Non-stop!!!

Comics non-stop es la locura de imágenes que hay un poco más abajo en forma de Slideshow (entre la primera aparición completa de MJ y el trailer prohibido de Spider-Man)...una presentación con un denominador común: héroes y villanos!!!

Disfrutadla!

Sam

Como dibujar superheroes, por Stan lee y John Buscema

Para todos los lectores de comics que se preguntan si pueden imitar (o al menos parecerse) a los grandes artistas del medio, como Big John Buscema, sus sueños pueden hacerse realidad...mirad que sencillo!!!

Al loro el video!

Sam

Mary Jane y su "figurita"

Dicen que hoy los comics y todos los productos relacionados con ellos atraen a un lector adulto, y no a uno joven, como antiguamente. Esto ha hecho que muchos dibujantes aprovechen la oportunidad para resaltar ciertos atributos en las damas que pueblan los comics, hasta el punto de hacer que Ms. Marvel se vea entorpecida a la hora de luchar por el tamaño de sus...o de su...en fin, que ciertas voces se han hecho eco de esta moda, y criticado que un medio de expresion se vuelva sexista simplemente para calentar la sangre de ciertos lectores/editores/guionistas/dibujantes...

Hasta que vino la figurita de Mary Jane, el personaje secundario casi tan famoso como su heroico marido, Peter "el trepamuros" Parker.



Aunque pueda parecer exagerado, esta figurita de coleccionista en la que MJ parece "descubrir los trapos sucios" de Petey, o asi proclamaba su autor, ha hecho que un movimiento feminista se levante, en queja por lo que asumen es un acto sexista que deja a MJ en un lugar estereotipado, donde aparte de lavar la ropa y hacer la colada, es dibujada como una supermodelo (algo que casualmente ha sido en los comics debido a que siempre, desde Stan Lee, ha representado a la chica sexy, liberada, inalcanzable, alma de la fiesta).
Veamos otras "tomas":





Sin embargo, la historia no acaba con esto, ya que hace un tiempo vi una imagen que supone la "contrapartida", o la otra cara de la moneda, para aquellos que se quejaron y demandaron un trato similar a hombres y mujeres en los comics...ahi va:


Pobre Peter...

Samy

Actualizado!

He actualizado el post de la mitica frase de Mary Jane a Peter, añadiendo la verdadera imagen que dio origen a dicha (mas que celebre) frase, y que se vio en Amazing Spider-Man hace ya muuucho tiempo.

Sam

Los Avengers, por el auténtico George Pérez

Bueno, aquí van algunos dibujos de los Avengers que no fueron publicados, realizados por George Pérez tras su primera etapa en la colección, hace más de 30 años(allá por 1975). Demuestran uno de los rasgos de identidad del dibujante:

¡Cuantos más personajes en un mismo dibujo, mejor!



Increíble...en medio de tanto avenger, con Hulk saltando por encima de todos, George tiene tiempo de poner a un Jarvis sonriente e impasible...

Ahora una en color:



Pronto más...

Sam

Famous comic-book quotes! part 2

More Comics' classic quotes!! This one I think everybody might have heard, at least once, even if they have never read an Amazing Spider-Man comic!

It first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15, on August 1962, where Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created some high-school student that became a super-hero, Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man! The quote appears on the very last panel of the issue, as a heart-broken Spider-Man walks through the streets at night:

With great power comes great responsibility



Sometimes Stan Lee was a genius, yes...

Sam

A Marvel Heroes mix!

Come on, find Wally...or the hero you like the most!


Click on the image to see a larger version.

Sam

Espías en Estoril

Mi novia y yo en el Casino de Estoril (Portugal), posando al más puro estilo James Bond. Ganamos tanto dinero que ya ni me acuerdo!!!


Te quiero, Natalia.

Samy

Nice Avengers' shot

The Avengers from the second half of the 90's: a "modern-day" look for Earth's mightiest.


Yes, yes, Cap is still up front...some things never change (well, though now that the man is suposedly dead, that will be a bit more difficult!).

Sam

Thor vs. Silver Surfer: an instant classic

The asgardian god versus the sky-rider of the spaceways, the former herald of the devourer of worlds, Galactus. Thor vs. Silver Surfer. This is one cover worth looking at every day (the story inside isn't bad at all, either):



I love this (John Buscema) one. And you?

Sam

Orkey's stuff, part 2: Johnny Storm: the human...torch?

You know Stan created the Fantastic Four to compete with DC's growing superhero line. You know he wanted a mixture of realism with golden age archetypes. Thus, he gave us the genius stretchy father figure, the invisible mother figure, the super strong monstrous older brother and the hotheaded not-a-teen-sidekick younger brother.

Aye, history was made when the first issue put the spin in the spinner racks.

But I wasn't there then. Wasn't even born. For me, the Human Torch was Johnny Storm in cartoon form. Yep, the 60's FF cartoon lead me to reading comics and finally years later collecting them. My first FF book had Medusa replacing Sue and Johnny wearing an orange to me costume.


This red costume was Johnny's way to pay homage to the original Human Torch. The who? I didn't know until I bought a King-Sized FF book that reprinted "The Torch That Was". It seems there was an android Torch before there was a human Torch. This hero fell in the Nevada desert and the Mad Thinker got his hands on him and remade him into a foe of our Fantastic Four.

This good Stan and Jack tale concluded with the first Torch dying and the FF placing him on a lab table as his final resting place. A sad ending.

Comics being comics, this was not the android's end. He came back. First, as an Avenger's time travelling foe and later as an Invader. When he was in the pages of the Avengers, Marvel made an error and left the android, Jim Hammond in the present time. Marvel would clear the air later in the letter pages by informing the readers that Jim had returned to his proper time off-panel.

But it was too late. I had high hopes that the original Torch was back in modern Marvel. Why not have two Torches around? Just change Jim's name to the Torch or even Toro, to pay homage to his fallen friend. I then wondered why Stan gave Johnny the powers of another Marvel/Timely hero in the first place?

He could had given Johnny powers swiped from another Golden Age company like he did with Plastic Man for Mr. Fantastic. Here comes the fun. What powers would you give Johnny?

Me? I have a few ideas.

Thanks to Stan's "Origin of Marvel Comics", I knew he like having flying heroes. But these fliers had to have a good reason for flight. Stan did not like how Superman flew. He wanted a reason like how the Human Torch flew because of his lighter than air flames. Later, Thor would fly because of his hammer and Spider-man "flies" due to his webbing. The reason did not have to be scientifically sound- just more realistic than "up, up and away".

So, how about Stan giving Johnny a big set of wings like Hawkman's? Not attached wings, but like the Wasp's. Johnny could cry "Wings on!" and these large wings seem to grow out of his back. Think a combo of Wasp and the Angel.

The youngest member of the Fantastic Four..meet the Angel! Nope. Not right. I think Stan would had wanted a more dramatic power for his first comic than just having wings (we had a simple Invisible Girl; don't need a Hawkman, too). Since we are now treading on mutant ground, what about giving Johnny the powers of Iceman? Fire's frozen opposite is ice. It is dramatic to see Iceman on his ice bridges "flying" across town as he hurls his assortment of ice blasts, ice 'balls' and many other shapes.

Bobby Drake could have had super speed or something for his debut.

Johnny Iceman doesn't work for you? How about Johnny the Human Nova, instead? Let's take a flying man and give him super speed. Perhaps John could hurl energy blasts err..cosmic ray blasts! Must give him a Stan Lee flaw to make him a Marvel hero!. Got it! The Human Nova cannot always fly. He, like our cars and jets, has limited "fuel" in his gas tank, so to speak. Thus, Johnny has to wear a parachute at all times. He never knows when he has exhausted his "fuel".

I just think the Human Torch was Marvel Comic's first cover boy and it was too bad when mentioning him, we have to say "original" or "Jim Hammond". I dislike DC comics for this very reason. The need to specify which Flash, Green Lantern, Robin or Atom I am talking about becomes annoying at times.

What- there are two Hawkeyes now? Check please!

Famous comic-book quotes!

In this new section we'll see some of what I think are the most famous comic-book quotes of all history. The first one, today, is by none other than Mary Jane Watson, from the first time she met Peter Parker, and the first time readers got to see her face, after many issues of seeing part of his body only...that was Stan Lee with his classic humor. Finally, Aunt May's efforts to date Peter with a girl were rewarded!

As an "amazed" Peter Parker stared at her, with his eyes and mouth wide open, MJ said:

Face it, tiger, you just hit the jackpot!

And though the original scene was drawn by none other than John Romita, this piece of art sums the feeling Peter got pretty well...


If you want to see the original, you just have to read Amazing Spider-Man #42 (1966), by Stan Lee and John Romita, where the first full Mary Jane appearance was shown.



See you, tigers!

Sam

Defending girls' movies!

Welcome to a new an exciting article by our guest-writer and guest-reviewer, David a.k.a Orkey! Enjoy!


Weepies. Soap Operas. Romance. Romantic Comedies. Love Stories.

I like a chick flick no matter what you call it. I would rather spend two hours in a dark room looking up at beautiful women than spend the same time looking at Arnold with a machine gun or Bruce with a revolver. But if some guys prefer to watch other men- to each his own.

I won't downgrade that guy. He can pretend he is his favorite action hero and I can pretend I am spending the evening with my favorite starlet. I don't mind action movies at all. Sure, I was push to see "Die Hard" by a friend, but I was just as entertained as everyone else in the theater.

I prefer movies with good characterizations and if the choice is a chick flick or an action movie, I will go with Meg Ryan over Bruce Willis any day. Chick flicks are formulic like action movies and this is the appeal. You know what to expect, just not quite sure how it will be presented.


Epic dramas, human dramas and fantasy/adventures are my favorite type of movies. Musicals and horror are at the other end of the scale. I do like my "Passage to India", but I did see "Beaches" not once.. but twice at the theaters. "Die Hard"? Just that one time. Skipped the sequels.

David a.k.a Orkey

House of M and the Avengers...again.

Remember that resistance band led by Luke Cage on the House of M reality? Well, though that series ended long ago, Marvel has decided that it is a good time to exploit any Avengers-related stuff, so a mini of 5 issues is coming out this November.


For more details, click here:

www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11751

Curious not to see Hawkeye with his HoM uniform but with his "normal" one...

Sam

Orkey remembers

Have you ever mixed a comic with a song? Not even when you were a child? Well, my collaborator Orkey did it, and he wants to share his little story with us:

AM radio, new comics from the shop and the certainty of getting a headache from reading in the car sums up a great childhood day for me. Course, my dog was not enjoying this with me. She had to stay at home, so this almost sums up a perfect day.

I credit my monthly trip to the comic shop for mixing up the Eric Clapton song for me then and now. "After Midnight" will always be "Captain Midnight" to my ears. My lyrics are superior to the ones Eric sings. It takes the innocence of a child to omit the sexual contents for superhero adventure. To exclude a night of passion with one fine lady for a call to action by Capt. Midnight, who will let everything hang out. Meaning, he will capture the bad guys and put everything right.



Being a pop fan, my head never bangs, but rather it gently bobs to the music. Headbanging and reading Giant-Size Avengers in a moving car? I leave the super heroics to the professionals. I am thankful my carsickness means getting a headache and not vomiting.

Course, I looked up Captain Midnight in my Steranko's History of Comic Book, vol. 1 and vol. 2. Was this corny ass figure with a clock striking midnight on his chest emblem interesting? He sure was! Being a child, I was more passive and accepting to odd things than I am as an adult reader. I think the good captain had aviator goggles, too.

Never have read a Capt. Midnight comic book. Always crank up the volume to Eric's song. Always choose to put aside his words and insert my ever changing ones. We have so many rock songs with sexual lyrics as it is. But only ONE song about Captain Midnight settling a drastic situation.

Maybe not we. Just me!

Archie Comics!

If you think we do not know the value of putting the comic back into comic book, just click on the suggested Silver Bullet Comics site. I will wait until you got a chance to do this and return.

See? Most people would had directed you to another damn serious site. Not me!! I direct you to Silver Bullet's Archie page!! Like you still read the adventures of Archie, Jughead..still cannot decide if it is going to be Betty or Veronica.

I want you to recall the time when comic books were pure fun. I dare you to look at any upcoming Archie book cover and not feel the good cheer. I hope you are at work and your co-workers are looking at your screen when you do this. Spread the cheer!

Archie now and forever.

Now this is fun.

Sam & David

Color in comics

It is as key a factor to attract the reader as the plot or the drawing. It sets the tone, changes the mood, can even damage the artist's original drawings, or make them look much better, filling them with life.

Color can turn you down, or make you think that you are looking at a bright piece of art, fresh and three-dimensional. And nowadays, with computer coloring, this old art has changed, because tones can be more subtle and colors can be digitally mixed as the writer imagines it.

I chose one classic example of how colors can make a page grow, be alive. It features two of the first Avengers, it is an scene from Captain America #110 by Steranko. Here it goes:



If you look at the backgrounds, they have different colors like strong red because of the action that was about to explode, blue background because of Captain America, or the green background on the big panel with Cap entering the scene. This green background was clearly chosen because the Hulk was the other character at play here, the force of nature who needed to be stopped.
So one can play a little with colors to give the art a new direction, and in this case it almost resembles a piece of pop art, don't you think?

See? I told you it was important!

Sam

Good storytelling

I just finished reading Cap's last issue. Man, that's good work. Nice art, a plot that moves fast without wasting a single page, a writer that gets inside the minds of the characters and shows the different angles, different approaches, they are taking towards trying to resolve the mystery of Captain America's murder.

Ed Brubaker, as he has been doing since issue #26, right after the "death of Cap issue", divides the issue in chapters, each of them featuring a different character. You can see, however, that their plots are about to collide into one really interesting story.

On the other hand, just last week I read the last New Avengers and Mighty Avengers issues, as a longtime Avengers fan. Well, though a few months ago I was enjoying the New Avengers title after Civil War, now all I see is Marvel giving Bendis "carte blanche" to do anything he wants and what's worse, taking the time/pages he wants.

What I mean is we find that a whole issue is just plain talk and the new team falling from the skies, with only an interesting point (that took two or three pages) at the end.

Here's the difference between two titles that are clearly moving on, setting new stages for Avengers characters (don't forget that the main characters on the Cap title right now are the Falcon, the Black Widow, Tony Stark and Bucky). One goes fast, things happening on each issue and has deep introspection on characters without taking five pages to go to the point, where the other titles (NA and MA) are clearly written for the trade paperback form, in a really slow motion...

Will that change for the best? Knowing Bendis' style and seeing that Marvel's chiefs adore him, I don't think so...

Sam

Sad news: Mike Wieringo passes away

From Newsarama:

The comics industry lost a luminary this weekend - Mike Wieringo passed away Sunday of a sudden heart attack. Details are still sketchy as of this time, but according to close sources, the acclaimed artist had chest pains at some point during the day and called 911, but the responders did not make it in time.

Wieringo was 44 years old. He was a vegetarian, and "one of the healthiest ones of us in the bunch," as his longtime friend and collaborator Todd Dezago described him. Currently, there are no details about services or a funeral.

Wieringo worked every day, updating his blog and website with a constant stream of sketches at MikeWieringo.com. His last sketch was posted on Friday.

Wieringo was born June 24th, 1963 in Venice, Italy, and first caught the attention of comic book fans when he joined writer Mark Waid on DC's The Flash with issue #80 in 1993. Together, the two co-created the character Impulse, the future speedster brought back to the present. Wieringo (or, 'Ringo as he was better known by then) moved on to Robin at DC, and then moved to Marvel, where he settled in on Sensational Spider-Man with writer Todd DeZago.
The pairing with DeZago was something of fate, as the two co-created and launched their creator-owned property Tellos, which saw several projects and miniseries published over the years. Ringo moved back to DC for a run on Adventures of Superman, and then, in 2002, reunited with Waid for a run on Fantastic Four that was perhaps best known for fan outcry when Marvel announced that they were going to replace the team. Marvel quickly reversed their decision, and the two completed their run on the series.

Ringo then moved to Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man with writer Peter David, and most recently, completed a Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four miniseries written by Jeff Parker. His next project had not been announced, although, as readers of his blog knew, he was very excited at the prospect of doing more Tellos work, with an eye on being able to debut something at next month's Baltimore Comic-Con.

The Avengers by John Byrne, part II

Here's another round of beautiful Avengers-related pieces of art by Mr. John Byrne, some of them recreating classic fights, others just headshots...click on the images to get the larger version and enjoy!


The God of Thunder looks mad, so be careful with that hammer!


Headshots of Cap, Iron Man, Wanda and the Vision, four of the most important and significant avengers.


The Avengers from the second half of the 70's against Ultron!


Against Nefaria! Hey, is this a recreation of issue #166? Cause that's one of my favorites!

Ok, so that's it for today...hey, did you notice that way back (20 years ago) Byrne drew that fight against Nefaria?

Sam

A picture of a common comics geek!

Look, that could be me writing my blog, or my fella Orkey writing his stuff...
But no, fortunately for us it is just a funny pic from the Simpsons' owner of a comic book store!

Sam

How to chronicle a war...with Hank Pym's thoughts

Here I found a nice clip which gives a brief recap of the Civil War, first with the narrator's voice and then through a letter from avenger Hank Pym to his ex-wife, Jan a.k.a. the Wasp.

It is funny to see how it took so little time to explain what Marvel needed almost a year to tell us...hehe. No, seriously, watch it, it's short and good.

Sam

Chesterquest: Marvel looking for new talent

Be Professional.
Be Persistent.
Don't be Pestering.
Don't be a Prick.

Remember “The Rule of Four Ps” when submitting to Marvel’s newest talent search initiative, ChesterQuest, officially launched at Comic-Con International in San Diego last month.

Spearheaded by C.B. Cebulski, ChesterQuest was conceived as a talent search for pencilers and painters. According to Cebulski, It is meant for new artists. Anyone who has previously been published by Marvel Comics is ineligible.

So there you go, Marvel seems to be opening its arms and welcoming new talent, and this might be an interesting and valid way of doing so.

Sam

Crossovers...they can have good moments!

Here's a moment that I really think set in motion a series of events very in-character with the two heroes involved.
Two vigilantes that have become important figures in their respective "universes", and that here find that collisions can be solved without fighting first and asking questions later.

These are two characters with a wide view of things, and that Kurt Busiek really understands.

Sam

Fans' reaction to the introduction of the Vision

Yes, here I'm going to post the letters page of Avengers #60, which was about the introduction of a new character on issue #57, just a few months back (an issue that has been reviewed on this blog!). And believe me, they are not what you expect...


Dear Stan, Roy , and John,

I have just finished AVENGERS #57. A Poem?!? (Shelley, wasn't it?) knew you were slanting your stories to the high school and college student (and high school teacher- I showed my biology teacher my Hulk collectionand she's started reading it-does that qualify me as KOF?, but I never expected this. I like it. It's a nice touch. (A word of advice, Keep it on the epilogue so it doesn't break up the action.) I didn't think much of the Vision, but I guess he's going to stay around for a few issues. When you're through with him, kick himm out. So much for the literary criticism. Now for advice. Keep in touch with the times. For instance, let the Black Panther become interested in civil rights. ay, why don't you make him a social worker and let him quit the Avengers? The Avengers should add a few members. I nominate the Hulk, the Black Knight, and the Silver Surfer (or even Spider-man). The Avengers need someone with the sheer power these provide. Finally, please don't bring Ultron-5 back. When a villain is destroyed, he should stay destroyed- otherwise you lose the realism

Kenneth Eng, 390 Gypsy Road
King of Prussia, Pa. 19406


Dear Stan, Roy and John,

Are you trying to hint to us about the Vision becoming the fifth and final Avenger? My fellow Marvelites are hoping you are. If so, it's a great way of displaying him to the other Avengers and to us. . Remember, the named him the Vision! It is ironic that a super-villain created a superhero. Didn't Ultron-5 realize that this synthetic android he created would have emotions? If you ask me, he lost his mind (later his head) in letting an android do his dirty work. Anyway, the Vision would provide the Avengers with the super-power that a team like the Avengers needs. After all, you can't break down every wall. He is one who must be planted firmly as an Avenger (or in his own mag), or else must wander aimlessly as a guest star, (Ouch!) We faithful ones hope you will give the Vision the job he deserves. Forever, Make Mine Marvel.

Robert Maldenhauer, 52 South 20th St.
Kenilworth, N. J. 07033


Dear Stan, Roy and John,

AVENGERS #57... What an ish! What a vision to behold! Simply out-of-sight. Yu just hafta keep the Vision around. He's my kind ofher or villain, as the case may be. But a few questions, even if you won't answer them publicly. Since when does Hank have red hair? Wasn't it blonde a few ishes ago? I was glad to see the Black Widow back in costume, but since he's decided to return to the ranks of superheroes, doesn't the Avenger membership offer still stand? Personally, I would rather see the Black Knight in the Avengers instead, but better yet in his own strip. I wish you hadn't killed Ultron-5. He was worthy foe for any group. This month's MARVEL SUPERHEROES with the Black Knight was superb. I hope he won't stop after destroying the dagger made out of the same star as the ebony blade. The panel on page 19 was the best ever. Please don't restrict the Knight to supernatural stories. I hope you keep your promise and give 3 more strips this year in the Inhumans, Doc Doom and Ka-Zar. If not, I might be able to survive till next year.

Bob Barnett, 2318 44th Ave
San Francisco, Calif 94116

Avengers Assemble letter page from #60

Well, I hope you enjoyed those! Here goes a thanks to collaborator Orkey! As you can see some fans wanted the Vision out! could they be relatives of Bendis or Millar?...who knows!

Sam

The Avengers by John Byrne, part I

Many artists have left their mark on Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Heroines, and each with his unique talent, there is no doubt about that.

One of them has often carried the polemic, more as a writer than as an artist, and that is John Byrne. He usually liked to "do all the work", taking the duties of both writer, artist and sometimes inker.

So, without further ado, here's a peek to some renditions of Byrne concerning our favorite heroes:


The Hulk...and he's angry.



Loki versus the soon to be Avengers on their first encounter...



Against the Space Phantom!

As you can see, Byrne enjoys recreating classic Avengers' moments, like these first battles...hold on, there's more, because here come two of my favorite Avengers of all time:


Vision and Scarlet Witch in all their glory!

Well, there'll be more coming, but for now I leave you with these to enjoy!

Sam

Orkey's stuff, part 1: Avengers #57, the origin of the Vision and...well, go read it!

Yes, this is going to be a different post! Why? Might be more serious than others, but the issue to review demanded this seriousness, to be honest.
So without further introductions, let me give you our first piece of work from our guest analist and guest comics reviewer (who has decided to lend me a hand), David a.k.a Orkey, Avengers #57's review!

"Okay, folks, now that you've learned how the Black Panther got involved with out (sic) Avenging Assemblers, it's time to look in on the dramatic debut of the avengers' most enigmatic member of all. We think the title speaks for itself...
Behold The Vision!"
( Marvel Treasury Edition #7's introduction to the reprint of Avengers #57)

Avengers #57 tells a story about humanity. Roy Thomas and John Buscema shows us a few relationships and how our characters confront them as they change. Each relationship is unique and each is the same. Such richness in material was puddy in the hands of Roy and Big John. Of course, they introduced maybe the last great Silver Age hero, the Vision.

The story opens with our first relationship. What does Jan want and how does she go about getting it? If she was a child, she would had just spoken up. Tell Hank what she wants. Children are little wonders in the way they simply declare "More candy" or "I don't feel like it" or "Why?". Adults tend to forget such direct communications. Jan wants Hank to propose marriage and instead of saying"Let's get married", she is quietly upset when he says nothing except how his research germs need him now. Jan confronts her desire by being angry with Pym for not ..reading her mind?

Their relationship will advance despite Jan weariness of Hank's sense of duty to his research. Love will find a way. For our next relationship, love will find a separate way. Black Widow and Hawkeye are on the fritz. Like with Dr. Pym, the sense of duty rears its head- Hawkeye is clear that Avengering comes first and busy SHIELD agent, Natasha is clear that it has been weeks since they shared a dinner. Something has to give. She knows a change will come when she informs Hawkeye that she will be gone when he returns. Does Hawkeye know "gone" means breaking-up? A confrontation for another story.

T'Challa is gone. The young monarch has left his kingdom to find his purpose in life. He feels his duty to his subjects is not fulfilling him. He wants more. But what does this mean? He has been an Avenger and superheroing is not filling up his emptiness. He is on his way to discovering his purpose in life when he stops a street crime. The innercity neighborhood is buzzing about the famous Avenger saving their day, instead of saving the world from a threat.

The Black Panther will relate to his world, his kingdom and his community differently from now on. Change comes to him, too. He feels he must serve the people, who sometimes are not seen. All these big questions are knocking on each Avenger's door. Purpose in life? How to relate to others? Sense of duty to something greater than themselves?

The Vision does not knock when he makes his intro. He scares the bejesus out of Jan not once, but twice. She cannot believe this strange being has entered her penthouse apartment. And how "it" phases through her locked door. .

The Vision is a babe in the woods. He is a blank state. Well, almost. His only directive is "kill the Avengers". This sense of duty sums up his identity. While the other characters are able to chose duty over love or question what their duty is?, the artificial man is unsure if he even has his own will. Can he make a choice? goes hand in hand with another big question, "Who am I?".

To say the Vision is alienated from his society is putting it mildly. He is alienated from everything life has to offer. Readers should be able to relate with him as he demands answers. He feels Ultron is the one to give them. His only lead is the one he recalls sending him on his deadly mission in the first place. It is a pity that the first relationship Vision recalls is an unhealthy one with his "father". Thankfully, this relationship is like the other characters' because it is in a state of flux. The life of the Vision begins as he finds himself safe among a fellowship of heroes. He starts to grow as a man.

Relationships with the opposite sex, relationships with your community, balancing duty and desire, and relating to yourself are what makes us human. Our relationships are personal and yet very universal. We do share experiences in life.


The Vision...he is very much a human and his tale is a tale of humanity. Of us. This is the last relationship Roy and John showed us- the reader, the writer, the artist .. and the story.

More Classic Avengers' panels! Featuring Cap!

Okay, let's face it, on the poll you decided that Cap was the Avengers' heart while he was with them, so the least I can do is honor that by posting what I consider to be one classic and crucial moment for the Avengers and for Cap.

It takes place in Avengers #4, when they are coming back in their submarine and find something floating in the cold waters...something?

Or maybe someone?



The beginning...

Sam

Classic panels #2: Wasp and Thor!

On the team's first days, the dizzy Wasp was always teasing good old Hank, and with a nordic god on the team, I admit it was an easy task...one that she loved to play! And you know that gods love that mortals worship them, so even to the noblest of asgardians, these compliments were welcomed...

Some writers have taken this fact and twisted it into saying that Henry Pym felt little between the likes of Thor and Iron Man, though first ant-man and later Giant-Man were key to the team's successes.

By the way, this panel is from Avengers #3 (Jan. 1964), just before the team went to Gibraltar to fight Namor and the Hulk!

Sam

Today's review: The Mighty Thor #370

Danville, Texas, 1875. A loser cowboy named Sundance, whose aim with a gun is as good as his card cheating (for his disgrace) is going to be the key player in one of the gods' little games.

This little story is fun, quick and has plenty of that mythical stuff that makes a Thor tale worth reading. It has mystery at every turn, and it is full of wrong choices, second chances and of things that will never change, like the eternal battle between good and evil, between the good god and the trickster...between good trolls and bad trolls...

Nonetheless, there's a lesson on every classic, and today's is that no matter how bad things are for you or how bad you're doing; there comes a time when you've got to take everything you have inside, stop and do the right thing.
Sundance learned this lesson at the proverbial last moment, when Thor was surrounded by evil trolls, buried beneath them, and without his enchanted hammer to fight them with. He managed to get all his bravery together and, after defeating Fagan the troll, managed to hurt Loki and handle Thor the victory, in the form of a golden magic apple. And the trolls surrounded him no longer, for Thor broke free.

Magic apples? Yes, the apples of the goddess Idunn, which gods must eat from every given number of years, so they can preserve their eternal youth and live forever.

Magic apples? Yes, the ones that Loki, god of mischief and Thor's step-brother, stole from the goddess Idunn long ago, so that his accursed brother would go old and die, like any normal human.

Apples? ...yes, the ones that the troll that Loki trusted them with, hid on Earth, after adopting a human form and going to Danville, Texas.

So Loki became old, but finally found the troll and the golden apples...restoring his youth with just one bite!
But a white clothed man on a white horse had another ideas...to save the gods of Asgard from a certain death by bringing back the magic apples.

And here is where we started; Loki getting his due thanks to a brave shot by Sundance, and Thor succeeding in defeating the horde of trolls and going back to Asgard with some very special apples.

So, even the tiniest of men can be key to help the gods live and breath for some more centuries, even if he doesn't understand the scope of his acts.

Sundance started this tale as a kid, but ended it as a man.

Sam

On Saturday: Mighty Thor #370's review! And, coming soon...The Avengers #57, the origin of the Vision, will be reviewed here!

That's right, Here we love comics and as you see, The Avengers! So we are picking what we believe are classic issues to review and enjoy!

Next Avengers' classic reviewed will be the origin of the android Vision, by Roy Thomas and John Buscema!

And thanks again to our guest-reviewer, a man who knows an awful lot about the Avengers and certainly is willing to share!

Stay tuned!

Is the classic, angered and without control Hulk back?

I just thought about this after seeing a preview of World War Hulk (or like my girlfriend says: "Wild Wild Hulk"), the last "event" that Marvel's got on the stands. It features the Hulk beating heroes, basically, or that I've heard.

So, after 12 years of Peter David's great work on the title, developing the sad, tragic creature who Bill Mantlo masterfully had depicted, into a more intelligent and full of great twists (even comedic ones) Hulk...I said, after all this work, Marvel is giving people the same furious rage? Different garbs, ok. I just hope all the work these great authors did on the character isn't left on limbo.

Now, let's compare an scene from Avengers #1, 1963, with another from WWH #2, this very 2007. They're making him angry, and you wouldn't like him when he's angry...ask Iron Man, the Thing or Reed Richards, they seem to know it.

Classic Avengers' panels: Avengers #1

This is the moment where our heroes decide to band together and form a team, after their combined skills and powers had defeated Loki, the asgardian god of mischief.

I will be sharing with you some of the Avengers' most classic moments over the years, and obviously this had to be the first one.

Sam

This week's review is a very special western: The Mighty Thor #370!

To me this comic is a favorite since many years ago. Well, it doesn't really fit into any continuity or anything, so don't start getting mad at me.

Actually, it is a fill-in story (with a fill-in artist, some John Buscema) which happens to be much better and funnier than many other Thor stories.

So pay attention this week, for a godly review is near!

Sam

Hey, fellas, New Feature!!! Comic Reviews! Today: The Avengers #76

Arkon the magnificent, a warlord from a world whose survival depends on Earth's destruction. Wanda, a former witch and avenger without her mutant powers, kidnapped by Arkon to be his queen. Pietro, struck with fear for his sister's fate, rushing to the Avengers asking for help. Oh yes, all this and the creation of an atomic device to end with our planet...here we start our tale.

Once again, Roy Thomas and John Buscema show why they are considered one of the greatest tandems that has worked on the Avengers title over the years. Roy gives us a confident Vision; a technologically advanced T'Challa, able to create a device to break the gap between Arkon's world and the Earth; shows us Pietro's despair, only thinking about his sister's peril, never wondering about Earth's fate. And, although we have the big three at the end of the book, they are not the stars, but just the heavy weight that the team needed to win against Arkon's troops.

Roy used to do this very often. He had his team of Avengers, developing characters such as the Black Panther, Hawkeye (now Goliath), the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and, of course, his own creation, the Vision; but this didn't stop him from bringing back every now and then a very classic Thor or a genius Iron Man, just to provide the key to win the battle and eventually save the Earth.

However, the best part of this story may very well be the "Wanda - Arkon" story...a love story which takes place in the middle of a great crisis for two worlds. A love story where feelings change, and where we see a trembling Wanda almost giving herself to Arkon, realizing that maybe her fate is to become queen of an unknown world, and to marry a barbarian whose heart seems to get softened with her tender, sweet words.
The scene with Wanda holding the unique flower in her hand while reciting a poem that makes Arkon wonder if even the tiniest things can hold the greatest of secrets is wonderful. Roy makes it sweet and very intimate, while Big John shines here, drawing one of his most beautiful Wanda scenes. But, just like in real life, the hard reality comes at the worst moment, when the two of them were about to seal this beautiful moment with a kiss.

With Thor's arrival the team manages to cross the dimensions, taking the two lovers-to-be out of their dream, and awakening in Arkon the worst of barbarians once more, ready to defend his kingdom and crush the invaders, who are already shouting a well known battle cry: Avengers Assemble!

Being almost defeated, his troops down after the Avengers' terrific and thunderous attack, Arkon gets the device which will make the Earth explode with the power of the atom, and give his world light for countless eons, and heads for New York with his "prize", a confused and depowered Wanda Maximoff, who had been fooled by the ruler into thinking that Earth wasn't going to die in order for his world to live.

In the end the "reserve" avengers, Thor and Iron Man, manage to create and power a device which will give light to Arkon's world, therefore not being needed the cataclismic explosion on Earth that Arkon was about to provoke, by throwing the atomic sphere created with the knowledge of Earth's greatest physicians and the technology of Arkon's world.

But is this all? What about Wanda? And Arkon? What about what could have been, but never was?
What about that flower that helped the beauty show so much to the barbarian?

All these questions have one answer: Arkon ended becoming a nobler man thanks to Wanda's sincere words and care, and Wanda saw the best and worst that a man can offer, knowing that tenderness can be everywhere, even in a barbarian's cold heart...or inside a certain android, but that's another story...

Sam

Hola Amiguetes!!

Os acordáis del famoso trailer de Spider-Man con las Torres gemelas?
Como sabréis lo prohibieron, pero aquí lo podéis ver sin pagar un céntimo. Creedme, merece la pena!

Cuidaos!

Avengers United Cartoons!

Yeah, you read correctly! Those cartoons you loved, where the Avengers had futuristic armors and were leaded by none other than Hank Pym, the master of many sizes, as Stan used to call him!

Ant-man! Tigra! Vision! Wanda, a.k.a Scarlet Witch! Simon Williams, a.k.a Wonder Man! Hawkeye the marksman! The Falcon! And the winsome Wasp!

Here they are for you to enjoy!

Special thanks to my good pal David!

This is only the start...

Thanks guys! Gracias, amigos!

Thanks for the comments and the support! I don't know yet what kind of features I will be uploading here, but your ideas (Avengers title's reviews) or Homenaje a los Vengadores sound pretty good!

So, 'til next time, Avengers Assemble!

Sam

Hi

HiHi everybody