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Marvel Comics General

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This thread's for talking about the Marvel Comics line, whether the comics are decades old or brand new.

As well as the superhero tales of the Marvel Universe, that also includes all the other things Marvel's done (Epic Comics, Icon Comics, Star Comics and all the rest), as well as the older stories by Atlas and Timely, the companies that later became Marvel.

Acquisitions like Malibu Comics and Miracleman are also on-topic, as are the licensed 20th Century Studios titles, the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Zoids and Transformers comics, and all of the comics created locally by regional imprints like Marvel UK and Marvel Italia.

  • We have dedicated threads for some groups of titles (such as Spider-Man and the X-Men). You can still discuss them here, but you might want to use the more specific threads.
  • We also have threads for Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Predator and some of the other franchises. Sometimes it may be more useful to discuss the comics there rather than here — but they're still on-topic and there's no hard rule.

Technically, Marvel's Infinity Comics (and their predecessors, Infinite Comics) are webcomics, not comic books, but it's fine to talk about them here.

Discussions that are only about Marvel adaptations in other media (films, video games etc.) are off-topic, but discussing the differences between the adaptations and the original comics is fine - as long as spoilers for the adaptations are tagged.

Please follow the spoiler policy rules - tag spoilers for the latest issues, for any previews or content leaks, and for off-topic comics (e.g. if comparing Marvel to a DC story). When including spoiler tags, try to write so that tropers can make an informed decision before viewing them (e.g. which series and issue will they spoil?).

    Original text of OP 
A thread for all the miscellaneous Marvel discussion that doesn't have its own thread.

So apparently, they're making a Black Panther movie. Let's hope Hudlin is kept as far away as possible. On a related note, anyone think that the whole 'Super Hero that is also a King/Ruler' is kind of ridiculous? I mean where do heroes like Aquaman and T'Challa find the time to both lead a nation and go gallavanting on the other side of the globe?

Edited by Mrph1 on Sep 1st 2024 at 8:36:28 PM

HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
TheEvilDrBolty Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
#53377: Jan 30th 2022 at 9:39:20 PM

Do you know the name of the story that did that before Planet Hulk?

Hulk #175-178. I haven't gotten to it in my own reading yet, but I picked up the Epic Collection called "Crisis on Counter Earth" containing these issues - more for it being a complete collection of Steve Englehart's work on the character, but I was also compelled by curiosity for the humorous superficial similarities to Planet Hulk.

Edited by TheEvilDrBolty on Jan 30th 2022 at 12:40:52 PM

Cortez from Parts Unknown (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#53378: Jan 30th 2022 at 9:45:39 PM

Though Planet Hulk seems to take some inspiration from the old John Carter of Mars stories.

Edited by Cortez on Jan 30th 2022 at 3:05:10 PM

TheEvilDrBolty Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
#53379: Jan 30th 2022 at 9:47:40 PM

[up] I think that's a major influence as well.

IIRC, Greg Pak said he was also thinking of the Jarella stories, IE, when Hulk was romanced by a princess in the Microverse.

...hell, the Planet Hulk gladiator outfit is cribbed from one of the earliest issues drawn by Kirby, in Hulk's first fight with Tyrannus.

There is nothing new under the sun, but that doesn't mean that the result can't be good.

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#53380: Jan 30th 2022 at 9:49:15 PM

Amusingly Action Comics is doing a similar story where Superman and the Authority are trapped on Warworld and several of them including Supes wind up space gladiators John Carter style.

Its also a long-term storyline like Planet Hulk is.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#53381: Jan 30th 2022 at 9:49:32 PM

Hey Jimmy Olsen used to marry an ape every six months in the silver age. A little remixing of story beats and elements ain't bad.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Altris from the Vortex Since: Aug, 2019 Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
TheEvilDrBolty Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
#53383: Jan 30th 2022 at 10:02:11 PM

[up][up] Absolutely. Hell, All Star Superman is one of the best Superman books ever, and it's basically just Grant Morrison doing their take on Mort Weisinger's repetitive stock plots.

The X-Men aren't even especially subtle about repeatedly going back to bad futures and the Phoenix's theme of the right of the individual vs. the good of all. Iron Man is always trying to put technological genies back in their bottles like he did in Armor Wars, often with similar story structure. Captain America has had so many stories about alternative Captain Americas who represent different visions of the country. (Plus, when talking about the Winter Soldier storyline, Ed Brubaker pointed out that practically every major Cap writer had done some form of fake Bucky resurrection, he only innovated by making it permanent.) The Fantastic Four will pretty much always cycle back to Ben Grimm turning human for a while.

Some stories, themes, and structures are just intrinsically part of a character, and will always naturally recur if the writer knows what they're doing.

Edited by TheEvilDrBolty on Jan 30th 2022 at 1:03:04 PM

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#53384: Jan 30th 2022 at 10:05:35 PM

[up][up] Married an ape

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Altris from the Vortex Since: Aug, 2019 Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#53386: Jan 30th 2022 at 10:08:20 PM

DC Silver Age comics were written cover first. They'd come up with some thing that made people desperate to know how this particular thing could happen and then wrote the story backwards from that.

That's why there were so many dreams, hoaxes, and imaginary tales.

Hence covers like Jimmy Olsen marrying an ape. Or all those times that Superman kills his friends or engaged in other superdickery.

Edited by Bocaj on Jan 30th 2022 at 1:09:14 PM

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#53387: Jan 30th 2022 at 10:09:29 PM

I'm also reminded that a friend told me that the Warworld Saga is also similar to an old Superman story where Supes gets enslaved on an alien planet with a Red Sun losing his powers, his faith in himself waning until a fellow alien slave tells him "Don't worry Superman will save us one day", so Superman winds up inspired by his own legend and leads the liberation of the world.

Which again are very similar concepts to the currently running Warworld as Supes is enslaved, powerless, and must figure out a way to liberate the enslaved population.

[up][up][up] Man the Silver Age is a trip.

Edited by slimcoder on Jan 30th 2022 at 10:10:05 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
lalalei2001 Since: Oct, 2009
#53388: Jan 30th 2022 at 10:46:45 PM

Also monkeys were just really popular back then, hence Gorilla Grodd, Giganta originally being an ape, etc.

The Protomen enhanced my life.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#53389: Jan 30th 2022 at 11:02:39 PM

Don't forget Doom Patrol's Monsieur Mallah, a gay French gorilla commando in love with his Brain in a Jar boss.

Disgusted, but not surprised
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#53390: Jan 30th 2022 at 11:14:34 PM

The Brave and The Bold cartoon also featured an ape mob boss who I think is from the comics, but I've forgotten his name.

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#53391: Jan 30th 2022 at 11:18:56 PM

And recently Peacemaker had Sargent Charlie the gorilla.

Edited by slimcoder on Jan 30th 2022 at 11:19:13 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#53392: Jan 30th 2022 at 11:29:52 PM

Anyway, to get back to Marvel.

Tigra is a character that I wouldn't say I was a major fan of but I wonder if there could be more to do elevate her beyond furry fanservice. I was thinking of making her an occult detective or do more with the Cat People thing.

Whowho Since: May, 2012
#53393: Jan 31st 2022 at 2:21:19 AM

Tigra is on the increasingly small list of prominant Marvel Heroes not currently slated for the MCU and don't have a history of adaptation.

So I imagine she'll get mined at somepoint.

Hercules, Nova, Wonder-man, Man-thing, squirel girl, Captain Britain, Sentry, Blue Marvel and Elsa Bloodstone also come to mind.

(I kind of really dislike the Sentry though)

Edited by Whowho on Jan 31st 2022 at 2:15:44 PM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#53394: Jan 31st 2022 at 2:32:29 AM

She's currently a supporting character in Moon Knight at least.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Tiamatty X-Men X-Pert from Now on Twitter Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: Brony
#53395: Jan 31st 2022 at 5:56:40 AM

[up][up] Tigra was going to get a sit-com with She-Hulk, but sadly, that got abandoned.

As far as things to do with her, she was part of the faculty at Avengers Academy, so there's room for stories related to that.

X-Men X-Pert, my blog where I talk about X-Men comics.
Whowho Since: May, 2012
#53396: Jan 31st 2022 at 6:15:18 AM

I'm not sure where you'd introduce a lot of these characters, someone them lend themselves really well to untapped genres of the MCU. (Elsa Bloodstone and Man-thing would be able to tap creature features, and gothic films. Heck give me a Bloodstone Kaiju film)

But I have no idea where you'd introduce Wonder-man at this point.

shanejayell Since: Jun, 2011
#53397: Jan 31st 2022 at 6:34:52 AM

I was VERY surprised they didn't do the Rich Rider Nova, since Thanos' destroying Xandar in Infinity War would have worked for his original origin.

(Alien villain attacks Novas, dying surviving member comes to Earth chasing baddie, gives powers to human)

Aleistar Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
#53398: Jan 31st 2022 at 8:08:32 AM

I mean, that would require another brand new character to be introduced in Infinity War and who would struggle to gain any screen time let alone a full origin story.

shanejayell Since: Jun, 2011
#53399: Jan 31st 2022 at 9:33:43 AM

Was Captain Marvel really needed in Endgame? Use Nova instead.

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#53400: Jan 31st 2022 at 9:46:10 AM

She wasn’t specifically needed but she also already had a movie establishing who she was

Forever liveblogging the Avengers

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