EG: Alright, folks, it isn’t that often we revisit a topic, but that is EXACTLY what we are doing today. What earthshaking developments have taken place that drive us to do so?
Wonder Woman.
That’s right, folks. Our pleas, in part have been heard. In the most recent images released from the upcoming TV tragedy of epic proportions, Wonder Woman, the costume has been changed.
I’ll say it again, slowly: The. Costume. Has. Been. Changed.
Thanks to the very comments and concerns expressed right here on this blog, the Steve Austin Book Club has convinced the Dark Forces working on this series to (at least partially) fix the costume.
OG: Huzzah!!! Er, well, that is, Partial Huzzah!!!
EG: I’m sure that some of the other bloggers out there that made some comments had a slight impact on the decision as well, but I’m hereby claiming credit for this advancement in the voice of fandom for this blog. We, OG and EG got this done for you, our people.
You are welcome.
OG: Yes, that’s right! Big shot Hollywood muckety-muck David E. Kelly and those ninnies at NBC have buckled under the mounting pressure from our rarely updated and virtually unknown blog! OUR INFLUENCE CANNOT BE DENIED ANY LONGER!!!
EG: So, let’s take a look at the updated costume!
EG: There she is, determinedly running! First off, let me say, I know it isn’t perfect. The top is still shiny. I still wish they’d gone with a more dull, leather-like top. But, look at the improvements – the pants are darker, and no longer made of vinyl. And the boots! We got the red boots! And not the hooker-heels that the blue boots were! That right there was such a vast improvement I can almost forgive the shortcomings.
OG: Indeed, on the whole, it is a significant improvement. The only reason I wish they had held their ground on the original costume is that we could have seen shots of her running awkwardly in vinyl pants and trying to jump up on cars in stilettos. Certainly the comedy of that would have been delightful!
EG: But, I did mention shortcomings. With the replacement of just the pants material/tone, the costume now seems a bit less cohesive. As much as I didn’t like the shiny elements of the original picture released, the costume had a flow to it. Yes, a cheap Halloween-esque plastic-y flow, but a flow nonetheless. That said, I still think this is better.
OG: ‘Tis a very good point EG. It does look very much disjointed. But, with such a short span of time between the initial release of the original costume image and these new images, I think the changes they made were the only ones they could do on the quick.
On a side-note, as much as I celebrate our victory in getting them to make changes, it is clear evidence that they don’t have a firm creative vision for this show nor the confidence to stick to their guns that such a vision would give them. And, with it being NBC, it feels like Heroes all over again – Changing and modifying their show based on the whims of fandom ultimately results in an even worse product. Does that make any sense?
EG: I get what you are saying, but I think you have to consider that this is *just* a costume modification, and not necessarily an indication of any lack of vision. Frankly, I’m more inclined to believe that they released the images just early enough so that they could make modifications based on fan reaction. If you think of that as an affirmative decision, it becomes less wishy-washy and more tactical.
And, if you are paranoid like me and follow that line of thinking to a darker conclusion, maybe those initial image drops were released *just* to get the fans to react in the way they did, that these changes were always going to come down the line, but now the studio can claim they actually listened to fans…
What? Too much?
OG: Anyway, putting that aside. What else?
EG: Nitpicking, I really do wish they’d gone with the silver on the boots instead of the gold. But, that is such a minor concern, it doesn’t even need to be mentioned. Along that same line, the stars on the pants would stand out more in silver as well.
OG: Hmm, I can see what you’re saying and certainly wouldn’t be opposed to that. But, the gold does fall in line with the iconography of the character, making a revised look to the character still fall within the bounds of what we expect from a Wonder Woman costume.
EG: But, let’s take note of the other aspect of this show we are seeing in these images – Wonder Woman is running. That implies that there is actually going to be action in the TV show! As an occasional viewer of Smallville, I’m used to a superhero show that barely has any action most of the time, and this show, we are already seeing action! I’ll admit, I feared, given David Kelly’s record of doing mostly courtroom dramas, that we’d never get around to any superheroic action scenes, so I’m suddenly filled with cautious optimism for this show.
OG: Well, we probably shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves just yet. This is the Pilot after all which is generally a more action-y affair in this type of show anyway. I don’t recall the Smallville Pilot (I believe the only episode I ever watched) but I gotta think that had some promising action in it as well. Also, running? Really? I mean, isn’t this situation tailor-made for Wonder Woman to show off her lasso skills? Ah, looks like I found another nit to pick. Please, carry on.
EG: Hey, how about a clip from the filming of the show?
OG: Let’s do it!
EG: Yowch! Busted knees are never fun!
OG: I have to say, she looks 1000 times less silly in action then I thought she would. Apparently, this ain’t just gonna be Ally McBeal with tights. That said, the shiny top does look significantly goofier in action than the pants. Despite that, it’s pretty encouraging overall.
EG: It does bolster my pie-eyed optimism. I know it isn’t much, but I did expected so little.
OG: Me too. But, I have to say, though we have no context for this clip, I do get worried in any superhero project where the hero/heroine is chasing some random thug. I like my superheroes to fight dudes that are equal to or even superior to them in ability. Of course, he mounted that last car with a lot more skill then she did (she looked pretty winded, right?), so I should probably reserve judgment there.
EG: Before we finish, let’s take a look at two more images. First, this:
EG: Now, that’s not even right. I know that Adrianne Palicki is more attractive than this bizarre shot lets on. I’m just saying – not an attractive angle.
OG: I’m going to venture to say that Ms. Palicki has probably already lodged a complaint about this angle. Yikes.
EG: And, finally, this image:
EG: I don’t know if this photo was darkened on purpose, or if it was just the particular lighting, but, wow, this image shows the potential for awesome this costume has. The colors in this one are dead on what they should be for the live action, the shine is more easily overlooked, and the flow of the costume is much better. If this is how the costume comes across on-screen, I’ll be thrilled!
OG: And, that’s not counting the wonders (I think this leaves me with 4 or 5 more crappy puns for the year based on the strict new crappy pun policy we put into effect recently) they can do to the color and look in post production enhancement work. So, I’m thinking this aspect of the show will be the least of our worries.
EG: I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m starting to actually look forward to this series. I know the potential for it stinking is huge, but, seriously, the makers listened to geekdom about the costume. They WANT this show to be successful, they WANT to please the fans. How often does that happen, people? I mean, seriously? For that reason, I’m going to watch this show. That’s right – I’m declaring right now that I’m going to watch this show, good or bad!
OG: I’m with you. But, I must reiterate my concerns about how wishy-washy they’ve proved themselves to be already. But, you are right. A certain amount of respect for the fans opinions is healthy and can lead to a better show. No doubt. I just hope that outside of the costume they have a fresh and interesting take on the world of the character and give us something worth tuning into each week. So, I’m going to go ahead and join you in some good old-fashioned “cautious optimism.”
EG: For the changes to this costume, I’m driving my rating four and a half Running Steves. If the red bodice were changed to a duller leather look, I’d make it five in a heartbeat.
OG: I’ll bump from 3 ½ to four. They can certainly still change the top after the pilot is done and I’ll gladly revise upwards should that happen.
EG: Alright, Mr. Kelly and NBC… you’ve got us… can you hold on to us?
EG: Welcome, all, to the All-New “We’re gonna reboot this blog again” Extravaganza here at the Steve Austin Book Club. No lousy excuses here – we (OG and EG, your unreliable hosts here at the SABC) are bad people.
Not serial killer bad or kick-your-puppy bad, but easily-distracted-from-this-blog-and-not-post-anything-new-for-more-than-a-full-calendar-year bad.
Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it?
OG: I actually think our lack of posting is quite beautiful. Think about it – despite our numerous bionic upgrades, we are still deeply human. Just because our blogging abilities are cybernetically enhanced doesn’t mean that we aren’t also imbued with the inherent flaws of Original Sin. Also, we plainly suck.
EG: Anyway, what could POSSIBLY cause us to jump back into this? What event of geekdom would push us over the edge from our regular thoughts of “we really should bring the SABC back” to actually putting butts-to-chair and doing it?
This:
EG: It’s… it’s so… shiny. Uh… yeah.
OG: When my browser first loaded the image I actually heard the squeaking of vinyl before I saw the costume.
EG: In case you didn’t know, David Kelly is making a new Wonder Woman TV show for NBC, and the info that has been leaked about the show, up to this point, has been… underwhelming.
OG: Yes, in defiance of everything that Marvel Studios is doing to create a seamless film universe populated by their great panoply of characters shown in contemporary and dynamic ways, Warner Brothers (not counting the Batman films) is doing it’s level best to meet the demands of the late 90’s with the filmed versions of the heroes of DC!
EG: Now we get this costume. Don’t get me wrong, as a red-blooded American male, there is an… appreciation for this costume, but…
OG: Yes, EG. The gal is truly fetching and she has “wonder”ful attributes that make her a real stand-out in the role! (I hate myself for typing that) And, to really make a statement of who this character is, I see that David E. Kelly made the effort to order a Wonder Woman costume from Target’s expansive collection.
EG: You know, it does look a lot like one of those “Deluxe Sexy Superhero Costumes” that come out for women to slut around in every Halloween.
EG: The bad thing is… the one for Wonder Woman is actually less over-the-top than the new TV show costume.
OG: But, what they both have in common is their complete look of having been bought at a store. But, I’m being too negative here. I mean, I do want to say that I think there are things they’ve done right here. Kind of.
EG: I think I understand what is happening here. This entire thing is the nefarious plot of Jim Lee to get the public to accept, nay, CELEBRATE his redesign of the Wonder Woman costume.
And, you know what, OG? It is working. I almost wish they had gone with this costume for this TV show.
OG: I agree completely. I actually liked his design of the character and feels like it is almost tailor made for live-action. And so, I do applaud the inclusion of some of the elements. From what I understand of the plot for the new series, it is going to be more of a street-level superhero story and to that end, they started in the right direction but apparently felt the need to split the difference by bringing in more of the shiny, dare I say cheesy parts of the iconography.
EG: OG, I know you don’t watch Smallville…
OG: It is one of the few things in life that give me true pride.
EG: …and, really, I only catch about two full episodes a season, but they actually put Lois Lane (Erica Durance) in a Wonder Woman-esque costume that I really liked:
Now, I don’t mean to be snide (actually, yeah, I do), but when Smallville, the show that put Green Arrow in a hoodie –
And Superman in black trench coat –
Manages to come up with a better costume, you know you are in trouble.
OG: Not bad at all! I like the more leather look. Reminds me very much of what Marvel Studios is doing so amazingly right (at least from what I’ve seen) with the Captain America costume. I mean, in some ways Wonder Woman has a lot in common visually with Captain America. They have really in your face, bombastic, brightly colored, symbolically rich costumes that are hard to translate to film. Perhaps this is a good time for you to reach in to EG’s Treasure Trove of Superhero Costume Photo Reference and show us what Captain America looks like when done oh so very wrong…
EG: I only live to serve:
EG: In an effort to be positive, though, let me say that the DESIGN of the costume is actually pretty good. I like that they went with pants… sorta… well, fully-covered legs, anyway. I like that they went with the recognizable and classic bustier. And, while I like the shade of red used in the costume, the blue could stand a little muting, perhaps some darkening… but it is hard to tell from the glare! I think, if they could have de-shine-ified them (yeah, I made that word up), I’d appreciate the entire costume a lot more. The costume really isn’t *that* horrible.
Except the boots. The blue boots do not work. Hey, OG, wanna see this costume become about 90% better?
EG: There. How’s that?
OG: If you were to tie me up in your lasso of truth (please don’t) I would be forced to say that this is amazing! You almost completely fixed it. Mute the colors on the costume and then make it the more leather look we discussed earlier and you’ve got yourself a PERFECT Wonder Woman costume for the screen, which makes me a little hopeful. I mean, lit and photographed correctly, many of the more obnoxious aspects of the costume (brightness & shininess primarily) might be mitigated. Assuming they do that, the only other pitfall they’d need to avoid would be getting someone like the creator of Ally McBeal to run the show. Now that would be a travesty!
EG: Well, we can only hope! Actually… I have to admit, after looking at the costume for a while, and changing the boots, I could really see something like this working. I’d really like the colors toned down to the tones in the Smallville version. Let me take a try at that:
I still hate the shiny, latex-look, but the whole thing is growing on me.
Or, maybe it is just the fact that I’ve been looking at the image of a beautiful woman dressed up in a shiny latex Wonder Woman costume long enough that I don’t really care anymore.
OG: Well, while my first reaction was 100% negative I have to say you’ve kind of won me over here. I’m not hating it. In fact, I’ll go ahead and give this costume 3 fully loaded Running Steve’s.
And, just to go on the record, I’ll go ahead and give the show itself a presumptive ZERO Running Steves. Really predicting “Birds of Prey” levels of craptitude here man.
EG: I’ll second the three Running Steve’s, and I’m gonna say that people will be wishing Birds of Prey was still around to cleanse their palate from this doomed version of Wonder Woman.
NBC, feel free to surprise us and produce an amazing show… but don’t expect us to be holding our breath.
There is a mystery in Geekdom.
DC Direct has been producing some pretty neat action figures in relation to the Blackest Night mega-event that is taking place in the Green Lantern titles (and, soon, the entire DCU… my wallet is already crying).
In the first batch of toys, we were treated to a “mystery figure” in all the promotion:
Soon enough, we learned it was Kal L, Superman of Earth 2 as a Black Lantern:
In the next wave, we had another mystery figure:
Turned out, it was Black Lantern Martian Manhunter:
The next wave included Black Lantern Aquaman, but I don’t think his promo was blacked out. It might have been, but I don’t recall. The wave of figures after that, though, is where the real mystery is.
In that image, we see the Black Lantern Firestorm, but there is another figure blacked out. The solicitation for this wave says:
“This series includes Wonder Woman, who is surprisingly transformed by the happenings of the Blackest Night (Read the comics to learn more!)”
What makes this figure so mysterious is that, unlike the previously blacked-out figures, this one hasn’t been spoiled. Kal L and Martian Manhunter were uncovered within weeks of the initial promo. This figure… it is well over two months now.
Don’t get me wrong, it is nice to NOT be spoiled… but it raises a lot of questions. All of the previous mystery figures were Black Lanterns, does this mean Wonder Woman will be a Black Lantern? But, each wave up until this one only has one Black Lantern, and this wave already has Black Lantern Firestorm.
Which leaves us to wonder (get it? wonder? ha!) if Wonder Woman will be getting a ring, and if so, which one?
A lot of folks are thinking that Wonder Woman will become a Star Sapphire. This is based on an image tucked away in the massive two page spread found in Green Lantern #25:
See it? No? Down in the left hand corner. Still no? Okay, how about blown up a bit:
As far as I can tell, the only thing that people are going by to connect this image and Wonder Woman is the mystery figure:
Looking at the figure, it seems to have the same skirting that is seen in the drawing. And, thus a lot of folks seem to make a massive leap to say that the figure must be that Star Sapphire, and since the solicitation for the figure says it is Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman will be a Star Sapphire!
That… is a pretty flimsy reason to make that leap.
The whole “Power of Love” (man, I love Huey Lewis and the News) thing the Star Sapphires have going on doesn’t mesh with my idea of Wonder Woman. Plus, the ouline of the figure doesn’t really match up with that Star Sapphire costume.
A lot of folks think Wonder Woman may become a Blue Lantern. But, as passive as those Lanterns are, I don’t see that either.
Green seems unlikely. Red? An angry Wonder Woman is a thing to behold, and might work. Yellow is possible, but less likely. Sure, she can inspire fear, but as an ambassador to the world, it seems against her nature. Orange? Nah.
Which leaves Indigo. And, while attaching an Amazon Warrior to the Indigo Tribe seems like a more natural fit, I’m not buying it either.
I’ve never seen Wonder Woman as a mercy killer.
Then what? Well… I propose that the solicit is deceiving. (That’s right, solicit! I’m calling you out!)
After all, Diana Prince isn’t the only woman ever to be Wonder Woman.
Alternate option #1: Wonder Woman of Earth 2
She was seen again back during Infinite Crisis, so maybe she is coming back to take care of the Black Lantern Superman of Earth 2.
Alternate option #2: Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, and Mother of Diana
That’s right – for a time, Diana’s mother served as Wonder Woman. She even traveled back in time and served with the original Justice Society of America. I’m not sure if any of this has been retconned, but it is a possibility.
Alternate Option #3: Artemis
Ah, the 90’s, when superheroines all had gravity-defying hair and broken backs! Yes, Artemis, the grim-and-gritty version of Wonder Woman! She served as Wonder Woman after Queen Hippolyta called for a new contest for the title of Wonder Woman in an effort to protect Diana. Could be her… and, she’s already dead, so she’d be able to slip into a Black Lantern costume pretty easily… which is necessary with that back condition.
Alternate Option #4: Donna Troy
During the year that Diana took off for 52, Donna served as Wonder Woman in this far-superior costume! (Yeah, personal opinion, but, c’mon! That IS a much cooler costume!) Plus, if you are reading the Blackest Night: Titans comic, you’ll know that there is a real possibility here. Plus, she seems to be wearing the correct skirt (or possibly the sword) that is seen in the mystery figure.
Which is why Donna is my odds on favorite for this figure – a Donna Troy as Black Lantern Wonder Woman. Why as Wonder Woman? Well, her other costumes have been generally unremarkable. The Wonder Woman outfit is more distinctive, and should mess with the minds of the other heroes quite a bit, too.
To give an idea of what the figure might look like, I took this image:
And, with a quick, not too detailed mock-up, I came up with this:
I know – not the best, but it gives the idea. I could be completely off base here, but we’ll see!
Howdy all! We here at the Steve Austin Book Club, in an ongoing effort to… well, produce content, really, will be introducing new features over the next little bit! Basically, we are throwing things against the wall, seeing what sticks!
Today, we are happy to introduce the Micro-Hero of the Week! Micro-Heroes are small pixel drawings of pretty much any person or character that you can think of. EG has been making these simple drawings for a while now, so we figured we’d show some of them off.
EG is always open to suggestions for other characters to do, so speak up!
Without further ado, here is the first Micro-Hero of the week, starring in everyone’s favorite major event over at DC – Kal L, Superman of Earth 2, Black Lantern!
Ain’t he a cute little psychotic zombie?
‘allo, ‘allo, ‘allo! And what ‘ave we ‘ere? Why, boil me beef and call me Nigel, it’s another Preview Review!
For those of you not in the know, this is a Preview Review, wherein I find the unlettered preview pages offered online for an upcoming comic (that I really have no intention of buying), and write a review of the issue based entirely on my perceptions of what is going on.
Despite the shortage of unlettered pages being offered for preview (a conspiracy, I maintain, directly against this here blog), I, your humble host have manage to procure some pages from the forthcoming Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1. Wait… #1? Hasn’t this series been going on for a while? I thought it was up to, like, issue 20 or so. Oh, wait… now I get it. New writer, and Marvel decided to cash in by slapping a #1 on the cover. I see right through you, Marvel. Can’t fool me.
Anyway, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane is the heart-wrenching story of Peter Parker, caught in the grip of drug addiction, desperately trying to —
What?
Not about drugs? A teenage girl in love?
Huh. Okay. I could be wrong. Or am I? (Just a note – I probably am.)
As I was saying, today we look at Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, written by Terry Moore, art duties by Craig Rousseau, with a cover by Terry Moore and Adrian Alphona.
Let’s see that cover, shall we?
Oh, wow… its so… symmetrical? Yep. Main subject posted front and center, grass on both sides, a tree on each side, background pretty sterile. Hold on a minute – that lampost is only on one side.
That’s daring.
Moving of from the general composition of the image, we can take note that New York is filled with actual ivory towers, broken up by only the occasional line or square. Most folks that don’t live in New York don’t know that. I can already tell that this comic will be very informative.
And there stands Mary Jane. Young, innocent, completely unaware that in the future, she will make a deal with the devil and completely screw up Spider-Man’s continuity.
Let’s open the book.
Splash page! Alrighty, on this first page, we have… well, it look like M.J. is laying on a big canvas on which someone has pencilled a few faces. And, it also looks like she’s rubbing out some of the images.
You know, that’s irritating. I mean, someone sets up a canvas, pencils in some light drawings to get ready to paint, and along comes Lil’ Miss “Spider-Man-Loves-Me-I-Can-Do-Anything-I-Want,” who decides to just lay down on the canvass.
Anyway, what else is going on here? Well, M.J. has a lot of hair. Don’t get me wrong – very shiny and well maintained (she probably buys some really expensive conditioner), but she could do with a little trim.
I just realized – that hair is probably why she is lying down. The weight of it exhausted her. Now I feel kinda bad for judging her too quickly. Sorry, M.J.
Aw, she has a cute little Spider-Man doll. You know, I can’t decide if it is a good thing or a bad thing that Spidey can give a doll of himself to a girlfriend. I mean, it is neat that those things exist, but it seems a little creepy, maybe a little controlling, for a guy to give a doll of himself to his girl. I mean, you don’t think that Mario Lopez gives out those Slater dolls to girlfriends, do you?
Let’s just go to the next page.
Splash page! This comic is going to be a really quick read if this keeps up. Twenty-two glorious single image pages! Thirty seconds of entertainment for only $2.99! What a deal!
On this page, we get to see that Spidey also has a doll of M.J. I guess that’s okay, kinda like a reciprocal gift of young love. You know, like when you see boyfriends and girlfriends wearing identical shirts… which is actually kinda nauseating. But, they are young and in love and do stupid things like that.
I’m not certain why Spidey is crushing one of his model airplanes, though. Maybe we’ll find out on the next page.
Hold it right there! That M.J. doll is emoting in this first panel! Unless that is one incredibly expensive doll, I’m guessing it isn’t a doll at all. It is Janet Van Dyne, a.k.a., the Wasp! And, she appears to be dressed up in some sort of Mary Jane costume! Oh, no… I don’t like where this is headed.
Panel 2, Spidey looks back at Janet. Say it ain’t so, Spidey!
Then, in the third panel, their eyes meet. I can’t believe you would do this to M.J., Spidey. Have you no shame? Cheating on her, making the Wasp dress up like her… oh, man… this is wrong AND creepy.
The next panel, Janet moves in for the kiss. I can’t watch this. It is just so wrong!
Last panel on the page – a reprieve from the creepy, as someone fires a bazooka at Spidey! He appears to be the same size as the Wasp… which means it must be her husband, Hank Pym, a.k.a., Ant-Man. How will the superhero community survive all of this? Hero against hero? All for what? The creepy desires of Peter Parker. It is just disgusting. Move on to the next page.
Oh… well, that is a startling change of pace. We are now in what appears to be a classroom, where M.J. is blissfully unaware of the two-timing activities of her love. We also learn another previously unknown to most people fact – Mary Jane’s arms. They are gorilla-long.
Seriously, why is she passing that note to the blonde girl to pass to that sulky kid? I’m pretty sure if she fully extended that arm, she could open the window.
And why is she passing a note to the sulky kid, anyway? Oh – maybe it is a friendly note to try to cheer up sulky kid. It really is a nice gesture on her part.
In the following panel, M.J. looks on happily as the blonde girl gives the note to the sulky kid. She is likely thinking on the coming appreciative smile from sulky kid.
By the next panel, M.J. has returned to her studies, and… a wadded up tissue floats in the air near her head? Or is it orbiting her head? I must admit… I’m a bit confused here. Maybe the next panel will explain things a bit.
Nope, no help at all. The wadded up tissue has now crashed into the side of her head, irritating M.J., as well it should. On a quick sidenote – are those walls behind her made of marble? What kinda budget do New York schools have?
Next page, please.
Okay, it is 11:12 p.m. (Thanks for the time update, Craig Rousseau!) In the next panel, we see a tuckered-out M.J., asleep in her clothes among her school books as the TV plays in the background.
Moving down to the next panel – Aghgh! A mysterious hand on the window! M.J. is going to get attacked in her sleep! Quick, move to the next panel!
Uh oh… aw, man… say it ain’t so, Spidey! Seriously? You are a Peeping Tom now? First, giving a doll of yourself to M.J., then having the Wasp dress up as M.J. for your creepy little encounter, and now this? Man, I haven’t been this skeeved-out about a superhero stalker since I watched Superman Returns. Ugh!
In the last two panels, we see Mary Jane, completely oblivious to the invasion of privacy, and then Spidey slips away, fearful of being caught.
Thank goodness that’s over! The entire creepy context of this issue really threw me off. As such, I can only give it 138 stars out of 15,933 stars. I like my Spider-Man less stalker-y and more devoted to M.J.
Here’s to hoping the next Preview Review is less icky!
EG, signing off.
SPOILER WARNING!!!
HEREIN, THIS POST CONTAINS IMAGES AND/OR INFORMATION THAT MAY SPOIL THE FOLLOWING COMICS: CAPTAIN AMERICA 25, CAPTAIN AMERICA 34 THROUGH 40 (WELL, ACTUALLY, JUST THE COVER FOR 40), SECRET INVASION 1, AND AVENGERS/INVADERS 1 (AGAIN, JUST THE COVER). SO, IF YOU DON’T WANNA KNOW, STOP AND TURN BACK.
LAST CHANCE.
DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN YOU.
As most of us are aware, Steve Rogers, Captain America, was killed in March of 2007.
And, shockingly, he stayed that way.
Months passed and there was no Captain America. Oh, there were teases thrown out about the “new” Captain America. Anyone remember these travesties?
But nothing real. In fact, much to the credit of writer Ed Brubaker, there appeared on the newstands and in the comic shops eight issues of the Captain America comic in which there was NO Captain America.
Don’t get me wrong – it was a feat. But, as OG could testify to, I was getting antsy during that time.
See, I’m a big Captain America fan. Loves me some Cap, you know? Well, as good as the comics were, I was growing really tired of buying a Captain America comic and not getting to see the adventures of the Star-Spangled Avenger.
I even contemplated dropping the title and picking it back up when a Captain America finally appeared again.
Through this time, OG held my hand (figuratively), assuring me that Cap would return.
Finally, after 10 months, word came down: Captain America would appear again in issue 34.
Sure, it wasn’t MY Cap, but at least it was Captain America. Shiny, but still, there was much rejoicing for me.
Then it started.
About the same time, it was also announced that Captain America would be returning.
What? Didn’t I already say that?
Yeah, exactly.
This next Captain America WAS my Cap… sorta. Marvel announced the Avengers/Invaders 12 issue series, in which the original Invaders were going to be transported through time to the present day Marvel Universe. Among those Invaders was, of course, Steve Rogers, before he was frozen and thawed out in modern times, before he was time tested, before he was an experienced leader.
Interesting. I was fascinated at the concept, and began looking forward to the series. I don’t know if the new Cap and the time-transported Cap will meet in the series, but I think it would be pretty neat.
So, there I was, happily reading the monthly Captain America book and looking forward to the Avengers/Invaders series… and it happened again.
In Captain America 36, I was shocked (as, I would guess, most people were), when, at the end of the issue, a body is found in a stasis chamber of some sort… and it is the body of Steve Rogers.
And, just for fun, take a look at the cover of 40:
Uh, yeah. I KNOW!
Sure, I can make a bunch of guesses as to who or what this might be… but that’s for another discussion.
Just when I thought I couldn’t be further surprised, though, I read Secret Invasion 1, and near the end of the issue, we are treated to a ship openning up and seeing a familiar face:
So, if you are keeping count, in the main Marvel Universe at the present time, there is not one, two, or even three people claiming the mantle Captain America, but FOUR. Quite a cumulation of Caps, wouldn’t you say?
And that’s not even counting these alternate reality folks running around:
I gotta say, this whole thing is starting to seem very familiar to me. Death of an icon, huge amount of media attention, four coming on the scene with claims to the name… hmm… what does that remind me of…?
Oh, well, I’m sure it’ll come to me eventually.
If this does go the way of that event from the Distinguished Competition, then I’m all for it. It means I’ll get my Captain America back. And, hey, He’s already got a black version of his suit that he can reappear in!
… and this is one:
THE STEVE AUSTIN BOOK CLUB 