Me Geek, You Geek

CBR recently took a vote for to the top 70 comic book panels that excited us the most over the last 70 years worth of comics at Marvel. 

I’ve got to say, el Barto, that your stupid Fantastic Four just barely cracked the top 10 while my beloved Daredevil easily came in at #2.

(Actually, I don’t know if I agree with this pick, the death of Elektra at #2? Out of all the panels in the history of comics? Before the death of Captain America? Before the death of Gwen Stacy? Before the psychological collapse of D-Man and subsequent stealing of normal jewelry thinking it’s the Infinity Gems?)

But alas, the people spoke. And here’s the big number 2:

Labels: Marvel Comics

Posted by Jon at 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

>>>> The following is a guest transmission from el Barto <<<<

>>>> Begin receiving…

“I just read that Marvel has acquired the rights to Marvelman (the Miracleman character that Alan Moore revamped for Eclipse Comics in the 1980's).”

That is awesome.  I read an interview with Mick Anglo, Marvelman's creator, years ago.  He's an English guy who in the 1960's made a living by buying old Captain Marvel (Shazam) comic rights then reprinting the stories in the UK.  After DC bought the rights to Shazam they were no longer sold to Anglo so Anglo invented Marvelman (a Shazam rip-off character).  Anglo would then read the American Shazam comics and change them around a little and rewrite them as "original" works and publish Marvelman.”

“Then Eclipse came along in the 80's.  They really wanted something from Alan Moore to fill out their stable.  Moore said "Yeah, I'll work with you.  I really want to do a Marvelman revamp." 

“Moore often read Marvelman when he was a kid and cites the character as one of the main reasons he got into comics.  Eclipse rented the rights from Anglo, but in the US they could not publish the name "Marvelman" because Marvel comics threatened to sue.” 

“So, Moore came up with the name Miracleman.” 

“As you may know, the Eclipse Miracleman comics are highly sought after.  The later issues are very hard to find.”

“Now Marvel owns the character outright.  This leads to some interesting questions.  The Sentry....can we finally kill him off?  He's the most powerful force in the Marvel U, but he's half-dumb.  He's been on the Avengers for a couple of years, but he never really does anything.  I don't think anyone over at Marvel has any idea how to write a Superman-like character.”

“The Marvel U has been unique over the last 40 years because they're characters are so accessible to the common dude.  They haven't had an all-powerful flagship character, so consequently we have a universe with 40+ years of history that doesn't have room for a character like this.  What will happen?”

“Oh, and with comics sucking so much lately, does anyone really care about this announcement?”

   – el Barto

>>>> End transmission.

Thanks Bart!

Labels: Comics, el Barto, Marvel Comics

Posted by Jon at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post