Comments on: Comics Should Be Good Top 50 Countdown! - #43

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:11:16 +0000

"The black costume, leading to the creation of Venom, who I would hazard a guess is a more popular comic character than Wonder Woman and Death combined." Um... no. Wonder Woman = Legitimate cultural icon, surpassed only by Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man. Venom = "That guy in the Spider-man movie that wasn't as good as the other two...?" Being popular amongst the limited constiuency of comics readers doesn't really count here, or else Giant Size X-Men #1 would be in that first slot instead of Action Comics, since that (re-)launched the most lucrative franchise in comics. Seriously, go out on a street corner with a picture of each, and if anyone DOESN'T properly identify Wonder Woman it'd be surprising, whereas Venom will get a lot of quizzical looks at best. Or, the best example of notoriety: the "mom test." Your mother knows who Wonder Woman is, but she sure as heck hasn't heard of Venom.

By: buttler

buttler — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:49:47 +0000

Hey, if we're considering toy tie-in comics like Secret Wars, Crystal: Crystal Warrior #8 had a cover image that was later swiped by both Danzig and Samhain.

And Micronauts #8 guest-starred Captain Universe!

By: Rhod

Rhod — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:36:58 +0000

#8 should be Secret Wars surely?
The black costume, leading to the creation of Venom, who I would hazard a guess is a more popular comic character than Wonder Woman and Death combined. (Popular amongst idiots maybe but popular nonetheless)

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:45:11 +0000

Flash is relevant to the conversation, though - just not his first appearance.

#8 should be either All-Star Comics or COIE #8 (death of Barry Allen, symbolic end of the Silver age, one of the most famous covers in comics history, etc.).

All Star Comics takes it in my book, but they're both worthy choices. Sandman is kind of close, but not up against the sheer history at work in those other two.

By: Jeff R.

Jeff R. — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:09:32 +0000

Oops, somehow I gave Flash two first appearances when I did my scan-through of Showcase. But Wonder Woman is also extremely strong competition too...

By: David M

David M — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:41:21 +0000

To be more accurate, I meant to say: Is Showcase #43 the first-ever comic adaptation for a movie?

By: David M

David M — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:37:57 +0000

I like that Bond's hood/mask looks like a giant marshmallow welded to his shoulders.

Also, question for Cronin et al: How come the comic Bond looks nothing like Sean Connery? Considering that the cover promotes Dr. No as a new movie, I wonder why they didn't use Connery's looks to drum up interest in the film. Would Connery not let them use his face or was it a decision by DC or Fleming?

Also: is this the first-ever movie adaptation for a comic? If not, anyone know what is?

By: Jeff Ryan

Jeff Ryan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:32:53 +0000

Crossovers may Promise to have ramifications, but they often don't. Not so in Quasar #43, where the dangling plotlines of two different crossovers intersect! An evil dupe of Marvel Boy (the '50s hero who originally had the Quantum bands) (who was created to fight Quasar in an Infinity Gauntlet crossover) goes into the White Room to officially kill the nullfiied Quasar (who nullified himself in the Infinity War), but gets defeated. Which lets Quasar back into the land of the living again!

Hey, I don't hear cheering that Quasar's resurrected again.

By: David

David — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:21:58 +0000

How did we get this far down the list without a mention of Quasar #43? Have we had a death in the family?

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:47:57 +0000

"I have to agree with whoever mentioned 52 #43 and the death of Osiris. I was just a baby comics nerd at the time, and that issue was the first time a comic panel ever made my jaw drop. Great stuff."

I was quite the opposite: a rabid, out-of-control comics nerd, reading it at the shop I worked at. It still had the same effect. Bond gets the win here, but 52 #43 is an issue that, to this day, I tell people they need to read 52 just for that one scene.

By: buttler

buttler — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:38:28 +0000

The 52 suggestion is intriguing. I was no fan of ~~Young Nastyman~~ ~~Black Adam Jr.~~ Osiris or his death, but hooboy was it memorable. And I say this as a big fan of Arm-Fall-Off Boy. Oh, also . . . I think you mean All Star Comics 8 (first Wonder Woman), rather than Showcase 8. Thok, are you suggesting Wonder Woman's debut is more notable than Captain Cold's? C'mon man, his name is Snart!

By: buttler

buttler — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:18:34 +0000

Interesting -- I was unaware that Bond had ever appeared in comic books. I guess it doesn't surprise me much either way. Dunno how memorable it is, but notable, sure, I guess.

By: Kevin C.

Kevin C. — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:38:41 +0000

I have to agree with whoever mentioned 52 #43 and the death of Osiris. I was just a baby comics nerd at the time, and that issue was the first time a comic panel ever made my jaw drop. Great stuff.

By: Mason King

Mason King — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:56:12 +0000

Perfectly fine pick for #43. Since you brought up #8 ... I can see the fumes coming out of Brian's ears as he chooses between Wonder Woman (All-Star Comics) and Death (Sandman). I strongly suspect Death will sneak in under the "issue everybody remembers" criteria ... "everybody" being those who were reading comics at the time. Just want to throw out there Marvel Mystery Comics #8 â€” the first Sub-Mariner/Human Torch battle. Yes, I've been bookmarking Overstreet ...

By: Benny Ben

Benny Ben — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:53:18 +0000

West Coast Avengers 43 was John Byrne's second issue, and revealed at the end that the Vision had been taken apart and mindwiped, effectively ending the Vision/Scarlet Witch marriage. One could argue that any and all Avengers books since this issue have been dealing with the ramifications of that marriage ending.

It is also the issue where Byrne appeared to postulate that the Vision didn't have a penis.

By: Dan K

Dan K — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:46:40 +0000

Slim pickings indeed. X-Men #43 was the funeral of Professor X. It set the tone for many later super-funerals with the X-Men attending in full costume. Still, the real milestone was Xaviers 'death' in the previous issue.

By: dantecat

dantecat — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:41:34 +0000

Arn Fall Off Boy was good, but Estimate Lad (Boy) takes the prize in my book. In my secret identity I work for an inventory service, so Estimate Lad is too priceless for me NOT to love.

By: DanLarkin

DanLarkin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:31:00 +0000

Except I'm a moron and that was #5. Nevermind.

By: KMFPL

KMFPL — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:30:42 +0000

Arm Fall-Off Boy started as a joke, but ended up being too good to let go of. Don't get the LSH fans started. Remember that Matter-Eater Lad has a major role in LSH history.

And don't get me started on where the upside-down rocket ship came from...

By: DanLarkin

DanLarkin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:29:25 +0000

I've got two words regarding #8, "one punch".