tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post7427147553814648283..comments2023-08-01T02:14:50.153-07:00Comments on The Comics Detective: Origin of the Origin of the Fantastic Four?Ken Qhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09117873553674453756noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post-65020764751792910102016-01-23T15:08:31.744-08:002016-01-23T15:08:31.744-08:00Hi there BobFrost! I appreciate your thoughts, but...Hi there BobFrost! I appreciate your thoughts, but I mostly disagree:<br />1) Not sure what point you're trying to make in this comment. I'm quite aware of how old Lee was in 1940, but what does that have to do with creating the Fantastic Four 20 years later? And Simon and Kirby were hardly "seasoned pros" at the time. Kirby had started in comic books circa 1938 and Simon in '39. A year or two doesn't make for much seasoning. Common sense.<br />2) Again--not sure what your point is here. I know that Kirby didn't create the Challs totally on his own. But that team is generally acknowledged by comic historians as a direct influence upon the FF, and Kirby undoubtedly had a hand in the creation of both. As for Goodman "turning" to Kirby over Lee--that's just silly. Lee was Goodman's man and in the role of editor, he was also Kirby's boss. Kirby didn't circumvent Lee and deal directly with Goodman. Just sayin'.<br />3) I agree, the trope of radiation-caused change (or mutation) has been used frequently, But not so much in 1940. Even though science of the period was beginning to develop theories of radiation's evolutionary effects (see above note at end of my article) it wasn't a common idea in sf at the time. I'd love to know of some pre-1940 examples if you have them, though.Ken Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09117873553674453756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post-51499917946121728902016-01-22T16:46:12.467-08:002016-01-22T16:46:12.467-08:00A couple of things wrong here:
1. In 1940, Lee wa...A couple of things wrong here: <br />1. In 1940, Lee was a child just out of high school. Simon-Kirby were seasoned pros. When does Lee start really earning a living? Who knows? But when Kirby joins the Marvel team in the early 60s, who is Goodman going to turn to - Lee (who has done nothing) or Kirby (who was a well-known pro by that time). I mean, really. Common sense?? <br />2. Challengers was "a collaboration" between Kirby, Wood, and Jack Shiff (editor). Just sayin.<br />3. The gamma radiation meme in scifi was so common, you could call it a genre (person exposed to radiation turns into...). BobFrosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17594913954583974881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post-60865216116929574292010-04-28T14:55:53.067-07:002010-04-28T14:55:53.067-07:00Stan Lee re-used many plots over the years, Math. ...Stan Lee re-used many plots over the years, Math. While I don't know that particular story you cite, it doesn't surprise me at all. I'll have to check it out sometime.Ken Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09117873553674453756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post-22295730664003590422010-04-28T08:53:07.522-07:002010-04-28T08:53:07.522-07:00Interestingly, I believe that Lee and Kirby had us...Interestingly, I believe that Lee and Kirby had used a similar origin a few months earlier in Strange Tales #84 ("The Wonder of the Ages!!! Magneto!") where the main character gains superpowers when exposed to radiation while in space.Mathemanichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16894834419141895370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post-49176259324076578212010-02-25T14:08:24.499-08:002010-02-25T14:08:24.499-08:00The proximity of both men to this story is what I ...The proximity of both men to this story is what I find interesting, Cyber. If it had been just a random story in a random pulp, I wouldn't have even mentioned it. But it was in a publication both creators were aware of and a latent memory of the story is well within plausibility. <br /><br />And you underestimate my charm and wit. I'd have that jury eating out of my hand. ;-)Ken Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09117873553674453756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post-61454373267689569782010-02-25T10:25:37.828-08:002010-02-25T10:25:37.828-08:00Interesting coincidence. But to suggest that a 20...Interesting coincidence. But to suggest that a 20 year-old minor story specifically influenced 2 men for one story is way too farfetched. No jury would buy that story. Especially with all the other more recent obvious influences.<br />Thanks for bringing the story to light.Tim Strouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593148450096670327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post-72657753726701372232010-02-25T05:02:48.162-08:002010-02-25T05:02:48.162-08:00>>PS: When did the Torch start wearing a pic...>>PS: When did the Torch start wearing a picture of himself on the back of his jersey?!?<<<br /><br />Those are his Human Torch Underoos, available in the Superhero Department of stores everywhere. ;-)Ken Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09117873553674453756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2431199187287315689.post-83636431245113520602010-02-25T04:51:25.872-08:002010-02-25T04:51:25.872-08:00Nifty! Heck, I daresay it's fascinating, even....Nifty! Heck, I daresay it's fascinating, even. Of course, there's <i>so</i> much going on with the FF — the combination of monster comics with a Golden Age superhero redo with the Challengers "dedicated team" concept — but this is a very compellingly possible addition to the mix. Nifty and fascinating...<br />PS: When did the Torch start wearing a picture of himself on the back of his jersey?!?Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.com