1600/coolair2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1541" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5pgHlNsm8mdVksPXEPBzqcjhoq2kaZKKxpswp3RU1SFIC5_QcVgrpmGOrhwu5075HbFTnsmaauk-Th3QM-2GGHSbSx7mkZOoRWzGbMOWWVQybp6Z7GEy3aJeCQH1-4dRbFRU3AcDk34/s1600/coolair2.png" height="320" width="252" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="631" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="632" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="633" style="color: orange;">Oh come on, even if you’ve never read Lovecraft’s
story, how did you think a story about a man kept alive by the cold would end?<o:p abp="634"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="635">
<span abp="636" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="637" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="638" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="639" style="color: orange;">-“Reuben Youngblood: Private Eye in: Beware the
Scarlet Combine” from <b abp="640" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eerie #72:</b><o:p abp="641"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="642">
<span abp="643" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1565" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="643" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1566" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL9_3liSePCPlgWWiND9cO9cGdWYbucvvLOGNHnoBcKp242SYRypSO98CxjV_wc_Xu-DpN5KO6jbpPkvmg_hdnIiClFCcwlVShtC92pJPEhQz0ByWtlJCeAsmDfGVIbS8TqBYv2FQQ7w/s1600/Eerie7234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1567" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL9_3liSePCPlgWWiND9cO9cGdWYbucvvLOGNHnoBcKp242SYRypSO98CxjV_wc_Xu-DpN5KO6jbpPkvmg_hdnIiClFCcwlVShtC92pJPEhQz0ByWtlJCeAsmDfGVIbS8TqBYv2FQQ7w/s1600/Eerie7234.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="644" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="645" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="646" style="color: orange;"><span abp="647" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depression
era private eye Rueben Youngblood accepts a job as a bodyguard for some wealthy
Germans having a party on a zeppelin, shortly after his partner was murdered by
a blood cult called The Scarlet Combine. Little does he know that the Combine
is closer than he thinks...<o:p abp="648"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="649">
<span abp="650" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="651" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="652" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="653" style="color: orange;"><span abp="654" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
initially hesitant about this one since it’s really more of a detective
story/pulp parody than outright horror, but it’s actually my favorite in this
volume of the stories I haven’t read before, mostly because it’s so different.
The writing tries a little too hard to create a period atmosphere, but it’s
still a fun read. I could easily see this being a decent poverty row horror
movie, or serial. Also, Wrightson’s art is excellent. He apparently relished
the chance to draw a good old fashioned adventure story.<o:p abp="655"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="656">
<span abp="657" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="658" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="659" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="660" style="color: orange;"><span abp="661" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="662" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> The escape from
and destruction of the zeppelin. If you’re wondering why Youngblood and his
lady friend are dressed like that, it’s because of a costume party.<o:p abp="663"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="664">
<span abp="665" style="color: orange;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="665" style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIjQ4E7Ah2vnpY4cyv7wXUUk_HbIr1QxLliXcAXyk1snm9BtItFtKbqiTr34H9OwaMQmRuL1KDuvbckybiYCAVQLSP5EnXXdI94lkLSIOCrRt5UlzExLvjmgyLGbFXduYrvD-4DGALCU/s1600/ry2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIjQ4E7Ah2vnpY4cyv7wXUUk_HbIr1QxLliXcAXyk1snm9BtItFtKbqiTr34H9OwaMQmRuL1KDuvbckybiYCAVQLSP5EnXXdI94lkLSIOCrRt5UlzExLvjmgyLGbFXduYrvD-4DGALCU/s1600/ry2.png" height="320" width="274" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="666" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="667" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="668" style="color: orange;">-“The Muck Monster” from <b abp="669" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eerie #68:</b><o:p abp="670"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="671">
<span abp="672" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="672" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1615" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdt-LDTnTBzAOmlxCKFkYO5MMzz-xheGOvNu91XKKCpWXwGY-9OsliTc7fOfHBRRB8RgXvAUVgqkWwjVk27b1cgTCK_ZcWRPMtIoQrZpfe54GO8tcta3gLFkPo1cFuR3HGMGLxhWGlSo/s1600/muckmonster1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1616" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdt-LDTnTBzAOmlxCKFkYO5MMzz-xheGOvNu91XKKCpWXwGY-9OsliTc7fOfHBRRB8RgXvAUVgqkWwjVk27b1cgTCK_ZcWRPMtIoQrZpfe54GO8tcta3gLFkPo1cFuR3HGMGLxhWGlSo/s1600/muckmonster1.png" height="290" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="673" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="674" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="675" style="color: orange;"><span abp="676" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
Frankenstein-like mad doctor creates a monster from a blob which came to earth
on a meteor, but the blob is sentient and realizes it has no place in the world
of man, and thus refuses to come to “life” despite the scientist’s methods. The
doctor hacks the creature up in frustration and dissolves it in acid, dumping
it outside, but instead it oozes into a nearby cemetery and fuses with a long
dead corpse. Now having been brought to life against its will for real, the ‘creature’
sets out to find a purpose….<o:p abp="677"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="678">
<span abp="679" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1640" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="679" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1641" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG8TJPDOQxfLOHTJwrtx1vUqotSCU1D4v-w2NFZBLVRAwJ2J3RfWnnYJ8N6i9otDBoQ0-3Ko0n-leDVOtUzWOtEH8k-zgo2RPIrQ8Yy-LDPgBW9EuDav13ccVwLHfM4_TdUclhKkmbfU/s1600/muckmonster2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1642" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG8TJPDOQxfLOHTJwrtx1vUqotSCU1D4v-w2NFZBLVRAwJ2J3RfWnnYJ8N6i9otDBoQ0-3Ko0n-leDVOtUzWOtEH8k-zgo2RPIrQ8Yy-LDPgBW9EuDav13ccVwLHfM4_TdUclhKkmbfU/s1600/muckmonster2.png" height="320" width="304" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="680" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="681" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="682" style="color: orange;"><span abp="683" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the
title, this story manages to be a melancholy, surprisingly, optimistic blending
of both the blob monster and Frankenstein archetypes, with maybe a little
inspiration from <i abp="684" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Incredible Shrinking
Man</i>, at least as far as the ending goes (“To God there is no Zero” pretty
much sums this whole thing up). Good as the story is, the real draw, is of
course, Wrightson. Along with “The Pepper Lake Monster”, it’s the most
beautifully drawn of all the stories here, and like the Arcane stories in <b abp="685" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Swamp Thing #2-3</b>, feels like a dry-run
for Wrightson’s later Frankenstein illustrations, but even more so. The ‘Muck
Monster” is virtually identical to Wrightson’s Monster, and the unnamed
scientist is also identical to his Victor:</span></span></div>
<div abp="1678" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1679" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ40yo2K8a2kZtHjrHIKMFc6yByGP1GOGmhS1_whvlybnPSg6ZYtlJgqmxd_NRG3p23yiLELEUY16Cv4b2-dD2z2BliwkkVUvsBXSsb9adgvLOHSIgBUdmrTeSwA1sm_wuoLYUA5A8Eyg/s1600/muckmonster3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1680" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ40yo2K8a2kZtHjrHIKMFc6yByGP1GOGmhS1_whvlybnPSg6ZYtlJgqmxd_NRG3p23yiLELEUY16Cv4b2-dD2z2BliwkkVUvsBXSsb9adgvLOHSIgBUdmrTeSwA1sm_wuoLYUA5A8Eyg/s1600/muckmonster3.png" height="320" width="290" /></a></div>
<div abp="1697" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1698" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oA-VeZk_5PNoa1wGieSiVVR3Nm16jHL72vCNnTyJ6um1uxiSqfZe5rujTg13hmoDWobxPWGpUOb9jMhqa7DTIH99-hQ8fLq9TmMmU46oCO39h_YBZVdy4OAr1J1pJ2TfsoWKM67V6Dg/s1600/wrightson_frankenstein.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1699" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oA-VeZk_5PNoa1wGieSiVVR3Nm16jHL72vCNnTyJ6um1uxiSqfZe5rujTg13hmoDWobxPWGpUOb9jMhqa7DTIH99-hQ8fLq9TmMmU46oCO39h_YBZVdy4OAr1J1pJ2TfsoWKM67V6Dg/s1600/wrightson_frankenstein.gif" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
<div abp="680" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="681" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="682" style="color: orange;"><o:p abp="686"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="688" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1660" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG-tXASuQFRD4eeEe04CdzGF28iIcELtXtSxGIoHFAzcdaqHwPvQm_TTD89IqlP_s3BOZYFMq3Acwxgw4TQCuWo8Eve3MvIluHsvdHr14Suhga_FaHAvWbbvgWfn5uMp5SasmaaMvjWA/s1600/wrightsonfrankenstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1661" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG-tXASuQFRD4eeEe04CdzGF28iIcELtXtSxGIoHFAzcdaqHwPvQm_TTD89IqlP_s3BOZYFMq3Acwxgw4TQCuWo8Eve3MvIluHsvdHr14Suhga_FaHAvWbbvgWfn5uMp5SasmaaMvjWA/s1600/wrightsonfrankenstein.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="689" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="690" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="691" style="color: orange;"><span abp="692" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the damn
test tubes are similar!<o:p abp="693"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="694">
<span abp="695" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="696" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="697" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="698" style="color: orange;">This is also the only story here printed in color.
Wrightson was reportedly unhappy with the coloring, but it doesn’t really
obscure any detail. Finding black and white copies of this story isn’t
difficult anyway. In fact, if you’re really curious, you can buy the recent
“Artist’s Edition” from Fantagraphics (I thought they hated horror comics over
there? Must need the money) which reproduces Wrightson’s original art in
full:<o:p abp="699"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="700">
<span abp="701" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="701" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1736" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVkmS9zEMuktBJHrNTH8zUSqxugDAMZ5uiCRlM7PAW3RJDGgsOfAfxfYC9AdiEyvRExXRS0qokcK4RuJcuFyQtyyH_5-bfrYHwIxRcRaM9xFGjrJXcNCDCOWyzjSXPC4grd3dJHdBxpw/s1600/Wrightson_MuckMonsterLTD_CV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1737" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVkmS9zEMuktBJHrNTH8zUSqxugDAMZ5uiCRlM7PAW3RJDGgsOfAfxfYC9AdiEyvRExXRS0qokcK4RuJcuFyQtyyH_5-bfrYHwIxRcRaM9xFGjrJXcNCDCOWyzjSXPC4grd3dJHdBxpw/s1600/Wrightson_MuckMonsterLTD_CV.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1756" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="701" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1757" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pcdpv4stGilFxnwcZnUQftXKC7XeIygLVXwX4-Io1XAKd69KjTuOYUBGOb7huMxZlAgrlHyGiTPmQIK0vRFu7SMCsifhdmLhTi1bpkUmqaVphZa4rVzEobZYHqyTtGTgZPYYQbVKipE/s1600/STK467426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1758" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pcdpv4stGilFxnwcZnUQftXKC7XeIygLVXwX4-Io1XAKd69KjTuOYUBGOb7huMxZlAgrlHyGiTPmQIK0vRFu7SMCsifhdmLhTi1bpkUmqaVphZa4rVzEobZYHqyTtGTgZPYYQbVKipE/s1600/STK467426.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></span></div>
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<span abp="701" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div abp="702" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="703" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="704" style="color: orange;"><span abp="705" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently
going on Amazon for the cheap, cheap price of $74.99. At that price, why not
buy two?<o:p abp="706"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="707">
<span abp="708" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="709" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="710" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="711" style="color: orange;"><span abp="712" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="713" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Most memorable scene:</b> The liquefied
creature “leaking” down a mountain. <o:p abp="714"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="715">
<span abp="716" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1716" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="716" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1717" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGySgYS6Bp0B4TicgUb7zCTgAVcU2M51r_XZNXKgsrVmIHU79la1mwify01VrMJcBbmsZ5TAWqrkO242bVp3es6256dGJytzhtNxQeyy_iFzZ14KtuU-u1GYBwkV6uTKBWm2vghXdgfYc/s1600/muckmonsterooze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1718" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGySgYS6Bp0B4TicgUb7zCTgAVcU2M51r_XZNXKgsrVmIHU79la1mwify01VrMJcBbmsZ5TAWqrkO242bVp3es6256dGJytzhtNxQeyy_iFzZ14KtuU-u1GYBwkV6uTKBWm2vghXdgfYc/s1600/muckmonsterooze.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="717" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="718" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="719" style="color: orange;">Just the panel layout alone is breath-taking.<o:p abp="720"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="721">
<span abp="722" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="723" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="724" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="725" style="color: orange;"><span abp="726" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the
end of the stories reproduced in this volume, the rest of the book is mostly
covers and introductory splash pages. Some are good, some are a little too
cartoon-y for my tastes.<o:p abp="727"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="728">
<span abp="729" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="731" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="732" style="color: orange;"> All in all,
while some of the stories are a bit better than others, everything here is just
of such high quality it is impossible not to love this volume. I give it a full
<b abp="734" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5/5</b>.</span></span></div>
<div abp="728">
<span abp="731" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="732" style="color: orange;"><o:p abp="735"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="736">
<span abp="737" style="color: orange;">
<span abp="738" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now if only DC would
put out a Wrightson collection like this…</span></span></div>
<div abp="1775" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1776" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFfR27wn8h8uQHERdVmP7VJIE4A20CBjI1kaRsJjCAWZHvxTSxBnFW0vxEwXSO9KK8nHmaBBsBbTOsc69ZeHbtvEZ2Pk0T-EzuLAqGdryZ-2ftVuAL2HkbqWbOpSK5qmuctyQa6w72Z4/s1600/_IMGP0030_1_1_1_2_1_3_1_4_1_tonemapped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1777" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFfR27wn8h8uQHERdVmP7VJIE4A20CBjI1kaRsJjCAWZHvxTSxBnFW0vxEwXSO9KK8nHmaBBsBbTOsc69ZeHbtvEZ2Pk0T-EzuLAqGdryZ-2ftVuAL2HkbqWbOpSK5qmuctyQa6w72Z4/s1600/_IMGP0030_1_1_1_2_1_3_1_4_1_tonemapped.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1775" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="1800" style="color: orange;">Happy Halloween!</span></div>
<div abp="736">
<span abp="737" style="color: orange;"><span abp="738" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
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100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-27846332262159745602014-10-30T20:42:00.001-07:002014-10-30T20:42:29.050-07:00Virus (Comic and Film review)<div abp="272">
</div>
<div abp="831" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="832" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgseWd1KH-PN0qJmd2ckZmLfjwrMqTPk4ZKGvIaGeeNFtONGdVRkb1xBXKa_wSIoFI_bfypXcUWKUgIlT7Xj-AiBFME2_c8G5WUM8E4W5c5wPLn-oidmjJqSu6TVwOBvksAaYFI-me-0/s1600/$T2eC16FHJGYFFlIqpy1wBRmBHe(KO!~~60_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="833" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgseWd1KH-PN0qJmd2ckZmLfjwrMqTPk4ZKGvIaGeeNFtONGdVRkb1xBXKa_wSIoFI_bfypXcUWKUgIlT7Xj-AiBFME2_c8G5WUM8E4W5c5wPLn-oidmjJqSu6TVwOBvksAaYFI-me-0/s1600/$T2eC16FHJGYFFlIqpy1wBRmBHe(KO!~~60_35.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="275" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="276" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="277" style="color: orange;">Although you wouldn’t know it due to any recent use
of the trope in popular culture, one of horror and science fiction’s most
common plots during the nineteenth and early twentieth century was the “Ghost
Ship”. Not in the literal sense of a ship being a ghost, but of ships being
found abandoned (or with all crewmembers dead) for unknown reasons on the high
seas. These plots were all inspired by the real life discovery of the ship Mary
Celeste in 1872. The actual facts of the case aren’t as mysterious as
conspiracy theorists make them out to be, but that hasn’t stopped popular
culture from coming up with all kinds of crazy reasons for the ship (or ships
obviously based on the Mary Celeste) being found abandoned; Arthur Conan Doyle
gave us a racially motivated madman in his story “J. Habakuk Jephson’s Statement”,
“A Fire in the Galley Stove” by William Outerson proposed giant octopuses as
the culprit, the 1933 film <i abp="278" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Terror Aboard</i>
had the discoverers of the ship actually find bodies, Hammer’s first horror
film, 1935’s <i abp="279" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mystery of the Marie Celeste</i>
pointed the finger at a vengeful crewman played by Bela Lugosi, and what do you
think was the first case that came to mind when UFO theorists were looking for
mysterious disappearances to blame aliens for?</span></span></div>
<div abp="835" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="836" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVlx61PxdMd1lWM_FOKElc0YoHphfet8RUrvLwBEerQ-duD3XVp8gtZN4M74536YWomVFpddSEVg3aFlLvmjnzGr1KWqXFPjsF1f2XBUdzXnjcDrhgTijxxH4MK5SjfZ8tujX1nba9DM/s1600/maryceleste-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="837" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVlx61PxdMd1lWM_FOKElc0YoHphfet8RUrvLwBEerQ-duD3XVp8gtZN4M74536YWomVFpddSEVg3aFlLvmjnzGr1KWqXFPjsF1f2XBUdzXnjcDrhgTijxxH4MK5SjfZ8tujX1nba9DM/s1600/maryceleste-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="275" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="282" style="color: orange;"><span abp="283" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Common though
such uses of the plot once were, it has pretty much been abandoned in modern
times (Although one would think filmmakers looking to get in on the “Found
footage” craze would find such a plot ideal), with one major exception. That
exception, oddly enough, isn’t much more well-known today than the short stories
and films mentioned above, but at one point, it inspired a major motion picture
with A-list stars and an action figure line which still sells well on e-Bay.<o:p abp="284"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="285">
<span abp="286" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="287" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="288" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="289" style="color: orange;"><span abp="290" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it all
started with a comic book limited series from Dark Horse; Chuck Pfarrer (one of
the co-writers of <i abp="291" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Darkman</i>) and Howard
Cobb’s <b abp="292" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Virus</b> in 1992. </span></span></div>
<div abp="853" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="854" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRWYR7NeAMSF4wKJmKTM8Ux5_Mj79lgzIEaG57zcfAknMsF0FyzSj8oR-mNhpTPNHvSF64iJYLo1UA8IxX68LzZemNKEHwjZFe9xthplJG6RRAt8Yp1DeAHyCsnu00CDPit_tCICOeqo/s1600/36377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="855" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRWYR7NeAMSF4wKJmKTM8Ux5_Mj79lgzIEaG57zcfAknMsF0FyzSj8oR-mNhpTPNHvSF64iJYLo1UA8IxX68LzZemNKEHwjZFe9xthplJG6RRAt8Yp1DeAHyCsnu00CDPit_tCICOeqo/s1600/36377.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
<div abp="871" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="872" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFct1axsOCzwBzgyNkPxabV9ij_d5zn1DotyKWWFX0c9BRM1Xke401lHeti1A7Yr8ZvHYL4NaYczsSO_ztZZY0pDUY8BPMUg6F6rhvt49FBvdTVp6TaddUErssGUgKai-YcUC1nXqRLvM/s1600/36378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="873" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFct1axsOCzwBzgyNkPxabV9ij_d5zn1DotyKWWFX0c9BRM1Xke401lHeti1A7Yr8ZvHYL4NaYczsSO_ztZZY0pDUY8BPMUg6F6rhvt49FBvdTVp6TaddUErssGUgKai-YcUC1nXqRLvM/s1600/36378.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<div abp="287" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="288" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="289" style="color: orange;"> Pfarrer had
originally pitched Virus as a movie script, but decided to sell it as a comic
book because he felt there weren’t any effects convincing enough to portray his
vision. The execs at Dark Horse apparently thought highly of the series,
publishing it in TPB format twice (one with an introduction by Robert Sheckley
and the copyright info written in the form of jumbled computer code), long
before the property was even optioned for a movie. So, was it any good? Let’s
see.<o:p abp="293"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="294">
<span abp="295" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="297" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="298" style="color: orange;"> Despite being
billed as a techno-thriller, <strong abp="889">Virus</strong> showed off the obvious debt it owed to the
traditional ghost ship scenario immediately, by beginning on a Dark Stormy
Night:</span></span></div>
<div abp="890" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="891" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p2l8zfBoGkEB4Z4hLWsw0uGN0EEFmP5llJaTR6k78gifHPlyB_uwkXCa_AUJE25EamYlg50U1AtTgtbp1Q-UySvP9TOicQfGxtS_h-8Fi0o6YjtCFzIM-wSpe0PY9dnifVJ4rW86IBg/s1600/virusc1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="892" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p2l8zfBoGkEB4Z4hLWsw0uGN0EEFmP5llJaTR6k78gifHPlyB_uwkXCa_AUJE25EamYlg50U1AtTgtbp1Q-UySvP9TOicQfGxtS_h-8Fi0o6YjtCFzIM-wSpe0PY9dnifVJ4rW86IBg/s1600/virusc1.png" height="320" width="263" /></a></div>
<div abp="294">
<span abp="304" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="305" style="color: orange;"> A tugboat
carrying a heavy barge commanded floundering dangerously in the churning waves,
but the ship’s captain, Powell pressed his crew to push the ship forward at
full power despite the danger. Unfortunately for Powell, the ship’s first mate,
Averil, refused, afraid that the ship would eventually capsize. Averill
insisted the only way to proceed was to get rid of the barge, despite it being
worth ten million.<o:p abp="307"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="308">
<span abp="309" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<span abp="309" style="color: orange;"><div abp="908" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="909" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9OBsBaK1haUANe5jReeIMoYxcbvdnpzP8So1cIMOlQ-8bb77zfn09NQqVWla7xZT_Rndbw1lYV1R_5xjRhAi2tI41lzJHdK0KSxBD-Fzf0-9Nj9HSQa4zNZvLi0sHxMr2W6FZ8VakNU/s1600/virusc2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="910" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9OBsBaK1haUANe5jReeIMoYxcbvdnpzP8So1cIMOlQ-8bb77zfn09NQqVWla7xZT_Rndbw1lYV1R_5xjRhAi2tI41lzJHdK0KSxBD-Fzf0-9Nj9HSQa4zNZvLi0sHxMr2W6FZ8VakNU/s1600/virusc2.png" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div abp="956" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="957" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdmrjITkQaFPZITjVtmX875kwOMxGp274_Re670FA5ud1LoocYJRm0SgvlHuuIroQLecKuE3on3dhpDEfSH1Cy_itVbEdfie-ey8t3Ix314MXGO9cwwiM3Qe8Miqy_kkq6f-rCP1AuQs/s1600/virusc3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="958" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdmrjITkQaFPZITjVtmX875kwOMxGp274_Re670FA5ud1LoocYJRm0SgvlHuuIroQLecKuE3on3dhpDEfSH1Cy_itVbEdfie-ey8t3Ix314MXGO9cwwiM3Qe8Miqy_kkq6f-rCP1AuQs/s1600/virusc3.png" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
<div abp="927">
</div>
</span><div abp="928">
<span abp="311" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="312" style="color: orange;"> After nearly
being hit by a tidal wave, Powell was forced to concede, and Averill and the
ship’s navigator Colleen Foster got to show off their Implausible Action Movie
Hero Chops™ by blowing the barge up with a flare---in the pouring rain, on
stormy seas, while drenched in water. Okaaay. You can already tell this was
envisioned as a movie script.<o:p abp="314"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="315">
<span abp="316" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="962" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="316" style="color: orange;"><a abp="963" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU7RS9VQ3MnEud48F6hkhGs4KNO9n8LFeODgN6mVQXbDkP-SNpZkT-78hyjDMfzD1LCnCAZDWwfScAB1ol3RZkHC_SI9yi6PK1817H5qo41eDu2a9OMM2pkRyZjlgNdhngSVjpPpfLmc/s1600/virusc4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="964" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU7RS9VQ3MnEud48F6hkhGs4KNO9n8LFeODgN6mVQXbDkP-SNpZkT-78hyjDMfzD1LCnCAZDWwfScAB1ol3RZkHC_SI9yi6PK1817H5qo41eDu2a9OMM2pkRyZjlgNdhngSVjpPpfLmc/s1600/virusc4.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="317" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="318" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="319" style="color: orange;"><span abp="320" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the
seas calmed down the next day, the crew came across a derelict Red Chinese
research vessel called the Wan Xuan III, which had been carrying out space contact related experiment. </span></span></div>
<div abp="980" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="981" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglM_dsdaSe1cMtmxz3094jPYgM6aWM0d4ak-ykydgmyjU0imGpE7mq1nij-bPaEcofwA-s3wmO-HRtLbNUSVVDHUgyutN5v5MM5qK02MTSjmrcwssroik_PuYPHcZXiEUSyGhX2PvEQCc/s1600/WanXuan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="982" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglM_dsdaSe1cMtmxz3094jPYgM6aWM0d4ak-ykydgmyjU0imGpE7mq1nij-bPaEcofwA-s3wmO-HRtLbNUSVVDHUgyutN5v5MM5qK02MTSjmrcwssroik_PuYPHcZXiEUSyGhX2PvEQCc/s1600/WanXuan.png" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="998" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="999" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibF7sywrDU_L2NH0daSJQI789Tq91yVIck3JPy2bmz7jN4gJl8cgw7QkSomQEwFFeywLd57-SrVBXssr4H4syPXI-NvGcX7sWaOVriQFL5Il6d0WEyYF1S5nSZhWK6amlmz16yPEpVPE/s1600/wanxuan2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1000" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibF7sywrDU_L2NH0daSJQI789Tq91yVIck3JPy2bmz7jN4gJl8cgw7QkSomQEwFFeywLd57-SrVBXssr4H4syPXI-NvGcX7sWaOVriQFL5Il6d0WEyYF1S5nSZhWK6amlmz16yPEpVPE/s1600/wanxuan2.png" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="317" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="318" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="319" style="color: orange;"> They decided to investigate, but
before we get to that part, let’s observe these lovely scenes of interaction
between Averill and two crewmembers named Richie and
Apia:<o:p abp="321"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="322">
<span abp="323" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1016" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="323" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1017" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8_UhQ8MDBdgOXSpMZv_WruHohyphenhypheniqfgrQ-4DACX5KQ3mOViZgswsDuz5Zg3CR79roZ1w-i47J2s26M4ZMZvoo5fXq_zLQyzadPwfnAGsg9qe_28utVql-u-v4GuwYmaSJuckuiAwHSec/s1600/Averilisadick.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1018" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8_UhQ8MDBdgOXSpMZv_WruHohyphenhypheniqfgrQ-4DACX5KQ3mOViZgswsDuz5Zg3CR79roZ1w-i47J2s26M4ZMZvoo5fXq_zLQyzadPwfnAGsg9qe_28utVql-u-v4GuwYmaSJuckuiAwHSec/s1600/Averilisadick.png" height="320" width="281" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1034" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="323" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1035" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NhFjMhPHaOX-3k-l4yPjWLQVhnbxNYK5eW3iODxclVPD8tqspyO7UGP8gToC2acroXBA0beHBDYWHIoSIlhJrS6fXyr2660KFD0vSigualvhOFVXhnYgk4nwFgtu5v9VIHpM_1qzCH0/s1600/Averilisadick2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1036" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NhFjMhPHaOX-3k-l4yPjWLQVhnbxNYK5eW3iODxclVPD8tqspyO7UGP8gToC2acroXBA0beHBDYWHIoSIlhJrS6fXyr2660KFD0vSigualvhOFVXhnYgk4nwFgtu5v9VIHpM_1qzCH0/s1600/Averilisadick2.png" height="139" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1016" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="323" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div abp="324" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="325" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="326" style="color: orange;"><span abp="327" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, he’s
quite a charming personality. Did I mention he’s going to be our main
character? Get used to it.<o:p abp="328"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="329">
<span abp="330" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="332" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="333" style="color: orange;"> The crew
boards the ship, only to find a ghastly sight awaiting them:<o:p abp="335"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="336">
<span abp="337" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1081" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="337" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1082" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjE8d61s2owwlRR7zbSM3uRmSOro5KnDYrTPa-JCm9yRJnlgNKfBbMD1a8gTh5_kCT-JBcbNoKDkn6PNPO3QtKfLHDuVfTzKN1rREUWiX9d1_ir7Kjtb0gy318l8b7UZA2Ya-dcWJFiM/s1600/virusc5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1083" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjE8d61s2owwlRR7zbSM3uRmSOro5KnDYrTPa-JCm9yRJnlgNKfBbMD1a8gTh5_kCT-JBcbNoKDkn6PNPO3QtKfLHDuVfTzKN1rREUWiX9d1_ir7Kjtb0gy318l8b7UZA2Ya-dcWJFiM/s1600/virusc5.png" height="320" width="304" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1084">
<span abp="337" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<div abp="1085" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="337" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1086" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7cjdkOT1xCQMRo6I5y8UUCFbwpdP8kdVNLhY-MjhfSgjrCuBSDmLyOviGs8Vof0w_WLdaUoD5HRJB0YGr0EYyrXVcwK6hrsPLPwFpsOeYjFVuaihmmg6VZJO2x7nuXWB1E_m6-dqxno/s1600/virusc6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1087" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7cjdkOT1xCQMRo6I5y8UUCFbwpdP8kdVNLhY-MjhfSgjrCuBSDmLyOviGs8Vof0w_WLdaUoD5HRJB0YGr0EYyrXVcwK6hrsPLPwFpsOeYjFVuaihmmg6VZJO2x7nuXWB1E_m6-dqxno/s1600/virusc6.png" height="232" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="338" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="339" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="340" style="color: orange;">Not only that, the ship was also nuclear powered,
and all the fuel rods are drained:<o:p abp="341"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="342">
<span abp="343" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1089" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="343" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1090" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9vUSbTHzo-QBDmTAbvfE3HEL5yrh6qNNgm6e9JsMvDxruT7YPtLhMv_pgF3xPBtT9DOOSNYHluJ-UBpSme-d4wPyf7EE1GnoCcD0iaB2sUSHIjPQhRqFRDvZo4GA8PV4O9WayNyvAPk/s1600/virusc7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1091" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9vUSbTHzo-QBDmTAbvfE3HEL5yrh6qNNgm6e9JsMvDxruT7YPtLhMv_pgF3xPBtT9DOOSNYHluJ-UBpSme-d4wPyf7EE1GnoCcD0iaB2sUSHIjPQhRqFRDvZo4GA8PV4O9WayNyvAPk/s1600/virusc7.png" height="207" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="344" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="345" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="346" style="color: orange;">With something having stolen the ship’s power, and
all the crewmembers dead, Powell comes to the natural conclusion: Steal the
ship and sell the electronics aboard to make up for the lost barge cargo: <o:p abp="347"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="348">
<span abp="349" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1107" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="349" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1108" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWO5qXQ1takB-qoySHSNJxE4R46SG7ugakTznz1wnDrcbMl_6XYhBlUE6ixf5gsbIToOqsVBffgUYU-lZ_Mvyzkv9LTDeMPhbAHqS8k2WnjkFqxyJIq7I-KBpBxs3WVQyDo2vzWHNMKcU/s1600/virusc8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1109" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWO5qXQ1takB-qoySHSNJxE4R46SG7ugakTznz1wnDrcbMl_6XYhBlUE6ixf5gsbIToOqsVBffgUYU-lZ_Mvyzkv9LTDeMPhbAHqS8k2WnjkFqxyJIq7I-KBpBxs3WVQyDo2vzWHNMKcU/s1600/virusc8.png" height="285" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="350" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="351" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="352" style="color: orange;"><span abp="353" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile,
Foster goes exploring and look what she finds:<o:p abp="354"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="355">
<span abp="356" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1125" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="356" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1126" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdzluutfurgzF6dxo6JqaxPL1CmkiAO5SlCfKMHVECdwIpEVw_XxzK4kOPLnGm5gZOwu8Bb1I6RFpD-kV0Prtxu9sTTaQ2KZZ3jPbIHSPMhM3PmWLAj9eFT9U1JWvus2mVukaxO9K5G4/s1600/virusc9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1127" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdzluutfurgzF6dxo6JqaxPL1CmkiAO5SlCfKMHVECdwIpEVw_XxzK4kOPLnGm5gZOwu8Bb1I6RFpD-kV0Prtxu9sTTaQ2KZZ3jPbIHSPMhM3PmWLAj9eFT9U1JWvus2mVukaxO9K5G4/s1600/virusc9.png" height="234" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="357" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="358" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="359" style="color: orange;"><span abp="360" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aaaahhhhhhhhh! It’s the crappy looking ‘robot’
strung together with bubble gum I made for one of my home movies when I was a
kid!<o:p abp="361"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="362">
<span abp="363" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="365" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="366" style="color: orange;"> Averill (who
is now an electronics expert for some reason) examines it, and guess what? That
pink stuff? It’s supposed to be <i abp="368" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">human
flesh</i>.<o:p abp="369"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="370">
<span abp="371" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1143" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="371" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1144" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_FTCt9RaTP2B7og1jKQ2axr9pLr_iKwDM1EH86SWZfpsb6ucT2merAy3ShhyZANvdYHkuVBumFuWitx9IbR7LFMxcRZDDB8NPkVw4OtNQ1l856_W1utvrKBToDfih81aP9BtS1emEFk/s1600/virusc10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1145" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_FTCt9RaTP2B7og1jKQ2axr9pLr_iKwDM1EH86SWZfpsb6ucT2merAy3ShhyZANvdYHkuVBumFuWitx9IbR7LFMxcRZDDB8NPkVw4OtNQ1l856_W1utvrKBToDfih81aP9BtS1emEFk/s1600/virusc10.png" height="320" width="319" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="372" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="373" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="374" style="color: orange;"><span abp="375" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally, no
one cares, and gets back to their act of piracy. Only thing is, right as the
crew is preparing to tug the ship, one of the cables snaps:<o:p abp="376"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="377">
<span abp="378" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1161" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="378" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1162" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSqc1VCL5PXkOUo5G9xUeyEGXz8JYRCEyxl2L5bdfg4bmS2FUajTnPyEAwajXnI6_J447ErOXb0IinWwGsqnrvbb0jSln-Ry_SUkBE6gdGfr6q07aUOyENcELaP9JY0zOxpLUD_4R8f4/s1600/virusc11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1163" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSqc1VCL5PXkOUo5G9xUeyEGXz8JYRCEyxl2L5bdfg4bmS2FUajTnPyEAwajXnI6_J447ErOXb0IinWwGsqnrvbb0jSln-Ry_SUkBE6gdGfr6q07aUOyENcELaP9JY0zOxpLUD_4R8f4/s1600/virusc11.png" height="320" width="282" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="379" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="380" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="381" style="color: orange;"><span abp="382" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the tug
sinks:<o:p abp="383"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="384">
<span abp="385" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1179" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="385" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1180" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kTtqfPE1iFXRjujZ_2BH8D708rFWm_YpWBcmGJPQRPN71fC47epNcVpMXO-QgW8Nf1poZ_wJ7Zf7LUmD4soEybBbGeKAp-b-S-ARu5dS7EHCYRhyphenhyphenIjefxmhZ5FbSkbLeEJ_KL5P6mk8/s1600/virusc12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1181" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kTtqfPE1iFXRjujZ_2BH8D708rFWm_YpWBcmGJPQRPN71fC47epNcVpMXO-QgW8Nf1poZ_wJ7Zf7LUmD4soEybBbGeKAp-b-S-ARu5dS7EHCYRhyphenhyphenIjefxmhZ5FbSkbLeEJ_KL5P6mk8/s1600/virusc12.png" height="320" width="280" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="386" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="387" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="388" style="color: orange;"><span abp="389" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the
lifeboats are mysteriously lowered, Richie and Apia, BFFs just a few scenes
before, now come close to killing each other:<o:p abp="390"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="391">
<span abp="392" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1197" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="392" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1198" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZCV73-V3YU7J5YKM7T91KbTBRIzOYFNzn6myfTbotl2WR8cGThKfAwpsESO_nWJIcHcx-ob3bzNd92rghft4Gm2paLRtCjGN4ndVy2sagADDDb8GJkP6TOX8A3_1ttkXA-0rCIFgEuE/s1600/virusc13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1199" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZCV73-V3YU7J5YKM7T91KbTBRIzOYFNzn6myfTbotl2WR8cGThKfAwpsESO_nWJIcHcx-ob3bzNd92rghft4Gm2paLRtCjGN4ndVy2sagADDDb8GJkP6TOX8A3_1ttkXA-0rCIFgEuE/s1600/virusc13.png" height="320" width="293" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="393" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="394" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="395" style="color: orange;"><span abp="396" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case,
our motley crew is now trapped on the ship.<span abp="397" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p abp="398"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="399">
<span abp="400" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="401" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="402" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="403" style="color: orange;"><span abp="404" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help seems to
arrive from some Chinese pilots, and sure enough they see the crew aboard and
respond; by trying to blow them to hell:<o:p abp="405"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="406">
<span abp="407" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<span abp="407" style="color: orange;"><div abp="1287" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1288" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5SAaNnhc2I6rQtnMF-ppBWT7uQzIYpHAAg_4aOIlkfsrVUQ0I4nrSQguacR1iFqA3R3eXEo5CjFfv1HIa6r-V-P0rs3spKSuLviywnJSUiPgW_Zkcxs535jvCoP7a3XveTXcn7gyExM/s1600/virusc14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1289" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5SAaNnhc2I6rQtnMF-ppBWT7uQzIYpHAAg_4aOIlkfsrVUQ0I4nrSQguacR1iFqA3R3eXEo5CjFfv1HIa6r-V-P0rs3spKSuLviywnJSUiPgW_Zkcxs535jvCoP7a3XveTXcn7gyExM/s1600/virusc14.png" height="290" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1292">
</div>
<div abp="1293" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1294" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa6TlQEg10UskJeuq-nGPkTaxTc7lUvgxDwsd5oeEwLUISUOsx4ErZHb_fgbfGLiVZUWiYErmqDo0MUfXT4wAIoTuyqqoUHocrM2vm2Y73gHrq5kXuYi_OQUmq1tY4LrggAqGBNh7Sao/s1600/virusc15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1295" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa6TlQEg10UskJeuq-nGPkTaxTc7lUvgxDwsd5oeEwLUISUOsx4ErZHb_fgbfGLiVZUWiYErmqDo0MUfXT4wAIoTuyqqoUHocrM2vm2Y73gHrq5kXuYi_OQUmq1tY4LrggAqGBNh7Sao/s1600/virusc15.png" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
<div abp="1296">
</div>
</span><div abp="1297">
<span abp="409" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="410" style="color: orange;"> The only
thing which ‘saves’ our heroes is the ship’s satellites, which mysteriously
come to life and deflect the missiles, leaving the ship with only a small gash in
the hull.<o:p abp="412"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="413">
<span abp="414" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1300" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="414" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1301" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_ChmYCoRxee9btd6pKyOGVWGlpmUhwzI0afj7jdyfJU12pX-bfNwJn2IGx_gQPXVk9T6Yx90ZswehyeMs72aZzLDszs8A0OlZQSfMNcxa_9JyVQMbCRLwyRO-b_rrBPe_jazCgwdMWc/s1600/virusc16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1302" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_ChmYCoRxee9btd6pKyOGVWGlpmUhwzI0afj7jdyfJU12pX-bfNwJn2IGx_gQPXVk9T6Yx90ZswehyeMs72aZzLDszs8A0OlZQSfMNcxa_9JyVQMbCRLwyRO-b_rrBPe_jazCgwdMWc/s1600/virusc16.png" height="320" width="309" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="415" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="416" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="417" style="color: orange;"><span abp="418" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now finally
aware that something out of the ordinary is going on, Averill begins barking
orders at people and sends Richie (who we only now start to see is Asian) and
Apia to go cut the ship’s circuit breakers:<o:p abp="419"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="420">
<span abp="421" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<span abp="421" style="color: orange;"><div abp="1318" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1319" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_Jf6ejvq8LaVQy43qmLmQ8dfagxiPDYYywlhEgCay7DSJaJhVWbnw3MoNthRqSHzh-CEv-iTMKTvTmK2khw0WegpHQafu7pwQMcCBzvTygZ_03pSPlYpJGZBzb-TTZ41E5JRJtU0FFA/s1600/virusc17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1320" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_Jf6ejvq8LaVQy43qmLmQ8dfagxiPDYYywlhEgCay7DSJaJhVWbnw3MoNthRqSHzh-CEv-iTMKTvTmK2khw0WegpHQafu7pwQMcCBzvTygZ_03pSPlYpJGZBzb-TTZ41E5JRJtU0FFA/s1600/virusc17.png" height="204" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1336">
</div>
<div abp="1337" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1338" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfks8d5M30tl1EBKP0R6CB83DHE-qiQ3G040pcA5Wg72lep5ruEVC-spI3Kf8cyU62fxd4Igh8QMDk3zwx41zL2mEn2-kjVT4Of2tcaNfWVeO3mMDSP61eJiWslGRS9APNiz6ncck89DE/s1600/virusc18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1339" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfks8d5M30tl1EBKP0R6CB83DHE-qiQ3G040pcA5Wg72lep5ruEVC-spI3Kf8cyU62fxd4Igh8QMDk3zwx41zL2mEn2-kjVT4Of2tcaNfWVeO3mMDSP61eJiWslGRS9APNiz6ncck89DE/s1600/virusc18.png" height="274" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1340">
</div>
</span><div abp="1341">
<span abp="423" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="424" style="color: orange;"> Remember,
it’s Powell who’s supposed to be the bad guy and tyrant here.<o:p abp="426"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="427">
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="429" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="430" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="431" style="color: orange;">Of course, Richie’s no saint either. </span></span></div>
<div abp="1357" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1358" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpPkLzP_rtV4S-Kng6CMDpz9faox4FChpCrJnMUzQ7QL7CEXZhzU9tqRH1STTszp5GXneYYLlcF-MunNxpyg20g5wnfiAtyg3G8TU6KpwcHhCmA6AP10sjEtFqkBnGkePrwQ-My8Wksk/s1600/virusc19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1359" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpPkLzP_rtV4S-Kng6CMDpz9faox4FChpCrJnMUzQ7QL7CEXZhzU9tqRH1STTszp5GXneYYLlcF-MunNxpyg20g5wnfiAtyg3G8TU6KpwcHhCmA6AP10sjEtFqkBnGkePrwQ-My8Wksk/s1600/virusc19.png" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="429" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="430" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="431" style="color: orange;">Turns out, he’s
our designated comic relief, and he gets to do his Mantan Moreland impression
soon enough when he goes looking for Apia and finds <i abp="432" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> thing:<o:p abp="433"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="434">
<span abp="435" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<span abp="435" style="color: orange;"><div abp="1390" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1391" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrzfqXFzbCHJXEifSdslQtX-pciNV-9d50kb5_GM5qrV4k645YhWTeRccfGIfFjkyyKyUmc8yslVpNCnMq9YqmzkoxluDJWy22ccR3K2zRRxTmbw827UE0L0ac7F5zMZ5-teMuBqgIL8/s1600/virusc20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1392" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrzfqXFzbCHJXEifSdslQtX-pciNV-9d50kb5_GM5qrV4k645YhWTeRccfGIfFjkyyKyUmc8yslVpNCnMq9YqmzkoxluDJWy22ccR3K2zRRxTmbw827UE0L0ac7F5zMZ5-teMuBqgIL8/s1600/virusc20.png" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>
<div abp="1396">
</div>
<div abp="1397" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1398" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlt8k7Mph8dY9PMfiJIv8NXN3-ip3jlJ67JfXq32GWmgIJ8N9hH8GJtwmuwi0JSLfS0ljbvqAMRKHV2cy2UuMSxALVJXmqXVtFICXPLfHSOVEd1TZtfMLlvEFfxTgOT7bHgDhlzP0Y7E/s1600/virusc21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1399" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlt8k7Mph8dY9PMfiJIv8NXN3-ip3jlJ67JfXq32GWmgIJ8N9hH8GJtwmuwi0JSLfS0ljbvqAMRKHV2cy2UuMSxALVJXmqXVtFICXPLfHSOVEd1TZtfMLlvEFfxTgOT7bHgDhlzP0Y7E/s1600/virusc21.png" height="290" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1400">
</div>
</span><div abp="1401">
<span abp="437" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="438" style="color: orange;"> Thankfully,
Richie and Apia avert the supposed horror tradition of the minorities dying
first (which seemed to start happening a lot more frequently in movies <em abp="1393">after</em>
people started joking about it than prior), but when Averill s alerted, the
ribcage monster has vanished:</span></span></div>
<div abp="1417" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1418" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliuzwBXdvVG-NHODawYcB06oBv-FnqUliYdULYO5IQQii2EQXoW4bKgwUrKwa31vlkLFlQG1Blur1jjrnzhiauNnd-v3CMBZNvcmBMnRQBxNxmGI4mp4kWhsMc9HPSIDba9hkpRatjEg/s1600/virusc22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1419" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliuzwBXdvVG-NHODawYcB06oBv-FnqUliYdULYO5IQQii2EQXoW4bKgwUrKwa31vlkLFlQG1Blur1jjrnzhiauNnd-v3CMBZNvcmBMnRQBxNxmGI4mp4kWhsMc9HPSIDba9hkpRatjEg/s1600/virusc22.png" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1401">
<span abp="437" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="438" style="color: orange;"><o:p abp="440"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="441">
<span abp="442" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="444" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="445" style="color: orange;"> Averill goes
searching, but although he never finds the monster, he discovers that it’s
already beat him to the circuit breakers and turned the ship back on:<o:p abp="447"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="448">
<span abp="449" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1435" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="449" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1436" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizngFAoSuccgbNxfCpDWneYqK4pnH7qm0WwaDjZZuJoVq-dO0BDDMt6lrGtSwlIT7nHMc2RHZGUzds-wMPOigxZqQKqozf1-4vdJIADcB0Pa14Ix63XbdKsNYUXxZJ0MEaDLSUv-p5Ibw/s1600/virusc23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1437" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizngFAoSuccgbNxfCpDWneYqK4pnH7qm0WwaDjZZuJoVq-dO0BDDMt6lrGtSwlIT7nHMc2RHZGUzds-wMPOigxZqQKqozf1-4vdJIADcB0Pa14Ix63XbdKsNYUXxZJ0MEaDLSUv-p5Ibw/s1600/virusc23.png" height="320" width="286" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="450" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="451" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="452" style="color: orange;"><span abp="453" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently,
this thing is some sort of electronic virus from space that can possess both
inorganic and organic matter so long as it relies on a power source, meaning it
can ingrain itself just as easily inside human flesh as machines, and guess
what it did to the original crew? The only way to avoid it is to avoid anywhere
where there’s lots of circuitry, and as Foster soon finds out from a blueprint;
the entire ship is filled with circuits, the virus is everywhere!<o:p abp="454"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="455">
<span abp="456" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1453" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="456" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1454" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLy8hwScW37mhVChczdhI8evudyRuyde4Rw0TM967ee4eiLrEcr3Y7sLIYDViXBXZ_-6l6YXSrNEf8RDG2VRnnT2vi9rhQ47V-ZGG3b47lOXF_dE0aEnsY5KNNis3rpCKUi9yj0lMjW0/s1600/virusc24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1455" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLy8hwScW37mhVChczdhI8evudyRuyde4Rw0TM967ee4eiLrEcr3Y7sLIYDViXBXZ_-6l6YXSrNEf8RDG2VRnnT2vi9rhQ47V-ZGG3b47lOXF_dE0aEnsY5KNNis3rpCKUi9yj0lMjW0/s1600/virusc24.png" height="173" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="457" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="458" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="459" style="color: orange;"><span abp="460" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite this,
Powell and the rest of the crew decide to go ahead with the original plan and
try and sail the ship to port and sell the electronics, despite knowing there’s
a deadly alien virus aboard that will try to kill them all, if the Chinese
don’t bomb them again:<o:p abp="461"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="462">
<span abp="463" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<span abp="463" style="color: orange;"><div abp="1471" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1472" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqihnyOHGQuFXsMlC_xX6zQOiH9iU3saU1EJa6Q8oAnp6SXrnHHPkXQUpR4WNVFELhwa57A9kzaAuv0WMw8Fb4o8Y7FAOvHYy4crYduBgXyIJqqsZnmnvvEemhH0cqzDFemDyDnAOU7aQ/s1600/virusc25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1473" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqihnyOHGQuFXsMlC_xX6zQOiH9iU3saU1EJa6Q8oAnp6SXrnHHPkXQUpR4WNVFELhwa57A9kzaAuv0WMw8Fb4o8Y7FAOvHYy4crYduBgXyIJqqsZnmnvvEemhH0cqzDFemDyDnAOU7aQ/s1600/virusc25.png" height="173" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1489">
</div>
<div abp="1490" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1491" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoYzuqF1vmlAx2Wy0udV2pj6NLuKVQBFcJaFshga4UgfpUwQoNae09Zgmoei5AdiMqIOL2dcBm8yRQgPToolgZhP9I15fuRO8IMWS95uqfQ3x85DZSCBvDXV8l5PMIzlXVhOuWZ9H2zk/s1600/virusc26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1492" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoYzuqF1vmlAx2Wy0udV2pj6NLuKVQBFcJaFshga4UgfpUwQoNae09Zgmoei5AdiMqIOL2dcBm8yRQgPToolgZhP9I15fuRO8IMWS95uqfQ3x85DZSCBvDXV8l5PMIzlXVhOuWZ9H2zk/s1600/virusc26.png" height="299" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1493">
</div>
</span><div abp="1494">
<span abp="465" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="466" style="color: orange;"> Averill and
Foster decide their only hope is to try and shut it down again:<o:p abp="468"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="469">
<span abp="470" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1510" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="470" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1511" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgZki_A2ZD-ftGRdmkxTfyyzSv3w-ZRQ038WZLqOcuwi8LHnpOh6PTpcQZwSsvw3g6CkQwUEXiQB1fXPygbIgYAOPSWOQUaYC_6cPgOkGJQTpPYU4nggJ3ytfnx4CnMDVCVnFVxUaxNc/s1600/virusc27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1512" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgZki_A2ZD-ftGRdmkxTfyyzSv3w-ZRQ038WZLqOcuwi8LHnpOh6PTpcQZwSsvw3g6CkQwUEXiQB1fXPygbIgYAOPSWOQUaYC_6cPgOkGJQTpPYU4nggJ3ytfnx4CnMDVCVnFVxUaxNc/s1600/virusc27.png" height="146" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="471" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="472" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="473" style="color: orange;">Sure enough, they succeed:<o:p abp="474"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="475">
<span abp="476" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1528" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="476" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1529" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHke507bPkgh_cUiVUg-cWu_p8dCeJW2ZpS1fmFgevnVvNsCVyn95RY2tX3Vd-zv1rV_P6PA6SdCy4n_bhODa9_b_O4cRCzDWDsjtLwHY-40-GDZQ3zHziGa2JTfUaz4Gb9L8YuEv1u4/s1600/virusc28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1530" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHke507bPkgh_cUiVUg-cWu_p8dCeJW2ZpS1fmFgevnVvNsCVyn95RY2tX3Vd-zv1rV_P6PA6SdCy4n_bhODa9_b_O4cRCzDWDsjtLwHY-40-GDZQ3zHziGa2JTfUaz4Gb9L8YuEv1u4/s1600/virusc28.png" height="271" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="477" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="478" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="479" style="color: orange;">But the rest of the greedy crew won’t stand for it,
and send Richie to go get Powell to turn it on again:<o:p abp="480"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="481">
<span abp="482" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1548" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="482" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1549" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJ0eqZpI8oyiXIkvQ7a7HhE0OtxbSWKVNd8L5HQ2QDoMu3G5DhAgZ64WH763QP5GLpkdVn7fTX2M_HNTp-0GR6g5uHcSDqLZbBRdIEYpDBmhTsQXaP_X2i-txRxrqXk1mOcM1FibjyNw/s1600/virusc29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1550" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJ0eqZpI8oyiXIkvQ7a7HhE0OtxbSWKVNd8L5HQ2QDoMu3G5DhAgZ64WH763QP5GLpkdVn7fTX2M_HNTp-0GR6g5uHcSDqLZbBRdIEYpDBmhTsQXaP_X2i-txRxrqXk1mOcM1FibjyNw/s1600/virusc29.png" height="320" width="314" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="483" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="484" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="485" style="color: orange;"><span abp="486" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor guy.<o:p abp="487"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="488">
<span abp="489" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1566" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="489" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1567" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UW1Gj_D34UQl5P6BJEl-hsXufRIOKtwtUWQ9LO9zIbzw4HO7i0dSbQnMokSgaRMyJNydlrQbONCrWA_mSKp8xRa8uHfoWwOEq37ok7u85x1dG0zI1aN2YC1o6vMrmnWMa-tHP60p-VM/s1600/virusc30.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1568" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UW1Gj_D34UQl5P6BJEl-hsXufRIOKtwtUWQ9LO9zIbzw4HO7i0dSbQnMokSgaRMyJNydlrQbONCrWA_mSKp8xRa8uHfoWwOEq37ok7u85x1dG0zI1aN2YC1o6vMrmnWMa-tHP60p-VM/s1600/virusc30.png" height="186" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="490" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="491" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="492" style="color: orange;">Meanwhile, it seems the Virus has bonded with
Powell: <o:p abp="493"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="494">
<span abp="495" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1584" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="495" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1585" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8DpYQFi1R3VhlqAHLN-QdNoQ5QPb0OkoGTwICFgvlQ6tpJgfxoi72lXVcxvK4zANw-nm76pKdatLLK8R9Z96N5T5SUzs-c_37w6LYM8e3ts1vF6qSCtV7PxbfQy0D8KJCLZGpFDJaKs/s1600/virusc31.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1586" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8DpYQFi1R3VhlqAHLN-QdNoQ5QPb0OkoGTwICFgvlQ6tpJgfxoi72lXVcxvK4zANw-nm76pKdatLLK8R9Z96N5T5SUzs-c_37w6LYM8e3ts1vF6qSCtV7PxbfQy0D8KJCLZGpFDJaKs/s1600/virusc31.png" height="300" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="496" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="497" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="498" style="color: orange;">Wait? The virus can talk now? Or is it Powell
controlling it?<o:p abp="499"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="500">
<span abp="501" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="502" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="503" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="504" style="color: orange;">Averill kills him, but sadly, Powell had managed to
spread it:<o:p abp="505"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="506">
<span abp="507" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1602" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="507" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1603" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSDiSwbtNgYjFbP6Atevgig8107H8w0rHaPccpJqLC4k9J_h4dMku8y999ZG2edxSVlDAHF3wQ3QPty2HgHAEjXMAi079n5_PPJMI1e5Q58FPa64QzYG-9Z53JKGfSRU3TUiuxVSIaqI/s1600/virusc32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1604" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSDiSwbtNgYjFbP6Atevgig8107H8w0rHaPccpJqLC4k9J_h4dMku8y999ZG2edxSVlDAHF3wQ3QPty2HgHAEjXMAi079n5_PPJMI1e5Q58FPa64QzYG-9Z53JKGfSRU3TUiuxVSIaqI/s1600/virusc32.png" height="207" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="508" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="509" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="510" style="color: orange;">Anyway, the comic basically turns into a zombie
movie, with the non-infected trying to avoid the infected:<o:p abp="511"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="512">
<span abp="513" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1620" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="513" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1621" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9p4DLYdbHDK9ai4YUPLfb67P60TU5l8qz3Sx24jsyRcQ8TLHEhlcxEoigXtiH1ksy_OxfGpSdhJqAAPASYQsnazDS3-XZ-yM7YmPf-prP9CjwwzZpU3cnDnsHr_OMM3xizyRs16C8Cc/s1600/virusc33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1622" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9p4DLYdbHDK9ai4YUPLfb67P60TU5l8qz3Sx24jsyRcQ8TLHEhlcxEoigXtiH1ksy_OxfGpSdhJqAAPASYQsnazDS3-XZ-yM7YmPf-prP9CjwwzZpU3cnDnsHr_OMM3xizyRs16C8Cc/s1600/virusc33.png" height="186" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="514" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="515" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="516" style="color: orange;">We also get some more lame comedy from Richie,
although he at least gets to do something badass:<o:p abp="517"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="518">
<span abp="519" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1638" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="519" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1639" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDXaBNfe1x4D-nS2lNtFFjY0Zf7j4SuOmXBh0Y_p983687zZYlY-CJ9cndmU73YkXaTXwoAjuluY_JkFmFneRtOp6urLeLFaGS1w497V8Sq8iuumAzU67G7iMMJ5SikPMCbA4iL_Af6U/s1600/virusc34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1640" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDXaBNfe1x4D-nS2lNtFFjY0Zf7j4SuOmXBh0Y_p983687zZYlY-CJ9cndmU73YkXaTXwoAjuluY_JkFmFneRtOp6urLeLFaGS1w497V8Sq8iuumAzU67G7iMMJ5SikPMCbA4iL_Af6U/s1600/virusc34.png" height="320" width="295" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="520" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="521" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="522" style="color: orange;"><span abp="523" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Averill tries
to make it to the flight deck so that they can fly away (why didn’t that occur
to him earlier?), only to find that the virus has beaten them:<o:p abp="524"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="525">
<span abp="526" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1656" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="526" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1657" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4F1aZm4DiE81fPUtV2RpFL403lj1lNfMcVarYumJ8ejSpr8khrIBOPafw8cRfAc7hsY0w8li0N2zJwE_1PWOy3uOKDfljlavfFlaiAc-pnIuzJwgc2muOZYIZJ8Qa78sykS_P4Nr8zo/s1600/virusc35.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1658" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4F1aZm4DiE81fPUtV2RpFL403lj1lNfMcVarYumJ8ejSpr8khrIBOPafw8cRfAc7hsY0w8li0N2zJwE_1PWOy3uOKDfljlavfFlaiAc-pnIuzJwgc2muOZYIZJ8Qa78sykS_P4Nr8zo/s1600/virusc35.png" height="320" width="277" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="527" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="528" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="529" style="color: orange;"><span abp="530" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then it
decides to turn into Godzilla:<o:p abp="531"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="532">
<span abp="533" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1674" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="533" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1675" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmYubFIx9A04eEBKDvqqZ2oZwi21iZ1W-6JwOUNzi72p9f_X62NslFVzaYuy33iJGs6lxb0IuLOE55kEE4o9-jxDBDYo8Qyu1moPsgearPh3WNO0qVw7ubsxBcdxHSbV9U-K1ayQ3Fbk/s1600/zilla.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1676" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmYubFIx9A04eEBKDvqqZ2oZwi21iZ1W-6JwOUNzi72p9f_X62NslFVzaYuy33iJGs6lxb0IuLOE55kEE4o9-jxDBDYo8Qyu1moPsgearPh3WNO0qVw7ubsxBcdxHSbV9U-K1ayQ3Fbk/s1600/zilla.png" height="173" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="534" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="535" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="536" style="color: orange;">That’ll never <i abp="537" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i>
look silly.<o:p abp="538"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="539">
<span abp="540" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="541" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="542" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="543" style="color: orange;">The group heads below deck again, only to find the
virus has got Richie:<o:p abp="544"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="545">
<span abp="546" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1692" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="546" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1693" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXALOrwZd977Mc-MskAlJmRNAN5mMIoe8AdbupKy0_nSf3Gvp_eQhkK5bMsiiKkwsRPXhhbZrPBhsCfZqnWLIdDSOsoQxTgJwq7isdkRKto8RQV9rW-yEN-YH_fR75PeumEy-iqMk7Nfk/s1600/virusc36.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1694" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXALOrwZd977Mc-MskAlJmRNAN5mMIoe8AdbupKy0_nSf3Gvp_eQhkK5bMsiiKkwsRPXhhbZrPBhsCfZqnWLIdDSOsoQxTgJwq7isdkRKto8RQV9rW-yEN-YH_fR75PeumEy-iqMk7Nfk/s1600/virusc36.png" height="320" width="280" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="547" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="548" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="549" style="color: orange;">It also apparently has learned how to make
wisecracks:<o:p abp="550"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="551">
<span abp="552" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1710" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="552" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1711" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPf-61rYmEtquqrVcOKEweoJAyWkWqXDLsgug0Y66EPQ7WVMsswVtV29Ivdgx3lzcUSp1mObxK9hU0YjRZdSbIfn5Eh7JhvaWJJUb9odDZTbjdU03q9YH8YB_uzNu3UrtuoB04xLhDSs/s1600/virusc37.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1712" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPf-61rYmEtquqrVcOKEweoJAyWkWqXDLsgug0Y66EPQ7WVMsswVtV29Ivdgx3lzcUSp1mObxK9hU0YjRZdSbIfn5Eh7JhvaWJJUb9odDZTbjdU03q9YH8YB_uzNu3UrtuoB04xLhDSs/s1600/virusc37.png" height="302" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="553" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="554" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="555" style="color: orange;">Also, why oh why, does it think pliers are so damn
deadly? Seriously, this thing seems to love using pliers as its primary weapon!<o:p abp="556"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="557">
<span abp="558" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1728" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="558" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1729" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe43xhrzkmM8EsmjDBk8LvpvCRFDYtNb8r3QOciSY202gGM9adW_4lrafVQ9o7LeosgZunnmUEYsCdNfSSEqwreY4yqXEoG9sxdZefJQeA2m-vTW-1KgYUX7G0KiEM4o7P9GETqfk8OsY/s1600/virusc38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1730" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe43xhrzkmM8EsmjDBk8LvpvCRFDYtNb8r3QOciSY202gGM9adW_4lrafVQ9o7LeosgZunnmUEYsCdNfSSEqwreY4yqXEoG9sxdZefJQeA2m-vTW-1KgYUX7G0KiEM4o7P9GETqfk8OsY/s1600/virusc38.png" height="157" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="559" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="560" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="561" style="color: orange;">Averill comes to the risky solution of luring the
entire virus on deck in one form, then blowing it up, at the risk of sinking
the ship. </span></span><span abp="566" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="567" style="color: orange;">He also gets
the douchiest self-sacrificing speech of all time:<o:p abp="569"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="570">
<span abp="571" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<span abp="571" style="color: orange;"><div abp="1746" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1747" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfNsyNq0zmHHUgW4iaLvMWgP5MxplQIG8oX316xsncRoAWsCt3ZJavr-h8KnM4ayRZsW9sZhTdvMLJrkKga-zASwIh4MgDX3NOcFs8-orTZIOA0wiWWwpZin4EJrwG5W-ZZSMoeVyeCE/s1600/virusc39.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1748" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfNsyNq0zmHHUgW4iaLvMWgP5MxplQIG8oX316xsncRoAWsCt3ZJavr-h8KnM4ayRZsW9sZhTdvMLJrkKga-zASwIh4MgDX3NOcFs8-orTZIOA0wiWWwpZin4EJrwG5W-ZZSMoeVyeCE/s1600/virusc39.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1764">
</div>
<div abp="1765" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1766" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpek29S-RVE9S9W3OjpJLEj_jpzmip1LrPfLnmdThH3CL-lFb4QZM8sLQbeGL3ItqRNpYDGT5SmmhLLJmU-4JvDYw7n_nKA3QyuvIsbfTmLXgcFiCt1Td388tUAJ9o_stFefH8FTwgu0Y/s1600/virusc40.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1767" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpek29S-RVE9S9W3OjpJLEj_jpzmip1LrPfLnmdThH3CL-lFb4QZM8sLQbeGL3ItqRNpYDGT5SmmhLLJmU-4JvDYw7n_nKA3QyuvIsbfTmLXgcFiCt1Td388tUAJ9o_stFefH8FTwgu0Y/s1600/virusc40.png" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1768">
</div>
</span><div abp="1769">
</div>
<div abp="572" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="573" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="574" style="color: orange;">It doesn’t matter anyway; Apia tags along and he
gets killed:<o:p abp="575"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="576">
<span abp="577" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1785" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="577" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1786" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59JlFh79kHKWxX7srZy7VwiXaZ3if0D8MK4Cvq8NQ_o1clP6GPvybq0GnPKpNAx1w93rWZoqMP7_DY5-VJz_vvO9yycRFcGdQ66zYaqxqD5Mn7m45zrhQp1FSCovdJi8VpK6KQuR5H2I/s1600/virusc41.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1787" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59JlFh79kHKWxX7srZy7VwiXaZ3if0D8MK4Cvq8NQ_o1clP6GPvybq0GnPKpNAx1w93rWZoqMP7_DY5-VJz_vvO9yycRFcGdQ66zYaqxqD5Mn7m45zrhQp1FSCovdJi8VpK6KQuR5H2I/s1600/virusc41.png" height="281" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="578" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="579" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="580" style="color: orange;">Pretty soon it’s down to just Averill, Foster and
the Virus’s final form…which is pretty silly looking, even the ribcage-scorpion was cooler:<o:p abp="581"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="582">
<span abp="583" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1899" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="583" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1900" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7laCZxxLwMDURuxZ7N1-aW58IcET0W1qOTRiNqyRi47u7tSce6r6bup4oCi6lid3Kwl68oRFNiuzd2HRvEIEsSi70J6XiXhmcFibz1tyz6Yn4amaHErYg_8gcO8cM0pQB7-z_fhQSys/s1600/virusc42.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1901" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7laCZxxLwMDURuxZ7N1-aW58IcET0W1qOTRiNqyRi47u7tSce6r6bup4oCi6lid3Kwl68oRFNiuzd2HRvEIEsSi70J6XiXhmcFibz1tyz6Yn4amaHErYg_8gcO8cM0pQB7-z_fhQSys/s1600/virusc42.png" height="272" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="584" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="585" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="586" style="color: orange;"><span abp="587" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two
succeed and destroy it however, and are rescued by a passing helicopter. BUT
WAIT! A floppy disk containing the virus still remains, waiting….for a sequel that
would never come.<o:p abp="588"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="589">
<span abp="590" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1906" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="590" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1907" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTlktLnT5t54kNgf6r79I8DbO-fuZmDA84PszrA-_KCcBqusuagDdX8FOv9xXEkNACJaYrmN-yxwkyjNNWKtlrM6n3rM-Z4ty0c6sswQPJo6f19VDqzpEsuDepHG708bVLXagtEEbjnM/s1600/virusend.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1908" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTlktLnT5t54kNgf6r79I8DbO-fuZmDA84PszrA-_KCcBqusuagDdX8FOv9xXEkNACJaYrmN-yxwkyjNNWKtlrM6n3rM-Z4ty0c6sswQPJo6f19VDqzpEsuDepHG708bVLXagtEEbjnM/s1600/virusend.png" height="245" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="591" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="592" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="593" style="color: orange;"><span abp="594" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="595" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Virus</b> is an unwieldy mixture of <i abp="596" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alien</i>, <i abp="597" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Thing</i>, zombie movies and <i abp="598" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Terminator</i> as well as the old ghost ship scenario. How the virus works is
pretty inconsistent, with it sometimes controlling multiple parts of the ship
at once, other times putting itself all into one form. The level of control it
has over its victims is also never explained; it’s supposed to just be some
mindless crazed-for-life being that possesses everything around it, but several
times the infected characters talk and even make jokes. In Powell’s case he
apparently has control over it, and we’re never given any explanation as to why
other than that, well, he’s a bad guy. <o:p abp="599"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="600">
<span abp="601" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="603" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="604" style="color: orange;"> Speaking of
good guys and bad guys, man is Averill an ass. He’s supposed to be a voice of
reason and to look good compared to the tyrannical, greedy Powell, but if
anything he’s even more controlling. Even at his worst, Powell still doesn’t
casually threaten to shoot people the way Averill does. The scene where he gets
ready to “sacrifice” himself rings hollow instead of heroic, because he comes
off as a glory hound, and since he doesn’t die anyway, it’s pointless. All in
all, there really isn’t much that makes him come off as better than Powell, whose
greatest sin is basically just being a greedy, bossy jackass who we’re supposed
to resent because…we hear that his dad owns the company at one point.<o:p abp="606"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="607">
<span abp="608" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="609" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="610" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="611" style="color: orange;"><span abp="612" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
interesting thing about Averill though is his relationship with Foster. You’d
think she would be his love interest, but other than a cliché “I’m not leaving
without you” scene, she’s never portrayed that way. Their relationship is only
platonic. That’s kind of refreshing. The last thing this comic needs is a
romantic subplot. </span></span></div>
<div abp="1924" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1925" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL90ONLFV16DXCH0gABWaYXGADYS-hprWZqzVv89gPH42Hgtio6TdLjJCDsGpB8e_8tKs_2kEgis92t0IJh5bhsyz7Cyk6Y-yygEM_SY0HLb4YzAb5v1WisWvWSFDX_V0sRb2yhAi5WcM/s1600/Averil&Foster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1926" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL90ONLFV16DXCH0gABWaYXGADYS-hprWZqzVv89gPH42Hgtio6TdLjJCDsGpB8e_8tKs_2kEgis92t0IJh5bhsyz7Cyk6Y-yygEM_SY0HLb4YzAb5v1WisWvWSFDX_V0sRb2yhAi5WcM/s1600/Averil&Foster.png" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="609" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="610" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="611" style="color: orange;">Foster isn’t the most interesting character (but then again,
everyone takes the backseat to the all-mighty, all-knowing Averill in this),
but it’s cool to see a female lead who isn’t a love interest, or really even
sexualized at all. She’s drawn to be sexy, but there are never any explicit
poses or anything, not even so much as a cleavage shot.<o:p abp="613"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="614">
<span abp="615" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1942" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="615" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1943" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTGAXAvOEyPgluIMXGYcNlee4tP6eYED0P1drVIEUpN-eWkUtTR2R1DSo7BK1Y87uqSjgVRiKJp9SrbN1LzjT096PEl7ANbYQ_whOjKDRgjG0q50zYiRuCNOnDzHbhikZDoAhZUsvK0E/s1600/foster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1944" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTGAXAvOEyPgluIMXGYcNlee4tP6eYED0P1drVIEUpN-eWkUtTR2R1DSo7BK1Y87uqSjgVRiKJp9SrbN1LzjT096PEl7ANbYQ_whOjKDRgjG0q50zYiRuCNOnDzHbhikZDoAhZUsvK0E/s1600/foster.png" height="320" width="157" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1942" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="615" style="color: orange;"><span abp="1960" style="color: white;">This is about as sexualized as she gets</span></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="616" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="617" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="618" style="color: orange;"><span abp="619" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The art by
Howard Cobb is excellent throughout, the only real problem with it is that the
book’s main attraction, the gruesome welding of flesh and machines, never
really has the scare factor it is intended to. It’ s too…clean-looking, as if
Cobb tried to draw everything to look like it would in an anatomy book, but
without the gory, slimy quality it should have. It may as well be pink taffy
intermeshed with the machines! Even though Pfarrer thought that Hollywood
couldn’t properly depict what his script required, the comic didn’t either!<o:p abp="620"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="621">
<span abp="622" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="624" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="625" style="color: orange;"> But then,
Hollywood did eventually bring <b abp="627" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Virus</b>
to the screen. And how did that turn out? Let’s see.<o:p abp="628"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="629">
<span abp="630" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1961" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="630" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1962" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMGjm4Y8qbzmpVMvN6Y7PFQpHoJbh4b3e2U9cHiYoQNTwHXHBLKFRxpIwHLtyDb4BTcOQbir9J8U-a5Ad34kUhZtRoiErSr3Mcx-CIzFuksZWen-ZWW8STHFdAV9s8jVEhTGM0GG4muw/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1963" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMGjm4Y8qbzmpVMvN6Y7PFQpHoJbh4b3e2U9cHiYoQNTwHXHBLKFRxpIwHLtyDb4BTcOQbir9J8U-a5Ad34kUhZtRoiErSr3Mcx-CIzFuksZWen-ZWW8STHFdAV9s8jVEhTGM0GG4muw/s1600/12.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="631" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="632" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="633" style="color: orange;"><span abp="634" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film
begins with silent credits, then it gets straight to its first of many jump
scares when the cheesy-looking title logo pops up to “DOOOOOM!’ dramatic music.
Isn’t it sad when a comics logo looks more like a movie logo than the movie’s
logo itself?<o:p abp="635"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="636">
<span abp="637" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="1979" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="637" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1980" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0khuZK40VWJVXzn4I9MzsSRELqJLdcqAPXhnm-lg8CIPO69bCwOPOHVaGDaAY3AK3ex4-pvqyDObqqbjfg0SwjHgCUKi7T-t-EYemDQUwuKTs1SnlyCdKrC2HVPAKFZZaQNTC5J-EvrQ/s1600/virus2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1981" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0khuZK40VWJVXzn4I9MzsSRELqJLdcqAPXhnm-lg8CIPO69bCwOPOHVaGDaAY3AK3ex4-pvqyDObqqbjfg0SwjHgCUKi7T-t-EYemDQUwuKTs1SnlyCdKrC2HVPAKFZZaQNTC5J-EvrQ/s1600/virus2.png" height="147" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1997" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="637" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1998" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIsLjIHFf_6KVl9MfeRC1qr3j5HOqNsfV29I8d_1llkAlfjxKUtkbnRpy4JPd7Q6swf6ZAqj71k1hxScW0R0ASqMQ_QJPcQSvwaWlLlNSC4o5JkejYwzcszkAwVNaXs50LMc0S2_1khw/s1600/virus1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1999" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIsLjIHFf_6KVl9MfeRC1qr3j5HOqNsfV29I8d_1llkAlfjxKUtkbnRpy4JPd7Q6swf6ZAqj71k1hxScW0R0ASqMQ_QJPcQSvwaWlLlNSC4o5JkejYwzcszkAwVNaXs50LMc0S2_1khw/s1600/virus1.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1979" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="637" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div abp="638" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="639" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="640" style="color: orange;"><span abp="641" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This version
starts off right on the ship, which in this version, is Russian instead of
Chinese and is called the <em abp="2141">Vladislav Volkov</em>. </span></span></div>
<div abp="2123" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2124" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRzCJL9EoT-ixt6wXc8dXOjbcw-ZZgishPZvUeFhBbfWavUno7v3Hlne5d-hoy4IHUW8sUd5Yf6WGvShGbYl5BpxJ8EHY6Di78VeU0jysdL_Q1H-d4Zc8-63rrDZhhEjYVH_Ez_GmUrw/s1600/virus10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2125" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRzCJL9EoT-ixt6wXc8dXOjbcw-ZZgishPZvUeFhBbfWavUno7v3Hlne5d-hoy4IHUW8sUd5Yf6WGvShGbYl5BpxJ8EHY6Di78VeU0jysdL_Q1H-d4Zc8-63rrDZhhEjYVH_Ez_GmUrw/s1600/virus10.png" height="167" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2123" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="2142" style="color: white;">The most atmospheric shot in the movie</span></div>
<div abp="638" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="639" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="640" style="color: orange;">Whereas in the comic, we never got
to see the virus attack the ship and it was all left to our imaginations, here
we get to see the Virus actually make its way to earth and infect the ship:
It’s…blue lightning shaped like a UFO. What was the point in showing this?<o:p abp="642"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="643">
<span abp="644" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="2015" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="644" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2016" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7fwlUErWPqTZHPtiLUKGsS5rA6s3Ih-HjZubTsj29zSfSvKwHfStKFd32oqX4cKtrVj7pXsodGXs7lLtIL-YoGhsT7PmkdIwTCkQ7irK_BYLProT_A56_N5H-Nzyhl8DCEBkSnJehh4/s1600/virus3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2017" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7fwlUErWPqTZHPtiLUKGsS5rA6s3Ih-HjZubTsj29zSfSvKwHfStKFd32oqX4cKtrVj7pXsodGXs7lLtIL-YoGhsT7PmkdIwTCkQ7irK_BYLProT_A56_N5H-Nzyhl8DCEBkSnJehh4/s1600/virus3.png" height="134" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="645" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="646" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="647" style="color: orange;"><span abp="648" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that,
we meet the characters. Here, Foster (Jamie Lee Curtis) is named Kelly for some
reason and was also an ex-Navy officer who was kicked out for hitting a
superior, the Averill character (William Baldwin) is an engineer instead of
first mate and is named Steve Baker. Here, they are in a relationship, although
apart from small talk among other characters, we never see it. Baker varies
between being totally useless and just as hyper-competent as in the comic,
although interestingly enough, he’s just as gung ho on looting the ship as the
rest of the crew here. Most of the focus is on Foster here, and Curtis gets an
awesome scene where she decks the film’s Powell analogue.<o:p abp="649"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="650">
<span abp="651" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="2033" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="651" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2034" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwSw-TpNUMN-jD2L6GT5hTu5DtrZpA9_945DwerjFDuIDeZWzD8EfuEybAs4Qt13sZcEHnlk_bRTO-bXQrratflkziPDwk53YWJVpl3tyViiDOX3Ck4b3H_5SkXF7ceFAyh9DYTaw8lU/s1600/virus4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2035" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwSw-TpNUMN-jD2L6GT5hTu5DtrZpA9_945DwerjFDuIDeZWzD8EfuEybAs4Qt13sZcEHnlk_bRTO-bXQrratflkziPDwk53YWJVpl3tyViiDOX3Ck4b3H_5SkXF7ceFAyh9DYTaw8lU/s1600/virus4.png" height="136" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2051" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="651" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2052" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR73_U6KqBFRo7c70zhB9jlRM7856XWdPvbzoxn1TDZk199VhSgafu8UXi6Dtd8AzIoyziaaba0mtY31FcLR6HjSO4p6Y6wYDiVkgBKTErDE0Ip96eMyeZuzo9YYqFe3CPv2oWHKsEhEI/s1600/virus5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2053" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR73_U6KqBFRo7c70zhB9jlRM7856XWdPvbzoxn1TDZk199VhSgafu8UXi6Dtd8AzIoyziaaba0mtY31FcLR6HjSO4p6Y6wYDiVkgBKTErDE0Ip96eMyeZuzo9YYqFe3CPv2oWHKsEhEI/s1600/virus5.png" height="134" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2069" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="651" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2070" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwAF0bIgf6-eYTGyxM6E1y0NKENp2ykSCfr8LGlaXSfTPL0qTIgQYvF5nE2blNaQNx-Xdi9zyWstyQJqviglC6VSsY5Ef6xaKVTMKKtO12RkWhxwIGZ0Cs86a404XVbmL5e0IB7x_EBc/s1600/virus9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2071" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwAF0bIgf6-eYTGyxM6E1y0NKENp2ykSCfr8LGlaXSfTPL0qTIgQYvF5nE2blNaQNx-Xdi9zyWstyQJqviglC6VSsY5Ef6xaKVTMKKtO12RkWhxwIGZ0Cs86a404XVbmL5e0IB7x_EBc/s1600/virus9.png" height="237" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2033" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="651" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div abp="652" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="653" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="654" style="color: orange;"><span abp="655" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film adds
a Russian survivor named Nadia, who does about fuck all to advance the
storyline until the very end except be treated suspiciously by the others, she
doesn’t even provide any meaningful exposition.<o:p abp="656"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="657">
<span abp="658" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="2087" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="658" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2088" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JujksXhG6nWFIs0axfJiqVfIvmOC6Yzc3-RulZHaCMSQe_VGcsGsV90jA9C5vjKMknfLm8i_Hn_9HS371ysCH0JjpuiZuoO62mcJ6MS4LBFaU96M1Xa9I95KHhnYkeXkMfLc7HVpEPI/s1600/virus12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2089" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JujksXhG6nWFIs0axfJiqVfIvmOC6Yzc3-RulZHaCMSQe_VGcsGsV90jA9C5vjKMknfLm8i_Hn_9HS371ysCH0JjpuiZuoO62mcJ6MS4LBFaU96M1Xa9I95KHhnYkeXkMfLc7HVpEPI/s1600/virus12.png" height="202" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="659" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="660" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="661" style="color: orange;"><span abp="662" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richie is in
this too, played by Sherman Augustus. He’s kind of a paranoid weapons nut here.
His butt-monkey role goes to another character named Woods, although he still
gets some incredibly dumb comic relief scenes, like when he tries to say hi to
one of the robots “hey little guy!”. <o:p abp="663"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="664">
<span abp="665" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="2105" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="665" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2106" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXrrS5S7PpBBqcFWcz4rUxqgeH80aiseHOBGFOFGhHXD05icTQvaHsMW56o8MFlisUY93dda1lWorkzgtPDh2JfvaQy4igwe7vVh6TTej7tEbPmndKkdSujQXdR8dtMqw9MVXiMvleiU/s1600/virus11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2107" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXrrS5S7PpBBqcFWcz4rUxqgeH80aiseHOBGFOFGhHXD05icTQvaHsMW56o8MFlisUY93dda1lWorkzgtPDh2JfvaQy4igwe7vVh6TTej7tEbPmndKkdSujQXdR8dtMqw9MVXiMvleiU/s1600/virus11.png" height="149" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="666" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="667" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="668" style="color: orange;"><span abp="669" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, most
of the film’s humor is unintentional, and it all comes from one source: Donald
Sutherland as Captain Everton, the Powell character. Here, he goes from just
being a greedy jerk to an outright supervillain. Although at least here, he’s
shown to be a homicidal nut from the start, and it’s he who keeps pulling guns
on people to get them to follow orders, instead of Averill.<o:p abp="670"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="671">
<span abp="672" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="2143" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="672" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2144" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnUrwaJ-N09mUA9JLJDCE4P6wLeTfV9ooUxlJ0786lnBOx_6ywgW2EdST5cpDbjXNvXrtS07UagI-cbm_naMMkHbGr8HQTnVsFVlwFM43opMSwz_LLfdz2TDOTSQmjHcugf5PpWYTPl8/s1600/virus6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2145" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnUrwaJ-N09mUA9JLJDCE4P6wLeTfV9ooUxlJ0786lnBOx_6ywgW2EdST5cpDbjXNvXrtS07UagI-cbm_naMMkHbGr8HQTnVsFVlwFM43opMSwz_LLfdz2TDOTSQmjHcugf5PpWYTPl8/s1600/virus6.png" height="147" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div abp="673" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="674" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="675" style="color: orange;">Sutherland is a joy to watch in this, with his
deranged facial expressions, scenes where he plays Russian roulette by himself,
sobs like a little kid after Foster smacks him and mumbles lines like “Russian
rubbish!!” and calls Nadia “Dr. Igor fuckin’ Frankenstein” (or more accurately
“fuggin’ Vhrankensh-tein”). Sutherland is obviously just collecting a check,
but he must have decided to have fun while doing it. <o:p abp="676"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="677">
<span abp="678" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="2161" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="678" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2162" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-wNz53doD1kDlVFnaNZ5Ae7vgdCyLvugKZS2Wb2JepsngwhtRCcKustOWpNUJTEd7LruSLDXMVEcBTeG2WMw4P9GBcWYe9QSh-5uvp44Q3YK7brutiAWDXbyqn6W4fzTm5i5OaHFJl8/s1600/virus7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2163" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-wNz53doD1kDlVFnaNZ5Ae7vgdCyLvugKZS2Wb2JepsngwhtRCcKustOWpNUJTEd7LruSLDXMVEcBTeG2WMw4P9GBcWYe9QSh-5uvp44Q3YK7brutiAWDXbyqn6W4fzTm5i5OaHFJl8/s1600/virus7.png" height="141" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2179" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="678" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2180" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jK6MotfqylWFXMQpadtnK7chTtTMnmVjd57CdSpUQJ56iAeVroThpD-UXnk6BNmGMr4GB9MHA7EncAlfeHvQh6l1OeePbWTWFg_8AZJhV9J8AmnOmoAtWs3N04fo3GTcDte25At0SgQ/s1600/virus8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2181" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jK6MotfqylWFXMQpadtnK7chTtTMnmVjd57CdSpUQJ56iAeVroThpD-UXnk6BNmGMr4GB9MHA7EncAlfeHvQh6l1OeePbWTWFg_8AZJhV9J8AmnOmoAtWs3N04fo3GTcDte25At0SgQ/s1600/virus8.png" height="160" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2161" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="678" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div abp="679" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="680" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="681" style="color: orange;"><span abp="682" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and after
he gets smacked by Foster, and even though up to this point he’s supposedly not
believed Nadia’s story and thinks all the weird goings-on are part of a Russian
plot, he makes a deal with the virus by convincing it that he is Earth’s
dominant life form so that it can infect him and give him cyborg powers!<o:p abp="683"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="684">
<span abp="685" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="687" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="688" style="color: orange;"> Yeah, that’s
right, in this version; the virus can be communicated with via computer. It
speaks in a deep, Darth Vader voice that is meant to sound creepy and to evoke
HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey, but comes off as trying too hard. </span></span></div>
<div abp="2197" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2198" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKnaAdCtCzj2T4DvfrpUyZunKVBhyphenhyphenvktlrFLilBPM1MKTcGP_BExOoIQCPRgi89qfZNnJDIPDiJLTEDTVjOT3YmzDJUQjS1DjpDzibkGgIDH4_WPvyMrKyl_W3jhlekXbr0fX3VgF_Ss/s1600/virus17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2199" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKnaAdCtCzj2T4DvfrpUyZunKVBhyphenhyphenvktlrFLilBPM1MKTcGP_BExOoIQCPRgi89qfZNnJDIPDiJLTEDTVjOT3YmzDJUQjS1DjpDzibkGgIDH4_WPvyMrKyl_W3jhlekXbr0fX3VgF_Ss/s1600/virus17.png" height="152" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="684">
<span abp="687" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="688" style="color: orange;">Oh, and it’s
motivation has gone from just being a mindless being looking to spread itself,
to wanting to wipe us out, because get this, it thinks humans are germs because
they pollute the planet and carry diseases. “You are Virus” it says.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2235" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2236" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1Y3hk0uEGbn42SWGvijRqQad9EUCRXkxP99XvrHC1XiZRBaF15EWdG63MuRmFXzwkZH0HBYusznrZ-8gPFgeCYuNAdpW-FjF-n3mXyRJ9sMDXibwo_kuWopRtJL025Cvy6CItbC6mB4/s1600/virus18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2237" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1Y3hk0uEGbn42SWGvijRqQad9EUCRXkxP99XvrHC1XiZRBaF15EWdG63MuRmFXzwkZH0HBYusznrZ-8gPFgeCYuNAdpW-FjF-n3mXyRJ9sMDXibwo_kuWopRtJL025Cvy6CItbC6mB4/s1600/virus18.png" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2240" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2241" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqqaohMnBnFf2osaxqW4JnxkPfRFV9flRwPbD_5nIv2A_-BT2ddrpbguV0-4Whpo96xL9fhplQ6Cs67plv-SeU1FX17YfkxJKNCilPlJS-5UF-AMlrxTDf82CruVMy8Yv8LSOs_DpDrU/s1600/virus19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2242" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqqaohMnBnFf2osaxqW4JnxkPfRFV9flRwPbD_5nIv2A_-BT2ddrpbguV0-4Whpo96xL9fhplQ6Cs67plv-SeU1FX17YfkxJKNCilPlJS-5UF-AMlrxTDf82CruVMy8Yv8LSOs_DpDrU/s1600/virus19.png" /></a></div>
<div abp="2258" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2259" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGf3CuoRPNM1eJ4v3Q7f6Wu1M-OE30HWs7sp9HWYm6mYyDJEi-RizPNOTLZa-s_w6hOJlHIK_xRChJwJ20-ytUWV_B1-QdzTXuwKCetF1cLAqgYJoNKveBVTblZpqQK5G9jhMH5dKo7BY/s1600/youarevirus.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2260" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGf3CuoRPNM1eJ4v3Q7f6Wu1M-OE30HWs7sp9HWYm6mYyDJEi-RizPNOTLZa-s_w6hOJlHIK_xRChJwJ20-ytUWV_B1-QdzTXuwKCetF1cLAqgYJoNKveBVTblZpqQK5G9jhMH5dKo7BY/s1600/youarevirus.png" height="164" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="684">
<span abp="694" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="695" style="color: orange;"> That has got
to be <strong>the</strong> worst use of the “Humans are the real monsters” trope I’ve ever seen
in anything.<o:p abp="697"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="698">
<span abp="699" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="700" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="701" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="702" style="color: orange;"><span abp="703" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and
eventually Mecha-Everton shows up and—<i abp="704" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">awwwww
how adorable</i>, he’s still wearing his captain’s hat!<o:p abp="705"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="706">
<span abp="707" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="2276" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="707" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2277" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaz7BHlQiIMAWOwZjT3HrnEi3vQ9jILCB7axT7u2G8kNQay9YFdXf07sfij4c-iPh_iuKpVBt27hShu7vWnvihTyBYfcbNykXhyphenhyphenmqdhv1ew31fUb2txp1ssqYcE-Dj1ltz2ZSM8Da-nw/s1600/mechaEverton2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2278" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaz7BHlQiIMAWOwZjT3HrnEi3vQ9jILCB7axT7u2G8kNQay9YFdXf07sfij4c-iPh_iuKpVBt27hShu7vWnvihTyBYfcbNykXhyphenhyphenmqdhv1ew31fUb2txp1ssqYcE-Dj1ltz2ZSM8Da-nw/s1600/mechaEverton2.png" height="196" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2294" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="707" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2295" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HhjmaJidt4KsweNpohW1_819fhMINdvOMSAwkM6Sw6JAZyL8s3W3NaE2P_-wueUNDTfAE5nRKtTAURVLp2Foi6h8rIaNWixYmiLqFyiUy3Px69xMVvAl1xLYr2co5bN0bi8TdmPnL1s/s1600/mechaEverton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2296" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HhjmaJidt4KsweNpohW1_819fhMINdvOMSAwkM6Sw6JAZyL8s3W3NaE2P_-wueUNDTfAE5nRKtTAURVLp2Foi6h8rIaNWixYmiLqFyiUy3Px69xMVvAl1xLYr2co5bN0bi8TdmPnL1s/s1600/mechaEverton.png" height="152" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2276" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="707" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div abp="708" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="709" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="710" style="color: orange;"><span abp="711" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s as silly
on film as it is in still form. Sadly, he doesn’t last much longer than his
comic counterpart before being destroyed, despite all the build-up he’s given
as the film’s Big Bad. A damn shame, Mecha-Sutherland (and his hat) is easily
the best part of the film.<o:p abp="712"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="713">
<span abp="714" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="716" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="717" style="color: orange;"> The special
effects are okay, and there are some pretty impressive scenes of the machines
burrowing into body parts or impromptu autopsies being performed on the
cyborgs, scenes which succeed far better than the comic in creating a
Giger-like atmosphere. Sadly, these scenes are few and far between and
everything else is either a big dumb special effect or kept in shadow to the
point you can’t see it.<o:p abp="719"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="720">
<span abp="721" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="2312" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="721" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2313" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YKntGhhzUmiVTZfSn7vNedW_7xPugS3YSnznc3KqYN3VAl2Jz_KZbYYiuJk_pSLddx4IwFCRvVV_w-ztCFRWrULw-8m714efbikO3LKJxNDY73mmFt6Uw2D76yMnf2mcqIe8GpfHt84/s1600/virus14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2314" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YKntGhhzUmiVTZfSn7vNedW_7xPugS3YSnznc3KqYN3VAl2Jz_KZbYYiuJk_pSLddx4IwFCRvVV_w-ztCFRWrULw-8m714efbikO3LKJxNDY73mmFt6Uw2D76yMnf2mcqIe8GpfHt84/s1600/virus14.png" height="134" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2315">
<span abp="721" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<div abp="2364" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="721" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2365" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDE3lZlE2oKHO3ro728Inc3G0BaAMatzWEd8to9D1D-z8Oa_MgI27h94MSh_KWUOiVRy-IyP1qi6_TtOhOMVbwzBWeacLMuz5yJuSkX1Y-kC3WWbil0GvDuudpagciOvW5jiuFutJlejE/s1600/virus20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2366" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDE3lZlE2oKHO3ro728Inc3G0BaAMatzWEd8to9D1D-z8Oa_MgI27h94MSh_KWUOiVRy-IyP1qi6_TtOhOMVbwzBWeacLMuz5yJuSkX1Y-kC3WWbil0GvDuudpagciOvW5jiuFutJlejE/s1600/virus20.png" height="160" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2316" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="721" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2317" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQmidYPr0wKnb35hQVHl_NNJv96o7NKw3SrUF8lHxLUziHt_KLXHMp0ArvoarMYdNsXikj7bzSkexdowvYIwpCGJJcbOkE5VZVE1DhL_NQzEW8w6GucRIlMd6PQYKcybRWGjESSS2ACc/s1600/virus15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2318" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQmidYPr0wKnb35hQVHl_NNJv96o7NKw3SrUF8lHxLUziHt_KLXHMp0ArvoarMYdNsXikj7bzSkexdowvYIwpCGJJcbOkE5VZVE1DhL_NQzEW8w6GucRIlMd6PQYKcybRWGjESSS2ACc/s1600/virus15.png" height="159" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2382" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="721" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2383" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9oM9CWositIJWQ2kKGd4ySxteLHz3t9-bMM6F5vIfICDJt3bQI5nhDnxxN-ntDNzMggO1snvuviqdAOauCvId_NVDmpX8E3N9TsoWFTL5WbQbSL1Ca_521H2QMazR8eaONS37OeWe9I/s1600/virus16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2384" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9oM9CWositIJWQ2kKGd4ySxteLHz3t9-bMM6F5vIfICDJt3bQI5nhDnxxN-ntDNzMggO1snvuviqdAOauCvId_NVDmpX8E3N9TsoWFTL5WbQbSL1Ca_521H2QMazR8eaONS37OeWe9I/s1600/virus16.png" height="136" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2316" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="721" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div abp="722" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="723" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="724" style="color: orange;"><span abp="725" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film also
ends with one of the dumbest escape scenes I’ve ever seen (the ship has <i abp="726" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">its own eject seat</i>), and one of the
cheapest, most predictable jump scares I’ve also seen, although oddly enough,
there’s no build up for a sequel.<o:p abp="727"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="728">
<span abp="729" style="color: orange;">
<span abp="730" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="731" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i abp="732" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Virus</i>
was a big bomb at the box office, and has a pretty poor reputation overall,
with Jamie Lee Curtis even calling it an “all-time piece of shit”. While it’s
not that bad (it isn’t even the worst horror movie Curtis has done), it’s still
pretty lousy, at times seeming like a parody of sci-fi/action films played
straight. But you know what? You have to admire Chuck Pfarrer, he wrote a
script designed to emulate big dumb techno-thriller action movies with a bunch
of sweaty unlikeable people toting guns yelling at each other, calling
themselves by their surnames and blowing shit up, and by god, it eventually got
made into a big dumb techno-thriller action movie with a bunch of sweaty
unlikeable people toting guns yelling at each other, calling themselves by
their surnames and blowing shit up. That has to count for something.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2442" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2443" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpRafY24XuAu6QQfmDrv0jOiz5vkP7WjI7ifq2tb95bNnq_SsV8mpwOPmS3cjv7NXUH8w4XMki6o_-Ill5XwYGOjGybKvTv2TyBngZO6vQZXKVHC_LvAxyivxqo_t92revidoJfVqO2s/s1600/1998_ReSaurus_Co__Virus_Collector_s_Series_Kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2444" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpRafY24XuAu6QQfmDrv0jOiz5vkP7WjI7ifq2tb95bNnq_SsV8mpwOPmS3cjv7NXUH8w4XMki6o_-Ill5XwYGOjGybKvTv2TyBngZO6vQZXKVHC_LvAxyivxqo_t92revidoJfVqO2s/s1600/1998_ReSaurus_Co__Virus_Collector_s_Series_Kelly.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
<div abp="2445">
</div>
<div abp="2446" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2447" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFzE-xf7xfKY6gvmFFDBdBxMVzVqOhFa1uQVy60qR2DiS5IZhZPFXkJ6VtX6j1_fB5iTMs67BbZXE2UF78H52KUoAIr4WxZY4sZsiw-OA0_7HIbzYtqEcbT9JLhbsAMfTqsk11eFD7fI/s1600/CaptainEverton-Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2448" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFzE-xf7xfKY6gvmFFDBdBxMVzVqOhFa1uQVy60qR2DiS5IZhZPFXkJ6VtX6j1_fB5iTMs67BbZXE2UF78H52KUoAIr4WxZY4sZsiw-OA0_7HIbzYtqEcbT9JLhbsAMfTqsk11eFD7fI/s1600/CaptainEverton-Front.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<div abp="2446" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">Everton and Foster action figures</span></div>
<div abp="728">
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100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-36536684054049121952014-10-25T15:17:00.001-07:002014-10-25T15:29:21.328-07:00Tarantula Man!<div abp="418">
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<div abp="750">
<span abp="420" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="421" style="color: orange;"> One of my favorite “quiet” moments in John Carpenter’s
<i abp="422" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Halloween</i> occurs when little Tommy
Doyle shows Laurie a big stack of comics that he keeps hidden behind a couch because
his mom disapproves. It makes for a fun little “spot the title” game for
collectors. Some of the comics are recent and obviously just plucked off of the
stands (the most visible is <b abp="423" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Howard the
Duck #26</b>) others appear to be from Atlas/Seaboard, which was then several years
defunct. It’s a brief and pointless, but cute moment.<o:p abp="424"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="561" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="562" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vJEQqIWbG2kHUQrjeWRm4Yauh6BJJEkwkB3-sSADv153DhxCXpwCPl8bAxtyFYY5luR0AvGbxItuxm292nVYs1NqorWb_yV29cpW8YuVOcT-VfOIJVYKmKBqYUKtmUlTVQozGiiQfTQ/s1600/tommyandlaurie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="563" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vJEQqIWbG2kHUQrjeWRm4Yauh6BJJEkwkB3-sSADv153DhxCXpwCPl8bAxtyFYY5luR0AvGbxItuxm292nVYs1NqorWb_yV29cpW8YuVOcT-VfOIJVYKmKBqYUKtmUlTVQozGiiQfTQ/s1600/tommyandlaurie.jpg" height="166" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div abp="761">
<span abp="429" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="430" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="431" style="color: orange;">Although he’s
just a supporting character in the original film and is never in any real
danger, a now adult Tommy Doyle was brought back in a major role for 1995’s <i abp="432" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Curse of Michael Myers</i> and made into
an occult expert who had been tracking the origins of Myers for years, traumatized
for life by the brief glimpses he saw of the killer. I like <i abp="433" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Curse</i> more than most fans will admit to,
but I always thought it was odd to bring him back. Were they trying to make him
Michael’s new nemesis for future sequels? (Donald Pleasance was then dying) Were
they trying to make him into the Halloween franchise’s equivalent of another
Tommy; Jarvis from Friday the 13th? Or maybe they figured they
should bring back <i abp="434" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">some </i>character from
the first film to create a sense of legacy. He even gets the honor of beating Michael to death, and in some cuts (there are many different versions of the film available), he actually succeeds.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<a abp="838" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlY2UEXHLaaGcv_egi76pD4SjdWdpyX_KPM8uVEAuWd2SlQITlRUz2fU_JRxKipIeL5dgvpJLnPH6Yx-a1UvoavVMBmmrN38c0U4ctCsSh784bjUQ-V-n5-shtJRQQXq9vT_j7VigQbA/s1600/halloween-6a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="839" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlY2UEXHLaaGcv_egi76pD4SjdWdpyX_KPM8uVEAuWd2SlQITlRUz2fU_JRxKipIeL5dgvpJLnPH6Yx-a1UvoavVMBmmrN38c0U4ctCsSh784bjUQ-V-n5-shtJRQQXq9vT_j7VigQbA/s1600/halloween-6a.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div abp="772">
<span abp="438" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="439" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="440" style="color: orange;">Needless to
say, Tommy Doyle has also popped up in the various <i abp="441" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Halloween</i> comics, mostly in variations of his “monster hunter”
persona from <i abp="442" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Curse</i>, which I guess
works better in the comics medium than film. However, my favorite use of the
character in a comic, and a far more interesting (and plausible) fate for him
came about in 2008’s <b abp="443" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Halloween: 30 Years
of Terror</b> one-shot anthology in a story titled "Tommy and the Boogeyman".</span></span></div>
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<a abp="584" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw5GPiFCXlmZI34kClzsXO-5TN62tJbr1Vfap-VUMNb1hDLQXV1AElxgTyBABtd9HUWL4yn4rAc-i2sJ3t_yX2XHyKig9IEr6bd-rf2ro25RmeMH4a78AnTAUwuCZQnKxgaXvJFAN5zA/s1600/ddpcomic8b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="585" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw5GPiFCXlmZI34kClzsXO-5TN62tJbr1Vfap-VUMNb1hDLQXV1AElxgTyBABtd9HUWL4yn4rAc-i2sJ3t_yX2XHyKig9IEr6bd-rf2ro25RmeMH4a78AnTAUwuCZQnKxgaXvJFAN5zA/s1600/ddpcomic8b.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div abp="785">
<span abp="447" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="448" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="449" style="color: orange;">Here, Tommy’s
love of comics has taken a natural conclusion: He’s become a comic book
artist!<span abp="450" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we also get to see the “Tarantula
Man” comic that Laurie name drops, but we never see. Here it is, enjoy. All ©
Devil’s Due Publishing. Art by Jeff Zornow.<o:p abp="451"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a abp="602" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPTAJLaS5oxh5oC6shyphenhyphenTr9FQuMuNBl0Cg2DgzgJUhefLO_YmAABOpDIy4dcEgOEsGyMl3VPl3GM9Prkt9mVFOjwdpLe9DNqdvv3gNMbTJQ_9E3M9-KJFHoy6uYjpBnWQYIQrYG9nLCh8/s1600/h30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="603" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPTAJLaS5oxh5oC6shyphenhyphenTr9FQuMuNBl0Cg2DgzgJUhefLO_YmAABOpDIy4dcEgOEsGyMl3VPl3GM9Prkt9mVFOjwdpLe9DNqdvv3gNMbTJQ_9E3M9-KJFHoy6uYjpBnWQYIQrYG9nLCh8/s1600/h30.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
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<a abp="640" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuwT_EjAGPsJqwVT2tgE1EnJ0R3S2-IcGpl9t87SFXHnMfOaxkZoP78M3rozCYNT7P9m1Vm1xPkuA6kj0MYHGrB6qLK22ecP-Ji3FrT-8FxCm-HybRF7-0-E2Uk5ZOSEypnnQ2njGkX8/s1600/h303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="641" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuwT_EjAGPsJqwVT2tgE1EnJ0R3S2-IcGpl9t87SFXHnMfOaxkZoP78M3rozCYNT7P9m1Vm1xPkuA6kj0MYHGrB6qLK22ecP-Ji3FrT-8FxCm-HybRF7-0-E2Uk5ZOSEypnnQ2njGkX8/s1600/h303.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
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<a abp="658" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCUOkPDLQPAVNeWTi-oIhh4VacjeMtR-W_aDVl8f8i75h0Y9iwygvdowlMSW6gljajZEO9dFyjtkjKgX4QGi9cyoy-nkpqU_0TKAaj4RUvp0HkLMYMUtEaaEfWut74xhYw_VCrbCfMwI/s1600/h304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="659" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCUOkPDLQPAVNeWTi-oIhh4VacjeMtR-W_aDVl8f8i75h0Y9iwygvdowlMSW6gljajZEO9dFyjtkjKgX4QGi9cyoy-nkpqU_0TKAaj4RUvp0HkLMYMUtEaaEfWut74xhYw_VCrbCfMwI/s1600/h304.jpg" height="320" width="186" /></a></div>
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<a abp="676" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtTm9tHz5ylQ8UbyiwO0GhhyhkrYzKpuCiwF_TtWq0apGqjGc4QBDaOLBt6krxUAPV5OAwACSVmzHDeWaMvE1gdW8_H_tPKT864UrUxELJQ7-kiynKX2p2O7kK8g10VUyUAre-K4dLm0/s1600/h305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="677" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtTm9tHz5ylQ8UbyiwO0GhhyhkrYzKpuCiwF_TtWq0apGqjGc4QBDaOLBt6krxUAPV5OAwACSVmzHDeWaMvE1gdW8_H_tPKT864UrUxELJQ7-kiynKX2p2O7kK8g10VUyUAre-K4dLm0/s1600/h305.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a abp="694" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-EsqOEwoyp4tg9t31CzGX02IDfkw7C9U1NK3toydxE_miG8L0s3Zqm873QolDBc9X2nKAKDfmuQI0SGC8fvPyfLISaopun52dB1CH7bWumZ75sozvmLxcZsvRzPkdDZKca1bo1PRZqg/s1600/h306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="695" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-EsqOEwoyp4tg9t31CzGX02IDfkw7C9U1NK3toydxE_miG8L0s3Zqm873QolDBc9X2nKAKDfmuQI0SGC8fvPyfLISaopun52dB1CH7bWumZ75sozvmLxcZsvRzPkdDZKca1bo1PRZqg/s1600/h306.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
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<a abp="712" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxCcOVuoCxpnoqt2YLramW_O7OY_oZTkpZqHzmJHzhC6W9p7Z9JCDoLQijG4xyUgdqT_jAn4MNZUTDv87fLHgRCGZt_Io0kM7cqVd_jm55k8oZV1bGQwDUhthfv9go_WQ5Uzdfs7l99E/s1600/h307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="713" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxCcOVuoCxpnoqt2YLramW_O7OY_oZTkpZqHzmJHzhC6W9p7Z9JCDoLQijG4xyUgdqT_jAn4MNZUTDv87fLHgRCGZt_Io0kM7cqVd_jm55k8oZV1bGQwDUhthfv9go_WQ5Uzdfs7l99E/s1600/h307.jpg" height="320" width="178" /></a></div>
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<a abp="730" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sk9GSdD015NMDa8ias12J7ipTnoWKrJ_Z6b784ag9-hv2PwKGkqrkKY0nclscuag1QndzxS9JXt2znHDaaozOLCDSw4cyBdzspmsmjs4i0BMG-ktiNnj4CSScNPcEeMjXIzFholCMuY/s1600/h308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="731" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sk9GSdD015NMDa8ias12J7ipTnoWKrJ_Z6b784ag9-hv2PwKGkqrkKY0nclscuag1QndzxS9JXt2znHDaaozOLCDSw4cyBdzspmsmjs4i0BMG-ktiNnj4CSScNPcEeMjXIzFholCMuY/s1600/h308.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
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<a abp="748" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6W7pyuWoMUtg29yq2oivVW_By-raJSXynj7R9oi1jDVb9kpWtTHXGbpCNeVQ3GDVgwQIvwhag4Czin8C_oqnrkVRLc3_l50updLtplO-NV3II4RGIS_0hsoQNhCOE0nWPo59zTqiNTc/s1600/h309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="749" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6W7pyuWoMUtg29yq2oivVW_By-raJSXynj7R9oi1jDVb9kpWtTHXGbpCNeVQ3GDVgwQIvwhag4Czin8C_oqnrkVRLc3_l50updLtplO-NV3II4RGIS_0hsoQNhCOE0nWPo59zTqiNTc/s1600/h309.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
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<a abp="766" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqesqDQAlNl2zxMK83C-C6OTUNjhgdxQBuePt6ex1pQkoj3ff3sZM1nSGjaTTseTKwbO1OqyTMJ2UxAfagJOfqSZlLsUZDmohcMWOKJU4LfLhUZUEZw0IXCmckj8668fcD9CzW6lmcfO8/s1600/h3010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="767" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqesqDQAlNl2zxMK83C-C6OTUNjhgdxQBuePt6ex1pQkoj3ff3sZM1nSGjaTTseTKwbO1OqyTMJ2UxAfagJOfqSZlLsUZDmohcMWOKJU4LfLhUZUEZw0IXCmckj8668fcD9CzW6lmcfO8/s1600/h3010.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
<div abp="623">
<div abp="825">
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<div abp="827">
<span abp="454" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="455" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="456" style="color: orange;">Icky, but
awesome. I do have a few small gripes with this story. I always assumed that
the ‘Tarantula Man” comic was just a lawyer-friendly reference to Spider-Man,
not a horror comic (Although since there are some Atlas/Seaboard comics in
Tommy’s collection, perhaps it was a reference to Michael Fleischer’s “Tarantula”
character from <b abp="457" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Weird Suspense</b>). </span></span></div>
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<a abp="958" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzABy8TssALWwN3JevC52Ec7XNLcPaRdLZxFS4qFLXVb28a0v-FfDctEaSKsW8HmdJa8j60TKhOAzwGn1NZXU9l6dzTnzAIi3X__E6Fv1MxbCBCNUIMhtqYAWEpuxKk_K2z1ar9cy_x2k/s1600/weirdsuspense_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="959" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzABy8TssALWwN3JevC52Ec7XNLcPaRdLZxFS4qFLXVb28a0v-FfDctEaSKsW8HmdJa8j60TKhOAzwGn1NZXU9l6dzTnzAIi3X__E6Fv1MxbCBCNUIMhtqYAWEpuxKk_K2z1ar9cy_x2k/s1600/weirdsuspense_1.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
<div abp="837">
<span abp="454" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="456" style="color: orange;"> I
also don’t really know what they seem to be referencing here, the black and
white art seems to suggest Warren, but it appears to be a mainstream
publication instead of a magazine. Oh well, the comic at least has a retro feel
to it, even though I don’t know what it’s supposed to be a retrospective of. At
least one thing’s for sure; Tommy had very good reason to hide this comic from
his mother!<o:p abp="458"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="843">
<span abp="461" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="462" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="463" style="color: orange;">But wait,
what’s this? Look at the comic Tommy is drawing:<o:p abp="464"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a abp="784" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3snTcdE4iol_S0HaK4Ny6C_SnxTdU-9h61lXBCfWOsiqBXkY3JFqUAsR12r9tSEj5RNa_ZRIURasyWatXyF2jdiov5Z38FnIz1p_WfmHWqBWT_zpXiHzVqOI5VOHUTvuuEJ1FZXd4A1Y/s1600/tommydoylescomic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="785" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3snTcdE4iol_S0HaK4Ny6C_SnxTdU-9h61lXBCfWOsiqBXkY3JFqUAsR12r9tSEj5RNa_ZRIURasyWatXyF2jdiov5Z38FnIz1p_WfmHWqBWT_zpXiHzVqOI5VOHUTvuuEJ1FZXd4A1Y/s1600/tommydoylescomic.png" height="320" width="196" /></a></div>
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<div abp="853">
<span abp="467" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="468" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="469" style="color: orange;">See that arm
with a tattoo on the wrist? That’s the Sign of the Thorn from <i abp="470" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Halloween</i> 4-6, which retconned that
Michael was being controlled (or not controlled, all 3 movies are confusing as
hell) by a druid cult which made him kill because of a constellation that came
out on Halloween night.</span> <o:p abp="471"></o:p></span></div>
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<a abp="802" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9HPSGFhX-GMRjiN-0CNys_Ez8x6qIIvx-vpNU-geNCa8q7BLfBr51Lqy0wEwE6LvuR6F0azH5318jFqPGJkIvl78g9kTLWenJBukgZ2AzgWMMzI8-ycoduOiIwLtc5uodaSVqFmhIIE/s1600/thorntattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="803" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9HPSGFhX-GMRjiN-0CNys_Ez8x6qIIvx-vpNU-geNCa8q7BLfBr51Lqy0wEwE6LvuR6F0azH5318jFqPGJkIvl78g9kTLWenJBukgZ2AzgWMMzI8-ycoduOiIwLtc5uodaSVqFmhIIE/s1600/thorntattoo.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="820" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzqPsektjZbFOL1zyiw_pdIxuztd4TvxbnzBE4tCQmQ5gDqN6zFXgtFom2McU9S3tBdR0fGkThXy_f00W6y9FZ1p0sFlr32iL0_IM_xZc0fEF-L0PXPd6_VaW1qyFvC37JJsoXWJ3Gjw/s1600/037-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="821" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzqPsektjZbFOL1zyiw_pdIxuztd4TvxbnzBE4tCQmQ5gDqN6zFXgtFom2McU9S3tBdR0fGkThXy_f00W6y9FZ1p0sFlr32iL0_IM_xZc0fEF-L0PXPd6_VaW1qyFvC37JJsoXWJ3Gjw/s1600/037-1.jpg" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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<div abp="473" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="868">
<span abp="474" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="475" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="476" style="color: orange;">Since this is
obviously not the same Tommy Doyle from those movies, and his son is named
Jamie (the same name as the little girl who is the “heroine” of 4-5), as well
as that the other Halloween comics by Devil’s Due don’t utilize the Thorn BS, this
means 4-6 were all comic book stories by Tommy! The supernatural occurrences,
faulty continuity, ridiculous twists, Tommy being a hero who gets to kill an unkillable juggernaut, it all fits!<o:p abp="477"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="478">
<div abp="874">
<span abp="479" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="480" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="481" style="color: orange;">This, my friends, is how you do a “It was all
fiction within universe” retcon and do it <em abp="840">right</em>.</span></span></div>
</div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-87040579167578209832014-10-21T19:46:00.001-07:002014-10-21T19:46:34.976-07:00The Question Vs. The Diver of Death!<div abp="273">
</div>
<div abp="386" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="387" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-KjejZVy3Krfy0LiHZrMJTB24XZhNJiB6pKaobcfp0IUBU6Bji4Zq596jbnf5U01jZxyltB_W056DNPxZcZQnFOsPcX5VvYtcQKC-OO4ruX3o9MaZ_81QQKx_ukEN9V-ujsyhnd5t5c/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="388" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-KjejZVy3Krfy0LiHZrMJTB24XZhNJiB6pKaobcfp0IUBU6Bji4Zq596jbnf5U01jZxyltB_W056DNPxZcZQnFOsPcX5VvYtcQKC-OO4ruX3o9MaZ_81QQKx_ukEN9V-ujsyhnd5t5c/s1600/24.jpg" height="271" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="276" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="757">
<span abp="277" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span abp="278" style="color: orange;">Maybe it was just because of that
Scooby Doo episode, but I’ve always thought old-time diving suits were creepy.
I’m surprised no one’s made a slasher movie where the killer wears one! Which
brings us to today’s offering, which pits a killer in a diving suit against The
Question, who is a pretty frightening figure himself! Think about it, more so
than The Creeper, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man or any of the horror hosts Ditko drew
for Charlton, Vic Sage is easily the creepiest. At least those guys had faces!
Or in Spidey’s case, a sense of humor. Check out the bit on page six where our
hero laughs insanely at the villain; it’s scarier than anything the villain
himself does!</span> <o:p abp="279"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="280">
</div>
<div abp="281" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="763">
<span abp="282" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="283" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="284" style="color: orange;">This story initially hints at a possible
supernatural cause for the killings, but never quite runs with it. Still, after
having binge read a stack of <span abp="285" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Midnight
Marquee’s <i abp="286" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Forgotten Horrors</i> book
series and seen what some folks consider horror, trust me, this story has <b abp="287" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">plenty</b> of horror content.</span> <o:p abp="288"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="289">
</div>
<div abp="290" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="773">
<span abp="291" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="292" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="293" style="color: orange;">Enjoy, and remember, there is only white and
black, with no shades of gray!</span> <o:p abp="294"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="295">
<div abp="779">
<span abp="296" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="297">
<div abp="782">
<span abp="298" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="299" style="color: orange;">Wait,
isn’t that another ruthless, masked Ditko reporter hero’s shtick? Oh, Steve.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="300">
<div abp="786">
<span abp="301" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p abp="302"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="303">
<div abp="790">
<span abp="304" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="305" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="306" style="color: orange;">From <b abp="307" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blue
Beetle #3</b>. By the way, I made up that "Diver of Death" title, just because.</span></span></div>
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<a abp="880" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj183SYUL8dRwr64V-GfxGVI3KZvVt6E1oO5t0InNLi5zRaxJ1C1T1g24lR3Cp4b1Qty5Yg_8AwzAc3QQWU0W42dSYlDPZlt4MWC4qDWBsx-YkwTGHhhSv6kD3tea5zi3xxrPDtm3YwGK0/s1600/bbq1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="881" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj183SYUL8dRwr64V-GfxGVI3KZvVt6E1oO5t0InNLi5zRaxJ1C1T1g24lR3Cp4b1Qty5Yg_8AwzAc3QQWU0W42dSYlDPZlt4MWC4qDWBsx-YkwTGHhhSv6kD3tea5zi3xxrPDtm3YwGK0/s1600/bbq1.bmp" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a abp="902" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiJGZ63u6AsVDonuKtL_K2Tb31K5ELYi4LNyJwyVzLenPSCERHUtQVsr9jL68JIsXzJAdbuVMXA-tNxIF4gNFP8Ce1dSnR-tl4fQ8IIQQa8sCJQKNU1Ls2uTSnN8caEEBcpkAp8oVm-M/s1600/bbq2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="903" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiJGZ63u6AsVDonuKtL_K2Tb31K5ELYi4LNyJwyVzLenPSCERHUtQVsr9jL68JIsXzJAdbuVMXA-tNxIF4gNFP8Ce1dSnR-tl4fQ8IIQQa8sCJQKNU1Ls2uTSnN8caEEBcpkAp8oVm-M/s1600/bbq2.bmp" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
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<a abp="920" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRX76JmrUzBTPOiGzidp_V_HonBkyhzsUh4_sVY69Cbr9Eib0OCnwvNkVQvpT62S1sY3F5P9TW5QeeaMgJeTRougsQkp7X0N5cFCsNS0fm1QI5D4yuhZQMeOqq40j-fX-ZFXq_Ml1kUI/s1600/bbq3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="921" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRX76JmrUzBTPOiGzidp_V_HonBkyhzsUh4_sVY69Cbr9Eib0OCnwvNkVQvpT62S1sY3F5P9TW5QeeaMgJeTRougsQkp7X0N5cFCsNS0fm1QI5D4yuhZQMeOqq40j-fX-ZFXq_Ml1kUI/s1600/bbq3.bmp" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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<a abp="938" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2Hlk7uBduJa3GywYxqXDh_EvTwAUuPz9uXxnpg0TirThJm7QGpU0iKWgIWvkUHDqCUYLtVhR4PLZruWyUcHgd1wr7fBvfC2FzmCrrXqLJrzvF__SNJosapqkkLyRqzPJzfQz0yd_cNo/s1600/bbq4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="939" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2Hlk7uBduJa3GywYxqXDh_EvTwAUuPz9uXxnpg0TirThJm7QGpU0iKWgIWvkUHDqCUYLtVhR4PLZruWyUcHgd1wr7fBvfC2FzmCrrXqLJrzvF__SNJosapqkkLyRqzPJzfQz0yd_cNo/s1600/bbq4.bmp" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
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<a abp="956" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbqrVdDA6ZhbMJ6IGwMDQPibng-CH6ddOqimuJG7IukxYKXijLdWkffhL5ZxXJNWca0F9yXdInj98luENE-T6cFcSuU7to5k9pTkYqdRfhlrldFe-ZhwDeo-_VuxqapucevQEfN1XAII/s1600/bbq5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="957" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbqrVdDA6ZhbMJ6IGwMDQPibng-CH6ddOqimuJG7IukxYKXijLdWkffhL5ZxXJNWca0F9yXdInj98luENE-T6cFcSuU7to5k9pTkYqdRfhlrldFe-ZhwDeo-_VuxqapucevQEfN1XAII/s1600/bbq5.bmp" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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<a abp="974" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofLQ_UQnWn8KTK5WXSic4moCBUPXVYAU0DNe4HZpkscEyJTX73zc03UtW2GFqU279EcxiKmm2DHf5aq_0x2nA8nQX0fkUwzANYKH6giW7m2UptgptAun0Ze6pw2GO3hwZnz7Nmw00cxQ/s1600/bbq6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="975" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofLQ_UQnWn8KTK5WXSic4moCBUPXVYAU0DNe4HZpkscEyJTX73zc03UtW2GFqU279EcxiKmm2DHf5aq_0x2nA8nQX0fkUwzANYKH6giW7m2UptgptAun0Ze6pw2GO3hwZnz7Nmw00cxQ/s1600/bbq6.bmp" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
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<a abp="992" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsbJTRnWm1_spYu13Xm_U68PAeiQzPeoLdtwSjG_-2XMiRQBXeKcyayOm8SFSmVdQSUsNKnt7ndab05zBkrxgJ9bQrDLwoQSGn-M47_cKYHt67XvK77ZpbThlwtXtGYRzOmUQV-O-fUU/s1600/bbq7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="993" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsbJTRnWm1_spYu13Xm_U68PAeiQzPeoLdtwSjG_-2XMiRQBXeKcyayOm8SFSmVdQSUsNKnt7ndab05zBkrxgJ9bQrDLwoQSGn-M47_cKYHt67XvK77ZpbThlwtXtGYRzOmUQV-O-fUU/s1600/bbq7.bmp" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<div abp="795">
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<div abp="303">
<div abp="799">
<span abp="304" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span> </div>
</div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-30338684465653122262014-10-18T09:30:00.001-07:002014-10-20T07:31:40.606-07:00Horror in the Moonlight, and a Bill Everett mystery.<div abp="1023" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1024" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12TFrE4RcDZpU9R1H1HfyDe3LaBZ4xuEZ9p3-HfGderb30X-cgetVobYhca-rayQxj7Jscx5e0guBi_5kxV22gklETgcNW08KgqJQ129pkYV65DkxWMm-T9XWRki-gH2YOrZYcmFBeV4/s1600/1351_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1025" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12TFrE4RcDZpU9R1H1HfyDe3LaBZ4xuEZ9p3-HfGderb30X-cgetVobYhca-rayQxj7Jscx5e0guBi_5kxV22gklETgcNW08KgqJQ129pkYV65DkxWMm-T9XWRki-gH2YOrZYcmFBeV4/s1600/1351_o.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<div abp="126">
<div abp="1665">
<span abp="128" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="410" style="color: orange;"> One of the things I love about Bill
Everett’s Atlas-era artwork is how he could be very cartoony but at the same
time it never detracted from the horriffic elements of the stories he worked on.
Maybe it’s because he just saw these stories as fun and didn’t expect anyone to
be scared anyway. Sometimes the monsters he’d draw would look like something
out of a weird 30’s cartoon, or art from a carnival spookshow or dark ride.
Sort of fitting then, because I just discovered this spook show banner on Pinterest that featured
an image I recognized:<o:p abp="411"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div abp="130">
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<a abp="225" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCXMDL2CQf3GWyYb25BHlYmf-PKz3xgLIfRYSj7V5HkiwakLo02jiOXPOe1MB8e8aqEx2KQRRXLWmtLIhl_8QsoBDELTjFZNaqXPrGiaRhmVazxOGhIl0ayUuCyJRR5LQ_rZDmLcMvHQ/s1600/1labofhorrors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="226" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCXMDL2CQf3GWyYb25BHlYmf-PKz3xgLIfRYSj7V5HkiwakLo02jiOXPOe1MB8e8aqEx2KQRRXLWmtLIhl_8QsoBDELTjFZNaqXPrGiaRhmVazxOGhIl0ayUuCyJRR5LQ_rZDmLcMvHQ/s1600/1labofhorrors.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
<div abp="133" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1886">
<div abp="917">
<div abp="1676">
<span abp="134" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="135" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="412" style="color: orange;">The colors are different, but that’s the same
girl from Bill Everett's cover for <strong abp="1680">Spellbound #17! </strong>I'm pretty sure I've seen that staked skeleton somewhere too.</span> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
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<div abp="246" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="247" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnIrCHSQrorL2v9z4UatSsLoaltKM9e_6E1dAcGwzQ0UBeg9wZ7ktik09bv7hAtKeb9-BVrKbRwkWMcbGgNQjaZ8b7AaRnSO09-LdFLdkMCMSsFolhtTHMnviH3W9wgTjDeJjm7yqu3I/s1600/3312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="248" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnIrCHSQrorL2v9z4UatSsLoaltKM9e_6E1dAcGwzQ0UBeg9wZ7ktik09bv7hAtKeb9-BVrKbRwkWMcbGgNQjaZ8b7AaRnSO09-LdFLdkMCMSsFolhtTHMnviH3W9wgTjDeJjm7yqu3I/s1600/3312.jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a></div>
<div abp="133" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1895">
<div abp="927">
<div abp="1687">
<span abp="134" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span> </div>
</div>
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<div abp="1898">
<div abp="931">
<div abp="1692">
<span abp="134" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="414" style="color: orange;"> I doubt there
was ever any legal action (Would Martin Goodman have even cared?), but it’s odd
just the same. Still, it’s nice to see someone was appreciating Everett outside
of comics fandom. I'd love to know what year it was from, presumably the 60's.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="138">
<div abp="1696">
<span abp="140" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="1906" style="color: orange;"></span></span><br />
<div abp="937">
<div abp="1700">
<span abp="140" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="1906" style="color: orange;"> Anyway, here’s “Horror in the Moonlight” from <b abp="142" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel Tales #108</b>, a brief, 3-page dialogueless
story that perfectly encapsulates the kind of cartoony-spooky quality I was talking
about. All <span abp="939" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="940" style="color: orange;">© Mar</span></span><span abp="941" style="color: orange;">vel.</span><span abp="1909" style="color: black; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span abp="140" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="1906" style="color: orange;">
</span></span><br />
<div abp="1910" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span abp="140" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span abp="1906" style="color: orange;"><a abp="1795" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3AaAxR8-w2yohQ0DERO5uaghKt0Ei44RTAOzAV9UFfoWcK88T87pr1kzRNgfprAU-97g00Dtn4KvWjM_wdNzescSgY4rSMAlgCjnMaGqD34DyRLStUS__52GnI_LkT7qHSIA7sfaBRU/s1600/hintm.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1796" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3AaAxR8-w2yohQ0DERO5uaghKt0Ei44RTAOzAV9UFfoWcK88T87pr1kzRNgfprAU-97g00Dtn4KvWjM_wdNzescSgY4rSMAlgCjnMaGqD34DyRLStUS__52GnI_LkT7qHSIA7sfaBRU/s1600/hintm.bmp" height="320" width="225" /></a></span></span></div>
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100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-29573017591743660962014-10-10T03:48:00.000-07:002014-10-10T07:23:30.190-07:00Frank Belknap Long's forgotten fiend: The Living Ghost!<div abp="272">
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<span abp="280" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="281" style="color: orange;"> I know it’s a point I bring up a lot, but the
influence of the pulp authors on the comics cannot be overstated. Often, pulp
writers and artists could be found writing for comics while on their way up or
on their way out. Gardner Fox gave us The Flash, Hawkman, The Sandman, Starman,
Doctor Fate and <i abp="282" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dozens</i> of others, Edmond
Hamilton gave us Batwoman, The Batmen of all Nations, Chris KL-99 and a bunch
of canon-fodder Legionnaires, Alfred Bester gave us the Green Lantern oath,
Vandal Savage and some zombie guy, Frank R. Paul drew the iconic cover of <b abp="283" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel Comics #1</b>, Matt Fox drew some
incredible Atlas horror stories, Virgil Finlay gave us Tommy Tomorrow and Frank
Belknap Long gave us The Living Ghost.<o:p abp="284"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="288" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="289" style="color: orange;"><span abp="290" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Living
Ghost??!! <o:p abp="291"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="295" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="296" style="color: orange;"><span abp="297" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who, or more
precisely, <i abp="298" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> is The Living Ghost?<o:p abp="299"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="303" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="304" style="color: orange;">Boy is that a million dollar question. You see, even
Frank Belknap Long and co-creator Fred Guardineer (of DC comics and Lev Gleason
fame, not an artist you’d think would be suited to horror, but just wait) didn’t
seem to know!<o:p abp="305"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="307" style="color: orange;"><a abp="978" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rf3HOhPgGL1JrrZjYXsEMFY5gCANksjjoIb1dOwGkmRmGr7nijv3gYhmtn_ejKY1IAJkHdAh_v1ykf6jRnswcj6h-KTsPhqjVHkr8FV_m09pzK7FJvbso4Fk-NOExiHllKdMCsAHbzQ/s1600/fbl-40s-john-carstairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="979" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rf3HOhPgGL1JrrZjYXsEMFY5gCANksjjoIb1dOwGkmRmGr7nijv3gYhmtn_ejKY1IAJkHdAh_v1ykf6jRnswcj6h-KTsPhqjVHkr8FV_m09pzK7FJvbso4Fk-NOExiHllKdMCsAHbzQ/s1600/fbl-40s-john-carstairs.jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span abp="309" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="310" style="color: orange;"><span abp="311" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just look at
him: He’s called a ghost, but he has fangs and claws like a vampire, looks like
a zombie (and is that eye supposed to be missing or just blind?) and as we’ll
later see, he has cloven hooves and demonic powers. He also has wolves
celebrating his misdeeds (and no, that’s not just for symbolism) and apparently
likes to steal corpses from graves. It’s every possible monster cliché you can
think of! All he needs to be doing is threatening to pour molten lead on that
woman (or approaching her with a sacrificial knife) and it would be a <i abp="312" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">perfect</i> pulp cover.<o:p abp="313"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="315" style="color: orange;"><a abp="984" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU3JhgweHu3GmEhgF8xqIh_8oI1-SAm5rAjCj7b4oJ5C27X9nYgt0ac2EhetPZsjp_s6_PX_eJUUzjyCtccgJZaSMH-khsBNoE3tiGzzWb39y6h4h9eNF_45fo3q8NB9Y8MuH83zdV_0/s1600/livingghost1splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="985" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU3JhgweHu3GmEhgF8xqIh_8oI1-SAm5rAjCj7b4oJ5C27X9nYgt0ac2EhetPZsjp_s6_PX_eJUUzjyCtccgJZaSMH-khsBNoE3tiGzzWb39y6h4h9eNF_45fo3q8NB9Y8MuH83zdV_0/s1600/livingghost1splash.jpg" height="320" width="302" /></a></span></div>
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<span abp="317" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="318" style="color: orange;"><span abp="319" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vaguely
defined and cliché as the Ghost himself may have been, the story that
introduced him to the world featured some interesting “firsts”, not the least
of which was that it was featured in ACG’s <b abp="320" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adventures
into the Unknown #1</b>, the first ever continuously published horror comic!<o:p abp="321"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="325" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="326" style="color: orange;"><span abp="327" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the
atmospheric cover, and a word from the publisher, partly to welcome readers to
the new series, partly to make sure that kids reading this didn’t get too
scared by reassuring them that ghosts did not exist, and partly to reassure
parents that the writers didn’t take it seriously either (not that that would
help in a few years):<o:p abp="328"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="332" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="333" style="color: orange;"><span abp="334" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a abp="2331" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxujlNSdPqxyVtflzJTbVPnoar1KjiD3japmuBcuuFeO7riU7K6pvIZj5WrPdZll25ijNoMTdnHD_b5q8yO6bIhCHbXWjSa_roW7P3CDAFatT8FpRnwVd2XA_iFLP_qMielQvx75OI-I/s1600/aitu_intro.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2332" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxujlNSdPqxyVtflzJTbVPnoar1KjiD3japmuBcuuFeO7riU7K6pvIZj5WrPdZll25ijNoMTdnHD_b5q8yO6bIhCHbXWjSa_roW7P3CDAFatT8FpRnwVd2XA_iFLP_qMielQvx75OI-I/s1600/aitu_intro.bmp" height="320" width="188" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span abp="332" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="333" style="color: orange;"><span abp="334" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Now on to the
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<span abp="339" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="340" style="color: orange;"><span abp="341" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole
affair began at a railroad switching station, as the operator was suddenly
startled by a ghastly sight:<o:p abp="342"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="346" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="347" style="color: orange;"><span abp="348" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After killing
the operator, the Ghost switched the wrong tracks, causing a horrific train
wreck:<o:p abp="349"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div abp="1301">
<span abp="353" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="354" style="color: orange;"><span abp="355" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re only a
page and a half in and that’s already quite a body count!<o:p abp="356"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="357">
<div abp="1798">
<div abp="3141">
<div abp="1309">
<span abp="358" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="359" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1801">
<div abp="3145">
<div abp="1314">
<span abp="360" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="361" style="color: orange;"><span abp="362" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who could
possibly stand up to a being like the Living Ghost? Well, if you’ve ever
watched any movies featuring synthetic flesh, devil bats, missing guests, men
who could not hang and unfunny slasher parodies, surely you’d know the only
person qualified to investigate something like this (besides superheroes or
occult detectives) are nosy, story-starved reporters! That nosy reporter in
question was Gail Leslie, “The Scoopless Wonder” according to her assistant DA
boyfriend Tony Brand, and yes, their relationship was just as cringe-worthy as
you’d think:<o:p abp="363"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="364">
<div abp="1807">
<div abp="3152">
<div abp="1322">
<span abp="365" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2463" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="365" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2464" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrRiLiBTbmHjKdVbHV9zTbUcd1rnm8_DpCuGfdgcNsizO2KBQHz_XtZexd4ytRaTu5R3Vo6Xku0rC3joPsGGsF3Fp_Y1SbmHbcSSap-rmiwWI2Bp3_JYfe3NFDdcJTbSk5v7S4dVLHGQ/s1600/livingghost3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2465" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrRiLiBTbmHjKdVbHV9zTbUcd1rnm8_DpCuGfdgcNsizO2KBQHz_XtZexd4ytRaTu5R3Vo6Xku0rC3joPsGGsF3Fp_Y1SbmHbcSSap-rmiwWI2Bp3_JYfe3NFDdcJTbSk5v7S4dVLHGQ/s1600/livingghost3.jpg" height="305" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2468" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="365" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2469" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5XURHSzTbVJAgmUyZWTKcllABS7e534Udaxb_mbGRcthu4MO-18-7OU_oylbc-SSME9eT4uDQJOMtnCDR0CV2bOT33gdo-yTlY5VL8_dQCglJEfOojkFm_1_QxBfbpuwjNRA6fVAVog/s1600/livingghost4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2470" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5XURHSzTbVJAgmUyZWTKcllABS7e534Udaxb_mbGRcthu4MO-18-7OU_oylbc-SSME9eT4uDQJOMtnCDR0CV2bOT33gdo-yTlY5VL8_dQCglJEfOojkFm_1_QxBfbpuwjNRA6fVAVog/s1600/livingghost4.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2445" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="365" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<div abp="3164">
<div abp="1335">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="366" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1810">
<div abp="3167">
<div abp="1339">
<span abp="367" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="368" style="color: orange;"><span abp="369" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gail thought
she smelled gunpowder, but Tony assured her it wasn’t a shooting.<o:p abp="370"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="371">
<div abp="1816">
<div abp="3174">
<div abp="1347">
<span abp="372" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2473" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="372" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2474" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbMTJOadbweDohQk5fZby7bykDKvT9U4iPn8JK8yJD89RQujoOS1Er_6aunzsmi81jH7heSNCuDDeoqs2euZjaeKSb48jMVtj_CdMoiLcXTd4o7dlV1RWRL2r5rFdcrhvs9Hl18yoMpU/s1600/livingghost5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2475" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbMTJOadbweDohQk5fZby7bykDKvT9U4iPn8JK8yJD89RQujoOS1Er_6aunzsmi81jH7heSNCuDDeoqs2euZjaeKSb48jMVtj_CdMoiLcXTd4o7dlV1RWRL2r5rFdcrhvs9Hl18yoMpU/s1600/livingghost5.jpg" height="159" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3180">
<div abp="1354">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="373" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1819">
<div abp="3183">
<div abp="1358">
<span abp="374" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="375" style="color: orange;"><span abp="376" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That very
night, the Living Ghost committed his second major atrocity. He randomly
attacked a couple in lovers’ lane by flipping their car off a cliff with them
in it:<o:p abp="377"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="378">
<div abp="1825">
<div abp="3190">
<div abp="1366">
<span abp="379" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2491" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="379" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2492" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjwpJkRdpMeYuJwNqoldLl5fFLK6vg5xspYAxi5f6sapaBrEkWJzhfcR6T5Fl7emZtvExtlwHdui-9b7YuUq8iuVL2ImeRZUhyphenhyphentRayq5C2xP1napBQb4DrYovhq1VrlgmytSJ7xYmfmg/s1600/livingghost6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2493" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjwpJkRdpMeYuJwNqoldLl5fFLK6vg5xspYAxi5f6sapaBrEkWJzhfcR6T5Fl7emZtvExtlwHdui-9b7YuUq8iuVL2ImeRZUhyphenhyphentRayq5C2xP1napBQb4DrYovhq1VrlgmytSJ7xYmfmg/s1600/livingghost6.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3196">
<div abp="1373">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="380" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1828">
<div abp="3199">
<div abp="1377">
<span abp="381" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="382" style="color: orange;"><span abp="383" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhat
low-key compared to causing a train wreck, but pretty chilling just the same.<o:p abp="384"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="385">
<div abp="1834">
<div abp="3206">
<div abp="1385">
<span abp="386" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="387" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1837">
<div abp="3210">
<div abp="1390">
<span abp="388" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="389" style="color: orange;"><span abp="390" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gail and Tony
investigated the next morning, and Gail again noted the stench of gunpowder in
the air, only this time she wasn’t so sure it was gunpowder, but brimstone:<o:p abp="391"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="392">
<div abp="1843">
<div abp="3217">
<div abp="1398">
<span abp="393" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2509" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="393" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2510" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGQc17BEUepyfh-5zkuBESh0VXxhl8V6fF3xJg8tJyy0mEz7D50xYSViM7vGx4DOs39IJvro9du2SYLm1vap9uy14NHvvqJoh29ic5HPyb0IvC0GhFqxz3dzNAUaQXvwQ_KnUqnM5LQ0/s1600/livingghost7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2511" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGQc17BEUepyfh-5zkuBESh0VXxhl8V6fF3xJg8tJyy0mEz7D50xYSViM7vGx4DOs39IJvro9du2SYLm1vap9uy14NHvvqJoh29ic5HPyb0IvC0GhFqxz3dzNAUaQXvwQ_KnUqnM5LQ0/s1600/livingghost7.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3223">
<div abp="1405">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="394" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1846">
<div abp="3226">
<div abp="1409">
<span abp="395" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="396" style="color: orange;"><span abp="397" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an
asshole.<o:p abp="398"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="399">
<div abp="1852">
<div abp="3233">
<div abp="1417">
<span abp="400" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="401" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1855">
<div abp="3237">
<div abp="1422">
<span abp="402" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="403" style="color: orange;"><span abp="404" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gail
discovered a hoof-like mark nearby and followed the trail it left, eventually
reaching a cave, only to find herself being watched:</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="406">
<div abp="1861">
<div abp="2551">
<div abp="3251">
<div abp="1438">
<span abp="407" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2552" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="407" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2553" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyGd5AGxSMOEyVSTSRov5MrzJOx9znOioe4R-rKvTngVQUDiH0oXPJlA9gwngCFOXla4kzmFxP4vq8nnYQOtfFzakRyEwbEACA-Ga76I8ANa8tQq5J3KEiefmQ0kG8RP-I9fzfNluxiQ/s1600/livingghost8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2554" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyGd5AGxSMOEyVSTSRov5MrzJOx9znOioe4R-rKvTngVQUDiH0oXPJlA9gwngCFOXla4kzmFxP4vq8nnYQOtfFzakRyEwbEACA-Ga76I8ANa8tQq5J3KEiefmQ0kG8RP-I9fzfNluxiQ/s1600/livingghost8.jpg" height="157" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3257">
<div abp="1445">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="408" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1864">
<div abp="3260">
<div abp="1449">
<span abp="409" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="410" style="color: orange;"><span abp="411" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Ghost
trailed her home and abducted her, also giving us an unintentionally hilarious glimpse of
his dainty little hooves while flying:<o:p abp="412"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="413">
<div abp="1870">
<div abp="3267">
<div abp="1457">
<span abp="414" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2555" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="414" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2556" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2GrKxd4A5NnnuRvlwjvAkXbt-TZ-MTUztt6o-obS1TZYsDBXxelv5sn9nehXZq2H-3r_LpQVp0y11UUY2qoriV21G-Rhz585b_1XwFp8Q5B-Xgs8n4sRhC5v_u-maehhfEsMIQqV7RM/s1600/livingghost9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2557" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2GrKxd4A5NnnuRvlwjvAkXbt-TZ-MTUztt6o-obS1TZYsDBXxelv5sn9nehXZq2H-3r_LpQVp0y11UUY2qoriV21G-Rhz585b_1XwFp8Q5B-Xgs8n4sRhC5v_u-maehhfEsMIQqV7RM/s1600/livingghost9.jpg" height="183" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3273">
<div abp="1464">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="415" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1873">
<div abp="3276">
<div abp="1468">
<span abp="416" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="417" style="color: orange;"><span abp="418" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Tony
came to pick her up, he found the name “The Living Ghost” scrawled on the wall
and the Ghost’s face embedded into a shard from a broken mirror. That’s right;
the Ghost is so ugly his image can embed itself in mirrors! (I’m willing to bet
the cops who examined the inside of that flipped car got a similar nasty
shock):<o:p abp="419"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="420">
<div abp="1879">
<div abp="3283">
<div abp="1476">
<span abp="421" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2574" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="421" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2575" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmafJhyHq_aCv5N5ZaF5g5SC7YrB4wdCRCdhykDZLF16wun1Po1zz8s8h7SK3KbajwnGJCFx_MxbwMdzPvkbsdefDft9Q72ob05V6qKNPCYgEN7CbqFCGWoEOYZ0YT6XR_RiHy5ECzYLc/s1600/livingghost10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2576" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmafJhyHq_aCv5N5ZaF5g5SC7YrB4wdCRCdhykDZLF16wun1Po1zz8s8h7SK3KbajwnGJCFx_MxbwMdzPvkbsdefDft9Q72ob05V6qKNPCYgEN7CbqFCGWoEOYZ0YT6XR_RiHy5ECzYLc/s1600/livingghost10.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3289">
<div abp="1483">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="422" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1882">
<div abp="3292">
<div abp="1487">
<span abp="423" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="424" style="color: orange;"><span abp="425" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tony then
went to see Dr. Vandyke, a professor of the occult who had heard of the Living
Ghost and gave us the closest thing we’d get to an explanation of what he is:<o:p abp="426"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="427">
<div abp="1888">
<div abp="3299">
<div abp="1495">
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="3301">
<div abp="1498">
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;"></span><br /></div>
<div abp="2592" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2593" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9e90AUAeIaFuBxFIm6-ceqTWyGvH7Qf_mqIoOsKK3UwHbkYc0NH86xtGjzsXM6tJGqugMO5ClZ1DyarTPAGiUnFDEW6IWOUmqakVAGX1HWK6Nhl1CVnWmB_MJ4KslEhpmzRMOWlJXzw/s1600/livingghost11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2594" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9e90AUAeIaFuBxFIm6-ceqTWyGvH7Qf_mqIoOsKK3UwHbkYc0NH86xtGjzsXM6tJGqugMO5ClZ1DyarTPAGiUnFDEW6IWOUmqakVAGX1HWK6Nhl1CVnWmB_MJ4KslEhpmzRMOWlJXzw/s1600/livingghost11.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1504">
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;">
</span><br />
<div abp="2610" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2611" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HnH5CH4a3WF07JV8CV4BoMFfl77ni01hoU3jNoVabK0RQknnYOtyUjtBombrYP6-5DKqfcLwd5e37w6cXdGm1Ennr0x0QSSEGnoIZ-hThc2mtHcmx-k7RIIgNeB2MMXRw-q-NDnbdMg/s1600/livingghost12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2612" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HnH5CH4a3WF07JV8CV4BoMFfl77ni01hoU3jNoVabK0RQknnYOtyUjtBombrYP6-5DKqfcLwd5e37w6cXdGm1Ennr0x0QSSEGnoIZ-hThc2mtHcmx-k7RIIgNeB2MMXRw-q-NDnbdMg/s1600/livingghost12.png" height="158" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;">
</span><br />
<div abp="2592" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<span abp="428" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="430" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="431" style="color: orange;"> Apparently he
was Malevo, “The personification of black evil itself”, more evil than Satan
and condemned to wander the earth in “human shape” for eternity. W</span></span><span abp="437" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="438" style="color: orange;">ell…at least
it explains the hooves.<o:p abp="440"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="441">
<div abp="1906">
<div abp="3328">
<div abp="1532">
<span abp="442" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="443" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1909">
<div abp="3332">
<div abp="1537">
<span abp="444" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="445" style="color: orange;"><span abp="446" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vandyke said
that because Malevo was only part human (based on the story, shouldn’t he not
be human at all?), there was no way to stop him, no way at all…except for an
olive branch that could render him mortal, that Vandyke conveniently happened
to have.<o:p abp="447"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="448">
<div abp="1915">
<div abp="3339">
<div abp="1545">
<span abp="449" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2628" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="449" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2629" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3efkxX_0KlXbmkbxAJqzzHUfOqnzo9GvGIzIeuZp7Em4tZr23LbG9y_wPYkD6LNC_8NSX-AHqRa-NWQgIgHZ1cvk-qzCDHLRFqfhwIfruKTwyw6tXlPBJq1oCcLWD-GvkjzPVKdy6wVo/s1600/livingghost13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2630" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3efkxX_0KlXbmkbxAJqzzHUfOqnzo9GvGIzIeuZp7Em4tZr23LbG9y_wPYkD6LNC_8NSX-AHqRa-NWQgIgHZ1cvk-qzCDHLRFqfhwIfruKTwyw6tXlPBJq1oCcLWD-GvkjzPVKdy6wVo/s1600/livingghost13.png" height="294" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3345">
<div abp="1552">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="450" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1918">
<div abp="3348">
<div abp="1556">
<span abp="451" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="452" style="color: orange;"><span abp="453" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, that
was suspenseful.<o:p abp="454"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="455">
<div abp="1924">
<div abp="3355">
<div abp="1564">
<span abp="456" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="457" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1927">
<div abp="3359">
<div abp="1569">
<span abp="458" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="459" style="color: orange;">Meanwhile, back at the cave, Malevo decided not to
kill Gail but to instead make her his queen. In order to impress her, he
decided to demonstrate his power by summoning forth all the evil spirits who
were in his debt. While needless to say that seeing something like that failed
to impress (only terrify) Gail, his display certainly did impress someone: The
reader. <o:p abp="460"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="461">
<div abp="1932">
<div abp="3365">
<div abp="1576">
<span abp="462" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2646" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="462" style="color: orange;"><a abp="2647" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVwK2KD1rrrNxnGMsQJOYg94xGkNcpiTjZx2ZbPDulDtQ26i2dayYn30mUJrOcsY6970UpvEF9-CGJyZcl-mhmNEOnSpxIXDYg5J_Vrn2AAe3AM9kStXIdm2zH41X3FWU7OY3tr-rVZQ/s1600/livingghost14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2648" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVwK2KD1rrrNxnGMsQJOYg94xGkNcpiTjZx2ZbPDulDtQ26i2dayYn30mUJrOcsY6970UpvEF9-CGJyZcl-mhmNEOnSpxIXDYg5J_Vrn2AAe3AM9kStXIdm2zH41X3FWU7OY3tr-rVZQ/s1600/livingghost14.png" height="162" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3371">
<div abp="1583">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="463" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1935">
<div abp="3374">
<div abp="1587">
<span abp="464" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="465" style="color: orange;"><span abp="466" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fred
Guardineer went all out showing the various ghoulies answering Malevo’s call.
Here’s the whole page:<o:p abp="467"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="468">
<div abp="1941">
<div abp="3381">
<div abp="1595">
<span abp="469" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="3383" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="469" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3385" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGRe266DWAVrZaePX4IId_udXm9RhAwHJFM-NMULaZGvYGxnNlaqsMolhghIjeUNToLKqkU-7XGU0cN0FnO8sAf-J1IqYZZxFy_3EMZHt6YiOzMktT5JnC2-RWsBH83XOiTU1gtv6V9c/s1600/livingghost15.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3386" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGRe266DWAVrZaePX4IId_udXm9RhAwHJFM-NMULaZGvYGxnNlaqsMolhghIjeUNToLKqkU-7XGU0cN0FnO8sAf-J1IqYZZxFy_3EMZHt6YiOzMktT5JnC2-RWsBH83XOiTU1gtv6V9c/s1600/livingghost15.bmp" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3387" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="469"><span abp="3389" style="color: white;">You can just <em abp="3390">hear</em> "Night on Bald Mountain" playing</span></span></div>
<div abp="3391" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="469" style="color: orange;"><span abp="3393" style="color: black;"></span> </span></div>
<div abp="3394">
<div abp="1609">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="470" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1944">
<div abp="3397">
<div abp="1613">
<span abp="471" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="472" style="color: orange;"><span abp="473" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure they’re
mostly just skeletons, but that page alone probably made any reader who was
disappointed thus far with this issue feel they had gotten their money’s worth.
I love how it’s mostly silent and Guardineer makes sure to show the same
creatures we saw rising show up in line. Keeping panel-to-panel continuity was
no small feat back then. Definitely the highlight of the story.<o:p abp="474"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="475">
<div abp="1950">
<div abp="3404">
<div abp="1621">
<span abp="476" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="477" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1953">
<div abp="3408">
<div abp="1626">
<span abp="478" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="479" style="color: orange;"><span abp="480" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile,
Tony was passing through and witnessed the parade of monsters heading toward
the cave and followed them. He saw what was going to happen, so he did the
logical thing: He decided to infiltrate them by smearing mud all over himself.
Somehow it worked (I like to think the other ghouls didn’t say anything because
they thought he died <i abp="481" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> recently
and wanted to be accommodating to the new guy).<o:p abp="482"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="483">
<div abp="1960">
<div abp="3416">
<div abp="1635">
<span abp="484" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="3418" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="484" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3420" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwUXCLieB3v7GAYZBCI-XYXA9ORr8YBL_HPFqVKLRh5W5_J_TGyPa0AGhKqaUULAOag-wUohm05X6k3h8GqkmTHYWUwOpQsXI-4bZxOKIBNhlwR7Sh7TgV7FZsTG5TTX72brauk4Hcbo/s1600/livingghost16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3421" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwUXCLieB3v7GAYZBCI-XYXA9ORr8YBL_HPFqVKLRh5W5_J_TGyPa0AGhKqaUULAOag-wUohm05X6k3h8GqkmTHYWUwOpQsXI-4bZxOKIBNhlwR7Sh7TgV7FZsTG5TTX72brauk4Hcbo/s1600/livingghost16.png" height="303" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3422">
<div abp="1642">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="485" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1963">
<div abp="3425">
<div abp="1646">
<span abp="486" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="487" style="color: orange;"><span abp="488" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the
monsters arrived at the cave, Gail was so repulsed she gave in to marrying
Malevo, so long as he made the other monsters go away.<o:p abp="489"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="490">
<div abp="1969">
<div abp="3432">
<div abp="1654">
<span abp="491" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="3434" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="491" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3436" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFjKo04QGIasjilRe5eoXdSdQEEIabziVZGeL6bQ7PrCMwloo91SSzpgkiuVIidz9WYrMedt2OQq_FinDF396XlY13GrMs1PGrwIqfuWB-7KLsNDSo76FI3Ckc55hK1bOcvsBjhg1jj8/s1600/livingghost17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3437" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFjKo04QGIasjilRe5eoXdSdQEEIabziVZGeL6bQ7PrCMwloo91SSzpgkiuVIidz9WYrMedt2OQq_FinDF396XlY13GrMs1PGrwIqfuWB-7KLsNDSo76FI3Ckc55hK1bOcvsBjhg1jj8/s1600/livingghost17.png" height="314" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3438">
<div abp="1661">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="492" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1972">
<div abp="3441">
<div abp="1665">
<span abp="493" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="494" style="color: orange;"><span abp="495" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, by
sending all the others back, Tony’s ruse was exposed. A fight ensued, with Tony
eventually robbing Malevo of his powers and trapping him under a huge boulder.<o:p abp="496"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="497">
<div abp="1978">
<div abp="3448">
<div abp="1673">
<span abp="498" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="3450" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="498" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3452" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbfs5gC413np5jFoJ4fLcEox76n1XbSCns-oplMyMvDjhH3LVwdOKxRe4caPkteLg4a9On9HA1SW6MQH-DDcad7gfzH2H7nBFPOqaQgVNurCSeYDNYudfb33OQ-Plq2YbqaxaoyzSbJU/s1600/livingghost18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3453" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbfs5gC413np5jFoJ4fLcEox76n1XbSCns-oplMyMvDjhH3LVwdOKxRe4caPkteLg4a9On9HA1SW6MQH-DDcad7gfzH2H7nBFPOqaQgVNurCSeYDNYudfb33OQ-Plq2YbqaxaoyzSbJU/s1600/livingghost18.png" height="308" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3454">
<div abp="1680">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="499" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1981">
<div abp="3457">
<div abp="1684">
<span abp="500" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="501" style="color: orange;"><span abp="502" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now for
the craziest part of the story: Rather than just leaving him there, Tony called
the cops on the fiend, who saw to it that the centuries old villain was tried,
convicted and sentenced to death! (Now that would have been a trial to see).<o:p abp="503"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="504">
<div abp="1987">
<div abp="3464">
<div abp="1692">
<span abp="505" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="507" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="508" style="color: orange;"> But suddenly!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3468" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3469" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxIEBfQETvTCH4lJLYGEyeDJzgKCkqyuRvFXJwtbpbodyrhd0HxIrURf2wGxJgVzT4ncZF8Rjd6GyBcwZPl2o41bLz0THLJV-6iRyKMWGXhzihcscGe1Ijzkpo-rnxmVb2znrsAJWmpA/s1600/livingghost19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3470" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxIEBfQETvTCH4lJLYGEyeDJzgKCkqyuRvFXJwtbpbodyrhd0HxIrURf2wGxJgVzT4ncZF8Rjd6GyBcwZPl2o41bLz0THLJV-6iRyKMWGXhzihcscGe1Ijzkpo-rnxmVb2znrsAJWmpA/s1600/livingghost19.png" height="307" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="3471">
<div abp="1700">
<span abp="507" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="508" style="color: orange;"><o:p abp="510"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="511">
<div abp="1996">
<div abp="3477">
<div abp="1707">
<span abp="512" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="514" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="515" style="color: orange;"> Yes, The Living Ghost’s powers returned, and he
swore he’d be back for revenge next issue!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3481" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3482" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xMPIxGCpO5tR_9SJ0YG8caR3_sggduVRqVcis70OBr0sEw0t-No9iBvLZq7qtFbduOIE56RJiDedipbuwpjvOR0wPwrovHv-LqJHkdv3eCA0izd6ff_tQQ-FCA7_0daDQ_zl4UOlb-4/s1600/livingghostend.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3483" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xMPIxGCpO5tR_9SJ0YG8caR3_sggduVRqVcis70OBr0sEw0t-No9iBvLZq7qtFbduOIE56RJiDedipbuwpjvOR0wPwrovHv-LqJHkdv3eCA0izd6ff_tQQ-FCA7_0daDQ_zl4UOlb-4/s1600/livingghostend.png" height="156" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="3484">
<div abp="1715">
<span abp="514" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="515" style="color: orange;"><o:p abp="516"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="517">
<div abp="2004">
<div abp="3490">
<div abp="1722">
<span abp="518" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="520" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="521" style="color: orange;"> Yes indeed
folks, The Living Ghost was no one-shot anthology story villain, he actually
was intended to become an ongoing feature in <b abp="523" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adventures into the Unknown</b>. And I bet all this time you thought I
was covering some non-series horror story just because Long wrote it.<o:p abp="524"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="525">
<div abp="2014">
<div abp="3498">
<div abp="1731">
<span abp="526" style="color: orange;">
</span><span abp="528" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="529" style="color: orange;"></span></span><br />
<span abp="528" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="529" style="color: orange;">The sequel
began with Tony and Gail at a mountain retreat, trying to forget their strange
encounter, although if you ask me, constantly referring to him as you know who
and making asides to “his ghostly kind’ being gone for good isn’t the way to go
about it.<o:p abp="531"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="532">
<div abp="2023">
<div abp="3509">
<div abp="1744">
<span abp="533" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="3511" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="533" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3513" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgURy0u0areXmghS1zKTj0A6lXRRB7Sma239Tamo8mmw961Kpisnjtd0FmzyNWZienn2tI6MZXuA6NraWhtehcjUqR3A0dOwJT1Jrv9n5Cv67V7bENGvU5K5YoIvZyq6E64LIRgnGDqI/s1600/lg1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3514" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgURy0u0areXmghS1zKTj0A6lXRRB7Sma239Tamo8mmw961Kpisnjtd0FmzyNWZienn2tI6MZXuA6NraWhtehcjUqR3A0dOwJT1Jrv9n5Cv67V7bENGvU5K5YoIvZyq6E64LIRgnGDqI/s1600/lg1.png" height="152" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3515">
<div abp="1751">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="534" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2026">
<div abp="3518">
<div abp="1755">
<span abp="535" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="536" style="color: orange;"><span abp="537" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course,
Malevo was up to his old tricks, and tried to abduct Gail again that very
night, only to get socked by Tony (You know you’ve fallen on hard times when
you’re older and more powerful than Satan himself but can be knocked off your
feet by a punch from an ordinary man).<o:p abp="538"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="539">
<div abp="2032">
<div abp="3525">
<div abp="1763">
<span abp="540" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="3527" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="540" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3529" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-GUxOUDKzcMNo0SM-ZDpV1hsugxbkxujDJRAj0XlEKxJf6fRr7z7aRKu8Ec5IYpKg2F6hTjsIY5Lgp1iJLxJRQD3H4C5jspXnzuq-ZQ6Ul7oVNBSkI-8xRfTpP2hB21XkO905eo0dy4/s1600/lg2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3530" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-GUxOUDKzcMNo0SM-ZDpV1hsugxbkxujDJRAj0XlEKxJf6fRr7z7aRKu8Ec5IYpKg2F6hTjsIY5Lgp1iJLxJRQD3H4C5jspXnzuq-ZQ6Ul7oVNBSkI-8xRfTpP2hB21XkO905eo0dy4/s1600/lg2.png" height="318" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3531">
<div abp="1770">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="541" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2035">
<div abp="3534">
<div abp="1774">
<span abp="542" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="543" style="color: orange;"><span abp="544" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, Malevo
triumphed and made off with Gail. Tony later decided to investigate rumors of
smoke that smelled of brimstone coming from the same mountain where Gail had
been abducted. </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1778">
<div abp="1783">
<br /></div>
<div abp="548" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2044">
<div abp="3542">
<div abp="1787">
<span abp="549" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="550" style="color: orange;"><span abp="551" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough,
it was Malevo, who is apparently so scary even bears and mountain lions fear
him:</span></span></div>
</div>
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<a abp="3547" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1RM9sdvgt_wjR0wX-SYZ8f6jjk5mf5LeoagocpVxXnj5AIfpN5hC02_l-RYPdGK5Nvd-Bo-UoqrTFtOKKpHCk06VgwUHB0JdcJFMLpS4XP1cBVOWeWYbjpOuzBQOTYvyPPGo6Xm4J2s/s1600/lg3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3548" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1RM9sdvgt_wjR0wX-SYZ8f6jjk5mf5LeoagocpVxXnj5AIfpN5hC02_l-RYPdGK5Nvd-Bo-UoqrTFtOKKpHCk06VgwUHB0JdcJFMLpS4XP1cBVOWeWYbjpOuzBQOTYvyPPGo6Xm4J2s/s1600/lg3.png" height="279" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="3549">
<div abp="1795">
<span abp="556" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="557" style="color: orange;"> Unfortunately, Malevo had placed zombie guards
everywhere. Tony decided to get help from Dr. Vandyke again, but he didn’t
exactly have the most comforting things to say:<o:p abp="559"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="560">
<div abp="2059">
<div abp="3566">
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<span abp="561" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
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<span abp="561" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3804" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NfuXq6o49SowQ8FKfkG_y4oJpGBv4by6nvs7s3hy8dkroREI3HjnmP5hwWSA2l5c3_qMFUF-G8B1foU5jFgvx-WqJq3Ov-iDLAW68VGLwWlL-ytKeRFbW1AYl_0cdA5j_niyItaRSHQ/s1600/lg4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3805" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NfuXq6o49SowQ8FKfkG_y4oJpGBv4by6nvs7s3hy8dkroREI3HjnmP5hwWSA2l5c3_qMFUF-G8B1foU5jFgvx-WqJq3Ov-iDLAW68VGLwWlL-ytKeRFbW1AYl_0cdA5j_niyItaRSHQ/s1600/lg4.png" height="173" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1808">
<br /></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="562" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2062">
<div abp="3570">
<div abp="1812">
<span abp="563" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="564" style="color: orange;"><span abp="565" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until that
is, Tony happened to spy a painting of another vaguely-defined
ghost/demon/sorcerer thing; The Dark Phantom, who was Malevo’s greatest enemy. <o:p abp="566"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="567">
<div abp="2068">
<div abp="3577">
<div abp="1820">
<span abp="568" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="568" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3809" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEwIBTFRtz7R5TpMglKxE-ozoi9VNuPdWxjOol-btSxsqJZveDMU0Adlf2rGWkgouCrTiCT0Ja-CtvdP9NyoviR-yxsDt90XZIBiNHOJcCqGi-BwtTtJw5M5Nb0u7ZwXw3ZUQHxmXPw8/s1600/lg5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3810" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEwIBTFRtz7R5TpMglKxE-ozoi9VNuPdWxjOol-btSxsqJZveDMU0Adlf2rGWkgouCrTiCT0Ja-CtvdP9NyoviR-yxsDt90XZIBiNHOJcCqGi-BwtTtJw5M5Nb0u7ZwXw3ZUQHxmXPw8/s1600/lg5.png" height="160" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1826">
<br /></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="569" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2071">
<div abp="3581">
<div abp="1830">
<span abp="570" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="571" style="color: orange;"><span abp="572" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tony hit upon
the idea to enlist this being as an ally despite him supposedly being more evil
than Malevo. Vandyke claimed that little was known about the Phantom, only that
he was destined to be destroyed by a human who carried around an ancient symbol
of destiny- - -which Vandyke conveniently happened to have <i abp="573" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">again</i>.<o:p abp="574"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="575">
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<div abp="3589">
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<span abp="576" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="576" style="color: orange;"></span><br />
<div abp="3813" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="576" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3814" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBr5NCRofrkbnV-GcQhbE04k7YcTUMaIRgMEkOTdhfQFj4oayqVnDuu2TVCbWPCxRjtC4NYNy7D2TcIVFWy5GV-LAJsZW5qQz9fne3GOK0a1_S_zlIvOHPr-6PP1HiNFcQtp03JS_cps/s1600/lg6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3815" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBr5NCRofrkbnV-GcQhbE04k7YcTUMaIRgMEkOTdhfQFj4oayqVnDuu2TVCbWPCxRjtC4NYNy7D2TcIVFWy5GV-LAJsZW5qQz9fne3GOK0a1_S_zlIvOHPr-6PP1HiNFcQtp03JS_cps/s1600/lg6.png" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span abp="576" style="color: orange;">
</span><br />
<div abp="3818" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="576" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3819" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHgggI-ncqvoNIy4GyEC5JH_6jdG_T253aodAUJ01JFHBjOlmy4rhdnoPhURYsjfhX7GO0YwNRNvhA5fU5n5Eaa3D4np8y7xkY8RpjoDI0hd6eBN4r2AkFkNo6qnHtlsffPV8IwWXyQk/s1600/lg8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3820" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHgggI-ncqvoNIy4GyEC5JH_6jdG_T253aodAUJ01JFHBjOlmy4rhdnoPhURYsjfhX7GO0YwNRNvhA5fU5n5Eaa3D4np8y7xkY8RpjoDI0hd6eBN4r2AkFkNo6qnHtlsffPV8IwWXyQk/s1600/lg8.png" height="320" width="254" /></a></span></div>
<span abp="576" style="color: orange;">
</span><div abp="3813" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="576" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<span abp="576" style="color: orange;">
</span><br />
<div abp="1852">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="577" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2081">
<div abp="3593">
<div abp="1856">
<span abp="578" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="579" style="color: orange;"><span abp="580" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tony then met
up with a medium named Mavelli, who contacted emissaries of the Phantom’s, who
then took him to their dimension:<o:p abp="581"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="582">
<div abp="2087">
<div abp="3600">
<div abp="1864">
<span abp="583" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="583" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3824" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVg8sJ-XDFJ0mlTGTDs5JaLTpQIYryU4lvADrr-PCO2VmjB7YGjLG0_7knfXnl2OGyQUCE50DSj3QsF4mEtRiUcc1bbKecgQcfkZS1sRN0mqSw05-0bqPbgh6Xx6huFclSUCaiusuCME/s1600/lg9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3825" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVg8sJ-XDFJ0mlTGTDs5JaLTpQIYryU4lvADrr-PCO2VmjB7YGjLG0_7knfXnl2OGyQUCE50DSj3QsF4mEtRiUcc1bbKecgQcfkZS1sRN0mqSw05-0bqPbgh6Xx6huFclSUCaiusuCME/s1600/lg9.png" height="158" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1870">
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div abp="584" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2090">
<div abp="3604">
<div abp="1874">
<span abp="585" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="586" style="color: orange;"><span abp="587" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Phantom
was initially hostile, until Tony told him he could lead him to Malevo. The two
flew off together to hunt down their mutual foe.<o:p abp="588"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="589">
<div abp="2096">
<div abp="3611">
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<span abp="590" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="590" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3842" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboR1QR7Efml97EsHOKVXGRG0spj3UAO33njRsEG3s5h9V42eq7U4Mgj8JK4mGOJG7VXGl8ubIkl3tZQ81UZ_YEXwYtO7iGNCwGXDKhHd9Erx4Fy7PlkOGPC77dZAYdj66hnA-hru7AkA/s1600/lg10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3843" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboR1QR7Efml97EsHOKVXGRG0spj3UAO33njRsEG3s5h9V42eq7U4Mgj8JK4mGOJG7VXGl8ubIkl3tZQ81UZ_YEXwYtO7iGNCwGXDKhHd9Erx4Fy7PlkOGPC77dZAYdj66hnA-hru7AkA/s1600/lg10.png" height="320" width="178" /></a></span></div>
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<span abp="590" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3860" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uV0Q9IY4KJuyJBsdxR3l5ACo0sUvU78p8WqYvKi_gyUXguXz-zVRZG3jeSE7SB-Cv3ujbi1gjNZekDYe9tii0IO6MuC0ccCfEtCCOZ9Rl8tdC_CVPX-qU15IDLofqQxhDyE92FjxIAc/s1600/lg11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3861" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uV0Q9IY4KJuyJBsdxR3l5ACo0sUvU78p8WqYvKi_gyUXguXz-zVRZG3jeSE7SB-Cv3ujbi1gjNZekDYe9tii0IO6MuC0ccCfEtCCOZ9Rl8tdC_CVPX-qU15IDLofqQxhDyE92FjxIAc/s1600/lg11.png" height="259" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3877" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="590" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3878" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-e54903wcwoY70Kws-MVUBRERC5vZHLnQ__Q27WtiuvqVRahmXFiY4d83flm3ATwgwcNanAGpD6JqqjdGRN_RK3GBwKSVuavcyQ3WlVIYmXSzxYOE1VCJY79IbBC83OTjGHXJKeJJvI/s1600/lg12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3879" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-e54903wcwoY70Kws-MVUBRERC5vZHLnQ__Q27WtiuvqVRahmXFiY4d83flm3ATwgwcNanAGpD6JqqjdGRN_RK3GBwKSVuavcyQ3WlVIYmXSzxYOE1VCJY79IbBC83OTjGHXJKeJJvI/s1600/lg12.png" height="209" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3895" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="590" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3896" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4FZJJ41Unm7VaOJpNCTbDd5hqbrCaJqviV1C-TsoXkfHAPqvNLedFW06EAul0veb4Y6yfkvxzgKeNP94vozGiBNMorNiOAcAOm1qgu9Rb6Dzb4EuCMMZtbaHd5Tx2fgDUEIEaNo6UX0/s1600/lg13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3897" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4FZJJ41Unm7VaOJpNCTbDd5hqbrCaJqviV1C-TsoXkfHAPqvNLedFW06EAul0veb4Y6yfkvxzgKeNP94vozGiBNMorNiOAcAOm1qgu9Rb6Dzb4EuCMMZtbaHd5Tx2fgDUEIEaNo6UX0/s1600/lg13.png" height="285" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3841" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="590" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<div abp="1902">
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<div abp="2099">
<div abp="3615">
<div abp="1906">
<span abp="592" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="593" style="color: orange;"><span abp="594" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most
badass fight of all time ensued, at least, when it comes to fights between skeletons wearing dresses :<o:p abp="595"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="596">
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<span abp="597" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="597" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3914" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZk3ololOGrs-Ul1EFLRRXM0CCnDJIGU1eu1eY5EmUZt3rZi3wXIOBbDXGBSEOqbPdmb2pQgG4Jzds9SWw0jRRZhnVi1lftuLKBn7U0EbWYqtl4hj6JtArDTPl8KKJyolJ-4mLECeO3z8/s1600/lg14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3915" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZk3ololOGrs-Ul1EFLRRXM0CCnDJIGU1eu1eY5EmUZt3rZi3wXIOBbDXGBSEOqbPdmb2pQgG4Jzds9SWw0jRRZhnVi1lftuLKBn7U0EbWYqtl4hj6JtArDTPl8KKJyolJ-4mLECeO3z8/s1600/lg14.png" height="320" width="313" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1920">
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<div abp="2108">
<div abp="3626">
<div abp="1924">
<span abp="599" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="600" style="color: orange;">The Phantom eventually overpowered Malevo, and
imprisoned him in rock.<o:p abp="601"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="602">
<div abp="2113">
<div abp="3632">
<div abp="1931">
<span abp="603" style="color: orange;">
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<div abp="3931" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="603" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3932" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAFUCSdSvZgNeTgieY9TarWdOHD70NMMjDFLbZQ7AdTLxatNg2Cric_fPvBDT_opAuTcKbCJEUb2lRc5ygZK_kw5zAyV2GEvKfvt79KDBe6ZlIew3PVmKV9d8ccp8r5jDyQAdsSF_foo/s1600/lg15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3933" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAFUCSdSvZgNeTgieY9TarWdOHD70NMMjDFLbZQ7AdTLxatNg2Cric_fPvBDT_opAuTcKbCJEUb2lRc5ygZK_kw5zAyV2GEvKfvt79KDBe6ZlIew3PVmKV9d8ccp8r5jDyQAdsSF_foo/s1600/lg15.png" height="320" width="291" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1937">
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<div abp="3636">
<div abp="1941">
<span abp="605" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="606" style="color: orange;">However, you don’t get called “dark phantom” because
you’re good with children, and the Phantom then decided to kill Gail for the
fun of it:<o:p abp="607"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="608">
<div abp="2121">
<div abp="3642">
<div abp="1948">
<span abp="609" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="609" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3950" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGEvFPYUJ4lQwyhzRR2OmMT574-OacGIyLEbqnOLFW0jACb3fajUwAvIkFPLFgpiL6_A_O7G9alfhH4H7Lzso4gjnTFGBZmlXKcBDU-C2QUu_KYkVxRVd6meY79elLgwcXve9JVaWRcw/s1600/lg16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3951" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGEvFPYUJ4lQwyhzRR2OmMT574-OacGIyLEbqnOLFW0jACb3fajUwAvIkFPLFgpiL6_A_O7G9alfhH4H7Lzso4gjnTFGBZmlXKcBDU-C2QUu_KYkVxRVd6meY79elLgwcXve9JVaWRcw/s1600/lg16.png" height="126" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1954">
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<div abp="2124">
<div abp="3646">
<div abp="1958">
<span abp="611" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="612" style="color: orange;"><span abp="613" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Tony
pulled out the destiny stone, destroying the Phantom.<o:p abp="614"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="615">
<div abp="2130">
<div abp="3653">
<div abp="1966">
<span abp="616" style="color: orange;">
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<span abp="616" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3968" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Yk7jusYr54fhR4KeAOSZsaj3H5DLxV0WSJGv59BuOcK7IyHwUNxujz8X6m7fJz4uFYmErEUyrP5Ri2PSqgmT_2ORzlSDKZhF56MD7pOq_WneAzYfiy3TYYR1LKpmGtLmH6fHiWe1O0s/s1600/lg17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3969" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Yk7jusYr54fhR4KeAOSZsaj3H5DLxV0WSJGv59BuOcK7IyHwUNxujz8X6m7fJz4uFYmErEUyrP5Ri2PSqgmT_2ORzlSDKZhF56MD7pOq_WneAzYfiy3TYYR1LKpmGtLmH6fHiWe1O0s/s1600/lg17.png" height="160" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="1972">
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<div abp="1976">
<span abp="618" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="619" style="color: orange;">Things seemed fine, except, now that the Phantom
was gone, his spells were also undone:<o:p abp="620"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span abp="622" style="color: orange;"><a abp="3986" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJipewi8UxLv2P69DDzw6zcsTpJpMBclzNmUUSlzdNso3Yv4WnoTi8fe36pcjHvs8643AEoTMEPvAYcviWh1TOntTVuoYSWtrTT9a55dTik9TogLFYZrpKt_1h2x8wFspI1Aid6-sdVsQ/s1600/lg18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3987" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJipewi8UxLv2P69DDzw6zcsTpJpMBclzNmUUSlzdNso3Yv4WnoTi8fe36pcjHvs8643AEoTMEPvAYcviWh1TOntTVuoYSWtrTT9a55dTik9TogLFYZrpKt_1h2x8wFspI1Aid6-sdVsQ/s1600/lg18.png" height="227" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span abp="622" style="color: orange;"><a abp="4004" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj015xXUxVv1JH8_40B_bOXUiDbIxhYhROgAKxeLZI2jTeu9ivRAoo2cgP1s5WGzgoADKTbAePqSG4NQrSIHNVEOhdNyVCy-zWi6_b6pCEO3B5bB31N5v8QKaQIyByG52-8tCPnyw1cnM0/s1600/lg19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="4005" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj015xXUxVv1JH8_40B_bOXUiDbIxhYhROgAKxeLZI2jTeu9ivRAoo2cgP1s5WGzgoADKTbAePqSG4NQrSIHNVEOhdNyVCy-zWi6_b6pCEO3B5bB31N5v8QKaQIyByG52-8tCPnyw1cnM0/s1600/lg19.png" height="185" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="3985" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="622" style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<div abp="1995">
<br /></div>
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<div abp="2141">
<div abp="3667">
<div abp="1999">
<span abp="624" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="625" style="color: orange;">What kind of revenge would Malevo seek on our heroes
next? What one-of-a-kind magical item would Dr. Vandyke coincidentally have
lying around to help Tony?<o:p abp="626"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="627">
<div abp="2146">
<div abp="3673">
<div abp="2006">
<span abp="628" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="629" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2149">
<div abp="3677">
<div abp="2011">
<span abp="630" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="631" style="color: orange;"><span abp="632" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, we
never found out. The Living Ghost was never seen again. Apparently it wasn’t
because ACG was averse to running a series, as a truly ridiculous and much
longer-lived series called “Spirit of Frankenstein” soon popped up in its
place.<o:p abp="633"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="634">
<div abp="2155">
<div abp="3684">
<div abp="2019">
<span abp="635" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="636" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2158">
<div abp="3688">
<div abp="2024">
<span abp="637" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="638" style="color: orange;"><span abp="639" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two
Living Ghost stories aren’t exactly masterpieces, and I probably wouldn’t be
posting about them if it wasn’t for who wrote them and the significance of
where they debuted. Still, there are some interesting elements to these stories
I find worth exploring.<o:p abp="640"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="641">
<div abp="2164">
<div abp="3695">
<div abp="2032">
<span abp="642" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="643" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2167">
<div abp="3699">
<div abp="2037">
<span abp="644" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="645" style="color: orange;"><span abp="646" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is how
Malevo goes about his campaign to conquer the world. He gets off to a good
start with the train wreck, but then goes after some random couple in lovers’
lane! Malevo as a character has no depth, and his design is so overdone it’s
hard to really find him scary, but there are ways to make “embodiments of evil”
like him work, and having him go around committing random murders for the sheer
joy of it, regardless of how long it will take him to achieve his goal, is a
good way of doing it. Dark lords often do not make for scary villains because
the threat they pose is on such a grand scale it’s hard to imagine them coming
after the reader and lurking in the hallway. Malevo though, you can easily
imagine doing that. He’s in it for sheer sadistic pleasure, even though he
could presumably conquer the world easily with the legion of monsters he has at
his disposal, and with the Dark Phantom dead, he would presumably have even
more power over various supernatural beings. <o:p abp="647"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="648">
<div abp="2173">
<div abp="3706">
<div abp="2045">
<span abp="649" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="650" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2176">
<div abp="3710">
<div abp="2050">
<span abp="651" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="652" style="color: orange;"><span abp="653" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there’s
the lovers’ lane sequence itself. </span></span><br />
<span abp="651" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="652" style="color: orange;"></span></span><br />
<span abp="651" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="652" style="color: orange;"> Consider for a moment that this story was
published in 1948. Today, stories of couples being killed in lovers’ lanes or
stalked by some monstrous figure are a staple of the horror genre, with at
least two major urban legends (The Hook and The Boyfriend’s Death) attached to
it, each with dozens of variations that someone will insist is the one true
version. However, most of the research involved in those two legends pinpoints
their origins in the early 1960’s, with possible precursors in 1950’s oral
tradition (which has proven impossible to date), long after this story was
published. What is interesting about those earliest mentions of the legend is
that they were in a true crime context, and not a spooky context. This story <i abp="654" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does</i> provide a spooky context for the
murder, and it is not hard to see the outré character of the Living Ghost morphing
into the comparatively believable escaped maniac or hook-handed man in
retellings.<o:p abp="655"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span abp="657" style="color: orange;"><a abp="4022" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-Mo0NYVTgu5A7UhiCIvww8hVrMYQq6Fo7MJd7QSkyXI-OYtJp48ccc_zUE_xWpc01aZto06g4eQ_uLd0tN6ECtDduat0Ho_pIL5_e5MIXyLlswsVl3RQNztHz6rDbLI0sFCoa1Vo8Sw/s1600/livingghostattack.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="4023" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-Mo0NYVTgu5A7UhiCIvww8hVrMYQq6Fo7MJd7QSkyXI-OYtJp48ccc_zUE_xWpc01aZto06g4eQ_uLd0tN6ECtDduat0Ho_pIL5_e5MIXyLlswsVl3RQNztHz6rDbLI0sFCoa1Vo8Sw/s1600/livingghostattack.png" height="137" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div abp="658" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2186">
<div abp="3722">
<div abp="2069">
<span abp="659" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="660" style="color: orange;"><span abp="661" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, a
popular theory is that such “lovers’ lane” legends have their roots in the
Texarkana “Moonlight Murders” of 1946, which eventually inspired the film <i abp="662" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Town that Dreaded Sundown</i> (soon to
be remade). Perhaps Long knew about the crimes and was thinking of them when
writing this story, tasteless as that would seem. <o:p abp="663"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="664">
<div abp="2193">
<div abp="3730">
<div abp="2078">
<span abp="665" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="666" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2196">
<div abp="3734">
<div abp="2083">
<span abp="667" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="668" style="color: orange;"><span abp="669" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again,
maybe Long was just remembering 1933’s <i abp="670" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Invisible Man</i>, where not only is a car flipped off a cliff, but a train is
derailed too. Claude Rains’s “Murders of big men, murders of little men, just
to show we make no distinction” would have made an excellent Malevo line.<o:p abp="671"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="672">
<div abp="2203">
<div abp="3742">
<div abp="2092">
<span abp="673" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="674" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2206">
<div abp="3746">
<div abp="2097">
<span abp="675" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="676" style="color: orange;"><span abp="677" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally,
what are we to make of this bizarre quote from Fredric Wertham when referring
to <b abp="678" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Law against Crime #3 </b>(also
published in 1948)? “The wish to hurt or kill couples in lover’s lane is a not
uncommon perversion”. </span></span><span abp="683" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="684" style="color: orange;">Maybe he
really had encountered multiple patients who had thoughts of doing so, or maybe
he just got the idea, as he would say about his own patients, from reading too
many comic books. If he did, this may have been one of them.<o:p abp="686"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="687">
<div abp="2222">
<div abp="3765">
<div abp="2108">
<span abp="688" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="689" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2225">
<div abp="3769">
<div abp="2113">
<span abp="690" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="691" style="color: orange;"><span abp="692" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting back
to the story and away from the world of not-quite-true stories, we also have
the enigmatic character of Dr. Vandyke. It’s easy to write him off as a plot
device for Tony to receive magical items from, but where did he get all those
items? Wouldn’t he be a regular target for various cults? How does he know so
much about creatures so obscure they apparently aren’t known in mainstream
folklore? Why does he question the existence of the Dark Phantom although he
knows of Malevo? Then there’s his passive, sometimes cold and unfeeling
attitude, rarely leaving his desk even though he could have easily become part
of the action. </span></span><br />
<span abp="690" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="691" style="color: orange;"></span></span><br />
<span abp="690" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="691" style="color: orange;"> There’s an awful lot in these stories that revolve around
Vandyke, but he himself doesn’t appear in them much. One has to wonder if future stories
would have repeated the formula of the first two, or if there would be some
sort of revelation involving him. He’s one of the more interesting Van Helsing
figures in comics, in any case.<o:p abp="693"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="694">
<div abp="2231">
<div abp="3776">
<div abp="2121">
<span abp="695" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="4039" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="695" style="color: orange;"><a abp="4040" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk6FCXeV2KGAKrD62Fq2GpWHGeMjzXExPARJ5H3I7nQqW9pWmLdyt0sMJUFOx8-ue-StujfxaY1STOJfPrUgaTfiLgFtO7RpdhMkauvsTPM8wrQhTBY4PkkdberbRosRGhHnC3o_W46s/s1600/livingghost13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="4041" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk6FCXeV2KGAKrD62Fq2GpWHGeMjzXExPARJ5H3I7nQqW9pWmLdyt0sMJUFOx8-ue-StujfxaY1STOJfPrUgaTfiLgFtO7RpdhMkauvsTPM8wrQhTBY4PkkdberbRosRGhHnC3o_W46s/s1600/livingghost13.png" height="294" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2127">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="696" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2234">
<div abp="3780">
<div abp="2131">
<span abp="697" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="698" style="color: orange;"><span abp="699" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, just
one more time, the “monster rally” sequence is awesome, distractingly cute
though those bats may be.<o:p abp="700"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="701">
<div abp="2240">
<div abp="3787">
<div abp="2139">
<span abp="702" style="color: orange;">
</span></div>
<div abp="4059" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="702" style="color: orange;"><a abp="4060" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrcp6toZv_k_6MLMMw_23ECPPO4fXXjZwQQx3Lu9-78zP-bsdeRa7PUH4av98K8EHFDJ3uXTNG-acixWvFCSaLzvO5pv6Cxv2XEqy3MU0yCu5EXMzpAjdaDl0DboR_A69ip3XjEF-6R4/s1600/livingghost15.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="4061" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrcp6toZv_k_6MLMMw_23ECPPO4fXXjZwQQx3Lu9-78zP-bsdeRa7PUH4av98K8EHFDJ3uXTNG-acixWvFCSaLzvO5pv6Cxv2XEqy3MU0yCu5EXMzpAjdaDl0DboR_A69ip3XjEF-6R4/s1600/livingghost15.bmp" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<div abp="2145">
<br /></div>
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<div abp="2243">
<div abp="3791">
<div abp="2149">
<span abp="704" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="705" style="color: orange;"> Compared to other villains and monsters who had their own series during the
40s, The Living Ghost doesn’t quite stand up to The Claw, Madame Satan, The
Black Widow, Dick Briefer’s Frankenstein or The Heap. I don’t even know if I
can say he rivals Landor, maker of monsters! Still, he could have done
worse….ACG could have brought him back in the 60’s just to get bopped with a
lollipop by Herbie Popnecker. <o:p abp="706"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="707">
<div abp="2248">
<div abp="3797">
<div abp="2156">
<span abp="708" style="color: orange;">
<span abp="709" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="710" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let the final fate of Malevo, Tony, Gail and
Dr. Vandyke remain a mystery. Long, if he ever even thought about it, probably
would have wanted it that way.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2398" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2399" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEToH3ULX-owMGT0rALUskUUr9jwUqKkqYBp4s-ww6tyR7IjHqn9gs6Y-DwmlFN9ntu3nPge8BScG1hd8BL64O4eJ4_Ml3ZnXi03FDWweh3T3yi9TGVoVOzRv6nXe6L_RrvTB90MecxfI/s1600/lg13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2400" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEToH3ULX-owMGT0rALUskUUr9jwUqKkqYBp4s-ww6tyR7IjHqn9gs6Y-DwmlFN9ntu3nPge8BScG1hd8BL64O4eJ4_Ml3ZnXi03FDWweh3T3yi9TGVoVOzRv6nXe6L_RrvTB90MecxfI/s1600/lg13.png" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2398" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">"Here I am like a kid out of school, holding hands with a god..."</span></div>
<div abp="2156">
</div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-56437532897841318052014-10-01T06:39:00.000-07:002014-10-01T06:39:53.330-07:00"I Spent Midnight with The Monster on Bald Mountain!"<div abp="272">
</div>
<div abp="348" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="349" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRTg3xNcRcwPHznRTuXPsWFo5oiYFLHXFYvGWi29g4BnHGP6SNVnk71gJaSZeHyZhu2MB0fjb3oVtoHNfSjeVtnFl6FClSaZW318oimg72dbqVNSl1E-Y1lML9biN_toPqUFdS7YHE2A/s1600/ditkobaldmountain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="350" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRTg3xNcRcwPHznRTuXPsWFo5oiYFLHXFYvGWi29g4BnHGP6SNVnk71gJaSZeHyZhu2MB0fjb3oVtoHNfSjeVtnFl6FClSaZW318oimg72dbqVNSl1E-Y1lML9biN_toPqUFdS7YHE2A/s1600/ditkobaldmountain.png" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="273" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1671">
<span abp="279" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="280" style="color: orange;">It</span><span abp="281" style="color: orange;">’s the first day of October, time to kick things
in to high gear!<o:p abp="282"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="283">
</div>
<div abp="284" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1678">
<span abp="285" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="286" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="287" style="color: orange;">I was trying
like crazy to get reviews done of DC’s <b abp="288" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mysteries
in Space </b>Fireside anthology and Rocket Raccoon’s 1985 mini-series before
September ended, but everything just kept holding me back. Rest assured though,
unlike last year, November and December will be very busy months (especially
the former). Besides, after covering Green Lantern, Captain Mar-Vell, Guardians
of the Galaxy and Fantastic Four, it’ll be nice to post something <i abp="289" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> related to space for the first time
in months!<o:p abp="290"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="291">
</div>
<div abp="292" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1687">
<span abp="293" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="294" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="295" style="color: orange;">Here’s a
moody little Ditko yarn filled with all the perfect ingredients for this month;
a grimy old castle, a genius tampering with forces man must leave alone,
lightning, dark shadows and things that live but should not. It’s also
interesting how this story, credited only to Ditko (although the dialogue is
obviously not by him) reflects his Objectivist themes of absolute Good and
absolute Evil in its two opposing sculptures; themes he would beat to death in
Blue Beetle and Mr. A, and in one Blue Beetle story that featured sculptures
(and a cameo by the Question!):</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span abp="293" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="295" style="color: orange;"><o:p abp="296"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<a abp="1783" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdPARAo_DtgChA1p1veHmnweT0cbxEhUjlioKD_LdkOYnNqlZHQI21w1GfK0Y9FUmON7EZXTcwwRAR0PoAMznX97D9aBiLG-fgOJld_rU6HUBUjAKMEG7DhNBxxZV9tOqQby6pFPRJFo/s1600/bb5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1784" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdPARAo_DtgChA1p1veHmnweT0cbxEhUjlioKD_LdkOYnNqlZHQI21w1GfK0Y9FUmON7EZXTcwwRAR0PoAMznX97D9aBiLG-fgOJld_rU6HUBUjAKMEG7DhNBxxZV9tOqQby6pFPRJFo/s1600/bb5.bmp" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="298" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="299" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="300" style="color: orange;">From 1959, here’s “I Spent Midnight with the
Monster on Bald Mountain” from <b abp="301" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tales to
Astonish #7</b> (originally entitled “I Spent Midnight with the Thing on Bald
Mountain”). All © Marvel. Enjoy! This isn’t the last of Ditko we’ll see this
month.</span></span></div>
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<a abp="1805" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgikAbp6DXAww21oN_IkcaoIRawOBp0LdoeiJzQ0ynImORnq5Pa3Myv2EfccsLcpNMKqiAlGORBgVIuf1zhDVVBfmOVSkeWFmMEbxyZZ5pxnHwgjPJfbPQeMLHfzrLHz_aN-7HSssRF7E/s1600/ismwmbm1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1806" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgikAbp6DXAww21oN_IkcaoIRawOBp0LdoeiJzQ0ynImORnq5Pa3Myv2EfccsLcpNMKqiAlGORBgVIuf1zhDVVBfmOVSkeWFmMEbxyZZ5pxnHwgjPJfbPQeMLHfzrLHz_aN-7HSssRF7E/s1600/ismwmbm1.bmp" height="320" width="219" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1823" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUoEsEZW387yqw__1BotxlpwwuKd4U89RgXgRDusKQa83f-Jloxi0Iq03lK0yzb_tm1LBKd1TypLbpylqJvfIkSsS3YYatZnqAyDCGJLagsLNk934GDRUL5jExMx7iZSHsPJACuFzpzs/s1600/ismwmbm2.jpg.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1824" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUoEsEZW387yqw__1BotxlpwwuKd4U89RgXgRDusKQa83f-Jloxi0Iq03lK0yzb_tm1LBKd1TypLbpylqJvfIkSsS3YYatZnqAyDCGJLagsLNk934GDRUL5jExMx7iZSHsPJACuFzpzs/s1600/ismwmbm2.jpg.bmp" height="320" width="219" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1841" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqkvTb1_gV_t3JXf5Kik8WKGCiF9TbGD3QGhl6ISsi9BJdwYdJCNtgcVey9klyBZBqnMF85ulOM9x-_orfxPpjDrz6UN7WrzKnLDDa45SY9hVe31imjMwp1R0ckvJIXPEe8MtjQa9l54/s1600/ismwmbm3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1842" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqkvTb1_gV_t3JXf5Kik8WKGCiF9TbGD3QGhl6ISsi9BJdwYdJCNtgcVey9klyBZBqnMF85ulOM9x-_orfxPpjDrz6UN7WrzKnLDDa45SY9hVe31imjMwp1R0ckvJIXPEe8MtjQa9l54/s1600/ismwmbm3.bmp" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1861" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINBTKfsrOtwCyFAfDICkVSHt4rXA7spOClcE80OqfcHmwLPyVZ6FzZ36MGLs40C0dWir3xG6W7o9XfA6n1CjIl3FUeFyLd79gss1kpDyV7gtGYXIJvrdV0Iy2A-H0vK5xT52Uat1Vghg/s1600/ismwmbm4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1862" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINBTKfsrOtwCyFAfDICkVSHt4rXA7spOClcE80OqfcHmwLPyVZ6FzZ36MGLs40C0dWir3xG6W7o9XfA6n1CjIl3FUeFyLd79gss1kpDyV7gtGYXIJvrdV0Iy2A-H0vK5xT52Uat1Vghg/s1600/ismwmbm4.bmp" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1879" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DF7Eglj5ixFFyw2CeazKc-XaKzDoer_CtVxpAkkNE3wagc51H3sRDk8bg9hSi72tI5NGCpOZB8-Ytyk0xRT0oK7DptG3Y4JpJ_3MaxCm6Yi94eoTQonpYZUaTJvJqmrNEkEo2mDmtwE/s1600/ismwmbm5.jpg.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1880" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DF7Eglj5ixFFyw2CeazKc-XaKzDoer_CtVxpAkkNE3wagc51H3sRDk8bg9hSi72tI5NGCpOZB8-Ytyk0xRT0oK7DptG3Y4JpJ_3MaxCm6Yi94eoTQonpYZUaTJvJqmrNEkEo2mDmtwE/s1600/ismwmbm5.jpg.bmp" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-32413316648588286072014-09-22T19:25:00.001-07:002014-09-22T19:28:15.469-07:00Heroes Reborn: Fantastic Four review<div abp="126">
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<a abp="376" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3UUcmlzvoeQzadg-sypuYZ4LQ4c49Nj9cNTQS6nDTIYp38FbqkARAXEtsMcxh320tOtx5dSYe70ZeFj9B7zt-ieLdxas75QLj_uv_4KnveAkGS-LPxjb9lOQU_SI85QpAoGRlxUBuuM/s1600/51AbgsXRkHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="377" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3UUcmlzvoeQzadg-sypuYZ4LQ4c49Nj9cNTQS6nDTIYp38FbqkARAXEtsMcxh320tOtx5dSYe70ZeFj9B7zt-ieLdxas75QLj_uv_4KnveAkGS-LPxjb9lOQU_SI85QpAoGRlxUBuuM/s1600/51AbgsXRkHL.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<div abp="127" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="128" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">In the never-ending (and never worthwhile) DC vs.
Marvel debates, one point that always comes up among the more
intellectually-minded participants is that, whereas DC has relaunched it’s
continuity to hell and back every few years in order to gain new readers,<span abp="129" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marvel has always tried to maintain the same
continuity they’ve always had, give or take a few retcons. And yet, while it’s
true that Marvel does always end up going back to square one eventually,
they’ve actually had just as many of their own attempts at continuity reboots
or<span abp="130" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘alternate universe” lines designed
to update characters/gain new readers as DC. The main difference is that most
of these attempts were ignored (Byrne’s ridiculously unnecessary <b abp="131" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spider-Man: Chapter One</b>) or were
intended to be supplementary lines that didn’t affect the main continuity
(Ultimate Marvel, 2099) or had no connection to their mainstream comics (the
short-lived “New Universe” line in the 80’s).</span> <span abp="132" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p abp="133"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="134">
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<div abp="135" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="136" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="137" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Although the
Ultimate imprint has been the most commercially successful (Though if you want
my opinion, 2099 was the most <i abp="138" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">artistically</i>
successful.), the most controversial of all these reboots, without a doubt, was
the “Heroes Reborn” event of 1996. It was responsible for some of the first
great flame wars amongst comics fans online. It was one of <b abp="139" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wizard</b>’s biggest running jokes, even being mentioned in the first <i abp="140" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twisted Toyfare</i> strip. Fandom was by no
means engaging in hyperbole when they used Liefeld’s infamous Captain America
drawing to sum the whole enterprise up; it was a bloated, poorly-drawn,
roided-up distortion of beloved characters that was both cringe-worthy and
hilarious to behold. Marvel trying to be Image.<o:p abp="141"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="142">
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<a abp="370" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvic5u7C2t5sQXo4q1dhWkruipaLhKlnrgIlRHmI1h7ngl4Sq_VXrFFth841089M1C_k7HhzzwFrEdTgmAy8PIDPupMmMKZsgu8qAztV-5NccT2elTGgRYK05CFd3CL_yFztObgxOk5o/s1600/LiefeldCap-original-320x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="371" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvic5u7C2t5sQXo4q1dhWkruipaLhKlnrgIlRHmI1h7ngl4Sq_VXrFFth841089M1C_k7HhzzwFrEdTgmAy8PIDPupMmMKZsgu8qAztV-5NccT2elTGgRYK05CFd3CL_yFztObgxOk5o/s1600/LiefeldCap-original-320x400.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div abp="145" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="146" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="147" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">However,
there was one standout title amongst all of the pouches, overuse of hatching, man-tits
and gritted teeth that otherwise made up <b abp="148" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heroes
Reborn</b>. While it certainly isn’t on anyone’s favorites list, and you just
have to laugh at Jim Lee’s introduction where he calls it a “Legendary run”, <b abp="149" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heroes Reborn: Fantastic Four</b> did
something right that all the other titles did wrong. It wasn’t a case of Marvel
trying to be Image, it was just Marvel trying to be… Marvel.<o:p abp="150"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="151">
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<div abp="152" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="153" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="154" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">In Jim Lee’s
introduction he describes the creative process behind the series:</span> <o:p abp="155"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="156">
<span abp="158" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“But from the start, the mission was clear: Update
the premise but don’t mess with what ain’t broke. And honestly, between you and
me, nothing was broke.- - - In the end, the less that was changed about the
core original concept, the more compelling the premise became. Luckily for me,
it was all there already: it just needed a little buffing. True, we made
changes, but 99.9% of those changes were cosmetic in nature, new costumes, new
scientific mumbo jumbo, new technological gizmos. In the end, it was the same
Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben who made the FF truly the world’s greatest comic. ”</span><span abp="159" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="160"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="161">
</div>
<div abp="162" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="163" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="164" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Those are
certainly all honorable intentions.<o:p abp="165"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="166">
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<div abp="167" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="168" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">But did they succeed?<o:p abp="169"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a abp="394" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD44nH8NuI7KfKU9p8tc6u43WjjP-N9lOPskXik5t2v_YSp92hB2WZvdnppOcvfWQZ5GsjoTklc574Nq9aq28prmCoiP8ny3xDpbvX0XfSMvZOWP-xlbGRyqZKDgufWrQXZKd_a5iZbc/s1600/1ff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="395" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD44nH8NuI7KfKU9p8tc6u43WjjP-N9lOPskXik5t2v_YSp92hB2WZvdnppOcvfWQZ5GsjoTklc574Nq9aq28prmCoiP8ny3xDpbvX0XfSMvZOWP-xlbGRyqZKDgufWrQXZKd_a5iZbc/s1600/1ff.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="172" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="173" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">For the most
part, yes. The characters are updated in intelligent ways that make sense or at
least fix aspects of the original stories that haven’t aged well. Ben Grimm in
the original story comes off as an angry, easily-manipulated, none too
intelligent blowhard who no sane person would trust to either pilot a rocket or
spend any amount of time around his fiancée (besides, the idea that Ben and Sue
were once an item barely came up at all later on). Here, Ben is shown to be a
brilliant engineer in his own right instead of just a pilot, he and Sue and are
still good friends and definitely feel like ex-lovers, but at the same time his
friendship with Reed is believable while still maintaining an aura of
bitterness.</span> <o:p abp="174"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="175">
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<div abp="176" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="178" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Reed is
neither the obnoxious know-it-all or semi-mad scientist of the earliest
stories. He really feels like a “science rebel” with radical ideas that get him
into trouble, both with the law and his teammates. However, his intelligence is
never de-emphasized in order to make him seem hip; in fact, there are times
where he’s so verbose he almost reads like a parody of the Silver Age Reed.</span> <o:p abp="179"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="180">
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<a abp="412" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyG6JhGa9yjWRC0Mwry2n7TU9__3z9QwhBs_S5uacEvDIRwyTIXmnyPSlvuw5p082pKRGPWa942MHZaBXSaoHpFSqKwflLhNa8se81cRDuJpzepV9gslf-mrv_Xo88dG5LMvLgFuofUE/s1600/1rj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="413" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyG6JhGa9yjWRC0Mwry2n7TU9__3z9QwhBs_S5uacEvDIRwyTIXmnyPSlvuw5p082pKRGPWa942MHZaBXSaoHpFSqKwflLhNa8se81cRDuJpzepV9gslf-mrv_Xo88dG5LMvLgFuofUE/s1600/1rj.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
<div abp="181" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="182" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="183" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Sue may have
been progressive for 1961, but her early appearances are mocked a lot today by
female readers. Even those who don’t mind her characterization in the original
stories still often ask why she was even on the flight. Here, Sue isn’t shy and
demure and obviously just around to provide a token female character, she’s the
team <i abp="184" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">leader</i>. Sue is reinvented as an
ambitious corporate magnate (The Storms are rich in this version) who is
actually the one funding Reed’s experiments (which is the reason she comes
along, not only has she invested millions, but she’s the one who has access to
the backup rocket, which can only be activated by her fingerprints), and she
loses none of her zeal after gaining super powers. Yes, she needs to be rescued
now and then, but that is believable considering that she has the least
formidable powers of the group and most of her experience fighting is in the
verbal sense. If Reed is the team’s brains, Sue is the team’s drive. Reed is a
dreamer; Sue is a do-er. I think that makes for a better dynamic than other
versions which try and make her just as brilliant a scientist as Reed.</span> <o:p abp="185"></o:p></span></div>
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<a abp="430" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAQ8u2y50XSirsNfRpyOEYuaS-QvrJdA3ye-dqY19K5GkTf4fmYW_xbBbaG6IUqL0L8QITQb-HskjrIQmPwlJpqUthJbbNLDbf4nT4xin-jPEhO7HwmkVClODnVQ2_py_HlrH1tRv4Wo/s1600/1f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="431" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAQ8u2y50XSirsNfRpyOEYuaS-QvrJdA3ye-dqY19K5GkTf4fmYW_xbBbaG6IUqL0L8QITQb-HskjrIQmPwlJpqUthJbbNLDbf4nT4xin-jPEhO7HwmkVClODnVQ2_py_HlrH1tRv4Wo/s1600/1f.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a></div>
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<span abp="188" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="189" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">In the
original, Johnny’s presence on the flight made even less sense than Sue’s and
his characterization was all over the place. How could an apparently middle
class kid (who we later learned was attending public school) have any reason to
come aboard a test flight to space or to keep indulging in all the expensive
hobbies we see him doing? Here, he’s the co-owner of Storm industries but
allows Sue to handle all the important stuff, partly because he’s too young,
partly because he’s neither smart or patient enough and he knows it. His
cockiness and love of dangerous stunts is believable in this context. At the
same time, while he may not have Sue’s business savvy, he also has just as much
cunning. He’s even shown to have a fairly mercenary attitude at times, trying
to license the team’s likenesses immediately after they become famous.<o:p abp="190"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="191">
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<a abp="448" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8auqZFlWE2EafI3DlgqYiovfBVWLuxhMLytjDxS_0T1mzRWFPi1ol-Y3qKjzvbZwnjwuCt8tehgHmaSth5_iwQRRiso7ERDnwW2qALYMaeZJj4XBnuBJ5dfvu39VkJaohbs9nZ5oEt3Y/s1600/torch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="449" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8auqZFlWE2EafI3DlgqYiovfBVWLuxhMLytjDxS_0T1mzRWFPi1ol-Y3qKjzvbZwnjwuCt8tehgHmaSth5_iwQRRiso7ERDnwW2qALYMaeZJj4XBnuBJ5dfvu39VkJaohbs9nZ5oEt3Y/s1600/torch.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<div abp="192" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="193" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Other smart moves beyond characterization include
making the team’s conflict with the government (S.H.I.E.L.D. in this case, led
by Wyatt Wingfoot[!?!]) over the rocket launch (a highly illegal act that is
usually glossed over in retellings) a major part of the story, taking up most
of the first issue and giving things the feel of a spy thriller. Rather than
just have the team decide to become superheroes and then go off to confront the
Mole Man as their first case, Lobdell and Lee instead come up with a much more
streamlined reason for encountering the villain; the rocket crashes into Monster
Isle, making their first encounter with him the first time they’ve ever had to
use their super powers. If I was making an FF movie, that’s how I’d do it. In
this version, the group is also forced to take a prototype rocket into space
after the real rocket is launched by the baddies, which accounts for the ship
not having sufficient protection against cosmic rays. Other cool ideas include building
up characters like Doctor Doom, the Silver Surfer and Galactus early on in
cameos so that they have even more of a sense of grandeur.<o:p abp="194"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="195">
<span abp="197" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">However, for
every great leap forward seen here, there are also two steps taken back.</span></span></div>
<div abp="195">
<span abp="197" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p abp="199"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="200">
<span abp="202" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">As unlikeable
as Ben Grimm seemed in the original, that very quality was what made him stand
out. He wasn’t the guy you’d expect to become a hero, and after becoming a
hero, well, you had no reason to assume he’d stay that way. Ben was a scary
character in the earliest FF issues who betrayed the team more than once, and
whose scuffles with Johnny were far from light-hearted comic relief. He was a
true ticking time bomb, but could you really blame the poor guy? He may have
been a monster, but he was a tragic monster.</span></span><br />
<span abp="202" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="204"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="205">
</div>
<div abp="206" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="207" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="208" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Here, Ben’s
tragic plight over losing his humanity—is pretty much swept aside. He’s initially
shocked at what happens to him, but other than grumbling a few times about how
hard it is to look in the mirror, it’s not addressed at all, and mostly played
for comic relief when it is. We even see the Thing get hit on by groupies, and
after Alicia Master is introduced, it’s emphasized their relationship is
special, not because she sees a gentle side to him no one else does, but
because Ben <i abp="209" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could have had any other girl</i>.
(And the less said about Alicia’s implicitly lesbian friend who tries to turn
her against him, the better).<o:p abp="210"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="211">
</div>
<div abp="465" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="466" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOKtHi29UgybIN4NHMqzikGDrJc5hOAu0MCX2cWlm_CvgrCvhqP_O_FSCTdZajD8DlA40mwCDW-66TFjzdXvyieXDlL_KkkRQ4up7F5O9jDUOheZ-9FkZisR7rn858SWBFWgzcU-yS3k/s1600/thinggroupie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="467" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOKtHi29UgybIN4NHMqzikGDrJc5hOAu0MCX2cWlm_CvgrCvhqP_O_FSCTdZajD8DlA40mwCDW-66TFjzdXvyieXDlL_KkkRQ4up7F5O9jDUOheZ-9FkZisR7rn858SWBFWgzcU-yS3k/s1600/thinggroupie.png" height="320" width="133" /></a></div>
<div abp="212" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="213" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="214" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">In the original
stories, Ben called himself the “Idol of Millions” as a joke and to make himself
feel better about being alienated from all humanity because of his appearance.
Here, it’s not a joke; it’s a simple statement of fact. The only time civilians
react negatively to his visage is when he makes his first public appearance in
issue #3, and even then it’s only because he’s mistaken for one of Namor’s sea
monsters.<o:p abp="215"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="216">
</div>
<div abp="217" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="218" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="219" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Then there
are the other cool ideas that go to waste. The aforementioned conflict with the
government and S.H.I.E.L.D? It ends up being emphasized quickly that the evil
members of S.H.I.E.L.D we see aren’t <b abp="220" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">real</b>
S.H.I.E.L.D agents, but spies of Doctor Doom’s posing as S.H.I.E.L.D agents
(and just wait until you see the revelation involving Wingfoot!). Not only does
this ruin the awesome spy thriller feel of the first issue, but shows an
unwillingness to do anything really daring and rebellious. Heaven forbid it be
implied that there’s <i abp="221" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">corruption</i> in a
government organization like S.H.I.E.L.D. Nope, they have to be the good guys
and any bad actions are the fault of supervillains posing as them. In fact,
it’s S.H.I.E.L.D. that rescues the team from Monster Isle and gives them their
first public assignment.</span> <o:p abp="222"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="223">
</div>
<div abp="224" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="225" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="226" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Then there’s
Doctor Doom. Oh boy, where do I start? It’s funny how, whenever people discuss
the superhero/villain archetypes and how a common trope is that the hero and
villain were once friends, Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom always come up as
examples even though they were never friends. Nevertheless, the idea has
potential, and more than one adaptation has gone in that direction. Here, we
are <i abp="227" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">told</i> that Victor was once Reed’s
friend, even part of a fraternity that included Tony Stark, Henry Pym and Bruce
Banner. This is a great idea…that Lobdell does nothing with except to set up
potential rivalries with other heroes. For supposed friends, Victor already
seems to hate Reed and everyone there and they clearly hate him just as much
and talk as if he’s already a supervillain (In fact, they already talk as if
they were all scientists and superheroes instead of university freshmen). So
why even say they were friends in the first place? It could be that they were
friends at one point but grew apart after seeing how ambitious Victor was, but
if that’s the case, we never see it. Even Baron Underbheit and Rusty Venture
had a more interesting dynamic than this!<o:p abp="228"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="229">
</div>
<div abp="483" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="484" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm4Cl7MAGMFHbJ6gzwYedje1wggrWQij7EnMqcQjVCFZj6miSGu0pbKbBXbBYWF9g7azwsvyzokfdkg_sAZL2MRepLr4wcWJ0lsd1LUgUJHaUaggrF0XKGHNuNg-Md1hlkd9JM5M7bgw/s1600/1rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="485" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm4Cl7MAGMFHbJ6gzwYedje1wggrWQij7EnMqcQjVCFZj6miSGu0pbKbBXbBYWF9g7azwsvyzokfdkg_sAZL2MRepLr4wcWJ0lsd1LUgUJHaUaggrF0XKGHNuNg-Md1hlkd9JM5M7bgw/s1600/1rd.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="483" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"I only knew a young man back in graduate school named Victor Von Doom--and I hated him"</div>
<div abp="483" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="230" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="231" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="232" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Also, we
learn that the reason Doom had the rocket hijacked with his goons posing as
S.H.I.E.L.D. agents was so that he could destroy a space anomaly, which turns
out to be the Silver Surfer (Yes, in this version, the Surfer is the cause of
the cosmic ray storm). This could have been a fascinating new take on Doom and
the idea that he considers himself a hero, making it so that he was actually trying
to save humanity all this time from Galactus by stopping the Surfer in advance.
Nope. Turns out he just wanted to siphon off the Surfer’s powers. Another
opportunity at giving the villain depth wasted.<o:p abp="233"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="234">
<span abp="236" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">I will say
this though: Jim Lee draws an <strong>awesome</strong> Doctor Doom. I actually prefer his take
to Kirby’s in some ways. Even what we see of him beneath the mask, with his
eyelids all burned and mutilated, looks cool, although at times it raises the
question of just what the hell Doom’s eyelids originally looked like.<o:p abp="238"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="239">
</div>
<div abp="501" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="502" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkZEsU8FJ-lmWESJQyjA8uJxBJGRLGYt6gzaQ0-JcMq9AE3-l5kbavqTHWEV17dtf4jVE3lvyfcf4yjiMDrd9gdyKHnhIm4NeuDUsI3LF-wsiuN_EslMjP8o4HpVnMGyG9N7xLwqwveI/s1600/jldd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="503" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkZEsU8FJ-lmWESJQyjA8uJxBJGRLGYt6gzaQ0-JcMq9AE3-l5kbavqTHWEV17dtf4jVE3lvyfcf4yjiMDrd9gdyKHnhIm4NeuDUsI3LF-wsiuN_EslMjP8o4HpVnMGyG9N7xLwqwveI/s1600/jldd.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
<div abp="555" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="556" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DNdYjoeWRnNQEF7qQ6dwoYeTRPelo0GawxnO_qnv2Xylcfk1GnNNiA2qDhXKaOqd0svE7naVst-CSZZyFhPydgklJUhuS1C3hymW3h8lRtMBt2c4UORA4pRpob3v-9T1LDH-J4yrr58/s1600/jimleedoom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="557" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DNdYjoeWRnNQEF7qQ6dwoYeTRPelo0GawxnO_qnv2Xylcfk1GnNNiA2qDhXKaOqd0svE7naVst-CSZZyFhPydgklJUhuS1C3hymW3h8lRtMBt2c4UORA4pRpob3v-9T1LDH-J4yrr58/s1600/jimleedoom.png" height="320" width="307" /></a></div>
<div abp="501" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="240" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="241" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="242" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Lee also does
a pretty cool take on The Super Skrull. Sure he looks more like The Abomination
than a skrull, but I liked it.<o:p abp="243"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="244">
</div>
<div abp="519" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="520" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20byZz39wE-H90TO5dFNrfMwsmCNW3r2P86feX5ZAnzdbWDXlTR5LgjQnFtF49zPFB0Bs9x3fEJ-P3pIgledmx-t8iqRuvJK1303vgcJkdWR8Wzn5FsmW2Lr_D-A3QuIApVCF5YONqR4/s1600/1ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="521" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20byZz39wE-H90TO5dFNrfMwsmCNW3r2P86feX5ZAnzdbWDXlTR5LgjQnFtF49zPFB0Bs9x3fEJ-P3pIgledmx-t8iqRuvJK1303vgcJkdWR8Wzn5FsmW2Lr_D-A3QuIApVCF5YONqR4/s1600/1ss.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
<div abp="245" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="246" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="247" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">The biggest
problem though, isn’t the characterization or even the changes. It’s that
everything is rushed. So rushed that there’s never any real room for things to
breathe or grow. We don’t even make it to the tenth issue before the writers
decide to do a story where the FF meet their counterparts from the original
continuity via dimension hopping (although they don’t interact)!</span> <o:p abp="248"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="249">
</div>
<div abp="250" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="251" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="252" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Oddly enough,
this problem could be attributed to two things which are polar opposites: Trying
too hard modernize things and trying too hard to stick to the original stories.
It’s like the creators wanted everything to have the furious pace of modern
comics where every issue is part of an arc, but at the same time, wanted to get
the “reimagining” part of this reimagining done with as fast as possible so
they could return things to the status quo of the original continuity. It leads
to the odd effect of the stories reading like any regular FF comic where the
characters have been around for years, except that here everything is supposed
to be happening for the first time! At one point, The Thing calls Doom a
“tin-plated tyrant” before it is ever established that Doom rules Latveria! In
some of the stories that feature original plots and aren’t retellings, you’d be
hard pressed to tell the difference between these and any regular 616 issue.<o:p abp="253"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="254">
</div>
<div abp="255" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="256" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="257" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Another big
problem is that the rushed pacing keeps these comics from having one of the
Lee-Kirby run’s greatest strengths: Being able to form part of an arc while
still being an enjoyable stand-alone issue in its own right. Some stories ballyhooed
on the cover are finished and thrown away before the issue is even half over!</span> <o:p abp="258"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="259">
</div>
<div abp="260" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="261" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="262" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Even more
sadly, in trying to re-introduce characters in this rushed format, Lobdell and
Lee seem so determined to hit every beat of a particular character that it
basically ruins the character in question. Namor is introduced, like in the
original series, attacking the surface world and summoning the whale monster
Giganto. But before the story is even half over, Warlord Krang (who the story
initially seems to be setting up as genuinely well-intentioned in wanting to go
to war against the surface world) turns against Namor and tries to conquer the
surface world on his own, leading Namor to help The FF <b abp="263" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AND</b> The Avengers (in this continuity, the Avengers predate the FF)
drive back the Atlantean invasion. This changes Namor from a complex character
who lives by his own rules, neither truly good nor evil and equally capable of
heroism and mass destruction on his own whims, into a straight up good guy
being manipulated by Krang. Gone are the shades of gray and his long,
uncomfortable relationship with earth’s heroes; he returns to Atlantis, fully
forgiven for causing destruction that the story makes clear killed civilians
(There’s no “everyone evacuated in time” hand-waving like in the Silver Age)
with the hint that he will be welcomed back as a hero and potential teammate someday.
Other characters originally introduced in an antagonistic light, such as The
Silver Surfer, Medusa and Black Panther, are also made blatantly, unambiguously
heroic from the beginning here.</span></span></div>
<div abp="537" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="538" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQLuITyHvuhCNAKq0Zff8_m-02QkdtHxxh7GgLiwZsRaf-QVHi1L7m56a3_RXestHd_2c-9BSLp1AIiRBTr47QNTiIfkncYaV990qs2tQcbjh8SKJK_chBCsyuYHiPEVdfx4dcd8xzHI/s1600/1nf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="539" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQLuITyHvuhCNAKq0Zff8_m-02QkdtHxxh7GgLiwZsRaf-QVHi1L7m56a3_RXestHd_2c-9BSLp1AIiRBTr47QNTiIfkncYaV990qs2tQcbjh8SKJK_chBCsyuYHiPEVdfx4dcd8xzHI/s1600/1nf.jpg" height="293" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="260" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="261" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="264"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="265">
<span abp="266" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"> Still, in spite of all of these problems, <b abp="268" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heroes Reborn: Fantastic Four</b> gets so
much right that I can’t in good conscience say it’s the best of the Heroes
Reborn line only because everything else was crap (Okay, that is <i abp="269" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">part</i> of the reason). There are some
genuinely intriguing new ideas in here that I wouldn’t mind seeing revisited
again, possibly in a movie (In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some comics
have taken inspiration from this run; Ultimate FF’s portrayal of the Mole Man
in particular). I may have ultimately found myself wanting to like this series
more than I did, but I also liked it far more than I thought I would. <b abp="270" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3/5</b>.</span></span></div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-55632025233408966082014-07-31T01:00:00.000-07:002014-08-10T23:29:49.671-07:00Guardians of the Galaxy Origins: Marvel Super-Heroes #18<div abp="273">
</div>
<div abp="562" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="563" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisz_a3wPcJ_RUkvw-LHCq6plScsEYUSLMg4ark-Us1NVVOKRXhL3mFoKN8qrt9azr6UwJv6fAsPjPAydkc34tpxxhjjQjXiXzlJfPVPW84gHzYPvTkyVga8A6olFLr3J54yCCoiuecVaA/s1600/msh18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="564" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisz_a3wPcJ_RUkvw-LHCq6plScsEYUSLMg4ark-Us1NVVOKRXhL3mFoKN8qrt9azr6UwJv6fAsPjPAydkc34tpxxhjjQjXiXzlJfPVPW84gHzYPvTkyVga8A6olFLr3J54yCCoiuecVaA/s1600/msh18.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="276" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1816">
<span abp="277" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="278" style="color: lime;">Oh Guardians of the Galaxy. How you have haunted my
comics-reading life. I’d be lying if I claimed I was ever a fan, but like
Captain Marvel, the Guardians are figures that have kept popping up on the
fringe every now and then. I own <b abp="279" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel
Super Heroes #18</b>, the first appearance of the Guardians, I own <b abp="280" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel Presents #3</b> (their first major
solo appearance after MSH) and I own the first issue of their 90’s series.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="585" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="586" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8ub-v6rUckOOFa4nFLEGagC36joLS1lOb4ALbmQ50sRii7jhjdRK9XJPfwN0Bo5jQbSZm-0LrpOnUMElxVjg-QEBYKeE_lejkwGTKUX4x6uWodvWBoZ9zXiWkJtUrumzogodtYEG-44/s1600/gtrip.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="587" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8ub-v6rUckOOFa4nFLEGagC36joLS1lOb4ALbmQ50sRii7jhjdRK9XJPfwN0Bo5jQbSZm-0LrpOnUMElxVjg-QEBYKeE_lejkwGTKUX4x6uWodvWBoZ9zXiWkJtUrumzogodtYEG-44/s1600/gtrip.png" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="276" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1825">
<span abp="284" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="604" style="color: lime;">The strange
part though, is that I didn’t end up with any of those comics because I cared
about the Guardians themselves. I bought <b abp="605" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel
Super Heroes #18</b> because of the Golden Age reprints in the back of the
book, and the <b abp="606" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel Presents #3</b> and
<b abp="607" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Guardians #1</b> both came in a “mystery
box” of comics I bought at a garage sale. I actually tried to sell the <b abp="608" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel Super Heroes #18</b> several times
because hey, first appearances always sell, right? Not if no one knows who the
characters are! Now all these years later, a movie comes out featuring this team
I own the key ‘first” issues of (which usually =$$$), and except for Yondu (who
sources indicate will play an antagonistic role) <i abp="609" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not a single member of the original team</i> will be used in the movie.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="610" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="611" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2vFgSdkWowEVnEKXuc2ORgSwLYibsLt-cJKK9kBd5pTQJPTT37l7oAtyrtwW5mrfEQrXNV8T51Y7agF09NAhiS5GuxFhkYI2mhQ8UNdhde6dzYHaygBA498wSsRV83DifjnCQiAXY6Y/s1600/10540359_768067793244841_3363419621240940711_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="612" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2vFgSdkWowEVnEKXuc2ORgSwLYibsLt-cJKK9kBd5pTQJPTT37l7oAtyrtwW5mrfEQrXNV8T51Y7agF09NAhiS5GuxFhkYI2mhQ8UNdhde6dzYHaygBA498wSsRV83DifjnCQiAXY6Y/s1600/10540359_768067793244841_3363419621240940711_n.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<div abp="276" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1837">
<span abp="294" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1839" style="color: lime;"> Life’s a
bitch, ain’t it?<o:p abp="296"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="297">
</div>
<div abp="298" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1843">
<span abp="299" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span abp="300" style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span abp="301" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="615" style="color: lime;">Still,
despite my financial disappointments (over used comics I bought 20 years ago)
and the film featuring characters I’m mostly unfamiliar with except for Groot
and Rocket Raccoon, I have to say I’m still eager to see the movie.</span> </span></div>
<div abp="1848">
<br /></div>
<div abp="1849">
<span abp="305" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="616" style="color: lime;">Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no denying that the
Marvel Studios films are here to stay, and while the same thing was once said
about Raimi’s Spider-Man series or Nolan’s Batman series (before he announced
that he was only going to do three films), the consistently strong box office
and favorable reviews have made it clear that, even if they hit a snag, we
aren’t going to be seeing the last of these movies for a <i abp="617" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">long</i> time.</span></span></div>
<div abp="1853">
<br /></div>
<div abp="1854">
<span abp="1855" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="310" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="619" style="color: lime;">The Guardians
film, more than any other, marks a turning point. Think of the incentive and
confidence it will give Marvel to tap into other obscure properties if it is a
success. We could see movies based on <i abp="620" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moon
Knight</i> (maybe they could introduce him first as the villain in a <i abp="621" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Werewolf by Night</i> film), <i abp="622" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Agents of Atlas</i>, or hell, since it’s
been confirmed he’ll make a cameo in <i abp="623" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guardians</i>,
maybe even a <b abp="624" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">good</b> <i abp="625" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Howard the Duck</i> movie. (You could argue
that the success of <i abp="626" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blade</i> should have
started this all the way back in the late 90’s, but honestly, did anyone who
went to see that movie know it was based on a comic? Do any of the fans of
those movies know that <b abp="627" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">now</b>?)</span></span></div>
<div abp="1866">
<br /></div>
<div abp="1867">
<span abp="1868" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="323" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1870" style="color: lime;">On the other
hand, if it fails, don’t expect to see anything other than the major
Avengers-related characters onscreen for the next few years.</span></span></div>
<div abp="1871">
<br /></div>
<div abp="1872">
<span abp="1873" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="328" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1875" style="color: lime;">So with all
that said, let’s take a look back at the first appearance of the Guardians in
1969. Ah, 1969, when men were men, women were women, Black Sabbath was no
longer Earth, hippies were mass-murderers and Gene Colan was John Buscema:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="645" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="646" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69ZSqi2atX2b07D9Gi9DUyXU7uXKDX6U7f98CmPh8iitwLocIHisFJl2XmHFserHHhuZx2dTW1y7hsG_idYXflGJEakQDUCLoHvqarvT5q78c7I9OzIWY4P2JxYFv1FTpiO0hsdYlzRE/s1600/v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="647" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69ZSqi2atX2b07D9Gi9DUyXU7uXKDX6U7f98CmPh8iitwLocIHisFJl2XmHFserHHhuZx2dTW1y7hsG_idYXflGJEakQDUCLoHvqarvT5q78c7I9OzIWY4P2JxYFv1FTpiO0hsdYlzRE/s1600/v.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="327" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1880">
<span abp="333" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="664" style="color: lime;">The story
starts off in the year 3007, where all Earth nations have joined together as
the U.L.E (United Lands of Earth) and set up colonies on different planets
where the inhabitants are modified at birth to survive. We are introduced to
just one such of these humans; Charlie-27, who was raised on Jupiter and has a
bulky, square-shaped physique to withstand its pressures. Returning from a
trip, he arrives home only to find that his planet has been conquered by a race
of reptilian creatures called the Badoon:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="665" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="666" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaPibeqMcDWTZDmYERDXhvdhRkZ_NdnbUITnkRltfByXEaRWaoFGME6D6YM_ZFqjtvQFOEGKPG5NR_beeNucnE5XkcHdUQPOPkv9MnaWMEwKgNP7oCjdlXv06m7aQloSZnBnMJl8ybUw/s1600/gotg1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="667" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaPibeqMcDWTZDmYERDXhvdhRkZ_NdnbUITnkRltfByXEaRWaoFGME6D6YM_ZFqjtvQFOEGKPG5NR_beeNucnE5XkcHdUQPOPkv9MnaWMEwKgNP7oCjdlXv06m7aQloSZnBnMJl8ybUw/s1600/gotg1.png" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
<div abp="691" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="692" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQPWSh_xZ8pM_v6ZiOJyJsLQWBq0hl5a6cSWSztmuMa9kCzjR_eAEybDupHomYbYMH_4jo9Pr2elmPTFc-ByieHV7MvqpFuCjtp5dtdM4fLux0gHCLf-Pf20U8nLJzKwxm9PAg5uUlpQ/s1600/charlievsbadoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="693" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQPWSh_xZ8pM_v6ZiOJyJsLQWBq0hl5a6cSWSztmuMa9kCzjR_eAEybDupHomYbYMH_4jo9Pr2elmPTFc-ByieHV7MvqpFuCjtp5dtdM4fLux0gHCLf-Pf20U8nLJzKwxm9PAg5uUlpQ/s1600/charlievsbadoon.jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a></div>
<div abp="327" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1890">
<span abp="338" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="670" style="color: lime;"> The Badoon have
forced most of the Jovian colonists into concentration camps (including Charlie's father), while the others are
forced to mine uranium without protective suits:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="710" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="711" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEger9lABM_K7PsIkPa67ktDSgh9okE8JWzUpVXYXjRVyL7awchh-qgm5jyWSTHhHYgnF-3dcnSB2GOCAIiLlaQjqNDKuN3ralUTenwZaIgzdwLyRoSK64fClgvA2h8FYCksFfQms1nWQgM/s1600/charliemeetsfather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="712" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEger9lABM_K7PsIkPa67ktDSgh9okE8JWzUpVXYXjRVyL7awchh-qgm5jyWSTHhHYgnF-3dcnSB2GOCAIiLlaQjqNDKuN3ralUTenwZaIgzdwLyRoSK64fClgvA2h8FYCksFfQms1nWQgM/s1600/charliemeetsfather.jpg" height="320" width="171" /></a></div>
<div abp="327" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1897">
<span abp="343" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1899" style="color: lime;"> Charlie
manages to escape by using a teleportation device to warp himself over to a
random planet, where he is saved from the Badoon’s “Saturnian Hound-Hawks” by
Martinex, a colonist altered to live on Pluto who has crystals for skin.
Although the Plutonian and Jovian colonies have centuries of bad blood between
them, they agree to work together:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="745" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="746" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNsS6wSeQX1hz1wriRZAKNwgGc_LhK52ZUDBeWM7eAmsE5tfijuLN2BNWlw6dfSH59Vmyz7gighvgQ7ZZFDijONKHIvozdawdMVeiu14CikW3HyLL_shDBpMOjNVqUE6ia1ucj822Oto/s1600/charlieescapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="747" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNsS6wSeQX1hz1wriRZAKNwgGc_LhK52ZUDBeWM7eAmsE5tfijuLN2BNWlw6dfSH59Vmyz7gighvgQ7ZZFDijONKHIvozdawdMVeiu14CikW3HyLL_shDBpMOjNVqUE6ia1ucj822Oto/s1600/charlieescapes.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></div>
<div abp="748" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="749" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK_43STez9z6dVYqui9OcIrGpRh5HyU71TlM6XM5gGuFfjqqZsEGGij56F5gixUOd89sOpSoiY4KLnoXIjFs-q28KAVmziqJBj4dJzSQT-YxQ4-U1lH5t1NvGJFjkwd6wsgxQwTiEsTg/s1600/charliemeetsmartinex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="750" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK_43STez9z6dVYqui9OcIrGpRh5HyU71TlM6XM5gGuFfjqqZsEGGij56F5gixUOd89sOpSoiY4KLnoXIjFs-q28KAVmziqJBj4dJzSQT-YxQ4-U1lH5t1NvGJFjkwd6wsgxQwTiEsTg/s1600/charliemeetsmartinex.jpg" height="320" width="175" /></a></div>
<div abp="327" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1907">
<span abp="348" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="673" style="color: lime;"> The story then
shifts over to Earth, where we meet the Badoon commander Drang and his
erstwhile prisoners (and the true protagonists of the piece); Major Vance Astro
and his servant Yondu.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="767" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="768" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjkHvHSV0lZsOGO2va-8Xwm-CSKI8prISYzt8hRy6eGa3uAiQQifmjjEDIZQPUGHEEJb14zjWHDvIep3mujtD2U14u6XY_zjTlb26zSsyjl8VwAvNUO8WM2RK_iW0G8c4AZg69Edx7XU/s1600/vancemeetsdrang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="769" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjkHvHSV0lZsOGO2va-8Xwm-CSKI8prISYzt8hRy6eGa3uAiQQifmjjEDIZQPUGHEEJb14zjWHDvIep3mujtD2U14u6XY_zjTlb26zSsyjl8VwAvNUO8WM2RK_iW0G8c4AZg69Edx7XU/s1600/vancemeetsdrang.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<div abp="327" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1914">
<span abp="348" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="673" style="color: lime;"> Astro is forced to wear a purple copper suit (which
sometimes appears to have a mouth and other times does not) to sustain his
life, and the story of how he ended up wearing it is not only a supreme example
of tragi-comedy, but one of the darkest origins in all of Silver Age comics.
I’m not even going to summarize it, read for yourself:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="790" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="791" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekVA715xuNGDi1221pK1e0hgyhv0g4B-nmpOS7Iu9rlaYhS82W2d59hacbhQO_FKTWiC3As6I7bhXUSBTXqP5fblugMb2lpAVczhDpcp_P78zfDtBeE8yQLQYjjW9VbB8PINsR-G-kqs/s1600/vanceastro1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="792" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekVA715xuNGDi1221pK1e0hgyhv0g4B-nmpOS7Iu9rlaYhS82W2d59hacbhQO_FKTWiC3As6I7bhXUSBTXqP5fblugMb2lpAVczhDpcp_P78zfDtBeE8yQLQYjjW9VbB8PINsR-G-kqs/s1600/vanceastro1.jpg" height="320" width="178" /></a></div>
<div abp="809" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="810" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmgx5CzONB5J6DKxQTYPHZ7gZ7sRWku6xbFKIRPT32-XZf9_96EXclOmpP7-rKz6_Z_CaglHnli1EaBZSnIAytWqTtE9ePf3YGFFh6udnqGoyr-Tcmdn4C7XH6mW4UX-g8PfQEDW-yGo/s1600/vanceastro2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="811" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmgx5CzONB5J6DKxQTYPHZ7gZ7sRWku6xbFKIRPT32-XZf9_96EXclOmpP7-rKz6_Z_CaglHnli1EaBZSnIAytWqTtE9ePf3YGFFh6udnqGoyr-Tcmdn4C7XH6mW4UX-g8PfQEDW-yGo/s1600/vanceastro2.jpg" height="320" width="175" /></a></div>
<div abp="828" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="829" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmB6YIdmoK6cfUKdf1XbNBihSrzgKEUVhiYF0GqJSZA9NU1tDdhhURGHuidvL1QyBxGAY7BdGyaA4cKpHtg2CwT2CrJ-hasdbi4YgMIwYxo_AhfW-w9qz0D8gBgHOME5Nog4Q7jpsUhk/s1600/vanceastro3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="830" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmB6YIdmoK6cfUKdf1XbNBihSrzgKEUVhiYF0GqJSZA9NU1tDdhhURGHuidvL1QyBxGAY7BdGyaA4cKpHtg2CwT2CrJ-hasdbi4YgMIwYxo_AhfW-w9qz0D8gBgHOME5Nog4Q7jpsUhk/s1600/vanceastro3.png" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="327" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1927">
<span abp="353" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="770" style="color: lime;"> Damn.<o:p abp="771"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="356">
</div>
<div abp="357" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1933">
<span abp="358" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="359" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="772" style="color: lime;">Despite being
time-displaced by millennia, Drang nevertheless is willing to give Astro
employment and power if he betrays the rest of the human race, who have set up
a small resistance group. Astro appears to comply at first since all the people
he knew are centuries dead, even selling out Yondu:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="863" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="864" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYFsNdHb8zwwQcpnM7f0sHJKEkFqd-UafPYkMBKDPAPElCMGECsWA635ap2NkHigfoZrlkFtpSxAi3s-FsssbDozFljv_6LaSI7TFYG7o4YOQkxpf0ShclwDxSmUJehdG732yH_z4oac/s1600/drangsoffer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="865" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYFsNdHb8zwwQcpnM7f0sHJKEkFqd-UafPYkMBKDPAPElCMGECsWA635ap2NkHigfoZrlkFtpSxAi3s-FsssbDozFljv_6LaSI7TFYG7o4YOQkxpf0ShclwDxSmUJehdG732yH_z4oac/s1600/drangsoffer.png" height="313" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="866" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="867" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zJD0nI5aqzVZO9jY4ZrXlGEyx0TLTaWl8Hm9MZt283aXM3oGLWTLKiE0GLZ12jlROYkTW278_Vqi0qoWViO95C5NKoVOr8ncGYH7vVUNN5OjmM8Qqz5KH_aWGFMTXTOOTlZgWaNc1sk/s1600/astrosruse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="868" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zJD0nI5aqzVZO9jY4ZrXlGEyx0TLTaWl8Hm9MZt283aXM3oGLWTLKiE0GLZ12jlROYkTW278_Vqi0qoWViO95C5NKoVOr8ncGYH7vVUNN5OjmM8Qqz5KH_aWGFMTXTOOTlZgWaNc1sk/s1600/astrosruse.jpg" height="320" width="174" /></a></div>
<div abp="357" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1944">
<span abp="363" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="885" style="color: lime;"> However, it’s
all just a ruse and Astro and Yondu escape. Astro is not as unfamiliar with
current technology as the Badoon would think:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="886" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="887" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwat8HydaHmFnXDFHDX3yxRO1KaVnCxni4_g057xJgAorwyM_KwuLCaCW6QC5WR_vJ8At1PnLQ4-ptt7wcPjkqALHaIcg2u8xzMMZg2MuTwG7bnTXMKJ-4q4cOvQGiSK8R_aj2wjLgdAA/s1600/vanceyonduescape.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="888" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwat8HydaHmFnXDFHDX3yxRO1KaVnCxni4_g057xJgAorwyM_KwuLCaCW6QC5WR_vJ8At1PnLQ4-ptt7wcPjkqALHaIcg2u8xzMMZg2MuTwG7bnTXMKJ-4q4cOvQGiSK8R_aj2wjLgdAA/s1600/vanceyonduescape.png" height="320" width="300" /></a></div>
<div abp="357" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1951">
<span abp="368" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="891" style="color: lime;"> They then
meet Martinex and Charlie and, typically for Marvel, mistake them for bad guys
and a fight ensues.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="925" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="926" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kaF9exiWEbAbJiA5VypJ4-Fljj7sc66K9LDyB-PIYKQOVJJWG8T4uyyO_ShPcRw3cf8Z5BlodgsCYo1FyW02dHOGc0BWqzRkpKxqmQ9SdtGL5ob5_I7knOI-4b7UDyqB5cjHc1Thc_8/s1600/guardiansfight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="927" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kaF9exiWEbAbJiA5VypJ4-Fljj7sc66K9LDyB-PIYKQOVJJWG8T4uyyO_ShPcRw3cf8Z5BlodgsCYo1FyW02dHOGc0BWqzRkpKxqmQ9SdtGL5ob5_I7knOI-4b7UDyqB5cjHc1Thc_8/s1600/guardiansfight.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
<div abp="357" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1958">
<span abp="373" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1960" style="color: lime;"> Also
typically for Marvel, they then realize the error of their ways and join forces
quickly. Escaping the Badoon guards, they set out to find the rebel colony and
sing a modified version of “We Shall Overcome”:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="947" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="948" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Un-rVSyb0gkkMxncFPUsONqYTqI-ilrL9YB0Ft2JN8_3ICFy57mF9ps7x5r1z3LeW-qSUEfgMg0vruLvEcDDp0vdblyhtIAYkDpdk1WoIZN6ARlGPalL2QA5pZcjEAiAOGaz1NR4CK8/s1600/guardiansunite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="949" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Un-rVSyb0gkkMxncFPUsONqYTqI-ilrL9YB0Ft2JN8_3ICFy57mF9ps7x5r1z3LeW-qSUEfgMg0vruLvEcDDp0vdblyhtIAYkDpdk1WoIZN6ARlGPalL2QA5pZcjEAiAOGaz1NR4CK8/s1600/guardiansunite.jpg" height="320" width="176" /></a></div>
<div abp="357" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1965">
<span abp="378" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1967" style="color: lime;">And that’s
that.</span></span></div>
<div abp="1968">
<br /></div>
<div abp="1969">
<span abp="1970" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="383" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1972" style="color: lime;">As we all
know, the Guardians of the Galaxy didn’t exactly grip the comics reading
public, with their longest-lived series not coming about for two more decades
and the incarnation of the team that caught Hollywood’s notice consisting of
entirely different characters. As a stand-alone work of fiction, it’s a pretty
typical pulp sci-fi tale, not much different from the kind of series that would
have run in <b abp="385" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Planet Comics</b> back in
the 40s (In fact, <b abp="386" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Planet Comics</b>’ old
<i abp="387" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lost World</i> series seems to have been
something of an influence, with the Badoon substituting for the Voltamen) and
the usual Marvel formula of heroes fighting over a misunderstanding and then
becoming fast friends is repeated here.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="381">
<div abp="1977">
<span abp="383" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1979" style="color: lime;"></span></span><br /></div>
<div abp="1980">
<span abp="383" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1982" style="color: lime;"> Nevertheless, the debut story of the
original Guardians is fascinating for several reasons.</span> </span><span abp="391" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1100" style="color: lime;">The idea that
humans would have to drastically alter their bodies in order to successfully
colonize and live in the atmosphere of other planets, although not an idea
original to Drake, is a hard sci-fi concept that one rarely sees addressed in
books and films, and even rarer in comics, particularly Silver Age comics. The
tragic circumstances of why Vance Astro must wear his costume are also
amazingly dark for the time. His whole origin story is essentially a <i abp="1101" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Weird Science</i> twist-ending (or a twisted
parody of Buck Rogers, depending on your point of view), and the fact that he
can never remove his suit makes Tony Stark’s problems seem trite in comparison.
If he <i abp="1102" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> betrayed the rebels to
Drang, he would be a compellingly tragic villain.</span></span></div>
<div abp="1987">
<br /></div>
<div abp="1988">
<span abp="1989" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="398" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1991" style="color: lime;">Another
interesting aspect not often mention</span></span><span abp="398" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1993" style="color: lime;">ed about the original Guardians is that
they are probably comicdom’s first true team of “freak” heroes.</span> </span></div>
<div abp="1994">
<span abp="398" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="400"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="401">
</div>
<div abp="402" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1999">
<span abp="403" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="404" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="1104" style="color: lime;">It is true
that the X-Men and the Doom Patrol pre-dated the Guardians (and considering
that Arnold Drake wrote this, the Doom Patrol couldn’t have been too far from
his mind), but the whole “X-Men are treated as freaks/X-Men are a metaphor for
minorities” thing didn’t really come about in the original series much except
for a few out-of-place scenes that could just as easily be found in <b abp="1105" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fantastic Four</b> and <b abp="1106" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Avengers</b>. Even the whole Sentinels storyline was really just a
prolonged variation on the standard “Public turns against the heroes until an
even worse menace is created” plot. Instead of being discriminated against, you
were more likely 99% of the time to find scenes of the public asking the X-Men for
autographs, drooling over Marvel Girl, teenyboppers swooning over The Angel’s
blond good looks or hippies trying to draw on The Beast’s big feet. The rare
times that humans were shown hating mutants often felt tacked on, like the mob
sequence in <b abp="1107" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men #8</b>. I’m not saying
that a subtext wasn’t there, but it was focused on in the 60’s about as much as
Bruce Wayne’s angst over his losing his parents was in pre-Bronze Age Batman
comics. I could write a whole essay about this, and probably will.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2006">
<br /></div>
<div abp="2007">
<span abp="2008" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="411" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2010" style="color: lime;">The Doom
Patrol definitely had tragic origins that made them outcasts, and certainly
would be frightening to look at in real life, but most of their stories were
showcases for Drake’s absurdist sense of humor and surreal imagination. Quite a
contrast to Byrne and Morrison’s grim takes on the characters.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2011">
<br /></div>
<div abp="2012">
<span abp="2013" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="416" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1109" style="color: lime;">Either way,
my point is that the X-Men and Doom Patrol were all either fairly
normal-looking, or the few who were abnormal-looking were non-threatening. The
Beast and Iceman, the most inhuman appearing of the X-Men, were generally
played for comic relief and were handsome in civilian guise. The other members
of the team were all traditionally good-looking. Robotman was also made a
cuddly presence in Doom Patrol. Even Negative Man was drawn to look cute
underneath the bandages, showing a whole array of facial expressions.
Elasti-Girl was a glamorous movie star in her civilian identity. You wouldn’t
mind being around them, or being them despite their painful origins.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2016">
<br /></div>
<div abp="2017">
<span abp="2018" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="421" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1111" style="color: lime;">The original
Guardians though, truly are grotesque and freakish. Charlie-27 looks like a
human compressed into a square shape, Martinex’s vaguely defined features and
segmented, crystalline structure make him look like a grotesque cross between
Iceman and Batman villain The Outsider and far eerier than either of them,
Vance Astro is a man trapped in an inexpressive suit that makes him look more
like a robot (or Superman villain the Parasite), than a hero. I couldn’t
imagine anyone wanting to be him. In fact, it is Yondu, oddly enough, who is
the most normal-looking, despite being characterized as the most primitive and
uneducated. All of them are the last of their kind in a sense (even the human Astro
is the last living man from the twentieth century), with all the other
members of their “races” dead or imprisoned. All of them would be misfits
wherever they were to go.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2021">
<br /></div>
<div abp="2022">
<span abp="2023" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="427" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1146" style="color: lime;">Perhaps it
was this very aspect that was the reason the original Guardians were never a
major hit, just like DC’s even more freakish-looking (and even less successful)
Outsiders from <b abp="1147" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">First Issue Special #10</b>.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1148" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1149" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pPcREqm1WeuwhiNZVbugC-6m8WNoUUIvVoqx4-VqtFGO_ChW03ksK6ZeilQoEoL3xXLX0GnCaisz88Q6KNQ3wVEfN8O2P4agocOwj1C4a8bnvWxedAF5d3MVH9QHJBh2IatAIDwQGoo/s1600/500px-Outsiders_I_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1150" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pPcREqm1WeuwhiNZVbugC-6m8WNoUUIvVoqx4-VqtFGO_ChW03ksK6ZeilQoEoL3xXLX0GnCaisz88Q6KNQ3wVEfN8O2P4agocOwj1C4a8bnvWxedAF5d3MVH9QHJBh2IatAIDwQGoo/s1600/500px-Outsiders_I_01.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="426" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2031">
<span abp="433" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2033" style="color: lime;"> Another
fascinating aspect of the Guardian’s debut is Drake’s vision of the future. All
of Earth’s nations have united and we are specifically told by the narration
that there haven’t been any wars. Normally this would imply some kind of
peaceful, idealistic Utopia, but Drake never forgets or tries to overlook human
nature. There are mentions of “New Paris”, “New Moscow”, “New New York etc.
Clearly, there was a lot of blood spilt to create this ‘U.L.E’.</span> </span></div>
<div abp="2034">
<br /></div>
<div abp="2035">
<span abp="438" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1117" style="color: lime;">Nor are
racial or class conflicts depicted as a thing of the past, despite “We Shall
Overcome” having changed to “Earth shall overcome” over the years. This is
demonstrated briefly by mentioning the conflict between the “Jovians” and the
“Pluvians”; they have even created their own slurs for each other. You can bet
that if humanity ever does split into subspecies like this that it will just
leads to new forms of racism, despite all the talk about “transhumanism” these
days and claims that it will end racial conflict. Casual racism too can be
observed in the hurtful things Astro says about Yondu, even if they were a
bluff (Although then again, Yondu <b abp="1118" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">is</b>
written as a Tonto-like “Noble Savage”). We also see “robot servants”, but
since normal labor jobs are shown to still exist and not made obsolete,
apparently they are something only the very wealthy can afford.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1171" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1172" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TJLWSLLX1H1EuBtDYGnmVOz1_-goU8rudcvuwpvAe4mbNuL4ysaY3DcrV-A_kY-f5E8peU_DQDYvUXaB_xK2zIS9nikJmPHN-yq4PvAtMnqXH-xaLSv16knbvHKjzafL7uO2TxQ11rc/s1600/mshrobotservants.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1173" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TJLWSLLX1H1EuBtDYGnmVOz1_-goU8rudcvuwpvAe4mbNuL4ysaY3DcrV-A_kY-f5E8peU_DQDYvUXaB_xK2zIS9nikJmPHN-yq4PvAtMnqXH-xaLSv16knbvHKjzafL7uO2TxQ11rc/s1600/mshrobotservants.jpg.png" height="287" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="436">
<div abp="2043">
<span abp="438" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1117" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1119"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="442">
<div abp="2048">
<span abp="444" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="2050" style="color: lime;">I wish more
writers of futuristic space epics spent as much time on world-building as Drake
does here, rather than simply making everything black and white, with the
future being either a Utopian paradise or a Dystopian hellhole which has to be
rebelled against, and Drake manages to achieve this in a story <i abp="446" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about</i> rebels fighting a dystopian
hellhole.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2052">
<br /></div>
<div abp="2053">
<span abp="2054" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="450" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1174" style="color: lime;">All in all,
while the original Guardians story isn’t great, and has even less potential as
a film series than, well, a film starring a tree and a raccoon, it still offers
up a truly fascinating vision of the future that’s neither too hopeful or too
cynical, as well as a team of “freak” heroes that really are freakish for once.
For fans of bizarre and unusual Silver Age comics, it’s one of Marvel’s most
fascinating failed experiments.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2057">
<span abp="450" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1174" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1175"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="453">
<div abp="2062">
<span abp="454" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="455" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="2065" style="color: lime;">And let’s hope “failed experiment” isn’t a
term that will be applied to the movie after it opens tonight.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1176" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1177" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7uH8OErQLDU8A5RdPQpxfrpiGZR0FeWXmL95jvYE6niLi9VAbdohwsNNjEx3fcyrKyL8qWoGW_qG-GgUE-cmbhgKDraBagIC5NiA8SHaZe3CNlNadv8dYCnEJKl3aJTARDu5WCx_36U/s1600/redcarpetraccoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1178" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7uH8OErQLDU8A5RdPQpxfrpiGZR0FeWXmL95jvYE6niLi9VAbdohwsNNjEx3fcyrKyL8qWoGW_qG-GgUE-cmbhgKDraBagIC5NiA8SHaZe3CNlNadv8dYCnEJKl3aJTARDu5WCx_36U/s1600/redcarpetraccoon.jpg" height="320" width="280" /></a></div>
<div abp="453">
<div abp="2070">
<span abp="454" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="2072">
<br /></div>
<span abp="454" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div abp="2074">
<span abp="2075" style="color: lime;">
</span></div>
<div abp="2076" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="2077" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2078" style="color: lime;"><strong abp="2079">UPDATE:</strong> Saw it opening night, and just went to see
it a second time tonight. Loved it both times, and there’s really nothing for
me to say that hasn’t already been said. In fact, I’m tempted to call it my
favorite of all the Marvel Studios productions along with <b abp="2080" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Winter Soldier</b>, but it’s a bit too early to make that call. <o:p abp="2081"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="2082">
<span abp="2083" style="color: lime;">
</span></div>
<div abp="2084" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="2085" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2086" style="color: lime;"><span abp="2087" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doors are
open. The Marvel Cinematic “Universe” has truly begun. Let Fox keep Fantastic
Four and it’s supposed “grounded/found footage” approach, comic book movies
that aren’t afraid to be comic book movies are going to be the norm from now
on! Bring on Adam Warlock, Mar-Vell and Thanos!</span></span></div>
<div abp="2206" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2207" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XVi9-6x43wQgppPYqMqx-1-7YaEp8KpZLvkanhLYLmIQqT4grglBcGNnAB1oc6udzSFTeufA8rZiwIQEHqGj-rKrMl0_BkTnsfIHCD6WKM8YrwoPkAHJFnWdWAn4K8oyK3TM8ughlEQ/s1600/ff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2208" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XVi9-6x43wQgppPYqMqx-1-7YaEp8KpZLvkanhLYLmIQqT4grglBcGNnAB1oc6udzSFTeufA8rZiwIQEHqGj-rKrMl0_BkTnsfIHCD6WKM8YrwoPkAHJFnWdWAn4K8oyK3TM8ughlEQ/s1600/ff.png" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
<div abp="2088" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="2089" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2090" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="2093"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="2094">
<span abp="2095" style="color: lime;">
</span></div>
</span><div abp="2096">
<br /></div>
<div abp="928" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="454" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<div abp="2099">
<span abp="454" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-7384952749806851092014-07-30T22:56:00.000-07:002014-07-30T22:56:13.380-07:00Hi, Everybody!<div abp="234" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="235" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dRH3NzsTU6026iLSWqeDfejzcURJr4yi0GbRgsezcSRXPmKvqekpcIcJoXg4A3WH-PjcEemSCtMsWAktta04EQkSiT2iUOA-S88J3hmgupfvn-NornjxAkXop1BpLd-QP06eVZhTp2o/s1600/MK-BW874A_BACKT_G_20120903164322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="236" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dRH3NzsTU6026iLSWqeDfejzcURJr4yi0GbRgsezcSRXPmKvqekpcIcJoXg4A3WH-PjcEemSCtMsWAktta04EQkSiT2iUOA-S88J3hmgupfvn-NornjxAkXop1BpLd-QP06eVZhTp2o/s1600/MK-BW874A_BACKT_G_20120903164322.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="126">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: lime;"> Miss me?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="126">
</div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-1490091269440217942014-05-09T18:51:00.001-07:002014-05-09T18:52:09.300-07:00Captain Marvel Masterworks Vol.1 review<div abp="419">
</div>
<div abp="649" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="650" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3GuCWqys89Kmo8pvWhMttdWs5aWCf8SDcYnxRmreoTVNCc4yn2thsr6GY4YzNhWirY61NlrQOY2lXmus329HAQ97P6OqNe7Msax3S5zvgNjNMke2ITwnOUsNQQHgPvSKd8oHcMeMX6w/s1600/9780785167563_p0_v2_s260x420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="651" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3GuCWqys89Kmo8pvWhMttdWs5aWCf8SDcYnxRmreoTVNCc4yn2thsr6GY4YzNhWirY61NlrQOY2lXmus329HAQ97P6OqNe7Msax3S5zvgNjNMke2ITwnOUsNQQHgPvSKd8oHcMeMX6w/s1600/9780785167563_p0_v2_s260x420.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>
<div abp="422" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="423" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="424" style="color: lime;">There are some characters that just seem to haunt
the fringes of your interest in comics until you finally decide to explore them
in depth. While I’m not too keen on DC/Fawcett’s big red cheese, and I don’t
find MF Enterprise’s “SPLIT!” version to be the campy masterpiece some praise
it as, I’ve always seen Marvel’s ‘Space-Born Super-Hero” as <i abp="425" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> Captain Marvel, even though, as
everyone points out, Marvel created him to secure copyright to the name. Granted,
my fondness could stem from my first continuous exposure to the character being
Jim Starlin’s acclaimed run and the good captain playing big roles in
‘important’ stories like the <s abp="426">RoyThomasBrainFart</s> Kree-Skrull War, or
maybe it’s because, courtesy of a flea market, I ended up owning his first two
appearances in <b abp="427" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel Superheroes #12-13</b>,
as well as issue <b abp="428" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#4</b> of his own title
where he fights Namor. Now, I fully admit I picked those books up because of
the Golden Age reprints and because I go crazy for Gene Colan art and even
crazier for Namor, but I always liked them because of the series’ gimmick, even
though there were things in those stories that even as a teen I couldn’t
suspend my disbelief about.<o:p abp="429"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="430">
<span abp="431" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="432" style="color: lime;">Captain
Marvel was about Mar-Vell; a member of an alien race called the Kree who came
to Earth, took on a secret identity as a scientist and wound up becoming a
superhero. On paper, it’s not too different a concept from lots of other alien
heroes, going all the way back to Superman himself, and Cap’s costume wasn’t
too markedly different from that of other spacemen like Adam Strange except for
being in secondary colors.</span></span></div>
<div abp="433">
<span abp="434" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="435"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="436">
<span abp="437" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="438" style="color: lime;">No, what made
Mar-Vell unique was <i abp="439" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why</i> he acted as a
superhero. It wasn’t that he was raised by humans, or was an intergalactic
policeman who decided to study our methods, or who fought crime since he was
stuck here and believed evil should be eradicated no matter where it was, or
because he was struck by the beauty of human life. Nothing like that. Mar-Vell
was a soldier on a reconnaissance mission whose <i abp="440" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">entire goal was to spy on us</i>, and if need be, <i abp="441" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blow us all to kingdom come</i> if we ever came anywhere close to
developing weapons that could challenge the Kree empire.</span> </span></div>
<div abp="672" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="673" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJk36c3sdEk_REiMpdz_Yr_SNVCMQnsG4RTzzgcwV2yZvzVcC42o71uAMhL5lvhaCv3lHmUrd0joXAQC0wkYeAzL3CMxJM1jtyjhZuIcgNXwxB3SZpWRO2t1DTN2eeQwb3kUtmCUcIe8/s1600/caplandsatbase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="674" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJk36c3sdEk_REiMpdz_Yr_SNVCMQnsG4RTzzgcwV2yZvzVcC42o71uAMhL5lvhaCv3lHmUrd0joXAQC0wkYeAzL3CMxJM1jtyjhZuIcgNXwxB3SZpWRO2t1DTN2eeQwb3kUtmCUcIe8/s1600/caplandsatbase.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="436">
<span abp="446" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="448" style="color: lime;"> He only came off as a hero because his asshole
superior officer, Colonel Yon Rogg, wanted to bang his girlfriend Una, so
Yon-Rogg kept trying to force Mar-Vell into situations where he would be killed
or forced to abort his mission (an offense punishable by death in Kree law),
such as activating big homicidal robots to kill people who Mar-Vell was merely
supposed to study, or tricking enemy alien races into attacking him. Mar-Vell
would then fight these various menaces (mainly out of self-preservation and
because he believed in sticking to the original plans to simply spy on Earth’s
people, not kill them) and, to the unknowing populace of Earth, Mar-Vell would
appear to be a benevolent superhero defending them.</span></span></div>
<div abp="698" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="699" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YPH0UlNfaVkG8v9NwF0m7gpf46uVkQtIClIULv_E6orusjn2Cs6Kzcw07huKFWxnS1aSvk_2MLQYGe_of-0XFzg7-XHqhfaJR0lSD6UAxtAcLZFC7B3Tk-rKtQFtlRXH2YoG49G83C0/s1600/capyonrogguna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="700" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YPH0UlNfaVkG8v9NwF0m7gpf46uVkQtIClIULv_E6orusjn2Cs6Kzcw07huKFWxnS1aSvk_2MLQYGe_of-0XFzg7-XHqhfaJR0lSD6UAxtAcLZFC7B3Tk-rKtQFtlRXH2YoG49G83C0/s1600/capyonrogguna.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div abp="724" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="725" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-IHcvjycf1v9YJv69bHtdCrlV7DOVXsQIDOUiAIssBijKuVndn9a1oklgJD-8b9VJQUiq1bZa-0miGJ9gXC9y_tOfTGEtOMaMrARLM7iutPwQnI926hNRqGSS0uzuYTjq0I82Z600ZD8/s1600/capbroods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="726" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-IHcvjycf1v9YJv69bHtdCrlV7DOVXsQIDOUiAIssBijKuVndn9a1oklgJD-8b9VJQUiq1bZa-0miGJ9gXC9y_tOfTGEtOMaMrARLM7iutPwQnI926hNRqGSS0uzuYTjq0I82Z600ZD8/s1600/capbroods.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<span abp="450" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><div abp="451">
<span abp="450" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="452" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="453" style="color: lime;"> This could have been turned into a comedy series where
the evil alien always ends up doing good by accident, or <i abp="454" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Invasion of the Body Snatchers</i>-style horror; where the people of
Earth have no idea that their champion is an alien spy. But the thing was,
Mar-Vell was torn up inside because of this. He knew that, other than to Una,
he was just another grunt to the Kree, while to the people of Earth who he was
supposed to view as the enemy, he was appreciated and acclaimed as a hero, and
noble soldier that he was, he couldn’t live with betraying trust, since he was
a firm believer in showing honor even to his worst enemies. Even worse, he knew
that eventually, he was either going to have to destroy us, or Yon-Rogg would
find some way to make him look bad in the eyes of the Kree higher-ups and he’d
have nowhere to go (if the Kree council didn’t kill him first).</span></span></span></div>
<span abp="450" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<div abp="750" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="751" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pJDQ0Y-wRf8lhmD8jB4pY8VcM_TcXQgD3p6WiBlEYH0UNSH1XdVlXrR2QsMEHGwHyqbySp6uDIzKk-e14NydNHbZJKZxZKU8PAFZPmL0F4jNauLLpkzGXHWbeBlLpw79r1NnFJpPmOo/s1600/tormentedcap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="752" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pJDQ0Y-wRf8lhmD8jB4pY8VcM_TcXQgD3p6WiBlEYH0UNSH1XdVlXrR2QsMEHGwHyqbySp6uDIzKk-e14NydNHbZJKZxZKU8PAFZPmL0F4jNauLLpkzGXHWbeBlLpw79r1NnFJpPmOo/s1600/tormentedcap.png" height="320" width="291" /></a></div>
<div abp="776" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="777" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngbhcvi-mWtPzY0WHjwIt1uLOchdvyOx_iwqH_PJM8SX8Nquwtghm7KWhuEftHZ4GIH6JnZB6se1S2nqpZ27sBKaqdAzUwY84mUkdjWldCW-er3Imon7daIe3g3gzvqthZacrKd4FKHo/s1600/capangsts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="778" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngbhcvi-mWtPzY0WHjwIt1uLOchdvyOx_iwqH_PJM8SX8Nquwtghm7KWhuEftHZ4GIH6JnZB6se1S2nqpZ27sBKaqdAzUwY84mUkdjWldCW-er3Imon7daIe3g3gzvqthZacrKd4FKHo/s1600/capangsts.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<div abp="451">
<span abp="459" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="460" style="color: lime;"> The final
panel of <b abp="461" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#4</b>, where Mar-Vell speeds
off after battling Namor, the true hero of the story, and considers the tragic irony of his situation, always stuck with me for
some reason.</span> </span></div>
<div abp="825" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="826" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6amHiKZjObRhpEGkyisxPVgfHTJ5z2_Rh_yXWocgthCbUSeTivGu1mdcOMg13rNvX1omicequZ90HYbT8eBeYSmehsH4o_TuKlmOGqLUF_Cm5SL_2v7CLAR-6IPVc0aSryazIgV80VM/s1600/captainmarvel4lastpanel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="827" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6amHiKZjObRhpEGkyisxPVgfHTJ5z2_Rh_yXWocgthCbUSeTivGu1mdcOMg13rNvX1omicequZ90HYbT8eBeYSmehsH4o_TuKlmOGqLUF_Cm5SL_2v7CLAR-6IPVc0aSryazIgV80VM/s1600/captainmarvel4lastpanel.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="451">
<span abp="465" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="467" style="color: lime;"> Many years
later, I got a hold of the first Marvel Masterworks volume of CM, read up to
the fourth issue (which I was already familiar with), and then, due to a bunch of
factors, didn’t get a chance to finish reading and sort of forgot about it.</span></span></div>
<div abp="451">
<span abp="465" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="467" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="468"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="469">
<span abp="470" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="471" style="color: lime;">That,
however, has been rectified.</span></span></div>
<div abp="469">
<span style="color: lime;"><span abp="470" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div abp="469">
<span style="color: lime;"><span abp="470" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span abp="475" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="477">And you know
what? For a character created just to secure copyright, these stories are
pretty damn good!</span></span></span></div>
<div abp="469">
<span style="color: lime;"><span abp="475" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="477"><o:p abp="478"></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<div abp="479">
<span abp="480" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="481" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="482" style="color: lime;">Oh sure, there are plenty of ludicrous coincidences
that even as a kid I found hard to swallow, namely, Mar-Vell conveniently
happening across a dead rocket scientist named Walter Lawson who <i abp="483" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">looks exactly like him</i> and who he then
impersonates to get access to Cape Canaveral. </span></span></div>
<div abp="828" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="829" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXatqOf54XkbvKmesliH3DZSveQEgpzOdE0wfMqZgsqCXvWa6EQuQ2Ak8LwSrsH97hqc3-htVAoktUttBv4oLdkP9XMYGOX9An5fwBhcWO8ZN-4pWm5XPCx8mt2CZPyix-dpRcYs2eCOc/s1600/capbecomeswalterlawson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="830" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXatqOf54XkbvKmesliH3DZSveQEgpzOdE0wfMqZgsqCXvWa6EQuQ2Ak8LwSrsH97hqc3-htVAoktUttBv4oLdkP9XMYGOX9An5fwBhcWO8ZN-4pWm5XPCx8mt2CZPyix-dpRcYs2eCOc/s1600/capbecomeswalterlawson.jpg" height="190" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="479">
<span abp="480" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="482" style="color: lime;"> At the same time though, there
are also some nicely realistic touches like a hotel clerk who becomes
suspicious of Cap being a spy after noticing that ‘Lawson’ has no idea how to
properly register, often uses false names and doesn’t handle money well (an
interesting subplot that sadly gets hand waved a bit too easily), or people at
the cape falling for the ruse, but admitting they detect something subtly “off”
about ‘Lawson’, from the way he doesn’t understand various social norms or
seems too forced in his slang, while others just write off his weirdness as
harmless eccentricity, like a cab driver named Chester whom he befriends. There
are also some nice moments of humor, such as Mar-Vell coming to appreciate
mankind’s greatest achievement: The Coffee Break.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPlU97bHoJutaBwR7MzLyYx04-JLxVvy838P3cgTlBkDyJg931zvLNWXGnIqHKlAR-dhAB-CmEE4A815nv90gkc52Br1mczgDQ2JoQsdSBTuRGFJlDyVnZSdpOc2eUxpDP4Ba1ll2SCw/s1600/coffeebreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPlU97bHoJutaBwR7MzLyYx04-JLxVvy838P3cgTlBkDyJg931zvLNWXGnIqHKlAR-dhAB-CmEE4A815nv90gkc52Br1mczgDQ2JoQsdSBTuRGFJlDyVnZSdpOc2eUxpDP4Ba1ll2SCw/s1600/coffeebreak.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="479">
<span abp="480" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
</span><br />
<div abp="484">
<span abp="486" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="487" style="color: lime;"> The characterization of the supporting players is
also quite good, and the situations created for them are handled uniquely.
Carol Danvers, later to become a super heroine called Ms. Marvel (among several
identities) is introduced here, and she’s as different from your typical female
supporting character of the time as it’s possible to get. She’s a full-time
working woman employed as the cape’s head of security, and although she needs
to be rescued now and then, so does pretty much everyone else. Mar-Vell is the
only one who knows how to stop the various alien threats that pop up, so having
<i abp="488" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i> human character defeat them on
their own would come off as a stretch. And best of all, there is no romantic
subplot….at first, but again, how it’s handled is quite unique. She doesn’t
come to fall for ‘Lawson’, as she suspects him immediately and thinks he’s a
spy (which he is, just not for the Russians), and there’s no attempt to portray
her as secretly having feelings for him. In fact, next to Yon-Rogg, she becomes
the biggest thorn in his side, with each time she appears building up tension.
Using a female character in such an antagonistic light without making her a
villain or a Lois Lane-type isn’t something you saw much in this era.</span></span></div>
<div abp="870" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="871" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0YpHdrKo1_U1oJcxkZSHRyOjWq55PV0drUQDz5N0pOMmhg_RyG01c9gtJ4YyLflFzDliecNKTYDzFpVuhwEQBAsMy1OYsQfjBBZWFrV6hNRNUEIFUhHmg4ksYuV2CrBx0UGdlZECn8o/s1600/lawsonmeetscarol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="872" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0YpHdrKo1_U1oJcxkZSHRyOjWq55PV0drUQDz5N0pOMmhg_RyG01c9gtJ4YyLflFzDliecNKTYDzFpVuhwEQBAsMy1OYsQfjBBZWFrV6hNRNUEIFUhHmg4ksYuV2CrBx0UGdlZECn8o/s1600/lawsonmeetscarol.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div abp="484">
<span abp="491" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="492" style="color: lime;"> However,
Carol <i abp="493" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does</i> end up falling for Captain
Marvel. Again, this is handled in a far from typical manner. She’s just as
suspicious of him initially as she is of ‘Lawson’, but because he saves her life several
times, demonstrates his noble qualities and displays the grudging respect he
has for her that he couldn’t show as Lawson, she gradually ends up falling for
him over the course of many issues, without it ever coming off as forced.</span></span></div>
<div abp="484">
<span abp="491" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div abp="484">
<span style="color: lime;"><span abp="491" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span abp="497" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="499">But here’s
the thing; Mar-Vell does not at any time reciprocate her feelings or show any
sign of falling for her (As Walter Lawson, he does occasionally make
flirtatious remarks, but he’s clearly trying to keep her away from him by
making her think he’s a sexist pig). He remains loyal to Una, and his attempts
to protect Carol in particular are simply a combination of respect and because
he’s afraid she might stumble onto something if he’s not around. However, Una
sees them together and starts to worry that she might seduce him. Una could
easily have been portrayed as jealous or unreasonable, possibly even ending up trying
to kill Carol or betray Mar-Vell (remember all those times Lady Dorma would
betray Namor or try to kill Sue Storm?), but instead, she’s portrayed with
nothing other than sympathy. Her fears of losing Mar-Vell seem completely
reasonable based on what she has to go on, and when she sees Cap kissing Carol
(she forced herself on him and he immediately tries to pull away), it’s a
legitimately heartbreaking moment.</span></span></span></div>
<div abp="912" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="913" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nWkYosmd3zR4Xn5QqyJHfAU05jhLODlL8gdiNeJEshhkjjUpp0Gszv_Py0VhrOjKIZkC_UWlV_CaiiaEckJZoE1t70Gyn14zSKGHa2udfnlFg68S4aRkl4P8vb93h9bU-6Ggd8QoC6s/s1600/captriangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="914" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nWkYosmd3zR4Xn5QqyJHfAU05jhLODlL8gdiNeJEshhkjjUpp0Gszv_Py0VhrOjKIZkC_UWlV_CaiiaEckJZoE1t70Gyn14zSKGHa2udfnlFg68S4aRkl4P8vb93h9bU-6Ggd8QoC6s/s1600/captriangle.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<div abp="496" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="502" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="503" style="color: lime;"> Una is also
far from the typical weepy love interest (aside from a few lines about her feeling
a ‘woman’s weakness”). She’s portrayed as a brilliant scientist and Mar-Vell’s
go-to-gal for technology, and uses her expertise to get him out of several jams.
She also gets one awesome moment where she knocks Yon-Rogg and his entire crew
out with gas to buy Mar-Vell more time. It’s also made clear that she’s fully
aware of Yon-Rogg’s lecherous designs on her, and even at her most paranoid
about losing Mar-Vell, she’s smart enough to never trust Yon-Rogg or confide in
him. In other Marvel series, she would probably end up falling for him in a fit
of grief, or at least pretending to in order to make Cap jealous. Not here. There’s
a lame subplot about how she and Mar-Vell are the only members of the Kree race
that can feel emotion, but thankfully that isn’t dwelled upon much.</span></span></div>
<div abp="915" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="916" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UqWs63vWdYdGW5BV7ELBpMDWP1uUdnH0AcdngvzQqDkGauTtcf0NkCZ-99dUXQjZx3l7vDnMWL_xb1ROIyIMKUwONSX-26B-vPo8caX8ENygEvU9IROdOdrIW0KvaNa-luTHCv6Xl-A/s1600/unagassesyonrogg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="917" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UqWs63vWdYdGW5BV7ELBpMDWP1uUdnH0AcdngvzQqDkGauTtcf0NkCZ-99dUXQjZx3l7vDnMWL_xb1ROIyIMKUwONSX-26B-vPo8caX8ENygEvU9IROdOdrIW0KvaNa-luTHCv6Xl-A/s1600/unagassesyonrogg.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
<div abp="496" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="507" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="509" style="color: lime;">Yon-Rogg
himself is easily the most despicable villain in late 60’s Marvel. He has no
depth other than being a jealous, glory-hungry bastard, but you end up truly
hating him on a level you don’t for say, Doctor Doom, because his evil is a
real world, every day evil, and all of the drama in the stories come about from
the emotional tension he creates, not because of his powers or latest super
weapon. The way he mockingly tries to convince Una that Mar-Vell is cheating on
her, or orders Cap to wipe out a city with a virus to prove his loyalty, or
tries to get Cap in trouble with the Kree council really, really makes you
despise him. A common reaction I’ve seen from people reading Silver Age Marvel
is that the fights with supervillains often seem like distractions from the
real drama that takes place out of costume, and that you often want to see
supporting characters or ‘employers” like J. Jonah Jameson, Senator Byrd or
General Ross pummeled more than the actual villains. Since Yon-Rogg is both
villain and supporting character/employer, he comes off as far more
compelling.</span> </span></div>
<div abp="934" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="935" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgforxyCtMTW6iQzNsWTdll4QlgMSgryQfCYdFpdEngf1orMhX8O-TX5Pj4OWeVXmWaVvcMkefIhpkWr1hqQpzX1is58LiBHX3qdfaByWxBoxSlvSfQaOBPo_lK0fPavtvu_5xIJnkLPus/s1600/yonroggmocksuna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="936" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgforxyCtMTW6iQzNsWTdll4QlgMSgryQfCYdFpdEngf1orMhX8O-TX5Pj4OWeVXmWaVvcMkefIhpkWr1hqQpzX1is58LiBHX3qdfaByWxBoxSlvSfQaOBPo_lK0fPavtvu_5xIJnkLPus/s1600/yonroggmocksuna.jpg" height="303" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="496" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="512" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="513" style="color: lime;"> Roy Thomas writes the first four issues and the
second appearance, and he does a fine job. His purple prose is perfect for the
space opera/soap opera going on, and he gets in several great lines which
really capture Mar-Vell’s loneliness and inner conflict. He does however, have
a tendency to reuse familiar characters as antagonists too much (something he
admits to in the introduction). First we have the Sentry, The Super Skrull and
Namor (all Fantastic Four-related characters). Things pick up when legendary DC
oddball, Arnold Drake, takes the reins. He comes up with some interesting foes
like a Soviet monster called the Metazoid, a living solar flare called Solam,
alien pirates and a robot created by the real Walter Lawson (who it appears was
far from saintly, or sane). Drake does reuse familiar Marvel villain Quasimodo
the living computer, but gives him the bizarre gimmick of seeing himself as the
‘liberator’ of machines. Seeing him talk about the oppression of his “brethren”
(drills, heaters and power tools) is just the kind of looniness you’d expect
from Drake’s <b abp="514" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Metal Men</b> and <b abp="515" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Doom Patrol</b>, and makes him a lot more
interesting than the rather vaguely defined villain from the <b abp="516" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fantastic Four</b> annuals.</span> <o:p abp="517"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="518">
<span abp="520" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="522" style="color: lime;"> The Metazoid
story is the one that most impresses. The Metazoid is portrayed as a tragic
figure, an ordinary man arrested by the KGB and put on trial for speaking out
against the USSR, then mutated into a monster and sent to abduct Lawson to
prove his loyalty; if he fails, he will never be made human again. The
Metazoid’s plight provides a fascinating counterpoint to Mar-Vell’s conflict
with Yon-Rogg and his turmoil over whether to prove his loyalty to the Kree or to
do the right thing. The fact that neither Cap or the Metazoid ever realizes the
similar situation they are both in is a nicely mature little touch. It doesn’t
end happily, and succeeds in creating a genuine feeling of ambivalence in the
reader. It’s so good, you can easily forgive the Metazoid’s vaguely defined
powers and appearance (is he made of rock, fur or tar?).</span></span></div>
<div abp="960" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="961" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoquDxvufwlVB7WWOf88XZ_zdYMaiKHKBmg6hy9hUe31IyiMFKZSuCeqzJI-K-Rr3NJgwp5duCNGW_DLOyTxVnzJZ7TUaqXSotHADXHO7kugDUI_qpIdQbNu8Tr4tz8gVd-GuVtUWrRk/s1600/metazoid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="962" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoquDxvufwlVB7WWOf88XZ_zdYMaiKHKBmg6hy9hUe31IyiMFKZSuCeqzJI-K-Rr3NJgwp5duCNGW_DLOyTxVnzJZ7TUaqXSotHADXHO7kugDUI_qpIdQbNu8Tr4tz8gVd-GuVtUWrRk/s1600/metazoid.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div abp="518">
<span abp="525" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="527" style="color: lime;"> The artwork is excellent throughout. Who knew
Gene Colan “comic's prince of darkness” (as <i abp="528" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wizbang</i>
called him) could be so good at space opera? Much maligned inkers Paul Reinman and
Vince Colletta also do a fine job. This Masterworks edition features
photocopies of Colan’s pencils before they were inked, and although they do
look more impressive prior to inking, that was pretty much the case with <i abp="529" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every</i> Colan inker. Reinman’s scratchy
style gives things a rough-hewn, gritty mood, and although I’ve heard that
Colan hated Colletta so much he sometimes went back and re-inked his own work,
all I can say is that either he found time to do it for every issue here, or
Colletta’s reputation for erasing is exaggerated. This stuff is fantastic.</span></span></div>
<div abp="986" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="987" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHIXIGSpFbNhrNhHrwsi6yhXJ2Kaz2nkJma4hMZ4tBebliciu7c5SKmIqsme4ELri4RTyyP65dUflpq6RygkpgRt8627aF_SLY8_W4_9QOivwdzkAaSXDj8JJ62ApNZIZRiKVhSHXwf8/s1600/colancaptainmarvel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="988" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHIXIGSpFbNhrNhHrwsi6yhXJ2Kaz2nkJma4hMZ4tBebliciu7c5SKmIqsme4ELri4RTyyP65dUflpq6RygkpgRt8627aF_SLY8_W4_9QOivwdzkAaSXDj8JJ62ApNZIZRiKVhSHXwf8/s1600/colancaptainmarvel2.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div abp="1012" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1013" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WMclX1e-NPiJ95jNHQ7ts0dnbTSuEOp6wGdX_DRqnUzu3UIu1bTRZHf2YHlUgbhMIW2jkgfghuPR2tEoz38lXStTsbsB5Ju4ndFEa5JqItVugBJtWRYx6ydiZl3tyI9S4bihKYNxG4I/s1600/mar-vellvsnamor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1014" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WMclX1e-NPiJ95jNHQ7ts0dnbTSuEOp6wGdX_DRqnUzu3UIu1bTRZHf2YHlUgbhMIW2jkgfghuPR2tEoz38lXStTsbsB5Ju4ndFEa5JqItVugBJtWRYx6ydiZl3tyI9S4bihKYNxG4I/s1600/mar-vellvsnamor.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
<span abp="531" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><div abp="532">
<span abp="531" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="533" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="534" style="color: lime;"> Don Heck takes over with the fifth issue (also the
same issue where Drake arrives) and seems much more comfortable on this strip
than with <b abp="535" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Avengers</b>, which is
where most of Heck’s poor reception comes from. Heck was a fine artist, just
admittedly not a superhero artist, more suited to science fiction and romance
(You could always tell he enjoyed drawing Tony Stark more than Iron Man), so
he’s at home here. Like I said before, some of his character designs are kind
of odd, but then again, what is a ‘Metazoid” supposed to look like anyway? This
is some of his best work.<o:p abp="536"></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span abp="531" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<div abp="537">
<span abp="539" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="541" style="color: lime;"></span></span><br />
<span abp="539" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="541" style="color: lime;"> I really,
really enjoyed this volume. Some people really hate this series, calling it a
cynical copyright grab, or “a foray into sustained tedium”, often by pointing
out the radical changes the premise would undergo (Mar-Vell eventually ended up
becoming a space wanderer, an approximation of the old Billy Batson/Shazam
concept, then a cosmic philosopher) as proof that he was a “nothing” character
without a unifying concept. It may indeed be true that those abrupt changes
destroyed the series (I haven’t read many of them and can’t comment), but I
have to say, there’s nothing wrong with the original premise presented in these
stories at all. It’s one of the most compelling (and grim) ideas for a ‘space
hero’ series I’ve seen, and as long as it lasts, I think I’ll enjoy reading
more of these collections before getting to the Starlin stuff. There’s nothing
to be ashamed of here at all. <b abp="542" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4/5</b>.</span>
</span></div>
</span><br />
<div abp="543">
</div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-51746808757120918472014-05-05T15:27:00.001-07:002014-05-05T15:27:13.749-07:00R.I.P. Dick Ayers<div abp="127">
</div>
<div abp="245" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="246" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEtDfmrVJvyxk1f2lYQmaSr_EbU-coUjAuwm4jsKWz6JuozikCrTTPemIjjhryqBuJVAqbTWwDxfeF3NbXeIfuQDXhx-jEoXI15AWWdbmjtU4UMfx9UyKHoDRxv0Vs0ZLZCjE_aIfk7I/s1600/ayers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="247" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEtDfmrVJvyxk1f2lYQmaSr_EbU-coUjAuwm4jsKWz6JuozikCrTTPemIjjhryqBuJVAqbTWwDxfeF3NbXeIfuQDXhx-jEoXI15AWWdbmjtU4UMfx9UyKHoDRxv0Vs0ZLZCjE_aIfk7I/s1600/ayers1.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a></div>
<div abp="130" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1664">
<span abp="131" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="561" style="color: lime;"> Sad to report the passing of another legend, but
Dick Ayers is no longer with us. The famed inker <a abp="563" href="http://comicsbeat.com/rip-dick-ayers/"><span abp="1668" style="color: #b6d7a8;">passed away</span></a> earlier today at
the age of 90. His thick, gritty inks on Kirby’s pencils helped to define the
look of Marvel in the early Silver Age, so much so that when he took over the
Sgt. Fury and Human Torch strips, you’d almost think Kirby had never left at
first since Ayers’ inks had been such an integral part, but of course his own
style shown through.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="421" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="422" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjwbQrlDXnJGa-seRcgXIqbSoVcOB_khb_T7cmU6y61KwiGtaXa433G85E7qsFdDADiEyjM0ymnGCFXobtR9EM6sWFoTd-ukrpWpCCsqiX9kqZ5uvtVQWCp4QjAAFVHH621kHqqyxxms/s1600/kirbyayersrawhidekid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="423" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjwbQrlDXnJGa-seRcgXIqbSoVcOB_khb_T7cmU6y61KwiGtaXa433G85E7qsFdDADiEyjM0ymnGCFXobtR9EM6sWFoTd-ukrpWpCCsqiX9kqZ5uvtVQWCp4QjAAFVHH621kHqqyxxms/s1600/kirbyayersrawhidekid.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a abp="449" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBxb8gp9ANKJh11brx7Ob8chEbCO-88jEfOH_XmqYZBU22a3VEm6zFHTLq3-nZCbulQesGLJe1GLoG0hyI-HLa2n18hZNXf7cx5bRdBRjUpcsfIMX-n9PBmejmBvlfSRomgorbBWo8NM/s1600/lf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="450" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBxb8gp9ANKJh11brx7Ob8chEbCO-88jEfOH_XmqYZBU22a3VEm6zFHTLq3-nZCbulQesGLJe1GLoG0hyI-HLa2n18hZNXf7cx5bRdBRjUpcsfIMX-n9PBmejmBvlfSRomgorbBWo8NM/s1600/lf.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
<div abp="130" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1676">
<span abp="134" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="565" style="color: lime;">Ayers was
also more than just an inker, he was quite an accomplished artist in his own
right. Besides making a name for himself on hundreds of war and western comic,
he co-created the original Ghost Rider over at Magazine Enterprises in the
1940s and was so identified with the character that when Marvel launched their
carbon copy version in 1967 (later renamed Night Rider and Phantom Rider to
avoid confusion with Johnny Blaze) they got Ayers to draw it! Say what you will
over how Marvel treated its artists, but that’s a nice gesture.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="473" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="474" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBQXgywDjY15tEIOSTM9-Ix1mjwpmSTAn68z72c6EBpI7KOyL1JxHKZQJ5zHk0wXNiHKUpuvCE5HtreusHf6NmqM96MzaU2SxRaSX3G6SDlvFSGHz9kAgguGbP5ey6QWsFpKdhUOc8sc/s1600/ghostrider1dickayers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="475" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBQXgywDjY15tEIOSTM9-Ix1mjwpmSTAn68z72c6EBpI7KOyL1JxHKZQJ5zHk0wXNiHKUpuvCE5HtreusHf6NmqM96MzaU2SxRaSX3G6SDlvFSGHz9kAgguGbP5ey6QWsFpKdhUOc8sc/s1600/ghostrider1dickayers.png" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div abp="130" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1683">
<span abp="139" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="476" style="color: lime;"> Here’s “Hate Town” from <b abp="477" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ghost Rider #9</b> (1952), a story drawn completely by Ayers on his
own, where the ‘Scooby Doo” conclusion doesn’t detract at all from the
atmosphere Ayers creates.</span></span></div>
<div abp="1797" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1798" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjprNdLzpYbLqN3RYMSq5sr7e81ZvngX1imFDNuJNelb3FcFAJ1HcTyF8AQNEY5WPxnneB5TSkSHtUolqcFXIaVUQW6CWLlNck-Xos54drhdd_4PMH889qpvjPrYZWfvLcFafQOamyayU/s1600/GR1ayers.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1799" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjprNdLzpYbLqN3RYMSq5sr7e81ZvngX1imFDNuJNelb3FcFAJ1HcTyF8AQNEY5WPxnneB5TSkSHtUolqcFXIaVUQW6CWLlNck-Xos54drhdd_4PMH889qpvjPrYZWfvLcFafQOamyayU/s1600/GR1ayers.bmp" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a abp="1824" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnpm4A9RJbRNYVPUzJLa0kxqGeCG38tmbzsOT3Ne0ci_oSFVYxrPNFlnO9OHmgu-fgZqnhTwdEcb0ZaNix3xbREJTjDV7G-FtTrvOIva064mtHQCZVFj0t3sKv10GjDs5jXbppGUWwuA/s1600/GR2ayers.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1825" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnpm4A9RJbRNYVPUzJLa0kxqGeCG38tmbzsOT3Ne0ci_oSFVYxrPNFlnO9OHmgu-fgZqnhTwdEcb0ZaNix3xbREJTjDV7G-FtTrvOIva064mtHQCZVFj0t3sKv10GjDs5jXbppGUWwuA/s1600/GR2ayers.bmp" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-32347019002021124502014-05-04T03:03:00.000-07:002014-05-04T03:05:51.029-07:00Green Lantern: Secret Origin review<div abp="543">
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<a abp="545" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuz6KAxZG4MgXd6bNu940iOXD2YCuafOR8_0TnWRZy_riXSzWcVTTe1sAmujdWWp_lN95FLOCPiaJcLtT7rH1acbZntmts7Ou9NAI321DfRV4x4xsvf-pCzV883kS4tzfk8zkHV4uoHc/s1600/124414883_-secret-origin-hc-new-ed-geoff-johns-oclair-albert-ivan-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="546" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuz6KAxZG4MgXd6bNu940iOXD2YCuafOR8_0TnWRZy_riXSzWcVTTe1sAmujdWWp_lN95FLOCPiaJcLtT7rH1acbZntmts7Ou9NAI321DfRV4x4xsvf-pCzV883kS4tzfk8zkHV4uoHc/s1600/124414883_-secret-origin-hc-new-ed-geoff-johns-oclair-albert-ivan-.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="547" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="548" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="549" style="color: lime;"> So here’s <strong>Secret Origin</strong>. I’ve been wanting to cover
this one for a while, as far back as 2011 in fact, but the words just didn’t
seem to come to me until now. It’s a story which got a lot of acclaim from some
and was clearly the main influence on the film in regards to story structure,
Hals’ initial arrival on Oa and his training, the bar fight, tying in Hector
Hammond’s origin to Abin Sur and a few other things. Some printings have
introductions by Ryan Reynolds, and a few even have photos of him on the cover.
But while some loved it, others really hate it and see it simply as Geoff
Johns’ attempt to make the GL property his own and to make certain big events
look like part of some grand design.<o:p abp="550"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="551">
</div>
<div abp="552" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="553" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="554" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="555" style="color: lime;">I have mixed
feelings about Geoff Johns. On one hand, I like the way he manages to throw so
many completely superfluous elements into his stories (Does a retelling of Hal
Jordan’s origin <i abp="556" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> need
Atrocitus, Black Hand, Hector Hammond, The Empire of Tears and Sinestro in it?)
without them ever seeming intrusive or overly fanboy-ish (like some of Roy
Thomas’s lesser work); just a writer showing off his love for the vast universe
he’s playing with. He also writes dialogue you can imagine real people speaking
rather than always trying to get in clever one-liners (and he’s no slouch in
that department).</span> <o:p abp="557"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="558">
</div>
<div abp="559" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="560" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="561" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="562" style="color: lime;">On the other hand,
he might just be the worst violator of the “show don’t tell” rule in comics.
Granted, most stories he writes attempt to have an epic quality with lots of
subplots and foreshadowing going on, so that is to be expected now and then.
That said, the disconnect from what we’re being told by Hal’s narration and
what we’ve seen for ourselves can be pretty jarring at times.</span> <o:p abp="563"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="564">
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<div abp="565" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="566" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="567" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="568" style="color: lime;">For example,
a key plot point in this version is that Hal needs to overcome his anger and
resentfulness. However, except for a few scenes scattered about here and there
such as a bar fight (which comes about from him attempting to save a woman from
being raped), Hal comes off more like he has a longing to be free than anything
else. I’m not saying that recklessness and anger are mutually exclusive, but it
gets sort of funny when Sinestro, of all people, brings up Hal being rude and
resentful, when at that point, all of the rudeness Hal has shown toward him has
stemmed from Sinestro nearly killing him in mid-flight!</span> <o:p abp="569"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="570">
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<div abp="571" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="572" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="573" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="574" style="color: lime;">What’s even
funnier is how all of this gets chalked up to Hal losing his father in a test
flight accident, even though we see Hal acting just as reckless and impulsive
when his father was alive by skipping school and sneaking onto landing strips. (And
I don’t even want to get into how glossed over the death (and life) of Hal’s
father is, one minute we have a big tragic scene of papa’s plane going up in
flames, next thing you know, it’s Hal’s teenage hi-jinks). Even though fandom
tends to dislike the whole drunk driving bit from the <i abp="575" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Emerald Dawn</i> books, the whole theme of an irresponsible Hal growing
up was handled much better there.</span></span></div>
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<a abp="577" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nyppsjNxQ6FPLIj9x05aHFbbent1_x7VqstgxqBBkMzW-OL38NXNVacvSJHeP-RCXFtcTn-7Yj4eOSjQR1TFZjiWnZDzwJm-v4kwNauYTTYF-YH9AnitrLAlFHWHjyY8TKmeq8xKvIU/s1600/halsdaddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="578" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nyppsjNxQ6FPLIj9x05aHFbbent1_x7VqstgxqBBkMzW-OL38NXNVacvSJHeP-RCXFtcTn-7Yj4eOSjQR1TFZjiWnZDzwJm-v4kwNauYTTYF-YH9AnitrLAlFHWHjyY8TKmeq8xKvIU/s1600/halsdaddies.jpg" height="320" width="168" /></a></div>
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<a abp="580" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO3jgmeMNHDzwpelu9u6fJ1raj7hKv3d85vfsf24WdIKDV7x8Vqwl_nqR3-53Qv7xzGy0u5i2PMlz6NVP_9ZweFF4MNfwq74d6tt9A8lSnFfOaqBhic4XnMfvoLJvCtNrLrn3h2OZZ98/s1600/teenageHal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="581" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO3jgmeMNHDzwpelu9u6fJ1raj7hKv3d85vfsf24WdIKDV7x8Vqwl_nqR3-53Qv7xzGy0u5i2PMlz6NVP_9ZweFF4MNfwq74d6tt9A8lSnFfOaqBhic4XnMfvoLJvCtNrLrn3h2OZZ98/s1600/teenageHal.jpg" height="320" width="165" /></a></div>
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<div abp="583" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
No, I didn't cut out some crucial context. These pages really did appear in sequence like this. Dead dad one page, next page wacky hi-jinks!</div>
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<div abp="585" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="586" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="587" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="588"></o:p></span></span> <span abp="589" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="590" style="color: lime;">Another
pretty funny bit involves Hal describing Sinestro as the first person to truly
connect with and understand him, when at that point in the story, Sinestro has done
nothing but berate, misinterpret and look down upon him, more so than anyone
else! Not until the very end of the story does Sinestro seem to warm to him
any, and we all know how long that’s going to last. Frankly, I much prefer the
way Sinestro was portrayed in <b abp="591" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Emerald
Dawn II</b>, where he was no more likeable, but where his downfall carried a
lot more weight to it and actually came off as sort of tragic. Here, even
though he still remains a good guy by story’s end, you <i abp="592" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can’t wait</i> to see him become evil just so he can be smacked around.</span>
<o:p abp="593"></o:p></span></div>
<div abp="594">
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<div abp="595" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="596" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="597" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="598" style="color: lime;">There’s also
a subplot about Hal going to confront Carl Ferris, his father’s former friend
and who Hal apparently blames for his dad’s death, and the build-up to that
scene implies that Hal hates him a lot, possibly enough to kill him, even with
his daughter Carol in the house. It’s supposed to be an intense,
character-driven scene with us worried about what Hal might do. However, except
for one bit earlier where he snaps at Carol, this is first mention of Hal
having anything against Ferris; completely ruining what Johns obviously
intended to be a powerful and emotionally resonant climax.</span> </span></div>
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<a abp="600" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5WPei7QKOPuK1v7cwXuaxkk9J7tm7lnzOizDSD0Gy4jySaIVB8RDAZGsRCQNDBreUIHK54AwZyl0CTOYW_mHKvAyJHT3Wt3Bj5Ol9SXkJthKo0SrMPcylqqoFs8o2XaTrM7qLt4hyphenhyphenM4/s1600/halispissed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="601" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5WPei7QKOPuK1v7cwXuaxkk9J7tm7lnzOizDSD0Gy4jySaIVB8RDAZGsRCQNDBreUIHK54AwZyl0CTOYW_mHKvAyJHT3Wt3Bj5Ol9SXkJthKo0SrMPcylqqoFs8o2XaTrM7qLt4hyphenhyphenM4/s1600/halispissed.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></div>
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<span abp="603" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="604"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="605">
<span abp="607" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="609" style="color: lime;"> To be fair
though, there’s a narrative twist at the end which does sort of justify some of
the more disjointed aspects of the story, but since it’s one of the parts of
the book I absolutely loved, I really don’t want to spoil it.</span></span><br />
<span abp="607" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="609" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="610"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="611">
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<div abp="612" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="613" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="614" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="615" style="color: lime;">One criticism
I often see of John’s GL work is that he makes Hal too perfect and makes anyone
who dislikes him look like a bad guy to prop him up. That’s not really the case
here, thankfully. Most of the people who get pissed off at Hal in this story
(like his older brother Jack) are shown to have legitimate reasons to be and
aren’t really depicted in a negative or unfair light. Pretty much the only time
Hal is shown in an overly ‘saintly’ mode is when he defends buddy Tom Kalmaku
from being called the racist nickname “Pieface”, which of course, was what Hal
(and everyone) used to call him all the time back in the Silver and Bronze Age.
Doing away with offensive or dated elements is fine, but why be so smug about
it?</span></span></div>
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<a abp="660" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIJzLlCwXV6vJiw-Oj_ovj0uEh6bZbN9RmWkYClKOHnfsF3C9NOvbgiAc8gwrMKI6nQ6yKeaUuMOpjAxhyDL-48s4hIYMHX9khAD-YwDb3PR7q4kbUv7XiBpLBpG_M0EXMZeytH78HR4/s1600/pieface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="661" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIJzLlCwXV6vJiw-Oj_ovj0uEh6bZbN9RmWkYClKOHnfsF3C9NOvbgiAc8gwrMKI6nQ6yKeaUuMOpjAxhyDL-48s4hIYMHX9khAD-YwDb3PR7q4kbUv7XiBpLBpG_M0EXMZeytH78HR4/s1600/pieface.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></div>
<div abp="612" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="613" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="615" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="616"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="617">
<span abp="619" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="621" style="color: lime;"> Writing
aside, the real star of SO is Ivan Reis’s art. It does a good job combining
realism with a 1980’s sci-fi paperbacks aesthetic. Some of the moodier scenes,
like the subplots involving Atrocitus and Black Hand, or Hal first finding Abin
Sur, have an almost Gene Colan vibe to them, and the depiction of Hal’s arrival
on Oa just might be my all-time favorite. He’s just as good with earthbound
scenes too, like Hal first applying for the Air Force, which looking at it,
you’d never think came from a superhero comic, but one of those ‘biographical’
comics written to win awards.</span></span></div>
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<a abp="679" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizz_Yl_CX6sWcgyoVHn6sY1Kra-30YbLDCXcF-Zsc_9NM5PnkvH7LCgou6ZGEIpj24jPOVh5nVy5yaTcba2jwYdPVCvrfTPxHlbU2kPsW3j6tVughH00M2e71kOYYlr__zoq2TEcEqec/s1600/halmeetsabinsur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="680" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizz_Yl_CX6sWcgyoVHn6sY1Kra-30YbLDCXcF-Zsc_9NM5PnkvH7LCgou6ZGEIpj24jPOVh5nVy5yaTcba2jwYdPVCvrfTPxHlbU2kPsW3j6tVughH00M2e71kOYYlr__zoq2TEcEqec/s1600/halmeetsabinsur.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
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<a abp="698" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHeI55PKUmph5A2SVA5Kg1Jfs0bzHNKhuEc4ndFN1VZpq-O18SbIntX_E1UAYxypHRFDTMwJZ-kACrsMW2AxThNIRe_jdJdG1kLQeapcsRH2aFqIZ9MXH80wfkjaZ9_cpKnSAKr3gzEM/s1600/ivanreisart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="699" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHeI55PKUmph5A2SVA5Kg1Jfs0bzHNKhuEc4ndFN1VZpq-O18SbIntX_E1UAYxypHRFDTMwJZ-kACrsMW2AxThNIRe_jdJdG1kLQeapcsRH2aFqIZ9MXH80wfkjaZ9_cpKnSAKr3gzEM/s1600/ivanreisart.jpg" height="320" width="173" /></a></div>
<div abp="617">
<span abp="619" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="621" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="622"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="623">
<span abp="625" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="627" style="color: lime;">The only real
problem I have with Reis’s art is how he seems to fall back on clichés for how
some characters should look as if we wouldn’t recognize them or their function
in the story otherwise. He gives Carol freckles as a child that she has no
trace of as an adult, just so we know, hey, she’s a little girl. He gives
Sinestro perhaps the most stereotypically old fashioned villain mustache imaginable,
even though at this point he’s not supposed to be evil. Sinestro’s mustache and
how it makes him look like a Snidely Whiplash/Simon Legree character is probably
the most joked about aspect of the villain, but even in the Silver Age it was
more subdued. </span></span></div>
<div abp="716" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="717" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHHGtA5kWMEjz1oqyb48-A3cAyvGGudjNyvacezCLdun0Hyxez18LUkfaMu18dWHd7RueYzXJEyGdkX6_FEyfmGDZS5PYi9c0szCtCPksL6UU6hXzAx14eo1aAWDXp1B74KDhWSdQCQw/s1600/reissinestro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="718" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHHGtA5kWMEjz1oqyb48-A3cAyvGGudjNyvacezCLdun0Hyxez18LUkfaMu18dWHd7RueYzXJEyGdkX6_FEyfmGDZS5PYi9c0szCtCPksL6UU6hXzAx14eo1aAWDXp1B74KDhWSdQCQw/s1600/reissinestro.jpg" height="320" width="173" /></a></div>
<div abp="735" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="736" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUuE8ofdSbQVhOIkG0FGV_XZOCZHNvRVYNSM5esIcEzds7YafQF-FUd_QwhRet-JQ50ucC_BCeSZifVuvtjl3x-i4YFVXjSXOAQvRfTPFqrVaW302FitZyKEbTG0k0HM9AAPv5p9fm0E/s1600/Sinestro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="737" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUuE8ofdSbQVhOIkG0FGV_XZOCZHNvRVYNSM5esIcEzds7YafQF-FUd_QwhRet-JQ50ucC_BCeSZifVuvtjl3x-i4YFVXjSXOAQvRfTPFqrVaW302FitZyKEbTG0k0HM9AAPv5p9fm0E/s1600/Sinestro.jpg" height="296" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="735" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Which one looks more "Nyaaa! Foiled again!" to you?</div>
<div abp="623">
<span abp="625" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div abp="623">
<span abp="625" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="627" style="color: lime;"></span></span> </div>
<div abp="623">
<span abp="625" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="627" style="color: lime;"> Also (and boy is this scraping the bottom of the barrel for
things to complain about) why does Hammond drool in this? It’s become common
since the 90s to depict the villain drooling, and I always assumed it was a
side-effect of him being paralyzed and no longer being in control of his nerves
and muscles. Some writers have had him paralyzed because of the meteor’s
radiation, others because his huge head snapped his spine. Either way, it made
sense as something that would happen to him as a long term side effect. Here,
he starts slobbering almost the <i abp="628" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">instant</i>
he gains his powers, still with a normal-sized head and full mobility.</span> </span></div>
<div abp="754" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="755" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vM92P7M-aFtFUqcusG80CY3vczQW1WsuGpiLLHhYBVUZtx7yGU930GrrGtgRomRvDYTKxrTzI8pR0DlefE4oiYFz3o4Rl2rSSQAr_lp6gZ05OqXm1D9FwJKpE8uY5BQD1nktslwaoow/s1600/theyseemedroolin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="756" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vM92P7M-aFtFUqcusG80CY3vczQW1WsuGpiLLHhYBVUZtx7yGU930GrrGtgRomRvDYTKxrTzI8pR0DlefE4oiYFz3o4Rl2rSSQAr_lp6gZ05OqXm1D9FwJKpE8uY5BQD1nktslwaoow/s1600/theyseemedroolin.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></div>
<div abp="754" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To be fair, most people I know who claim to be mind-readers seem like the types to drool on themselves.</div>
<div abp="623">
<span abp="625" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="629"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="630">
</div>
<div abp="631" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="632" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="633" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="634" style="color: lime;">Speaking of
oozing bodily fluids (I just love beginning a sentence with words like that), <i abp="635" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">man</i> do some parts of the book get gory.
When the movie came out with a full-on marketing blitz, I remember seeing a
Scholastic edition of this at a Borders, and although I didn’t look through it,
it looked roughly as thick as the regular editions. Did they censor any of this
out of that edition? Even without the gore, the bits with Black Hand trying to
make sexy time with corpses and Hammond being told his mustache makes him look
like a pedo must have made for awkward reading time for parents who got this
for their kids.</span></span></div>
<div abp="773" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="774" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHWRHn9iZmoSJaQY1bVMVuSGKVOQXqt3dDNrPBXW2EvefV2XjWPvUyEXYmP34sD4lVl3OevdY8NTHYJWuq7C01VNRm5ZmM0xnf1SMYcUGdJfw4yDFWeFORyLv2BUYDx00bOqGfaqUfKU/s1600/yummy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="775" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHWRHn9iZmoSJaQY1bVMVuSGKVOQXqt3dDNrPBXW2EvefV2XjWPvUyEXYmP34sD4lVl3OevdY8NTHYJWuq7C01VNRm5ZmM0xnf1SMYcUGdJfw4yDFWeFORyLv2BUYDx00bOqGfaqUfKU/s1600/yummy.jpg" height="320" width="308" /></a></div>
<div abp="773" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Each panel could pass for an Image cover</div>
<div abp="631" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="632" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="634" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="636"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="637">
<span abp="638" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="639" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="640" style="color: lime;"><b abp="641" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green
Lantern: Secret Origin</b> isn’t quite the definitive take it wants to be, it
often feels rushed and probably won’t make many new Green Lantern fans, but as
a superhero adventure with lots of action, monsters and sci-fi, it’s a great
way to kill 50 minutes. <b abp="642" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3/5</b>.</span></span></div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-42217218584158708712014-04-30T18:28:00.002-07:002014-04-30T18:39:59.791-07:00RIP Al Feldstein<div abp="126">
</div>
<div abp="257" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="258" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZepyr8dVFyQlRrEUCoJaYLu6EMvcD5XNsLhF1YBLC8leR80VB6tVJn2BONZmZCeG_TdSF6_FN60aE-PXcLkrzixJUDCHZCsJ_d8DBvAVGaI5IURGk9JyrLjCDmS8IS6vpcXMipjH3k6A/s1600/AlArtChair(300).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="259" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZepyr8dVFyQlRrEUCoJaYLu6EMvcD5XNsLhF1YBLC8leR80VB6tVJn2BONZmZCeG_TdSF6_FN60aE-PXcLkrzixJUDCHZCsJ_d8DBvAVGaI5IURGk9JyrLjCDmS8IS6vpcXMipjH3k6A/s1600/AlArtChair(300).jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></div>
<div abp="129" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="130" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="426" style="color: lime;">Tragic news to end the month. Al Feldstein, artist,
writer and editor, has <a abp="549" href="http://www.newser.com/story/186182/mad-magazines-al-feldstein-dead-at-88.html"><span abp="587" style="color: #93c47d;">passed away</span></a> today.<o:p abp="427"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="132">
<span abp="133" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="428" style="color: lime;">Although Bill Gaines was overseer at EC, he always
acknowledged that it was Feldstein’s writing which made EC great. Sure, he
cribbed a lot from pulps, but it was he who helped elevate EC’s output to
literature with his hard-hitting “preachies” in <b abp="429" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shock Suspenstories</b> and <b abp="430" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Weird
Science</b>, tackling subjects like racism, war, religious fanaticism and the folly of revenge at a
time when most comics (and a lot of other media) completely ignored such
things.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span abp="139" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="458" style="color: lime;"></span></span><br />
<span abp="139" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="458" style="color: lime;"> And of
course, it was he who wrote the script for Krigstein’s legendary “Master Race”
in <b abp="459" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Impact #1</b>.</span></span></div>
<div abp="432" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="433" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoDEJ141qhV8JsSYu9g7zBD6-Rifc9FqWM9aIFke3GBSph9ma8JqQpDs3auVSJnprfJrBN0tAhJN6LQmlavDEB-okw8U9f9NcynjPrspzMRTgeVOMi6eDSaGkcZpjMaUpDM_3_sa-yPo/s1600/masterraceimpact1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="434" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoDEJ141qhV8JsSYu9g7zBD6-Rifc9FqWM9aIFke3GBSph9ma8JqQpDs3auVSJnprfJrBN0tAhJN6LQmlavDEB-okw8U9f9NcynjPrspzMRTgeVOMi6eDSaGkcZpjMaUpDM_3_sa-yPo/s1600/masterraceimpact1.gif" height="320" width="235" /></a></div>
<div abp="138" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="144" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="437" style="color: lime;"> Already
famous for his “good girl” cover art before he arrived at EC, he was also no
slouch as an interior artist himself. Capable of handling both sleek and shiny
science fiction and moldy gothic horror:</span></span></div>
<div abp="460" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="461" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTq6FRK70pMpoh-XjgNrA8vOnXd-691PeIUIZykf2oHDmrsgLo2T2EBCkGwa6DQLoyUYUYm-gl3-U9Vk9oZm_UQPZ1OkTp72kU6S_5Q_SY3BsmAmKiSxnV0cHtO5XdMiAI974dEJ571Y/s1600/feldsteinsplash1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="462" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTq6FRK70pMpoh-XjgNrA8vOnXd-691PeIUIZykf2oHDmrsgLo2T2EBCkGwa6DQLoyUYUYm-gl3-U9Vk9oZm_UQPZ1OkTp72kU6S_5Q_SY3BsmAmKiSxnV0cHtO5XdMiAI974dEJ571Y/s1600/feldsteinsplash1.jpg" height="320" width="192" /></a></div>
<div abp="478" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="479" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpctbkbl1XmIPVqUe2ooFc7Wg3NRlbM_dsFCb9lgi7xPGieZRCYsBlat7FqBVuI_WRbTaZjw2jzuoENuc6w0gzS7jRAVV-sOdmErx20dXSzKOpwBwZ-aZqIGXGAbR6uAoB-qW_2f5D-8/s1600/feldsteinsplashtfc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="480" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpctbkbl1XmIPVqUe2ooFc7Wg3NRlbM_dsFCb9lgi7xPGieZRCYsBlat7FqBVuI_WRbTaZjw2jzuoENuc6w0gzS7jRAVV-sOdmErx20dXSzKOpwBwZ-aZqIGXGAbR6uAoB-qW_2f5D-8/s1600/feldsteinsplashtfc4.jpg" height="320" width="190" /></a></div>
<div abp="138" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="148" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="439" style="color: lime;"> Here’s “Am I
Man or Machine” from <b abp="440" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Weird Science #13</b>
(actually <b abp="441" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#1</b>), which Feldstein both
wrote and illustrated. It’s a quiet, sentimental little tale far afield from
EC’s usual approach, with a final panel that still packs an emotional sucker
punch. All © EC.</span></span></div>
<div abp="588" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="589" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDrAX-9Cr_Ozn1wZb3mFr8ASuYPOaDUtSO79JE-oEmSWi1SWYsosaJjy5GitVvPUJ5QtgW9B1a_L7KMH08nNF5-ie5mP92EmZ33wPFlNaC4hpVcezwx1dKq69Devs_zVgMbp1vNZpGHA/s1600/amimanormachine1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="590" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDrAX-9Cr_Ozn1wZb3mFr8ASuYPOaDUtSO79JE-oEmSWi1SWYsosaJjy5GitVvPUJ5QtgW9B1a_L7KMH08nNF5-ie5mP92EmZ33wPFlNaC4hpVcezwx1dKq69Devs_zVgMbp1vNZpGHA/s1600/amimanormachine1.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
<div abp="606" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="607" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5lt3VBUICBJmRLiiavMJav9CRdneQNCJI43kE_aQv-DVIpJQHZ_ERuGfkDTpPkJ8QcaF77dJkBxQnPRFXKYfyug9-I4jl1gZyKdZq9fvuxaWMzLEMFVwWzfXzG3VLhhVfaCbeDtK9FA/s1600/amimanormachine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="608" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5lt3VBUICBJmRLiiavMJav9CRdneQNCJI43kE_aQv-DVIpJQHZ_ERuGfkDTpPkJ8QcaF77dJkBxQnPRFXKYfyug9-I4jl1gZyKdZq9fvuxaWMzLEMFVwWzfXzG3VLhhVfaCbeDtK9FA/s1600/amimanormachine2.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<div abp="624" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="625" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATzchMHwellYlsRrKWz1JCfu_MqqbIuTeysq4auh7P20XBXiEZQDh1ktxL2IX3hIFudBxgK9TlmFeyCTqV4tOsu6RwwNUCWA00PEI73sgB0SJFtmFNMmqvixYY8wa3FVGWqNq5NDYXzE/s1600/amimanormachine3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="626" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATzchMHwellYlsRrKWz1JCfu_MqqbIuTeysq4auh7P20XBXiEZQDh1ktxL2IX3hIFudBxgK9TlmFeyCTqV4tOsu6RwwNUCWA00PEI73sgB0SJFtmFNMmqvixYY8wa3FVGWqNq5NDYXzE/s1600/amimanormachine3.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
<div abp="642" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="643" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYRX59FvKeI8IrL0s-WXet-fNtxoEQBndoNk5Zbq0ZOO783SzWx1BTmvR67sUV0-CfkYlm1L0SUV9J7okIUkJoyfA6u20eq-0f1WauUCTkhNpzMBUdmkoRtcKcD3nv2e8ieyII93KUd4/s1600/amimanormachine4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="644" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYRX59FvKeI8IrL0s-WXet-fNtxoEQBndoNk5Zbq0ZOO783SzWx1BTmvR67sUV0-CfkYlm1L0SUV9J7okIUkJoyfA6u20eq-0f1WauUCTkhNpzMBUdmkoRtcKcD3nv2e8ieyII93KUd4/s1600/amimanormachine4.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div abp="660" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="661" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqxlvDIq-nSf2OrJTAavw2YLLU2E-ntnL8fdStxmubdg6EWuI4bwVjq1mXIo4HRIGatbuk1fuQRG5rNVTQfsDOEBECqIDCHSbvgpA_huYRnl2joqL_Ri77pEBPJPgNiiHuyq9yulIBXs/s1600/amimanormachine5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="662" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqxlvDIq-nSf2OrJTAavw2YLLU2E-ntnL8fdStxmubdg6EWuI4bwVjq1mXIo4HRIGatbuk1fuQRG5rNVTQfsDOEBECqIDCHSbvgpA_huYRnl2joqL_Ri77pEBPJPgNiiHuyq9yulIBXs/s1600/amimanormachine5.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
<div abp="678" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="679" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVWnO30xjicRkteZiUPkxt0ay0-TAojPpc6KrDBr6rw0xXwfXGznDwX399y2la0HMtBT0GEoczcr2M7VJOg2cybwEyu7Yb2DLNNqT1bX-7vethg8lgXZmS3ytIqcJE4hQPGXXPo9thwk/s1600/amimanormachine6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="680" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVWnO30xjicRkteZiUPkxt0ay0-TAojPpc6KrDBr6rw0xXwfXGznDwX399y2la0HMtBT0GEoczcr2M7VJOg2cybwEyu7Yb2DLNNqT1bX-7vethg8lgXZmS3ytIqcJE4hQPGXXPo9thwk/s1600/amimanormachine6.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div abp="696" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="697" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwn05OJoYH7B6fOiMIHBS3KYbDPR65XH-Od4mW5i4yrqeoerDGfVevxp5NkX1Fdz2v4WJiNDE9_44suer317RYM2ok0jmkWQgdgaaSIty1bO1oG-AdD5IJCQPebrN7MHu3V0QpMfPPso/s1600/amimanormachine7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="698" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwn05OJoYH7B6fOiMIHBS3KYbDPR65XH-Od4mW5i4yrqeoerDGfVevxp5NkX1Fdz2v4WJiNDE9_44suer317RYM2ok0jmkWQgdgaaSIty1bO1oG-AdD5IJCQPebrN7MHu3V0QpMfPPso/s1600/amimanormachine7.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div abp="714" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="715" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkOo-zjtlRg7fOOI80eC9UsiHq3jcxRblb9_m9iLD_s4De5SCQVw3vUueElFldrhOYbT4ZCagjoYpMUqS2QmbtbQl5sbm6xBuBUMRlZs4x4DilIjxpGLg-3gJmH8nCLbrczwGB46S5VM/s1600/amimanormachine8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="716" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkOo-zjtlRg7fOOI80eC9UsiHq3jcxRblb9_m9iLD_s4De5SCQVw3vUueElFldrhOYbT4ZCagjoYpMUqS2QmbtbQl5sbm6xBuBUMRlZs4x4DilIjxpGLg-3gJmH8nCLbrczwGB46S5VM/s1600/amimanormachine8.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<div abp="138" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="148" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="439" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="442"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="153">
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100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-78209075419585742372014-04-16T12:49:00.001-07:002014-04-16T12:49:10.718-07:00Then and Now: How Fanboy Perceptions have Changed:<div abp="2909">
<div abp="1660">
<span abp="273" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div abp="2911" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2912" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhpDEoY0AcydN4_b-d3x0JfP8uZNIObapEGF9eyXDuDeBjiN3BuC7GTv4TjWUSiCLM1f9LWgTab8mo-pEB0NSuTLqHoQ0Zz88Z7rvQw8QWUnqS3_VqIPgcAmw0Aln8jRtmYm7OXoJkRg/s1600/top_of_the_world_w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2913" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhpDEoY0AcydN4_b-d3x0JfP8uZNIObapEGF9eyXDuDeBjiN3BuC7GTv4TjWUSiCLM1f9LWgTab8mo-pEB0NSuTLqHoQ0Zz88Z7rvQw8QWUnqS3_VqIPgcAmw0Aln8jRtmYm7OXoJkRg/s1600/top_of_the_world_w.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
<div abp="2914">
<div abp="1666">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="272">
<div abp="2916">
<div abp="1669">
<span abp="273" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span abp="277" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="278" style="color: lime;">Comic book fans are a fickle lot, it’s true. One
minute you can be a popular enough artist to afford a mansion and rare
autographed baseballs, the next minute your artwork is tagged “eye-bleach” by
the same people who used to read your comics. One minute you’re considered one
of Marvel’s most essential villains and the #1 foe of one of their most popular
heroes, the next minute you’re called a racist stereotype, a minor villain at
best and used as a joke in a major motion picture.<o:p abp="279"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="1669">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="280">
<span abp="282" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="284" style="color: lime;"> However,
fickleness can also have its unexpected upsides. One minute you’re a forgotten
supporting character in a Dracula comic no one under 30 has heard of; next
minute you have your own billion dollar film franchise and are more well-known
than Spider-Man on an international level. One minute you’re the most maligned
cartoonist in America and the subject of countless memes; the next minute
everyone comes out in support of you Capra-style after you get pranked by some
douche in a yellow hat at comic con. </span></span></div>
<div abp="281" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2923">
<div abp="1682">
<span abp="282" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="284" style="color: lime;"></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="2923">
<div abp="1686">
<span abp="282" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="284" style="color: lime;"> A</span></span><span abp="282" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="284" style="color: lime;">nd so on the cycle goes, who knows in which way?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="4014" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="4015" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gBJOUNju6mEHpe0QS1jVcsINB56B7aGDkdSaDrGlOURfLH0cS3kqe1sPmB-KYuHbwcDwa5MgSTcnmo4zdUC0AS1wp-QECgoxe2JFMtkU9ffiXbGDBp7xnonAwEBISzojG3y5FLn2j2c/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="4016" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gBJOUNju6mEHpe0QS1jVcsINB56B7aGDkdSaDrGlOURfLH0cS3kqe1sPmB-KYuHbwcDwa5MgSTcnmo4zdUC0AS1wp-QECgoxe2JFMtkU9ffiXbGDBp7xnonAwEBISzojG3y5FLn2j2c/s1600/untitled.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2923">
<div abp="1695">
<span abp="287" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="288" style="color: lime;"> So let us
take a look at how the sands of time have healed wounds, wounded heels and
buried once beloved creators, characters and movies; some deservedly, some not.</span>
<o:p abp="289"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="290">
</div>
<div abp="291" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2935">
<div abp="1702">
<span abp="292" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="293" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u abp="294">Creators:<o:p abp="295"></o:p></u></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="296">
</div>
<div abp="297" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2942">
<div abp="1710">
<span abp="298" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="299" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="300" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack Kirby:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1198" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1199" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4K-k5302gjVsSFCjgXbY4QOkMTq1TwFxRCHxe7JFwkErEu4uqOFfN9W5qy-xEQ7dl5g1hO0IMmKKoSv5UfWb-SDf8aoeGYmnSaeIZHuWxBb5bTWCD-ajTGB1ddTPeKQj-xZwj57JAVIM/s1600/jk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1200" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4K-k5302gjVsSFCjgXbY4QOkMTq1TwFxRCHxe7JFwkErEu4uqOFfN9W5qy-xEQ7dl5g1hO0IMmKKoSv5UfWb-SDf8aoeGYmnSaeIZHuWxBb5bTWCD-ajTGB1ddTPeKQj-xZwj57JAVIM/s1600/jk.png" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="297" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2950">
<div abp="1719">
<span abp="304" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="306" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="307"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="308">
<div abp="2955">
<div abp="1725">
<span abp="310" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> That ex-Marvel
guy who drew a bunch of comics where everyone had square fingertips, big buck
teeth and were covered in squiggles.</span></div>
<div abp="1725">
<span abp="310" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="312"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="313">
</div>
<div abp="314" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2960">
<div abp="1731">
<span abp="315" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="316" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="317" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1203" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1204" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABh0rF1Parp_GJoLuHbSk6txg4ioNyMKqxdSHPaHx2oN4gTTfPkDw6b5yiTOry04Xy6YdEu01boykWqC23rIfcMZJ9k2UiPvePWdcHWyLUwCW49eGTzHtMZ4KPsqsn24kxE2jAiBhqGk/s1600/sacredheartjesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1205" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABh0rF1Parp_GJoLuHbSk6txg4ioNyMKqxdSHPaHx2oN4gTTfPkDw6b5yiTOry04Xy6YdEu01boykWqC23rIfcMZJ9k2UiPvePWdcHWyLUwCW49eGTzHtMZ4KPsqsn24kxE2jAiBhqGk/s1600/sacredheartjesus.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
<div abp="314" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2968">
<div abp="1740">
<span abp="321" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Christ
incarnate, beloved and infallible creator of Superman, Captain Marvel, every
single Marvel character ever, oh and the Romance genre. <o:p abp="323"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="324">
</div>
<div abp="325" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2973">
<div abp="1746">
<span abp="326" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="327" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="328" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rob Liefeld:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1236" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1237" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWg5UUJTXyB1Zxj0rxcoYSRcvI_D3kdteISt7N6RlUi-KwGPgbi-a8tFCkcZY2laLfEbhwBct0mXOSH0D_un2Zqg1URfvEisjR61ALvgBG4QbDfnWqdUJCmox8Pc7QiQPkPFSlmiah_M/s1600/Robliefeldpic_4678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1238" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWg5UUJTXyB1Zxj0rxcoYSRcvI_D3kdteISt7N6RlUi-KwGPgbi-a8tFCkcZY2laLfEbhwBct0mXOSH0D_un2Zqg1URfvEisjR61ALvgBG4QbDfnWqdUJCmox8Pc7QiQPkPFSlmiah_M/s1600/Robliefeldpic_4678.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
<div abp="325" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2981">
<div abp="1755">
<span abp="332" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="334" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="335"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="336">
<div abp="2986">
<div abp="1761">
<span abp="338" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The epitome
of everything that went wrong with comics in the 90s with his traced art, terrible
anatomy, bad perspective, stolen poses and poor storytelling abilities. Someday
his work will be shown in schools that teach sequential art as a way <i abp="340" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> to do comics.</span></div>
<div abp="1761">
<span abp="338" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="341"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="342">
</div>
<div abp="343" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2992">
<div abp="1768">
<span abp="344" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="345" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="346" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom sees him now:<o:p abp="347"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="348">
<div abp="2998">
<div abp="1775">
<span abp="350" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> An unjustly
maligned unique stylist who broke away from established model sheets, helped
stick it to the Big Two by founding Image and defied gender norms by giving
Captain America breasts. Someday his work will be studied alongside that of Fletcher
Hanks and Moebius; hailed as the product of one of the medium’s great eccentrics.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1254" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1255" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjUa13YGLD8nydJrwQ3wRYU-iYDkc36mXy3q3uKv1giht3x7cF73adUU93sQJddZJFGpbHNzBZeObRrTMNUVDL2KD-0Q8g3vv-l2ZErVFUOxDvVTITHvS2QNAtoPpu76JkugOkXU2DRo/s1600/liefeldinmuseum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1256" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjUa13YGLD8nydJrwQ3wRYU-iYDkc36mXy3q3uKv1giht3x7cF73adUU93sQJddZJFGpbHNzBZeObRrTMNUVDL2KD-0Q8g3vv-l2ZErVFUOxDvVTITHvS2QNAtoPpu76JkugOkXU2DRo/s1600/liefeldinmuseum.png" height="254" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1254" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="1254" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span abp="1524" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="1525" style="color: lime;"> (I wish I was making this up, but sadly, if you
look around, you’ll find that defending Liefeld these days has become the new
equivalent of wearing lenseless glasses, drinking Pabst and watching <i abp="1526" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Little Brony: Aspergers is Tragic</i>;
doing so gains you instant hipster/indie cred)</span></span></div>
<div abp="1254" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span abp="1527" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
<div abp="1254" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div abp="348">
<div abp="3012">
<div abp="1790">
<b abp="355" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="356" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Carl
Barks:</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1272" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1273" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GOIJt9ELioJa38Mj-5nGMd4TSriVrot-akfDRJCoh_xxrrSEqiuu3R8LKhwByVO_x9Ia5ZP7NluHjlEEumEjwp96LQCEps0mn0rryBbMHA6GxF5XuwhQS8QRsJ3WNu5Iy5zjI0-mdNE/s1600/barks4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1274" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GOIJt9ELioJa38Mj-5nGMd4TSriVrot-akfDRJCoh_xxrrSEqiuu3R8LKhwByVO_x9Ia5ZP7NluHjlEEumEjwp96LQCEps0mn0rryBbMHA6GxF5XuwhQS8QRsJ3WNu5Iy5zjI0-mdNE/s1600/barks4.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<div abp="348">
<div abp="3019">
<div abp="1798">
<span abp="360" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="362" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="363"></o:p></b></span></div>
<div abp="1798">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="364">
<span abp="369" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> That guy whose Donald
Duck comics were better than other people’s Donald Duck comics.</span></div>
<div abp="365" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3025">
<div abp="1805">
<span abp="369" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div abp="1805">
<b abp="373" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="374" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How fandom sees him now:</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="272">
<span abp="382" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The single greatest
writer of children’s literature since Lewis Carroll. </span></div>
<div abp="378" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3038">
<div abp="1820">
<span abp="386" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div abp="1820">
<span abp="386" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> If you no
agree, you will be burnt at stake in glorious People’s Republic of [some
European province that doesn’t use vowels].</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="390" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3050">
<div abp="1834">
<span abp="391" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1290" style="color: lime;">(Seriously, there are actually places in Europe
where people subscribe to reprints of Barks comics from birth to death and make
them mandatory reading)<o:p abp="1291"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="393">
<div abp="3055">
<div abp="1840">
<b abp="395" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="396" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Stan
Lee:</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1292" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1293" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAps_S3spiaUf7z3NaTv_jTUEBitJZ_8ThqtQr1MrU03rxlRTogFjVMVgG1RGqoHmU8iPAuwYt0vymzzxA4kKRHAvnlBQeT41x8d2s3ygZAXBjPAzUFcHqYCYJJFapA-4C9mKQoe_Euvw/s1600/stanlee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1294" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAps_S3spiaUf7z3NaTv_jTUEBitJZ_8ThqtQr1MrU03rxlRTogFjVMVgG1RGqoHmU8iPAuwYt0vymzzxA4kKRHAvnlBQeT41x8d2s3ygZAXBjPAzUFcHqYCYJJFapA-4C9mKQoe_Euvw/s1600/stanlee.png" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<div abp="393">
<div abp="3062">
<div abp="1848">
<span abp="400" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="402" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him: </b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1340" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1341" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5y8ilC2YEVCcYAdExw94i8P9TEguVFMbjsgaZYYt-yun_AMG9G42rTURb0jnXgaEpo164pb9-f7_sT6Obi22IaYjYp5yXDkQZ_q5DmpjHGO7SgsAnpQDxfLwYnjzfO12JkhrvTg-qg3E/s1600/The-Princess-Bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1342" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5y8ilC2YEVCcYAdExw94i8P9TEguVFMbjsgaZYYt-yun_AMG9G42rTURb0jnXgaEpo164pb9-f7_sT6Obi22IaYjYp5yXDkQZ_q5DmpjHGO7SgsAnpQDxfLwYnjzfO12JkhrvTg-qg3E/s1600/The-Princess-Bride.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="393">
<div abp="3069">
<div abp="1856">
<span abp="406" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Crazy, egotistical, flamboyant but always loveable
Uncle Stan. A man who helped to aim comics at a slightly older readership, gave
artists credit and made celebrities out of them at a time when doing so was
unusual and helped to redefine the superhero genre forever.</span></div>
<div abp="1856">
<span abp="406" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="407"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="408">
</div>
<div abp="409" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3074">
<div abp="1862">
<span abp="410" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="411" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="412" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1528" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1529" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wnO-RtPPxuC1jYEa2zZYxY0pi-PHNNqBRQDCdhWYWDtUR8BZrFyckFUOvGg0HnTN21MVZKui4A2iuFyb7rIskAZ17oarkLBlXoL3UbUz0cMAKFipVfplcNhz1jQ16EWQZiyRclzR4LA/s1600/dermerchant.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1530" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wnO-RtPPxuC1jYEa2zZYxY0pi-PHNNqBRQDCdhWYWDtUR8BZrFyckFUOvGg0HnTN21MVZKui4A2iuFyb7rIskAZ17oarkLBlXoL3UbUz0cMAKFipVfplcNhz1jQ16EWQZiyRclzR4LA/s1600/dermerchant.png" height="299" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="409" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3082">
<div abp="1871">
<span abp="416" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> 'A greedy, talentless hack who never gave anyone
credit <i abp="417" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ever</i> and never did anything
but sign his name to other people’s work; all while tying virgins to railroad
tracks, kicking puppies and drinking the blood of babies! </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="415" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3086">
<div abp="1876">
<span abp="416" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s all
true; I read it in some post from a guy called kirbyluvver69 on the Comics
Journal and Marvel Masterworks forums.'<o:p abp="418"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="419">
<div abp="3090">
<div abp="1881">
<span abp="421" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1295" style="color: lime;">(Isn’t it funny how the people who bash Lee, whose worst sin was not giving credit for co-plotting, couldn’t
give less of a damn about Bob Kane, who really <strong abp="1296">did</strong> screw over his
collaborators and erase their contributions?)</span></span></div>
<div abp="1881">
<span abp="421" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1295" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1297"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="423">
</div>
<div abp="424" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3097">
<div abp="1889">
<b abp="425" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="426" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Will
Eisner:</span></b></div>
<div abp="2790" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2791" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_o0cxSCr_HR0UoXV5Z-YVvKrXyoesPrLHs8I3GbkUbG0Zqz_rms6rI5oRYHZKMc1gyESd_Q1TjwmwNeEL8mthVt8WSjBPAUloc5E5h-wnGXTv7AewWxx-Z-CxVLkuwXWoY5O6WdOE8E/s1600/will-eisner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2792" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_o0cxSCr_HR0UoXV5Z-YVvKrXyoesPrLHs8I3GbkUbG0Zqz_rms6rI5oRYHZKMc1gyESd_Q1TjwmwNeEL8mthVt8WSjBPAUloc5E5h-wnGXTv7AewWxx-Z-CxVLkuwXWoY5O6WdOE8E/s1600/will-eisner.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="1892">
<span abp="430" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="432" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="434">
<div abp="3111">
<div abp="1911">
<span abp="436" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="437" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man who
elevated the medium of comics to an art form and created storytelling devices at
least 40 years ahead of their time that modern creators are still trying to
catch up to today. One of the few creators who can be appreciated both by the
average superhero fanboy and the indie/arthouse crowd. </span></div>
<div abp="1911">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="440" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3115">
<div abp="1916">
<span abp="441" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="442" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="443" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
<div abp="2812" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2813" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQV9t_ESl-0ZFZclZ0bE9gbK3M6CMTFiVg5NYedrggamNyidahVpPqeQAtu0Qu1z0eFAfLi-iZG6uz2X5ZW1aidzjE1Jy68B-lsRq3XtU857-Rt2lQy7dFr4jE7aEfUfHbzPcR5vgIRQ/s1600/0klulko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2814" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQV9t_ESl-0ZFZclZ0bE9gbK3M6CMTFiVg5NYedrggamNyidahVpPqeQAtu0Qu1z0eFAfLi-iZG6uz2X5ZW1aidzjE1Jy68B-lsRq3XtU857-Rt2lQy7dFr4jE7aEfUfHbzPcR5vgIRQ/s1600/0klulko.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="1916">
<span abp="447" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘OMG! He drew
a supporting character that was a racial stereotype, back in the 40s, which no
one else <u abp="449">ever</u> did! RAAAAACISSSST!!!!!1!!’ <o:p abp="450"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="451">
</div>
<div abp="452" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3127">
<div abp="1930">
<b abp="453" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="454" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Alan
Moore:</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1531" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1532" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mI2ShlTs4JOa7LdbWvCXVLNtyPx6Fmn2lyHkoBA9lhalzrt20Dz-vHVvclotXSDCOqhkRksNQBkc0XS9B2_8Xt7rPCJ1xJo474nKra1_Ct679v74rTsWnETA1MSI4A_YqrS7ST1ZQpg/s1600/ricepuddin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1533" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mI2ShlTs4JOa7LdbWvCXVLNtyPx6Fmn2lyHkoBA9lhalzrt20Dz-vHVvclotXSDCOqhkRksNQBkc0XS9B2_8Xt7rPCJ1xJo474nKra1_Ct679v74rTsWnETA1MSI4A_YqrS7ST1ZQpg/s1600/ricepuddin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="452" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3134">
<div abp="1938">
<b abp="458" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="459" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How
fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="460"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="461">
<div abp="3139">
<div abp="1944">
<span abp="463" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> A dark, mysterious
sorcerer who held a diabolical influence over the Romanovs and was the cause of
all of Russia’s ills. Some said he was in league with the devil himself and
that he never truly died.</span></div>
<div abp="1944">
<span abp="463" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="465"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="466">
</div>
<div abp="467" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3144">
<div abp="1950">
<b abp="468" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="469" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How
fandom sees him now:<o:p abp="470"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="471">
<div abp="3149">
<div abp="1956">
<span abp="473" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> A highly
eccentric, but mostly harmless oddball who possessed little political power
and, for all his faults, <span abp="475" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was undoubtedly
an ally of the Romanovs and about whom most of which is known comes from
accounts written by his enemies; accounts which most serious historians agree
are of dubious veracity.</span></div>
<div abp="1956">
<span abp="473" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="476"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="477">
</div>
<div abp="478" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3155">
<div abp="1963">
<b abp="479" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="480" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Grant
Morrison:</span></b></div>
<div abp="2845" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2846" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILRoRYibgYlRb-S6JcYUnhfk6A14qldd8YVY2eeKKugzehx4oOckEndVGp74YA05Tuzf4SYERYuGIl6OhK7ralkxAJGdYp4YdciBT1TJR-oFS9yXEhTnW7qYv2UDqhfwvVzXIM6Pd8ZY/s1600/gm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2847" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILRoRYibgYlRb-S6JcYUnhfk6A14qldd8YVY2eeKKugzehx4oOckEndVGp74YA05Tuzf4SYERYuGIl6OhK7ralkxAJGdYp4YdciBT1TJR-oFS9yXEhTnW7qYv2UDqhfwvVzXIM6Pd8ZY/s1600/gm.png" /></a></div>
<div abp="1963">
<span abp="484" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="486" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="487"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="488">
<span abp="490" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> That guy whose Vertigo comics were really, really
freaky and whose Batman comics were just plain wrong.</span></div>
<div abp="488">
<span abp="490" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="491"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="492">
<div abp="3170">
<div abp="1981">
<span abp="494" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="496" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom sees him now:<o:p abp="497"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="498">
<div abp="3175">
<div abp="1987">
<span abp="500" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="498">
<div abp="3178">
<div abp="1991">
<span abp="500" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The best thing to happen to Batman since Neal Adams.</span></div>
<div abp="1991">
<span abp="500" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="501"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="502">
</div>
<div abp="503" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3183">
<div abp="1997">
<b abp="504" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="505" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Neil
Gaiman:</span></b></div>
<div abp="2950" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2951" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx6O-_c1zpr_bE10yU4AFOWuOcbG8KxK9t8evtzpfCdk1sVy_UWeXevRQPkqCqCXtwRrs-88z2HfVwBsUz3tkW5UEfAVtTJNjB0f8H-G_W7kFX4whssBv0oar-_qVRgr5lXDNHzW-CKg/s1600/220px-NeilGaimanNov04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2952" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx6O-_c1zpr_bE10yU4AFOWuOcbG8KxK9t8evtzpfCdk1sVy_UWeXevRQPkqCqCXtwRrs-88z2HfVwBsUz3tkW5UEfAVtTJNjB0f8H-G_W7kFX4whssBv0oar-_qVRgr5lXDNHzW-CKg/s1600/220px-NeilGaimanNov04.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="1997">
<b abp="509" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="510" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How
fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="511"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="512">
<span abp="514" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> A brilliantly
accomplished writer inside and outside of comics who has truly elevated the art
form to literature with his wry humor, poetic prose and dark fairy-tale
sensibilities, justly being the only comics writer to win a World Fantasy Award
and gain a following of celebrity fans such as Norman Mailer, Tori Amos and
Jonathan Ross.</span></div>
<div abp="512">
<span abp="514" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="516"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="517">
<div abp="3199">
<div abp="2016">
<span abp="519" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="521" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
<div abp="2971" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2972" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiYKlyvjCxkp-BtXbvKvusRLLNfgk6OTrsn6V2X4LSkZdioEavUUihQs1iD8owvmMb58ce3MBHBKkspc1NtI8qRVuelFignLfEhOEBhE0jBOzoHDbOuWEO-RnCzm1UOALKtohyjOvWrg/s1600/04561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2973" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiYKlyvjCxkp-BtXbvKvusRLLNfgk6OTrsn6V2X4LSkZdioEavUUihQs1iD8owvmMb58ce3MBHBKkspc1NtI8qRVuelFignLfEhOEBhE0jBOzoHDbOuWEO-RnCzm1UOALKtohyjOvWrg/s1600/04561.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2016">
<span abp="525" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘Goth kids
read Sandman LOL.’</span></div>
<div abp="2016">
</div>
<div abp="2016">
<span abp="525" style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(Could be worse though, Scans_Daily thinks he's the mastermind behind a conspiracy to oppress transwomen---because of <a abp="3389" href="http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/1624819.html#cutid1"><span style="color: #93c47d;">a comic</span></a> he wrote in the 90s that he has since apologized for)</span></div>
<div abp="2016">
<span abp="525" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="527"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="528">
<div abp="3210">
<div abp="2029">
<span abp="530" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="532" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mark Evanier:</b></span></div>
<div abp="3135" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3136" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrVohA1oLxlgqTVJVIEFOz8gWkY5Rm4gMzec_LCXCpFuQto3foi2kX40PMWtL0VurrK4MfcdPQLMCLlXP0LMYFSdw0y4JK1dBp-Vy9f0N4pEnVr-qJ0A1utaUkbeYVhVkzRrtDesnQBA/s1600/Mark+Evanier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3137" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrVohA1oLxlgqTVJVIEFOz8gWkY5Rm4gMzec_LCXCpFuQto3foi2kX40PMWtL0VurrK4MfcdPQLMCLlXP0LMYFSdw0y4JK1dBp-Vy9f0N4pEnVr-qJ0A1utaUkbeYVhVkzRrtDesnQBA/s1600/Mark+Evanier.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="2029">
<b abp="536" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="537" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How fandom used to see him:</span></b></div>
<div abp="2029">
<strong abp="3168"></strong><span abp="539" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="540"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="541">
<div abp="3223">
<div abp="2044">
<span abp="543" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That guy who wrote <i abp="544" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Groo</i>.</span></div>
<div abp="2044">
<span abp="543" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="545"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="546">
</div>
<div abp="547" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3229">
<div abp="2051">
<span abp="548" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="549" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="550" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
<div abp="3169" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3170" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKBiVNJbqCUU2JxrxneKZsJr_I6vehAkWazHRUE7XTMQAadLaxLrVL3O5Je6XqbheO986EtDouy-A7nOkmTFAqY7qTMydVvIl9EtLC1Gx9XllVztV7WTeCNmk8aduHFeK902UD8nhOcA/s1600/Plato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3171" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKBiVNJbqCUU2JxrxneKZsJr_I6vehAkWazHRUE7XTMQAadLaxLrVL3O5Je6XqbheO986EtDouy-A7nOkmTFAqY7qTMydVvIl9EtLC1Gx9XllVztV7WTeCNmk8aduHFeK902UD8nhOcA/s1600/Plato.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="2051">
<span abp="554" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Plato to Kirby’s Socrates.<o:p abp="555"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="556">
</div>
<div abp="557" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3240">
<div abp="2064">
<b abp="558" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="559" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kevin
Smith:</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1570" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1571" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdsKl5h8ayNgWvEbXiStL0dNQkD61TojoIEQuOX2HpwnQRjZk3mYZRShnYj5Omh99Mk5Qrl1B9zZXnGo2N8QLPTuA7AebbMVUN-bZR4c27OwMlIwvttkzHwHPTMzbJzCiuW-c11IvX9A/s1600/kvs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1572" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdsKl5h8ayNgWvEbXiStL0dNQkD61TojoIEQuOX2HpwnQRjZk3mYZRShnYj5Omh99Mk5Qrl1B9zZXnGo2N8QLPTuA7AebbMVUN-bZR4c27OwMlIwvttkzHwHPTMzbJzCiuW-c11IvX9A/s1600/kvs.png" /></a></div>
<div abp="557" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3247">
<div abp="2072">
<b abp="558" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="559" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="560"></o:p></span></b> <b abp="563" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="564" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How
fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="565"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="566">
<span abp="568" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘An ingenious
independent filmmaker whose films accurately capture both geek culture and
post-college angst with a style that, for all his constant pop culture jokes,
is uniquely his own.’</span></div>
<div abp="566">
<span abp="568" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="570"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="571">
<div abp="3263">
<div abp="2091">
<b abp="573" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="574" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How
fandom sees him now:</span></b></div>
<div abp="2091">
<b abp="573" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="574" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p abp="575"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="576">
<span abp="578" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Geek
sell-out! And he made Batman retroactively piss himself. HACK!’</span></div>
<div abp="576">
</div>
<div abp="3272">
<div abp="2102">
<span abp="578" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1549" style="color: lime;">(<span abp="1550" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While I’m not much of a fan of Smith’s post-<i abp="1551" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dogma</i> work, I feel sorry for him over how he’s
gone from being the face of ‘hip geeks’ to having more ‘fake geek’ accusations thrown
at him than any overweight cosplayer ever has)</span></span></span></div>
<div abp="2102">
<span style="color: lime;"></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="272">
<strong abp="3411"><span abp="3412" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Christopher Nolan:</span></strong></div>
<div abp="3413" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3414" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19wisk0ca4quEpbFq2qic1djQV_moxrIGCpya6CHSK-FEQ3fESYMaH3DLrcAmRIwqaE4uOT7Ao6_O6vukocx9cB42P9iDF3yVfc_Ri0TaE_LCVtGIp4EdQbf_0cr2mF17Eq6-_bU36BQ/s1600/40807_ori.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3415" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19wisk0ca4quEpbFq2qic1djQV_moxrIGCpya6CHSK-FEQ3fESYMaH3DLrcAmRIwqaE4uOT7Ao6_O6vukocx9cB42P9iDF3yVfc_Ri0TaE_LCVtGIp4EdQbf_0cr2mF17Eq6-_bU36BQ/s1600/40807_ori.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="272">
<span abp="3420" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong abp="3421"> How fandom used to see him:</strong></span></div>
<div abp="272">
<span abp="3420" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong abp="3421"><o:p abp="3422"></o:p></strong></span> </div>
<div abp="272">
<span abp="3423" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Greatest director
of his generation! First person to truly make a great film based on a comic
with no pandering to kids! The new Kubrick!</span></div>
<div abp="272">
<span abp="3423" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div abp="272">
<span abp="3423" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span abp="3426" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong abp="3427">How fandom sees him now:</strong></span></div>
<div abp="272">
<span abp="3426" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong abp="3427"><o:p abp="3428"></o:p></strong></span> </div>
<div abp="272">
<span abp="3429" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="3430" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OMG U GAIZ! He produced a Superman movie where
Superman snapped Zod’s Neck! HACK!!!!!!</span></div>
<div abp="3278">
<div abp="2110">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div abp="577" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3280">
<div abp="2113">
<u abp="583"><span abp="584" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Characters:<o:p abp="585"></o:p></span></u></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="586">
</div>
<div abp="587" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3286">
<div abp="2120">
<b abp="588" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="589" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Joker:</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1552" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1553" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyVfE8xpncnn0_gk1SXMp0lsvZANtN9_W65gOkr0Gs5h0ReKpPDJSQue_ZSkgjmoCPEBpJL6CQv6FuHJWI5_YoXDXcN2ofK6x7bCtBAC-1Let_Gi5BWp9T3HxfNhPwNbyJzYIqdRShvI/s1600/Joker.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1554" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyVfE8xpncnn0_gk1SXMp0lsvZANtN9_W65gOkr0Gs5h0ReKpPDJSQue_ZSkgjmoCPEBpJL6CQv6FuHJWI5_YoXDXcN2ofK6x7bCtBAC-1Let_Gi5BWp9T3HxfNhPwNbyJzYIqdRShvI/s1600/Joker.png" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="587" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3293">
<div abp="2128">
<span abp="593" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="595" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="596"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="597">
<div abp="3298">
<div abp="2134">
<span abp="599" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Greatest villain EVAR! I only read Batman comics
for him! <b abp="600" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Killing Joke</b> rules! Why so
serious? LOL.’<o:p abp="601"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="602">
<span abp="604" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="606" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span> </div>
<div abp="602">
<span abp="604" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="606" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
<div abp="602">
<span abp="604" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="606" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p abp="607"></o:p></b></span> </div>
<div abp="608">
<div abp="3310">
<div abp="2148">
<span abp="610" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘OMG why
hasn’t Batman killed him yet? Overused villain! <b abp="612" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Killing Joke</b> is misogynistic! Ledger wouldn’t have won if he hadn’t
died LOL.’</span></div>
<div abp="2148">
<span abp="610" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="613"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="614">
</div>
<div abp="615" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3316">
<div abp="2155">
<b abp="616" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="617" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Doctor
Doom:</span></b></div>
<div abp="2875" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2876" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C6UX56BtDhP7NpONMdGhXG_R-bS_Vri5yGHgnF_l3l9V-jkNU3wqXFirVb1YfyDModyCgJ_EBuUFgF-NIeXvTXdOGnfMzsSkWsmbP0sit5FalrHX5BrjGDmVPD6c9GyeOzgz65h6Lmg/s1600/3230431-dr-doom-cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2877" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C6UX56BtDhP7NpONMdGhXG_R-bS_Vri5yGHgnF_l3l9V-jkNU3wqXFirVb1YfyDModyCgJ_EBuUFgF-NIeXvTXdOGnfMzsSkWsmbP0sit5FalrHX5BrjGDmVPD6c9GyeOzgz65h6Lmg/s1600/3230431-dr-doom-cup.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2155">
<span abp="621" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="623" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom used to see him:</b></span></div>
<div abp="2881" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2882" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVCJ9mYEUOTHbz6ED-x8P146TbQTpcKcY1QJCFN-Xaq9wvxNSw818Zm_Nj2prqIuQRS1v_T-FfGYMujvaJ-Exic_0WjMJpKr2rkHwx4Uqwu5t7JiqdOzqGkHATd482_LKktaaUqYB0k0/s1600/darth-vader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2883" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVCJ9mYEUOTHbz6ED-x8P146TbQTpcKcY1QJCFN-Xaq9wvxNSw818Zm_Nj2prqIuQRS1v_T-FfGYMujvaJ-Exic_0WjMJpKr2rkHwx4Uqwu5t7JiqdOzqGkHATd482_LKktaaUqYB0k0/s1600/darth-vader.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="2155">
<span abp="627" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="629" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
<div abp="2899" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2900" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW7HXZQdZVG2tJwt7u36XfE4ltUHaEIDLw7hWw43tTzgfC2SB1wD7Kgrbq9uOol6wPrmhvUlaEXQUZHP6CEdlCST2aHYQH3QnRgcK6OLf090QjqENc9TGZtlbOyAVrNC1BWVmpe_PHaQ/s1600/borat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2901" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW7HXZQdZVG2tJwt7u36XfE4ltUHaEIDLw7hWw43tTzgfC2SB1wD7Kgrbq9uOol6wPrmhvUlaEXQUZHP6CEdlCST2aHYQH3QnRgcK6OLf090QjqENc9TGZtlbOyAVrNC1BWVmpe_PHaQ/s1600/borat.jpg" height="301" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2899" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div abp="2155">
<b abp="633" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="634" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ultimate
Spider-Man/Peter Parker:</span></b></div>
<div abp="2917" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2918" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uf0WSRxRmoD3Bl5Oo7ojR7981ilangfDimdGq1nFZaMm4npUDqizeht5DeB1B8zfILfP9yNDf3wJ5ytpOnTYOtNuAZTmECEcMSN-3zYJCWQarRra6Y7iSdoQ3MH42VIpYNt3nUa0OX0/s1600/spidey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2919" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uf0WSRxRmoD3Bl5Oo7ojR7981ilangfDimdGq1nFZaMm4npUDqizeht5DeB1B8zfILfP9yNDf3wJ5ytpOnTYOtNuAZTmECEcMSN-3zYJCWQarRra6Y7iSdoQ3MH42VIpYNt3nUa0OX0/s1600/spidey1.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<div abp="2155">
<span abp="638" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="640" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="643" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3349">
<div abp="2189">
<span abp="644" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Best hero in comics! The definitive depiction of
the character, superior to the Lee/Ditko original and a far more mature and
likeable character than his 616 counterpart!’</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="647" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3354">
<div abp="2193">
<span abp="648" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="649" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="650" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="653" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3361">
<div abp="2199">
<span abp="654" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘They’re replacing him with a black character?
Ugh---Good, I never liked him anyway! He’s a Mary Sue, a whiny brat, and [insert
fan-phrases that have lost all meaning here] I hope he <b abp="655" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">never</b> comes back! If he had a corpse, I’d <b abp="656" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">spit</b> on it!'</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="685">
<div abp="2204">
<span abp="687" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="689" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Venom:</b></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3991" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3992" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqotOFzGOBhAnNs_JgGBVW_dTBr7JOkr1X-fQqT3ruZGrIkm16q59SwSpW5UZjnzj8CR9KpljVIReEUsloXr6tueGIEw0FUpoYe0kw14Ty1Umet-WYVUhVTilBBSlMc2qvCL5HRIHPkAU/s1600/venom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3993" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqotOFzGOBhAnNs_JgGBVW_dTBr7JOkr1X-fQqT3ruZGrIkm16q59SwSpW5UZjnzj8CR9KpljVIReEUsloXr6tueGIEw0FUpoYe0kw14Ty1Umet-WYVUhVTilBBSlMc2qvCL5HRIHPkAU/s1600/venom.jpg" height="320" width="195" /></a></div>
<div abp="685">
<div abp="2211">
<b abp="693" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="694" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How
fandom used to see him:</span></b></div>
</div>
<div abp="685">
<div abp="2215">
<strong abp="4017"></strong> </div>
</div>
<div abp="697" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3377">
<div abp="2219">
<span abp="698" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="699" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Greatest
villain EVER, maaan! Most X-treeeeeme character in the Marvel Universe! They
should just kill Spider-Man off and have him take over, ‘cause he’s KEWL!’</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="702" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3383">
<div abp="2224">
<b abp="703" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="704" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How
fandom sees him now:</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="707" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3389">
<div abp="2229">
<span abp="708" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="709" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Oh god, how
could I have had such shitty taste back then?’</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="712" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3395">
<div abp="2234">
<b abp="713" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="714" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Black
Adam:</span></b></div>
<div abp="2953" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2954" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC2xs7eyd6R__IPU1wNNCwdUHbwAxp3zHwQede8aXc74bvijOEu0c1N0uwTA8I0qSlwZl5Q0mt5K4ANMUG__aalW-dBVM46-9ZU1AghfpkEDfN5vXd4cOqtFz3L53VplwGIpxtbJQ8mc/s1600/black-adam-profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2955" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC2xs7eyd6R__IPU1wNNCwdUHbwAxp3zHwQede8aXc74bvijOEu0c1N0uwTA8I0qSlwZl5Q0mt5K4ANMUG__aalW-dBVM46-9ZU1AghfpkEDfN5vXd4cOqtFz3L53VplwGIpxtbJQ8mc/s1600/black-adam-profile.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div abp="2234">
<span abp="718" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="720" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="721"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="722">
<div abp="2245">
<span abp="724" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Who?’</span></div>
<div abp="2245">
<span abp="724" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="725"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="726">
</div>
<div abp="727" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3413">
<div abp="2251">
<span abp="728" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="729" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="730" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom sees him now:<o:p abp="731"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="732">
<div abp="2257">
<span abp="734" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Best villain EVAR dudez! Better than Venom!’ So Badasssssss:</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="4033" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="4034" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHlJ12peLfaKIzmMYDk8gS40TYRAmExHOkEXganvHoRe2uzDaLJv4JOkRlxOj4DwqkgFFnyAs-stykuzG6LDCOTRVQniiK55yB1TvGcjRl34EIvLf3jYeHB30pqrumM0txEdekxFxKbk/s1600/blackadam_psychopirate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="4035" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHlJ12peLfaKIzmMYDk8gS40TYRAmExHOkEXganvHoRe2uzDaLJv4JOkRlxOj4DwqkgFFnyAs-stykuzG6LDCOTRVQniiK55yB1TvGcjRl34EIvLf3jYeHB30pqrumM0txEdekxFxKbk/s1600/blackadam_psychopirate.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="732">
<div abp="2263">
<span abp="738" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3994" style="color: lime;"> (It’s kinda funny how so many fanboys claim to like
Captain Marvel because he represents a more innocent time, yet they themselves have championed
this eye-gouging, generic evil twin/anti hero to the point that he has
become the face of the franchise).</span></span></div>
<div abp="2263">
<span abp="738" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3994" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="739"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="740">
<b abp="742" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="743" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Namor:</span></b></div>
<div abp="741" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3430">
<div abp="3172" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3173" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MrdMPsP55PGn9uG3hGwHJodkTP4sB5DH0Z2rNf7rbLbi-_CDGD8fEjR3-S2sfmCNT8vPgRVqWn7rAYFynBxy7OCELR-1E3WgRirvOGHjlqLrVERS-ff32KN8jRp9iy2yxflYlW2Y6ws/s1600/EverettSubMarinerSplash3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3174" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MrdMPsP55PGn9uG3hGwHJodkTP4sB5DH0Z2rNf7rbLbi-_CDGD8fEjR3-S2sfmCNT8vPgRVqWn7rAYFynBxy7OCELR-1E3WgRirvOGHjlqLrVERS-ff32KN8jRp9iy2yxflYlW2Y6ws/s1600/EverettSubMarinerSplash3.png" height="320" width="311" /></a></div>
<div abp="2270">
<span abp="747" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="749" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="752" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3443">
<div abp="2281">
<span abp="753" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="754" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of
comicdom’s great characters, a forerunner of all anti-heroes to come who has
managed to remain a vital character decades later because he can be used as
either a hero or villain at the drop of a hat. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="757" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3449">
<div abp="2286">
<span abp="758" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="759" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="760" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom sees him now:</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="763" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3456">
<div abp="2292">
<span abp="764" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="765" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marvel’s Aquaman/Black
Adam rip-off.<o:p abp="766"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="767">
<div abp="2297">
<span abp="769" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3996" style="color: lime;">(I <i abp="770" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wish</i> I
was kidding about people who think that.)</span></span></div>
<div abp="2297">
<span abp="769" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3996" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="771"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="772">
</div>
<div abp="773" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3468">
<div abp="2305">
<span abp="774" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="776" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Mr. Freeze:</b></span></div>
<div abp="3190" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3191" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxUf_oWUN_J4uGVkoIpyQARlVzrirh5Ja_GiP2AaWRYcONuxUjakcfqY3j3WwUSGdiO50il5X3rC8G6SpNBF13__1LAAm8CGlKpRO3CkgS5pRYmeZPh2ZcwXqj1OIX3HuTAf72VPkb_Y/s1600/709055-freeze2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3192" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxUf_oWUN_J4uGVkoIpyQARlVzrirh5Ja_GiP2AaWRYcONuxUjakcfqY3j3WwUSGdiO50il5X3rC8G6SpNBF13__1LAAm8CGlKpRO3CkgS5pRYmeZPh2ZcwXqj1OIX3HuTAf72VPkb_Y/s1600/709055-freeze2.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
<div abp="2305">
<span abp="780" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="782" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="783"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="784">
<span abp="786" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> A second rate Captain Cold:</span></div>
<div abp="272" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3209" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr_0rQRFuJmyZr0L-clWwj8_RjO4lzFRrS_3fzqltAYx6Jv1fa6UfoKQv83VvMsjPqFKMhqIgOEgmW2KCaJP6qfNgfAJVW5S9NQ4XkpeJPqll7Wh9aLEmljl5P_UjcoaX4bOYsHgp63s/s1600/1632230-robin_ii_01_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3210" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr_0rQRFuJmyZr0L-clWwj8_RjO4lzFRrS_3fzqltAYx6Jv1fa6UfoKQv83VvMsjPqFKMhqIgOEgmW2KCaJP6qfNgfAJVW5S9NQ4XkpeJPqll7Wh9aLEmljl5P_UjcoaX4bOYsHgp63s/s1600/1632230-robin_ii_01_10.jpg" height="174" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="784">
<span abp="790" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="792" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom sees Captain Cold now:<o:p abp="793"></o:p></b></span></div>
<div abp="794">
<span abp="796" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div abp="794">
<span abp="796" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A second rate Mr. Freeze.</span></div>
<div abp="794">
<span abp="796" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="797"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="798">
<b abp="800" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="801" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Swamp
Thing:</span></b></div>
<div abp="272" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3227" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CAvboFCwcMUS5S1n0fraOnuJSSv2Y19Tj9Iy388O5lXDyasoaHavonGlBKMH6lIlyt59GhKWA_pSE9brpz6sGhH2H9ksz_iZmmRBxT0Wte1BStZS3y9dLa-pfFLYgziEBu-b0MUXfco/s1600/Swamp_thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3228" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CAvboFCwcMUS5S1n0fraOnuJSSv2Y19Tj9Iy388O5lXDyasoaHavonGlBKMH6lIlyt59GhKWA_pSE9brpz6sGhH2H9ksz_iZmmRBxT0Wte1BStZS3y9dLa-pfFLYgziEBu-b0MUXfco/s1600/Swamp_thing.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="798">
<b abp="805" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="806" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How
fandom used to see him:</span></b></div>
<div abp="798">
<b abp="805" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="806" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="807"></o:p></span></b> </div>
<div abp="808">
<b abp="810" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="811" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “</span></b><span abp="813" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Swamp Thing is truly a
work of art. There will never be anything like it—now or in the future. So it
too will soon fall from its present perch on top of the comic industry. All
things must come to an end, and I only hope when the Swamp Thing declines that
it is something else, something that is so totally different it is phenomenal,
will rise to even loftier precipices, where it too will totter in greatness for
its lifetime” (actual letter from <b abp="814" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Swamp
Thing #10</b>).</span></div>
<div abp="808">
<span abp="813" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="815"></o:p></span> </div>
<div abp="816">
<b abp="818" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="819" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How fandom sees him now:<o:p abp="821"></o:p></span></b></div>
<div abp="822">
<span abp="824" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="825" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div abp="822">
<span abp="824" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="825" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>Swamp Thing
sucked and no one liked him until Alan Moore LOL."</span></div>
<div abp="822">
</div>
<div abp="827">
<span abp="829" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="3296" style="color: lime;">(Again, I
wish I was kidding.)</span></span></div>
<div abp="827">
</div>
<div abp="859">
<b abp="861" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="862" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Loki:</span></b></div>
<div abp="860" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3574" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3575" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcYcWe1JIdAW1aS7Sk8RAaKoEa_NU5s0z-bi-rYuJw7PtUPpgf9D_-cFU76DJteVp2RxFyHgbKYPpktT23R9HeeeW2x97pO6TgDil9LjATMgEWk3tF-uQ56Q7z7dH3AenhtmRVYNW21s/s1600/loki.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3576" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcYcWe1JIdAW1aS7Sk8RAaKoEa_NU5s0z-bi-rYuJw7PtUPpgf9D_-cFU76DJteVp2RxFyHgbKYPpktT23R9HeeeW2x97pO6TgDil9LjATMgEWk3tF-uQ56Q7z7dH3AenhtmRVYNW21s/s1600/loki.png" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<div abp="3577">
<div abp="2431">
<b abp="861" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="862" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="863"></o:p></span></b> <b abp="866" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="867" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How
fandom used to see him:<o:p abp="868"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="869">
<div abp="2439">
<span abp="871" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> That horn-helmet
guy who fights Thor and was the first Avengers villain.</span></div>
<div abp="2439">
<span abp="871" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="873"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="874">
<b abp="876" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="877" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How
fandom sees him now:</span></b></div>
<div abp="875" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3592" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3593" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf0kGEf5z4VeMATS364fSQ350sBCYwTCrwxGQsNFo-XPOO0rv4LwArhwp-Mh8QcoRQmf1EPnwcLGLmZ5zxcWbYcnou1o8pVVqrGfn_SjdRtOCv-N2SoYcI4BY-MCc0FaPqJB7cpuTlMg/s1600/lokihiddleston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3594" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf0kGEf5z4VeMATS364fSQ350sBCYwTCrwxGQsNFo-XPOO0rv4LwArhwp-Mh8QcoRQmf1EPnwcLGLmZ5zxcWbYcnou1o8pVVqrGfn_SjdRtOCv-N2SoYcI4BY-MCc0FaPqJB7cpuTlMg/s1600/lokihiddleston.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></div>
<div abp="3595">
<div abp="2452">
<span abp="881" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘OMG Tom
Hiddleston!’ *<i abp="883" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fangirl squee</i>* <o:p abp="884"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="885">
<div abp="2457">
<span abp="887" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3601" style="color: lime;">(Sometimes I wish I’d never written<span abp="3391" style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><a abp="3298" href="http://outofthequicksand.blogspot.com/2011/07/four-villains-improved-by-media.html"><span abp="3392" style="color: #93c47d;">this</span></a>)</span></span></div>
<div abp="2457">
<span abp="887" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3601" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="888"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="889">
</div>
<div abp="890" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3605">
<div abp="2464">
<u abp="891"><span abp="892" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Movies:</span></u></div>
<div abp="2464">
<u abp="891"><span abp="892" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="893"></o:p></span></u> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="894">
<b abp="896" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="897" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Superman:
The Movie</span></b><span abp="898" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> (1978):</span></div>
<div abp="895" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3853" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3854" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOHvOcZdD8veflMt8xIVJ4GDnOFoNy5DaqT7D_JNq0BqFWP5KWG7tVScn1vb8Ow0btWN2i8Ew5NunmFMHj3pjvtoL9_PVF3WiX7HB4hQKI5NAYZc3WJfX75IJtyiF1bLIL5bkzwWVETw/s1600/936full-superman-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3855" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOHvOcZdD8veflMt8xIVJ4GDnOFoNy5DaqT7D_JNq0BqFWP5KWG7tVScn1vb8Ow0btWN2i8Ew5NunmFMHj3pjvtoL9_PVF3WiX7HB4hQKI5NAYZc3WJfX75IJtyiF1bLIL5bkzwWVETw/s1600/936full-superman-poster.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div abp="3615">
<div abp="2479">
<span abp="902" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="904" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see it:<o:p abp="905"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="906">
<div abp="2484">
<span abp="908" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The gold-standard for superhero films, with a
timeless performance by Christopher Reeve, an impressive four act structure,
and a John Williams score that never fails to make the most hard-hearted soul
get misty-eyed.</span></div>
<div abp="2484">
<span abp="908" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="909"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="910">
<span abp="912" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="914" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom sees it now:<o:p abp="915"></o:p></b></span></div>
<div abp="910">
</div>
<div abp="916">
<div abp="2496">
<span abp="918" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘LOL the
effects have dated.’</span></div>
<div abp="2496">
<span abp="918" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="920"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="921">
<b abp="923" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="924" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Batman</span></b><span abp="925" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
(1989):</span></div>
<div abp="922" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3859" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3860" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamcaa8Isi7c_YkSGWL84cOc0E2JK_k5fPEM-XUfN7BlV5p6oH1lMyr2QrNHpkSCrFhFUjWjv0uuLco9Ux7HuDGQ3dGHclCVYzsO1942cG1-2Tpe5IoOFcAqImTjty0FM7bJC6s0-yM20/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3861" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamcaa8Isi7c_YkSGWL84cOc0E2JK_k5fPEM-XUfN7BlV5p6oH1lMyr2QrNHpkSCrFhFUjWjv0uuLco9Ux7HuDGQ3dGHclCVYzsO1942cG1-2Tpe5IoOFcAqImTjty0FM7bJC6s0-yM20/s1600/01.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div abp="3647">
<div abp="2510">
<span abp="929" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="931" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see it:<o:p abp="932"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="933">
<div abp="2515">
<span abp="935" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘A brooding masterpiece of neo-expressionistic
filmmaking by the most innovative director Hollywood has ever seen, and which
has redeemed the character after the stench of the Adam West show. Nicholson’s
performance as the Joker will never be topped. The only downside is Michael
Keaton’s boring turn as Batman.’</span></div>
<div abp="2515">
<span abp="935" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="936"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="937">
<span abp="939" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="941" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom sees it now:</b></span></div>
<div abp="937">
<span abp="939" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="941" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p abp="942"></o:p></b></span> </div>
<div abp="943">
<div abp="2527">
<span abp="945" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘Just a more
violent version of the Adam West show made by a Goth sell-out hack and marred
by unfunny Nicholson mugging. Michael Keaton’s performance is brilliantly
underplayed though, and the film’s saving grace.’<o:p abp="947"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="948">
</div>
<div abp="949" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3679">
<div abp="2533">
<span abp="950" style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Seriously, I do kinda like how fandom has warmed
towards Keaton in recent years)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="952">
<div abp="2536">
<span abp="954" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="956" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Batman and Robin</b> (1997):</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3877" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3878" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Tk4Xk_sV1hQa30CG6DGUqJUG-T-Yr_d4B3xm7nobe-X3d-RThvqp9TVQSmXwf86UtnvXf30a3zdHLvve8ywfdjyfhd20W8EEjmiM6z5kUQTj6M7TBzSnBNzoc2deOVTBgq2ey1H4GQ/s1600/bnr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3879" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Tk4Xk_sV1hQa30CG6DGUqJUG-T-Yr_d4B3xm7nobe-X3d-RThvqp9TVQSmXwf86UtnvXf30a3zdHLvve8ywfdjyfhd20W8EEjmiM6z5kUQTj6M7TBzSnBNzoc2deOVTBgq2ey1H4GQ/s1600/bnr.jpg" height="320" width="195" /></a></div>
<div abp="952">
<div abp="2543">
<span abp="960" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="962" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom used to see it:<o:p abp="963"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="964">
</div>
<div abp="965" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3698">
<div abp="2550">
<span abp="966" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The epitome of suck.</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3698">
<div abp="2553">
</div>
</div>
<div abp="3698">
<div abp="2555">
<b abp="970" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="971" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How
fandom sees it now:<o:p abp="972"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="973">
<div abp="2560">
<b abp="975" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="976" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ‘</span></b><span abp="978" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A cult classic! You
fans take things too seriously! This movie is a masterpiece
because…uhhhh…neon….doesn’t take itself seriously…uhhh…homophobes don’t like
Schumacher….something something.’<o:p abp="979"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="980">
<span abp="982" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3895" style="color: lime;"></span></span> </div>
<div abp="980">
<span abp="982" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3895" style="color: lime;"> (Seriously, watching people try and defend this turd
as anything other than a so-bad-its-good film is cringe-inducing, especially
the “You don’t like it because Schumacher’s gay!’ crowd. These people are in
for a rude awakening over the fact that you can’t just force something to
become a cult movie)</span></span></div>
<div abp="980">
<span abp="982" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3895" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="983"></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div abp="984">
<div abp="2573">
<b abp="986" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="987" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Swamp
Thing</span></b><span abp="988" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> (1982):</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3897" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3898" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_srQIff-brxhgepWlsvI_F_RORHOBw4PnqU-QAlf1t0tLEZPsIOEsFVbARgrVkOvUMVFdPWjPyt8AUG0Zqb49cfPqjW3sekPlxHu4KgiaNlAPf44A8_CGDN0mo4DmANhSXUpeCW866Eo/s1600/swtp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3899" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_srQIff-brxhgepWlsvI_F_RORHOBw4PnqU-QAlf1t0tLEZPsIOEsFVbARgrVkOvUMVFdPWjPyt8AUG0Zqb49cfPqjW3sekPlxHu4KgiaNlAPf44A8_CGDN0mo4DmANhSXUpeCW866Eo/s1600/swtp.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div abp="984">
<div abp="2581">
<span abp="992" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="994" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see it:<o:p abp="995"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="996">
</div>
<div abp="997" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3736">
<div abp="2588">
<span abp="998" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was lame, but at least you got to see Barbeau’s tits…<o:p abp="999"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1000">
<div abp="2592">
<span abp="1002" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="1004" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom sees it now:<o:p abp="1005"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1006">
</div>
<div abp="1007" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3748">
<div abp="2599">
<span abp="1008" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yeah, Barbeau’s tits really were the best thing
about it.</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3915" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3916" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEyLJwqvjCpdQkezty400oa_DghxRYGEXKhmqEzczh-uDL4GmWGJuZ8dr8oB4zJn4OUvxH12II1kSvVxLvufuFVAd7-WXyF_C4spmpHnu1Nqq0rxq0fU7pQaRjJDDlQHM6jY4OZz4VSY/s1600/abt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3917" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEyLJwqvjCpdQkezty400oa_DghxRYGEXKhmqEzczh-uDL4GmWGJuZ8dr8oB4zJn4OUvxH12II1kSvVxLvufuFVAd7-WXyF_C4spmpHnu1Nqq0rxq0fU7pQaRjJDDlQHM6jY4OZz4VSY/s1600/abt.jpg" height="290" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="3748">
<div abp="2605">
<span abp="1012" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="3933" style="color: lime;">(No argument here)<o:p abp="1013"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1014">
</div>
<div abp="1015" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3758">
<div abp="2612">
<span abp="1016" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1017" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="1018" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fantastic Four</b> (1994):</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3935" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3936" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoJlZYjPuV5n73nJd8KLb9WM59NRVQ3CkYCbM8WvUfI_9zgClc5_lDTrBt1LOHRXPaTeE339cNJnZIc7OIUSR5EhwGty4NRcFuVGrT20VUfbJSbJSDdVE_HLTmkS2_6dnXELX4TosGKQ/s1600/Fantastic-Four-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3937" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoJlZYjPuV5n73nJd8KLb9WM59NRVQ3CkYCbM8WvUfI_9zgClc5_lDTrBt1LOHRXPaTeE339cNJnZIc7OIUSR5EhwGty4NRcFuVGrT20VUfbJSbJSDdVE_HLTmkS2_6dnXELX4TosGKQ/s1600/Fantastic-Four-1.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="3758">
<div abp="2620">
<b abp="1022" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="1023" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How
fandom used to see it:<o:p abp="1024"></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1025">
<div abp="2625">
<span abp="1027" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> An unreleased
film which well-deserved being unreleased.<o:p abp="1029"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1030">
<b abp="1032" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="1033" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b> </div>
<div abp="1030">
<b abp="1032" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="1033" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How
fandom sees it now:</span></b></div>
<div abp="1030">
<b abp="1032" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="1033" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="1034"></o:p></span></b> </div>
<div abp="1035">
<div abp="2636">
<span abp="1037" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bad, but still
a better FF movie than the ones that actually made it to theaters.<o:p abp="1039"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1040">
</div>
<div abp="1041" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3789">
<div abp="2642">
<span abp="1042" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3953" style="color: lime;"> (No argument here either)<o:p abp="1043"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1044">
<div abp="2647">
<span abp="1046" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="1048" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Hulk</b> (2003):</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3955" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3956" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP22wsxRh6EhRb2y3jh_oNQwlzDfwdQ1bs4RvL0tDnkSaVr6LIV7Ra06qCcB9-4kC_YlWF6WqRPAGxPY6ci942zwAn0hmiEvK9XiZvnwAwuB9bjHPSWTVSQHlkhVeVa8_eS7w2ZpWCbU/s1600/Hulk_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3957" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP22wsxRh6EhRb2y3jh_oNQwlzDfwdQ1bs4RvL0tDnkSaVr6LIV7Ra06qCcB9-4kC_YlWF6WqRPAGxPY6ci942zwAn0hmiEvK9XiZvnwAwuB9bjHPSWTVSQHlkhVeVa8_eS7w2ZpWCbU/s1600/Hulk_1.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<div abp="1044">
<div abp="2654">
<span abp="1052" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="1054" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> How fandom used to see it:<o:p abp="1055"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1056">
</div>
<div abp="1057" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="3808">
<div abp="2661">
<span abp="1058" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1059" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Not enough
action, too much talk, obvious CGI, stupid hulk dogs.”<o:p abp="1060"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="1061">
<div abp="2666">
<span abp="1063" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="1065" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How fandom saw it’s sequel in 2008:<o:p abp="1066"></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="1067">
</div>
<div abp="3821" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2673">
<span abp="1069" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Too much action! Not enough talk! Hulk isn’t as
endearingly fake-looking! And where’s the first film’s sense of fun with things
like the gamma dogs?”</span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3973" class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3974" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAal-jGe4xo2iHbqvbaaH7qc1JZWTpg9cXP-oppm7oraggwrFImWhRHBi2WDZICd8wmk4F2Gea1HCPFGmK7mhW7dz3vp8Ue2fBv3F1miLGDUFU1bJDghFCHfxSMaRNXIJ-ssdO6T66T4/s1600/000%2520hulk%2520review%2520(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3975" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAal-jGe4xo2iHbqvbaaH7qc1JZWTpg9cXP-oppm7oraggwrFImWhRHBi2WDZICd8wmk4F2Gea1HCPFGmK7mhW7dz3vp8Ue2fBv3F1miLGDUFU1bJDghFCHfxSMaRNXIJ-ssdO6T66T4/s1600/000%2520hulk%2520review%2520(1).jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="3821" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="1072" style="color: lime; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(I hear this <i abp="1073" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a lot</i> on IMDb)</span></div>
<div abp="3821" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span abp="3431" style="color: lime;">~</span></div>
<div abp="3821" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span abp="3432" style="color: lime;"> </span><span abp="3433" style="color: lime;"><span abp="3434" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">So whether for good or for ill, that’s how
things have changed. Hope you enjoyed the list, and who knows how things will
change in just a few years?</span></span></div>
<div abp="3821" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-48896923865950391942014-04-01T20:37:00.001-07:002014-04-01T20:50:36.856-07:00The Great Sharkspiracy of comics!<div abp="127">
</div>
<div abp="1108" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1109" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkRaY25fQWaRt_PkZd7_azPs2UAs0q74N7PdoP-dq_TKEJinIO6tURvA4mQXI1gD0JBHkoV2dIy46Z1FocikEe8XYXdswJi1teYF6F1FyJN6-iIUSP8H-wy4UAEdU2OkFF8SD991ISvk/s1600/killersharkrvsblackhawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1110" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkRaY25fQWaRt_PkZd7_azPs2UAs0q74N7PdoP-dq_TKEJinIO6tURvA4mQXI1gD0JBHkoV2dIy46Z1FocikEe8XYXdswJi1teYF6F1FyJN6-iIUSP8H-wy4UAEdU2OkFF8SD991ISvk/s1600/killersharkrvsblackhawk.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a></div>
<div abp="128" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1664">
<div abp="1665">
<div abp="3188">
<div abp="19">
<div abp="1081">
<span abp="129" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1425" style="color: lime;">You know what I’ve realized about this site? I dwell
on negativity too much, and on things nobody else cares about. So I’ve decided,
what with it being Spring and all, to show off a kinder, gentler side of this
site, and to talk about a subject everyone can get into: God’s fuzzy little
creatures.</span></span><br />
<span abp="129" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1425" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1426"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="131">
<div abp="1669">
<div abp="1671">
<div abp="3195">
<div abp="27">
<div abp="1090">
<span abp="1427" style="color: lime;">
<span abp="1428" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> But then I decided maybe I'd focus on his scaly
little creatures.<o:p abp="1429"></o:p></span></span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<div abp="35">
<div abp="1099">
<span abp="1430" style="color: lime;">
</span></div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="135" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1677">
<div abp="1681">
<div abp="3207">
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<div abp="1106">
<span abp="136" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1431" style="color: lime;"><span abp="1432" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Or maybe his</span> winged
little creatures.</span></span><br />
<span abp="136" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1431" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1433"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
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<div abp="1116">
<span abp="1434" style="color: lime;">
<span abp="1435" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I eventually settled on not-so-little,
not-so-fuzzy, and probably-not-made-by any-benevolent-God-creatures; Sharks.</span></span><br />
<span abp="1434" style="color: lime;"><span abp="1435" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="1436"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
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<span abp="1437" style="color: lime;">
</span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="143" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1691">
<div abp="1698">
<div abp="3227">
<div abp="64">
<div abp="1132">
<span abp="144" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1438" style="color: lime;"><span abp="1439" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have
been all kinds of oddly recurring character types in comics that you wouldn’t
think are widespread, but are. Muck monsters, big-headed villains, armor-clad
tyrants, vigilantes in fedoras and blue suits, dead sidekicks and….sharks. <o:p abp="1440"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div abp="1142">
<span abp="1441" style="color: lime;">
<span abp="1442" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> However, what
began as a simple exercise in my OCD has led me to a rather chilling discovery.
What is it? Read on gentle readers, read on.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="76">
<div abp="1146">
<span abp="1441" style="color: lime;"><span abp="1442" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="1443"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
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<div abp="151" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<div abp="1156">
<span abp="152" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="153" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="154" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8) The Shark</b> (Centaur)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="603" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="604" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOGAW5NoU5jtk2ZoWIx63JlQzB4GkdUxP1SPlZ2O9PnTfn-mVeRxNwf3UybV5V9PIg-Cw0-xsDkXqgLH8GIy12TQ_cNbz8VCoY5dEyIj0oWgemgjWG7WVnTPxnq8hphKjg_gLcdsFmj0/s1600/SharkLewGlanz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="605" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOGAW5NoU5jtk2ZoWIx63JlQzB4GkdUxP1SPlZ2O9PnTfn-mVeRxNwf3UybV5V9PIg-Cw0-xsDkXqgLH8GIy12TQ_cNbz8VCoY5dEyIj0oWgemgjWG7WVnTPxnq8hphKjg_gLcdsFmj0/s1600/SharkLewGlanz.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="155" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1711">
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<div abp="1168">
<span abp="161" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1444" style="color: lime;">First
appearance: <b abp="1445" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amazing Man Comics #6</b>
(Oct. 1939)</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="858" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="859" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaVs_lgiqB_14ybqmp5p-4GuqhMpAsmBSKe-9vMb-tZf-6ynGgqO6ywKgm4Gm6C5MirPMm27Efn-IDNQ__zbAJxxFYczzHPZMzxgoPBhv2AFRTV12Ty4OJLxL_X-nxn1VPi5fEkgD2xs/s1600/sharkintroa6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="860" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaVs_lgiqB_14ybqmp5p-4GuqhMpAsmBSKe-9vMb-tZf-6ynGgqO6ywKgm4Gm6C5MirPMm27Efn-IDNQ__zbAJxxFYczzHPZMzxgoPBhv2AFRTV12Ty4OJLxL_X-nxn1VPi5fEkgD2xs/s1600/sharkintroa6.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
<div abp="155" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span abp="166" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1721" style="color: lime;">This
character here was the first shark-based character in comics, and would you
believe it? He debuted the same month and year as comics' most famous aquatic hero, Namor! Now, while it’s true that Namor
had appeared earlier in a promotional comic that was never released, they still
both have the distinction of being the first aquatic heroes in comics.
Actually, considering that Namor wasn’t really a hero in his early stories so
much as a villain protagonist, you could <i abp="168" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">still</i>
argue that the Shark was the first aquatic hero in comics! Also, while Namor
had yet to be retconned as coming from Atlantis, the Shark’s Greco-Roman
connections where explicit from the start: He was Neptune’s son.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="633" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="634" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVrWhGc6OjOA_hmaSnROA6HfVLAPekNitLDa29djfiWpr_QCSuqDNDWebI2ZRLq3Zg1AdycRYh_yHdjtsmcXkn5sOS_h89GHVzTUnlyJTMwf2BtF4O45NFVAdajp-1XLZIqNGZc6RRho/s1600/sharkmeetsneptune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="635" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVrWhGc6OjOA_hmaSnROA6HfVLAPekNitLDa29djfiWpr_QCSuqDNDWebI2ZRLq3Zg1AdycRYh_yHdjtsmcXkn5sOS_h89GHVzTUnlyJTMwf2BtF4O45NFVAdajp-1XLZIqNGZc6RRho/s1600/sharkmeetsneptune.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="171" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1446" style="color: lime;">It’s also
worth noting that he had futuristic technology like a TV screen that could see
anywhere, as well as scales on his trucks very similar to Namor’s, but
predating them.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="658" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="659" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnQljb2wyyajqEV1GZiTO-KWlC53oo-haHJI08Hrn12qokirlyoznUsB24dRSyxwpbReOG6upijXUIAawu3BrTUrZIPrckPzh0p19s38G1oIlBrfeDZS-_2LB5WIXABpEJkSZsqZHZpc/s1600/sharktv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="660" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnQljb2wyyajqEV1GZiTO-KWlC53oo-haHJI08Hrn12qokirlyoznUsB24dRSyxwpbReOG6upijXUIAawu3BrTUrZIPrckPzh0p19s38G1oIlBrfeDZS-_2LB5WIXABpEJkSZsqZHZpc/s1600/sharktv.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div abp="1203">
<span abp="175" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1447" style="color: lime;">Created by
Lew Glanz, The Shark also shared <b abp="1448" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amazing
Man Comics</b> with Bill Everett’s character Amazing Man (obviously) and an
adventure strip called Chuck Hardy and the Land beneath the Sea. So in other words,
he was quite at home. Lew Glanz may not have been an overlooked genius, but he
did have a knack for utilizing big panels at a time when doing so was unusual.</span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div abp="683" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="684" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliHbOZDesWymW2h-XRT_NFb0QzyT1mbAZj6Tif0acGPokXX4J-gpwuhm8S9pvUK5X_phPO2SHwJ8S8HJhtUVnYdndrAkV66eb5JXT-iIOa0eK3-NGseXv0gfQ5yKMJfza7p8y7Nnrfq0/s1600/glanzsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="685" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliHbOZDesWymW2h-XRT_NFb0QzyT1mbAZj6Tif0acGPokXX4J-gpwuhm8S9pvUK5X_phPO2SHwJ8S8HJhtUVnYdndrAkV66eb5JXT-iIOa0eK3-NGseXv0gfQ5yKMJfza7p8y7Nnrfq0/s1600/glanzsplash.jpg" height="320" width="288" /></a></div>
<div abp="164">
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<span abp="180" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1744" style="color: lime;">That said,
aside from those distinctions, the Shark was a fairly bland hero without the
personality quirks that made Namor so interesting. Still, he gets props for
being the first, and since some of the Centaur publications characters have
appeared in Marvel continuity or at its old Malibu imprint, there’s no reason
Marvel can’t bring him back. </span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="1219">
<span abp="180" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1744" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="181"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
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<span abp="1449" style="color: lime;">
<span abp="1450" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="1767">
<div abp="3305">
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<div abp="1236">
<span abp="185" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1451" style="color: lime;"> Speaking of
Sub-Mariner…<o:p abp="1452"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="161">
<div abp="1241">
</div>
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<div abp="188" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1757">
<div abp="1774">
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<div abp="1248">
<span abp="189" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="190" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="191" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7) The Shark</b> (Timely/Marvel)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<div abp="1780">
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<div abp="1257">
<span abp="194" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1453" style="color: lime;">First
Appearance: <b abp="1454" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sub-Mariner Comics #23</b>
(Summer 1947)<o:p abp="1455"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="197">
<div abp="1768">
<div abp="1787">
<div abp="3328">
<div abp="184">
<div abp="1267">
<span abp="198" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
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<div abp="190">
<div abp="1274">
<span abp="200" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1456" style="color: lime;">While I’ve
sung praises of Bill Everett’s return to his greatest creation in the 1950’s,
his initial return to the character in the late 40’s was pretty hit or miss
based on what little I’ve seen. One example of this was <b abp="1457" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sub-Mariner #23</b>, where on the cover by Syd Shores we were promised
a hideous, green-skinned, amphibious shark-man:</span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
<div abp="708" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="709" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiW3qMOShrwC3vvzVp8n0AZmG3kqhBNXdlZVCAc8X07WuLNAsO57VPGpYxf0SnmiKIReLLG69EeVc8F_xOFZ8yIlD9KfqhOw93o16_mxgCG3VqG5Wsx6Sdjq-StPpED4HSGCsC8E6LIM/s1600/submariner23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="710" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiW3qMOShrwC3vvzVp8n0AZmG3kqhBNXdlZVCAc8X07WuLNAsO57VPGpYxf0SnmiKIReLLG69EeVc8F_xOFZ8yIlD9KfqhOw93o16_mxgCG3VqG5Wsx6Sdjq-StPpED4HSGCsC8E6LIM/s1600/submariner23.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span abp="206" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1458" style="color: lime;">And on the
inside (drawn by Everett), we got an ordinary smuggler with a big nose and
sharp teeth:</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="733" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="734" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzEGShbtXTwTMsAf0xgOz-3yRHN42CwgAUHXd9MfbSlaQTuHwuVuP8bX4K5uB4sA2Qh3BpQ3RO8CrK8sDx7QhTNYY8c624R585KN1_BEIgY3oSUQYuAu2qMaB6hANqQ1Rtdn-UYl-ViY/s1600/submarinershark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="735" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzEGShbtXTwTMsAf0xgOz-3yRHN42CwgAUHXd9MfbSlaQTuHwuVuP8bX4K5uB4sA2Qh3BpQ3RO8CrK8sDx7QhTNYY8c624R585KN1_BEIgY3oSUQYuAu2qMaB6hANqQ1Rtdn-UYl-ViY/s1600/submarinershark.jpg" height="320" width="165" /></a></div>
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<div abp="1297">
<span abp="211" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1459" style="color: lime;">Kind of
disappointing, huh? And to make matters worse, he wasn’t even the first
animal-themed big-nosed smuggler with bad teeth Sub-Mariner had fought. There was
The Fox all the way back in 1942’s <b abp="1460" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel
Mystery Comics #27</b>:</span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
<div abp="758" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="759" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN65kFBPPRI0gB0lbWiZ5DUx0yDc8ojTpVvVt4ABwCvufNzaV8gpndtXkNMTHSs21bU8Gm_PLZ0Xp1PF6uXgd9Pgh546R_NyqgXIA1pcDWk2Auz9c0jdsQM98vL_5a8pFigAXcsrugbdM/s1600/fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="760" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN65kFBPPRI0gB0lbWiZ5DUx0yDc8ojTpVvVt4ABwCvufNzaV8gpndtXkNMTHSs21bU8Gm_PLZ0Xp1PF6uXgd9Pgh546R_NyqgXIA1pcDWk2Auz9c0jdsQM98vL_5a8pFigAXcsrugbdM/s1600/fox.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span abp="216" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1461" style="color: lime;">But despite
his blandness, Roy Thomas remembered the villain, and brought him back for <b abp="1462" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Invaders Annual 1</b> in 1977, a brilliant
parody (at least, I <i abp="1463" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hope</i> that’s what
Thomas was going for) of Golden Age team-up book formats, with each character
branching off into their own separate chapter drawn by different artists. The
story involved The Invaders investigating three villains who had joined with
the Axis; Agent Axis (a Boy Commandos villain Jack Kirby misremembered as being
a Captain America villain), The Hyena (a Human Torch villain) and of course,
The Shark (whose original story was retconned to have taken place in 1941).</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
<div abp="783" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="784" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVBGRGfnuSp-dxwRoKB-ip0CPqI4KzcILB2Ya_EzDsTWmYKdghmPZUCsIdHIWdUY2aFKdZTVZ-Sq15Mt3afUmioAS0mIK0clYjrIfPmOoOdmlvQQ3OPT-TmqZd9s75CXVzV1-60ctWOU/s1600/invadersannual1villains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="785" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVBGRGfnuSp-dxwRoKB-ip0CPqI4KzcILB2Ya_EzDsTWmYKdghmPZUCsIdHIWdUY2aFKdZTVZ-Sq15Mt3afUmioAS0mIK0clYjrIfPmOoOdmlvQQ3OPT-TmqZd9s75CXVzV1-60ctWOU/s1600/invadersannual1villains.jpg" height="159" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div abp="1322">
<span abp="222" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1464" style="color: lime;">Art-wise, it
wasn’t too successful at creating a Golden Age feel (except for Alex
Schomburg’s Human Torch chapter), but when it came to replicating the gimcrack
logic of Golden Age comics, Thomas hit the nail on the head.</span> <o:p abp="223"></o:p></span></div>
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<span abp="226" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="227" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="1465" style="color: lime;">The Shark’s
big evil plan in the Sub-Mariner story was…to steal Namor’s speedo, and he did:</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="808" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="809" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNSa_f-Ptv0AyhtWc_uLSY5bF1mp0htNdV15VAK0DZVwlbo2Lkk5SILTSq0jlFaKHaoKzxeMKoMXlwFVyQov1-hwdQB62_FBhUELcuEdGDw07d_9qOhQEUx6jb2Fiwz2KD5dNn7JMXT8/s1600/namorshark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="810" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNSa_f-Ptv0AyhtWc_uLSY5bF1mp0htNdV15VAK0DZVwlbo2Lkk5SILTSq0jlFaKHaoKzxeMKoMXlwFVyQov1-hwdQB62_FBhUELcuEdGDw07d_9qOhQEUx6jb2Fiwz2KD5dNn7JMXT8/s1600/namorshark.jpg" height="320" width="281" /></a></div>
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<span abp="230" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1466" style="color: lime;">No, I’m not
making this up or cutting out some crucial context, read the whole thing:</span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="833" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="834" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I-NVrbXmGMujnA-DVQ3PNZRcHS10EXpE78SpdRPgOGRiSY9MX94BxTy4a3mndUhp1CdenEV8NSDITI2c23b052EspuVCfs93AMYya1FE-UBX-xyNAabvJCsa_j4Ja1l1DR9enB9rQIk/s1600/namorpants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="835" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I-NVrbXmGMujnA-DVQ3PNZRcHS10EXpE78SpdRPgOGRiSY9MX94BxTy4a3mndUhp1CdenEV8NSDITI2c23b052EspuVCfs93AMYya1FE-UBX-xyNAabvJCsa_j4Ja1l1DR9enB9rQIk/s1600/namorpants.jpg" height="320" width="203" /></a></div>
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<span abp="234" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1467" style="color: lime;">Needless to
say, his scheme was foiled. Namor would later gain for a far more enduring foe
patterned after a shark, but for being one of the few villains who it can be
confirmed, in canon, came up with a scheme which involved undressing the hero,
The Shark deserves a special place in the supervillain hall of fame.<o:p abp="1468"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span abp="238" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="239" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 6)</b> <b abp="240" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Killer
Shark</b> (Quality/DC)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="883" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="884" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYbts0Q_4RkSyOzOMlxUT40K8iN4U-Zbs-FYpRlPIaGcSi4QwJGIulzjn2pOf4i2gncSf3Ul8jV8Xq-WpjuLWgGQGiFRQkqIlfa-dd8IwnwXShKhFrurbx8OorWW9QChWd1bkgPe_IUs/s1600/Blackhawk108KillerShark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="885" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYbts0Q_4RkSyOzOMlxUT40K8iN4U-Zbs-FYpRlPIaGcSi4QwJGIulzjn2pOf4i2gncSf3Ul8jV8Xq-WpjuLWgGQGiFRQkqIlfa-dd8IwnwXShKhFrurbx8OorWW9QChWd1bkgPe_IUs/s1600/Blackhawk108KillerShark.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div abp="1378">
<span abp="244" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1839" style="color: lime;">First
Appearance:<b abp="246" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Blackhawk #50</b></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<span abp="244" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="246" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p abp="247"><span abp="1469" style="color: lime;"></span></o:p></b></span> </div>
</div>
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<div abp="1397">
<span abp="1470" style="color: lime;">
<span abp="1471" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Boy does this
character have a convoluted history. He was a post-War villain (mostly just a
pirate and bank robber) from the Blackhawk’s original Quality run who appeared
only three times (each with huge gaps between each other) before DC built him
up as a major recurring villain once they acquired the rights, then years later
he was retconned as a Nazi whom Blackhawk had faced during the war, and then
retconned as a separate character from, and then a successor, of the same Nazi
villain. It’s funny how in all of their marketing, DC tries to build up
Blackhawk as some sort of brooding war comic, when, even back in the Quality
days, outlandish adventures with villains like Killer Shark seemed to be the
rule rather than the exception.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="1083" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1084" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGLRlNTvfwfP4AsA5YG4BL7lF9S124XPbdXoPS3_ypXX2rLvM4HfsRDMUH9nHcil7aS5OddMV09JEQ7Y6ETly6axXwx1jozsW1pzkOQPI6bq-8y5NM3dGMvsPxOL_vAvdeRYswqtHk10/s1600/blackhawk270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1085" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGLRlNTvfwfP4AsA5YG4BL7lF9S124XPbdXoPS3_ypXX2rLvM4HfsRDMUH9nHcil7aS5OddMV09JEQ7Y6ETly6axXwx1jozsW1pzkOQPI6bq-8y5NM3dGMvsPxOL_vAvdeRYswqtHk10/s1600/blackhawk270.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<div abp="251">
</div>
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<div abp="1856">
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<div abp="1409">
<span abp="253" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="254" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="1472" style="color: lime;">Still, as far
as villains go, he’s not so bad. In fact, most Blackhawk fans consider him the
closest thing the Hawks have to an archenemy. In his early stories he was just
a crook, like I said, but he did have an amusing habit of using the same old
scheme over and over again in all of his stories: Trying to kill Blackhawk
himself with a tank containing a sea creature in it.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="908" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="909" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2N7RxrR8u45jIccn9wPLxCz98H5akt2mswybbDirrAXe_F2h_uAOQEUy_y61_5UTl23AgB3AaKw-X6ChFxxk1GycDrSohAW3bEASvtQAG-ZmLntOO3CXKoAeSh-ON4fXASL4FrVNmRVc/s1600/blakchawk70tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="910" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2N7RxrR8u45jIccn9wPLxCz98H5akt2mswybbDirrAXe_F2h_uAOQEUy_y61_5UTl23AgB3AaKw-X6ChFxxk1GycDrSohAW3bEASvtQAG-ZmLntOO3CXKoAeSh-ON4fXASL4FrVNmRVc/s1600/blakchawk70tank.jpg" height="274" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="933" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="934" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZFhJNlwBMgpSYD3Qimx7ALLUfF3lTvo_F8BS0fTUeUXdq_E0_6LIKhplqBW5BJ_v9WzUAI5ekHFrxaUEpg867hFWFP924ZJh1sIHp0rlWlaCIxl43nh3ukTTnZMkDbEuZvo74EI7SM4/s1600/sharkrepellent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="935" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZFhJNlwBMgpSYD3Qimx7ALLUfF3lTvo_F8BS0fTUeUXdq_E0_6LIKhplqBW5BJ_v9WzUAI5ekHFrxaUEpg867hFWFP924ZJh1sIHp0rlWlaCIxl43nh3ukTTnZMkDbEuZvo74EI7SM4/s1600/sharkrepellent.png" height="137" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="933" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Batman wasn't the only hero to carry shark-repellent, who knew?</div>
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<span abp="257" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
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<span abp="257" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1473" style="color: lime;">To be fair,
he was a pretty cold-blooded creep (from his debut in <b abp="1474" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blackhawk #50</b>):</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="958" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="959" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX8zFgYJrsR-FABgllGk_0fSdhDYKTIbGF6HxrVOWyzqqQCDDvKmaUnKtSzv7b8R3Nk4XgSzlAG1FETGQMN9bKQQDKAFjeLikSrzPpZ9jqyfg7ZjEXw6dBGknex5uYSH0E18E97vzmNI/s1600/killersharkdebut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="960" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX8zFgYJrsR-FABgllGk_0fSdhDYKTIbGF6HxrVOWyzqqQCDDvKmaUnKtSzv7b8R3Nk4XgSzlAG1FETGQMN9bKQQDKAFjeLikSrzPpZ9jqyfg7ZjEXw6dBGknex5uYSH0E18E97vzmNI/s1600/killersharkdebut.jpg" height="269" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="262" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1881" style="color: lime;">His coolest
moment came in <b abp="264" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blackhawk #81</b> where
he sent out a fleet of giant mechanical sea monsters to ravage ships:</span></span></div>
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<div abp="983" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="984" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABg3QkrNUpqxoLnjOKRPxGV5LrSzlqtNPMoTV4vhFs-vR8e96ZeEEZlIyOvCwTtNOmLC3asSQTkLJjqKHMzF0qi9tsq4UZvyGQgSs0xEntWzUy9yzNYEfSPi2RLnhy6CWEeSGaKuN78Y/s1600/blackhawk81seamonsters1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="985" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABg3QkrNUpqxoLnjOKRPxGV5LrSzlqtNPMoTV4vhFs-vR8e96ZeEEZlIyOvCwTtNOmLC3asSQTkLJjqKHMzF0qi9tsq4UZvyGQgSs0xEntWzUy9yzNYEfSPi2RLnhy6CWEeSGaKuN78Y/s1600/blackhawk81seamonsters1.jpg" height="301" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1008" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1009" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv07w5arsq53wcySUiNuCfuFYM5AAvQM9dsFc8o8Y-JoDYdbf8zjOhV48jHyd775ZCyWoH6jSuNx0JkSWlvs00Yx47q5UswzqwTwLeOkRCXzYEVfIzPQ7-Yie7FrpyRodDVb-mGKhMtdY/s1600/blakchawk81seamonsters2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1010" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv07w5arsq53wcySUiNuCfuFYM5AAvQM9dsFc8o8Y-JoDYdbf8zjOhV48jHyd775ZCyWoH6jSuNx0JkSWlvs00Yx47q5UswzqwTwLeOkRCXzYEVfIzPQ7-Yie7FrpyRodDVb-mGKhMtdY/s1600/blakchawk81seamonsters2.jpg" height="149" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="267" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1892" style="color: lime;">Most of his
Silver Age DC appearances had him turning Lady Blackhawk into his henchwoman
“Queen Killer Shark” through mind control, which, believe it or not, has endured as an aspect of her character to this day:</span></span></div>
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<a abp="1034" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECO9dRLsttvvuwUGUCkcTAuCv8oM6aHWD4r5x7qZMdvnr3e0nxrGTPxyxQ7bkPWVoOO9V279EadOkTH_sucgBoTtw83INDBpjnMqkreKos69BAKloR28cjzecVL1Ohsqh7X5ZWoH927M/s1600/200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1035" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECO9dRLsttvvuwUGUCkcTAuCv8oM6aHWD4r5x7qZMdvnr3e0nxrGTPxyxQ7bkPWVoOO9V279EadOkTH_sucgBoTtw83INDBpjnMqkreKos69BAKloR28cjzecVL1Ohsqh7X5ZWoH927M/s1600/200.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<div abp="1058" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1059" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfD9yd23BsK6-PW_eam7ZdphFdKEKeaV3oOVtHMNQitMcfD5snh8rcBQT5jXQnAFs1XqmdhzcY60hA2DP1IR510YxHgQtIjif6gGu0rYE6a8acQA2-mvwUg1e0xH9DgkWPxtUQCtTOgpA/s1600/Birds_of_Prey_Vol_1_116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1060" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfD9yd23BsK6-PW_eam7ZdphFdKEKeaV3oOVtHMNQitMcfD5snh8rcBQT5jXQnAFs1XqmdhzcY60hA2DP1IR510YxHgQtIjif6gGu0rYE6a8acQA2-mvwUg1e0xH9DgkWPxtUQCtTOgpA/s1600/Birds_of_Prey_Vol_1_116.jpg" height="320" width="203" /></a></div>
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<span abp="271" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="1902" style="color: lime;">He may not
have the best costume, but you gotta respect a character that has lasted so
long that most people would consider a poor fit for the series which features
him.<o:p abp="273"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span abp="275" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="276" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 5) The Shark</b> (again!) (DC)</span></div>
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<div abp="2569" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2570" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OTIqrIn_VyWUZPyC79Od06q2nxmDazXeT_p-vaCK0MqT99v3IkIdh_UaaQFreHu7a1TwRoRlYjkja2kEtXbMXd7LO_6cMYVs3kjZ2oNWMWBQxbfF-Cz6FjEkulcyQgCdxo2xxQeMWP0/s1600/bb_49793_0_GreenLanternVol2175SharkBait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2571" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OTIqrIn_VyWUZPyC79Od06q2nxmDazXeT_p-vaCK0MqT99v3IkIdh_UaaQFreHu7a1TwRoRlYjkja2kEtXbMXd7LO_6cMYVs3kjZ2oNWMWBQxbfF-Cz6FjEkulcyQgCdxo2xxQeMWP0/s1600/bb_49793_0_GreenLanternVol2175SharkBait.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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<div abp="1494">
<span abp="280" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1475" style="color: lime;"> First
Appearance: <b abp="1476" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green Lantern vol.2 #24</b></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span abp="280" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1475" style="color: lime;"><strong abp="2611"></strong><o:p abp="1477"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<div abp="1918">
<div abp="1962">
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<div abp="1512">
<span abp="1478" style="color: lime;">
</span><span abp="285" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1921" style="color: lime;"> Probably the most well-known character on this list,
this creature is one of my favorite ridiculous villains, and also a good
example of what happens when you try too hard to modernize a character. He was
a tiger shark who was exposed to nuclear waste, which somehow evolved him into
a humanoid shark (with the ability to change into a human form).</span> </span></div>
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<div abp="1479" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1480" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXODNDu_f3I5u9rSV1A3DQsEsz-Wogl_3bmpr_FooACWD-Xx7zWflStKnFJng-SWH16UE6Fs3KMvdcDB2xWizGfueOrGxKWoxbCYB9jwVV0C5sKryjOu6Fx06kDZxyyA_hfz0GN6Nk-Y/s1600/glSharkorigin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1481" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXODNDu_f3I5u9rSV1A3DQsEsz-Wogl_3bmpr_FooACWD-Xx7zWflStKnFJng-SWH16UE6Fs3KMvdcDB2xWizGfueOrGxKWoxbCYB9jwVV0C5sKryjOu6Fx06kDZxyyA_hfz0GN6Nk-Y/s1600/glSharkorigin.jpg" height="314" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="284">
<div abp="1926">
<div abp="1971">
<div abp="3535">
<div abp="416">
<div abp="1524">
<span abp="289" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1482" style="color: lime;"> Now as far as
villains go, there’s really nothing better or worse about that origin or
concept than any other, but what really made it funny was that he also
developed (not kidding) telepathic powers! It resulted in entire stories that
could have easily involved Hector Hammond or Sinestro and which made so little
use of The Shark being, well, a shark, that it seemed pointless. </span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
<div abp="1539" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="1540" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF9TB9bvxjeK5wjk3pKaAPGic091_JKqODccSGGiAIpz9UF3Iw547iv6L7PBw0IAKew3eqj4ma92uzeuCsxhQxdxP-j4gpJPiq901Ph7oIkVxQZn8GYpuoqe98R9wNYLPEXYyfcAqQbg/s1600/glsharkpowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1541" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF9TB9bvxjeK5wjk3pKaAPGic091_JKqODccSGGiAIpz9UF3Iw547iv6L7PBw0IAKew3eqj4ma92uzeuCsxhQxdxP-j4gpJPiq901Ph7oIkVxQZn8GYpuoqe98R9wNYLPEXYyfcAqQbg/s1600/glsharkpowers.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
<div abp="284">
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<div abp="3544">
<div abp="426">
<div abp="1535">
<span abp="289" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1482" style="color: lime;"> That is,
except when he would fly around the city by telepathically summoning waves of
water that would float in air and carry him around the city in:</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2314" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2315" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickfm_aH5Oe3kyh3cVTuEMxqhjhWjGalgeA6j6WeC_q4l4tdFjfHJn5uRtkLnoA7AFtQlaN9h66qZf8IEoMzI5gIJVamXiUjKv0DN_LwNKh97MkRV5LMo2gjGj3XJ2YPNywfT4YByHPr8/s1600/gl28.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2316" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickfm_aH5Oe3kyh3cVTuEMxqhjhWjGalgeA6j6WeC_q4l4tdFjfHJn5uRtkLnoA7AFtQlaN9h66qZf8IEoMzI5gIJVamXiUjKv0DN_LwNKh97MkRV5LMo2gjGj3XJ2YPNywfT4YByHPr8/s1600/gl28.bmp" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1936">
<div abp="1986">
<div abp="3552">
<div abp="435">
<div abp="1545">
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="284">
<div abp="1940">
<div abp="1989">
<div abp="3556">
<div abp="440">
<div abp="1551">
<span abp="289" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> <span abp="293" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1484" style="color: lime;">That….that is
just the type of totally batshit concept that is the reason people read comics.
Actually, scratch that, loads of non-comics readers like that type of nonsense
too. Remember the ruckus everyone threw over that <i abp="1485" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sharknado</i> movie? DC could have reprinted his two silver age stories
in a one-shot to cash in on it.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="445">
<div abp="1557">
<span abp="293" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1484" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="1486"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="297" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1955">
<div abp="1998">
<div abp="3566">
<div abp="454">
<div abp="1567">
<span abp="298" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="299" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="1487" style="color: lime;">After that,
he made most of his appearances in Aquaman’s titles (a far more logical choice)
and perhaps most memorably, <b abp="1488" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Action
Comics</b> #456 with a cover resembling a rather familiar movie poster, even
though the story inside was a fairly typical one, mainly distinguished by
featuring short-lived Superman supporting character Captain Strong; a Popeye
parody.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2612" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2613" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14miHnrJ3nGnIyK0ZhRF808HJJQRqVKkO6f24Ods6Pu7W1ZARKx7MKldDx3yRjCjtsYLux48jY2n4WVd8iOTZyupRGSnY_KHXMx3_LGyOKTgCiBdT1TRv5kmlhzUD_7gopqQHCT6nnAA/s1600/actioncomics456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2614" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14miHnrJ3nGnIyK0ZhRF808HJJQRqVKkO6f24Ods6Pu7W1ZARKx7MKldDx3yRjCjtsYLux48jY2n4WVd8iOTZyupRGSnY_KHXMx3_LGyOKTgCiBdT1TRv5kmlhzUD_7gopqQHCT6nnAA/s1600/actioncomics456.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
<div abp="1955">
<div abp="2007">
<div abp="3576">
<div abp="465">
<div abp="1579">
</div>
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<div abp="2336" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2337" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHAbBV_HJykOr-g8Q72LIPBlLNzRy-dgGBbUPWqV31eT1s98PhjMlecNqb6-sxX1fdIwYiUwErU8FtsV18BgRs8C8t-0VsoS4dXYMrWR3c5vfOkQmT1DMCAtz4JaK8BWCkBsYI82Cpuc/s1600/action456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2338" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHAbBV_HJykOr-g8Q72LIPBlLNzRy-dgGBbUPWqV31eT1s98PhjMlecNqb6-sxX1fdIwYiUwErU8FtsV18BgRs8C8t-0VsoS4dXYMrWR3c5vfOkQmT1DMCAtz4JaK8BWCkBsYI82Cpuc/s1600/action456.jpg" height="320" width="195" /></a></div>
<div abp="1955">
<div abp="2012">
<div abp="3582">
<div abp="472">
<div abp="1587">
<span abp="1490" style="color: lime;"><span abp="1491" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Easy to mock
as The Shark is, he was kinda endearing. That is, until Geoff Johns made him a <i abp="1492" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jaws</i> wannabe who goes around eating
people and biting off their limbs with blood spraying everywhere:</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2354" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2355" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvKz0Tc9Aap7m2DevmP0esRUhlORH2X3aDz1aqUQb7BTP3s05ygz1ZNxjY1q985YQ7leySBa323r1Z_VPPe_Eol6PzIN1IUV8ncDdIRnvbWzwT74I8hSD_jA1ADoYI99kyRHtXxyRAAE/s1600/907201-shark_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2356" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvKz0Tc9Aap7m2DevmP0esRUhlORH2X3aDz1aqUQb7BTP3s05ygz1ZNxjY1q985YQ7leySBa323r1Z_VPPe_Eol6PzIN1IUV8ncDdIRnvbWzwT74I8hSD_jA1ADoYI99kyRHtXxyRAAE/s1600/907201-shark_1.jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a></div>
<div abp="1955">
<div abp="2020">
<div abp="3591">
<div abp="482">
<div abp="1598">
<span abp="308" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="1973" style="color: lime;"> You know, while
it may be a logical way of utilizing the character, especially since he’s
driven by his predator instincts…doesn’t that just seem like overkill for such
a silly villain? He’s just another vicious monster now, and weirdly enough,
nowhere near as memorable. Hell, some artists don’t even seem to know what
species of shark he’s supposed to be. I guess some villains really are better
off being corny and ridiculous.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="312" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1976">
<div abp="2025">
<div abp="3597">
<div abp="489">
<div abp="1606">
<span abp="313" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="314" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="315" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4) Kai-Mak</b> (Timely/Marvel)<o:p abp="316"></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="317">
<div abp="1982">
<div abp="2032">
<div abp="3605">
<div abp="498">
<div abp="1616">
<span abp="318" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="2518" style="color: lime;">First
Appearance: <b abp="319" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel Mystery Comics #23</b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="498">
<div abp="1621">
<span abp="318" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2518" style="color: lime;"><strong abp="1624"></strong><o:p abp="320"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<div abp="321">
</div>
<div abp="322" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="1988">
<div abp="2040">
<div abp="3614">
<div abp="508">
<div abp="1632">
<span abp="323" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="324" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="2521" style="color: lime;">Unlike Killer
Shark or Green Lantern’s Shark, Kai-Mak here only ever made one appearance, all
the way back in 1941. Yet, what he lacks in appearances, he more than makes up
for in sheer awesomeness.<o:p abp="325"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<div abp="1993">
<div abp="2047">
<div abp="3622">
<div abp="517">
<div abp="1642">
<span abp="327" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="2550" style="color: lime;">Kai-Mak is a
big, evil shark with a Hitler hair style who is worshipped by the Zambiji
people, all of whom offer him sacrifices during the full moon. He also can come
on land, talk and is easily enraged if anyone ever calls him ugly or a coward.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2523" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2524" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK77xKPQ0oMV6FwisqVEP9I0_3D0IBQ9eeEwtAx79GALy2dPXRxhI5WeGBM7j84ZnCvMv8jbiZWlqZuLtxb42YzTgj0OdXkKME3FS1jgmn0ffgV6cpGvzKt11iBMHgNRGRHdlA3_fNN18/s1600/visionmeetskaimak.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2525" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK77xKPQ0oMV6FwisqVEP9I0_3D0IBQ9eeEwtAx79GALy2dPXRxhI5WeGBM7j84ZnCvMv8jbiZWlqZuLtxb42YzTgj0OdXkKME3FS1jgmn0ffgV6cpGvzKt11iBMHgNRGRHdlA3_fNN18/s1600/visionmeetskaimak.png" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="1993">
<div abp="2054">
<div abp="3630">
<div abp="526">
<div abp="1652">
<span abp="331" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2529" style="color: lime;"> He fought
Aarkus, the Golden Age Vision, to a standstill before having his mouth ripped
apart by the hero. This is notable for being one of the first all-out brawls
Simon & Kirby ever depicted between a superhero and villain.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2551" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2552" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbnlFWRjP9WF4U1GEBul_i0J-hux1wi0jWb82u21Ro6CLaTh0ZxkjroA4tuVkjq5BNFBmo4LlupX03NK-MfUemFaiqNpRjqmxJHoQRzd4Ui3UsgU6Fg9zkF6L13V0BCWNhxBvSv8z2jw/s1600/aarkusvskaimak.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2553" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbnlFWRjP9WF4U1GEBul_i0J-hux1wi0jWb82u21Ro6CLaTh0ZxkjroA4tuVkjq5BNFBmo4LlupX03NK-MfUemFaiqNpRjqmxJHoQRzd4Ui3UsgU6Fg9zkF6L13V0BCWNhxBvSv8z2jw/s1600/aarkusvskaimak.png" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
<div abp="1993">
<div abp="2061">
<div abp="3638">
<div abp="535">
<div abp="1662">
<span abp="331" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2529" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="333"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div abp="2003">
<div abp="2067">
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<div abp="543">
<div abp="1671">
<span abp="335" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2532" style="color: lime;"> Despite his
apparent death, Kai-Mak is just begging for a comeback. Couldn’t you see him
battling the Agents of Atlas? Or being featured on the cover of <b abp="336" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tales to Astonish</b> or something (“I
Fought Kai-Mak—the Shark God from the Sea!”)? If a talking tree can become a
featured character in a major motion picture, anything is possible.<o:p abp="337"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="543">
<div abp="1677">
</div>
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</div>
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<div abp="2009">
<div abp="2075">
<div abp="3654">
<div abp="553">
<div abp="1684">
<span abp="340" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="341" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="342" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3) Hook Jaw</b> (Albion)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2630" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2631" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_NbNKVz6goLHakVHVaxGOtBYnykJOi8GlOVVLB8yT1JXA024Wrcoh4uTHICNTDK0UoKLJ7mGvWUJeFm8xh6IDE69sL9sdPkKQesq6OyyZ-1rEIA4vwTKLpqr2hOsk52OPb0yiWT3sKQ/s1600/hookjaw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2632" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_NbNKVz6goLHakVHVaxGOtBYnykJOi8GlOVVLB8yT1JXA024Wrcoh4uTHICNTDK0UoKLJ7mGvWUJeFm8xh6IDE69sL9sdPkKQesq6OyyZ-1rEIA4vwTKLpqr2hOsk52OPb0yiWT3sKQ/s1600/hookjaw.png" height="184" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2009">
<div abp="2083">
<div abp="3663">
<div abp="563">
<div abp="1695">
<span abp="345" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2572" style="color: lime;"> First
appearance: <b abp="346" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Action #1</b> (No, not <i abp="347" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> <b abp="348" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Action #1</b>)<o:p abp="349"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="350">
<div abp="2091">
<div abp="3672">
<div abp="573">
<div abp="1706">
<span abp="352" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2578" style="color: lime;"> Now here’s a
really unusual choice. First, this shark is from a British comic. Second, he’s
the <i abp="354" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">protagonist</i> of his series! Now,
usually you’d think a comic starring an animal would be a humor comic. </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="350">
<div abp="2096">
<div abp="3678">
<div abp="580">
<div abp="1714">
<span abp="352" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2578" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="355"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="356">
<div abp="2029">
<div abp="2102">
<div abp="3685">
<div abp="588">
<div abp="1723">
<span abp="357" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2582" style="color: lime;"> Well, does
this look like a humor comic to you?</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2648" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2649" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcCmnSB6aQSfnN9gxqGCs30ixHK2VS_22gODrMcw3_4AKILmh9aCWUCC1FMRwF6wXE4znMCUzUMKh-K7lEmgH7MdsBOhAgeBMQl4QyqfDKaty3Y2Va4gD0lq_MssxB2ChCr6nNFHxv8w/s1600/HookJaw01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2650" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcCmnSB6aQSfnN9gxqGCs30ixHK2VS_22gODrMcw3_4AKILmh9aCWUCC1FMRwF6wXE4znMCUzUMKh-K7lEmgH7MdsBOhAgeBMQl4QyqfDKaty3Y2Va4gD0lq_MssxB2ChCr6nNFHxv8w/s1600/HookJaw01.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<div abp="2029">
<div abp="2109">
<div abp="3693">
<div abp="597">
<div abp="1733">
<span abp="361" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2585" style="color: lime;"> Hook Jaw was
a series about a shark that hates humans because he got a harpoon stuck in the
middle of his lower jaw. It started out as sort of a <i abp="363" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jaws</i>-rip off centered around a crooked oil rig company and a hero
named Rick Mason, but apparently in its final installments evolved into a
bizarre sort of serialized anthology horror comic in the <i abp="364" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man Thing</i> vein, with various criminals who would end up eaten by
Hook Jaw. I get the impression that fans preferred the earlier stories, but I
gotta say, the idea of doing a series about a shark that just happens to keep
eating criminals week after week, with a harpoon stuck in his jaw, is one of
the greatest concepts I’ve ever heard.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<a abp="2703" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6udnuu5wcjHTzElj12riQzYT06tteeElD3dJKIiLTu3iiircXsjq4mpMY0OJ_b1HT_mpR8r0Dp3RHtGiIihCv-ZJCOUiQfeo3o_fJoFJl7kBMKfcwsHeyPQc_GRa9g2UtFPKz_G7xCw/s1600/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2704" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6udnuu5wcjHTzElj12riQzYT06tteeElD3dJKIiLTu3iiircXsjq4mpMY0OJ_b1HT_mpR8r0Dp3RHtGiIihCv-ZJCOUiQfeo3o_fJoFJl7kBMKfcwsHeyPQc_GRa9g2UtFPKz_G7xCw/s1600/035.jpg" height="125" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="367" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2590" style="color: lime;"> Hook Jaw’s
stories were incredible gory and violent, and topped the polls as the reader’s
favorite feature. In fact, they even caused a major controversy in the UK,
getting singled out by politicians and even successfully banned in many areas.
If what I read is true, that’s even more extreme than anything Wertham did!</span></span></div>
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<a abp="2667" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe-6XjRVOmsiN9G6KI906b990RFIj7P7STBGPghj59F2h8bOz0bI_VZk6-ScDK5XjFerj3ALMm7akk-QxisSu-i6so9T1f2Himf24NWE3k1NHnN6MhUTtN889HO7A1lN_MFTLRLKUaR4/s1600/HookJaw21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2668" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe-6XjRVOmsiN9G6KI906b990RFIj7P7STBGPghj59F2h8bOz0bI_VZk6-ScDK5XjFerj3ALMm7akk-QxisSu-i6so9T1f2Himf24NWE3k1NHnN6MhUTtN889HO7A1lN_MFTLRLKUaR4/s1600/HookJaw21.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="2685" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU9aVlxUqGji0xRqaqAXxlsE1LJ1fvMR-s6urBA2RbyEbiDymM-tdUQOW-AEhhDZ-rZ1ewNkBZ5o7Nz47KQoTo_mUJ95L2SJ7GLjjjIvtU6pcsqH1tcc6mfOJctNtJ2hxJPlYEa18NYU/s1600/hookjawbiteshandoff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2686" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU9aVlxUqGji0xRqaqAXxlsE1LJ1fvMR-s6urBA2RbyEbiDymM-tdUQOW-AEhhDZ-rZ1ewNkBZ5o7Nz47KQoTo_mUJ95L2SJ7GLjjjIvtU6pcsqH1tcc6mfOJctNtJ2hxJPlYEa18NYU/s1600/hookjawbiteshandoff.png" height="111" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span abp="371" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2593" style="color: lime;"> Hook Jaw is
such an awesomely fucked up premise. Read it all <a abp="3718" href="http://www.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=110"><span abp="3719" style="color: #b6d7a8;">here</span></a>, even though it’s mostly
the adventure/Mason stuff.</span></span></div>
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<span abp="371" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2593" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="373"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="375" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b abp="376" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span abp="2720" style="color: lime;">2)</span></b><span abp="2721" style="color: lime;"> <b abp="377" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tiger
Shark</b> (Marvel)</span></span></div>
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<a abp="2724" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9xVy9SG9FMHFSpxVvXvVCYGbBcKW9mZ25GA20j4LprjAdsAajss_GV712JerpAuk66P0VH9V1GtuxgwrTEO27sZ4DvKwieo_dH6v0FjMfkDCEEkNrJySzwf8N-y_SYobkQX8ApfC368/s1600/350772752936_1_0_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2725" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9xVy9SG9FMHFSpxVvXvVCYGbBcKW9mZ25GA20j4LprjAdsAajss_GV712JerpAuk66P0VH9V1GtuxgwrTEO27sZ4DvKwieo_dH6v0FjMfkDCEEkNrJySzwf8N-y_SYobkQX8ApfC368/s1600/350772752936_1_0_1.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span abp="381" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2729" style="color: lime;"> First
Appearance: <b abp="383" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sub-Mariner #5</b></span></span></div>
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<span abp="381" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2729" style="color: lime;"><b abp="383" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p abp="384"></o:p></b></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="386" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2733" style="color: lime;"> While the
Shark may have been Namor’s first recurring (if only by retcon) foe themed
after a shark, his most enduring shark-themed adversary had been this guy, and
he’s one of my favorite B-list supervillains despite a debut that borders on
the laughable.<o:p abp="387"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span abp="2735" style="color: lime;"></span><br /></div>
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<span abp="390" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2736" style="color: lime;"><span abp="391" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The saga of
Tiger Shark began with a dazed and injured Namor staggering around an island
after battling Captain Marvel, only to be attacked by a giant killer robot.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<a abp="2779" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhM5XpMO1BN5TGfyC2goEJd-KkcmbInKGdNwN2frfYUV-I4CifEQVcTRZTCnm3CY4btp2FVKqDYVE8HhmCkIlF5ZmGIsAStaMDf980LRIUPUnqtL7rO2t2K8V3L2uD6eC1PGfraCi5b4/s1600/s5s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2780" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhM5XpMO1BN5TGfyC2goEJd-KkcmbInKGdNwN2frfYUV-I4CifEQVcTRZTCnm3CY4btp2FVKqDYVE8HhmCkIlF5ZmGIsAStaMDf980LRIUPUnqtL7rO2t2K8V3L2uD6eC1PGfraCi5b4/s1600/s5s.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>
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<a abp="2797" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwJfhKRwUAhPjw0OfdnEvbqstt4_wl2D730B7hIuFMoPKjBTdnEyul3R7lbXweeJ5k2Rr8czh-z_xR3HZ6IZG9aPbZMdNOExGngLpzlqoHdGJeCoExlkHKUxO2payV-NwctvFwuQghfI/s1600/s5r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2798" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwJfhKRwUAhPjw0OfdnEvbqstt4_wl2D730B7hIuFMoPKjBTdnEyul3R7lbXweeJ5k2Rr8czh-z_xR3HZ6IZG9aPbZMdNOExGngLpzlqoHdGJeCoExlkHKUxO2payV-NwctvFwuQghfI/s1600/s5r.jpg" height="320" width="182" /></a></div>
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<div abp="2181">
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<div abp="1838">
<span abp="394" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2739" style="color: lime;"> The robot
belonged to Dr. Dorcas; an evil marine biologist (don’t all marine biologists have
killer robot guards?) who planned to siphon Namor’s powers as well as the
powers of some tiger sharks into Todd Arliss, a former Olympic swimmer who
injured his back while saving an old man who fell overboard. Arliss assumed
Dorcas could repair his back (Why he thought a marine biologist would be the
person to cure him in anybody’s guess).</span></span></div>
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<a abp="2830" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro28Cb89wAZJ_O-Nj4zZKDr05068MZItT_MCyTvO_eI5SUpYxf4TE8MawtikqD15UBVxXjEsU6y4JkRC3-7K7S-ua1j6rWO3f68i8Tp7gvvo_DCGzQPrhVpK4vAwozXHVb8gTmHnEIzg/s1600/dorcas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2831" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro28Cb89wAZJ_O-Nj4zZKDr05068MZItT_MCyTvO_eI5SUpYxf4TE8MawtikqD15UBVxXjEsU6y4JkRC3-7K7S-ua1j6rWO3f68i8Tp7gvvo_DCGzQPrhVpK4vAwozXHVb8gTmHnEIzg/s1600/dorcas.jpg" height="320" width="186" /></a></div>
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<a abp="2833" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9DLUEYSoj2_IT5VA_-UXQiULCClBdSD64XPsOFRX5EVm3bVCqZtL63ssuKJzNJQLQD9YssWb8FPhBF1qvY4_HzmnKGt4E1JLRJ2FBs9lhphZz3A48C7o6E2f_ZIu4P7ZiJyTUMlR6Dw/s1600/arliss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2834" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9DLUEYSoj2_IT5VA_-UXQiULCClBdSD64XPsOFRX5EVm3bVCqZtL63ssuKJzNJQLQD9YssWb8FPhBF1qvY4_HzmnKGt4E1JLRJ2FBs9lhphZz3A48C7o6E2f_ZIu4P7ZiJyTUMlR6Dw/s1600/arliss.jpg" height="320" width="182" /></a></div>
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<a abp="2851" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBn-Zk7RAgLtjOAuAhZEro7DHOw5mLULCB2s28su7ssmmrEebCmzYCaS46l3XmR9438n-e5EcCTzSvQIzcp2XRDQ5fcdpUzFYRq1R56LynoNhYleL08jQMNthgYEjygVtTDkNwtFE3dc/s1600/treat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2852" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBn-Zk7RAgLtjOAuAhZEro7DHOw5mLULCB2s28su7ssmmrEebCmzYCaS46l3XmR9438n-e5EcCTzSvQIzcp2XRDQ5fcdpUzFYRq1R56LynoNhYleL08jQMNthgYEjygVtTDkNwtFE3dc/s1600/treat.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></a></div>
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<a abp="2474" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZoqwhzpZzvkCMvDpfZSN6hwRQsn4m37CGkqq2bHbxS_qQKwT4ukNZBL_X06Iuq1tuMNe26vFJzu0pPCscuIm5_kI4kRDfPjAJZNbAUiic-E47bl8zAu4ahkPbOSb_xAMOpXgGjqak7Y/s1600/tigersharkorigin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2475" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZoqwhzpZzvkCMvDpfZSN6hwRQsn4m37CGkqq2bHbxS_qQKwT4ukNZBL_X06Iuq1tuMNe26vFJzu0pPCscuIm5_kI4kRDfPjAJZNbAUiic-E47bl8zAu4ahkPbOSb_xAMOpXgGjqak7Y/s1600/tigersharkorigin.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
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<span abp="398" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2742" style="color: lime;">Todd
immediately went mad with power (I love how Dorcas apparently just had a
mask lying around in case something like this happened) and his first battle
with Namor started because…he said he was stronger than Namor. Man, and people
say the Hulk takes his status as the ‘most powerful one there is’ too
seriously.</span></span></div>
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<a abp="2513" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBZWq2Q6o1vQp2qG71Lf4QuadjpTMjPCiU-8cjMptDFC4A-a_qcAlOOj-a0HLd-M8FdARnTulbF1OpipvQXzhSMwg5pn0f2uh2BhB8UFRHzNqW5ExXHOTZdA_DMicwcKjEKCLkhpcJfI/s1600/tigershark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2514" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBZWq2Q6o1vQp2qG71Lf4QuadjpTMjPCiU-8cjMptDFC4A-a_qcAlOOj-a0HLd-M8FdARnTulbF1OpipvQXzhSMwg5pn0f2uh2BhB8UFRHzNqW5ExXHOTZdA_DMicwcKjEKCLkhpcJfI/s1600/tigershark.jpg" height="320" width="189" /></a></div>
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<a abp="2531" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFxAspA8heUqEbqgoyjhRZIXHmFmO6xt9p5HbToh77SuUUcUdsomL4k9SUsj1yJegnRdHMNPcn8aJULtS3n2S_pNcbnCYp0613HvV2g8FAVUntbI9oAjtWxekIP5mo3c-zteaiwvAGUY/s1600/firstnamortigersharkfight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2532" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFxAspA8heUqEbqgoyjhRZIXHmFmO6xt9p5HbToh77SuUUcUdsomL4k9SUsj1yJegnRdHMNPcn8aJULtS3n2S_pNcbnCYp0613HvV2g8FAVUntbI9oAjtWxekIP5mo3c-zteaiwvAGUY/s1600/firstnamortigersharkfight.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
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<span abp="402" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2745" style="color: lime;"> In the very
next issue, Tiger Shark tried to become Atlantis’s new warlord, but ended up
getting his ass kicked by Namor. The fight scenes are pretty good, but none can
really match the fury of John Buscema’s cover:</span></span></div>
<div abp="2548" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2549" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4s-OxJY2XRP_KEbwlB89Lna2wfqUYPGzL7psEY6SQf67mGMU5zQIUGLiQPnZXkxFmDBgmnWnhj-65bHAHBppHFDSnOGBCBnrxeKCQ8Hk1iUjAcOOm-maYg59NLGHucCWozGZf1bwt7Q/s1600/namorvstigershark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2550" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4s-OxJY2XRP_KEbwlB89Lna2wfqUYPGzL7psEY6SQf67mGMU5zQIUGLiQPnZXkxFmDBgmnWnhj-65bHAHBppHFDSnOGBCBnrxeKCQ8Hk1iUjAcOOm-maYg59NLGHucCWozGZf1bwt7Q/s1600/namorvstigershark.jpg" height="320" width="286" /></a></div>
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<a abp="2567" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZJqpa5l7_t4TRYPj_ixwt6l5qg1UDy9ly5ub_umyYsAK1Fsz16lg3_gROqhXybdIhi0QBosxA9NSWGmknRZogsM7QwSmgcsVWLdv05bhomVsAjcmCXpFW9SrmHcdKF7WVRHf4NwHDQk/s1600/863913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2568" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZJqpa5l7_t4TRYPj_ixwt6l5qg1UDy9ly5ub_umyYsAK1Fsz16lg3_gROqhXybdIhi0QBosxA9NSWGmknRZogsM7QwSmgcsVWLdv05bhomVsAjcmCXpFW9SrmHcdKF7WVRHf4NwHDQk/s1600/863913.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span abp="406" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2748" style="color: lime;">Tiger Shark
would spend the next few issues making cameos in an Atlantean insane asylum,
before escaping. His sister Diane would become a longtime supporting character,
and Dorcas would be a mainstay of Namor’s rogues gallery; even teaming up with
his creation and Attuma to form the “Slayers of the Sea” in <strong abp="2584">Super Villain Team-Up #1:</strong></span></span></div>
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<a abp="2586" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfrMMFtx0hJ3I1vuArpxolgJk2fUpRD9ScojI3ZfXFtk6m7bJaILd5Wjfkpo-SDgRYGjCBx1sf5_yP60f1c9yh_wammFDJpySgzfUUx4TF96JpUureS0bsksXnUydLqPJKi5_51YuiFA/s1600/sl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2587" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfrMMFtx0hJ3I1vuArpxolgJk2fUpRD9ScojI3ZfXFtk6m7bJaILd5Wjfkpo-SDgRYGjCBx1sf5_yP60f1c9yh_wammFDJpySgzfUUx4TF96JpUureS0bsksXnUydLqPJKi5_51YuiFA/s1600/sl.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span abp="410" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2751" style="color: lime;"> Even though
the implications of Tiger Sharks’ early appearances were that he was insane and
might someday be redeemed, he was mostly used as a straight up villain
thereafter. He even polished off Namor’s human father at the behest of a
villainess called Lyra:</span></span></div>
<div abp="2603" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2604" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8_6b09w1RUhgQjKm81oM3OjL9N7IYuGOTsMfvRdT_JkQDmI68CT8Mih8-s3-9X5MI1vlUMxMDHtP77_sFJdJtmykvSB-_mBub9bIZWlyBgQ2DYcbv3M1a0xVTzivfW-0dE6npaUmqr4/s1600/mvt14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2605" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8_6b09w1RUhgQjKm81oM3OjL9N7IYuGOTsMfvRdT_JkQDmI68CT8Mih8-s3-9X5MI1vlUMxMDHtP77_sFJdJtmykvSB-_mBub9bIZWlyBgQ2DYcbv3M1a0xVTzivfW-0dE6npaUmqr4/s1600/mvt14.jpg" height="279" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2850" class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span abp="414" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2754" style="color: lime;"> Despite some
silliness and letting the character’s sympathetic qualities decay, Tiger Shark
has a lot going for him as a villain. His gill slits and sharp teeth make him a
lot more menacing than your average Silver Age villain, his costume is simple
but striking, and the fact that he’s a spiteful ex-Jock make him a good fit for
Namor, a character known for his arrogance.<o:p abp="416"></o:p></span></span></div>
<div abp="417">
<div abp="2104">
<div abp="2240">
<div abp="3829">
<div abp="744">
<div abp="1893">
<span abp="418" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2757" style="color: lime;"> Like Green
Lantern’s Shark, Tiger Shark also got a gritty reboot. His came during Jae
Lee’s 90’s run, which I have to confess, is my favorite post 70’s take on Namor
because of its sinister, over-inked, Lovecraftian vision of Atlantis. Tiger
Shark’s gritty reboot was pretty cool though, as gritty reboots go; he became a
genuinely creepy looking hybrid creature who called himself “Arlys Tigershark”
and for a time, was portrayed as something of an anti-hero and used as dark
comic relief:</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="2240">
<div abp="3833">
<div abp="749">
<div abp="1899">
<span abp="418" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2757" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="419"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="3837" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3838" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkTi_1G3N-iy3AMjY0xHA1AVDQz-Te6cjociCm0ei9OOs6iioaEFENx4Mc8Ev_QpSEWfZ4hj-ZgTsV67iMmJyMDYQrhirVh05GPqe95ohruNATWMGphtQF6m4LRcaop-NxvSot6jt4jQ/s1600/90sTigerShark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3839" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkTi_1G3N-iy3AMjY0xHA1AVDQz-Te6cjociCm0ei9OOs6iioaEFENx4Mc8Ev_QpSEWfZ4hj-ZgTsV67iMmJyMDYQrhirVh05GPqe95ohruNATWMGphtQF6m4LRcaop-NxvSot6jt4jQ/s1600/90sTigerShark.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div abp="3840" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3841" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm190JCSp0WsTP5DV1-huO8G4FBE3MZdUevVGj943RfMMTBlItRtEW_2yLr7NGVvJYVJFz0zmjXYQJT3LwgKb6GKtmnywHSs-YcBPQX9g6oOSD-Oh_YsnAuNO7S322WBYv3si1XHfWeW0/s1600/tigershark90s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3842" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm190JCSp0WsTP5DV1-huO8G4FBE3MZdUevVGj943RfMMTBlItRtEW_2yLr7NGVvJYVJFz0zmjXYQJT3LwgKb6GKtmnywHSs-YcBPQX9g6oOSD-Oh_YsnAuNO7S322WBYv3si1XHfWeW0/s1600/tigershark90s.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="3843" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3844" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWSfqUOP7itr2zTnFSygIRWhOvHaXcfgjblTiEqzuLXZShjyxSaW81A8FPDTGWJryWeWzq3c7hiQ-KGD_j2zngBd7-Wj0pyYGk8XyKXQJlqrNeK8w_bmsa1bNdOD9fhHl2BBh1rUa-R0/s1600/unmoved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3845" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWSfqUOP7itr2zTnFSygIRWhOvHaXcfgjblTiEqzuLXZShjyxSaW81A8FPDTGWJryWeWzq3c7hiQ-KGD_j2zngBd7-Wj0pyYGk8XyKXQJlqrNeK8w_bmsa1bNdOD9fhHl2BBh1rUa-R0/s1600/unmoved.jpg" height="127" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="2240">
<div abp="763">
<div abp="1914">
<span abp="422" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="2760" style="color: lime;"> I liked how
his thuggish personality contrasted with the more regal characterization of the
other Atlanteans. As far as gritty reboots go, I wish more were like this.<o:p abp="424"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="763">
<div abp="1919">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="425">
</div>
<div abp="426" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2115">
<div abp="2257">
<div abp="3854">
<div abp="772">
<div abp="1926">
<span abp="427" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="428" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b abp="429" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1) The random anthropomorphic shark Jay
Garrick was a jerk towards.</b> (DC)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="3858" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3859" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2iSc8F7fxLRVYqqHM8jLtZ07uRAxnmLlmPnlNWapRzAdAapEaILCCAP__eBORONHvwvPq1hDu-KgPQganJ_IpuoNFZ9yOiw8lEsEPmOiZrDuzNnUSRlpz40FASy2xtGAmr5kNkR14Zw/s1600/flashshark1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3860" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2iSc8F7fxLRVYqqHM8jLtZ07uRAxnmLlmPnlNWapRzAdAapEaILCCAP__eBORONHvwvPq1hDu-KgPQganJ_IpuoNFZ9yOiw8lEsEPmOiZrDuzNnUSRlpz40FASy2xtGAmr5kNkR14Zw/s1600/flashshark1.png" height="280" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="3861">
<div abp="780">
<div abp="1935">
<span abp="433" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="3863" style="color: lime;">First
Appearance: <b abp="435" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All-Star Comics #3</b>.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="440">
<div abp="785">
<div abp="1941">
<span abp="442" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3867" style="color: lime;"> In the JSA’s
very first appearance (which was just them recounting stories), The Flash told
the story of how he went looking for some undersea treasure (Hawkman wasn’t the
only JSA hero who had <a abp="3868" href="http://outofthequicksand.blogspot.com/2013/03/crazy-like-fox-gardner-foxs-goofiest.html"><span abp="3869" style="color: #b6d7a8;">weird underwater adventures</span></a>), and this happened:</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="3870" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3871" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34nu0X8CLAC3rcmG0jF_7-vpRurgT6U1ybFypzbHPkY2mwKIfXZWETASbynRYM5gZTdzyKJ8wqnvL8-F_qnDyFej1QMHUwN6wNxgLh_r06dTU_9_i_zzALGlHGHsbQD0nYy2nV7_KHPg/s1600/flashvsshark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3872" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34nu0X8CLAC3rcmG0jF_7-vpRurgT6U1ybFypzbHPkY2mwKIfXZWETASbynRYM5gZTdzyKJ8wqnvL8-F_qnDyFej1QMHUwN6wNxgLh_r06dTU_9_i_zzALGlHGHsbQD0nYy2nV7_KHPg/s1600/flashvsshark.png" height="279" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="440">
<div abp="794">
<div abp="1951">
<span abp="447" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3875" style="color: lime;"> ???? </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="445">
<div abp="798">
<div abp="1956">
<span abp="447" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="449"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="450">
<div abp="2144">
<div abp="2291">
<div abp="3882">
<div abp="805">
<div abp="1964">
<span abp="451" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="3884" style="color: lime;">Is it a joke?
Are we meant to assume it was just some random shark and Jay was doing the
voice in his retelling to be funny? Or are we meant to accept that the shark
really could talk?</span></span></div>
<div abp="1967">
<span abp="451" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3884" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="452"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="453">
</div>
<div abp="454" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2149">
<div abp="2297">
<div abp="3890">
<div abp="814">
<div abp="1977">
<span abp="455" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="456" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="3893" style="color: lime;">Logically, it
should just be chalked up as a weirdly out of place gag panel. That's what I thought at first.<o:p abp="457"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="458">
<div abp="2154">
<div abp="2303">
<div abp="3898">
<div abp="823">
<div abp="1987">
<span abp="459" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="3900" style="color: lime;">But
maybe—just maybe, something far more sinister is afloat, I mean afoot.<o:p abp="460"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="461">
</div>
<div abp="462" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2159">
<div abp="2309">
<div abp="3906">
<div abp="832">
<div abp="1997">
<span abp="463" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="464" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="3909" style="color: lime;">Note how this
shark was separated from his mother, and seems unusually smart for one of his
species. What if he was traumatized by losing his mother, developed an intense
hatred of superheroes because of it, and then years later, grew up to be the
same shark that got exposed to nuclear waste and became Green Lantern’s
villain?</span> </span></div>
<div abp="2001">
<span abp="463" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="465"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="466">
<div abp="2164">
<div abp="2315">
<div abp="3914">
<div abp="841">
<div abp="2009">
<span abp="467" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="3916" style="color: lime;">Or who knows,
maybe he was one of the very tiger sharks Dr. Dorcas used in his experiments?
Todd Arliss wasn’t driven insane. He was possessed!</span></span></div>
<div abp="2012">
<span abp="467" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3916" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="468"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="469">
</div>
<div abp="470" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2169">
<div abp="2321">
<div abp="3922">
<div abp="850">
<div abp="2022">
<span abp="471" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="472" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="3925" style="color: lime;">The big
problem is how he got from Earth II to Earth I and then the Marvel Universe. I
don’t know how he did it, but he did. Perhaps he is one of the children of
Kai-Mak, and losing both his mother and his father has caused him to plan
revenge on every superhero in the multiverse! Perhaps Hook Jaw takes orders
from him. All these shark-themed supervillains? All are somehow possessed by
his will. The few shark-themed heroes like Lew Glanz’s Shark? <i abp="473" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They’re in on it!</i></span> </span></div>
<div abp="2027">
<span abp="471" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p abp="474"></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="475">
<div abp="2175">
<div abp="2328">
<div abp="3931">
<div abp="860">
<div abp="2035">
<span abp="476" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span abp="3933" style="color: lime;">Even the
‘cute’ sharks may be part of this vast conspiracy! Sherman of the <b abp="477" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sherman’s Lagoon</b> newspaper strip?
Sleeper agent! </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="3935" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3936" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA9yxI1eMk6pTsatXyR7W-OV4Vqka3X7Rpex7SMoG8ritNPkzDLje0Llh5nV2EIk6aBv6hcCCSYqU98OL00dAH3IxCbdtg0Av_zm1OZnliaIEFV1bVJ7FEN78dgnMHSy_HfhRA2ojxr0/s1600/Sherman_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3937" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA9yxI1eMk6pTsatXyR7W-OV4Vqka3X7Rpex7SMoG8ritNPkzDLje0Llh5nV2EIk6aBv6hcCCSYqU98OL00dAH3IxCbdtg0Av_zm1OZnliaIEFV1bVJ7FEN78dgnMHSy_HfhRA2ojxr0/s1600/Sherman_sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<div abp="3938">
<div abp="868">
<div abp="2044">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="3939">
<div abp="870">
<div abp="2047">
<span abp="476" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3941" style="color: lime;"> Jabberjaw? Well, has anyone ever seen those kids he hung out
with? They didn’t just fade into obscurity and end up addicts like the kids
from <i abp="478" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Speed Buggy</i>.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="3943" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="3944" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp1T_z5WMh4Si47UNygxkzSvkAxpWy_yCI9TqeXkP6Ezvk-DgYTwoW6VIyJHHngnXqHRkMBps5JYUUf9SzLQyrApzuCmmxRs-IgWYJaHSPLA_m3BZTVlDa4X-DR_C7_RLXLCdBhJykUE/s1600/Jabberjaw_and_The_Neptunes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3945" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp1T_z5WMh4Si47UNygxkzSvkAxpWy_yCI9TqeXkP6Ezvk-DgYTwoW6VIyJHHngnXqHRkMBps5JYUUf9SzLQyrApzuCmmxRs-IgWYJaHSPLA_m3BZTVlDa4X-DR_C7_RLXLCdBhJykUE/s1600/Jabberjaw_and_The_Neptunes.jpg" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
<div abp="3946">
<div abp="878">
<div abp="2056">
<span abp="3947" style="color: lime;">Beware of his wrath. For soon he might decide to leave the fictional universes, and come to ours! Even your fishbowl may not be safe!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="482" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2184">
<div abp="2339">
<div abp="3951">
<div abp="884">
<div abp="2063">
<span abp="483" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="484" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="3954" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span abp="483" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="484" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a abp="3957" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosK_4lcoPzvgZ93CZhfrRru37MBY7idt2X6oyiBFLo4H73xnnWui17mPnBPetNRZ_P_wxSerta_Vu0LYYMepHf7xGGI0_yhcbaddTPIgH-dPFpD_caREjL4OVulBCsGMpaW0IbFGV0FY/s1600/shark_n_fishbowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="3958" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosK_4lcoPzvgZ93CZhfrRru37MBY7idt2X6oyiBFLo4H73xnnWui17mPnBPetNRZ_P_wxSerta_Vu0LYYMepHf7xGGI0_yhcbaddTPIgH-dPFpD_caREjL4OVulBCsGMpaW0IbFGV0FY/s1600/shark_n_fishbowl.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div abp="3959">
<div abp="893">
<div abp="2073">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="485" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div abp="2188">
<div abp="2344">
<div abp="3963">
<div abp="898">
<div abp="2079">
<span abp="486" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="487" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="3966" style="color: lime;">And have you
noticed how crappy Shark Week has gotten over the years? And all the attention
that gets paid to movies like <i abp="488" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sharknado</i>
and <i abp="489" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mega Shark VS Giant Octopus</i>? It’s
<i abp="490" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">his</i> influence I tell you! His! </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div abp="491">
<div abp="2195">
<div abp="2352">
<div abp="3973">
<div abp="909">
<div abp="2091">
<span abp="492" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3975" style="color: lime;"> He may look
like some silly cartoon shark that appeared in another wise serious superhero
story, but behind that poorly-drawn exterior lies one of the most cunningly
evil brains in the universe, affecting both Marvel and DC. And can it be a
coincidence that his first appearance was also the first appearance of the
Justice Society? I think not.</span></span></div>
<div abp="2349" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="2350" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoibskeLR8dYW4Y0lXvBhMqnP934SS-rmBU3qFU2Dgy11Hrm1Xx8-D-DI5cxPzzjlx2Vl9fY3At_2iYLY_YK7_3xoOu4Fpr0fyMBwOP66wpQXRvGBFbpDoRMap8Hzf4IfXumoL8moh1k/s1600/flashvsshark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="2351" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoibskeLR8dYW4Y0lXvBhMqnP934SS-rmBU3qFU2Dgy11Hrm1Xx8-D-DI5cxPzzjlx2Vl9fY3At_2iYLY_YK7_3xoOu4Fpr0fyMBwOP66wpQXRvGBFbpDoRMap8Hzf4IfXumoL8moh1k/s1600/flashvsshark.png" /></a></div>
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<span abp="492" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="3975" style="color: lime;"><o:p abp="493"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span abp="496" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span abp="497" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <span abp="3984" style="color: lime;">Pay heed! Pay heed! The day of the
Multi-versal shark attack doth draw near!</span></span></div>
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<span abp="499" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span abp="500" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span abp="3991" style="color: lime;">Whose side are you on?</span></span></div>
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<a abp="4021" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jvFuJe94MLBBxUEatzvJb85fYEM-8WX4i3za_yF9IDXSbRZoFo9vDzwP-Zo0dyiOVrlGdO9BD1hc3cPHYA0TSi0nvyEAq9NIzyXGfAOSj0HBRynBY7SXbWmv4OELvMPb-2vhxDKG51E/s1600/homeless-man-goes-online.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="4022" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jvFuJe94MLBBxUEatzvJb85fYEM-8WX4i3za_yF9IDXSbRZoFo9vDzwP-Zo0dyiOVrlGdO9BD1hc3cPHYA0TSi0nvyEAq9NIzyXGfAOSj0HBRynBY7SXbWmv4OELvMPb-2vhxDKG51E/s1600/homeless-man-goes-online.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
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100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-43135117965285877192014-03-19T14:00:00.000-07:002014-03-19T14:00:35.374-07:00Strange Request<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4smQ70_QNNsEJp7cqzMbyXqEUeGqo13tAk72Sxko9xKsSxPEpW3u0ADkGNwuW6G897qK0B1tAozMf0KD_PswIUvAiNUqKo2p_d-MceKPB35GFSpgqvjH_PbotKovjC1Uwj5jJ4QgaOY/s1600/request.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4smQ70_QNNsEJp7cqzMbyXqEUeGqo13tAk72Sxko9xKsSxPEpW3u0ADkGNwuW6G897qK0B1tAozMf0KD_PswIUvAiNUqKo2p_d-MceKPB35GFSpgqvjH_PbotKovjC1Uwj5jJ4QgaOY/s1600/request.png" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;">Well, it isn’t the weirdest thing I’ve been
asked on here. So why not?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"> Special thanks to my friend Clint.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknAY4lQTP2Jvd0TvM4GDF6d9jn9J_QihbenIMu083W6eDY1o8dwSehBG-KIzOrlLc1VQL7sJR6HXiyQOBcJ9uA701YS1ZurFQgkYCAC8zIKrkPGaPRkflcTS41Rjixrx502eil4qLHd4/s1600/jim112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknAY4lQTP2Jvd0TvM4GDF6d9jn9J_QihbenIMu083W6eDY1o8dwSehBG-KIzOrlLc1VQL7sJR6HXiyQOBcJ9uA701YS1ZurFQgkYCAC8zIKrkPGaPRkflcTS41Rjixrx502eil4qLHd4/s1600/jim112.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span>100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-31621147400867136142014-02-22T01:24:00.002-08:002014-02-22T01:28:39.602-08:00Demon: From the Darkness TPB review:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7ilW36aievHWHLwAJXCoahcLE_-UJYWVPXj0PmfoNuHhumswX3INQ-6Emuylv4bYmojS9TuIwPWOxG_Jw-OuTVAiVDmOlnhgXnZBayRFlSLouwvM46hdnjqLV4WEkoOqtlEHwYpy3j0/s1600/demonfromthedarkness.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7ilW36aievHWHLwAJXCoahcLE_-UJYWVPXj0PmfoNuHhumswX3INQ-6Emuylv4bYmojS9TuIwPWOxG_Jw-OuTVAiVDmOlnhgXnZBayRFlSLouwvM46hdnjqLV4WEkoOqtlEHwYpy3j0/s1600/demonfromthedarkness.png" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Collects:
Demon (1987 series) #1-4 and Demon (1990 series) #22.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> *Major Spoilers*<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Ah, Etrigan
the Demon. Here’s a character of whom I’ve been meaning to review more
material, especially considering my review of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Demon Knights #1</b> back in 2011, where I went on an overblown and
overlong rant about the history of the character. It feels weird to devote so
many words to a character I obviously feel very strongly about, and then not
bring him up since. I mean, if I can give <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Satan’s
Six</b> (Kirby’s somewhat justifiably lesser-known entry in the 70’s Satanism
craze) a big overview on this site, I should review more Etrigan comics. I
intended to review the four issue Matt Wagner series from 1987, problem is;
while looking though my storage, I found that I had all issues except the third,
so I kept putting it off. Surprise, surprise though, DC actually reprinted the
whole series recently, along with a bonus story!</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">So with no
more excuses, it’s time to get out the chalk, black robes, candles, jagged
daggers, bound young virgins and call up some fiends from the netherworld to
help me review this sucker.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">This limited
series takes place shortly after Alan Moore and other writers established that
Etrigan was a purely evil creature (something that Kirby could never make up
his mind about in the original run) and that Jason Blood was some poor guy who
had been bonded to him by Merlin, like a supernatural version of Rick Jones and
Captain Marvel (In the original series, it was more of a Thor/Don Blake
scenario, with Blood just being an illusion/construct). Naturally, Jason is
pretty pissed about this whole situation, but after centuries, he’s grown more
or less resigned to it and gone to live at Merlin’s tomb in England, cutting
off contact with all of his friends. However, Glenda (Jason’s former love
interest) isn’t happy with this:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIfhm3C9q8dSMjKZ_2j6qxBVN5Eq2aYZ2PIAgZcJLM7GW738PEeqrSz3W5q668AkohHv7e3zHS488Px2psi6qzmLpmEjI5wdCuy_20E7ZmNLpWK3PAmKWZJSnQUYxSbSe0pfi1IGkPIk/s1600/jasonruins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIfhm3C9q8dSMjKZ_2j6qxBVN5Eq2aYZ2PIAgZcJLM7GW738PEeqrSz3W5q668AkohHv7e3zHS488Px2psi6qzmLpmEjI5wdCuy_20E7ZmNLpWK3PAmKWZJSnQUYxSbSe0pfi1IGkPIk/s1600/jasonruins.png" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> She’s also
been learning to use the Philosopher’s Stone, although she isn’t very good at
it yet:</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcWIHHgwUPArdvXgwrdYB-3RgDtfEWYERdbQQZjYPf74NqZ1S-ioaSQUgtB-S0smDS8VpzrM0S8i9lGixVbXWNkGPfuSoTVylWVxeLcdxYidoI0XEEA_U5gmKLbHO6vVD1JmwKQeQDAU/s1600/jasonmeetsglenda.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcWIHHgwUPArdvXgwrdYB-3RgDtfEWYERdbQQZjYPf74NqZ1S-ioaSQUgtB-S0smDS8VpzrM0S8i9lGixVbXWNkGPfuSoTVylWVxeLcdxYidoI0XEEA_U5gmKLbHO6vVD1JmwKQeQDAU/s1600/jasonmeetsglenda.png" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Whatever her
skill at sorcery though, Glenda has found what she thinks might be a key to
freeing Jason from his curse. After looking through an old grimoire, she came
across a woodcut featuring a demon that bears a startling resemblance to
Etrigan:</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc-kOJrW-AECn-gFdDAHFb_45xWUZelGPZfOEeu2xqwQ-DbRS6500DcEWCWobMy7Yms-pShUjIBGZZlvlRxq28vglqxrG5IErg5AzK37Dxtsq_9QUoUj2BOL_cN3IoiCb-Tf9Svn8J7c/s1600/belialinbook.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc-kOJrW-AECn-gFdDAHFb_45xWUZelGPZfOEeu2xqwQ-DbRS6500DcEWCWobMy7Yms-pShUjIBGZZlvlRxq28vglqxrG5IErg5AzK37Dxtsq_9QUoUj2BOL_cN3IoiCb-Tf9Svn8J7c/s1600/belialinbook.jpg.png" height="320" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Even though
Jason doesn’t see any resemblance, that’s clearly the result of some sort of
mental block the curse has on him, so the two go on a quest to find answers,
with lots of cliffhangers and attacks by demon guards along the way, who Jason
has to turn into Etrigan to fight off. Eventually, they find out that the demon
in the woodcut is Belial, and not only is he Etrigan’s father, but Merlin is
Etrigan’s half-human brother. Thus, if Jason wants to end his curse, it’s
Merlin who he has to deal with. However, is Etrigan also willing to be freed?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> This series
is a pretty cool deconstruction of the original. Here, the villain isn’t Morgan
Le Fey (or “That bitch Le Fey”, as Jason calls her), but Merlin himself,
previously depicted as a kindly mentor figure. Jason’s characterization is also
very unusual; he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wants</i> to be freed of
his curse, but it’s gone on for so long that it really isn’t his #1 priority
anymore. In his own way, he’s come to accept his situation. The main reason he
even starts to take the final steps to salvation is less for his own sake, and
more because Glenda ends up kidnapped.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Glenda is
also interesting. She’s no longer the damsel in distress of Kirby’s series, but
an aggressive, no-nonsense chick who has had it up to here with the occult
weirdness in her life, and refuses to let Jason just accept his curse. At the
same time though, there’s also the implication that she isn’t doing this
because she gives any particular fuck about Jason Blood, but because she’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thrilled</i> at the idea of having the
chance to pull one over on a demon <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and</b>
the most famous wizard in history. She’s had a taste of wielding occult power
with the Philosopher’s Stone, and even if she doesn’t necessarily want more of
the same, she at least wants a big pay-off to her occult ventures before she
goes back to being a normal person.</span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVT_IYk6vnCYQgxDIgfvLbDnL4KjN38_49T-S6k_G7fFXq9Ea2YKFXCy7zZjLUBG5MNRpZL5rXkJvGnvbhHflNVNiVSNRtS_xKU5EG9F1Luj6x30Zmr5iFhugHjom3tODXdgea__JlQw0/s1600/glendavsjason.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVT_IYk6vnCYQgxDIgfvLbDnL4KjN38_49T-S6k_G7fFXq9Ea2YKFXCy7zZjLUBG5MNRpZL5rXkJvGnvbhHflNVNiVSNRtS_xKU5EG9F1Luj6x30Zmr5iFhugHjom3tODXdgea__JlQw0/s1600/glendavsjason.png" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> As much of a
deconstruction as it is, there are still some fun shout-outs to the Kirby
series. There’s a mention of that weird Golem-thing from the first issue, a
reference to Klarion the Witch-Boy, and even word by word quotes from the
famous Camelot prologue. Most writers doing deconstructions of characters
usually hand-wave the sillier or stranger aspects of a character’s past to fit
their take, or revel in them to the point it becomes obnoxious (I think you can
take it for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Grant</u></b>ed who I’m
talking about), but Wagner manages a fun balance, even if some things, like the
fate that befalls Harry Matthews (the comic relief character from Kirby’s run,
and an obvious Kirby self-insert) feel a bit mean-spirited (During the Alan
Grant series, Harry came back, and he ended up becoming perhaps the single
weirdest supporting character in the history of comics).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">The series is
not without flaws though; Etrigan’s rhyming sounds more like poorly-written
limericks to me, and gets really forced at times (Although Wagner is still
better at it than some other takes I’ve seen). The big showdown with Merlin also
happens so abruptly, so mechanically that it feels underwhelming, not to
mention the fact that the whole series is told as a flashback by Belial, who
has claimed Merlin’s soul and is recounting to him the events that led to his
downfall while he tortures him. This would have worked better if it was unclear
at first who it was being tortured, but it’s so obviously Merlin that you
wonder why Wagner attempts to hide it. This move kills a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lot</b> of suspense. Also, even though Merlin is clearly meant to be
seen as a hypocritical scumbag who gets his comeuppance, he does so little
throughout the series (He mostly just sleeps) that his gruesome fate never feels
all that satisfying.</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">On the plus
side though, Wagner’s art and storytelling abilities are at their absolute
peak. Some of his panels have an almost Toth-like quality. Take out the color
from the art, and it wouldn’t look out of place in some Warren magazine.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWNzp5GYT_ViRy4pEVP2djcSkgOX4KKD2gGBGJiLGu2BH1W0X675JYNlFr_Ydhcu3WUk7vMstje1y61abRxMYnZn3CTqleMjzllwsIi-gEq_wYxxyCD3nQcyEO4WKwb5zf3u-0jvFMHE/s1600/etriganbywagner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWNzp5GYT_ViRy4pEVP2djcSkgOX4KKD2gGBGJiLGu2BH1W0X675JYNlFr_Ydhcu3WUk7vMstje1y61abRxMYnZn3CTqleMjzllwsIi-gEq_wYxxyCD3nQcyEO4WKwb5zf3u-0jvFMHE/s1600/etriganbywagner.png" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Speaking of
taking things out of the art, the scene with the woodcut has an interesting
history. It’s from a real 1483 German manuscript depicting Belial called
“Belial at the Gates of Hell”, but here’s the thing; in the original limited
series, there was nothing depicted on the page!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPadMQr0YDe7CFBUnmx7IYFDfJwCSrwwaNL8A1AkpSWhKOPMF8FtIWemiX20SjT6TDVGf7kSCFEPwEjgRsH3kltKQe3nIrYZutHysakI5gAewgut_xl15edqYnpaXnnl-xRGG4OLsHpkg/s1600/belialinbook.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPadMQr0YDe7CFBUnmx7IYFDfJwCSrwwaNL8A1AkpSWhKOPMF8FtIWemiX20SjT6TDVGf7kSCFEPwEjgRsH3kltKQe3nIrYZutHysakI5gAewgut_xl15edqYnpaXnnl-xRGG4OLsHpkg/s1600/belialinbook.jpg.png" height="320" width="289" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsErq3zxSFVwhvUglPDl1d2co6QSVaGioXrF7oNpkRaYfILm1CH_AkZTbdZVLKFuNY38YL74R1FFer8pS4zLra6gUgEw48qmj2BJTAaPGOrEBLvpCeyOYY11viCvoIz-ybYR0EwcWDB0/s1600/macbr05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsErq3zxSFVwhvUglPDl1d2co6QSVaGioXrF7oNpkRaYfILm1CH_AkZTbdZVLKFuNY38YL74R1FFer8pS4zLra6gUgEw48qmj2BJTAaPGOrEBLvpCeyOYY11viCvoIz-ybYR0EwcWDB0/s1600/macbr05.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5tmbPEOLxrvLWrTmc88GLGfsYPy6hOtDd4UWub1ZWcEiCv33WL4QTE-YYjByegGJz7hqLrh1W4JP6ylSAs-hRx3DNM4avj_2lKUYityvZGYQUVJBQHdW0gJrbCsQ8EYvCiM8knv7ZhA/s1600/demon1originalprint.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5tmbPEOLxrvLWrTmc88GLGfsYPy6hOtDd4UWub1ZWcEiCv33WL4QTE-YYjByegGJz7hqLrh1W4JP6ylSAs-hRx3DNM4avj_2lKUYityvZGYQUVJBQHdW0gJrbCsQ8EYvCiM8knv7ZhA/s1600/demon1originalprint.png" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Apparently, no
one got the memo to include it, and when Wagner noticed the error, it was too
late to make corrections, and since it fit the dialogue, they left it in (That wasn't the only printing error, they also misnumbered the second issue as number four). Nice
to see they added it in here.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Also,
interestingly enough, the same anonymous German artist who did that woodcut
also did another woodcut featuring Belial, and in it he’s colored <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yellow</i>. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaoM6taUbAfZbywDVKSLRV16qvHwhv2Qb_mJrqGnbQf5m6dCh3bZkpki96wsmGqlW5pCwzKl-RVL-J0Dbf0Kwl3b55avwwCRemsNTcu5jvyn7h88wfyq_ABf2PzsCzcn3BkCOJ1x8Kj8/s1600/belial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaoM6taUbAfZbywDVKSLRV16qvHwhv2Qb_mJrqGnbQf5m6dCh3bZkpki96wsmGqlW5pCwzKl-RVL-J0Dbf0Kwl3b55avwwCRemsNTcu5jvyn7h88wfyq_ABf2PzsCzcn3BkCOJ1x8Kj8/s1600/belial.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> There’s also a different edition
of that book which also colors Belial yellow in the “At the Gates” picture:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCuaUz6PQxfnBo2H94uEoH3kgFZDklWvO1l4H6HUFHuuBFWEBjdQbWMR6bVNe2oVQctjVayY1-V2dCdNDyVhQyp9gk7_j98jYhdzhI9KIl3hbiFu7bkx86lkW4RII12sED8InnDHX3Ck/s1600/belial-at-the-gates-of-hell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCuaUz6PQxfnBo2H94uEoH3kgFZDklWvO1l4H6HUFHuuBFWEBjdQbWMR6bVNe2oVQctjVayY1-V2dCdNDyVhQyp9gk7_j98jYhdzhI9KIl3hbiFu7bkx86lkW4RII12sED8InnDHX3Ck/s1600/belial-at-the-gates-of-hell.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> That’s---eerie.
I’m going to shut up about this now, because this is the kind of stuff of which
Creepypastas are made.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">As for the
bonus story from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Demon #22</b>, it’s a
simple, to-the-point tale told in rhyme about a witch who forces Etrigan to
save her beloved familiar/pet from a rival. It has a nasty, EC-like vibe where
everyone gets screwed over. In some ways, it’s actually more entertaining than
the 4 issue limited series because of how compressed it is. Wagner’s more
mature art is also brilliant, although it seems to have picked up a bit of a
Mignola-esque quality to it.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PPlldd4UtfL0OrrS37qcUpRXzpldOuymlA_YKirTz3WgmGjGlDERu_qhGdchOfn9wiRnUV3kxvPiAVfxZLZBttIX9XINNCAtt1BmbzlFpC3sRIPWqK8gQA6UlyrGGqCUd50StrrwyV0/s1600/dmnwgnr22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PPlldd4UtfL0OrrS37qcUpRXzpldOuymlA_YKirTz3WgmGjGlDERu_qhGdchOfn9wiRnUV3kxvPiAVfxZLZBttIX9XINNCAtt1BmbzlFpC3sRIPWqK8gQA6UlyrGGqCUd50StrrwyV0/s1600/dmnwgnr22.png" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RGy54X5DlvOBZSklWpzwpePqbmhpFML-DQrG02fwTWM1BppSbR0-y8HMMmmq9UxRJmUyMC7azPyzxnA8NRM-rzjesMaeCExa5LyO3c85zqn8I4Wq2jV9XpNWxpJ8JHmxHVVdulH9gww/s1600/wagnersplashdmn22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RGy54X5DlvOBZSklWpzwpePqbmhpFML-DQrG02fwTWM1BppSbR0-y8HMMmmq9UxRJmUyMC7azPyzxnA8NRM-rzjesMaeCExa5LyO3c85zqn8I4Wq2jV9XpNWxpJ8JHmxHVVdulH9gww/s1600/wagnersplashdmn22.png" height="307" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes folks, Wagner drew that Cock--with a cock</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"> This isn’t an earth-shaking volume by any
means, but considering how rare it is for DC to acknowledge, let alone reprint
obscure material like this, it’s definitely worth a blind-buy, and if like me you’re
a fan of the character and artist, a must-have. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4/5</b> for what it is.</span></span>100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-23567548881420287762014-02-14T17:09:00.002-08:002014-02-14T17:09:25.269-08:00Poetic Justice!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: #e06666;">Ah, Valentine’s Day. Birds are singing. Gifts are
being exchanged. The scent of love is in the air (Or is that scent in the air
chocolate?). I hate it.</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Anyway,
here’s EC’s famous story “Poetic Justice” from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Haunt of Fear #12</b>, illustrated by “Ghastly” Graham Ingels. This
isn’t quite Ingel’s best art job, but it’s more than serviceable. Thanks to the
magic of Heritage Auctions and Comic Cube.com though, here’s a look at bits of
the art in black and white.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7cVMbkqjrRT9vZD9qFnLtx18ZCepXJEtS4DRcBPSV8M9dtI2jP1XKUr23QOOWchSUz5Sf75mZ73hmGzixnDZhESfSNzXGu4nGPuCSgdXHlgY42RDCZUH0cVvA9gWjnZIp6xPd2Lm6rE/s1600/lf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7cVMbkqjrRT9vZD9qFnLtx18ZCepXJEtS4DRcBPSV8M9dtI2jP1XKUr23QOOWchSUz5Sf75mZ73hmGzixnDZhESfSNzXGu4nGPuCSgdXHlgY42RDCZUH0cVvA9gWjnZIp6xPd2Lm6rE/s1600/lf.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY-nfS94srzfWCySFMZDXR7r-k37OsPJc5hAdY1xSJ00RLLp8cyBj7D_RSWzoMSjJ53bSxjI3WWm9YmrZu6DOeIYArdKxM7VVARdGlS7lehaWvsB36M-Ov1knzVgGq25Jk7J0D1OtbnI/s1600/McKenzie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY-nfS94srzfWCySFMZDXR7r-k37OsPJc5hAdY1xSJ00RLLp8cyBj7D_RSWzoMSjJ53bSxjI3WWm9YmrZu6DOeIYArdKxM7VVARdGlS7lehaWvsB36M-Ov1knzVgGq25Jk7J0D1OtbnI/s1600/McKenzie1.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: #e06666;">Coincidentally, Fantagraphics is releasing a black and white
Ingels-centric collection tomorrow called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sucker
Bait and other stories</b>, as part of their series of EC artists collections
(I knew Fantagraphics was good for something!). How’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> for a Valentine’s Day present?</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f_Bjjr-E4YuG0hW8GJSDBQiWFnWby3tDcdtrGUujA8-HQ8Rb2XfYuYfWCOXbKvg8XCtmS9f8aQEqKhzULK1z2AsI7enfoC8yVNMQ5xqrDHCJQ-g9J3pc0jZEdmf6af8L9foYhEpQd-s/s1600/Sucker-Bait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f_Bjjr-E4YuG0hW8GJSDBQiWFnWby3tDcdtrGUujA8-HQ8Rb2XfYuYfWCOXbKvg8XCtmS9f8aQEqKhzULK1z2AsI7enfoC8yVNMQ5xqrDHCJQ-g9J3pc0jZEdmf6af8L9foYhEpQd-s/s1600/Sucker-Bait.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"> Enjoy!</span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijONNzeV5Wpy_XPGkcU8Vy2GTcXFXOUpsjaLcIHvf9Gv0uufW-iX94tXZFI9CLitAtTSEzqwywbX494CuJZvX_hyphenhyphene9kpf8wkaePqhERcm9UN91Tpde8-QPxMukxtWCI3F-DDnDotxUUlY/s1600/gipj1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijONNzeV5Wpy_XPGkcU8Vy2GTcXFXOUpsjaLcIHvf9Gv0uufW-iX94tXZFI9CLitAtTSEzqwywbX494CuJZvX_hyphenhyphene9kpf8wkaePqhERcm9UN91Tpde8-QPxMukxtWCI3F-DDnDotxUUlY/s1600/gipj1.bmp" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #e06666;">I also should mention that this story was
adapted for the 1972 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tales from the Crypt</i>
movie, with Peter Cushing as the Elliot character, called Arthur Gimsdyke.
Cushing is absolutely heartbreaking in the role (in real life, his wife had
recently passed away, just like his character), and the script thankfully tones
down the cartoonish nastiness of the neighbors to make for more realism (it
also implies that his neighbors accuse Grimsdyke of being a pedophile). The
zombie makeup is also superb, scarier than the comic in fact.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkdjVtQaeTv9KBhRNmhvVBBXtHoRGa6c7lM_7BmDhIw6q3Vl70SeAdxK-_sRx3y3UaxmOru8pPqen6lco1bJwttNa72piW5TXX-BGCHRVhyphenhyphenK9pHnTxM278q-XItx2YGilp6wSNbRn6rA/s1600/grimsdykerfc72.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkdjVtQaeTv9KBhRNmhvVBBXtHoRGa6c7lM_7BmDhIw6q3Vl70SeAdxK-_sRx3y3UaxmOru8pPqen6lco1bJwttNa72piW5TXX-BGCHRVhyphenhyphenK9pHnTxM278q-XItx2YGilp6wSNbRn6rA/s1600/grimsdykerfc72.png" height="269" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #e06666;"> Watching it is
something of a Valentines tradition for me. If you haven’t seen it yet, what
are you waiting for? Get off my stupid blog and go watch something that’s
actually entertaining!</span></span></div>
100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-1241828369835108332014-01-31T23:28:00.001-08:002014-01-31T23:50:40.315-08:00Top 6 Twisted Toyfare Theater Stories!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2V3y6fNpb9xYYaNiGsJfb8sM2VwetxyisoDIpOAE20Fq_ExtVRahLLUPYRZgeQZ1mtPisbz13fCRvRyFiUNl2oPVWcL2EBvGyJoWfWY5h7g4VwsDlQFwxD2goch5PCvLVNivK21n9EU/s1600/515088222TL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2V3y6fNpb9xYYaNiGsJfb8sM2VwetxyisoDIpOAE20Fq_ExtVRahLLUPYRZgeQZ1mtPisbz13fCRvRyFiUNl2oPVWcL2EBvGyJoWfWY5h7g4VwsDlQFwxD2goch5PCvLVNivK21n9EU/s1600/515088222TL.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">Ah, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Twisted
Toyfare Theater</b>. How long has it been since last we met?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">For those
who’ve never heard of this series, it was a fumetti (photo) comic that ran in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Toyfare</b> magazine from 1997 to 2011 and
featured warped adventures of various Marvel characters using a line of action
figures from the 70s called Megoes. It garnered a number of big name fans
during its run; such as Kevin Smith and Seth Green. It occasionally used some
DC characters and 80’s action figure lines, but the Mego/Marvel toys were the
primary focus up until around 2007, when it began focusing more and more on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Trek</i> and video game characters.</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Still, although
mostly well-known for inspiring TV’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Robot
Chicken</i>, TTT was a strip once eagerly awaited by millions every month
during its heyday of the late 90s and early 2000s. During an era of gimmicks,
cancellations, limited series, beloved titles completely going off track,
foil/holograph covers, pollybagged cards and Rob Liefeld getting his own jeans
commercial, TTT was an amusingly self-reflective, funhouse mirror look at the
depths the industry had sunk to, published by the very same people who had
helped to promote all the previously mentioned vices with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wizard</b>!</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Sure it was
juvenile, lowbrow, vulgar, repetitive, sexist, loaded with pointless sub-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Family Guy</i> reference humor, helped turn
an entire generation into obnoxious faux-cynics, was rarely funny upon re-read
and tried too hard to wring laughs out of attacking kiddie franchises, but on
the other hand…..it was juvenile, lowbrow, vulgar, repetitive, sexist, loaded
with pointless sub-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Family Guy</i>
reference humor, helped turn an entire generation into obnoxious faux-cynics,
was rarely funny upon re-read and tried too hard to wring laughs out of
attacking kiddie franchises AND IT MADE FOLKS LAUGH.</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Seeing such
sophomoric nonsense like Hulk binge-eating Tacos in order to kill Redwing after
Redwing gets lodged in his sphincter, or the Lizard being run over while
carrying a flaming bag of dog shit is the kind of stuff which your brain tells
you that you shouldn’t find funny, but that you do anyway:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnernhXlSa1csxuiR6u9CXEIjGeYYJTi_AiILSTEFiwkaFjIGWlV46E2c-FrdjGEyzZLCmQWzc1-pKcOVu7_a5BclGh6JOSsbz_cvxSyfsqpNd1vVi2XtjjSQLjyt-mofVGsLN7XHa5g/s1600/hulktacobell.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnernhXlSa1csxuiR6u9CXEIjGeYYJTi_AiILSTEFiwkaFjIGWlV46E2c-FrdjGEyzZLCmQWzc1-pKcOVu7_a5BclGh6JOSsbz_cvxSyfsqpNd1vVi2XtjjSQLjyt-mofVGsLN7XHa5g/s1600/hulktacobell.png" height="268" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhHjYLJw_x4Acp6syvmwURx3BkNNZKdMLce7I808i4coXVUdqTI2kBtr5LZSJmHhEr2jx9gYqwyJSc7xhhh84lFY8LTmu3dL3VeMhQf571KgGW7JBfQOSEjW6rjZl7u6Ft1zSp3Zav8o/s1600/flattenedlizard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhHjYLJw_x4Acp6syvmwURx3BkNNZKdMLce7I808i4coXVUdqTI2kBtr5LZSJmHhEr2jx9gYqwyJSc7xhhh84lFY8LTmu3dL3VeMhQf571KgGW7JBfQOSEjW6rjZl7u6Ft1zSp3Zav8o/s1600/flattenedlizard.png" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"> Still, for all of the cheap shots, randomness,
stereotypes and lazy ‘parody’ characterizations (Spider-Man is an irresponsible
jackass, The Hulk is retarded, Iron Man is a drunk, Thor is gay, Captain
America is a racist pedophile, Daredevil’s blindness works <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">against</i> him and Dr. Doom is…you know what? He’s pretty much
unchanged!), TTT was a strip that, when it wanted to be funny, would be
genuinely funny. So here are my favorites: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white;">6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Idol Hands”</b> from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Toyfare #67</b>:</span> <span style="color: lime;">Some people may have taken it for granted these days,
what with the Ultimate universe comics having basically become just a grittier
version of regular Marvel and having been highly influential on the films, but
back in the early 2000s, there was a very real fear among long-time fans that
Marvel was going to stop publishing all its titles and make the Ultimate
universe the “official” universe. Granted, there were also a lot of fans who
thought that the Ultimates line was doing a better job, and welcomed the idea.
</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: lime;"> This story manages to lampoon both sides when all the characters greedily enter
an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American Idol</i>-style talent contest
to win their chance at an Ultimate book.</span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpaJVsKMMpHnrrpe_f2XD7vw-NlEp7ZnR8AmCFwy9a85KzrTYSamRQn1sfnoY0LRQtKOqNd6E6dQAqh21gn3fCrp08xLN-ryZ8tBnVYHOgOiSiHqo9XY_CewwaCQHtJ6OTSicrV3qeFA/s1600/ih1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpaJVsKMMpHnrrpe_f2XD7vw-NlEp7ZnR8AmCFwy9a85KzrTYSamRQn1sfnoY0LRQtKOqNd6E6dQAqh21gn3fCrp08xLN-ryZ8tBnVYHOgOiSiHqo9XY_CewwaCQHtJ6OTSicrV3qeFA/s1600/ih1.png" height="157" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"> The gags range from uproariously funny
to cringe worthy, some at the same time. We see everything from X-treme sports
Mephisto to Captain America trying to prove he’s down with black people. Only a
lousy ending involving tired jokes about William Shatner’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Transformations</i> album keep it from scoring higher.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgZjxdJ3AeYawonOEUZ3clEunZAzPP60jWVyUMnoXZuOwglRp4udx8jcaYIUp7a7TjPdz9hVsiYCMIizCyCBlYsGq52xR3OJEaAzQdhe-9zr2tAmGngCJdLghl7E80HA7Rc1L-M5L1kk/s1600/capracist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgZjxdJ3AeYawonOEUZ3clEunZAzPP60jWVyUMnoXZuOwglRp4udx8jcaYIUp7a7TjPdz9hVsiYCMIizCyCBlYsGq52xR3OJEaAzQdhe-9zr2tAmGngCJdLghl7E80HA7Rc1L-M5L1kk/s1600/capracist.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wHSgbpxvqEIfNrc1c_-9sW9Y168CVRnipKjboCrmvW6gNdgz_9ybL7g5TBAV5YgYKLU0X_WIy-9i4zfdJQmsa-JwX96VJfmjyHy9kROlmFV3m2WWpG6xb25P_bxClRWIOpOe_7fO0a4/s1600/xtrememephisto.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wHSgbpxvqEIfNrc1c_-9sW9Y168CVRnipKjboCrmvW6gNdgz_9ybL7g5TBAV5YgYKLU0X_WIy-9i4zfdJQmsa-JwX96VJfmjyHy9kROlmFV3m2WWpG6xb25P_bxClRWIOpOe_7fO0a4/s1600/xtrememephisto.png" height="163" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: white;">5) “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Seder
Masochism</b>” from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Toyfare #94</b>:</span><span style="color: lime;"> It’s
been sort of an open secret for a long time that Ben Grimm is Jewish, and this
story milks it for all it’s worth when he decides to get in touch with his
roots after deciding ‘Jews have it good’ (Apparently, he assumed his
circumcision was a side effect of his exposure to cosmic radiation).</span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB81_QMh0NsbUZtmkRx8zAyRm2csrInVDh95cw3wrOTImC2ujmDcdrgjIqNdRMa4xwtddnmKWNE0fgxCJM-_N5b8S8hhYWE9H9QJlSagTv5HGXbTCT_jv6LJbP94geM_MlEd8l3QsE9_U/s1600/ttt94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB81_QMh0NsbUZtmkRx8zAyRm2csrInVDh95cw3wrOTImC2ujmDcdrgjIqNdRMa4xwtddnmKWNE0fgxCJM-_N5b8S8hhYWE9H9QJlSagTv5HGXbTCT_jv6LJbP94geM_MlEd8l3QsE9_U/s1600/ttt94.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlDj3ficd-BCs2k8q21iV_x-mbowDeX1ejf6KX4SXvIyOlKAOt4_VO0Ftg-76XURnz5Z0UYkY8M5hddIUINhiS0sbYSWuOo8aN5eUmo9tQlj44FUPKEz0vtOK749luMm4dp1dP-rdSrE/s1600/ttt942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlDj3ficd-BCs2k8q21iV_x-mbowDeX1ejf6KX4SXvIyOlKAOt4_VO0Ftg-76XURnz5Z0UYkY8M5hddIUINhiS0sbYSWuOo8aN5eUmo9tQlj44FUPKEz0vtOK749luMm4dp1dP-rdSrE/s1600/ttt942.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: lime;"> Featuring
appearances by just about every Jewish hero and villain in the Marvel U, this
one manages to be hilarious and a scathing condemnation of how
religion is handled in comics. Never show this comic to 4-Chan under <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i> circumstances.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="color: black;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: white;">4) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Risky
Business”</b> from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Toyfare #82</b>:</span> <span style="color: lime;">One
of the best things about comics involving villain team-ups is the downtime
scenes with villains acting like regular people, and TTT got a lot of laughs
out of the same method. Here, 80’s cartoon villains Skeletor, Megatron,
Gargamel and Cobra Commander spend an evening playing Risk and swapping
anecdotes.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvapxtndb8NVClwEmYQWpKwLeJOOBh11Gl0lv9E6IuAlvDftGJPfWP0Euy9uJzzu3tJlFfkELRKD_Q4PA9BvMg_6H2_ADfIhOHnluDdxi5A8W4TI5p9z0yMBAZRDPDg9wD7ZbU497Vwg/s1600/villainsplayrisk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvapxtndb8NVClwEmYQWpKwLeJOOBh11Gl0lv9E6IuAlvDftGJPfWP0Euy9uJzzu3tJlFfkELRKD_Q4PA9BvMg_6H2_ADfIhOHnluDdxi5A8W4TI5p9z0yMBAZRDPDg9wD7ZbU497Vwg/s1600/villainsplayrisk.png" height="153" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> There’s really not much more to it, but if you look at all the
things that happen in the course of the story, it all has a weird sort of logic
at play. These guys were all potentially badass villains who were ruined by
standards and practices, so it makes perfect sense they would revel in playing
a world domination board game (since it’s the closest they’ll ever come to
their goal), and the idea that they would all view Darth Vader as some sort of
hero figure is oddly touching. Besides, y</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;">ou just can’t hate something with lines like
“Go with God, Calcium-Deficient Smurf”.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHe_8r8gwPbNrxICN3HToVcrC_hR6WUhHLeIh1_STiKBKpzTrRCTJBW160IKMHhC8G38k2077Hw4jwwx248TgF0ll6LaswDirdkwi2dNSmZ-74KS6FoWNb3n0DU218vaeWWQhpnBWp_t8/s1600/calciumsmurf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHe_8r8gwPbNrxICN3HToVcrC_hR6WUhHLeIh1_STiKBKpzTrRCTJBW160IKMHhC8G38k2077Hw4jwwx248TgF0ll6LaswDirdkwi2dNSmZ-74KS6FoWNb3n0DU218vaeWWQhpnBWp_t8/s1600/calciumsmurf.png" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: white;">3) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The Way
We Wuz”</b> from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Toyfare #64</b>:</span> </span><span style="color: lime;">The
Thing, Northstar and the Avengers spend an evening recounting their origins;
cue the most hilariously skewed versions of classic origins imaginable:</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfIV5AupTZ7KrIFkN4tzKq9HzNmu3pVoCJW30loU_KNf2HidZ7vD4EUu_UmKzXeqd2NbhYBd4eKrcTw3k5-WiheiPXuXkf2obfuhQUktzbjksCvMpQB8P8W7jvRpOzRZhRDpGdshE1gY/s1600/fforigin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfIV5AupTZ7KrIFkN4tzKq9HzNmu3pVoCJW30loU_KNf2HidZ7vD4EUu_UmKzXeqd2NbhYBd4eKrcTw3k5-WiheiPXuXkf2obfuhQUktzbjksCvMpQB8P8W7jvRpOzRZhRDpGdshE1gY/s1600/fforigin.jpg" height="314" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVEdjgOuaSoz6_fGe9z1_lZQxS3N1e6arX_pGCQnSoYY22ciTX3-7j0HCQKTANf9VdZqTjeDE8mZw6_xwSfaoZ8e9nf1FLKiE7-q03S47TbC4r8HItNQTzrpbscZvlwnfmMfseW951pg/s1600/angrything.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVEdjgOuaSoz6_fGe9z1_lZQxS3N1e6arX_pGCQnSoYY22ciTX3-7j0HCQKTANf9VdZqTjeDE8mZw6_xwSfaoZ8e9nf1FLKiE7-q03S47TbC4r8HItNQTzrpbscZvlwnfmMfseW951pg/s1600/angrything.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPH55YpOLoXNyXjm4sKzvEJazL0Ok97pEXMFhAhBNU2qSmkszaAvEUQrANnY27mlfnfTM5YfDHwUQmK2XTxTWXMwCOoBAbdAaPyyOU0-v8fLJ31F5FTlu4Q5md7CA4WdwGXTAPe44FS-Y/s1600/caporigin1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPH55YpOLoXNyXjm4sKzvEJazL0Ok97pEXMFhAhBNU2qSmkszaAvEUQrANnY27mlfnfTM5YfDHwUQmK2XTxTWXMwCOoBAbdAaPyyOU0-v8fLJ31F5FTlu4Q5md7CA4WdwGXTAPe44FS-Y/s1600/caporigin1.png" height="162" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi3T0rW5pvugXvdeeUA1cBkrhqLRv8ePGQ91bqg4DPRdboCpn9dDos6Ve2XsnO6Q6qTfGiFQ6pzFQYpO6GcNBv0zwP5I6yFdnbakB8KQNF0ftS5_rAximjrbge0AyMOEu-3r9GdqKAFg/s1600/caporigin2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi3T0rW5pvugXvdeeUA1cBkrhqLRv8ePGQ91bqg4DPRdboCpn9dDos6Ve2XsnO6Q6qTfGiFQ6pzFQYpO6GcNBv0zwP5I6yFdnbakB8KQNF0ftS5_rAximjrbge0AyMOEu-3r9GdqKAFg/s1600/caporigin2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> This is my
favorite:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_WfkY292zaQpdvxeyUzApjg26XOHu5-YWHcuL8YklwQI6QdV7iUd5fx18AsTPAQme9LHm2nx523qr4pAmnLV_iu_B78Mi9P30b_blP0gF_uL0yz7o8UEpm9zNXYBk8WXL_1mzfUsWwI/s1600/bathulk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_WfkY292zaQpdvxeyUzApjg26XOHu5-YWHcuL8YklwQI6QdV7iUd5fx18AsTPAQme9LHm2nx523qr4pAmnLV_iu_B78Mi9P30b_blP0gF_uL0yz7o8UEpm9zNXYBk8WXL_1mzfUsWwI/s1600/bathulk.png" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Although the
take on the mind-screwing different origins of the Vision are also pretty
funny (Seriously, what the hell <em>is</em> his origin?):</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zIXC-F41K7RDvfSVKjHtkl5MSiXW611XTh_4l-YW4mIbNpi28nAkTVYVgGpSJYDkd28yKFVXSVBJscMg2qDS90QkcDEGcc_Pxrc2-0HzwLr_iJKAXivF0lX8J1_w1GAsVdejjSnDUCM/s1600/visionorigin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zIXC-F41K7RDvfSVKjHtkl5MSiXW611XTh_4l-YW4mIbNpi28nAkTVYVgGpSJYDkd28yKFVXSVBJscMg2qDS90QkcDEGcc_Pxrc2-0HzwLr_iJKAXivF0lX8J1_w1GAsVdejjSnDUCM/s1600/visionorigin.png" height="161" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;">There are laughs galore, even from the unfunny
and stereotypically portrayed Northstar (the butt of even more gay jokes
than Thor). The only reason it doesn’t rank higher? The concept is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">too</b> good for the space it is allotted.
This one deserved a sequel or to be saved for a higher page count special.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">2) “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Project
Greenlight</b>” from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2002</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wizard Spider-Man Special</b>:</span> <span style="color: lime;">One of the
big problems with comic book movies prior to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Batman Begins</i> was that they all had a tendency to trot out the
archenemy for the first film and kill him off, making the double mistake of
ensuring the use of lesser villains for sequels, as well as destroying the
stature of some great villains. This story, released in a 2002 Spider-Man
summer special when the first movie came out, parodies this problem by having
Venom, the Lizard and the Red Skull (don’t ask) compete to become Spider-Man’s
new archenemy so they can be in the sequel. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz-T264Tad55JGr-b5nsd8-wPTBVqetQ4hAlEqkTtErM2qYvulIdMiIbNVkK321JaHF5LBVXiogcNiHmukOtK4HEcThx7VyDgwwGGXO9XsVZtA2Q91ZFXoAi8g6OPc2BesMmfSvfLgFo/s1600/pjplt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz-T264Tad55JGr-b5nsd8-wPTBVqetQ4hAlEqkTtErM2qYvulIdMiIbNVkK321JaHF5LBVXiogcNiHmukOtK4HEcThx7VyDgwwGGXO9XsVZtA2Q91ZFXoAi8g6OPc2BesMmfSvfLgFo/s1600/pjplt.png" height="154" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"> So how do they intend to become
Spidey’s new arch-villains? By being…kinda mean to him:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BaaUCElVGXSq0H8xv4hj25t67ZkB5ubudrB68ofdkn_MTgQCdEkuK8CrJzu9HykDvEzQuVwwRa_BJryn_uNAtb2OB7UdjCO-ale5OaJ8e6lQ6T5_akrFDwhzsJCGa-3lwHD5LRgO4xY/s1600/venommischief.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BaaUCElVGXSq0H8xv4hj25t67ZkB5ubudrB68ofdkn_MTgQCdEkuK8CrJzu9HykDvEzQuVwwRa_BJryn_uNAtb2OB7UdjCO-ale5OaJ8e6lQ6T5_akrFDwhzsJCGa-3lwHD5LRgO4xY/s1600/venommischief.png" height="144" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: lime;"> This one is loaded with
great slapstick, villains acting like bored kids, hilarious ruinations of
valuable action figures, and the unforgettable sight of the Green Goblin
blinged out:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UJPF56PY7JRk7bL1YKy4ZGjQG_Kqn6-VM_UxAMxID9TxwM6y1S3HgAbEsiKH5-xTEm9qvWswwOKgCUvuCkYyt6Hy8cvtENZFYDRB4jFYJWjcuN6LWSUnT_J3RymAr2u1c0AGUryhFxI/s1600/grizeengizoblin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UJPF56PY7JRk7bL1YKy4ZGjQG_Kqn6-VM_UxAMxID9TxwM6y1S3HgAbEsiKH5-xTEm9qvWswwOKgCUvuCkYyt6Hy8cvtENZFYDRB4jFYJWjcuN6LWSUnT_J3RymAr2u1c0AGUryhFxI/s1600/grizeengizoblin.png" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-EEdJYjJDpuPYEckLJ3l4IJjO3vdf9LHvzVhJLICa5IpzP_rrZbU1SVw6GUOizXLQpi0Rdrk0ZljmvH6o_zPsNqKI4iwLmupv-SifDAQGOYUPtijHDgr9NrY6Ayw5EYNB7kn2PZ4bUQ/s1600/grizeengizoblin2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-EEdJYjJDpuPYEckLJ3l4IJjO3vdf9LHvzVhJLICa5IpzP_rrZbU1SVw6GUOizXLQpi0Rdrk0ZljmvH6o_zPsNqKI4iwLmupv-SifDAQGOYUPtijHDgr9NrY6Ayw5EYNB7kn2PZ4bUQ/s1600/grizeengizoblin2.png" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> 1) “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My Big
Fat FAT Wedding</b>” from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Toyfare #79</b>:</span>
</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH7U57_od-fcaPG-QZltZW0bJ-c08CDpoKR5L-ZzhtlGuwLVJQCVajdmiNVxFLSYP6YV56xPhhKAcYD6Llxwu9w0d8DFs_ZCSsu5H-XScz6rBjlReC6wP8yfEYD0zMIcQLYXGyy7ZHyI/s1600/ockwedding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdH7U57_od-fcaPG-QZltZW0bJ-c08CDpoKR5L-ZzhtlGuwLVJQCVajdmiNVxFLSYP6YV56xPhhKAcYD6Llxwu9w0d8DFs_ZCSsu5H-XScz6rBjlReC6wP8yfEYD0zMIcQLYXGyy7ZHyI/s1600/ockwedding.png" height="157" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> One of the biggest problems with modern comics fandom has always been how fans tend to write
off a lot of silver and bronze age stories as goofy, but it gets <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">really</b> bad when they single out certain
stories based on the covers alone. It leads to a lot of fairly decent
storylines getting trashed undeservedly, and it also leads to disappointment
when camp fans track down said stories expecting cheesy laughs only to find fairly
unremarkable/normal stories. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> The infamous “Doctor Octopus marries Aunt
May” storyline from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amazing Spider-Man
#130-131</b> is a good example. It’s a fairly decent little arc which comes up
with a perfectly logical reason for Ock trying to marry May (and was built off
of a long-running subplot that had its roots going as far back as the first
annual). It’s just a slightly off-beat Spider-Man story, with nothing really
funny about it besides the cover.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJLOS0EAYGIHwogl5qNZebnkJO2dtizWsngnmTaLxqp-uEWtKtOGNtgDc8U7cGPrSqRTM8Ta4amM3bowWKrB6AIhPFMZKdzY633op8Sq4GDo8DaUgfcwVnaFCiprg1MyVFudOY8MZe2w/s1600/ASM131Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJLOS0EAYGIHwogl5qNZebnkJO2dtizWsngnmTaLxqp-uEWtKtOGNtgDc8U7cGPrSqRTM8Ta4amM3bowWKrB6AIhPFMZKdzY633op8Sq4GDo8DaUgfcwVnaFCiprg1MyVFudOY8MZe2w/s1600/ASM131Cover.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> TT</span><span style="color: lime;">T of
course, took the inherent humor in the concept of Ock marrying May and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ran with it</i>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uQcSt71Be1pnM8d_nhJKxGtbTURFdQILl84n0gdf7-aGu5VZuGfUVc3OcgE7gJxyjxioC8FeHx5LUAvn-HcabsZdglX1MlRODOPMw56j2xjaHMArmNRO8G9etnMX5wrLJGKTEYuJ68E/s1600/om.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uQcSt71Be1pnM8d_nhJKxGtbTURFdQILl84n0gdf7-aGu5VZuGfUVc3OcgE7gJxyjxioC8FeHx5LUAvn-HcabsZdglX1MlRODOPMw56j2xjaHMArmNRO8G9etnMX5wrLJGKTEYuJ68E/s1600/om.png" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: lime;">It has its
share of groan-inducing moments (though honestly, how else would a relationship
between an obese tentacled supervillain and an 80+ woman at death’s door come
off as?), but things really take off when everyone flies to the wedding and Ock
invites the Sinister Six to be his best men. The laughs just keep on coming
with jokes about Mysterio’s inconsistently portrayed powers, the most bizarre
spoof of <em>Nightmare at 20’000 Feet</em> you’ll ever see, hotel room antics
between Kraven and the Lizard, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Con Air</i>
references and an ingenious way of ending the story that doubles as the most
macabre parody of Spider-Man’s origin ever put to paper (Granted, TTT had done
a similar gag before, but it wasn’t nearly as funny).</span> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSi0rhAeQTqM01LvGk_UfGO6GrGrHeFH6aFwIguFdVSZ5jwl2en5NtW63JF694NwA1Rh1unRfckf1wBfRZJOAK-gsLZbUwgSlmqadLdMgcQqxfVL3yzUWDE-KipSCB09WWwdd50de_kw/s1600/mysteriottt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSi0rhAeQTqM01LvGk_UfGO6GrGrHeFH6aFwIguFdVSZ5jwl2en5NtW63JF694NwA1Rh1unRfckf1wBfRZJOAK-gsLZbUwgSlmqadLdMgcQqxfVL3yzUWDE-KipSCB09WWwdd50de_kw/s1600/mysteriottt.png" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoEsl7xBMYDTQlL7PDf0jdci0_lBODqjug1IK1zuEwXlC_yY6fXGerKJNa03iD1zLTikLpLtoELtOpuB0zyRTOgeZSUDcV_QF13xd2VSJew8LLF-vcoaMcbvpt08bNHiBz8EbTJyi0cU/s1600/kravenlizard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoEsl7xBMYDTQlL7PDf0jdci0_lBODqjug1IK1zuEwXlC_yY6fXGerKJNa03iD1zLTikLpLtoELtOpuB0zyRTOgeZSUDcV_QF13xd2VSJew8LLF-vcoaMcbvpt08bNHiBz8EbTJyi0cU/s1600/kravenlizard.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">There’s
nothing really poignant or significant about this story (although, I honestly
don’t think I’d know what a ‘poignant” or “significant” TTT story would look
like if there was such a thing), but in terms of laughs, nothing else really
compares. As Kraven says, “Dig in Tovarisch”. This is as good as TTT got.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">~<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">There are
lots of other memorable TTT stories, but these are my favorites, as well as the
ones I think would come off as funniest to people who shy away from this kind
of stuff. Even Scans_Daily enjoys the series. I may do a follow up someday,
especially since there are a lot of gems that Wizard never reprinted because of
legal issues (there was a big lawsuit from DC comics which prevented the use of
their characters) or because of gimmicks that made the stories impossible to
reproduce (Like a story scattered throughout random pages to give it the feel
of a wild goose chase). It’s something I look forward to, because, I never
thought I’d say this…preparing this post has sort of made me miss the late
90’s-early 2000’s right now. Maybe I’m getting soft.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeht06APSPp96uQgNmi39yd2EkB2BM1DTXX_2UNRCTINOI-ZmPDuTPtJOqVZDqVTlIb51-44ITBeP1yFQvcB_vD-J7JFGqK23lCJRnNluhhyphenhyphenM2j7SOh8CjwX1ohFIMOJUOw40n8EThIow/s1600/grizeengizoblin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeht06APSPp96uQgNmi39yd2EkB2BM1DTXX_2UNRCTINOI-ZmPDuTPtJOqVZDqVTlIb51-44ITBeP1yFQvcB_vD-J7JFGqK23lCJRnNluhhyphenhyphenM2j7SOh8CjwX1ohFIMOJUOw40n8EThIow/s1600/grizeengizoblin.png" height="320" width="231" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">This will forever haunt my brain</span></div>
<br /></div>
</span></span><br />100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-12032282575293320402014-01-18T01:24:00.001-08:002014-01-18T01:32:22.844-08:00Top 7 funniest Scans_Daily moments:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodULtTEjMRC9UJ3jTIoAB78a3yIUGASrMxAwqWOu3SdSeWWcevs-zy5QDpGoZnVtYtOo12n3TUOjOzmWb7eIGemwO00flUspy3bZ8OJFGpG0bkqusIAkMUWP2B_K4W5J8I-GKAk4s-8o/s1600/sd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodULtTEjMRC9UJ3jTIoAB78a3yIUGASrMxAwqWOu3SdSeWWcevs-zy5QDpGoZnVtYtOo12n3TUOjOzmWb7eIGemwO00flUspy3bZ8OJFGpG0bkqusIAkMUWP2B_K4W5J8I-GKAk4s-8o/s1600/sd.png" height="64" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMHtQ4e23svUpebWroEfd_I-7XmheZg5g0XhfnixGdVf8E5j96AJuo_r1LDCFlt8Gs0FHsEIkn1zKngpXXVrs7izON7KSYc9cYoSeIeYSX4NdY0d-EvUfq4p3oQuNyzQ1clCvO2Bt2rc/s1600/sdwarhol.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMHtQ4e23svUpebWroEfd_I-7XmheZg5g0XhfnixGdVf8E5j96AJuo_r1LDCFlt8Gs0FHsEIkn1zKngpXXVrs7izON7KSYc9cYoSeIeYSX4NdY0d-EvUfq4p3oQuNyzQ1clCvO2Bt2rc/s1600/sdwarhol.png" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05X9Umut6kyzFyoCIlY7I1wWCP_nW_UQOHDz4zc4_0dRCrDJDuXzcM1SxcN0E8vcLwNJYrEIvGS8rxF7vmDf8bP2Ts2ESrJdv1kUpJiJbSVoRupnoRNKA7WgfaJrN1ydRkSA2u12vGlI/s1600/callout.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05X9Umut6kyzFyoCIlY7I1wWCP_nW_UQOHDz4zc4_0dRCrDJDuXzcM1SxcN0E8vcLwNJYrEIvGS8rxF7vmDf8bP2Ts2ESrJdv1kUpJiJbSVoRupnoRNKA7WgfaJrN1ydRkSA2u12vGlI/s1600/callout.png" height="47" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">Ah, Scans_Daily. They’ve been “Bringing the crack”
since 2003, and recently celebrated their anniversary. Thus I figured, why
shouldn’t <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I</b> get in on the fun? Sure
I’m a little late, but it’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> too
late to appreciate this humble little website’s many hilarious moments.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Especially
since the hilarity of those moments were almost completely unintentional.</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">For those who
don’t know, Scans_Daily started in 2003 as a shitty little slash community where
horny fans could discuss their favorite pairings. Eventually, they began to
reblog stuff from SuperDickery.com (often claiming that they had scanned the
issues themselves), more people joined in, and it gradually became more of a
general comics posting site, though the retards still remained. These were the
days before comics-scanning blogs were really common, so a lot of people
flocked to the site because it offered the opportunity to see near complete
scans of various issues. An in-flux of people who just wanted to post obscure comics certainly helped. At its height
(2006-08), it honestly was a pretty good resource despite a bunch of unfunny
running gags, forced catchphrases and wannabe memes (Like people saying “___
doesn’t work that way!”). Particularly notable was this one dude who kept
screaming “LIEFELD!” every time someone posted Liefeld art. However, in
2009, one numbnuts who had (somehow) gotten hold of an issue prior to release
spoiled the ending, which pissed off author Peter David. He responded fairly
civilly, and they told him to go die in a fire. David contacted an attorney,
and the whole site got taken down.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">It was back
up before long though, but like many things that come back from the dead, it became
a soulless caricature of itself, lying in wait beneath the bed to slit your
ankles. What was once just some silly scans site became perhaps the single most
pretentious, head-up-its-ass “Check your Priviledge” trigger warning-tagged website
in the history of the entire internet (until Tumblr one-upped them) in its
attempts to prove how “sensitive” it was to the plight of minorities and women.
It became the laughingstock of pretty much everybody in fandom, even 4Chan
thinks lowly of them. You know those really insulting and unfair strawman
caricatures of civil rights activists and feminists that get posted on Fundamentalist
Christian and white supremacist websites? Scans_Daily became a real version of
those parodies, except <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">crazier</i>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> If you said
you liked Alan Scott or Hal Jordan over John Stewart as Green Lantern, you got
called a racist privileged pigfucker. Saying you preferred Ray Palmer as the
Atom to his Asian replacement? Your opinion gets compared to stamping on
minority’s feet. If you called out Frank Miller for characterizing women as
whores in so many of his works? You got screamed at for using the word
“whores”, regardless of context. Any attempt on your part to explain is
“mansplaining” and would probably get you banned. Even if you said something
relatively benign like that you approved of more gay characters in comics would
likely get you accused of “fetishizing homosexuality” or told that “Gays don’t
need your approval” (usually by some straight person). If you used the word ‘lame’?
You got accused of making ableist slurs. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wish</i>
I was making this shit up. People left the site in droves, even the iconic
Liefeld guy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">This is all pretty funny when you consider
that the original version of the site was pretty much just non-stop rape jokes,
panels taken out of context to imply sexual activity, racial jokes and offensively
stereotypical gay porn being fetishized by straight fans. I can understand
wanting to weed out those kinds of people and give the site a better reputation,
but the moderators who were going to all these extremes to clean up were <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the same people who used to do all of that
crap</b>. There’s this one mod that goes on and on about how horrible it is for
female fans to get called “fake geek girls” who I specifically remember using
just such a term in a completely non-ironic way back in the days of the old
community. Sadly though, Wayback Machine’s archive for the older site is pretty
crappy, so I admit I can’t back this up.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolsae5fzmi7neKw5tJ3rJan5HAcYIXSef0ZDxfT8pk-NIwaH8kjN9bverz8RyirxxUf65b4Bhlqu2RMljPH4SyFpx7-66IDIz3IVhv0vDAclG6xPJbyL0aORHpIB0VPXw_HZ5fZV44ew/s1600/21b3ygg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolsae5fzmi7neKw5tJ3rJan5HAcYIXSef0ZDxfT8pk-NIwaH8kjN9bverz8RyirxxUf65b4Bhlqu2RMljPH4SyFpx7-66IDIz3IVhv0vDAclG6xPJbyL0aORHpIB0VPXw_HZ5fZV44ew/s1600/21b3ygg.jpg" height="320" width="99" /></a></div>
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An example of the LGBT-friendly, non-DudeBro humor commonly found on S_D. </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> But I am not here
to bury Scans_Daily, I am here to praise it. Much like rockabilly music, Ed
Wood movies, Chick tracts, 50’s high school sex-ed tapes and that obese
relative of undetermined relation who always comes to Thanksgiving and stares
lustfully at your youngest niece but gets drunk too fast before he can do anything and
vomits all over your carefully prepared kosher turkey, Scans_Daily has a completely
unintended charm all its own that makes you welcome it’s return over and over
again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">So let’s
count down the “best” moments of the brave, fearless Scans_Daily user’s
never-ending crusade!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7) That post is like, lamesville, man:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">You thought I
was kidding about the ‘lame’ thing, didn’t you? I can assure you its real,
despite what several moderators have said to the contrary on forums mocking
S_D:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJ6oAxUE2TCVoPcmZzK6t_h8bMHByU7IkpNyI1BoWpo2iidvzZ5lw5ihiW-g6JEJo0b9gtXexWK9qmzagXpwJgSFn4H5_FcFQwPasVi1vyHXaWRn69mzGNi05Fe4rxESwtOF64MSFMEk/s1600/sdlame.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJ6oAxUE2TCVoPcmZzK6t_h8bMHByU7IkpNyI1BoWpo2iidvzZ5lw5ihiW-g6JEJo0b9gtXexWK9qmzagXpwJgSFn4H5_FcFQwPasVi1vyHXaWRn69mzGNi05Fe4rxESwtOF64MSFMEk/s1600/sdlame.png" height="93" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> As someone
who grew up with an invalid brother and then spent two years myself on crutches
after an injury and had to undergo excruciating corrective surgery (that still
hurts every now and then if I jog too fast), I can understand wanting to be
sensitive to people with physical disabilities, so that’s why this ranks so
low.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Still, it’s a
common joke that banning words like “lame” is a sign of taking political
correctness too far, and when you end up embodying stereotypes, well, that’s
pretty <em>lame</em> in of itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> 6)
The Million Nerd March:</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vHXT06GZj99gG_DxR_wOEASBOGRZxOcF_EhCQwQt8RWsANLRK7ZP3mET0dA5NoHI8xLEh8QJQ2opIflHE2G84vZeYDtEvcyzj6DkcqyDgKJQkIlpK4tvVYei_dTigOtp4GHEFx6Xot8/s1600/sdnamrty.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vHXT06GZj99gG_DxR_wOEASBOGRZxOcF_EhCQwQt8RWsANLRK7ZP3mET0dA5NoHI8xLEh8QJQ2opIflHE2G84vZeYDtEvcyzj6DkcqyDgKJQkIlpK4tvVYei_dTigOtp4GHEFx6Xot8/s1600/sdnamrty.png" height="72" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> One of the
big trends among “geek activists” as of late has been to call out geeks who
compare the mockery they’ve faced to racism, sexism, etc. While I’ve definitely
seen some geeks who do that kind of shit and definitely need to shut the fuck
up, I’ve never really seen that much of it from comics fans except for the
occasional idiot who usually isn’t all that popular anyway. What’s even funnier
about this is that, in every single instance I’ve seen, the people who whine
the loudest about “Stupid geeks calling themselves minorities” usually have no
problem counting anime fans, bronies, furries, otherkin, bestiality freaks and various
made-up sexualities as oppressed minorities.</span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Thankfully,
Scans_Daily doesn’t go that far (yet…), but the hypocrisy of people on S_D
joining in the “GEEKS ARE NOT A MINORITY!!!111!” mantra is hilarious
considering all the whining they do, especially in context of this post, which
was about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kick Ass</b>. Browse the Mark
Millar tag and you’ll see them scream about all of the nerd jokes and ‘fuck
you’s’ to superhero fans that Millar loves to put in his work. Oh sure, they’ll
also complain about the plot holes, rape, gore etc. but you can always tell
that it’s the nerd jokes that are what’s really pissing them off.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">And the
funniest thing is? I actually used to feel the same way about Millar, but
now…I’m kinda warming up to that wacky Scotsman and his oeuvre.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> 5)
Just another case of the white man keepin’ the Spider-Man down:</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDgT8Sp2EBnpACaubMYYcZd56_X6f2TkSTKpWOb0MjINGUd8FwFQLdZctD1RWKJ6XcIkd5u09viIZMZUEeawNSnRvF_Uw4xTt3pJPqUXrXERAZmq1CvhS0H_iEvdM8nHcd7xRWAcJRFc/s1600/sdcaucasianspidey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDgT8Sp2EBnpACaubMYYcZd56_X6f2TkSTKpWOb0MjINGUd8FwFQLdZctD1RWKJ6XcIkd5u09viIZMZUEeawNSnRvF_Uw4xTt3pJPqUXrXERAZmq1CvhS0H_iEvdM8nHcd7xRWAcJRFc/s1600/sdcaucasianspidey.png" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> “Oh, look at
me you guys! I’m so accepting of Miles Morale as the new Spider-Man I didn’t
even remember there was a white Spider-Man! Give me a
Medal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">This post was
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">probably</i> a joke given some of the
other snarky and un-PC comments the same poster has made (go down to example
#3), but you know what? The very fact that it could just as easily have been a
genuine post speaks volumes.</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4)
Slapstick comedy:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">One of the
Scans_Daily moderators’ more popular tactics whenever someone tries to calm
down or apologize to a poster having a shit-fit is to accuse the person trying
to make peace of “tone policing” and saying that the person who is angry has
every right to blow their stack, even if they say things that blatantly violate
the community rules. Their logic behind this is that anyone who angers someone
else must be a “privileged” person (ie. white, straight, male) and that since
they belong to non-oppressed groups, they deserve to be called all sorts of
names and threatened.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">In theory, I
agree with this. If the worst thing a person who isn’t an oppressed minority
has to endure as punishment for making an offensive statement is name-calling
and threats as opposed to the slurs and actual physical endangerment that
minorities face every day, so be it.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">So why then
do the S_D mods throw a fit when a female fan talks about how she’d like to
slap fandom silly?</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUItcgFqSvoFvoToyfcVGCoU21j_iGhyphenhyphenfmwA387_CTshBFv_QC6Jafk-nm91Paoj-taGzkHGnLmxNACoratkEX8KWzAPOuDVHXAy9TsH3lywNtT51F8-FAYC6ZOs8dGJMBAda3Lxm_eg/s1600/slapsilly.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUItcgFqSvoFvoToyfcVGCoU21j_iGhyphenhyphenfmwA387_CTshBFv_QC6Jafk-nm91Paoj-taGzkHGnLmxNACoratkEX8KWzAPOuDVHXAy9TsH3lywNtT51F8-FAYC6ZOs8dGJMBAda3Lxm_eg/s1600/slapsilly.png" height="121" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> She’s not
saying anything about a minority group, she’s calling out others for
potentially problematic behavior (which, remember, is encouraged for community
good), she’s just using a figure of speech (“I’d love to slap some of those
people silly”) and the only people who could possibly be offended are geeks,
who we’ve established are not a minority, so what gives?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">I will admit
that she was wrong for saying fandom needs to be slapped. The ones who need to
be slapped are the mods.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3)
Skin n’ Bones:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;"> Scans_Daily
frequently recruits temporary mods when the regular mods need to take a break
from pretending to care about social issues and <strike>spend a nice weekend over at the new deluxe trailer park</strike>, so there are lots of discussions
over community changes. When some people rightly called the mods out on their
extremism and said the site could be toned down a little, this poster (not a
mod) responded by saying that there’s no such thing as being PC and that people
who whine about political correctness are so thin-skinned “you could make
strudel out of it”:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aTN1e46oBDvtiVClWBtwO1jVStLthpKZMKS8DotwCZtjhzyVQGb-Yc8nG-EofIXJS7QJp5A7A5HklkwCIrlOmXrbL0_4MI0XX9xEvGe3nqOvWD4LndYarx0C0ubYwKNWrk6o43EkRhc/s1600/cm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aTN1e46oBDvtiVClWBtwO1jVStLthpKZMKS8DotwCZtjhzyVQGb-Yc8nG-EofIXJS7QJp5A7A5HklkwCIrlOmXrbL0_4MI0XX9xEvGe3nqOvWD4LndYarx0C0ubYwKNWrk6o43EkRhc/s1600/cm.png" height="114" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Well, I bet
you’re just a regular toughie, huh?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Some years
earlier, someone had posted that awful Silver Age Flash story where Grodd makes
Barry Allen morbidly obese so he can’t run (A low point for the series, I’ll
grant you), and for the most part, everyone had a good laugh over it and got in
some clever, if juvenile jokes. And then this one guy made a joke about how the
PC police would react if such a story were published today. Cue shit storm:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bBKawXZTcwyxAPt8IMCcPj6WL6rdBaYD5mFAevcGoE2KjKD6FZXW0mipVH2ujgFNLB-GV9i3X0C4m3siblZppDEmhdKcXg87V7mwLl4ulgqdu1L-v3up9_zZEuuytpFugzGofwUZxyg/s1600/sdfd1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bBKawXZTcwyxAPt8IMCcPj6WL6rdBaYD5mFAevcGoE2KjKD6FZXW0mipVH2ujgFNLB-GV9i3X0C4m3siblZppDEmhdKcXg87V7mwLl4ulgqdu1L-v3up9_zZEuuytpFugzGofwUZxyg/s1600/sdfd1.png" height="154" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Some people
responded, being thoughtful and polite. One of them even had weight issues
herself:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGJ0sjYqYK0x6ExhWaTXH7_WkkFXQNrFUJCMW2eu7g_UsSE8YhFecXrINge1wNBrZTt9hV2TJCPpiwQpgPhS-KOtcHl7xeGznK8_72mgHtwgGMLveRZPkOcFd6DDMSOjrkbrROVm9xv8/s1600/fd2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGJ0sjYqYK0x6ExhWaTXH7_WkkFXQNrFUJCMW2eu7g_UsSE8YhFecXrINge1wNBrZTt9hV2TJCPpiwQpgPhS-KOtcHl7xeGznK8_72mgHtwgGMLveRZPkOcFd6DDMSOjrkbrROVm9xv8/s1600/fd2.png" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> This was the
response:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7iDCP9OP2szINxvhzTHE8yjgektLHeY0OCtQInhXbY2Zx9iQ03q4mB1jvcFnynISNOgwEewjxQ2v4VS_zbSxnv77arVbI4PC_r1BCSEPm9jCGQRenoTXm7n2QglMRTzzygqJCa0geyg/s1600/fd4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7iDCP9OP2szINxvhzTHE8yjgektLHeY0OCtQInhXbY2Zx9iQ03q4mB1jvcFnynISNOgwEewjxQ2v4VS_zbSxnv77arVbI4PC_r1BCSEPm9jCGQRenoTXm7n2QglMRTzzygqJCa0geyg/s1600/fd4.png" height="162" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> This poor guy
innocently mentioned that there have been some overweight heroes in comics, and
she responded by sneering at him sarcastically and acting as if he was trying
to side against her, even though he was just stating a fact and not trying to
counter her in any way:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLjsP7NIUhfClqqLtrmLAulELrj9bw2Kmoe1sUnugeDA5UY_arqRm861_Sv1BhytP79SlNk4wwR1u8XUQyr8QG4y8sTnLt1yM7PPLnIfayjSvqCT6MMsbbh-_eLY6AD0lyv6esNOck5k/s1600/fd3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLjsP7NIUhfClqqLtrmLAulELrj9bw2Kmoe1sUnugeDA5UY_arqRm861_Sv1BhytP79SlNk4wwR1u8XUQyr8QG4y8sTnLt1yM7PPLnIfayjSvqCT6MMsbbh-_eLY6AD0lyv6esNOck5k/s1600/fd3.png" height="103" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> And the
people who make jokes about political correctness are supposed to be the
thin-skinned ones, while people like her aren’t?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> This isn’t
the first time she’d done this, interestingly enough. Sometime before that,
someone had posted scans from an incredibly offensive <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hellboy</b>
spin-off from the 90’s filled with racist caricatures and transphobia. Here was
her response:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI48t0dLopaWZrlgjMGXRZCdey1DQYdHlZkmSYAz8uMSFYIdUbgxaKc58or2n6pJk2DEI6d_nboZ2LNsfjeuwgm-qXKsRMSWRrHrZTEYm70NzBP0SUI6tumnT4AaexQSHFdVuPIuuxRZM/s1600/sdnopcpolice.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI48t0dLopaWZrlgjMGXRZCdey1DQYdHlZkmSYAz8uMSFYIdUbgxaKc58or2n6pJk2DEI6d_nboZ2LNsfjeuwgm-qXKsRMSWRrHrZTEYm70NzBP0SUI6tumnT4AaexQSHFdVuPIuuxRZM/s1600/sdnopcpolice.png" height="107" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Gee, could it
be that the reason people hate the PC movement is because they allowed
blatantly offensive crap like that to get published because they were too busy
wasting time on stupid shit like recoloring white characters black in reprints?
Way to miss the point.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Well, I can
say one thing is for sure; considering how worked up the subject of obesity got
her, she probably wasn’t lying when she said she wasn’t thin-skinned….in the
physical sense.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXes8PNaRQyDodVJkU8W-mcTS7zyPZWXOV8fV53i9VykRv3h0KaVZ3i_nWcOkJl2cYFvznE72Plj2E6nYq2oiGU4r4MF7d2AQrO_uHkTArTLJ3xFrQX2OeUpDT2ZwcUZCIoA_NrDwsmE/s1600/diceman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXes8PNaRQyDodVJkU8W-mcTS7zyPZWXOV8fV53i9VykRv3h0KaVZ3i_nWcOkJl2cYFvznE72Plj2E6nYq2oiGU4r4MF7d2AQrO_uHkTArTLJ3xFrQX2OeUpDT2ZwcUZCIoA_NrDwsmE/s1600/diceman.png" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hey, tough crowd.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2)
Screwed the Pooch:</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Carlie Cooper
was a recent addition to Spider-Man comics who pretty much no one liked except
for the writers, especially when they began pushing her as Peter Parker’s new
love interest. Scans_Daily made Carlie-bashing the board’s #1
pastime (next to looking for something to be offended by).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jokes along the lines of “I hope she gets
thrown off the bridge like Gwen Stacy” or ‘She’s Mephisto in disguise” abounded
for years without ever getting called out, sometimes even encouraged.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Then it
appeared that the character was going to be written out of the series (Note:
She wasn’t). Not written out as in “killed off”, just sort of forgotten or
shunted to the sidelines. Naturally, this led to jokes comparing her being
written out to the famous ‘Poochie’ episode of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Simpsons</i> where “Poochie”, a lousy new character on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Itchy & Scratchy</i> show, is bluntly
written off by going back to his own planet and dying along the way:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYO7Ni6PNZNyUNXnT8kdLaYdGd2t69yQGUs8NC4Ykv7YNTtHNkdFFMcDOfge0jyH1hdbX6pBEqMwegg_j_8z0b70a7JTFArghWpy7LcM0cit65vF0DRe9gdtolnuEiWGDXcAjdEEHGlQ/s1600/sdpoochie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYO7Ni6PNZNyUNXnT8kdLaYdGd2t69yQGUs8NC4Ykv7YNTtHNkdFFMcDOfge0jyH1hdbX6pBEqMwegg_j_8z0b70a7JTFArghWpy7LcM0cit65vF0DRe9gdtolnuEiWGDXcAjdEEHGlQ/s1600/sdpoochie.png" height="144" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> How do the
mods react? By saying the joke was promoting violence against women and making light of fridging:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihH6EGcXog7s3iI89GkqvfKGBD5sfbKIZ_UPMdOL7cu5E1QsK-YZieUagjjN5qjxFH1GMn1xOWziulwLphEWr-iweoUNwb1ywoiKlqo-Rs1HdrIKTlZ_ZLGJ_lMfXQ_hyphenhyphenf5x1FcjKMeI/s1600/sdpoochie2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihH6EGcXog7s3iI89GkqvfKGBD5sfbKIZ_UPMdOL7cu5E1QsK-YZieUagjjN5qjxFH1GMn1xOWziulwLphEWr-iweoUNwb1ywoiKlqo-Rs1HdrIKTlZ_ZLGJ_lMfXQ_hyphenhyphenf5x1FcjKMeI/s1600/sdpoochie2.png" height="64" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> To be fair,
some other guy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i> made a joke about
her being killed like a character from M.A.S.H., but it was obviously the
Poochie joke that really pissed them off and which they reacted to the most
vehemently:</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn8JLyjFMoPsNQetWeX0p23H7zCTFbs76Yiaw0gMJls4Qo991BfGbkpQb8qvu2fEObSk1_JANmYBckitS50Ln1iWBOOfuKw4UDKcamoNaoZYxljsOrYdOztdu2gjZeZewbj_Z5YDVMm8/s1600/sdpoochie3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn8JLyjFMoPsNQetWeX0p23H7zCTFbs76Yiaw0gMJls4Qo991BfGbkpQb8qvu2fEObSk1_JANmYBckitS50Ln1iWBOOfuKw4UDKcamoNaoZYxljsOrYdOztdu2gjZeZewbj_Z5YDVMm8/s1600/sdpoochie3.png" height="257" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Oh, and even
though the thread ended in 2011, some nimrod registered to join the site just so
he could respond to it…<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a year later:</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIC9EYZwwl-9z0_Bwq8rFzC9_CClXgGfQJs9gH8tcDDnIwOPlH2bSPmHgKh61KtLTXpthT8j2Bm30faZrLsRkCbIFwqazCkNqwdf6zfhwdn21OX7n7uXFyuqqS640hJ49grCDi6mZcj8/s1600/poochieresserectus1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIC9EYZwwl-9z0_Bwq8rFzC9_CClXgGfQJs9gH8tcDDnIwOPlH2bSPmHgKh61KtLTXpthT8j2Bm30faZrLsRkCbIFwqazCkNqwdf6zfhwdn21OX7n7uXFyuqqS640hJ49grCDi6mZcj8/s1600/poochieresserectus1.png" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> And we wonder
why the terrorists hate us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> 1)
They know:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">And the
ultimate Scans_Daily post? I can’t think of one more fitting than this:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IZqv4IyqP_NXu9xdoIwHHO9JpHmUFDVGxBrYXeu3uWpGuP9i-bEB5JrPKPk1JEFhEihrwP4b2F78EiDbQe0IIKHuuigpEWdSQpXxIryAo9SfYR-cFMO9XEI64uMzEUWQOhaXssgdbeI/s1600/theyknow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IZqv4IyqP_NXu9xdoIwHHO9JpHmUFDVGxBrYXeu3uWpGuP9i-bEB5JrPKPk1JEFhEihrwP4b2F78EiDbQe0IIKHuuigpEWdSQpXxIryAo9SfYR-cFMO9XEI64uMzEUWQOhaXssgdbeI/s1600/theyknow.png" height="88" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> It doesn’t
seem that extreme at first. The guy apparently <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">did</b> use some offensive language, and the mod <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">did</b> try and be friendly, but it shows the damage done: They KNOW
that their tactics have people walking on eggshells, scared to post, scared to
join. They practically have to beg the guy to stay by switching tone midway to
seem welcoming.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Don’t let
this scare you off.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">DON’T LET
THIS SCARE YOU OFF<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><strong>DONTLETTHISSCAREYOUOFF</strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Look at the
dude’s introductory post, where he basically recites a whole pre-rehearsed
speech to try and get them to accept him by talking how the site opened his
eyes to issues.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwlew_uwbm6FaU7SuTpb8Gie7JQ_ToHUE4htLT0n4KidMj2h_mxQNRKACgAWaVYdbm4tc9eD0N86NC3s8wonF2pL9Wbua-JlRKKQNsRY2o0Khx5EPbM23Tf5drfyS3ey1XbKYJNlbOeo/s1600/suckup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwlew_uwbm6FaU7SuTpb8Gie7JQ_ToHUE4htLT0n4KidMj2h_mxQNRKACgAWaVYdbm4tc9eD0N86NC3s8wonF2pL9Wbua-JlRKKQNsRY2o0Khx5EPbM23Tf5drfyS3ey1XbKYJNlbOeo/s1600/suckup.png" height="71" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">I’ve never seen a more nauseating example of sucking up in my
life. That’s the kind of sucking up you do to get back together with an
estranged spouse, or to make sure that Don Calzone doesn’t have you fitted for
cement shoes after you botched that last heist. This guy is sucking up on that
kind of level to join a GODDAMN COMICS POSTING WEBSITE! (And they still
threaten him further down the thread even after he edited the post)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">And that’s
the way our culture crumbles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">So here’s to Scans_Daily, may they continue to entertain
us for years to come.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This post has been approved by the evil Reptilian
shape shifter Masonic Patriarchy Cis-Gendered Neurotypical Thin-bodied White
Supremacist Male-privileged Nazi Jew Geek culture-promoting Illuminati that
runs the world, sank the Titanic, oppresses water-powered cars and covered up
Roswell. We know where you live!</span></b>100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-9644278115440689402014-01-15T22:04:00.001-08:002014-01-15T22:04:27.877-08:00Top 2 Jeff Rovin Super Encyclopedias!
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhp-sIWvlnW0eTSiDfZ41iANlwUPQbjgzmtapS_7iofCvX_hBntYc4497SQtdm2QIov2HFSnbHu1aI-sSo6tMbR9NurTiD3o6GpUm5QwkDFD5Nw70SxQShhyphenhyphenWi-neHwzu7D8SkpwDtJ8/s1600/jeffrovin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhp-sIWvlnW0eTSiDfZ41iANlwUPQbjgzmtapS_7iofCvX_hBntYc4497SQtdm2QIov2HFSnbHu1aI-sSo6tMbR9NurTiD3o6GpUm5QwkDFD5Nw70SxQShhyphenhyphenWi-neHwzu7D8SkpwDtJ8/s1600/jeffrovin.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Heh Heh. Boy is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>
the most awkward title I’ve ever written.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;"> I thought I’d
start the New Year off with something of a first for this blog; a look, not at
comics, but books <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about</i> comics. Jeff
Rovin was an editor who wrote a lot of books on pop culture history back in the
80’s and early 90’s, some for kids, some not. However, two he wrote that stand
out to me were his “encyclopedias”. First there was an encyclopedia of
superheroes, then one for supervillains (There was also one of for monsters,
which I may review someday). Let’s look at all them, shall we? All <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TWO</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span style="color: lime;">1)</span> <span style="color: lime;">The Encyclopedia of Super Heroes:</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ8e0GcewOtiVqv76q1QBFiNlqxnwN1RPX3bqFBb5x-PVlYet-8c6IED8X6gMXMzV_4VxnQYBAp5_JO4AwzzaJ7Z5jDRgCH_b1AXP7_EcxQmywyaKbVpaiYYGvp3YT7KTAX5Z4y7dPfc/s1600/encyc-superheroes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ8e0GcewOtiVqv76q1QBFiNlqxnwN1RPX3bqFBb5x-PVlYet-8c6IED8X6gMXMzV_4VxnQYBAp5_JO4AwzzaJ7Z5jDRgCH_b1AXP7_EcxQmywyaKbVpaiYYGvp3YT7KTAX5Z4y7dPfc/s1600/encyc-superheroes.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">As you can
tell from the cover, this book tries to go beyond just including comic book
heroes and attempts to include science fiction heroes and mythological figures.
This is sort of a double-edged sword, because on one hand, while it offers a
sense of variety to the book, Rovin’s actual criteria for what constitutes a
superhero becomes a bit spotty at times.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">For example,
we get an entry for Luke Skywalker, but none for Flash Gordon, even though Adam
Strange is also listed (No John Carter though, despite being the grand-daddy of
all spacefaring heroes…). Is it because Luke uses the force, which constitutes
a kind of superpower? Fair enough, but there are also a lot of entries for
gadget-user heroes or non-powered characters like the Lone Ranger.</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Then again,
Mark Hamill also wrote a blurb for the supervillain book, and he would also go
on to voice the Joker, so maybe he had something to do with it.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjvXGOXoOcRegfvL8OzKV77UA-W_2YiQEMvdFVAvXzxWBiCSFjbKJ1EWzHwuJlGvhfUehP6pl-1Iu4nnZ5ZInLHmipcgQpXsIrBk1QLEg4M5Dv1FNTrHogAr0kEyAt7b7hoy8gKNP63I/s1600/mhq.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjvXGOXoOcRegfvL8OzKV77UA-W_2YiQEMvdFVAvXzxWBiCSFjbKJ1EWzHwuJlGvhfUehP6pl-1Iu4nnZ5ZInLHmipcgQpXsIrBk1QLEg4M5Dv1FNTrHogAr0kEyAt7b7hoy8gKNP63I/s1600/mhq.png" height="43" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s a
conspiracy!!!!!11!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">There’s also
an over-emphasis on parody superheroes, ranging from characters that were meant
to be outright spoofs of the superhero genre (Fatman, Inferior Five), to normal
comedy characters who only temporarily gained powers for one-shot parodies, to
pornographic characters from underground comix. Some of the entries for
characters that debuted in pulps seem to have had most of their biographical
information taken from their comic book incarnations, like Conan. The
color/cover gallery is also wasted on characters no one cares about like the
SPLIT! version of Captain Marvel.</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Also, man
does Rovin love him some Skywald and Atlas/Seaboard characters. While I admit
that the Atlas books are guilty pleasures of mine (You gotta love a company
that folded within a single year and whose stable of heroes was made up of
thieves, monsters, rapists and cannibals), I was pretty surprised by the attention
they got. That is, until I remembered that Rovin also <a href="http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/16rovin.html"><span style="color: #93c47d;">wrote and edited for Atlas/Seaboard</span></a>.
Maybe he was trying to one-up fellow Atlas-alumni Michael Fleischer, who had a similar ‘encyclopedia’ project going.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6e4D8cSPe1eONg6OUeSE_FO2aIgyNNGha0I7OOhHt_vyZdMg6AOUo6NWXuruw7l9SqtxeJ_v_X8v5wvZcosAiwh9otoWupky6tXhQJkD1po4xUJ5U9V2eU-xkQ70RU-aiGRRQXwcMI4/s1600/mfe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6e4D8cSPe1eONg6OUeSE_FO2aIgyNNGha0I7OOhHt_vyZdMg6AOUo6NWXuruw7l9SqtxeJ_v_X8v5wvZcosAiwh9otoWupky6tXhQJkD1po4xUJ5U9V2eU-xkQ70RU-aiGRRQXwcMI4/s1600/mfe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">It’s a good
book, but has nothing that most fans didn’t already know even back then. I just
became aware though that Rovin also did an encyclopedia of action heroes, so
perhaps that explains why so many of these entries are padded with joke
characters, as well as some of the more glaring omissions (Indiana Jones, James
Bond) that could fit just as well under either classification. Check it out though if you want to see a good reference guide that pre-dates the internet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="color: lime;">3.5/5.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: lime;"> 2) The Encyclopedia of Super Villains:</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPslxjg92CV_e-un-6096D_fjTx-UphgtD2GZC9Y68l7rUsFLHCuTYis9jd9272zLJ-CAbUj_a1ELApk3sI4PKlDhNfGy3piTPT3sZkwnvWw-v4Bx8Ni4xnAxYw-HNAEWfgsaFIKIT9v4/s1600/61CbYfJRKuL__SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPslxjg92CV_e-un-6096D_fjTx-UphgtD2GZC9Y68l7rUsFLHCuTYis9jd9272zLJ-CAbUj_a1ELApk3sI4PKlDhNfGy3piTPT3sZkwnvWw-v4Bx8Ni4xnAxYw-HNAEWfgsaFIKIT9v4/s1600/61CbYfJRKuL__SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">This book
really goes out of its way to include characters from every medium imaginable,
even more so than the hero volume, and is thus the more enjoyable of the two.
We get serial villains, literary villains, pulp villains, horror movie
villains, fairy tale villains and even villains who didn’t even exist in
context of the work they appeared in! (The imaginary wizard Freston from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don Quixote</i> has an entry. Nice to see a
classical reference, but, really?). <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">That said, while
it is the more in-depth of the two books, it’s also the more flawed. Several
one-shot Shadow and Doc Savage foes get entries, but Shiwan Khan and John
Sunlight do not. This is especially embarrassing considering that one of the
few Shadow villains listed is a character from the Shadow’s notoriously lousy 1960’s comic
series. Conan’s Thoth Amon also doesn’t rate an entry despite being used as an
arch-foe in the comics which most of Rovin’s knowledge of the character seems
to have come from. Batman’s first supervillain, Doctor Death, has an entry, but
is falsely stated to have only appeared once in the Golden Age (and in 1940, as
opposed to 1939) and then returned in the 80’s. He actually appeared twice in
the Golden Age, and those 80’s appearances were Earth-One retellings of the two
Golden Age stories. In any case, it’s weird to see Rovin list such an obscure, fairly
uninteresting pre-Joker Batman villain, get so many details wrong, but not have
entries for the far more interesting (and far more significant) Monk and Hugo
Strange. I can understand wanting to overlook the mind-screwing Earth One-Earth
Two distinctions, especially since this book came out just after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crisis</i>, but he does it for other
characters (the entry on Lex Luthor will make your head spin). Also, somewhere
the Joker is crying over how small his entry is.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxbtFdpTB7UpdhmQsTo0zBecgowpyb82F3fnR09JC8D5NZQ7LBn0KxRuvBLs-Oq_fcOcWXPvtF5aUDDIWjH6gt0M6Lfk_gRd3nW9ZNA0sUYhX4YGQV64vYykd9vLFxAFART_oDu8ejB4/s1600/elasto.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxbtFdpTB7UpdhmQsTo0zBecgowpyb82F3fnR09JC8D5NZQ7LBn0KxRuvBLs-Oq_fcOcWXPvtF5aUDDIWjH6gt0M6Lfk_gRd3nW9ZNA0sUYhX4YGQV64vYykd9vLFxAFART_oDu8ejB4/s1600/elasto.png" /></a></div>
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This guy was apparently a more essential part of the Shadow mythos than Shiwan Khan</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Rovin also
lists Bela Lugosi’s character Dr. Mirakle from the 1932 version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murders in the Rue Morgue</i>, and correctly
states that no such character appeared in Poe’s original story. Good work…until
he then goes on to say that Jason Robards played Mirakle in the 1971 version of
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rue Morgue</i>. Uh, no he didn’t. That
version had nothing to do with Poe’s story and was about a disfigured killer named
Marot (Herbert Lom) who targets actors starring in a stage version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rue Morgue</i>. Robards plays the stage
manager who *spoiler* it turns out was the man who disfigured Marot. He’s a
villain, yes, but can’t really be said to be equivalent to the Lugosi role.
Then again, I’ve also seen Phil Hardy’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Encyclopedia
of Horror Films</i> make the same mistake. In fact, that book was probably what was used as a reference.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU-rbVvHgTkn5JlX20h0BWGtNBjZzieiIF_Qm9eDq314DwRdnwNTsGFV9rxVdblx3dtSI9Rgp51OXnJAB_FrPcuAU5N2Ra9wKkDSUtzPuRzsC-iHW_bzpRaPoEzam6r9ATgO0CMyQAUw/s1600/lugosirobards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU-rbVvHgTkn5JlX20h0BWGtNBjZzieiIF_Qm9eDq314DwRdnwNTsGFV9rxVdblx3dtSI9Rgp51OXnJAB_FrPcuAU5N2Ra9wKkDSUtzPuRzsC-iHW_bzpRaPoEzam6r9ATgO0CMyQAUw/s1600/lugosirobards.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
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To be fair, both have bitchin' 19th century collars</div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Speaking of
horror villains, Rovin also has an entry for Freddy Krueger. However, the entry
spends such a disproportionate amount of time talking about Krueger’s crimes
when he was alive (including details of his childhood that had only been told
in novelizations) that the entry reads more like bio for an ordinary serial
killer than a supervillain, with the mention of Krueger becoming a ghost
seeming like an afterthought. You’d also think it would be worth mentioning
that Freddy fought what was basically a superhero team in the third film
(especially in context of listing the character as a supervillain), but
evidently Rovin didn’t.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Flaws aside,
the book can be illuminating at times. If you ever want proof of how little the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars</i> prequels really contributed
to the overall saga, just read the entry on Darth Vader. It was written in
1987, but could just as easily have been written in 2007. Obviously it doesn’t
mention any of the details from the prequels that were supposed to (in theory)
make Vader more sympathetic (like being a slave as a child etc.), but honestly,
if Rovin was to ever update this book, there really wouldn’t be much more to
add to this entry. Some origins really are better off left unknown, especially
when so many details from unused early drafts (Vader being burned by lava) and
novelizations ended up being used anyway.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUgXaPZ-78vK7Zg-IH0zkBWrGavSVjErAZ_AnhZ2pNegwrV0RQaOY4ZmJ1-6DEUUcErnr6a5fn-NENBuQu14o5Jn5uWDEPFnrC8XpH1k9j2Bm0QO2rGwRRg6XeYuwKrQuioYzoNQfWFg/s1600/darthvaderrovin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUgXaPZ-78vK7Zg-IH0zkBWrGavSVjErAZ_AnhZ2pNegwrV0RQaOY4ZmJ1-6DEUUcErnr6a5fn-NENBuQu14o5Jn5uWDEPFnrC8XpH1k9j2Bm0QO2rGwRRg6XeYuwKrQuioYzoNQfWFg/s1600/darthvaderrovin.jpg" height="320" width="98" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="color: lime;">Despite the flaws, it’s hard to not love a book that
devotes as much space to Super Chicken’s rogues gallery as Superman’s.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><span style="color: lime;">3.5/5.</span></strong></span>100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-45101206045339317722013-12-31T12:15:00.002-08:002013-12-31T12:21:56.018-08:002013, we hardly knew ye...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXoW5jpog8EN2crjoVPrbyhljFdR4IXymiD2SlWLMnW0lyq0oRmRRGwJOUG85sXhcwAFgPm-uteVZOHIOf0nmjaQhj5yRnwDr6YnlLokZVjwxWc5bTleU2Pj_m4T2-NQZtGyfpwuYkm0/s1600/2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXoW5jpog8EN2crjoVPrbyhljFdR4IXymiD2SlWLMnW0lyq0oRmRRGwJOUG85sXhcwAFgPm-uteVZOHIOf0nmjaQhj5yRnwDr6YnlLokZVjwxWc5bTleU2Pj_m4T2-NQZtGyfpwuYkm0/s320/2013.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="color: lime;">I’m back.
Miss me? Work, virus problems, asshole relatives and just general fatigue have
made this my least productive “full” year blogging (I don’t count 2011 since
I’d just started). On the plus side, I’ve also churned out more actual reviews,
instead of lists and rants. So that’s something.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">But anyway,
this was one crazy year:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">So much stuff
happened that I'd love to rant about, but here are my select crazy moments from the world of geekdom:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">- A new
cartoon debuted on the Hub called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shezow</i>;
about a kid named Guy who becomes a superhero. The twist is that he becomes a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">female</i> superhero.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj494iRIU9OkMbHlnXZoe6yHp3xa0A5NZaXJv_1khwS4ZkUxUh0Ca-PXh_DRjtt9J7Y-KugJ-Uwyt1dQkgsjfcuWqmTdlvez8_EgpVio9769nygFKm25sHn6g5V2ooGZvWdDDosPBMx4YU/s1600/shezow1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj494iRIU9OkMbHlnXZoe6yHp3xa0A5NZaXJv_1khwS4ZkUxUh0Ca-PXh_DRjtt9J7Y-KugJ-Uwyt1dQkgsjfcuWqmTdlvez8_EgpVio9769nygFKm25sHn6g5V2ooGZvWdDDosPBMx4YU/s1600/shezow1.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> I really
don’t care about the show itself, but the controversy the show generated was
something to see. There were craploads of protests from idiotic organizations
like One Million Moms (Our old friends from the Alan Scott <a href="http://outofthequicksand.blogspot.com/2012/05/on-outing-of-alan-scott.html"><span style="color: #93c47d;">controversy last year</span></a>), who <a href="http://onemillionmoms.com/issues/shezow-transgender-superhero/"><span style="color: #93c47d;">accused the show of trying to push some sort of transgender agenda</span></a>
on kids. This in turn led to a bunch of Social Justice Warrior idiots on Tumblr
and other websites crowing the show as a breakthrough in Trans-media.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">Both
sides are so wrong it’s not funny. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> First, if you watch the show,
Guy (get it?) doesn’t actually turn into a girl; he just ends up dressed like
one. Second, pretty much all of the comedy on the show is milked from the idea of
Guy being a boy dressed like a girl and all of Shezow’s gadgets being based on
stereotypically feminine things. That’s exactly the type of humor that normally sets
these people off on rants. Hell, I’ve seen them get pissed off over <em>less</em>
offensive stuff than that. You just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i>
that if this show didn’t have any conservative organizations protesting against
it, those same people on Tumblr would be the ones doing the protesting; they
would be accusing it of cis-gender privilege, sexism and pretty much every –ism
under the sun (and probably a few under the moon as well).</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">You know I’m
right.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">-Not only was the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man of Steel</i> sequel announced as a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Batman VS Superman</i> film, but <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/ben-affleck-batman-man-of-steel_n_3801418.html"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Ben Affleck was also cast as Batman</span></a>.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGeUS0i3zH9fyJWHIobKY5ButgVIeW3jERtq3FW5k6HXoQ0jISv9SyDetTxuag-kcwTa1kvhhrI-hLAZU3mh9xFzWeBqs3JmApgj1H_Xl14AS7Z8GmV4AsdFdFCViqwQuyrgJBWtcruI/s1600/BenAffleckBatman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGeUS0i3zH9fyJWHIobKY5ButgVIeW3jERtq3FW5k6HXoQ0jISv9SyDetTxuag-kcwTa1kvhhrI-hLAZU3mh9xFzWeBqs3JmApgj1H_Xl14AS7Z8GmV4AsdFdFCViqwQuyrgJBWtcruI/s320/BenAffleckBatman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Cue the
casting shit-storm of this century. The Michael Keaton controversy was <em>nothing</em> compared to this.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">Seriously. It
was news everywhere. I mean, you almost literally couldn’t go anywhere without
hearing about it. I even overheard some fucking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">construction workers</i> talking about it on lunch break when I was at
Subway. Normally I’d be happy to see the general public so concerned about the
interpretation of an iconic character, and it is good to see that things like
the Aurora incident and all the news reports about “how awful geeks are” hasn’t
soured Joe Average on comics. But, c’mon folks, where did this newfound love
for Christian Bale’s Batman come from? Don’t get me wrong, I flat-out <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">loved </i>Bale in the trilogy, but it seemed
to me that everyone else couldn’t wait to make fun of him for his Batman voice.
Now everyone’s calling him irreplaceable (Never mind that this is a reboot and
not the same character seen in the Nolan films).</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">As for
Affleck, while I’m one of the first to point out his flaws as an actor, I think
he can be really good when given the right role and the right amount of
screen-time. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daredevil</i> had lots of
problems, but those were mostly script-wise. I thought he was decent. He can
play both somber and laid back very well. Since it’s going to be a versus
movie, and with Superman being the established hero, it is likely Batman will
be portrayed as a mysterious, antagonistic figure, with Bruce Wayne as a sort
of wild card who Supes won’t know whether he should trust. I think Affleck can
handle that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">Basically,
what I’m trying to say is, Batman probably won’t get too much screen time in
this film, so even if Affleck <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">does</b>
louse everything up, it won’t matter in the big picture, and I’m willing to give
him the benefit of the doubt. Considering that it was just confirmed that
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/04/gal-gadot-wonder-woman_n_4385264.html"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Wonder Woman will be involved in the film</span></a>, as well as serious speculation that
<a href="http://screenrant.com/batman-superman-ben-affleck-tired-weary-seasoned/"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Batman will be portrayed as an older, wearier figure</span></a>, it seems more and more
likely that Affleck’s role will be a glorified cameo.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">- Less controversially, it was announced that Arnold
Schwarzenegger <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2013/05/arnold-schwarzenegger-in-talks-to-topline-toxic-avenger/"><span style="color: #93c47d;">was in talks</span></a> for appearing in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Toxic Avenger</i> remake which is in the works (Although to be honest,
when <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">hasn’t</b> a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Toxic Avenger</i> remake been announced by Lloyd as being in the
works?). Most fans seem to think this means Arnold will play Toxie himself, and
while that would definitely be amusing, well, have you seen the shape
Schwarzenegger is in lately? I think it’s more likely that he’ll end up playing
Mayor Belgoody or some equivalent character (Ah-nuld as a corrupt politican?
God, that might actually be the best satire to come out of Troma ever, if done
right), or, since this remake is rumored to be aiming for a PG-13, maybe he’ll
play Dr. Killemoff from the cartoon. This is just speculation on my part; he
could be cast as Melvin’s mother for all I know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">- Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are now <a href="http://www.trulydisturbing.com/2013/05/28/tim-burton-johnny-depp-team-the-abominable-dr-phibes-remake/"><span style="color: #93c47d;">planning on remaking</span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Abominable Doctor Phibes</i>.
Since it’s the big trend to humanize villains these days, maybe they’ll use
that stupid ass “Phibes as a disguise-wearing crimefighter” concept. Maybe the
Kirby’s will even sue over it.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMzDCkXj0Gx7pDpW3yoEL5hZSExxybXv-60yXC4es-zberQIpQAESo2NDSpG-AvY0vACDAydidyph7v2F9VVL8ivNhsircUKztr1SmO04sdEaEmlHBQRORxYHzoHcBgsbF_ajNNE0WUg/s1600/jackkirbydrphibes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMzDCkXj0Gx7pDpW3yoEL5hZSExxybXv-60yXC4es-zberQIpQAESo2NDSpG-AvY0vACDAydidyph7v2F9VVL8ivNhsircUKztr1SmO04sdEaEmlHBQRORxYHzoHcBgsbF_ajNNE0WUg/s320/jackkirbydrphibes.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"> Joking aside,
this is the worst remake idea I’ve seen in some time. Even if it turns out to
be good, you just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">know</b> that idiots
will end up calling the film a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saw</i> or
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">7even</i> rip-off, unless of course they
come up with a whole new MO for Phibes. Oh well, so long as they don’t try and
remake <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Theater of <span style="color: lime;">Blood</span></i></span><span style="color: lime;">, I’m good. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: lime;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-Disney <a href="http://inside.ew.com/2013/12/06/disney-indiana-jones/"><span style="color: #93c47d;">now has the rights</span></a> to Indiana Jones. There’s
a Carl Barks joke in here somewhere…</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jA5HrVJuqj1-1OBTd3LsVYiqnwjY_GrYfu7rj4ETSH6TQOhW613npY2SPhA2_hPICajTYSlCh2NUwn3RFxECzOkIDiGcS3HKYPMK8aMoBwbzmNF_7QsUIUGVEclP3TGkR1vG0aRI9qI/s1600/scroogecibola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jA5HrVJuqj1-1OBTd3LsVYiqnwjY_GrYfu7rj4ETSH6TQOhW613npY2SPhA2_hPICajTYSlCh2NUwn3RFxECzOkIDiGcS3HKYPMK8aMoBwbzmNF_7QsUIUGVEclP3TGkR1vG0aRI9qI/s320/scroogecibola.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;">-Not only is the horrible, unfunny Grumpy Cat meme
getting a movie, the horrible unfunny “Doge” meme <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/doge-memes-congress-steve-stockman-massie-2013-12"><span style="color: #93c47d;">has become popular</span></a> amongst
Congress.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-x3qimOFy_tHl-hrfnDsDNWPxiqr6riOOgozJlZOSphFJ0zltKaK4HBv9fHxVucyJWUzhSPYYycknaHNoyZrXDcCQVwxXK2UFU2dUyIUntsRPQq5xPPuJP44XMIoQGbDLpClLyZgoWY/s1600/congress-has-finally-discovered-doge-and-its-going-about-as-badly-as-you-would-expect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-x3qimOFy_tHl-hrfnDsDNWPxiqr6riOOgozJlZOSphFJ0zltKaK4HBv9fHxVucyJWUzhSPYYycknaHNoyZrXDcCQVwxXK2UFU2dUyIUntsRPQq5xPPuJP44XMIoQGbDLpClLyZgoWY/s320/congress-has-finally-discovered-doge-and-its-going-about-as-badly-as-you-would-expect.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOReH2RO48pXBtoVOToqnoKjfW014_jF6EEJjYXsRuT3a2mhKgtRyVoahB9IAi7N6NBXqkWX_Es5_h6FqU9A_sePZ-4odS14GDKe7EmFXYgkhG0pv6Fq7tkZEbyv01aicvxuOkStrhVGQ/s1600/bclk2b2iuaaudhe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOReH2RO48pXBtoVOToqnoKjfW014_jF6EEJjYXsRuT3a2mhKgtRyVoahB9IAi7N6NBXqkWX_Es5_h6FqU9A_sePZ-4odS14GDKe7EmFXYgkhG0pv6Fq7tkZEbyv01aicvxuOkStrhVGQ/s320/bclk2b2iuaaudhe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: lime;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: lime;">I propose the
guillotine as punishment, but others have suggested a simple lynching would
suffice. Personally, I think these lynching people have no idea what they’re
talking about.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="color: lime;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: lime;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well, maybe 2014 will be better. Happy New
Years to everyone.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8x-YpCOtpN8BubLiEDbgf7gwDg7JmZTzXsE1WEWU-YHT4K5-5MfH7CcSDKV-vOAyprkZaP-c6YY1z5zaySbwjZEA6HzTDMxWGVjXvkVRYQlMsuXyJqpV_MGrMNDV6lm4_y48mg4Q_cc/s1600/new-years-eve-party-redding-california.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8x-YpCOtpN8BubLiEDbgf7gwDg7JmZTzXsE1WEWU-YHT4K5-5MfH7CcSDKV-vOAyprkZaP-c6YY1z5zaySbwjZEA6HzTDMxWGVjXvkVRYQlMsuXyJqpV_MGrMNDV6lm4_y48mg4Q_cc/s1600/new-years-eve-party-redding-california.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3499889536991306503.post-70859254315699124252013-10-31T00:04:00.004-07:002013-10-31T17:34:12.529-07:00Maddening Menace: Top 13 stories from Marvel's 'Menace'!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HXOEmrSFuIZrwVuhpSly0ued_wk43wd8nocgYH_nc9Hjit0bE77XHiTjiXR4TVgjQWwCX8CsvNTfYl3Ut8EUk2jki1C285iKTHsp27Hv6c2oGWB2u_QILmNbsocX7D6UUJki1BQrT7o/s1600/menace.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HXOEmrSFuIZrwVuhpSly0ued_wk43wd8nocgYH_nc9Hjit0bE77XHiTjiXR4TVgjQWwCX8CsvNTfYl3Ut8EUk2jki1C285iKTHsp27Hv6c2oGWB2u_QILmNbsocX7D6UUJki1BQrT7o/s320/menace.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLL4phhJI1KwseC4vANt0AErNvSGjwWEqZZpCOhnef7ozM55LNmx28Dk3fS2kAhcQ9ll9ek8cTBP-VZ9pViR6bkYQcoD-D1E58obXZwpNHtr4M3SG-wlKuanKRR6eyc_l1yQa4s-mVNQ/s1600/menacelogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLL4phhJI1KwseC4vANt0AErNvSGjwWEqZZpCOhnef7ozM55LNmx28Dk3fS2kAhcQ9ll9ek8cTBP-VZ9pViR6bkYQcoD-D1E58obXZwpNHtr4M3SG-wlKuanKRR6eyc_l1yQa4s-mVNQ/s320/menacelogo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Halloween is here! I thought I’d celebrate today by
counting off the 13 most memorable stories from Marvel’s short-lived but fondly
remembered 50’s horror title <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace</b>.
Why <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace</b>? It may not have quite
been up to EC’s standard, and it had a fair share of clunkers, but when I think
of 50’s horror comics and want to avoid going too high (EC) or too low (Harvey,
or various Canadian publishers), I settle for the output of Atlas/Marvel. And
most would agree that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace</b> was the
cream of Atlas’s crop among the sixteen or so horror titles they were
publishing. One must also consider the <a href="http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/humnrbot.htm"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">surprising</span></a> <a href="http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix2/zombiegarth.htm"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">number</span></a> <a href="http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/sikesharrymenace.htm"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">of characters</span></a> from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace</b> who have cropped up in the
Marvel Universe. You gotta say the title has something there!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: orange;">By the way,
spoilers, spoilers everywhere in this review. I’ll try and avoid them for the
most part, but some of these are impossible to discuss otherwise.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: orange;"><strong>13)</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Locked In”</b> by Unknown and Bob Powell
from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace #11</b>: Jennifer Marlowe is
a journalist whose specialty is interviewing wealthy hermits. She considers
them foul, barely human creatures afraid of the world. But is she really
interviewing all these people just for stories, or does she have an even odder
agenda? And even further, has she considered that some of these hermits refuse
to leave…because they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can’t</i>?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iLoqjeoqEhAi22G1oINMRHE7GK4GyXZwB6IKD7MZFvu4YqH9lhzAROsa2e694jlxzjliXMdV88Q-wIV1rblh_zuAzNz9XH-Bu6FNlmw6XReHTu4eIjjY17XBH-rZklvdUh32UK2JVe0/s1600/lim1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iLoqjeoqEhAi22G1oINMRHE7GK4GyXZwB6IKD7MZFvu4YqH9lhzAROsa2e694jlxzjliXMdV88Q-wIV1rblh_zuAzNz9XH-Bu6FNlmw6XReHTu4eIjjY17XBH-rZklvdUh32UK2JVe0/s320/lim1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"> While I think you can see where this will all
lead, this one is highly entertaining even before the horror elements come into
play just from seeing the interviews. And when the horror elements arrive,
they’re definitely worth waiting for! Also, man does Bob Powell do a great job
drawing both the hermits and their spooky hovels.<span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR_YC3wETV-jUp1ENKo-Yly1U6wzzckXYaGAqFHITCHbaIlu8UEFj3UazuQp5n78Bf-F-gY3bcRaG4wufF6HUaJXfaBVqLhUrP68Puam9afnygy-smE6W6M0H2LhqXlbzjSNoIz6YZpw/s1600/lim2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR_YC3wETV-jUp1ENKo-Yly1U6wzzckXYaGAqFHITCHbaIlu8UEFj3UazuQp5n78Bf-F-gY3bcRaG4wufF6HUaJXfaBVqLhUrP68Puam9afnygy-smE6W6M0H2LhqXlbzjSNoIz6YZpw/s320/lim2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong> 12)</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“They Wait
in their Dungeon!”</b> by Stan Lee and Russ Heath from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace #1</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> Warden Drury
is one mean son of a bitch:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS5FpQllb8KKC3A4ExDTuWdcf2ueubr93BZIo_jExlPLZ2FLzPm40mCcMYQsjDbx49ev7SNUnEBTLvBA-xer1PKxHJ6w-O56LoiUIG2GT5l-PF06bkE9gOsTXQ6qIXMWJwxwEY0DgMAU/s1600/twid1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS5FpQllb8KKC3A4ExDTuWdcf2ueubr93BZIo_jExlPLZ2FLzPm40mCcMYQsjDbx49ev7SNUnEBTLvBA-xer1PKxHJ6w-O56LoiUIG2GT5l-PF06bkE9gOsTXQ6qIXMWJwxwEY0DgMAU/s320/twid1.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> If you’re a
prisoner and you want a smoke? He’ll give it to you, right in your forehead:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-emZyG2wAmM-ytFU_sN101_78rSu1n_NoTGZO4m3hL3iI6XJm4aiSVqy9yfekqCRN26AMdI_j9UIR0GAJnwm4zDUO7605cnhP6B1QJYiCYeEooEHb8dOpOSwsUndyczzQDpscM9G82o/s1600/twid2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-emZyG2wAmM-ytFU_sN101_78rSu1n_NoTGZO4m3hL3iI6XJm4aiSVqy9yfekqCRN26AMdI_j9UIR0GAJnwm4zDUO7605cnhP6B1QJYiCYeEooEHb8dOpOSwsUndyczzQDpscM9G82o/s1600/twid2.png" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> Have a last
request before your execution? Too bad!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr_ROiL0JLIxASnc_lOk_pGAj57A29SqbdsauSLIYSPcYF5P06TO_FAhQwSsIYBP9U5YcR2m1fU_BIM-o3TPflGo3YmLG1N89vQkTMcQwhjhL-Xyv4q9ovD89x9vXVsrg5sO4h8uqbrU/s1600/twid3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr_ROiL0JLIxASnc_lOk_pGAj57A29SqbdsauSLIYSPcYF5P06TO_FAhQwSsIYBP9U5YcR2m1fU_BIM-o3TPflGo3YmLG1N89vQkTMcQwhjhL-Xyv4q9ovD89x9vXVsrg5sO4h8uqbrU/s320/twid3.png" width="315" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> If he doesn’t
like the soup you give him? You better enjoy the taste of grease and dishwaster
shoved down your throat:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvOcvpMsVsMRuGexqxuEi1OgVkvdFLMX1SUzK1odXbBmd-wvtRRL0b6qTEnhxRZ1r8HGHlhHYgI1PO7zjwS8mj0jcbwKEXPe8YA-x3nEW1_SaCtbdGKCoMmYBwX8FX8a-gwQvTJZcWZk/s1600/twid4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvOcvpMsVsMRuGexqxuEi1OgVkvdFLMX1SUzK1odXbBmd-wvtRRL0b6qTEnhxRZ1r8HGHlhHYgI1PO7zjwS8mj0jcbwKEXPe8YA-x3nEW1_SaCtbdGKCoMmYBwX8FX8a-gwQvTJZcWZk/s320/twid4.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> But everyone
has their breaking point, and <s>John Coffee</s> this hulking African American
prisoner has had his:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJXDiGwwfRCFxRnStVL2AOmKQ8ObzznVIr4Sm2WeQ9XeMLMMqr5sJVT1_VouVw-tMcSYI-uUzOof1N0k2vgw0Q45Ks8xh9EAm3NrB4o0CRkn8UYi87IYrbFwAaTAcVDTiHOU14p8U7SY/s1600/twid5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJXDiGwwfRCFxRnStVL2AOmKQ8ObzznVIr4Sm2WeQ9XeMLMMqr5sJVT1_VouVw-tMcSYI-uUzOof1N0k2vgw0Q45Ks8xh9EAm3NrB4o0CRkn8UYi87IYrbFwAaTAcVDTiHOU14p8U7SY/s320/twid5.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> Uh Oh. Drury.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> Anti-comics
crusaders of the 50s often complained about how horror and crime comics
featured criminals as their protagonists, and how such criminals were foiled
only because of stupid mistakes or supernatural intervention. Thus they
reasoned, the kiddies would identify with the crooks and think maybe they could
get away with crimes if they were clever enough, or at the very least, they
would resent the story’s law enforcement figures for killing the hero/criminal.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"> Well here’s a story where a bunch of hardened
death row criminals obviously meant to be seen sympathetically are horribly
abused by a representative of the law and succeed in enacting a gruesome
revenge on him! Except here, the criminals aren’t the point of view characters,
but the scumbag warden himself! Maybe the anti-comics crusaders would have had
better luck if they accused these comics of encouraging kids to become inhumane
law enforcers? Anyway, this is a sadistic little gem that fans of old-time prison
movies like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Big House</i> (1930) should
love.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: orange;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>11)</strong> <strong>“Men in
Black”</strong> by Stan Lee and John Romita from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace #3</b>: Poor Jim Horton. He’s a hard-working man who bears all
of life’s indignities with honor and maturity:</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k6hxSS2LZxUEZnhNkZZ67dE9v3P1jDnxc-aUb-__AoQzIcM5013zTxJWchNw9pCnMZIjpilJKH6Q9TUM1Mv9lVX8vfluEBFCKg9MNJv-uuPO_iW5q0DcEu6k6Zb6BJ6MC6eCSw0XcRE/s1600/mib1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k6hxSS2LZxUEZnhNkZZ67dE9v3P1jDnxc-aUb-__AoQzIcM5013zTxJWchNw9pCnMZIjpilJKH6Q9TUM1Mv9lVX8vfluEBFCKg9MNJv-uuPO_iW5q0DcEu6k6Zb6BJ6MC6eCSw0XcRE/s320/mib1.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> He’s a loving
husband:</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxjlxiiHazorw4ktKiGe75EigULhB2RqhfSq6eFoZLd-7jsCeWZ1VZTk1iAakmmBjXcjUC64Cf0uQe3PzArS8lv6UGw9jAqnKyElbDzQT-nEC9WcD2FlJ13HFg0jzEp9OmV5eY20kE0Q/s1600/mib2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxjlxiiHazorw4ktKiGe75EigULhB2RqhfSq6eFoZLd-7jsCeWZ1VZTk1iAakmmBjXcjUC64Cf0uQe3PzArS8lv6UGw9jAqnKyElbDzQT-nEC9WcD2FlJ13HFg0jzEp9OmV5eY20kE0Q/s320/mib2.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> He’s
concerned about his community:</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQnZMWtRhDkh4LXHLaLtyMfPM2ryEBJvd-fhohDE2lDyRgJBV-FMJSEWLULpkOEq2N5y4V8-puP8u8f5s0iZdcuZIFiMUfY8dCZPIOOK402-rz-P3d_y_bbWm0vegXTi-3mNXQCWg9Ns/s1600/mib4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQnZMWtRhDkh4LXHLaLtyMfPM2ryEBJvd-fhohDE2lDyRgJBV-FMJSEWLULpkOEq2N5y4V8-puP8u8f5s0iZdcuZIFiMUfY8dCZPIOOK402-rz-P3d_y_bbWm0vegXTi-3mNXQCWg9Ns/s320/mib4.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Yep. Nicest
guy in the world. Be a shame if anything happened to him.</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelZ1OGX4gm1OH6fPzoU4mctCx8R6TyQHk__PhXW9VlFzGBv332rPNkExtDILEXto7clfsLakf-A8W7Oqv1Q3Jb4JjX9guug9bDxbRzMIZtZpkIaq1fGkNLlsHP5eV1O8U62-2qcofdUA/s1600/mib3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelZ1OGX4gm1OH6fPzoU4mctCx8R6TyQHk__PhXW9VlFzGBv332rPNkExtDILEXto7clfsLakf-A8W7Oqv1Q3Jb4JjX9guug9bDxbRzMIZtZpkIaq1fGkNLlsHP5eV1O8U62-2qcofdUA/s320/mib3.png" width="316" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> This story
was clearly Stan’s attempt to compete with EC’s “preachies” about issues like
racism appearing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Weird Science</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shock Suspenstories</b>. The thing is
though, those “preachies” by Feldstein and Co, while occasionally heavy-handed (by
modern standards), were intelligently written, honest and thought-provoking
stories that only complete and total <a href="http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/simonandkirby/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2010/06/FredericWertham.jpg"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">morons</span></a> could misinterpret. Above all else
though, they tried to show some class.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> This story
has none of that. It’s an overblown mess which just screams “RACISM IS BAD”
over and over and nothing more; even the grizzled bartender tells Jim that his
racism is “sick”. Jim’s gruesome fate, while creative, ultimately has no impact
because it has no bearing on his crimes. Well, okay it does have impact, but
only because of how gruesome it is.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="color: orange;">It’s artless, classless, gutless and
ultimately tasteless. But it’s just so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">entertainingly</i>
artless, classless, gutless and tasteless. Not until Bruce Jones’ “Banjo
Lessons” in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Twisted Tales</b> would
comics produce another anti-racism story so repulsive for all the wrong
reasons.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: orange;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong> 10)</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Burton’s
Blood”</b> by Stan Lee and Bill Everett from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace #2</b>: It’s the year 1998, and as nuclear war ravages the
planet, one being relishes the constant death and destruction around him; that
being is John Burton: Vampire!</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqSk6I_-32fTDOuxZs4bzYCmA0YP-ZB7azKpAhrHG1nhBswRSRZRCM_bIpGObsGY1cuT0q4mB2uFCYcMfgE5zZePDh5tYu_qCY8WLHiPkn70NJ2OpX3GnRTC9O5XNUEIB-ticRwn8gTk/s1600/burtonsblood1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqSk6I_-32fTDOuxZs4bzYCmA0YP-ZB7azKpAhrHG1nhBswRSRZRCM_bIpGObsGY1cuT0q4mB2uFCYcMfgE5zZePDh5tYu_qCY8WLHiPkn70NJ2OpX3GnRTC9O5XNUEIB-ticRwn8gTk/s320/burtonsblood1.png" width="318" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCEbMv7uSFolIo390T5OPuCky7d1XdW3PbqL2uqYbZr6eBZbrXVqXEH3WOEtWzRsrjY3ZdP1HgJddBTh9JkNiyJbn-NnyrS2htkpTE0ptRqvTDvjLHJe8er606CnN9uPlwqbL9qiaFds/s1600/burtonsblood2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCEbMv7uSFolIo390T5OPuCky7d1XdW3PbqL2uqYbZr6eBZbrXVqXEH3WOEtWzRsrjY3ZdP1HgJddBTh9JkNiyJbn-NnyrS2htkpTE0ptRqvTDvjLHJe8er606CnN9uPlwqbL9qiaFds/s1600/burtonsblood2.png" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"> With corpses
piling up left and right, he doesn’t even need to hunt anymore!</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Yv_KkEgOFRQfPbdwPBplAHDSfRtU3cWYo6gHs7GkS_H1MaOcgTa0PPLNlWo6k2fQujkjAZXFjF26vCGqPaedILJ0CDu7GyeQQ16DmtjJE286cnZ4Bseyh751lJKTNjrCvHwcma97GJA/s1600/burtonsblood3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Yv_KkEgOFRQfPbdwPBplAHDSfRtU3cWYo6gHs7GkS_H1MaOcgTa0PPLNlWo6k2fQujkjAZXFjF26vCGqPaedILJ0CDu7GyeQQ16DmtjJE286cnZ4Bseyh751lJKTNjrCvHwcma97GJA/s320/burtonsblood3.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> However, with
less and less places to hide in due to buildings being demolished (and because
people of the future are still afraid of vampires apparently), Burton decides
to hibernate for a few centuries, and wakes up thousands of years later in a
futuristic city:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MhFRt6ovj1qEZ51mfMnyTmihR0y5_nJdU8Tc0tKAcgNaDSjzO02DrlzOSyycfoOgjIl8OnSj5y91ZNaKSqORGyRRfbGsARIn_HLTyz6JeNp70MVFC6OgHgK4rXUifAN8-I1VUya7Vks/s1600/burtonsblood4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MhFRt6ovj1qEZ51mfMnyTmihR0y5_nJdU8Tc0tKAcgNaDSjzO02DrlzOSyycfoOgjIl8OnSj5y91ZNaKSqORGyRRfbGsARIn_HLTyz6JeNp70MVFC6OgHgK4rXUifAN8-I1VUya7Vks/s320/burtonsblood4.png" width="318" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> Since all
future people have perfect bodies, Burton begins looking for someone to feed on,
and decides to follow an obese fellow and make him his first meal. However, Burton’s
about to find out that he’s missed a lot these past few centuries…</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQtoZPiBmMW19IsGT3zg9ucT1aqWBE2-ag8eu6CcDA4YONw4pdcqdEtr3qpr4Jxgs7bqwyDeJA_4guBmXM3bz8IJ-iD9i1WPYAhkrVJZoC2HY1vd4OMtPHRS8zD9EUmlJlOBDoWFmUew/s1600/burtonsblood5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQtoZPiBmMW19IsGT3zg9ucT1aqWBE2-ag8eu6CcDA4YONw4pdcqdEtr3qpr4Jxgs7bqwyDeJA_4guBmXM3bz8IJ-iD9i1WPYAhkrVJZoC2HY1vd4OMtPHRS8zD9EUmlJlOBDoWFmUew/s320/burtonsblood5.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> As you can
tell from my plot synopsis, this is a pretty inventive idea for a vampire
story. Also, along with the prose story “Place of Meeting” by Charles Beaumont,
this is one of the earliest post-apocalyptic/futuristic vampire stories I know
of; a sub-genre now commonplace in films like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Underworld</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daybreakers</i>.
I very nearly included this one on <a href="http://www.outofthequicksand.blogspot.com/2012/04/top-11-comic-book-vampire-stories.html"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">my list of top 11 vampire stories in comics</span></a><span style="color: #f6b26b;">,</span>
but two things excluded it. One was a coloring choice used to drive home the
twist ending which I felt was a little much, and the other was a question this
story posed which kept bugging me….how come Burton wears a vest with no shirt
underneath?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;">The world may never know.</span></span></span>
</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 9) “Your Name
is Frankenstein”</b> by Stan Lee and Joe Maneely from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace #7</b>: The Frankenstein Monster claws his way out of a murky
quicksand bog after years of digging. Lonely and desperate for a second chance,
he attempts to reach out, only to once more be rejected:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKRS0kwbXPc3TBG0twsosG2XNqH0pGamfutmM3KvYukSt4qCSDsQYr-Q62KFiF8Udhy36Qe1w6eznvqyrH6I2GJUleduxxDSt0trac4Y0C6eg3Tq1Wjuzir6v1U609O0PEkS1LU2EZYc/s1600/ynf0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKRS0kwbXPc3TBG0twsosG2XNqH0pGamfutmM3KvYukSt4qCSDsQYr-Q62KFiF8Udhy36Qe1w6eznvqyrH6I2GJUleduxxDSt0trac4Y0C6eg3Tq1Wjuzir6v1U609O0PEkS1LU2EZYc/s320/ynf0.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMc7ixubnvLlWpHldWLWPDhjc4HWaqLZcjP6I5uX0dkVwJVbfVtSowlU3Oy7eHfGkjjkLdbIIplHr9Y2YEByBnrNNuo1MGZUQEhohX61Q6G33MsJrULdc8Fn7-hh9tRiqerMVm4QNqOGw/s1600/ynf1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMc7ixubnvLlWpHldWLWPDhjc4HWaqLZcjP6I5uX0dkVwJVbfVtSowlU3Oy7eHfGkjjkLdbIIplHr9Y2YEByBnrNNuo1MGZUQEhohX61Q6G33MsJrULdc8Fn7-hh9tRiqerMVm4QNqOGw/s320/ynf1.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzOusmSyOzaWM__1B6-zwmpRTrWsYaCnyjAYZNeltewwv0GpzyMQyXVnO6zlfqA6epvHUEVa24Aimb974jCZWTsUf6Qt5LmmR4yrdH95_Io-N8FqL7Gtt4ALv_whdd4Xu-F2s6kWwMsk/s1600/ynf2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzOusmSyOzaWM__1B6-zwmpRTrWsYaCnyjAYZNeltewwv0GpzyMQyXVnO6zlfqA6epvHUEVa24Aimb974jCZWTsUf6Qt5LmmR4yrdH95_Io-N8FqL7Gtt4ALv_whdd4Xu-F2s6kWwMsk/s320/ynf2.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Old habits
die hard, especially for monsters who cannot die, and he lashes out once more:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X_3FmBUOwKAECIrrUNj1snMnXpOVxY4k2HWfxMJkFCBZafaNdpHccLKPR-ysF2_9l-weNrioqedPWPRt35nwFLUgbtktYh-DEjtkKha9pfhNtGOjCD_JsdMwzeuiGmAx_sLcodiBENY/s1600/ynf3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X_3FmBUOwKAECIrrUNj1snMnXpOVxY4k2HWfxMJkFCBZafaNdpHccLKPR-ysF2_9l-weNrioqedPWPRt35nwFLUgbtktYh-DEjtkKha9pfhNtGOjCD_JsdMwzeuiGmAx_sLcodiBENY/s320/ynf3.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bitter and
hurt, he returns to the bog, while the two people he had tried to befriend
watch:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZolSr6wQUnwN8B1xR7h_toeiC3loeQUBftSJYnthuY5htm9Z3Tg19js1ebVdrDMnYWsbBCAayve8XM5FTeLGii7mUQi2VdpMNDu0n18oKft6LjMjWh9HO1Tlbjp7jFpCfflXPHK34QfE/s1600/ynf4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZolSr6wQUnwN8B1xR7h_toeiC3loeQUBftSJYnthuY5htm9Z3Tg19js1ebVdrDMnYWsbBCAayve8XM5FTeLGii7mUQi2VdpMNDu0n18oKft6LjMjWh9HO1Tlbjp7jFpCfflXPHK34QfE/s320/ynf4.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Most horror
comics stories featuring the Frankenstein Monster, even EC’s, tended to utilize
him solely as a menace. This story remembers the pathos which is what makes the
character so memorable. It’s also a fascinating precursor both to Lee’s pre-FF
monster stories which often ended with the same “humans are the true monsters”
moral, and more importantly, to such outcast heroes like Spider-Man and The
Hulk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;">
</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>8)</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Genius”</b>
by Stan Lee and Joe Maneely from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace
#4</b>: Before there was Stewie Griffin; there was Gerald Morsden:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfpICbuSNYMTJ4rDx3RUg9tiOsxfWCGcWCv6CpVYnhRyzmRRL_-pR_i0idBAlfR6SEjfFrO_ql0TZeAYqR10bQ84nn7TubJZd5Arj0Q8tWiah57bWe-BHYpv06I4FBs-XJfgL_53pno0/s1600/gnm1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfpICbuSNYMTJ4rDx3RUg9tiOsxfWCGcWCv6CpVYnhRyzmRRL_-pR_i0idBAlfR6SEjfFrO_ql0TZeAYqR10bQ84nn7TubJZd5Arj0Q8tWiah57bWe-BHYpv06I4FBs-XJfgL_53pno0/s320/gnm1.png" width="231" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gerald grows
up acclaimed as the smartest boy in the world, graduating university at the age
of six, and quickly becomes a giant in every field he applies himself to:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ail69xYPwh6LyiPctziZdWWzS3I9Hdw2qZ-2AbQZp6f3YqloNfn-pFAU6ZHcMReczHMpW3aK8yx7DbBX5aSSA2I79gHhodVlV8jSSve2QWVxfpjYM2PDxkFSIbsE0kt54ttu_aaUK70/s1600/gnm2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ail69xYPwh6LyiPctziZdWWzS3I9Hdw2qZ-2AbQZp6f3YqloNfn-pFAU6ZHcMReczHMpW3aK8yx7DbBX5aSSA2I79gHhodVlV8jSSve2QWVxfpjYM2PDxkFSIbsE0kt54ttu_aaUK70/s320/gnm2.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Like all
people who are born on top of the world though, Gerald soon grows bored, and
begins using his vast intellect and telekinetic powers to commit horrific acts
of evil just to amuse himself:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vn8WqT3C0ePg0Au6-oo5e5CdGdP3CM4HVhNoyohyl_oklVuqQ-2Qfj3CWCPHPTBTC2Ew5EXWbetd5-EURx1eCNmQs6HHZwuub8n_kr3MEdbk7lpmjLzA54vpcSYz6ImvSEI3NDejwlE/s1600/gnm3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vn8WqT3C0ePg0Au6-oo5e5CdGdP3CM4HVhNoyohyl_oklVuqQ-2Qfj3CWCPHPTBTC2Ew5EXWbetd5-EURx1eCNmQs6HHZwuub8n_kr3MEdbk7lpmjLzA54vpcSYz6ImvSEI3NDejwlE/s320/gnm3.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> However, one
day, he gets a signal from an extraterrestrial being; a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">female</i> extraterrestrial being:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai_jsGTG-1A4vem6_FIbqTl0uzx6SvVdqCOVl1MxX8JkAmuLw6Edcku1mynVbTv-WBRZtxZHE-0lMFCiD-Z0usfiAzGxKAK2209CHvmnAdwemYaDGJJiU94vC6eQ1wNhSVBCTeeAbYy8/s1600/gnm4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai_jsGTG-1A4vem6_FIbqTl0uzx6SvVdqCOVl1MxX8JkAmuLw6Edcku1mynVbTv-WBRZtxZHE-0lMFCiD-Z0usfiAzGxKAK2209CHvmnAdwemYaDGJJiU94vC6eQ1wNhSVBCTeeAbYy8/s320/gnm4.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Desperate to
be among an intellectual equal, Gerald builds a rocket and flies to the stars.
Unfortunately for Gerald, he apparently never read William Campbell Gault’s
story “Fog”…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Besides being
notable as a pre-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men</b> mutant story
by Marvel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Genius</i> also has the
distinction of being one of the funniest things Stan Lee ever wrote. The
dialogue is hilarious, and so are Maneely’s facial expressions:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eNmR16ZAfnG6zIJ6cgqudl-ZYIFaHy3e39OJRRhSClb0uexTKfRiZ2G0WcP5eywBWr9ksWWyYJHebsk-jxZAc4IyZdQlpDpL264J-viOGWcwZxhDiT0RU-nGoHS6A9-0-n2L5eEJ3ZU/s1600/gnm5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eNmR16ZAfnG6zIJ6cgqudl-ZYIFaHy3e39OJRRhSClb0uexTKfRiZ2G0WcP5eywBWr9ksWWyYJHebsk-jxZAc4IyZdQlpDpL264J-viOGWcwZxhDiT0RU-nGoHS6A9-0-n2L5eEJ3ZU/s320/gnm5.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> A well-done sci-fi comedy is a rare thing in
any medium, especially comics. This is an example of it done right.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: orange;">7) “Symphony in
Death”</span></b><span style="color: orange;"> by Unknown and Joe Maneely from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace
#9</b>: Georges Descourtes is a man of wealth and taste. A former composer who
is now the most noted music critic in France, he has amassed so much fame and
fortune that the only thing that really brings him joy any more is writing negative
reviews just for fun, even of operas he enjoyed. Basically, he’s the Armond
White of the French music scene.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyhmf_0bKejytSNNFIPONJ7gldYJF8ZkBuC5j1soXHn6UIAk4pRdxCheSdyF-M1IRs1mMwmvKURkz3sW2WrO1uj20WLwZ64cezN4KrYs83F8IaEJzKiaY_iprMSi8Cxt-QFAOLiYPZr0/s1600/sid1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyhmf_0bKejytSNNFIPONJ7gldYJF8ZkBuC5j1soXHn6UIAk4pRdxCheSdyF-M1IRs1mMwmvKURkz3sW2WrO1uj20WLwZ64cezN4KrYs83F8IaEJzKiaY_iprMSi8Cxt-QFAOLiYPZr0/s320/sid1.png" width="254" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> However, he
gets a visit one night from Henri Galain, a penniless composer who has just written
a composition. A composition he claims he sold his soul to the devil to write!
He begs Descourtes to hear him play it:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBZyaHKP-VWoiztBUDyMWvJRcqxHmgO1X9rfwwV9mftzvjuvhJw_Io0LRbJgdxeLjG6txPVQgqW2tjD2TKP7y33WN1HF1onQsWwdLEwMEzFtye972x4BEMGfEr35jhhOjomHz-zoRasE/s1600/sid2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBZyaHKP-VWoiztBUDyMWvJRcqxHmgO1X9rfwwV9mftzvjuvhJw_Io0LRbJgdxeLjG6txPVQgqW2tjD2TKP7y33WN1HF1onQsWwdLEwMEzFtye972x4BEMGfEr35jhhOjomHz-zoRasE/s320/sid2.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Descourtes
recognizes Galain’s talent, and offers to help him by constructively
criticizing it, but asks to study it over the course of a week. Instead, he
alters it slightly and then signs his own name to it!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4pPLTeYxYx7-Sv1L8Av-Lqv3XRv8tb7PmR7fUTzSVyH6Pn1syn9VFhIMPlPgQY8Xz4FLs3P7GJqMFoTS1gXGlcYlHy2D92jrGQugvnJbNR8CnBqytAgrbj5SqfTL3C-Ns5IhFuQXmKo/s1600/sidm4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4pPLTeYxYx7-Sv1L8Av-Lqv3XRv8tb7PmR7fUTzSVyH6Pn1syn9VFhIMPlPgQY8Xz4FLs3P7GJqMFoTS1gXGlcYlHy2D92jrGQugvnJbNR8CnBqytAgrbj5SqfTL3C-Ns5IhFuQXmKo/s320/sidm4.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The symphony
is a huge success, and Descourtes thinks he has nothing to worry about in terms
of retribution. After all, surely Galain is just a madman, and not really a
Devil-worshipper?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Who would
have expected a satirical look at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">music
criticism</i> in comics? But it is, and manages to be quite amusing. But best
of all, this one really plays with expectations. Just because someone isn’t in
league with the Devil doesn’t necessarily mean they are harmless.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>6)</strong> <strong>“On with the
Dance” </strong>by Stan Lee and Russ Heath from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace
#2</b>: </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16a8jakwTyAzLasJvFu_CrE0wMq13v-mTc0yat0osJxkV9xSN0H16BqXLqhvM50NGNnEkKA8wTzHvC7SDkMLZkYdsDvuXYG-xt0h6uLK5v0CySaT5dXPunuUk3zkAWrSRupaj56E97UY/s1600/owtd1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16a8jakwTyAzLasJvFu_CrE0wMq13v-mTc0yat0osJxkV9xSN0H16BqXLqhvM50NGNnEkKA8wTzHvC7SDkMLZkYdsDvuXYG-xt0h6uLK5v0CySaT5dXPunuUk3zkAWrSRupaj56E97UY/s320/owtd1.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> A bitchy ballet dancer and petty thief named Stella Stevens (not <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Stevens"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">that</span></a>
one!) dreams of being a star, hoping her good looks will make up for her lack
of ability and venomous personality, but the director keeps telling her no, and
that she’ll have to audition like everyone else.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6M2LiP9hB1AZQICvUA5HBVcXb0AuKYWKKaYyt3UeAabwbOXJcTPzm4vaKtUlpy4nLqUPgKf5b2J982Vk7lattU2ayQCEjJ262wq3uL26yL70E4VuowcBagj10oIPM-IZ8MMySulsbW-g/s1600/owtd2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6M2LiP9hB1AZQICvUA5HBVcXb0AuKYWKKaYyt3UeAabwbOXJcTPzm4vaKtUlpy4nLqUPgKf5b2J982Vk7lattU2ayQCEjJ262wq3uL26yL70E4VuowcBagj10oIPM-IZ8MMySulsbW-g/s320/owtd2.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> She comes
back only to find that the director has already cast another dancer named Mona
Durell:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCaW9Fa97oxoMv_hZ3RO_qiMumwmTuNcfAIKEgsZMTAHvmUN8Ukwz92dJemWsqcUD50m2luHvuoR341RyGJkm2bhYC0ei4xfla7q_w_rUc7Yr_-0CFQgVEjrQPCOjhJ1XwR6fdH04X74/s1600/owtd3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCaW9Fa97oxoMv_hZ3RO_qiMumwmTuNcfAIKEgsZMTAHvmUN8Ukwz92dJemWsqcUD50m2luHvuoR341RyGJkm2bhYC0ei4xfla7q_w_rUc7Yr_-0CFQgVEjrQPCOjhJ1XwR6fdH04X74/s320/owtd3.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Furious,
Stella later takes Mona hostage in an attempt to make her give up the part:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ62je8IabJtsuCHgD7e5SxzY71CKV-X_ppgS7Pcu0PEdN0Aldoq_KlivWjxFvZDIIoA_ftcnZI5bas9cyIWCAckl-8FE5wK9De4jZgGhhdgYFdLjhDEDMgai6mxjDbtP1o2-f9PX-H6U/s1600/owtd5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ62je8IabJtsuCHgD7e5SxzY71CKV-X_ppgS7Pcu0PEdN0Aldoq_KlivWjxFvZDIIoA_ftcnZI5bas9cyIWCAckl-8FE5wK9De4jZgGhhdgYFdLjhDEDMgai6mxjDbtP1o2-f9PX-H6U/s320/owtd5.png" width="273" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Since Stella
keeps using a particular word to describe her competition, particularly Mona,
what on earth do you think this story’s twist ending is gonna be? I wouldn’t be
exaggerating by calling it a “Grimm” twist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Showgirls</i> meets <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Black Swan</i>; 50’s style! This is a nasty one, and isn’t as memorable
for the ending so much as Stella’s over the top viciousness. There’s a
character-establishing scene early in the story where we meet an ex-boyfriend
who went to prison for her. She brushes off the poor sap, which leads to quite
possibly the two coldest panels in all of 1950’s horror comics:</span></span></span></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge65rkDOMe3tjKyC9b5VsVFg7BwWUUtoC4sOxwacNh6iqQ-3Lfzu6fwxZzfTiHGLy8QbWU5RfZ-mDRAB8QQ9XMGuR9a6EPGoBob875oSnLLhYGxuZUGFvsrbKS1URJ6EZkktb0agC41nk/s1600/owtd4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge65rkDOMe3tjKyC9b5VsVFg7BwWUUtoC4sOxwacNh6iqQ-3Lfzu6fwxZzfTiHGLy8QbWU5RfZ-mDRAB8QQ9XMGuR9a6EPGoBob875oSnLLhYGxuZUGFvsrbKS1URJ6EZkktb0agC41nk/s320/owtd4.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yeowch! Admit
it though; both panels would make great T-shirts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<span style="color: orange;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wasn’t kidding when I mentioned <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Black Swan</i>. Sure the stories have
nothing in common other than being horror stories involving ballet dancers, but
I’ll be damned if Mona doesn’t look like an evil Natalie Portman!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6F63jxfnfBc92EbgoYtJ1XPKLgwTCSGNACh_fmFwTKE3bk9xQSuH80BcdqAj7XdBF9uyEM-wQIq1C9BaHFmMPSpoWTE8Iz4IyLloNOGUJ1-eKtA2Fw1et2tDtj2IFqlzdbNtSW-uUgo/s1600/owtd6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6F63jxfnfBc92EbgoYtJ1XPKLgwTCSGNACh_fmFwTKE3bk9xQSuH80BcdqAj7XdBF9uyEM-wQIq1C9BaHFmMPSpoWTE8Iz4IyLloNOGUJ1-eKtA2Fw1et2tDtj2IFqlzdbNtSW-uUgo/s320/owtd6.png" width="169" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I always knew she was a witch (and thanks Worth1000)</span></div>
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</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="color: orange;"> 5)</span></strong><span style="color: orange;"> <strong>“Nightmare!”</strong>
by Stan Lee and George Tuska from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace
#5</b>: In a small coastal town at the turn of the century, fisherman Hunk
Gillem’s existence is not a happy one. Day after day, night after night he
drinks himself into a drunken stupor for two reasons; one is to forget while
awake, the other is so that his drunkenness will prevent him from dreaming:<o:p></o:p></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzOjldhfITIQIGswGex0fB_txPJicLGSIXKO2mgMK2j5FFTnkc6vkh_q_j4WMWA8txcBHFe4M1vCmfKNElApOva7SDX6pDlLcpxPugrUyTR0i86TNzCzcg3X1iJLvSwL6zlv1kdxEeRw/s1600/nightmarem1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzOjldhfITIQIGswGex0fB_txPJicLGSIXKO2mgMK2j5FFTnkc6vkh_q_j4WMWA8txcBHFe4M1vCmfKNElApOva7SDX6pDlLcpxPugrUyTR0i86TNzCzcg3X1iJLvSwL6zlv1kdxEeRw/s320/nightmarem1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_-s_Ci-Ek10dgz2k6xK7VX3FQyAbs8mKwPtlSQIiDC4yOx4EzmYbnoXyEwxn9c_y9pBWfIt1zMXO3TKZxPrc9_o5nyxlsqUeem-ItgG6fZ4md92Vmgy0RxiITDd80ly3kFrcw2v43pw/s1600/nightmarem2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_-s_Ci-Ek10dgz2k6xK7VX3FQyAbs8mKwPtlSQIiDC4yOx4EzmYbnoXyEwxn9c_y9pBWfIt1zMXO3TKZxPrc9_o5nyxlsqUeem-ItgG6fZ4md92Vmgy0RxiITDd80ly3kFrcw2v43pw/s320/nightmarem2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He has a very
good reason. After murdering a romantic rival, he has nightmares where the
man’s corpse pursues him through a graveyard, corners him, and then throws acid
in his face:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHwdgt1Pu6odtTXrAisgSdIK9nLOKurwsIZ3RG4zDDA0Xekbl-QPbXr5LFRoLY_psx7oasjLop5LVW5-jQmKaxDuSoEF7bDJ-434nkrp8hMPkpxhndhiGMAILj1MoDaFpwaxNW4Raug0/s1600/nightmarem3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHwdgt1Pu6odtTXrAisgSdIK9nLOKurwsIZ3RG4zDDA0Xekbl-QPbXr5LFRoLY_psx7oasjLop5LVW5-jQmKaxDuSoEF7bDJ-434nkrp8hMPkpxhndhiGMAILj1MoDaFpwaxNW4Raug0/s320/nightmarem3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbX8j_VJGAqV4UWsK1Tzr9Y4bmvmIGyxomkLxoE8BnTRop3CPh8nKvC9krv5kyljbvx-46jfhdBqwC1IzKmGSUQPaJILfWlv9j1djT3cXf5PA78ffd8Jco1x9V5bEgBYRCzrskFtXZC0/s1600/nightmarem4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbX8j_VJGAqV4UWsK1Tzr9Y4bmvmIGyxomkLxoE8BnTRop3CPh8nKvC9krv5kyljbvx-46jfhdBqwC1IzKmGSUQPaJILfWlv9j1djT3cXf5PA78ffd8Jco1x9V5bEgBYRCzrskFtXZC0/s320/nightmarem4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> However,
Curly the bartender; the closest thing Hunk has to a friend, offers him a drug
which will prevent him from dreaming, and Hunk takes it. Will this end his
nightmares?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzbVATaGkkEY4vQprcb1KgfMkJLcUOhMdyTm18mTGnt6bpgZY8p2kFNsLaxByDBEFHXhygSwl4KlcN_EmITPHl45KLac1KunOFUMV1Pi5x3ipMUz0o2WtKdk0SMuRFNMRkj74QlT4zTU/s1600/nightmarem5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzbVATaGkkEY4vQprcb1KgfMkJLcUOhMdyTm18mTGnt6bpgZY8p2kFNsLaxByDBEFHXhygSwl4KlcN_EmITPHl45KLac1KunOFUMV1Pi5x3ipMUz0o2WtKdk0SMuRFNMRkj74QlT4zTU/s320/nightmarem5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It doesn’t.
Enraged (I’m going to go ahead and spoil this one), Hunk decides to kill Curly.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxVNlhEez4NHIh6H9jIJTS8Jlo15lXaye_S0HLNqe2PaJw5O0T5Tw1GI69upMH74K-griK66BaSO3VEDfFOTIP9qNoMqCVEG7GehV2KADo8KP7Qj0J5OkRaWleCJ6bBhQCl9jNm2NE8E/s1600/nightmarem6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxVNlhEez4NHIh6H9jIJTS8Jlo15lXaye_S0HLNqe2PaJw5O0T5Tw1GI69upMH74K-griK66BaSO3VEDfFOTIP9qNoMqCVEG7GehV2KADo8KP7Qj0J5OkRaWleCJ6bBhQCl9jNm2NE8E/s320/nightmarem6.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Unfortunately, he doesn’t really have much of a case. You see, Curly’s little
drug worked perfectly:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGdsnOGfEGsPXSKACwIAFkT9j9UUEnwKRcDCG7KRw3zy00pW-fNv3OhvgQfJcLtZOKlbasoAF_vfOaLk1i6aII7TEy8vLeK0lxyTKz5rk2YlAGOVsQpYs12SUU0vDIsqGowUdr9g-CQU/s1600/nightmarem7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGdsnOGfEGsPXSKACwIAFkT9j9UUEnwKRcDCG7KRw3zy00pW-fNv3OhvgQfJcLtZOKlbasoAF_vfOaLk1i6aII7TEy8vLeK0lxyTKz5rk2YlAGOVsQpYs12SUU0vDIsqGowUdr9g-CQU/s320/nightmarem7.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Zombie!”
from the same issue is justifiably revered, but this story may have it beat
in the scares department, if not in terms of art or storytelling. Sure,
depicting Hunk’s acid-scarred face in the dream sequences as a skull (instead
of you know; an acid-eaten face) might be a little extreme, but it’s tough to
deny the visceral effectiveness of the scene either! (and I think I have an
explanation for it)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: orange;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> One of the
things that make this story memorable is its focus on Hunks’ pathetic,
guilt-ridden existence and his attempts to forget, by drinking, taking long
walks and sleeping. Even if it wasn’t for the twist, it’s clear the guy already
is in Hell; just one of his own making. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SZVJyZdTSfzXv-ahSvmIMnrpHuPiRlYSfZhj0o8IKhJ2jaB2gVk_qfRP6i8xsdz1KDoJJNubVyUWlB8-PcqU3cOfSDXeqk0akYGGmgd822T5jTVwSMYEsMIxtOAw9caVUV8B5Vk_5Uw/s1600/hankwanders.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SZVJyZdTSfzXv-ahSvmIMnrpHuPiRlYSfZhj0o8IKhJ2jaB2gVk_qfRP6i8xsdz1KDoJJNubVyUWlB8-PcqU3cOfSDXeqk0akYGGmgd822T5jTVwSMYEsMIxtOAw9caVUV8B5Vk_5Uw/s320/hankwanders.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> But what
elevates this above other horror stories about people in Hell who don’t realize
it is just how well-built up the twist is. Hunk and Curly are the only characters to
have any dialogue, none of the other characters we see talk, and the town
appears deserted. Even the depiction of Hunk’s skull makes sense; after all
he’s been dead and in Hell for untold years. I also like how when Curly is
revealed as the devil, he isn’t depicted as having horns, red skin, a goatee or
anything, he just smiles evilly and his hair, which just resembled normal curly
hair as drawn by any cartoonist, is emphasized in a horn-like way. And re-reading
the story, you really don’t see the twist coming. You just think he’s what he
appears to be; a curly-haired bartender.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: orange;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who says 5 page horror comic stories with hack
plots couldn’t be subtle?</span></span></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>4)</strong> <strong>“In the
Cardboard Box”</strong> by Unknown and Joe Sinnott from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace #10</b>: Elderly stroke victim Mr. Winters is mute and confined
to a wheelchair, but all of his needs are taken care of by his housekeeper.
That is, until she has to leave him to visit her daughter, which happens to be
on a dark and stormy night, with a strange man named Peters who carries around
a cardboard box, and the news reporting that a maniac is on the loose who
likes to collect his victims’ heads…</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUslSGcbivaxAF7KHshTNMwwGg3Nn9YVksQSGDnSaANKMktfMaycH9GCQ-XjEohHDNebelvfqcgqGIpKkp37v15BqP5K3qm0i_YzbwOGat54El8FO03jWTKVHte9hyphenhyphen8DXouDoWS-hdokM/s1600/icbx1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUslSGcbivaxAF7KHshTNMwwGg3Nn9YVksQSGDnSaANKMktfMaycH9GCQ-XjEohHDNebelvfqcgqGIpKkp37v15BqP5K3qm0i_YzbwOGat54El8FO03jWTKVHte9hyphenhyphen8DXouDoWS-hdokM/s320/icbx1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHjWMhXu3hmn-I2AVhmZsCOjuIbaqhXnFt7nHkATwyuJXG7QoY3fzJxB3bEexK_hnbz-ynpCpEgLIlieNUx452N488EUDEY4mEw_sZkERrI26z53aYhSCmbzE1Zf9r7WHqqGeWDMX3WI/s1600/icbx2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHjWMhXu3hmn-I2AVhmZsCOjuIbaqhXnFt7nHkATwyuJXG7QoY3fzJxB3bEexK_hnbz-ynpCpEgLIlieNUx452N488EUDEY4mEw_sZkERrI26z53aYhSCmbzE1Zf9r7WHqqGeWDMX3WI/s320/icbx2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> And Peters
sure does want to keep Winters from the news…</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IpJrvWJ7CGavx2ZGr1nhmQsTy3_d-t3b0hlZRZcmEQ9xmZ0BBerBxboL7myNunUd3ardGO4Gp5niQAMxUAHPIQIJLh1lfzhgFdokWoi442DCB2L9vfMb694DQ97Xw_R_fqPB_ESjaKQ/s1600/icbx3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IpJrvWJ7CGavx2ZGr1nhmQsTy3_d-t3b0hlZRZcmEQ9xmZ0BBerBxboL7myNunUd3ardGO4Gp5niQAMxUAHPIQIJLh1lfzhgFdokWoi442DCB2L9vfMb694DQ97Xw_R_fqPB_ESjaKQ/s320/icbx3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyNLTCH1bXGj-lnA9PZd193xRqRgH8AtN5MRIkR172-Po9yq7GGqrpjWNrCxxsZi6D6S3IEfuHc_d_mFgX5V6_bOZSK_VQZR_F_ceIb2wa1_V4TM4MC3yaE9JUUJ5wFuFq6R_1cbOgN0/s1600/icbx4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyNLTCH1bXGj-lnA9PZd193xRqRgH8AtN5MRIkR172-Po9yq7GGqrpjWNrCxxsZi6D6S3IEfuHc_d_mFgX5V6_bOZSK_VQZR_F_ceIb2wa1_V4TM4MC3yaE9JUUJ5wFuFq6R_1cbOgN0/s320/icbx4.png" width="294" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> But then a
policeman arrives, a huge burly man not wearing a uniform. He can be trusted
right?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilw-SZFMuRFQkrSnVmMezz6PkZeT4xM0x2uo6Cz759b1CElXWBdYBOUyYBZ2yupFFHJuod76aXyOQyqZpjVxS1HkMdlt6x9eHtTJfckDrBdYvssuWERlCHjt47n3bELUCiXU1geEd2EYw/s1600/icbx5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilw-SZFMuRFQkrSnVmMezz6PkZeT4xM0x2uo6Cz759b1CElXWBdYBOUyYBZ2yupFFHJuod76aXyOQyqZpjVxS1HkMdlt6x9eHtTJfckDrBdYvssuWERlCHjt47n3bELUCiXU1geEd2EYw/s320/icbx5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Except one
thing, the last person killed was a policeman, whose badge was taken…</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuFpKqwYRpyiJ6wkI819mORoo61SeKLuUu9dvdmU_RAo2gBsCXXxRrFaSVU_jclU18yez3uDsl8YslAlMox9fgNVSswiZBLzIS1OaJYMBInkifU2gQN7jOCyEQS9e0g4DbdxKAEXi3QQ/s1600/icbx6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuFpKqwYRpyiJ6wkI819mORoo61SeKLuUu9dvdmU_RAo2gBsCXXxRrFaSVU_jclU18yez3uDsl8YslAlMox9fgNVSswiZBLzIS1OaJYMBInkifU2gQN7jOCyEQS9e0g4DbdxKAEXi3QQ/s320/icbx6.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Unlike the other <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace</b> stories which focus on the supernatural and science fiction,
this one derives its impact from not featuring any fantasy elements; it’s a
straight up suspense story that would have made a fantastic episode of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Alfred Hitchcock Hour</i>. Add moody art
by Joe Sinnott and an ending which, while standard for this type of story,
comes off as a genuine shock regardless (and best of all, holds up upon
re-readings), and you have a winner.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span style="color: orange;">3) “Checkmate!”</span></b></span><span style="color: orange;">
by Stan Lee and Gene Colan from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace
#6</b>: For Stefan Krag, world’s #1 chess champion, life has always been little
more than a game where he has to think of a strategy to get himself out of a
tight spot. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBy9Yxdo75wLMzmPgmr3nMiY4o1rJH15wji4LYseJfyZjpek68wGMdroOWYfAUiTmkjhYLYjGKiHx19Dlld8_4dmRi0LejvkYMVYkSHTQT8QDTY1RR5Hb9x5RWcJBi90ikExGzKtfk1s/s1600/cm61.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBy9Yxdo75wLMzmPgmr3nMiY4o1rJH15wji4LYseJfyZjpek68wGMdroOWYfAUiTmkjhYLYjGKiHx19Dlld8_4dmRi0LejvkYMVYkSHTQT8QDTY1RR5Hb9x5RWcJBi90ikExGzKtfk1s/s320/cm61.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He’s applied
it to everything from his match with Europe’s former champion Corzebetti:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6hSXI_sNUXB4uZ_QZT9vKxpj8j9wBYvwBFDVESXsw3Ea8fYDV9jceM6IZqSiFGCOe7YKDVzEI_0k5hVCLrlZlUaAycNvqQmBTfvdxEKTmG8tFDVsP2cy21mvmmivasWcf8ddqMQLBCI/s1600/cm62.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6hSXI_sNUXB4uZ_QZT9vKxpj8j9wBYvwBFDVESXsw3Ea8fYDV9jceM6IZqSiFGCOe7YKDVzEI_0k5hVCLrlZlUaAycNvqQmBTfvdxEKTmG8tFDVsP2cy21mvmmivasWcf8ddqMQLBCI/s320/cm62.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> To a match
with a super-computer:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKf8NHZ00EPWyEVLR9JL0-VpqzsczA6JxG7C5CWzIRtoukAHnECa06ThMNde4qhckxSjlbBl6bJNakgg0vxesd41f9IYXB_T-yf-VNHfFOM50sVrukvoLSftX08YbDoe35VfbJdCZ5Zw/s1600/cm63.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKf8NHZ00EPWyEVLR9JL0-VpqzsczA6JxG7C5CWzIRtoukAHnECa06ThMNde4qhckxSjlbBl6bJNakgg0vxesd41f9IYXB_T-yf-VNHfFOM50sVrukvoLSftX08YbDoe35VfbJdCZ5Zw/s320/cm63.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> And most
recently to the murder of his unfaithful wife Carla (who was 6
years old when he was 18):</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBOJlas3oCnVZI3osSk0jhPguwEoIEiKuWwGj8thUzlD-zN0_rCOj8dOmDUqmjh-jxco46xB8sCm9vee7VHP3bl6o3F3IsGzAMn4WoT0r-CyWNgZp7IK_PRShu13H8ks1t_gL29XVs9g/s1600/cm64.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBOJlas3oCnVZI3osSk0jhPguwEoIEiKuWwGj8thUzlD-zN0_rCOj8dOmDUqmjh-jxco46xB8sCm9vee7VHP3bl6o3F3IsGzAMn4WoT0r-CyWNgZp7IK_PRShu13H8ks1t_gL29XVs9g/s320/cm64.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Krag assumes
a new identity and skips the country, and lives happily for a while until his
funds run out, and he’s faced with the fact that the only thing in life he’s
been good at is chess, how can he make a living? </span></span><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Krag becomes
a chess tutor, but lives with the indignity of having to not play his best or
risk exposure:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkBioHw5flsXfnsn-BD6IS2MBk_7LYbup3pMkQnWxpGBiniVvfXB4HdviNMJdqW2j2uassInaC8Xiv_CYwizgrj_yF28JFxgS76qpkVy_mLJ9N9xQ0OkF7WD_wFHkNPBu6NKWYfiB0X4/s1600/cm65.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkBioHw5flsXfnsn-BD6IS2MBk_7LYbup3pMkQnWxpGBiniVvfXB4HdviNMJdqW2j2uassInaC8Xiv_CYwizgrj_yF28JFxgS76qpkVy_mLJ9N9xQ0OkF7WD_wFHkNPBu6NKWYfiB0X4/s320/cm65.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then one day,
he runs into Corzebetti, and is forced to play against him in a bet made by the
mafia. If he refuses to play, he’ll die, if he wins, he’ll be exposed.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVCpah1JYzCepj1j8LyV6LIueE-Y0LqIKRW6Bl7hHrufBHyPkQMx0lAJahUvHAQiqiHVDFyEDAIvj49Zk6Qoeg4ekDSyroAprDOd5ZXXRnq_zwdJc4utw3k2kMAjZEe6jol4yE0Ue2ec/s1600/cm66.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVCpah1JYzCepj1j8LyV6LIueE-Y0LqIKRW6Bl7hHrufBHyPkQMx0lAJahUvHAQiqiHVDFyEDAIvj49Zk6Qoeg4ekDSyroAprDOd5ZXXRnq_zwdJc4utw3k2kMAjZEe6jol4yE0Ue2ec/s320/cm66.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> What move
could our "hero" possibly make to get himself out of this one?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: orange;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since Marvel Masterworks started
reprinting their jungle and war comics, I’ve been curious as to whether they’ll
ever start reprinting their crime comics. Because if “Checkmate!” (which is pretty
much a crime story, with the only element of the fantastic being the brief
match against a computer)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is any
indication of the heights they can reach, I’d be very interested in reading them.
This is one story that EC would have been proud to have included in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crime Suspenstories</b>, and is perhaps the
most intelligently scripted of all the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace</b>
stories. It’s not horror per se, but it’s damn good.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span style="color: orange;">2) “Zombie!”</span></b></span><span style="color: orange;">
by Stan Lee and Bill Everett from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace
#5</b>: “You stand motionless under the moon in the silent swamp….you haven’t
moved for days! Your mind is a blank, and your glassy eyes stare ahead
unseeingly! You’re a zombie!”</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBFi_tnItD00kl7NxiBgYXgl_m024Glxxit48s8nmU_5aPFdJde7_dplGJU9CrtfJR2gjKV0yPAc3KsrEkjNIcFm_28xyPxPNJjymM3nGXrASaxLNMer51lubtmhgvH9QxeYH3wFUTY8/s1600/mzombie1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBFi_tnItD00kl7NxiBgYXgl_m024Glxxit48s8nmU_5aPFdJde7_dplGJU9CrtfJR2gjKV0yPAc3KsrEkjNIcFm_28xyPxPNJjymM3nGXrASaxLNMer51lubtmhgvH9QxeYH3wFUTY8/s320/mzombie1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Suddenly a
familiar command registers in your dead brain…just one word”:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHb8gwiZgHdb2_-Xt582jNg3RKu-iSu2lkwRBTZf83vWyHhbpaXu3ctdfbM1mLtXFMmZ0G_Er96xDC08vcpcSwCr5-ZQBEBplPt1QBns_b2jY4NY3MdbRoPIssVHVBRnDJ5TPO8xZhug/s1600/mzombie2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHb8gwiZgHdb2_-Xt582jNg3RKu-iSu2lkwRBTZf83vWyHhbpaXu3ctdfbM1mLtXFMmZ0G_Er96xDC08vcpcSwCr5-ZQBEBplPt1QBns_b2jY4NY3MdbRoPIssVHVBRnDJ5TPO8xZhug/s1600/mzombie2.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You turn
slowly and begin to trudge toward the source of the unspoken command”:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxXiTcRjGP1t2NN5ehs_NeeCs7nVF087y9YWizap6xCM_B96RS-lSW3AMWHrDbDNgWHnsrytGPXugLxiw3MDOVCSaikY5p-MtoNJaRDfCdgK21Alf9Z9uABVJP6AuqXCBbcDlaX-m1co/s1600/mzombie3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxXiTcRjGP1t2NN5ehs_NeeCs7nVF087y9YWizap6xCM_B96RS-lSW3AMWHrDbDNgWHnsrytGPXugLxiw3MDOVCSaikY5p-MtoNJaRDfCdgK21Alf9Z9uABVJP6AuqXCBbcDlaX-m1co/s1600/mzombie3.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The zombie
we’ve been following is a stooge of a voodoo master, who orders the zombie to
go and steal money for him. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYAhEzfoD7FhyphenhyphenfYX5cnDb4BeIYHpROzuUIXzTPTVxJqh36jtVZ0cNdzu92fJlMNpH_IFwR2m6yXyRfY3-SeTzYMib_JFqk7y2lH0AoeConzNoCzVhxkWxVDgCRVxGFOz2bGLQWerkT58/s1600/mz4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYAhEzfoD7FhyphenhyphenfYX5cnDb4BeIYHpROzuUIXzTPTVxJqh36jtVZ0cNdzu92fJlMNpH_IFwR2m6yXyRfY3-SeTzYMib_JFqk7y2lH0AoeConzNoCzVhxkWxVDgCRVxGFOz2bGLQWerkT58/s320/mz4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Unfortunately, Mardi Gras has made the city
packed, and the poor zombie has to return empty-handed:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QVBhiC5v4VtyGikFejzogR5JaOuqKm_NgILmkvmyxP9DbAa013eHeKHUb4H09taHtwqlc1brYhQ0KnuCbQdRDV59TiNJ7gq8AF591X1HnkhfOI-AMiid-IWTmGRyGiIdQRdfwZTxAy0/s1600/mz5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QVBhiC5v4VtyGikFejzogR5JaOuqKm_NgILmkvmyxP9DbAa013eHeKHUb4H09taHtwqlc1brYhQ0KnuCbQdRDV59TiNJ7gq8AF591X1HnkhfOI-AMiid-IWTmGRyGiIdQRdfwZTxAy0/s320/mz5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7UrwuBAbv5MT9W-lPkFihdDixIZoQbbMG4st4bdZERHzuNzzWU9oPJKBLL1cYufxMw6dTA-cNcU3HjwHjy2VGWMU3hxMaTa_1YjHQNw1n03zaHO6AH7ichHkoM-GOcxuch1diNi9kZc/s1600/mz6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7UrwuBAbv5MT9W-lPkFihdDixIZoQbbMG4st4bdZERHzuNzzWU9oPJKBLL1cYufxMw6dTA-cNcU3HjwHjy2VGWMU3hxMaTa_1YjHQNw1n03zaHO6AH7ichHkoM-GOcxuch1diNi9kZc/s320/mz6.png" width="319" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, the
voodoo master has an even more sinister plan in mind this time…</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_Gb0C3bJxaaLzJrQVxXtADrapCOmTD8_OkhZd9H-CjpIqJT4EaDhG_H23mBYOKxpZyAysBrWAXnkYKEgJiULbFO8Hgh_Sum9sC-eiqYZ7MyIj_EFGQe8lRU8TDQlFo2MUWEkOYzRlTU/s1600/mz7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_Gb0C3bJxaaLzJrQVxXtADrapCOmTD8_OkhZd9H-CjpIqJT4EaDhG_H23mBYOKxpZyAysBrWAXnkYKEgJiULbFO8Hgh_Sum9sC-eiqYZ7MyIj_EFGQe8lRU8TDQlFo2MUWEkOYzRlTU/s320/mz7.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> You don’t
often remember horror comics for their prose, but “Zombie!” is just such an
instance. This may be the most atmospheric writing of Lee’s entire career, and
compared to the humorous “Genius” story from the fourth issue, shows his range:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaAn1ODq3stfDhxHdeYew46o5exE54EHae0u9s4YpRPaB9ElwWDo-hBZxo5ToH4yBGu1hEnAkhdFPdn8RaLXCXx6rXX714pFWCmglEdd5A8RJYgTDzLK5wgCKUG7C0l8dMGLiJD3ZIKA/s1600/leemenace5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaAn1ODq3stfDhxHdeYew46o5exE54EHae0u9s4YpRPaB9ElwWDo-hBZxo5ToH4yBGu1hEnAkhdFPdn8RaLXCXx6rXX714pFWCmglEdd5A8RJYgTDzLK5wgCKUG7C0l8dMGLiJD3ZIKA/s320/leemenace5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Everett’s art
is no slouch either; his art here is a study in contrast. The juxtaposition of
the slimy swamp adorned with rotting trees and the brightly lit Mardis Gras
parade in town verges on the poetic. The scenes of our hideous protagonist
surrounded by brightly-dressed revelers and the incongruously
cartoonish-looking but evil zombie master are also fascinating in how the hideous
undead being commands our sympathies while the characters that look like
Chuck Jones drawings repulse us or amaze us with their stupidity:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9Rka0RKFLoonVY6Spw-x1B9xdrxNo_7wlfDPjWrnalTCLcG5MmZGbTj_MZcPVBdlNrlanXebrJZXeICYtOaG8_8WG4L-gRMQHR9snLe5cXms8NMCyNLWIJEwaEqlvONFfawk1HWn_0o/s1600/everettcontrast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9Rka0RKFLoonVY6Spw-x1B9xdrxNo_7wlfDPjWrnalTCLcG5MmZGbTj_MZcPVBdlNrlanXebrJZXeICYtOaG8_8WG4L-gRMQHR9snLe5cXms8NMCyNLWIJEwaEqlvONFfawk1HWn_0o/s320/everettcontrast.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The scene
where the zombie is whipped brutally, but feels nothing, is striking in its silent,
repressed pain. The zombie may feel no rage or pain, but the reader does for
him.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqz4l-gmf_HGRmgFXSnsKjcZCrNCl_mhxTItTYGxG5a1qM_88elAWzAxzRJ8PE8ZSVErW-fJS7dPGvuIaxSRYWO43Qi-YFCRjIdm3WgMzCAIk4XLTM0Psc0Xc6wy4PFGvGsdQpzyHKZdU/s1600/zombiewhipped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqz4l-gmf_HGRmgFXSnsKjcZCrNCl_mhxTItTYGxG5a1qM_88elAWzAxzRJ8PE8ZSVErW-fJS7dPGvuIaxSRYWO43Qi-YFCRjIdm3WgMzCAIk4XLTM0Psc0Xc6wy4PFGvGsdQpzyHKZdU/s320/zombiewhipped.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Zombie!” may
be a fairly typical story about a monster that turns on his master, but it’s a
brilliantly executed one. Lee’s writing is good, Everett’s art is beautiful,
and the treatment of the zombie as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">protagonist
</i>of the story is handled fascinatingly. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Zombie was later given his own black and
white series called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tales of the Zombie</b>
in the 70’s, and while it’s emphasis on giving the zombie an “origin” (as well
as the unpardonable sin of altering Everett’s art) may have destroyed the blunt
simplicity of this story, I have to say; of all the one-shot horror characters
Marvel has revived, few deserved <span style="color: orange;">it as much as the zombie did. This is one
story which truly deserves the term “masterwork”.</span></span></span></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 1) "The Witch
in the Woods”</b> by Stan Lee and Joe Sinnott from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace #7</b>: A young boy reads an issue of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Uncanny Tales</b> late at night, totally absorbed by the story. But
unbeknownst to him, a hand is slowly opening the door behind him…</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8AsGBTv3RAyoofPidBVTzQ3_LoktrKzVJ9iMnqU_3dyuzArok13UA5GcMrosydSNeefYhBjb86Snpys93NvmvEGUN1GVNHd7o28qAg8aj9odcNNVPR5mKUAGAh-OHCoq1te1gpgX86A/s1600/wintw1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8AsGBTv3RAyoofPidBVTzQ3_LoktrKzVJ9iMnqU_3dyuzArok13UA5GcMrosydSNeefYhBjb86Snpys93NvmvEGUN1GVNHd7o28qAg8aj9odcNNVPR5mKUAGAh-OHCoq1te1gpgX86A/s320/wintw1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s no
monster! It’s someone far worse; his horror comics-hating father!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIK4KFmifkkM0TyNWqN8e4qXMYTHfBBTuuMWb73qxQxinTcBiNrdyxtlgrNrdLlKdd4S8J80J4MA-AZpAdq67jN5jBA13axqQ7DF9FdpBQDstB2cwqY6rLJdp09EgRFc4XXJS58BE1Nv0/s1600/tomatkinscreepshow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIK4KFmifkkM0TyNWqN8e4qXMYTHfBBTuuMWb73qxQxinTcBiNrdyxtlgrNrdLlKdd4S8J80J4MA-AZpAdq67jN5jBA13axqQ7DF9FdpBQDstB2cwqY6rLJdp09EgRFc4XXJS58BE1Nv0/s320/tomatkinscreepshow.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">No, not that horror comics hating father</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWxNewOxkX3lF6nP9Elt9Gpt4M_krSt8eLrqBPG7JUZrXjMzyhfxk3V8DSmEGrJ4YSUulwe2u9sHs4B1ZvClkIr-GbiQnxRz6ojYw_XI4Vjj0rs0Kuq2ZXtHLZYs3LaGqlr2MroK-eOs/s1600/wintw2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWxNewOxkX3lF6nP9Elt9Gpt4M_krSt8eLrqBPG7JUZrXjMzyhfxk3V8DSmEGrJ4YSUulwe2u9sHs4B1ZvClkIr-GbiQnxRz6ojYw_XI4Vjj0rs0Kuq2ZXtHLZYs3LaGqlr2MroK-eOs/s320/wintw2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> <span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear old dad
thinks junior needs to be reading more wholesome literature, so he decides to
read him the nice, whimsical story of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hansel
& Gretel</i>:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0yX3R4AmGHq2aL6K3i7QWTujPXGG3yFt3sgvb6BLQ2Zxk31ngCRJ5n-Cc-Yt6k3SPzIrnp2Tuwj0aC7BJl4D5aNee9ahAazMYLikCo3CWVNXmd7MWTn_WWrF9LBVLYv6dfBUlby4dfo/s1600/twitw3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0yX3R4AmGHq2aL6K3i7QWTujPXGG3yFt3sgvb6BLQ2Zxk31ngCRJ5n-Cc-Yt6k3SPzIrnp2Tuwj0aC7BJl4D5aNee9ahAazMYLikCo3CWVNXmd7MWTn_WWrF9LBVLYv6dfBUlby4dfo/s320/twitw3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> With its
charming depictions of wretched poverty and child abandonment,</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oA2nKtkQ7vw1jCpMhRNsSuXD8LOQE41nI5GkfBddlzlQbWPuADFSdnzMqm0tA05cbFNiXJnneUQSqh22w698UpNQvWKIvI89zd4COdq85GCSdZWU8pegITP1vUOgBsutdHrB5Vsiiro/s1600/twitw4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oA2nKtkQ7vw1jCpMhRNsSuXD8LOQE41nI5GkfBddlzlQbWPuADFSdnzMqm0tA05cbFNiXJnneUQSqh22w698UpNQvWKIvI89zd4COdq85GCSdZWU8pegITP1vUOgBsutdHrB5Vsiiro/s320/twitw4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Dark and
scary forest,</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAepKRyTuhqXHHjo9OrG54Z8IcWYsLHDByG-tyZs0D8JFNdU-M4AWMFHLAzsBpCuE9f0BjJrXe_rMCbvbGF-YK0yMhyphenhyphennwTsic9P8iHZDuemACP_I8yEXx9EL0j5YdYc7thX-J_jaGmYA/s1600/twitw5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAepKRyTuhqXHHjo9OrG54Z8IcWYsLHDByG-tyZs0D8JFNdU-M4AWMFHLAzsBpCuE9f0BjJrXe_rMCbvbGF-YK0yMhyphenhyphennwTsic9P8iHZDuemACP_I8yEXx9EL0j5YdYc7thX-J_jaGmYA/s320/twitw5.png" width="309" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> And fiendish
old hag with a yearning for the flesh of children,</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobupvVhLXXRiYVIM4RGrRbT8A2aHfd4HkgWMgumnoRRhmZjxXEDphO4ufHesoqeu4wyvi2rssjSwTVJjCOj2apgugswenyJQzY_5AHyx_6VibG4YR_-QpcL7jQKLDxJlEc3ym2oUlW1A/s1600/witch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobupvVhLXXRiYVIM4RGrRbT8A2aHfd4HkgWMgumnoRRhmZjxXEDphO4ufHesoqeu4wyvi2rssjSwTVJjCOj2apgugswenyJQzY_5AHyx_6VibG4YR_-QpcL7jQKLDxJlEc3ym2oUlW1A/s320/witch.png" width="312" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Who of course
ends up roasted alive in an oven:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQcwDTzdhO-w_aiw3gSReH2bMXmuyiAMkihTylmF6JVpBLT_H8_uINMKQzINpW9aQ_wdPqqfBohVu89V5_hhZWKJqBMKmX3qsWRydEHxr1uswremZWIVIYWWiIG4w2j66qBR9cEfwUQA/s1600/witchburns.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQcwDTzdhO-w_aiw3gSReH2bMXmuyiAMkihTylmF6JVpBLT_H8_uINMKQzINpW9aQ_wdPqqfBohVu89V5_hhZWKJqBMKmX3qsWRydEHxr1uswremZWIVIYWWiIG4w2j66qBR9cEfwUQA/s320/witchburns.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Junior would
love to hear the rest, but unfortunately, dad can’t seem to finish it:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKAa78mpZR0ru-hItNbXtT-agyc9eR6jnaJZFqsAP-qIvTfi6zjV6Fk7J_5wU_uuC6VUiF7bHKNH5et7JTl0szpX0xSaS-X6Yb2pA98Rww0QR3MNp9SuAzh4NCuaRk9ohUVOaNT3zgpQ/s1600/end.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKAa78mpZR0ru-hItNbXtT-agyc9eR6jnaJZFqsAP-qIvTfi6zjV6Fk7J_5wU_uuC6VUiF7bHKNH5et7JTl0szpX0xSaS-X6Yb2pA98Rww0QR3MNp9SuAzh4NCuaRk9ohUVOaNT3zgpQ/s320/end.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> When most
people discuss anti-Wertham stories by Stan Lee, it’s usually “The Maniac” from
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Suspense #29</b> that comes up. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee</b> even
reprinted it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: orange;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> That said, I
think this story makes its point better, and in a much more amusing way. It
doesn’t exaggerate the violence in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hansel
& Gretel</i>, and it doesn’t try and make horror comics look completely
innocent either (obviously, there was some very inappropriate stuff coming out,
as this whole list proves!), but it does point out the generational hypocrisy
that went into criticizing them from people who had grown up on stuff that was
arguably as bad. And as any well-read person knows; Grimm’s fairy tales in
their original forms could be some sick shit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: orange;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Wertham
argued against stories like this by saying that no fairy tale was ever as
gruesome as the stuff comics were churning out, and while I have to admit there
were a lot of horror comics I wouldn’t want my kids reading if I were a parent,
I can’t say I’d want them reading stories like “The Juniper Tree” or some of
the stories that made it into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grimm’s
Grimmest</i> either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: orange;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> So for managing
to be a spot-on satire of the 1950’s anti-comics crusade, this story gets my
nomination as the greatest <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menace</b> story
of them all.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Happy Halloween!</span></span></span></div>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />100Aliaseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10493166549015264137noreply@blogger.com1