2015: Star Wars – My Interest Awakens

Less than 24 hours to go until Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and I couldn’t be more excited. I have my ticket for the 7:00 showing, the earliest I could get, and I am counting down the hours, minutes, and parsecs to go. That makes sense, right?

1980: She-Hulk

She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) is one of my favourite heroes in Marvel canon. The cousin of Bruce Banner (The Hulk), she has been a long-standing member of the Avengers and was a temporary replacement for the Thing in the Fantastic Four. Like Daredevil, spends her days fighting the good fight in the court room, and, whenever she can slip away, brings that moral compass into the streets to stop any number of threats to the people, be they the Absorbing Man, Thundra, The Headmen or anyone else.

She was the last character that Stan Lee created for the company until his return in 1992. He only wrote her origin in issue number one, but I found it to be quite lazy. 

1978: Silver Surfer: The Ultimate Cosmic Experience

One of my recent vacation finds, Silver Surfer: The Ultimate Cosmic Experience happened to have come out in the year I left off: 1978. I won’t rehash the details of its discovery, but this find is still worthy of inclusion in the blog. Why? This book is Marvel’s first original graphic novel. It is also the last book that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby collaborated together on.

1974: Iron Fist

As I enter into my second decade of focus I look at another Man Without Fear. While he only wore the Daredevil guise for a fraction of the time that Matt Murdock has, Danny Rand truly embodies, as a hero and as a man, the sense of justice and valour needed to fill that position. He has that because he has been playing the hero game for years as well. As Iron Fist, Danny has been playing a role in the Marvel Universe for a long time. After helming his own series, he was half of the Heroes for hire team, joining Luke Cage/Power Man for 75 issues of his 125 issue run.  We look, today, at Danny’s first appearance, from Marvel Premiere #15. The issue was written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Gil Kane.

1973: Iron Man #55 – Thanos, Drax and Jim Starlin

A couple of years back, I got a text from my friend John asking who Red Hulk was. I told him “Oh, Red Hulk is awesome. He’s General Ross, but Hulked out, so he’s just as powerful, but also a very tactical enemy. He’s a villain to Hulk, but eventually he became an Avenger. I like him a lot.” His response was “Ok, so what was he doing at the end of the Avengers movie?” “RED HULK???? YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS RED HULK???? HE’S NOT EVEN RED, THAT’S THANOS” I then had to tell him all about Thanos. But my friend wasn’t the only one who had no idea who Thanos was. Much like The Guardians of the Galaxy, only comic people knew who he was. The majority of people who saw that mid-credits scene didn’t know what they were watching. I, myself, knew who he was for years, but had only recently read up on his biggest adventures. So if you come with me, I will take you back to his beginning so that we can get to know him a little better.

1966: Silver and Black Super Heroes

Today, I look at the first story arcs of two colourful people from Marvel Comics: Silver Surfer and Black Panther!

Silver Surfer was first featured in Fantastic Four #48-50. Black Panther in issues #52 and #53. Both stories were written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby.

These issues also introduce Wyatt Wingfoot, Galactus and Ulysses Klaw.

FF 48 actually begins with the conclusion of the Inhumans origin, with Silver Surfer appearing half way through the issue.

On their way back from the Himalayas, the Fantastic Four see the sky turn red and fiery.

1965: The Inhumans

Part of Marvel Studios “Phase 3” film slate includes a 2018 film called The Inhumans. You’ve never heard of The Inhumans? That’s fine, you hadn’t heard of The Guardians of the Galaxy either. You probably hadn’t heard of Ultron for that matter either, but you’re all excited for him this summer. Fear not, for I am here to introduce them to you!

Created by the great Stan Lee and Jack Kirby during their legendary Fantastic Four run, these characters first appeared during 1965. 

1964: Daredevil #1

Written by Stan Lee with art by Bill Everett (who also created Namor) this issue takes us through Matt Murdock’s origin and his search for his fathers killer.