Posts tagged Marvel

The House of Ideas sold to a Mouse

886 days

by Stoker in Comics (General)

I know that this week was supposed to be dedicated to all things back to school and so I am going to make a loose connection between going back to school and what I have to discuss here. Going back to school is very depressing for youngsters, it is the demise of things that are fun and awesome. Well that is how I feel about the purchase of Marvel by Disney there goes my fun down the drain. I know that Disney might not ruin Marvel and I know that it is unlikely there will be a change in the comics after all a simple look at the relationship DC has with Warner Brothers shows that the comic world has essentially been left alone, but oh how I dislike Disney.

Ever since I was a small child and I found out the way that Disney treated Peggy Lee, for those of you who don’t know, they attempted to short her for royalties from the video release of “Lady and the Tramp”, I have thought that Disney epitomized the evil corporate empire. It is not just Peggy Lee who found Disney was treating them poorly. Many celebrities have claimed ill treatment by the company over the years. Whoopie Goldberg for once sent a tape to a roast of Richard Pryor in which she said, “Working for Disney again, I do feel like a nigger… So I just wanted to say I’m sorry I can’t be there… I’m picking cotton for Disney these days.” (her word not mine). My dislike however goes further since I grew up in Orange County everywhere I turn Disney is jammed down my throat.

My major concern is what will happen to the Marvel films. Will all of the characters I love be Disneyfied? Due in large part to Marvels previous $500 million contract with Paramount for production of films, Disney will not fully get its hooks into Marvel studios until 2013 after the release of “Iron Man 2”, “Thor”, “Captain America” and an “Avengers” film (Disney will however receive the money from these films) but it is only a matter of time ladies and gents when will we start seeing cartoons in which Spiderman and Aladdin team up to take down Jafar and the Kingpin. And What is going to happen to the darker marvel characters like the Punisher and Ghost Rider (granted neither of them have had particularly great films although the one with Thomas Jane was getting close) will they be relegated to firing bean bags and fighting fairies. I can’t even imagine.

The purchase of marvel has actually already had ramifications for the film world of the “Fantastic Four”. While the first two films were marginal at best saved only by the work of Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans (I maintain that the Human Torch should actually be played by Mark Paul Gosselaar) it seems that Fox intends to get everything they can out of their properties before the rights are turned over to Disney forcing through a new Four movie by prepare yourselves Akiva “Batman and Robin” Goldsman. The Horror… The Horror. Next thing we know we are going to see Thing nipples Gah.

All I have to left to say is, thank you powers that be for suck fest 2009.

The Immortal Iron Fist # 27

951 days

by Stoker in Comics (General)

It’s summer time and we all know what that means. No, not rerun season. It’s that time of year when families pack up their stuff for the inevitable family vacation. In the case of the Rand family nothing seems like more summer fun then packing up to trek through the snow covered mountains of China, in search of the mystical city of K’un L’un. Fans of “Iron Fist” are, of course, well versed in the trip that took young Danny Rand out of the city streets of America, and into the mountains, where he would train to become one of the Immortal Weapons. It is through the words of Duane Swierczynski and the art of Travel Foreman and David Lapham that the story of Rand’s transformation from trust fund child into hero really gets the punch it so deserves.

I have always loved martial arts stories ever since I was a little kid. I remember begging my parents to take me to any movie that had martial arts in it. I must have seen “Three Ninjas” about ten times the year that it came out. It always saddened me a bit that “Iron Fist” was somewhat disappointing. Every time that a new “Iron Fist” series came out I would buy the first issue or two and find it just unacceptable, that is until 2007 when Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction took over the writing duties on the character. Finally someone got it, martial arts is about two things, finding internal piece and when the situation calls for it, kicking an inordinate amount of ass (Disclaimer: Only when words fail). With the book handed off to Swierczynski, anything could have happened but he has managed to tap into the same style that brought this comic out of the camp gutter that it had floundered in for so long.

In the newest issue, Danny Rand is in the process of trying to get his life back in order after previously being in a hell dimension for months in the previous arc. Rand comes home to find his business failed, his office full of Hydra members and his girlfriend Misty pregnant (don’t worry the baby is Danny’s).

Danny’s fight for his life against the ever multiplying numbers of Hydra is juxtaposed with the skill full retelling of the events that led to Wendell Rand taking his young son to China. The poor decision making that eventually led to Wendell’s death is used to highlight Danny’s concern over what type of father he will be to his unborn child. It is in the quite moments when this book really shines in particular in this issue, it is the moments between Danny and his best friend and fellow superhero Luke Cage that stand out. Luke puts everything into perspective for our hero by informing him that they are in the most dangerous business in the world, “Changing diapers at 3 A.M.”

The art complements the story incredibly well. Each of the characters is designed to look like something out of old kung fu and exploitation movies. Misty could be Foxy Brown’s daughter. My only real complaint about this book is that sometimes the art can be a bit inconsistent; nine out of ten panels gorgeously rendered and one that looks like it may have been drawn late at night, under the influence of several cups of coffee and a deadline that just can’t be ignored.

For those looking for an escape during those long drives in the family van I fully recommend taking a copy of Iron Fist 27 along for the ride. Just don’t read it while driving.