Comments on: Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #91

By: JD Moore

JD Moore — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:24:25 +0000

Hey Brian,

I just encountered this one and would like to here more:

Did Jim Shooter get the idea for Spider-Man's Black Constume from a fanfiction?

http://www.spideykicksbutt.com/DarkSideoftheSpider/DarkSideoftheSpiderPart1.html

By: Marco_Xavier

Marco_Xavier — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 03:50:54 +0000

Crud... I just looked, and that wasn't the book after all. Maybe a Wizard regular issue? Anyway, some points from memory...

Introducing a new Wildcat, as seen in recent issues of "JSofA," but the original concept wasn't a were-panther so much as a young godling who remained in the single anthropmorphic form.

A focus on the relationship and investigations between Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Diana Prince, and Billy Batson.

Clark would begin having prophetic dreams about the events of Kingdom Come, serving someone in the original's Norman McKay role.

Another being empowered by the wizard Shazam from the days of ancient Egypt was exiled into the far reaches of space by his benefactor. It took millenia, but he's flown back home in our present.

I wish I could remember more...

By: Marco_Xavier

Marco_Xavier — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 03:35:03 +0000

Alex Ross' version of "The Kingdom" was far superior, although one could judge for themselves by picking up Wizard Magazine's "Alex Ross Millennium Edition." There's a lengthy article where he describes his pitch, with many of the concepts popping up since in the DCU (especially JSA.)

By: Jerky

Jerky — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 08:29:38 +0000

I have that horrible glow in the dark issue of Superman. Karl, you were an amazing and witty when it came to writing Superman. Heck, I remembered back when you came aboard to the Superman team at the start of the Reign of thw Supermen storyline. You, and Jurgens, saved that whole death of superman fiasco.
But seriously dude. Superman Red and Blue sucked. And superman contiued sucking harder and harder as the years went by until Jeph Loeb and the rest of the gang jumped up on board and, in a rare moment, saved Superman's ass.

By: yo go re

yo go re — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 03:28:52 +0000

Well one has a monster attacking a man, the others have superheroes fighting monsters.

No they don't - the others have weird people fighting mosters. Superheroes wear costumes, which is why the FF was in street clothes on those first two covers. However, they did wear uniforms (another concession to the limitation: if they're all dressed the same, they're "uniforms," not "costumes) inside the book, and that's the mislead: the covers promise plain monster stories, the interiors have superhero monster stories. It's a small thing, but gave them the legal wiggle room to get the book run under the terms of their existing distribution contract...

By: Juisarian

Juisarian — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 01:15:46 +0000

[blockquote]However, they did not want everyone to KNOW they were publishing a superhero comic yet.[/blockquote]

Seriously?

[blockquote]Not MUCH of a difference, is there?[/blockquote]

Well one has a monster attacking a man, the others have superheroes fighting monsters.

[blockquote]The second is that Marvel just plain olâ€™ wasnâ€™t sure that superheroes would sell, so they decided to hedge their bets by keeping a monster presence on the covers[/blockquote]

That sounds more likely to me.

Did the FF actually fight monsters in those issues? If not then I can see how that would be a case of "false pretenses". I haven't read those comics, someone elaborate please.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:16:15 +0000

Ha, slam! I fixed one thing but forgot to fix the other! Thanks for the pickup!

By: R.Nav

R.Nav — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:04:41 +0000

I totally bounced off the Kingdom, and still say that Magog would be a hell of alot more interesting if he was an identity that Deathstroke became

By: slam

slam — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:55:47 +0000

[quote]COMIC URBAN LEGEND: DC gave Superman new powers to aid them in a legal struggle.

STATUS: True.[/quote]

That should be "False", right?

By: SanctumSanctorumComix

SanctumSanctorumComix — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:41:39 +0000

I'd posit that it's an Urban Legend that Stan Lee has got some ballz, with that bit of hubris on the cover to FF # 3 ("The Greatest Comic Magazine in the World")...
but, both those statements are true (at least at the time).

Stan had some SERIOUS ballz
&
F.F., for the longest time, was indeed the Greatest comic around (with HUGE ThanX to King Kirby)!

~P~
P-TOR

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:14:01 +0000

The first urban legend listed doesnâ€™t refer to the â€˜Supermanâ€™ legend that follows, it refers to the â€˜Fantastic Forceâ€™ truth from last week. I thought it was a joke because itâ€™s vaguely worded, but the â€˜Supermanâ€™ legend is false.

Thanks, Sean! Silly mistake! Corrected now.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:13:35 +0000

Neat, sterg! Maybe I'll mention that in the future.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:10:28 +0000

Iâ€™m pretty sure that the lore is the Goodman found out about the success of DCâ€™s superhero lineâ€“most especially Justice League of America from one of his golfing buddies, who was a muckety-muck at DC.

Yeah, I should have mentioned that that was the most prominent version of that story. I'll go edit that in now. Thanks, Derek!

By: sean

sean — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:37:58 +0000

The first urban legend listed doesn't refer to the 'Superman' legend that follows, it refers to the 'Fantastic Force' truth from last week. I thought it was a joke because it's vaguely worded, but the 'Superman' legend is false.

By: Stressfactor

Stressfactor — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:18:32 +0000

Thanks for clearing up the "Electric Blue" Superman rumor!

By: sterg

sterg — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:52:01 +0000

Here's a link to that Easter egg and a few more that Dial B for Blog collected:

http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/266/

By: Chris G.

Chris G. — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:13:00 +0000

"Alex Ross mentioned that he hid a sex scene in the book somewhere. Not sounding like a complete perve, is this true?"

IIRC, Ross pointed this out in one of the Wizard pieces that went through Kingdom Come page by page pointing out all of the easter eggs and inside jokes. I think it's in a corner of one of the bar scenes.

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:00:22 +0000

Thats the story I recall too Derek. The story is of particular note because transfering such information to a major rival is actually considered a crime.

The information about the Kingdom being the "probable" future is really something. It looks like the people at DC are still going with that idea.

By: Luke

Luke — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:58:53 +0000

I think I am the only comic reader I know who enjoyed the Electric Supes storyline. I thought it was a pretty bold change, even if I knew it wouldn't last forever. And they wen't all out on it, too. I remember even non-traditional merchandise branded with the Electric S logo, including a really nice wristwatch I had my eye on.

Good article, very enjoyable!

By: Derek B. Haas

Derek B. Haas — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:48:09 +0000

I'm pretty sure that the lore is the Goodman found out about the success of DC's superhero line--most especially Justice League of America from one of his golfing buddies, who was a muckety-muck at DC.