Panel Discussion: Marvel's Soft Scenes!

Martinex1: Sometimes there are comic book panels that just stick with you; and sometimes these panels have nothing earth-shattering or epic happening. Today I want to explore a few of those types of panels. 

Marvel was quite good at developing subplots in the Bronze Age and often those were character driven arcs around the super-heroes' private lives.  Casts of characters were developed and elaborated upon; often a significant number of pages were dedicated to the non-powered lives of the title characters and their friends and family.  If the pages didn't contain characters in costume or doing anything amazing or spectacular, I dubbed these "soft" scenes. 


When I was very young, an older cousin of mine supplied a large box containing a wide array of comics.   A handful of issues are remembered fondly including Amazing Spider-Man #78 and #84.

These were fantastic episodes from late November 1969 and May 1970 at the dawn of the Bronze Age.  Both were written by Stan Lee with art by John Buscema and Jim Mooney.  The earlier issue was the premiere and origin of the Prowler; the latter issue had Spidey battling wits with the Kingpin and the Schemer.

Even though I remember much of the books' art as it was etched into my mind at that early age through numerous readings, a few pages and panels stick out to me and they have very little to do with he main plot.

I don't know why this page with Gwen and Flash enjoying a cup of joe at the Coffee Bean is memorable, but I really liked it for some reason.   I like the depth of the view (even with the ridiculous Peter Parker plastered against the window) and I like the angle and casual accuracy of the second panel.  Nothing happening here except some romantic misunderstandings ala Three's Company, but I liked the drama even at a young age.

Earlier in the issue, Spidey tried to call Gwen but didn't have any change (obviously because the suit has no pockets).  He notices one slim dime down below the sidewalk grate and retrieves it with his web.  In the middle of the call, a brute bangs on the booth in order to get his turn.  Even though Peter is in costume, the actual scene is rather mundane and kind of a page filler, but I always enjoyed the trivial ways that the hero used his powers and how his down-on-his-luck misery was always part of his characterization.  If you don't read Spanish you can still easily follow along to Buscema and Mooney's work (it was the only example of the page that I could find on the world wide web).

In issue #84, I jump to a simple panel of the Schemer musing about his treacherous self.   It is so silly really.   But what I absolutely adored was that the villain was hanging out in his well-equipped car.   There was actually a snow storm going on and the megalomaniac was buried in a drift just cooling off.   Check out the Buscema gadgets and controls all around him.   I found it both funny and appealing at the same time.

So they may seem trivial - a romantic entanglement, a mundane task gone awry, and a villain chillin', but they all have stuck with me for about 45 years. It was part of what made Marvel (and comic books in general) so real and attractive to me.

Do you have any odd recollections like these?   Are there smaller soft scenes that stick with you?  Am I totally bonkers?   Let us know what you think and thanks in advance for sharing your comments.