Line #19 ComicBook/NotBrandEchh


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/not_brand_echh_vol_1_14.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Yep, it's ''exactly'' as silly as it looks.]]
3
4	->Who ''says'' a comic has to be good?!
5
6	''Not Brand Echh'' (1967-1969) is a 14-issue Creator/MarvelComics series, notably a self parodying satire of Marvel's own superheroes, in addition to their many competitors.
7
8	In 1988, a four-issue mini series that continued the series satire, "What The--?!" was released, and was popular enough to run an additional 22 issues from 1989 to 1993.
9
10	In June 2015, a complete collection of Not Brand Ecch was released as part of the hardcover Marvel Masterworks series.
11
12	In November 2017, the 14th issue was released as part of ''ComicBook/MarvelLegacy''.
13
14	----
15	!!This series contains examples of:
16	* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: Marvel parodies their own use of the trope in this series, with names like "The Inedible Bulk" and "The Aging Spidey-Man".
17	* AlternateUniverse: ''[[AllThereInTheManual The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes]]'' designated the Earth of ''Not Brand Echh'' and ''What The--?!'' as Earth-665.
18	* ByThePowerOfGreyskull: {{Parodied\|Trope}} In "Super-hero Daydreams". Each one-page strip had an ordinary person finding themselves in a situation, dangerous or mundane, where super-powers would be handy — such as being on the subway when the conductor fainted or in a queue at a cafeteria when a queue-jumper barges in and grabs the last serving of a particular dessert — or needed, as in the case of the guy about to be beaten up by a gang. In each case, the daydreamer imagines saying [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} "Sha-Marvey!"]] and being transformed into a super-hero and saving the day. Most such heroes are Marvel characters, though some are made-up Expys, e.g., "Wonderful Person".
19	* CaptainErsatz: Issue #2 is themed after the Marble heroes (I.E. [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Spidey-Man]], [[ComicBook/IronMan Ironed Man]], and [[ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} Knock Furious]]) fighting heroes of comics from other companies. Thus, you get one guess as to who [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gnatman and Rotten]], [[ComicBook/MagnusRobotFighter Magnut, Robot Biter]], and the [[ComicBook/THUNDERAgents B.L.U.N.D.E.R. Agents]] are parodies of.
20	* CurseCutShort: The title of "What The--?!" cuts off before the swear word can be blurted out.
21	* DarkerAndEdgier: Parodied with the cover of the "Forbush Man Returns" issue of What The--?!, which is drawn in a dark realistic style that [[CoversAlwaysLie doesn't indicate]] the humorous contents inside.
22	* EarnYourHappyEnding: In "The Origin of Brucie Banter", after going through a lot of lonely suffering, the Inedible Bulk gets a happy ending in which he's hired as an actor, and gets to be the Jolly Green Giant!
23	* FunWithAcronyms: The parody version of ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} is named S.H.E.E.S.H. ('''S'''ecret '''H'''ang-up for '''E'''vil '''E'''missaries of '''S'''atanical '''H'''yde-and-Jekylls), while the [[CaptainErsatz ersatz]] ComicBook/THUNDERAgents work for B.L.U.N.D.E.R. ('''B'''edraggled '''L'''eague '''U'''v '''N'''ations '''D'''efenseless '''E'''ncroachment '''R'''eserves)
24	* GravityIsAHarshSeamstress: This is how Forbush-Man gets his costume. That's why it's a mismatched mix of untied combat boots, long johns pajamas, and tablecloth cape.
25	* IgnorantOfTheirOwnIgnorance: In "The Origin of Brucie Banter", The Bulk is completely clueless as to why everybody is afraid of him.
26	* LimitedWardrobe: In one issue, Dr. Bloom and Weed Wichards are arguing with each other, with Bloom bragging he has over a hundred suits of armor, while Weed owns over a hundred pairs of stretch socks.
27	* {{Mascot}}: The series mascot is the peculiar character Forbush Man.
28	* MeaninglessVillainVictory: "Peter Pooper vs. Gnatman and Rotten" ends with J. Jawbone Junkton successfully defeating Spidey-Man via Gnatman and Rotten, only for the Dyspectic Duo to rise to the same level of popularity as Spidey, much to Junkton's chargin.
29	* MilitariesAreUseless: In "The Origin of Brucie Banter", the military briefly tries to take down the Bulk with a tank and two jets, but to no avail. Before they attack, a bystander [[LampshadeHanging notes the obvious outcome with irony.]]
30	->"Good grief! Here comes the army again! You'd think they'd ''learn'' after more than thirty ishes!"
31	* NoSell: In "The Origin of Brucie Banter", the Inedible Bulk is so invincible that not even grenades, missiles or even a tank blast at ''point blank range'' can make him budge. It just feels like a mosquito bite to him.
32	* NumberOfTheBeast: Parodied. As mentioned earlier, ''[[AllThereInTheManual The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes]]'' designated the Earth of ''Not Brand Echh'' and ''What The--?!'' as Earth-665, just one number shy of the number of the beast.
33	* OfficialParody: It's a parody of various Marvel characters produced by none other than Marvel themselves.
34	* OhCrap: In "The Origin of Bruce Banter", after the Tank Driver finds out his cannon is completely useless against the Bulk, he gives a big "Ulp!" before the Bulk mistakes his cannon blast for a mosquito bite and smacks his tank away.
35	* PunBasedTitle: On "Brand X".
36	* {{Satire}}: The whole book is a huge parody of Marvel's own franchises, in addition to other superhero comics.
37	* SelfDeprecation: Implied with the book's slogan "Who ''says'' a comic book has to be good?"
38	* SelfParody: As the rest of this page can attest to, the comics are one massive spoof of Marvel's characters that just so happen to be published by Marvel themselves.
39	* ShoutOut: The stories are often loaded with references to pop culture of their day. "The Origin of Brucie Banter", for instance, references [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown]], Englebert Humperdink, Music/JeffersonAirplane, UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein, Wernher Von Braun, [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Gyro Gearloose]], Creator/BrigitteBardot, [[Music/SimonAndGarfunkel Simon & Garfunkel]], Theatre/{{Macbeth}}, Magazine/{{Playboy}}, Mr. Clean, the Borsht Circuit, Yubiwaza martial arts comic ads, [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Scrooge Mcduck]], David Jannsen, Dear Tabby, Film/ByeByeBirdie, [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Shazam]], Creator/SeanConnery, Esquire, Series/TheTonightShow, and the Jolly Green Giant! ''What The--?!'' has its own share of references to late 80's/early 90's pop culture, including cameos of non-superhero comic characters like [[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes Hobbes.]]
40	* SoLastSeason: In "The Human Scorch Versus the Sunk-Mariner!", the battle between the original Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner (from Marvel Mystery Comics #9, 1939) is parodied, and the story ends with Chaplain America informing Human Scorch and Sunk-Mariner that they no longer fit in with the heroes of the 1960's, and thus they decide to retire to the Happy Haven Home For Halcyon Heroes.
41	* SpiritualSuccessor: The comic series "What The--?!", which was (for 1988) a contemporary take on Brand Ecch's satire, and even had Forbush Man return. It started as a 4 issue mini series, and then ran for an additional 22 issues.
42	* SubvertedRhymeEveryOccasion: In Issue #9's "Boney and Claude", Boney's poem is taken directly from [[Film/BonnieAndClyde the movie the story parodies]], except [[ParodyNames "Claude" doesn't rhyme with "dies"]].
43	-->'''Boney:''' Oh well. Even [[Music/BobDylan Bog Dylan]] probably once had rhyming problems.
44	* WholePlotReference: "The Silver Burper" from issue 1 is a comical retelling of the Silver Surfer's encounter with Dr. Doom in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' issues #57-60.
45	* WorldOfPun: All of the characters have pun-based names based on their respective superheroes. Ironed Man, Knock Furious and the Agents of S.H.E.E.S.H, Gnatman and Rotten, Stuporman, Dr. Deranged, Ecchs Men, just to name a few.

Context ComicBook / NotBrandEchh