Chew the Fat: Secondary Favorites!

Martinex1: Recently I posted a litany of tweets (over @backinthebronzeage) that highlighted some of my favorite comic book heroes and my musings about their series.  Sub-Mariner, Nick Fury, and Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) have always held a special place in my collecting heart.  There was always something about these secondary characters that captured my imagination.  Their books were inconsistent and never ran as long as the A-list greats' titles, but the characters always leap to mind when I think of my childhood reading.

When people name the great creations of Marvel and DC, I am certain that the stars will lead the lists.  Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Wonder Woman, and Iron Man are always near the top.  But you will also get common top tier listings of Thor, Hulk, Flash, and Green Lantern.

Somewhere way down the runway are the heroes from books that never quite made it as big.  Firestorm, Nova, Black Lightning, Metamorpho, Black Goliath, and Omega the Unknown just never had as big a following. 

Surely some of us had these also-rans as favorites. Surely some of us picked up their books regularly and in our minds their adventures exceeded those of the superstars.  So who were your secondary favorites and why? 

I like Fury and Namor because they were tough, stubborn, and had a no-nonsense approach.  Both were often unlikable and gruff but also tried to do what was right.  Captain Marvel started out as a traitorous spy, but somehow overcame.  I liked those nuances in their character. 

How did these heroes and heroines fit into your collecting profile and what made them shine?

 

The Quarter Bin: $1 Challenge of Marvel Anti-Hero Battles!

Martinex1: The two greatest anti-heroes in the history of comics may be Marvel's incredible Hulk and indomitable Sub-Mariner.

Leaping off of yesterday's conversation, it struck me that the heart and might of the Defenders were two of the most anti-social and confrontational heroes in Marvel's entire pantheon. But just how aggressive were these two?  How often did they rile up their competition, get in the faces of the publisher's more staid heroes, and leap into fisticuffs with the "good guys"?  I sought out to find the various battles in which Namor and the Hulk faced off against Marvel's heroes in misunderstandings (or for that matter righteous understandings). 

Both characters maintained their own books, after sharing a title in Tales to Astonish, and participated in team play with both the Defenders and Avengers.  Namor also starred in The Invaders.  What do they have to be mad about?  It seems like everything!   These two never seemed to enter a debate without leaving bruises behind.  Was it their fault or are Iron Man, Daredevil, Spider-Man and the rest to blame?

I am sure there are more instances than those I identify below, so add your own examples to the list.  But pick four and let us know why  that particular knock-down, drag-out, spectacle is of interest to you.    Today's $1 Challenge is to find the four best Namor and Hulk hero battles in Marvel history.  For today's event we are seeking the best battles, not the most expensive items.  Have a go at it. Cheers!