Comments on: Everybody’s Somebody’s Baby – Day Ten

By: American Hawkman

American Hawkman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:40:11 +0000

I was one of the ones who suggested this… it’s actually one of my favorite runs of all-time. I still hate that Kaminski had to leave the way he did, and, that he had so much editorial interference. I got the “crankiness” out of the Venom issue and the Omega Red appearance… which, actually, made for some of my favorite moments in IM history, so I thought it was perfectly in-character for Stark. It never really even occurred to me that it was editorially mandated, since it perfectly encapsulated the weirdness of seeing Venom treated as a hero and the mutant frenzy of the 90s.

By: Len Kaminski

Len Kaminski — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:07:47 +0000

Mark D said: (are you listening, Marvel?)

Like, they should start NOW?

Len

By: Len Kaminski

Len Kaminski — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:00:34 +0000

@ Brian:

Brian said: “By the by, itâ€™s been about 15 years, and I still have a problem with Starkâ€™s motivations there in not telling Rhodey – it was FORCED, Kaminski!! FORCED!!!”

Uh, I think the technical term you’re looking for is “contrived”. CRASH AND BURN was “forced”(I’d know, being the one who got forced… there’s a reason the Venom issue is so, well, cranky…).

Either way, I say Stark knew – given their well-known friendship – if Rhodes ACT the role 24/7, other minds, vast, cool and unsympathetic, would notice in a heartbeat. Stark knew he’d be utterly vulnerable while being dead and all, and had to make sure that didn’t happen. Also, he’s a control freak with serious trust issues, and often fails to anticipate other people’s reactions.

He might be just a tiny bit Asperger’s. On the other hand, he might never QUITE have shaken having once been a thoughtless jerk who manufactured Napalm for booze money.

Hell, for all >I< know, he was a Skrull at the time…

Len

By: Bill K

Bill K — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:08:21 +0000

But I agree with your post-Knauf IM:DOS plans!

By: Bill K

Bill K — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:07:13 +0000

Mark D – you’re quoting Rene, not me. This system puts the “signature” above the post’s text

Bill K

By: Mark D.

Mark D. — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:57:16 +0000

“I also was a bit turned off when Iâ€™ve read somewhere that Kaminski had to make Rhodes the star of the book, because he couldnâ€™t quite see a â€œcapitalistâ€ like Tony as a hero. Now, I am as liberal as they come, but that is a bit too much.

Bill K”

I think that was Denny O’Neil who said that, not Kaminski. I loved Len’s run…he and Kev Hopgood really knew what made the book work. He’d be perfect for the book after the Knaufs leave (are you listening, Marvel?)

By: Len Kaminski

Len Kaminski — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:28:41 +0000

@ Rene: Actually, I never said thing one about Tony not being able to be a hero because he was a capitalist. Heck, I’M a capitalist. I suspect that rumor got its start as a misquote of some comments I made in an interview (possibly MARVEL AGE?), in which I made comparisons between Stark and actual billionaire-industrialist-technocrats (such as Bill Gates). My point was twofold: first was that we DON’T often see “real-life” guys in Stark’s position acting in ways we normally associate with the heroic ideal – and that meant there was something special about Stark besides the huge IQ, bank account and gagetry. Something deep and noble, learned from battling his health problems and personal demons. Something that demands he fight the fight personally, rather than do the “sensible” thing and hire a platoon of Iron Men. The other point I was on about – which I tried to address in CRASH AND BURN – is that Stark believes in a business model rooted in altruism over short-term gain, that making a profit is NOT incompatible with doing right – in fact, it may be essential to long-term growth. Which had nothing at all to do with Rhodes tenure as CEO…

By: Len Kaminski

Len Kaminski — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:02:35 +0000

Thanks to all, it’s only Wednesday and my week is made already. You’ve warmed the coccles of my shrivled, cranky heart. Seriously, thanks.

Len

By: Scott Rowland

Scott Rowland — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:53:46 +0000

Rene,

Tony is the star of the book for most of Kaminski’s run. The Crash and Burn storyline is where he most dealt with the business implications. I think he did a good job, too.

By: Grico

Grico — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:43:44 +0000

Hmm, I think the only part of this run I have is the Galactic Storm tie-in. I had to have all those tie-in books for Galactic Storm (I think it might have been the only big multi-book crossover I actually did that for)

By: Bill K

Bill K — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:11:01 +0000

“Good stuff – I canâ€™t believe he got dumped for the crossing and Teen tony.”

Yes, that may have been one of the steepest sudden drops in quality the book ever experienced.

By: Rene

Rene — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:49:36 +0000

Len Kaminski, really?

I never read his Iron Man. Everything else by him that I’ve read I found extremely underwhelming.

I also was a bit turned off when I’ve read somewhere that Kaminski had to make Rhodes the star of the book, because he couldn’t quite see a “capitalist” like Tony as a hero. Now, I am as liberal as they come, but that is a bit too much.

By: buttler

buttler — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:56:24 +0000

Ah, Kaminski, last boy on earth.

By: Scott Rowland

Scott Rowland — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:54:14 +0000

I picked up most of his run as back issues, after being floored by the AA meeting issue. Good stuff – I can’t believe he got dumped for the crossing and Teen tony.

By: sean

sean — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:44:23 +0000

[the question as to whether Thunderstrike counts as a sales boosting guest star is still open, although I know that I bought the issue because I liked T-strike.]

By: sean

sean — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:43:50 +0000

“Didnâ€™t Kaminski do a storyline after 300 where every issue had a different sales-boosting guest star?”

That “Crash and Burn” cover is from that storyline, which I remember featuring Venom, Thunderstrike, and The Hulk, but apparently also included Captain America (at least).

By: Bill Reed

Bill Reed — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:42:18 +0000

Kaminski’s Iron run was the only time I was ever interested in Iron Man. Kaminski wins! It was good stuff.

By: googum

googum — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:53:42 +0000

The Jim Rhodes as CEO/Iron Man issues are still favorites of mine. That, and there’s a bit where longtime Iron Man punching bags Beetle, Blizzard and Whiplash train extra hard, watching their old fight videos and learning what not to do; then still get their collective butt whipped because Jim didn’t fight like Tony did. Fun.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:00:14 +0000

Didn’t Kaminski do a storyline after 300 where every issue had a different sales-boosting guest star?

By: FunkyGreenJerusalem

FunkyGreenJerusalem — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:23:34 +0000

Woo-hoo!

Bring on the Kaminski revival!