Comments on: Comic Book Legends Revealed #200 – Part 2

By: Mary Warner

Mary Warner — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:48:02 +0000

The big question is– Whose idea was it for the Prowler to be Black? That was the innovation. He was only the second or third Black hero at Marvel, and I don’t know if there were any at all at other companies yet.
He was also a more realistic character than T’Challa.

By: DesertSon915

DesertSon915 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:03:35 +0000

How disheartening to see petty jealousy and ugly personal insecurities have reared their heads in this topic.

By: Michael Mayket

Michael Mayket — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:47:32 +0000

Those of you diminishing JRJR’s achievement are technically correct… his dad was the artist on Spider-Man at the time and they did change the costume and give the character a backstory, but at the same time he was 12-13 and probably thought it was a totally awesome achievement exactly like Brian said. We can’t all be Jim Shooter or Cameron Crowe. Most of us have achieved nothing at 12 or 13.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:57:48 +0000

I have to agree that it’s not really that much of an achievement for JRJR. It’s not like 13 years old Johnny walked in from the street with a concept that became a comic book, less alone a reaccuring character. He created a character and his proud dad did what most dads do, showed it to his boss, who said “yeah, this is pretty weak, but I kinda like the name, so let’s create some other character and use it for him”. Sure it’s nice, but nothing that astounding, really.

By: Shane

Shane — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:26:11 +0000

Is it just me or does that that b&w of captain Thunder aka Marvel bear more than a passing resemblance to Tom Tyler, rather than the usual Fred Macmurray look? which would be odd as it was later in 1941 when Tom Tyler played Captain Marvel in the movie serial.

PS Congrats Brian on 200, here’s to 200 more!

By: Bob Modok

Bob Modok — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:40:54 +0000

That’s really awesome and outstanding. Thank you for that. Captain Thunder, or a variation called Captain Thunder and meant to invoke him, also made an appearance in an issue with Superman, I think in an Action. I’ll also say, you’re not kidding about the sales and popularity of Young Romance and Young Love. I can’t believe how many issues I’ve got in my own collection. I’ve always supposed it’s a matter of time until those titles become movies or television series.

By: OM

OM — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:03:44 +0000

…Hey, where’s part 3?

By: John

John — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:16:29 +0000

Congrats again on #200!

I have a little nit-pick, though:
“… that is still an awesome achievement for a 12-13 year old, to see a character you named end up in an issue of Amazing Spider-Man.”

Um, John Sr worked with Stan Lee and Marvel Comics, so I don’t see how this is an “awesome achievement” for his son. It’s not like John Jr (at 13 years old) walked in off the street and submitted an idea for a character.
Wouldn’t this be like you taking your kid’s ideas to your own boss and your boss likes the name, but not the idea? Would it be an awesome achievement if your kid was the one who named the word processing program, “Word”?

By: Master of Run Fu

Master of Run Fu — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:48:04 +0000

“How long are American Fridays?”

They usually start at 5 p.m. Thusday and go until The Simpsons is over on Sunday evening.

By: Apodaca

Apodaca — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:35:54 +0000

It’s funny to hear that the costume was changed to be more unique and interesting, ’cause I’ve always thought the Prowler’s actual costume was extremely generic, right down to the meaningless insignia.

By: yo go re

yo go re — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:18:37 +0000

I don’t think that’s an issue number, but the character’s number in the agency he works for.

James Bond is 007. Dan was 48. Get it?

He gets it – the question is whether or not the choice of such a high number was intended to confuse the issue in an era when #1s were poor sellers and longer-running books were more marketable…

By: Sijo

Sijo — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:34:01 +0000

First, congratulations on reaching #200, may you have lots more columns in the future. : )

Now, a question: WHAT is The Prowler’s chest insignia supposed to be? A shuriken? A stylized bird? Seriously, I’ve always wondered about that.

By: JSayonara

JSayonara — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:17:34 +0000

You should do a feature on the secret origin of John Constantine:Hellblazer, originally thought to originate in the pages of Alan Moore’s Swamp thing turns out he was actually created by Kirby and Simon for the pages of Young Romance!

By: Chris Tolworthy

Chris Tolworthy — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:27:34 +0000

How long are American Fridays?? I’m loving this series, and can’t wait for the next one. But here in Scotland it’s half past nine on Saturday morning and still no sign of the “Friday night” installment. Does the new book sell so well that Cronin has already bought that private island in the Pacific (and has set his clock accordingly)?

By: Blair

Blair — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:02:05 +0000

That ‘Foxhole’ cover is surely one of the greatest of all time!

By: Frank Rook

Frank Rook — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 07:34:04 +0000

That poor bastard on the cover of “In the Foxhole”. He’s one hangnail away from ending up like that guy in Metallica’s “One” video (err, make that the movie “Johnny got his Gun”).

By: Matt Bird

Matt Bird — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:13:33 +0000

You talk as if the association between J. R. Jr. and the Prowler is just idle scuttlebut. Right there on the first page of that issue, SM #78, it says “Thanks to John Romita, Jr. for suggesting the Prowler!” No wonder that he’s “associated with Prowler’s creation”.

By: Michael Mayket

Michael Mayket — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:02:34 +0000

Yay! Part 2! This is the best week EVER!

By: Bill Reed

Bill Reed — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:56:22 +0000

The 200th milestone! Epic! And these have been quite fascinating so far– especially that Captain Marvel stuff. And I’d love a big hardcover of all those super-obscure Simon/Kirby comics.

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:20:55 +0000

“Their debut comic was Detective Dan: Secret Operative No. 48 (I dunno if they were trying to fool people into thinking it was the 48th issue), ”

I don’t think that’s an issue number, but the character’s number in the agency he works for.

James Bond is 007. Dan was 48. Get it?