tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post3825180164773655713..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: Mutants and Masked Marauders: Captain America 173Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-7957684255168555672014-03-17T18:09:19.195-05:002014-03-17T18:09:19.195-05:00As I've stated before, I was never a big reade...As I've stated before, I was never a big reader of Capt America's comic. I got my Cap fix in the Avengers. That being said, I am trying to put myself back in my 9 year old self and look at the comics being reviewed as that kid. <br /><br />Many of these issues would have been kicked around and groaned about if we were all sitting around the Risk board waiting for Dyn-o-Mike to draw Trinidad And Tobago on the board so we could all start. <br />I think Cyke's optic beams would have been one of the first topics. Would there have been some suggestions that Prof X mentally told Scott to blast the trees and he would create the illusion of a fire to distract the SHIELD agents? Prolly. Would we have kicked around the secret identities of Roger and Willie (no laughing Steve, we know what willie is slang for)? Prolly, then came up with secret code names for each other. (I think you take your first pet's name and the street you grew up on?) The many times that good/bad guys pretended to be bad/good to infiltrate an opposing group? The many more times the Avengers fell for it. Nick Fury as Scorpio would probably be the coolest time. Was it the Brant Corp or Brand Corp? How it was once Brant and then Brand? <br /><br />But I do believe the one topic we may have all considered the lamest was Steve leaving the note. Was it propped in the empty space where the Electro(n)-gyroscope had been? Taped to the door? Did he sign it Captain America? <br /><br />The Prowler (always ends up being Africa)<br /><br />PS Oh Jesus Mary and Joseph, before I forget Happy St Patrick's Day!!!!<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-36121851690772034192014-03-17T17:48:18.836-05:002014-03-17T17:48:18.836-05:00FWIW, according to the backup feature on Cyclops i...FWIW, according to the backup feature on Cyclops in <i>X-Men</i> #43, Roy Thomas makes quite a big deal about his eye beams being solar-powered--so I suppose it stands to reason that they'd be able to generate heat. Unfortunately, later in the feature, Roy clarifies that this isn't the case: "By the way, contrary to what a few mixed-up souls believe, Cyke's incredible eyes generate only force--not heat!" To which Stan Lee gives an aside: "Too bad! I was hoping he could save me some money on a sun lamp this winter!"<br /><br />Give yourself a pat on the back, Doug--your instincts were spot-on. :)<br />Comicsfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10064955427593820783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-32022647014055870382014-03-17T12:30:06.771-05:002014-03-17T12:30:06.771-05:00Garrett, I wonder about that as well. I spoke with...Garrett, I wonder about that as well. I spoke with Englehart a few years ago and it seemed he disliked working with Marvel nowadays because books had to be so tightly plotted in advance; he had to lay everything out prior to starting work on the book and couldn't change anything or make additions to the storyline later on. Doesn't seem like much opportunity for collaboration or creativity with that sort of approach! I don;t think it was just him either -I had heard similar comments from Starlin too.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17032477453891087135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-11988997571511239842014-03-17T12:26:27.332-05:002014-03-17T12:26:27.332-05:00Interesting comment by Conway about the Marvel met...Interesting comment by Conway about the Marvel method. I wonder if there's anyone in comics using it now? Seems to me it's turned storytelling artists into merely illustrators, and the rambunctious energy of the Bronze age collaborations has been lost.Garettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-5733989737738330992014-03-17T12:07:56.333-05:002014-03-17T12:07:56.333-05:00I really wish I'd have formed a relationship w...I really wish I'd have formed a relationship with Englehart, because there are some issues here and there throughout this series that I'd like to pick his brain on. I flipped that Twitter exchange into today's post late last night without really expounding on it. It makes you wonder why, between Steve and Sal, some of these inconsistencies saw print.<br /><br />Of course, for those guys to recall a specific scene 40 years later might be asking a bit much.<br /><br />In other news, I've set a post to come on this afternoon at 6:00 CT. You Silver Age fans might be drooling a bit -- be forewarned.<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-23709745479872859642014-03-17T11:48:47.821-05:002014-03-17T11:48:47.821-05:00Nope, sir I would agree with your consternation ov...Nope, sir I would agree with your consternation over Cyclops especially for nailing powers, I argue the same stance about liberties taken with other characters.<br /><br />Apparently, the Stainless One felt different, plus the resulting letters pages because if I recall, no reader even mentioned it once.<br /><br />Apparently no 'discerning adults' wrote in at the time..<br /><br />Great discussion on a classic, all. Edo, love your mention on Johnny Bravodavid_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-14695583209241695202014-03-17T11:05:00.881-05:002014-03-17T11:05:00.881-05:00David --
I would very respectfully disagree with ...David --<br /><br />I would very respectfully disagree with your downplaying of the misuse of Cyke's eyebeams on two counts.<br /><br />First, as an 8-year old who would have read this off the shelf, I'd have said "Cool!", but as a discerning adult I find the eyebeam-makes-fire scene to be an example of writing out-of-character. We would complain about a given character's personality coming across as "feeling wrong" or "off"... I don't see this as any different because let's face it -- the eyebeams are what makes Cyclops well... Cyclops.<br /><br />Secondly, by using them in this manner it really creates a deus ex machina for the SHIELD confrontation, rather than having the situation resolved or coming up with a more logical way out. We often rail against the use of deus ex machinas.<br /><br />My two cents.<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-7982686688754511212014-03-17T10:28:11.728-05:002014-03-17T10:28:11.728-05:00Too bad Angel is one of the abducted/missing X-men...Too bad Angel is one of the abducted/missing X-men: he could have given Falcon some flying tips ;)<br /><br />And I still agree with your collective disappointment over the limitation of Falcon's flight ability, although that was some nice teamwork with Marvel Girl - or rather Marvel Mama. I notice Sam called the Secret Empire operative "mama" as well. Smooth. He's a regular Johnny Bravo.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-3310236778858148922014-03-17T09:55:07.267-05:002014-03-17T09:55:07.267-05:00This was among the issues a I dumped on eBay when ...This was among the issues a I dumped on eBay when I got rid of massive part of my original collection in the late 90s.mr. oyolahttp://themiddlespaces.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-84362369923834680272014-03-17T07:21:19.050-05:002014-03-17T07:21:19.050-05:00Mixed bag for me on this chapter, still my favorit...Mixed bag for me on this chapter, still my favorite CA&F story of all time..<br /><br />First the cover. After the last couple of simply fantastic covers, this one pales a bit. Perhaps a rushed Kane cover.., it just seem too similar to the far-better cover on ish 171. But I digress.<br /><br />The splash page..!?! One of Sal's all-time best. Just gorgeous. I didn't mind Vinnie's inks in this issue at all quite honestly. He still provided stellar work with Sal throughout the issue.<br /><br />Now, Cyck's beams.. I respond with a resounding 'WHO CARES..?' Not knowing the X-Men much before then, I figured he simply had a way to adjust them accordingly. Again, as mentioned elsewhere about some 'augmentation' of mutant powers, obviously Steve didn't do too much homework. I suppose he could have had Cyck simply push trees over with the beams, but the fire had much more dramatic visuals and it indeed looked great. You can argue it's 'a fundamental power difference' all day long, I just take it as an augmentation Scott was able to achieve during those 'lost years'.<br /><br />Still stewing over his earlier run-in's with Cap over Sharon and Cap's occasional grand-standing, I didn't see anything off with Nick's feelings at all. <br /><br />I liked the wonkiness of Sam's flight powers, still early in his usage. What's frustrating is you only see this attention to detail half the time; the other half, Sam seems to have mastered without question. Interesting..<br /><br />Nashville to Dallas..? I actually didn't recall that location change, so it does seem pretty odd. As for the uniform switch to steal the gyro, it works from a Cap-and-Falc standpoint (this title is CA&F, not 'Steve and Sam'..), but I still scratch my head over that. At the on-set, you feel like Steve's sitting at the typewriter with **some** master plan in mind, but a few pages later, nothing comes of it, frankly. So why Number 13 accepts it without question does escape me. Unless they told Number 13 they WERE indeed Captain America and the Falcon (with the disquises and fake names). Dunno exactly.<br /><br />So, besides a weak cover (and some head-scratchin' mutant powers..), this chapter really revs up for our exciting climax, still 2 issues away.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-77433676096303737792014-03-17T06:51:34.310-05:002014-03-17T06:51:34.310-05:00I recall reading somewhere that Englehart was inst...I recall reading somewhere that Englehart was instructed to close out this story, indicating that he originally had a longer arc planned -- and at 7 issues, this is possibly the longest at this point -- making me wonder if he & Sal had a lot more crammed in than they might have otherwise. Of course, in this same time frame, Englehart had a story in which Taurus had a rocket disguised as a warehouse! Not quite as crazy as the Golden Age story in which the original Human Torch flew to Neptune and back under his own flame power in a matter of hours, but pretty close. Nevertheless, still fun and dramatic. And maybe Professor X used some previously undisclosed mental powers to make Nick & the gang think Cyclops had started a wildfire. Fred W. Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07602124919964053532noreply@blogger.com