Comic Book Resources

Marvel Zombies #4 Second Print cover is a homage to ASM #39.

Alright, I know this is a longshot, but I still think it's too much of a coincidence to not mention:

Green Goblin is PHILIP Urich, Puppet Master is PHILIP Masters, and even though I can only see X-Treme on the X-Men cover, I know that in the book he interacts with PHILIP Summers. Also, the Hobgoblin is Jason PHILIP Macendale.

So even if that's not the answer, that's alot of Phil's.

While the cover is an odd one, Phillip Summers is, in fact, on that cover. He's in Adam-X's arms.

So, in other words, correctamundo, Phillip!

"I think we can all probably agree that Vibe did not exactly work out as a character. However, as an IDEA for a character, I think he is a sound one."

Heh, good one.

Another homage cover: She-Hulk #53 by Tom Morgan http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=93396&zoom=4

New rule: Snark-Free corner cannot mention Teen Iron Man, or show any covers from 90s X-Men. How am I supposed to have my snark blocked if I can't even figure out what the heck is happening on that abomination of an X-Men cover?

And you're on probation with the "Jack Batlin" Daredevil. (I liked the costume, though. The black and red look was actually nice.)

Another character dying to effect changes: Psylocke. Killed off by some unimpressive villain, brought back with all Crimson Dawn shadow ninja teleporting whatsis from the 90s gone without a trace.

I agree on Armando. The Vibe concept is perfectly fine once you take away the break dancing and early 80s fashion sense. And the generic "rebellious punk" persona.

Sticking with the Conglomerate for a minute, I also think that the Echo character deserved to appear more. Her reflection powers were pretty unique and could easily make her a good fit for one of the bigger name teams (just so long as she starts wearing pants with her costume).

As far as Alfred vs Jarvis, I would have to go with Jarvis. Alfred is always offering Bruce some variety of sandwich, which strikes me as being one step ahead of a cup o' noodles in the culinary department.

*ahem* A butler does not cook. A butler runs the home and manages the staff.

Alfred is more of a valet, though he does seem to manage Wayne Manor as well. Since there seems to be no other staff, Alfred would make meals for Master Bruce, but any dinners would be catered. Since Master Bruce tends to eat at his computer, if at all, sandwiches are appropriate.

Jarvis has always been shown to be more of a butler, though he does his share of cooking, and though he does seem to have a staff, he spends an unseemly amount of time with feather dusters and vacuum cleaners. But it has often been mentioned that Jarvis keeps the mansion kitchen stocked with "ethnic" foods to suit his many and varied charges.

But the contest can be decided easily and thusly;

Alfred is English. Jarvis is American.

Jarvis is the better cook.

I'd have to go with Alfred, actually...I'd be hard-pressed to recall Jarvis ever cooking anything, while I've at least seen Alfred whip up a bowl of soup or something.

In an 'Iron Chef' match-up between Batman and Captain America, by the way, Cap would clearly win. Batman would just wolf down the secret ingredient raw and say, "I've got better things to do."

Yeah. I think the effect of Snark Blocker is diluted if lots of the examples are kind of suck.

But the contest can be decided easily and thusly;

Alfred is English. Jarvis is American.

Jarvis is the better cook.

You see I would have said Jarvis was the better cook, but that last comment of yours does sway it towards Alfred

This is one of the few "Cover Theme Game" SFC's where the answer is officially acknowledged by Brian. Moving forward, I would like to see that continue; perhaps Brian could post a comment 24 hours later.

The Busiek/Perez Avengers had a sequence in which Jarvis was seen to cook meals for the entire Avengers, including a massive roast for Thor. If you can manage cuisine for a 1940s patriot, a Norse God, a billionaire industrialist, an Eastern European witch, and a carny, I'd say you're a good cook.

And if that doesn't sell Jarvis, how 'bout the tale in Marvel Knights Double Shot #2 wherein he defeats Loki with a whoopee cushion and steals his wacky yellow helmet to celebrate!

Also, while it's clearly not the answer, all three comics in the cover theme game feature children taken from their fathers, as well as some spectacularly bad parenting moments.

-- Adam X was meant to be a Summers brother whose father didn't know he existed and was raised as a slave of the Shi'ar emperor D'Ken

-- The Jason Macendale Hobgoblin in that issue was following up a Howard Mackie plot about his own biological son hating him (he attacks the stepdad in this very issue.

-- The first Puppet Maser story establishes that Alicia Masters is the villain's stepdaughter, and he nastily reminds her of the "step" part at every opportunity therein. (Oh, how that changed in the 70s when he got an origin story at last!)

@DanCJ

This isn't some sort of "Ugly American" thing. British/English food is by and large some of the most disgusting dreck to ever attack my taste buds.

I'll take a cheesburger over liver and onions anyday of the week.

Jarvis wins. Jones decries it!

The only thing I could tell from the Cover Theme Game was that the X-Men cover was really, really, really awful. I could barely tell what was going on.

Yay the 90s!

Sorry to chime in with the same comment, but wow, that X-Men cover is an absolute mess. I had to stare at it for half a minute before I could figure out what the hell it was even supposed to be. Yecch.

I still don't get the X-Men cover is someone dying in someone's arms?

Some folks question whether the cover was originally going to be a gatefold cover, which would explain the odd positioning. However, what that wouldn't explain is why they would have a gatefold cover for an fill-in issue spotlighting Adam-X the X-Treme.

Theme:

Do Baron Zemo's various "deaths" during the course of Thunderbolts count?

Challenge:

Alfred!

Cover homage:

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man #9

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=301349&zoom=4

Underused Characters:

Somebody should be using the name Vibe, that's for sure.

If I had to throw a dinner party for a large group of people, Jarvis is my man. Midnight snacks? I'd go with Alfred.

Hardline/Reverb needs to become Vibe II posthaste. I liked all of those Conglomerate guys- Praxis was particularly cool

I would have to say Jarvis if only that he has to cater to a large number of people and tastes (African, 1940s American, Californian, what ever the hell they eat in Wundagore which is probably sausage made from the animal men). And sicne everyone and their mother is an avenger at one point or another, this would denote some serious reseach skills and an ability to consantly adapt. Bruce is pretty antisocial so Alfred only has to cook for who? Tim, Dick, Cass, maybe Selina? Plus does anyone actually know what Burce would enjoy eating? I read a prose novella where it stated that Bruce was used to the bland taste of boby building suplaments. Not cannon, but it does make sense. I can't see him being a foodie.

Oh and Superman died for out sins and came back with a mullet.

That's funny, I didn't have any trouble deciphering the X-Men cover. Adam's kneeling in the snow, with one arm under the smoking body's knees and the other under its armpit. The only thing I'm unclear on is why the logo is so stretched out...

Alfred vs. Jarvis is not a fair challenge. Half the time we see Alfred bringing food, Bruce just says, "No time for that" and leaves. Why would Alfred bother? I like to think that Alfred eats very nicely, then just leaves Bruce a Lunchable on the passenger seat of the Batmobile.

I figured the X-Men cover was a Magic Eye picture, and I was missing the sailboat like I always do.

Did Vibe's brother speak with that glorious accent, too? Shame he never met Guy Gardner. They should've called him Hispanic Vibe to complete the awful stereotype.

How about Mr. Miracle "dying" in JLA? I don't know about it changing him, but it allowed for some great insight into his teamates and family.

And forgive me for coming in late, but what exactly is "snark"? Weren't they a lame Smurfs ripoff with trumpet-heads?