The problem with reading these through ComiXology is that the timeline for the Marvel reviews is now all over the place.
“Sorry, we don’t hire raccoons and trees.”
Guardians Of The Galaxy #1
Marvel Comics (June, 1990)
“But Are They Ready For…Taserface!”
WRITER/PENCILER: Jim Valentino
INKER: Steve Montano
COLORIST: Evelyn Stein
LETTERER: Ken Lopez
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Renee Witterstaetter
EDITOR: Craig Anderson
Yep, one chapter again, and we’re almost done with part one of this book. (All three parts are in the same book; this isn’t three separate books.) That means we’re close to inciting event for this whole arc, but remember that Bane isn’t our main villain according to the writers. We have met him and last time we got a glimpse into his character but not really understanding what his tie is to Batman or why he was chosen as a potential back-up man. Backman if you will.
So let’s do our own research. Jean-Paul Valley first appeared in the miniseries Sword Of Azrael, created Dennis O’Neil, our author for this adaptation, and…Joe Quesada. Somehow I’m not surprised; even though he was the artist there’s a reason Bill Finger now gets co-credits on Batman. A member of the Order Of Saint Dumas, a group of Catholic fanatics (because of course they’re written as Catholic, the usual insulting kind and for the record I’m nondenominational but was raised Catholic and I never knew anyone who acted like mainstream media’s depiction of Catholics–Hollywood’s Catholics) who genetically engineered him as a baby to be their superhuman enforcer, Azrael. I’m pretty sure that’s not in God’s plan, you guys! It’s a long story beyond that. Fighting off the Order’s influence, though that’s the short version of “The System”, he fought alongside Batman to uncover the events surrounding Jean-Paul’s father’s death. Also a long story.
I’m hoping that the book explains that eventually because they didn’t have wikis when the novel came out, and the comic fans would have had a flashback or a caption [*See the Sword Of Azrael miniseries for more info] kind of deal. What we have is a longer chapter so maybe it will show up here? Nope, because this one is all about the Joker, Batman’s archest of nemeses.
I know this is the family friendly comic but it’s 2000AD. Pretty sure they’re still about to kill me.
2000AD presents The Best Comic Ever!!
2000AD (Free Comic Book Day, 2023)
Today’s comic returns for Free Comic Book Day but it’s more an acknowledgement that these are new comics rather than really old comics. This one is a three story anthology but the reason I picked up was curiosity. 2000AD isn’t exactly known for kid-friendly entertainment. This is the home of Judge Dredd after all. And yet this is an all-ages comic, meaning it’s meant for both kids and adults and thus something you might let your kids read. At least, that’s the goal. Let’s see how well that worked out.
Catch more from Peter Knetter on YouTube
He has a point. Technically if you’re a fan of the Looney Tunes, how is that NOT furry by the internet’s definition? This is why labels are bull#@#$.
And that’s just the ones I had a chance to draw.
I want to be on the record here. I am NOT happy with this comic. As it is this wasn’t worth two weeks of work while life and my sleep cycle kept distracting me. I’m currently mad because just as I finished drawing Scarlet Spider, who didn’t want to be colored and was oddly the easiest costume to draw the laptop crashed and I lost the character. I wanted to fill this thing with as many of the needless Spider-Folk Marvel’s been shoving out lately as I could and this was the best I could fit in? And yes, they want to make Nightcrawler the “Uncanny Spider-Man”. I’m am disappointed in myself but at least the stupid thing’s done and out of my hair!
Over at The Clutter Reports this week the same issues that helped to hurt this comic also made decluttering impossible. The best I could do was post someone’s video about tips for selling comics since that’s the project I was going to discuss.
So what’s happening this week? Well, I’m hoping to do more articles, more comic reviews, and this week’s Chapter By Chapter review of Batman: Knightfall is actually only one chapter. I have to go out again this week and hopefully that will be it until I can get into a proper work order and get past these allergies. Have a great week, everyone…and pray for me.
There have been many attempts to translate comic strips and comic books to other media formats in the past. The Phantom, the newspaper strip created by Lee Falk, has had numerous comic book adaptations, novels, a serial, his own cartoon and a spot with other King Features heroes, and a rather questionable made for TV movie. He almost had his own TV series in the 1960s, which is what brings us here tonight.
“No Escape” is the pilot for a Phantom TV series, made in 1961. I will tell you right now that after watching it you will know why it was never picked up for a series. It’s not very interesting, and has way too much of Kit Walker without any kind of mask. Even The Lone Ranger never shows us a face when he’s undercover, as the Ranger uses disguises. In the comics seeing the face of the Phantom is usually a big no-no, especially if you value breathing. Also, while this website shows evidence of a color version of this pilot all I could find was a black-and-white version that is still better than the washed-out two video airing on that site. I do like the logo and the outfit. Former stuntman Roger Creed portrays the Ghost Who Walks and the pilot also features Lon Chaney Jr, known for playing monsters and mobsters, as the foreman and Richard Kiel, Jaws himself for James Bond fans, as Big Mike.
Our hero learns of a plantation somewhere in Bangalla run by a Mrs. Harris, where the workers are kept prisoner and covered in bait to draw the guard panthers…which somehow only works away from camp? A lot doesn’t make sense and it could be the lack of sleep last night but I had trouble focusing on this thing. I’d say “enjoy” but honestly I’m only posting this for the trivia and curiosity. Who knows, maybe you WILL enjoy it.
The Clutter Reports (my other site) Atop The Fourth Wall Crisis On Earth Prime Lean Into Artcast Bully Says “Comics Oughta Be Fun” Siskoid’s Blog of Geekery
Cartoon Hero’s Lair SF Debris Four Million Years Later
BW Media Spotlight 
BW’s Daily Video> How To Build A Shared Universe
Catch more of Comics By Perch on YouTube
It should also be said that the DC and Marvel universes didn’t start of as shared. They were just a series of random anthologies, then a bunch of character were popular enough to have their own comic, and then you ended up with the Justice Society or Superman and Batman hanging out as the two post popular characters. You had similar events going on at Atlas, the company that became Marvel Comics, as some of their heroes joined Captain America in fighting Nazis.
Too many modern attempts at a shared universe don’t feel organic. They’re doing it just because it’s cool, not because they actually have some great character that fit together in the same space. Some Image characters have crossed over before. Valiant and Malibu’s Ultraverse managed to do a good job with the idea but only because they had characters who could share a universe but operate on their own. It felt more organic than, for example, the shared universe Hasbro and IDW tried to give us with their properties just because G.I. Joe and Transformers had a few crossovers. Those were forced and they showed.
The MCU also succeeded at because they took the time to earn it while the “Dark Universe” and DCEU didn’t. Now MCU creators seem to be against their own concept and formula while others continue to do it badly because they’re doing it to be popular and make more money rather than the franchise needing spinoffs and expanded casts. Once again, it comes down to the needs of the story fueling creativity while the need for the money ruins its own shot at victory.
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Posted by ShadowWing Tronix on May 16, 2023 in Comic Spotlight and tagged Comics By Perch, commentary, crossover, shared universe.
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