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Reviews
Dont Say the M Word: The Strange Story of Miracleman
Column by Tony Ingram, 2008.
There are some characters whose names become well known because
they simply fire the readers imagination, and become best
sellers or at least cult figures as a result.
And then theres Marvelman.
In the early 1950s, British publishers Len Miller & Sons
specialized in reprints of US comic books, and their best
selling titles for awhile were those reprinting Fawcetts
Captain marvel and associated characters. So when, in 1953,
Fawcetts much publicized legal problems with Superman publishers
DC forced them to discontinue the Marvel Familys adventures,
Millers had a problem.
Len Millers solution was inspired. He had an audience for
superhero adventures, but no superheroes. So, he hired writer/artist
Mick Anglo to create some, and in 1954, Millers Captain Marvel
became Marvelman!
The changes were superficial enough for the title to retain
its readership-Caps alter ego, young Billy Batson, became
Micky Moran. Shazam, the wizard who empowered him, became
astrophysicist Guntag Borghelm, who taught Micky the magic
word Kimota (atomic spelled backwards, near enough). Captain
Marvel Junior became Young Marvelman, while Mary Marvel underwent
a more conspicuous change and morphed into Johnny Bates AKA
Kid Marvelman! The Marvelman titles retained the sense of
whimsy which had made Captain Marvel so popular, and they
sold well for almost a decade before fading away in 1963.
End of story, it seemed.
Continue to the full review at
Broken Frontier.
Who SHOULD be a Skrull?
Column by J.P. Dorigo, 2008.
All the comic message boards are all a flutter with one thing
lately: Skrulls. Who is a Skrull, who isnt a Skrull, whos
been acting Skrully, et cetera. Well I cant see the future
any more then you folks can. I have a couple theories who
might be Skrulls, but who wants to make guesses any more?!
Im here to lay down the law for you nerd boys and nerd girls.
Heres who I think Marvel should make Skrulls and why.
Lets start at the top: Tony Stark. Man, is that guy a jerk
or what. I never really cared for Iron Man, but since the
startup of New Avengers and then Civil War you cant get rid
of the guy! I mean, sure, hes definitely more interesting
then he sued to be, but he is the epitome of everything we
should be against. Hes a billionaire AND he runs S.H.I.E.L.D.
Hes like George W. Bush in a super suit! At least he uses
some of his science for good. I think they should out him
as a Skrull and then lock him up. Undo all the madness from
Civil War and let things go back to normal a bit. Sadly, from
reading both of the Avengers titles, I think its highly unlikely
that Stark is a Skrull.
Another big reveal would be the Hulk. Lets face it kids,
colorists have a tough job. Can you imagine the difficulties
of having to relearn how to color and existing character but
now with green skin? The Hulk is already there! I think Marvel
should give all the colorists a break and make the Hulk a
Skrull.
Continue to the full review at
Broken Frontier.
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