tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163141447241149534.post3768184454670667207..comments2024-01-18T09:21:21.157-08:00Comments on Disciples of Boltax: Death’s Head Review: Issue #9 – Clobberin’ Time!Jimtronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18138709079942253485noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163141447241149534.post-88568101336679918822011-10-01T14:17:42.730-07:002011-10-01T14:17:42.730-07:00The Secret Wars II title had certainly featured th...The Secret Wars II title had certainly featured the Fantastic Four from the She Hulk era and actually took the opportunity to give them additional exposure by running the full story arcs that the SWII crossovers literally just set foot in. I seem to recall it was openly acknowledged on the letters page that this was to give UK readers the chance to see some characters who didn't get such great exposure. However I presume it didn't lead to heightened demand for them, as I don't think Marvel launched many new super hero titles in this era.<br /><br />By the time this Death's Head issue came around, SWII had finished over two & a half years earlier so I don't think familiarity with the She-Hulk era line-up could be taken for granted to the point that it could override the classic line-up as the default without an explanation. (The familiarity would also have been boosted by reruns of the 1960s FF cartoon around this time.) Certainly with FF you'd need to give some explanation as to why they're not the most usual four - they're not like the Avengers or the X-Men, let alone the Defenders, with a constantly evolving membership - but the classic line-up is the most fun to write. (And it's also different from Iron Man 2020 who doesn't need that much introduction - he's clearly a relative of Tony Stark who's inherited the mantle in the future.)Tim Roll-Pickeringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12589024696145675963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163141447241149534.post-76783969810203550822011-09-30T09:10:31.516-07:002011-09-30T09:10:31.516-07:00It’s a tricky one to place. It definitely happened...It’s a tricky one to place. It definitely happened before Fantastic Four #338, because that’s their second encounter with Death’s Head and they specifically refer to this meeting. Reed and Sue return in #326, but Thing loses his powers at the same time.<br /><br />I think Tim’s explanation is the best: Ben was wearing his ‘Thing exoskeleton’ the whole time and She-Thing was absent and never mentioned (and also it showed the ‘classic’ Fantastic Four to UK readers).<br /><br />I’d personally place it at the start of the Simmonson run: between the ‘Acts of Vengeance’ story #334-336 and the ‘time stream’ saga of #337-341. In #336, they even have problems with the building’s automated defences, which Reed sort-of references in this storyChufferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03100510579733340261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163141447241149534.post-86443220030334880252011-09-29T07:59:39.306-07:002011-09-29T07:59:39.306-07:00as was mentioned, clearly the use of the original ...as was mentioned, clearly the use of the original four was intentional to make it more accessible for UK readers who may only be familiar with the FF via reprints of the 60's/70's material or the TV show. <br /><br />however this does seem slightly odd. Firstly, Furman (the writer) was possibly just as well known at Marvel UK in the 80's as the editor of Secret Wars 2, a title which featured the Fantastic Four extensively. At that point UK readers would have been more familiar with the She-Hulk, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Mr Fantastic team up, again NO THING.<br /><br />Also, one of the things that always got me to seek out new titles, was when a cross over hinted at some intriguing personal development in the guest star's own title. Referencing (even in one panel) current continuity would have been a great boost to the US import sales at the time (could even have lead to calls from UK readers for a new reprint title...) a definite fumble on Marvel's part (IMO). <br /><br />placing this story in FF continuity is a tricky one. it is clearly before the Steve Englehart[sp] era, but how far before is debatable. <br /><br />it certainly couldn't have been any later as (as was pointed out before) Reed and Sue were absent from the team for a time, and when they returned Ben was rendered powerless until after their NEXT meeting with Deaths head. <br /><br />Since they have the John Byrne designed costume and head quarters, but no mention of She-hulk, I'd say it was safe to say with was just after Byrne left but well before Walt Simonson took over. I'm not sure of the exact issue numbers or dates.Andros Tempesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15121342401533557087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163141447241149534.post-9225423926603358812011-09-29T05:17:11.349-07:002011-09-29T05:17:11.349-07:00I realised after I posted that the simonson era wa...I realised after I posted that the simonson era was long after this and actually features death head in a brief cameo, now as part of the Time Variance Authority. [oops spoilers sweetie]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163141447241149534.post-44726576568530589782011-09-29T03:07:56.539-07:002011-09-29T03:07:56.539-07:00I don't think the Fantastic Four was reprinted...I don't think the Fantastic Four was reprinted much in the UK in this period. The classic line-up was probably used simply for familiarity rather than having to stop and explain all the changes.<br /><br />Or perhaps Ben is in his Thing suit for the duration of the story and Sharon's gone shopping?Tim Roll-Pickeringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12589024696145675963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163141447241149534.post-33512897908868539092011-09-28T05:20:08.304-07:002011-09-28T05:20:08.304-07:00I'd just like to point out that Sunbow never a...I'd just like to point out that Sunbow never animated anything, they were a law firm that acted as intermediary between Marvel and various licensed properties. Marvel was officially the animator and creator of the Transformers TV series (despite Sunbow claiming otherwise). <br /><br />Secondly Senior made a major error in the art for this story, Ben Grim had lost his powers at this point of the US continuity and his position in the FF was taken up by the She-Thing Ms Marvel AKA Sharon Ventura. Presumably this was intended to be set either prior to the formation of the "New Fantastic Four" which did not feature Reed Richards or his Wife, or shortly after the Walt Simmonson run (which was on going at the time of this issues original printing) which concluded with all the original four members reunited. <br /><br />Otherwise it's a what if? universe and the true present day of the Iron-man 2020 universe seen in the next issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163141447241149534.post-17017489396693895192011-09-15T14:47:45.517-07:002011-09-15T14:47:45.517-07:00Interesting that at this time Geoff Senior was dra...Interesting that at this time Geoff Senior was drawing more for crossovers than main titles that he helped define, but I guess it makes sense to use the best available talent wherever new readers are more likely to be drawn in. I sometimes tout the merits of the Action Force crossover by pointing out that since Senior was the only comic artist who could consistently make Transformers look even better than Sunbow's animation, it's worth overlooking Centurion's unexplained sentience just to see his take on some '83-'85 Joes. <br /><br />Likewise, I'll explain to an FF fan that what made him the greatest TF artist is his ability to make robots look solid and blocky but lively and energized at the same time; therefore this issue is worth reading just to see his take on The Thing. Okay, his rendering isn't so spectacularly unique that it stands out THAT much, but to paraphrase a Superman ad, you will believe a man is actually made out of orange rocks. I've seen a lot of books drawn by mainstream U.S. artists who fail to get that across. <br /><br />-BumblevivisectorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com