Panel Discussion: Spotlight on Steve Gerber!

 

Redartz:  Usually when we open these 'panel discussions', we are talking about art and artists. Today we're going to look instead at one of the Bronze Age's most unique writers: Steve Gerber. Most readers know him from his extensive work for Marvel, but he also did work for DC and some Indies as well. He even had a second career life in tv animation, including the creation of "Thundarr, the Barbarian". 

 Gerber's writing style was often esoteric, quirky, and deeply personal. This was one of the things which attracted me to his work; beginning with his classic writing on Marvel's "Man-Thing". About the same time (this was actually the time at which I first started collecting comics and was eagerly sampling anything in four color print) I discovered his "Defenders" and "Daredevil", and he became one of my top favorite writers. 

When Gerber wrote a comic, it was jam-packed. It was sure to be a good half hour read, at any rate. Frequently he included text pages in his stories, which probably was a break for the artists. 

And the characters he revived or created: Howard the Duck, the Foolkiller, the Headmen, Omega the Unknown, Starhawk, and a certain infamous Elf With a Gun. The same young teen who loved
Dr. Demento on the radio was enthralled by such oddities. I mentioned above Gerber's penchant for introspection; it was this tendency that made "Omega" so appealing to me. And the same was true for another of Gerber's psychological studies, "The Kid's Night  Out" in Giant Size Man-Thing 4. Gerber seemed at the time to be writing specifically to me (yes, I was a hopeless nerd, but a harmless one). 

 

 

 

 

And aside from weirdness and navel-contemplation, Gerber could write some darned fine stories. His "Night of the Living Dead" was excellent. His "Phantom Zone" miniseries for DC was quite interesting. And we haven't even touched on "Howard the Duck" or "Guardians of the Galaxy".

 

 

 

 

 

So here's a few more images from 'Gerber's Greatest Hits'.  While you pore over them, you can consider your own thoughts about the man and his work. Were you a fan? Gerber's work didn't appeal to everyone, granted. If you were, what were your favorites? What titles would  you have liked to see him tackle? Which artists seemed to mesh best with his unique vision? Comment away...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chew the Fat: Comic Books as the Source Material!

Note: In the following discussion, there may be some slight SPOILERS to the recent superhero movies, particularly Avengers:Infinity War.  We will try to steer clear of any major revelations, but if you are sensitive to any "spoilery" activity or images please tread cautiously.   This topic is not about the movie plots specifically but about the influences from comic books on specific shots or scenes in the movies.

Martinex1: As I've watched recent Marvel movies including Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and Avengers: Infinity War, I have noticed scenes or images that had to be influenced from comics from the Silver and Bronze ages.  Surely there have always been key plot points that follow the tracks of the comics; even lesser movies like The Fantastic Four have had to rely on the source material to tell the story.   Today I am talking about something perhaps more subtle in the movies - the brief instances that cause a bit of deja vu.  A character says or acts in a way that really reflects his comic book personality, or a glimpse of a setting seems to have jumped off of a comic panel, or a bit of action could have come from a comic cover - these are the things I am referring to.  

Sometimes the thought that pops into my head is not even related to the specific series that the movie is based on.  Why would the Avengers remind me of an obscure DC issue?  Or why would Thor seem like another character entirely?  Today let's explore and discuss the influence of comics in general as a source to the movies.

I started thinking about this a few days ago when I posted on our Twitter account that often (specifically in Thor: Ragnarok) Thor seemed more like Hercules from the comic books.  His joy of life and humor and eagerness to jump into battle seemed more like Herc than the sometimes thoughtful and brooding Thor from the comics. Even when dealing with tragedy, the Thor of the movies is less full of vengeance and more accepting and optimistic about the future.  Also some comic images came to my mind.  Thor has partaken in his share of beer and mead, but Hercules always seemed more the reveler.  And a very brief glimpse of Thor on Grandmaster's homeworld reminded me of the cover of Bob Layton's Hercules comic.  Take a look...

 

Now I admit that can be total coincidence, but it goes to show how influential comics can be on the cinematic art or at the very least how pervasive they can be to my interpretation of the film.

In Infinity War, Captain America's brief confrontation of Thanos had to be based on the scenes from the Jim Starlin and Ron Lim comics.  Even though Cap was not in his classic togs with his iconic shield and there was little or no dialog during the fight, there was just that glimmer of idealism and strength that Cap exudes while confronting unbeatable odds.  The directors captured that courage and strength of conviction well.

 Thematically, that is pretty on the nose.  But for something a little more obscure take a look at the final images from Thor: Ragnarok.  The Asgardians evacuate in a giant ship only to be dwarfed by something much larger and ominous.  Here is a look at that parting shot.

The escape craft is in the foreground and behind it is a monstrosity that practically blocks out the stars.  Does that seem familiar to you?   Well it did to me!  It reminded me specifically of Avengers Volume 1 Issue # 167, in which the S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier and Nick Fury call the Avengers for help.  The team views the Hellicarrier on their video monitor but there seems to be no sky behind the ship; they pan out to reveal the gigantic ship Drydock which is occupied by the Guardians of the Galaxy.  The comic does not have Asgardians or Thanos in it, but I have to believe the below George Perez image was referenced.

My final example is rather random in that it has no story connection to the Infinity War, the Avengers, the Black Order or any specifics of the movie story,  But when I saw the giant alien wheels unleashed on the warriors and team in Wakanda during the climactic battle, I immediately thought of the Blackhawk comic and the frequent appearances of the Warwheel.

Boy, that crazy thing sure made a lot of appearances (and even in re-crafted covers).  It may have no connection whatsoever to the movie, but it was the first thing that popped into my head when seeing the scene on the silver screen.

So that type of connection is what I would like us to chat about today.  Let's Chew the Fat! What do you think about my examples, and what other instances in recent films had you excited because of their reference and recognizable nature?  Cheers!

Chew the Fat: Avengers: Infinity War - 1st Impressions!

Martinex1: The biggest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe made its way to the silver screen this weekend and it seems to be a hit all over the world.  Avengers: Infinity War launched in the U.S. in over 4400 theaters, and it seems that millions flocked to the movies as the film is already setting some records and challenging the Star Wars flicks and Black Panther for overall ticket domination.

So what did you think?  Keep it SPOILER FREE - but give us your first impressions of the movie, the acting, the plot, the characters, and the direction.  Rank the film among the rest of the Marvel movies.  Did it live up to your expectations, exceed them, or not quite make the cut?  Do you continue to be impressed with Marvel on the screen, or do you see cracks in the technique?   Picks or pans? Rave reviews or cautious recommendations?  Thumbs up or thumbs down? Does Marvel continue to dominate the superhero genre?   Do the characters stay in sync or stray from source material?  Does Thanos as a villainous cornerstone live up to the hype and years of build up? What characters stole the show? Are you excited for the next steps or simply fatigued? 

And remember - many of us have seen it but definitely others have not - so please keep the spoilers to yourself!  Surely there is much to critique and comment upon without giving away clues and key plot points.  We know that the movie contains just about every Marvel character who had been in a previous film and we know the big-bad is Thanos...but we may not know the specifics and resolution so be cautious. You can tell us if it lived up to your expectations and if characters left their mark and if it was exciting and if you would see it again or save your money!  First impressions start here...

Chew The Fat: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - A Spoiled Discussion

Martinex1: The movie has been out for a full two weekends in the States, so it is time for an unfiltered, unhindered, spoiler-laced discussion of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. Let's talk about everything in the movie including but not limited to the plot, character development, special effects, key story beats, Mantis, Yondu, Ego, baby Groot, humor, villainy, the soundtrack, and the credit scenes,

To get the ball rolling, consider the following queries about this sequel:

Did the movie expand on the first film or just mimic it; did it add to the overall Marvel Universe?

Did the film deliver on the humor and good will that was apparent in the first film?

Were the new characters welcome additions to the group; do you feel you know the characters better now?

Was it repetitive or innovative?  Did it live up to the hype and expectations?

Many other movies imitated the first GOTG film and started to rely on songs of the 70s for their soundtracks; was GOTG Vol 2 successful in its musical decisions?

What did you think about the scenes interspersed in the closing credits?  Are you looking forward to future Marvel escapades?

If there is one criticism of Marvel films, it is that the villains are underdeveloped and one-note - what did you think of the villainy here?

How did the movie reflect the comic book universe?   Do you feel it was faithful to the imaginary universe we grew up with in the Bronze Age?

What would you have liked to see more or less of in the film?

In general was the acting, script, action, dialogue, and plot up to your expectations? How do you rank this compared to other Marvel cinematic offerings?

Share your thoughts, reviews, critiques, and commentary.   And please don't read the comments if you have not seen the movie and want to remain unspoiled.   Cheers!

The Brave Or The Bold: The Micronauts Or The Guardians of the Galaxy?

Martinex1: We are back with our second installment of "The Brave Or The Bold," and we are headed back into space for this face-off.  But this time we have a challenge between two teams forged by Marvel in the 1970s...The Micronauts and The Guardians of the Galaxy!  (Okay, I admit I hedged a little bit as some of the GOTG crowd were first introduced in 1969 by Arnold Drake and Gene Colan, but you get the idea).


The teams though significantly different have some striking similarities.  Both bronze age versions consist primarily of six members; five male characters and one female.  They specifically protect their region - our solar system and the Microverse.  The leader in both teams is an exploring astronaut of sorts who because of outdated technology arrives at their respective destinations 1000 years later than expected and is preceded by more advanced spaceships.  Vance Astro and Commander Arcturus Rann share that tragedy.  Their teammates are denizens of specific worlds with the Guardians the last survivors of our surrounding planet colonies and the Micronauts are from "planets" on their interconnected strand of worlds. 


Readers are treated to the stoic mystic warrior Yondu or the stoic monarch warrior Acroyear.  And there is the fiery headed and spirited Nikki or the fiery and spirited princess Mari.  The Micronauts have a couple of robots Biotron and Microtron (who are probably more akin to the Star Wars droids), and the Guardians have the rather robotic crystalline officer Martinex (very much unlike your author today).The Micros hailed from Spartak, Kaliklak and Homeworld, while the Guardians came from Jupiter, Mercury, and Pluto. 


The Guardians have a limited villain class and their most memorable enemies have been Korvac and the Badoon.  The Micronauts have traipsed into the Marvel landscape but their main antagonist is the megalomaniac Baron Karza.  They sometimes get help from the mysterious Time Travelers, while Vance Astro and the gang rely on the "one who knows," Starhawk.


I believe that Bill Mantlo, the Micronauts comic creator, cobbled together a bunch of influences and inspirations to create the conflicts and characters in those books.  They were based on the toy line after all, and like he did for ROM Mantlo created a complex world and series of threats for the heroes.  I enjoyed these stories immensely.  The Michael Golden art in the early issues was top notch.


The Guardians of the Galaxy has gone through some iterations over the years; the more recent team of Starlord, Groot, Rocket Raccoon, and Gamora made it to the big screen.


I rabidly collected both team's appearances.  Personally I really liked the Bug and Acroyear friendship, but I also enjoyed the mystery of Starhawk and the suit that Vance could never remove. Despite their similarities, I never was distracted by it as I felt both had solid motivations and characterizations with some crazy stories throughout.


There is much to say about these characters and their adventures, so I turn the discussion over to you.  What do you think about these teams?   Do you have a favorite character or storyline?   How do you rate them in the pantheon of Marvel collectives?   Which spacefaring (or inner-spacefaring) group is your favorite?  Did you read and collect their books back in the day?  Do the more modern versions live up to expectations?  And are the original stories unique enough to recommend?   What say you BITBA readers?   Don't be shy ... it is the Brave or the Bold after all.