tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post4573677068277839680..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: The Mutants and the Magnum Force: X-Men 119Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-78757664859431787862014-05-30T16:02:57.760-05:002014-05-30T16:02:57.760-05:00Could it possibly be that Claremont felt there wer...Could it possibly be that Claremont felt there were too many members to develop within the context of the story? Banshee, being an older established character, had had his moment. The old Banshee, when letting loose with his Banshee scream, would sonically assault on a physical level. People were always covering their ears in pain. There were several times when he would use his power and people wouldn't bat an eyelash let allow crumple into a mewing ball of quivering flesh. It could also be Claremont just didn't like the character so he worked him out without killing him.<br /><br />The Prowler (found his Power Packs).<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-12964645817693008082014-05-30T12:03:31.164-05:002014-05-30T12:03:31.164-05:00FWIW,Moses Magnum first appeared in Giant-Size Spi...FWIW,Moses Magnum first appeared in Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, here's a page that features some nice scans & a summary of that story:<br />http://www.supermegamonkey.net/chronocomic/entries/giantsize_spiderman_4.shtmlJ.A. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800901321134394272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-31463465136307022772014-05-30T11:24:14.214-05:002014-05-30T11:24:14.214-05:00No Doug - it's another holiday in T & T to...No Doug - it's another holiday in T & T today (Indian Arrival) so yers truly is kickin' it back home! Gotta love T & T - only 1.5 M people but more holidays than many bigger countries!<br /><br />Seriously though, when I post early it means either one of two possibilities - 1) it's a holiday or 2) I'm on vacation.<br /><br /><br />- Mike 'slack? No, I'm tighter than Baron Zemo's mask!' from Trinidad & Tobago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-16427625925734755032014-05-30T10:50:53.894-05:002014-05-30T10:50:53.894-05:00Thanks for a great review, Karen and Doug! I think...Thanks for a great review, Karen and Doug! I think your comments about the train picking up steam and the reader feeling like a part of something explains why I stuck with X-Men into the early '80s when I had lost interest in most other comics.<br /><br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-10988109612276220422014-05-30T10:44:53.926-05:002014-05-30T10:44:53.926-05:00Whoa, Mike -- you slacking today?
DougWhoa, Mike -- you slacking today?<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-30184060704342579012014-05-30T10:41:11.247-05:002014-05-30T10:41:11.247-05:00Ah, reading this review brings back fond memories ...Ah, reading this review brings back fond memories of when I first read this many issue years ago. This is another fine example of what made the Claremont/Byrne/Austin run so legendary - the nice buildup of plotlines, intriguing character development and the great art.<br /><br />Yeah, what struck me the most was Banshee's sacrifice in this issue. Not only was he willing to sacrifice his powers but his very life to combat the menace of Moses Magnum. Great stuff.<br /><br />I think it was actually a not unheard of practice for Marvel to resurrect obscure characters and use them in new storylines, e.g. the Headmen in the Defenders. I for one did not know Moses Magnum had appeared in a Power Man annual before he appeared in the X-men. I think Claremont and other writers used this because it expanded on the tie ins between the characters in the Marvel Universe, it saved them from having to invent a new character, and they probably felt it would pull in new readers who would look up the old history if they realized these characters had been around for some time.<br /><br />I think Banshee's powers have been under appreciated for most of this run. I was glad to see him display the range and scope of his sonic powers in this issue. When he debuted way back in the old X-men comic #28 in 1967, he was more than a match for the whole team.<br /><br />The foreshadowing of the Proteus saga was a nice touch in the final panel of this issue.<br /><br /> <br />- Mike 'Klaw ain't got nuthin' on Banshee' from Trinidad & Tobago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-83958370067748324802014-05-30T10:07:39.902-05:002014-05-30T10:07:39.902-05:00I knew that Banshee lost his powers, but I never k...I knew that Banshee lost his powers, but I never knew (until now) how.<br /><br />I like this story - at least based on this overview. As I said before I may look to pick it up someday.<br /><br />The fight choreography (something most of today's artists/writers don't seem to care about) looks great and like you I like the that the denouement is the characters in civvies (mostly) being human and allowing the narrative to take stock of their relationships - something X-Men always did well and that comics don't do enough of anymore, either.<br /><br />Great work. Thanks!<br /><br />P.S. Glad to hear about those ducks, you want them fresh for the roast! ;)Dr. Oyolahttp://themiddlespaces.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-10632640455892702052014-05-30T09:28:25.073-05:002014-05-30T09:28:25.073-05:00Mur, that is a solid, solid job of wall-papering-...Mur, that is a solid, solid job of wall-papering-- there's just enough fuzzy science to support it, I think. Banshee would almost certainly be gifted w/ perfect pitch (isn't he supposed to be this superb singer, as well?). And like most old-school piano tuners, he would surely be able to hear the wavering caused by out-of-synch soundwaves (wavelengths)- so the pitch-matching (or countering) would very much be a tricky exercise in split-second interval-adjustment by ear. As you suggest, what he's hearing is the sympathetic pitch created by Moses' power resonating through the rock, and countering it (with. . . overtonal pitches. . .? Musician-guys, you have a take on that?). That. . .wow. . . that kind of works better than MOST super-science explanations do-! Suddenly, I understand Banshee so much better. . . <br /><br />Thanks to all for your concern about our ducklings-! Man, and my apologies for the inadvertent hijack-- you are all both kind and indulgent. Their little box disappeared for over 50 hours from the USPS's tracking system, and then they just popped back up this morning at the sorting facility at 5:30. It's either a Twilight Zone scenario or a Bermuda Triangle one. . . but it is indeed an unsolved mystery. . . ! (Alien-abducted ducklings? Hmm-- they've already grown three-fold since arriving, and have eaten the dog. . . )<br /><br />HBHumanbellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-15692433490976195892014-05-30T08:49:34.553-05:002014-05-30T08:49:34.553-05:00I'll be interested to hear the ducks points of...I'll be interested to hear the ducks points of view on their adventure!<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-18674373352602850092014-05-30T08:19:46.398-05:002014-05-30T08:19:46.398-05:00I always took Banshee's counter frequency defe...I always took Banshee's counter frequency defence like this: Banshee is the master of sound. Rocks and earthquakes would generate infra-subsonic sound. Like a concert maestro, Banshee would listen and say "Ah, Low D Flat. I'll generate High C Sharp" (or something like that) to match and dampen the power buildup. Generating a specific white noise.<br /><br />And that is as far as I'm prepared to go with trying to wallpaper over comicbook science!<br /><br />It was a fun little story. <br /><br /><i>(three cheers for the plucky little duckies!)</i><br />Murhttp://www.murraylindsay.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-76809721914443047792014-05-30T08:11:35.673-05:002014-05-30T08:11:35.673-05:00That's nice to hear about the ducks ! The spla...That's nice to hear about the ducks ! The splash page is indeed very good - it's a great pity that the opening splash page is gone from modern comics, now they just use a boring page of text to re-cap the story so far. Jean Grey would surely have sensed that Scott was still alive - this is off the subject but I always felt that in Star Wars Darth Vader would have "felt it" in The Force if Luke and Leia had been his kids but in A New Hope he's standing right next to Leia and doesn't sense anything. The Force couldn't have been all that amazing. I thought that the worst that shifts in the tectonic plates could do to Japan was cause severe earthquakes and tidal waves - I didn't know Californians thought they could plunge into the sea at any moment ! Marvel in those days definitely had poor scientific knowledge - the Stone Men From Saturn is my favourite lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-79415792027933311492014-05-30T07:59:02.845-05:002014-05-30T07:59:02.845-05:00Hey, HB, thanks for the update on the ducks - and ...Hey, HB, thanks for the update on the ducks - and glad to hear they're safe. I actually found myself a bit concerned about that when you mentioned it yesterday.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-27438511516540147802014-05-30T07:41:41.813-05:002014-05-30T07:41:41.813-05:00As edo & Doug point out, Chris Claremont does ...As edo & Doug point out, Chris Claremont does indeed seem to have a very Stan Lee-esque grasp of science, doesn't he? Gloss it over w/ a thin veneer of fabricated plausibility. . . and deliver it w/ a tone of authority--- heh, we'll buy it every time!<br /><br />But it certainly didn't effect my enjoyment of this story. It's one I distinctly remember reading for the first time when it came out, and at the end I set it down and said "I can't believe how good this comic is" to myself, aloud. LOVE Banshee's heroism and willing self-sacrifice when it comes to saving the world-- that page is the one that comes to mind whenever the character pops into my head. And that epilogue with the Christmas party captures a feeling of unforced sincerity that is often hard to convey in comics. Man, what a great run. . . <br /><br />HB<br /><br />(PS-- Post Office called at 7 a.m.. . . baby ducks turned up- untracked- at our local branch,and are now safe & sound in their new home. *whew*) Humanbellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-84602144192780490922014-05-30T07:25:43.259-05:002014-05-30T07:25:43.259-05:00Yep, Doug, this was one fine run of comics, one of...Yep, Doug, this was one fine run of comics, one of the best. To answer my own question from yesterday's post: this was my favorites series back in the day, and I reread the whole thing a few years ago (in the first 2 volumes of Essential X-men), and I think it still holds up quite well.<br />As for this issue specifically, I mentioned before that I had only read it the first time not long ago in the Essentials book. I missed its reprinting in Classic X-men, because that was during one those periods when I was not reading comics. Anyway, it's a really good, exciting issue - a very good conclusion to the story.<br /><br />And not that I'm a geologist or anything, but as I understand plate tectonics, if the continental plates shift and move apart at just the right angle and speed, the land masses above them can simply collapse - and sink into the ocean if there's one nearby. That's basically what everybody in California means when they fret about the San Andreas Fault and "the Big One." Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-65427479803919607422014-05-30T06:29:19.133-05:002014-05-30T06:29:19.133-05:00Making an early entry before going to work, but ni...Making an early entry before going to work, but nice review of this dandy little two-parter, Doug & Karen. I'd previously caught Moses Magnum's initial appearance, in the one & only (as far as I know) Luke Cage, Power Man Annual, from 1976 I believe. This issue essentially writes out Banshee as a regular member of the cast and I'm a bit curious as to why Claremont/Byrne decided to oust him. Maybe just to shake things up a bit. Also noting that scene where most of the cast is in civvies -- even with so many members, they were all diverse enough in looks that they didn't really need costumes to be distinguished, certainly not either Kurt or Logan. Whereas with some groupings of Avengers, it would have been a bit difficult to tell Don from Steve from Hank Pym from Clint (depending on the artist, of course). And of this group of X-Men, only Cyclops & Wolverine have identity hiding masks as part of their costume.Fred W. Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07602124919964053532noreply@blogger.com