Martinex1: On Tuesdays we open the door to our commentators to contribute a topic for us to discuss. Questions can center on anything even remotely related to the Bronze Age - comic books, movies, food, novels, characters, television, and music. Anybody can get us started. Everybody can join in.
Note that we offer this feature each and every Tuesday, and the opportunity to get us going starts at 5:00 AM Eastern / 6:00 AM Central / 7:00 AM Mountain and 8:00 AM Pacific time. (That is 12:00 PM in London and 1:00 PM in Paris).
Cheers!
12 comments:
This past weekend I was re-reading some of the old Strange Tales issues featuring a Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD story followed by a Doctor Strange story. I had bought them originally for Dr. Strange, but looking back, I now think the Nick Fury stories with Jim Steranko on art were actually more compelling.
So my question for all the Bronze Agers out there is simply: Who is your favorite? Strange or Fury? Who has had more impact? Who still holds your interest most strongly? Do you have any favorite versions of the character or creative team?
Director of SHIELD or Sorcerer Supreme?
Cheers!
Dr. Strange for me. The Englehart run was my intro to his world, and my favorite. Later got to read some Lee/Ditko reprints.
I have only Fury AOS samplings as a guest star or cameos. I really should delve into some his stories from the sixties. I think now being older I would enjoy that genre more.
That is very interesting question Selenarch! I was just rereading Fury by Steranko in a TBP.
First I've never felt compelled to read a Dr Strange in my 56 years; I'm just not one for sorcery stuff. Sorry!
Second, by default Fury wins LOL.
Third, Steranko does some really genius art but if I am too be totally honest there is a fair amount that looks awkward like he does some unnatural angular poses with disproportionate neck extensions.
Tough question for me Selenarch. I like both but see them as guys who are far more interesting for their interactions with the larger Marvel universe than in their own mags. Strange Tales is before my time. Would love to read some of those Sterankos. I have some of those Englehart Dr. Strange books but don't really remember much about them. Time to revisit those maybe. I was much more into Strange in the Defenders. My favorite? Probably Strange - but not by much.
And Martinex, I'm no expert on international time but I'm pretty sure those American times are not possible - maybe in the world of comic book time travel. LOL.
Tom
Fury gets my vote, mostly for the Steranko stories, but even the earlier tales had some charming Kirby weirdness.
As for Doc Strange, I've very few of his stories, because like Charlie Horse 47, I've never been too interested in the sorcery stuff. When I've read Strange stories, it's been due to an artist involved, like Ditko or Brunner. The 1970s Doctor Strange Treasury Edition is a favorite, Ditko's art looks great in the tabloid format!
I think Tom's right, Marty, you've got your time zones backwards. Here in Saskatchewan, we're kind of an outlier since we don't have Daylight Savings Time. Our clocks never change, which means we're equivalent to Central Time in summer and Mountain in winter.
As for the question, I've never absolutely loved either character, but if pressed I'd probably go with Doc Strange because a lot of his 70s stuff had really good writers and artists.
Ha ha. I cannot believe I did that. Late night that night of writing. Yeeesh! Let’s just say I blame the weird time zones on Dr. Doom’s Time Machine and the dreaded deadline doom! Wow. That is just unbelievable. Let’s go with 6:00 AM Central - that I know for sure! Thanks guys! (Good thing I didn’t schedule any morning meetings with the out of town folks)!
As for Fury or Strange, I have a fondness for both. But Fury wins but not because of Strange Tales or Steranko. I was given many early Sgt Fury comics so I knew the character but was surprised when Nick Fury the SHIELD agent showed up in Avengers #72 battling Zodiac alongside the Avengers. Those were gifts. But one of my early comic purchases was MTIO 26 and there he was again alongside the Thing. I don’t think I ever looked back. Back in the early Bronze Age I always hoped Fury would leave the espionage game and strategically lead the Avengers or Defenders. Alas it never happened - at least not until the movies - but I thought they missed an opportunity in the conics.
Count me in for the good Doctor. His series was a favorite of mine, with the likes of Brunner, Colan and Rogers. And among my earliest comics as a collector was Marvel Team Up 21, with Dr. Strange and Spidey. That, not Strange Tales, was my intro to the character.
And thanks for the question this AM Selenarch. I also rolled it out on our twitter @BackintheBronze to get feedback there on Strange vs Fury. Cheers.
I would definitely have to say Strange. I know that Marvel tried to play up Fury's spy adventure side but at the end of the day, he's the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
That means most days he's going over reports, signing requisition forms, meeting with department heads, dealing with any number of minutiae that comes with running a multi-national multi-territorial intra-departmental agency.
Plus that stuff he has in the southwest sector!!!
So Strange, as it may seem, is my pick.
Whatever happened to Clea?
(She said, "I've seen you in here before."
I said, "I've been here a time or two."
She said, "Hello, my name is Bobby Jo.
Meet my twin sister Betty Lou.
And we're both feeling kinda wild tonight.
You're the only cowboy in this place.
And if you're up for a rodeo,
I'll put a big Texas smile on your face."
I said, "Girls,
I ain't as good as I once was
I got a few years on me now
But there was a time
Back in my prime
When I could really lay it down.
And if you need some love tonight
Then I might have just enough.
I ain't as good as I once was,
But I'm as good once as I ever was."
I still hang out with my best friend Dave.
I've known him since we were kids at school.
Last night he had a few shots,
Got in a tight spot
Hustlin' a game of pool
With a couple of redneck boys.
One great big bad biker man.
I heard David yell across the room,
"Hey, buddy, how 'bout a helping hand!"
I said, "Dave,
I ain't as good as I once was.
My, how the years have flown,
But there was a time
Back in my prime
When I could really hold my own.
But if you wanna fight tonight,
Guess those boys don't look all that tough.
I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was."
I used to be hell on wheels
Back when I was a younger man.
Now my body says, "You can't do this, boy,"
But my pride says, "Oh, yes you can."
I ain't as good as I once was.
That's just the cold hard truth.
I still throw a few back,
Talk a little smack
When I'm feeling bullet-proof.
So don't double-dog dare me now
'Cause I'd have to call your bluff.
I ain't as good as I once was,
But I'm as good once as I ever was.
May not be good as I once was,
But I'm as good once as I ever was).
I don't are for either of them in their own book, but when it comes to a guest appearance in another book, I think I prefer the (not-so) good Doctor.
You’re not wrong! Is it lazy or is it just a trope that gets used a lot because it’s good drama? I think more towards the latter, and it has carried on over the decades even to this day.
Mind you, the recent death of Ms Marvel in a Spider-Man comic was bordering on the ridiculous, as she wasn’t a major character in that comic’s story, and she came back from the dead in the next issue.
In some cases though, these things have shown comics to be much more than they are given credit for.
When done correctly, the trope is incredibly emotional, and having a cover like this undoubtedly sells copies!
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