Squiddies 2021

The Armchair Squid turns twelve years old today.  It's time to hand out some hardware.  The Squiddy goes to...

Biggest Surprise: Chartreuse

Chartreuse is a liqueur which has been produced by French monks for at least four centuries.  There are two varieties: a sweeter yellow and a more intensely alcoholic green.  The flavor is wild, like psychedelia in a glass.  Different hints are emphasized depending on what it's combined with.  Sometimes anise prevails, other times mint, other times cinnamon, other times... I don't even know what.  It ain't cheap but on the bright side, a little goes a long way.  Without question, it was our most rewarding mixological discovery this year.

Biggest Disappointment: Chadwick Boseman's Passing

Actor Chadwick Boseman passed away last August of complications from colon cancer.  Only 43 years old, he'd already compiled an impressive film resume, having portrayed T'Challa/Black Panther, Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall among others.  May he rest in peace.

Best Read, First Time Category: Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

via Amazon

Yu's novel about the life of "Generic Asian Man" Willis Wu is written in screenplay format.  Willis is an actor - or is he a character? - on a cop show called Black and White.  The leads are a Black man and a White woman.  Willis and all of the other Asians are background characters.  Of course, it's all an elaborate metaphor for the ways race plays out in American society, especially for those of East Asian descent.  While the weaving in and out of "reality" can be a little confusing, that's sort of the point.  Even Chinatown itself is simultaneously the reality and the metaphor for the compartmentalization of Asian culture in the United States.

The time to educate ourselves about race is now.  I can't recommend Interior Chinatown highly enough.

Best Read, Re-Read Category: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling 

via Amazon

The penultimate volume of the Harry Potter series is an intensely emotional experience.  Our young hero confronts both loss and love with greater intensity and immediacy than ever before.  The stage is set for the amazing ending.  Good as it is, the final book suffers a little from pacing issues.  So, Year 6 gets my nod in this category.

Best Comics Find: Frank Miller's Daredevil

Daredevil is a fascinating character, one of Marvel's best.  Industry titan Frank Miller started drawing for the series in May 1979.  Eventually, he would take over writing duties as well.  It was his breakthrough gig.  Miller brought darker sensibilities to the medium, both literally and figuratively.  His style was a fine match for an emotionally remote protagonist and his gritty Hell's Kitchen world.

Athlete of the Year: Willie Mays

via Wikipedia

This summer, I read Willie Mays: The Life, the Legend by James S. Hirsch.  If I'd previously had any doubts about Mays's superiority over all other baseball players in history, Hirsch's book erased them.  Mays turned 90 years old in May.  He's a living national treasure.

Best Family Adventure: Zooming Christmas

This year, COVID circumstances forced (sensible) people to be creative during the holidays.  Thanks to the ingenuity of family and friends, we enjoyed several of what I hope will become new annual traditions.  English Prof hosted a reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens for over 30 people from her home in Massachusetts.  My sister and niece organized Jolabokaflod (explained here) for Christmas Eve including 15 people over six households, three US states (plus DC) and two countries.  My wife inspired an Æbleskiver Breakfast for three of those same households Christmas morning.  We connected with her family later Christmas day - five people, three states in that case.  Even under normal circumstances, coordinating any of those gatherings would have been challenging.  Zoom, for all of the headaches it brings, made it all possible.

Star Wars Comics: Mara Jade #6, Crimson Empire II #4-6

It's time for me to move on from Star Wars comics and back to the Marvel line.  Mind you, I always enjoy my explorations of the galaxy far, far away but, frankly, talking about Marvel is more engaging for my readers.  And that is the whole point of this blogging thing, right?  Anyway, a few parting thoughts...

1999 is a natural jumping off point anyway.  The Phantom Menace was released in May of that year, significantly expanding the narrative possibilities for the comic books for the first time in 16 years.  To that point, I am considerably impressed with how much the comic creators had been able to expand upon three (admittedly extraordinary) films and a smattering of novels.  

Big picture, I think the biggest contribution the Dark Horse comics of the '90s made to the overall franchise was the development of its ancient history.  Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy introduced the holocrons, essentially the Jedi and Sith bibles, in their Dark Empire series.  Then Veitch (and others) went on to explore the material that might be contained within the holocrons in the Tales of the Jedi series, a mythology within the mythology.  While these were not my favorite series from the era, they were certainly the ones with the strongest legacy, perhaps most significantly in the Knights of the Old Republic video game line.  

Dark Horse is also to be commended for the many strong female characters developed during this era - less so for the obligatory tight-fitting costumes of same.

  

Here are my actual favorite series from the pre-Phantom Dark Horse era, along with the most interesting, morally-ambiguous character featured in each:

X-Wing Rogue Squadron - Baron Fel

Crimson Empire I and II - Kir Kanos

Mara Jade - By the Emperor's Hand - naturally, Mara Jade

My Recent Reads

Mara Jade - By the Emperor's Hand #6

Originally published February 3, 1999

Writers: Timothy Zahn and Michael A. Stackpole

Artist: Carlos Ezquerra

In-story Timeline: 4 ABY

via Wookieepedia

Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood #4

February 10, 1999

Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley/Paul Gulacy

11 ABY

via Wookieepedia

Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood #5

March 10, 1999

Richardson and Stradley/Gulacy

via Wookieepedia

Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood #6

April 14, 1999

Richardson and Stradley/Gulacy

via Wookieepedia

Star Wars Comics: Crimson Empire II #1-3, Jedi Academy #2-4, Mara Jade #5

This week, I wrapped up the Jedi Academy: Leviathan series.  While I was hoping for a Hogwarts for Jedi, it's closer to an X-Men equivalent.  The Jedi in training, at least the ones in the story, are all adults.  Luke sends them on a mission as part of their training then worries about them while they're away - clear Charles Xavier stuff.

It's a decent series - light and rather obvious on the dialogue, heavy on the action sequences.  As such, it's certainly a quick read.  It was enough to reignite my interest in Jedi lore.

My Recent Reads

Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood #1

Originally published November 11, 1998

Writer: Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley

Artist: Paul Gulacy

In-story timeline: 11 ABY

via Wookieepedia

Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood #2

December 9, 1998

Richardson and Stradley/Gulacy

Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood #3

January 13, 1999

Richardson and Stradley/Gulacy

via Wookieepedia

Jedi Academy: Leviathan #2

November 18, 1998

Kevin J. Anderson/Dario Carrasco, Jr.

12 ABY

via Wookieepedia

Jedi Academy: Leviathan #3

December 16, 1998

Anderson/Carrasco

via Wookieepedia

Jedi Academy: Leviathan #4

January 27, 1999

Anderson/Carrasco

via Wookieepedia

Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand #5

December 16, 1998

Timothy Zahn and Michael A. Stackpole/Carlos Ezquerra

4 ABY

via Wookieepedia

Star Wars Comics: The Early Adventures #5-7, Dark Lords of the Sith #3-4, Dark Empire II #1-2

These stories are getting fun!  What's cool is that the various series, while written in different decades and set in different millennia, are gradually tying together.  In effect, the Star Wars comic books begin to comprise a world of their own.  I like that.  While the films will always and should always be the primary attraction of the franchise (though The Mandalorian is certainly challenging that assumption), I appreciate it when the supplementary materials are able to hold up well in their own right.  That definitely happened with The Clone Wars and in 1995, it was beginning to happen with the Dark Horse comics.

via Wookieepedia

Cam Kennedy, the artist for Dark Empire, was born in Glasgow.  He broke through while working for the British magazine 2000 AD, particularly their Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper stories.  He has worked on numerous titles for both DC and Marvel, including Batman, Daredevil and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.  He was also the artist for comic adaptations of both Kidnapped and Jeckyll and Hyde.

My Recent Reads

Classic Star Wars: The Early Adventures #5

Originally Published December 13, 1994

Reproduction of a comic strip from 1979

Writer: Russ Manning

Artists: Russ Manning, Brian Snoddy and Rick Hoberg

In-Story Timeline: 1 ABY

• Collects the story Princess Leia, Imperial Servant which originally ran from November 6 - December 31, 1979.
• Leia, in evading Imperial capture, ends up on Phelarion, a Megonite moss harvesting planet.  The operation is run by Thalassa Tarkin, wife of the recently killed Grand Moff Tarkin.  While Leia tries to pass herself off as one of the workers, Thalassa knows who she really is and tries to use her for her own purposes.
• Instead, Leia teams up with Sparv and Bikum Calus, a couple of workers trying to smuggle Megonite moss off the planet for their own material gain.  
• At first, the smugglers don't trust Leia but eventually they all work together.
• In the end, Han Solo shows up in the Falcon to save the day, helping the three escape, evading the Imperials once again.

Classic Star Wars: The Early Adventures #6

January 3, 1995

Reproduction of a comic strip from 1980

Manning/Manny, Snoddy and Hoberg

In-Story Timeline: 0 ABY

via Wookieepedia

• Collects the story The Second Kessel Run which originally ran from January 1 - February 25, 1980.
• It's one of the many iconic Han Solo lines from the original movie: "You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?  It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs."  I am comfortable admitting, I'd never actually given much thought to what Kessel actually was, though I'd always assumed that it had something to do with smuggling.  Turns out it's a planet at one end of an important spice smuggling route.
• It is also the home planet of Professor Renn Volz who invented the Ion Ring, a ship which can dramatically alter a planet's climate.  While Volz intends to use his machine to help people, the Empire, predictably, has a more sinister vision.
• Imperial Captain Bzom boards Volz's ship and kidnaps the inventor's daughter Mira, holding her hostage so the professor will do his bidding.
• Fortunately, Mira is able to escape and stowaway on the Falcon while Han and Chewie, naturally, are in Kessel to begin a spice run.  
• When they pick up Luke en route, Luke discovers Mira.  Obviously, our heroes come to the Volzes' rescue.
• Unfortunately, in order to keep the Ion Ring out of Imperial hands, Professor Volz is forced to destroy it.

Classic Star Wars: The Early Adventures #7

February 14, 1995

Reproduction of a comic strip from 1980

Manning/Manny, Snoddy and Hoberg

In-Story Timeline: 1 ABY

via Wookieepedia

• Collects the story Bring Me the Children which originally ran from February 26 - April 21, 1980.
• Our heroes save a class of children and their teacher from Imperial goons.  One of the children, Berd, escapes and has a special super secret plan for rescuing everyone.
• The story, I have to say, is god awful.  It nearly killed my interest in this series but looking ahead, it looks like the ship will be righted soon.
• Wesley Crusher was not a new concept.  A kid thrown into the action of an adventure tale: a very popular gimmick in the 1980s.  Marvel tried it.  Star Wars tried it.  Transformers did it.  Spielberg made it work with E.T., at least commercially.  Otherwise, it nearly always falters.  Maybe I was just the wrong kid for the idea to take hold.  I didn't want to be the kid.  I wanted to grow up and be the adult.  
• Plus, this particular story edges far too close to Sandy Hook territory for me to be able to see it as a light-hearted romp, especially since the usual Star Wars characters - apart from Chewie - aren't inclined to do anythig to help at first.
• Poor concept executed in poor taste.

Tales of the Jedi - Dark Lords of the Sith #3: Descent to the Dark Side

December 3, 1994

Tom Veitch and Kevin J. Anderson/Chris Gossett

In-Story Timeline: 3,996 BBY

via Wookieepedia

• There are two threads in this issue: the war between the Jedi and the Krath told from the Jedi point of view and Exar Kun's continuing quest for knowledge of the Dark Side.
• Jedi/Krath War:
• The Jedi meet on Deneba to figure out what to do.
• Ulic Qel-Dorma has a controversial idea: a Jedi should infiltrate the Krath and destroy it from within.  He volunteers himself for the job.  While Nomi and Master Arca both object, Ulic decides to go for it.  This idea of destroying the Sith by becoming the Sith is, of course, an essential recurring theme in the broader Star Wars narrative.
• The Krath attack Deneba.  They gain the upper hand in the battle by turning the Jedi's servant droids against their matters, a move perhaps foreshadowing Order 66?
• Master Arca is killed in the battle.
• Exar Kun:
• On Korriban, the Force Ghost of Freedon Nadd leads Exar Kun into the Mausoleum for Vanquished Enemies.  Nadd collapses the cave, crushing Kun, and tells Kun that he can only be saved by accepting the Dark Side - nasty trick!
• Kun accepts.
• Here's where the crossover fun begins.  After giving Kun the chance to experience his new Dark Side powers, Nadd tells him the story of Naga Sadow, a great Sith magician whose followers found refuge on the fourth moon of Yavin.
• Well, the devoted will recall that Yavin 4 was the site of the Rebellion headquarters when they launched their first attack on the Death Star in A New Hope.  
• Star Wars comic book readers in 1994 might also have taken note of a story from the Classic Star Wars series: The Night Beast.  In that tale, our heroes encounter a monster living underneath the ruins which housed the Rebel base.  The creature, strong with the Dark Side, was left behind when the moon's "previous inhabitants" left.  It would seem we're now getting a story about who those inhabitants might have been.
• Nicely done, Mr. Veitch!

Tales of the Jedi - Dark Lords of the Sith #4: Death of a Dark Jedi

January 10, 1995

Veitch and Anderson/Gossett

• Jedi/Krath War:
• While Ulic is preparing to go to the Empress Teta system, both Nomi and Ulic's brother Cay try to talk him out of his plan to infiltrate the Krath.  Ulic is resolved.  Off he goes.
• But not before he and Nomi have a big goodbye smooch.
• Ulic arrives in Cinnegar.  He attends a public execution where several carbonite miners stage an attak on Aleema.  
• Seeking to gain the trust of the Ketos, Ulic joins the fight against the rebel miners.
• Ulic doesn't know it yet but the Ketos have been aware of his presence since he arrived.  They willingly bring him into their confidence, though Satal is clearly jealous of him.
• Exar Kun:
• On Yavin 4, Exar Kun runs into the Massassi, the followers of the late Naga Sadow.  They take him prisoner and brought to the temple to be sacrificed.
• During the ceremony, a great beast is created.
• Taking control of a Sith amulet, Kun uses the Dark Side of the Force to destroy the beast.
• The Massassi accept him as their new leader.
• Kun uses the amulet to finally destroy the Force Ghost of Freedon Nadd, once and for all.
• As he does so, Nadd reaches out to the Ketos to warn them of Kun's ascendence.

Dark Empire II #1: Operation Shadow Hand

December 20, 1994

Veitch/Cam Kennedy

In-Story Timeline: 10 ABY

• The Dark Empire story continues.
• Luke has begun his effort to restore the Jedi Order, beginning with his new friend: Kam Solusar, a reformed Dark Jedi.
• The Empire, led by Executor Sedriss, attacks Balmorra, an independent world which had been the main producer of AT-STs for the Empire.  Now they are rebelling. 
• A big droid battle ensues between Sedriss and the Balmorran Governor Beltane, both sides showing off their latest secret weapons.  The Balmorrans prevail.
• Back at Rebel HQ, Mon Mothma reveals that Beltane has a shipment of his new droids for the Rebels.  Wedge suggests a plan to pick them up.
• Luke suggests the droids be used to liberate more worlds but he is voted down.
• Next, Luke heads to Ossus to find Jedi artifacts, an interesting parallel with the Exar Kun story.
• Meanwhile, through one of his clones, Emperor Palpatine is reborn.  

Dark Empire II #2: Duel on Nar Shaddaa

January 24, 1995

Veitch/Kennedy

via Amazon

• For their part, Leia, Han and Chewbacca head to Nar Shaddaa so Leia can find Vima-Da-Boda, the old Jedi woman who gave Leia a lightsaber the last time they were there.
• With the Vima-Da-Boda character, the Dark Empire saga connects with Tales of the Jedi.  She is the direct descendant of Nomi Sunrider, by way of Nomi's daughter Vima.
• Upon arrival in Nar Shaddaa, it becomes clear the Millennium Falcon and her occupants are all on the most wanted list for both the Empire and the Hutts' bounty hunters.
• Still, our heroes found Vima and bring her with them, surviving an encounter with Boba Fett on their way out of dodge.

Star Trek: The Loss

Episode: "The Loss"

Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season 4, Episode 10

Original Air Date: December 31, 1990

via Memory Alpha

Counselor Troi has lost her empathic powers.  The loss is presumed to be connected to the Enterprise's proximity with a deadly cosmic string and/or a swarm of two-dimensional lifeforms being drawn towards said string.  It's becoming part of the Next Gen narrative formula: our heroes confront two crises at once and thankfully the solution to one proves to be the solution for both.

"The Loss" is a popular choice for worst TNG episode lists but I think the common criticisms are unfair.  Perhaps that balances out all the Q episodes others seem to love a lot more than I do.  I'm not going to say it's a great one.  There are definitely issues.  The secondary narrative is tech-babble heavy, for instance.  But the issues I see are not the complaints I read about among the fandom.  A lot of them accuse Troi of being whiny...

Okay folks, it's time to have a come to Jesus regarding Deanna Troi.  I will concede this much: she is by no means the strongest character in the series.  Nor is Marina Sirtis the strongest actor in the cast.  It takes quite a while for her to look even comfortable in the role.  The same could be said for many of the principals but Sirtis definitely takes the longest.  All of that acknowledged, the character and the actor's struggles reflect deeper problems within Star Trek and science fiction in general.  Folks, it's time to get real about sexism.

30 years after his death, it has been clearly established that Gene Roddenberry was a deeply sexist man and the franchise he created often reflects that.  He had well-known affairs with cast members in the original series, including Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barrett who would, of course, eventually become his wife.  He hired a costume designer in Bill Theiss who unashamedly built his reputation on clothes which, especially for women, looked like they could fall off at any moment.  TNG was better but consider the fact that during the first season, Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar) left because she wasn't getting enough material, Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher) was fired for complaining too much about the sexist stories and Sirtis herself was worried she would be let go.  The fact that those three are all women - indeed, the only three women in the principal cast - is not a coincidence.

Deanna Troi, over seven seasons, was never not a sexualized character.  Naturally, it starts with costuming.  The low cut, tight fitting jump suits are certainly flattering.  Sirtis is a beautiful woman and I would hope she's proud of that but she didn't dress herself.  The costumes send a message: this woman's sex appeal is the most important thing she has to offer the show.  Meaningful character development for her always lags behind most of the others because, it would seem, it's not necessary.  It takes work to bring sensuality or vulnerability to Worf, Data or even Picard.  For Troi, you've just gotta speak softly and show some cleavage.  Who cares if she has any dimension beyond that?

Sexism also runs deep among the fans.  It's gotten better over the years.  Interestingly, Japan has led the way, rather surprising from such an historically chauvinistic culture.  My daughter's generation has grown up with Miyazaki's strong female protagonists and the generally more sophisticated narratives of anime.  As such, the 21st century kids expect more and damn right they should.  But historically, the geek universe is a boys' world and the tolerance for female characters is limited, to put it kindly.  Internet debates over a female Doctor Who, a female James Bond, a Star Wars trilogy with a female lead are ridiculous.  Most of the fanboys (forgive the expression, Tony) are content to see a character like Troi contained within her glass box.  Wait, she's complaining about something?  Never mind the fact that anyone in her situation would be understandably upset for a long time.  She's on the show and she's hot.  Isn't that enough?  Why do I have to listen to her going on about this?

Unfair?  To the geeks, I mean?  I don't think so.  It's all part of a pattern.

Getting back to the episode, I do regret that such a complicated scenario as a sudden disability was so brutally oversimplified for the time constraint - much as Tony Stark was able to kick alcoholism in a single comic book issue.  I get that's a limitation of the medium but, to my broader point, we've seen this with Troi stories before.  In "The Child," she must process rape, unintended pregnancy, reproductive choice, childbirth, motherhood and the loss of her child all within one 42-minute stretch.  That's a lot to ask of a character, never mind an actor.  But we're only going to give this lady one or two featured episodes a season at most so we'd better pack a lot in to each one.

Interestingly, the writers considered making the loss of empathic abilities a permanent part of Troi's character.  Being a geek who fears change myself, I'm glad they didn't but I can't deny it could have been interesting - perhaps even spinoff-series-worthy.

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

Kim Braden plays the role of Ensign Janet Brooks, a patient of Counselor Troi's.  She was born in London to Canadian parents, November 1948.  As she is a natural redhead, it's not exactly surprising to learn that she made her breakthrough as Anne Shirley in two BBC miniseries: Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea.  Now, there's a satisfying female protagonist!

via Anne of Green Gables Wiki

"The Loss" is her first of two Star Trek appearances.  In the 1994 film Generations, she played Elise Picard, Jean-Luc's wife in an alternate reality.  Probably not coincidentally, Braden's husband, David Carson, was the director of that film.

Marvel Immersion Project: Secret Wars #7-12

I'm moving on from Marvel soon.  All of those Star Wars comics on Marvel Unlimited beckon.  Before I go, a quick acknowledgement of the highlights from my tour over the past year+, not necessarily in order of preference:

• The Amazing Spider-Man, always but especially The Deaths of the Stacys
• Frank Miller's Daredevil
• Silver Surfer and Galactus
• Alpha Flight
• Wolverine - certainly the character and especially the original solo series
• The Inhumans, especially Black Bolt
• Howard the Duck
• Man-Thing
• The Beatles' appearance in Strange Tales #130

via Wikipedia

Mike Zeck was the lead artist for most of the Secret Wars series.  He was born September 6, 1949 in Greenville, Pennsylvania.  He attended the Ringling School of Art in Florida - yup, named for that Ringling family.  Most of Zeck's work has been with Marvel but he's dabbled with DC as well.  Apart from Secret Wars, he is best known for his art in Captain America, Master of Kung-Fu, The Punisher and Spider-Man.

My Recent Reads

Secret Wars #7

Originally Published November 10, 1984

Writer: Jim Shooter

Artist: Mike Zeck

via Memory Alpha

• Spider-Woman is introduced.  Marvel has actually had several Spider-Woman characters over the years and this one is the second, alias Julia Carpenter.
• I have to admit, I'm not too impressed by the series at this point.  I'll share crucial details as/if they come up but for now, it's pretty reasonable to sum up once again with...
• The fighting continues. 

Secret Wars #8

December 10, 1984

Shooter/Zeck

via Spider-Man Wiki

• Spider-Man gets his black costume.  This is actually the most important long-term narrative development for the series - yup, a new costume.
• I find myself descending into snark in regards to Secret Wars.  It's not a terrible series.  However, it is lacking in dimension - all style, precious little substance.  Dare I say, it's more like DC than Marvel.
• Gasp!
• Okay, there are a couple of rather interesting storylines running which I have not, to this point, addressed.  Both are important as the series nears its end:
• Thing's powers keep flicking on and off - Ben-Thing-Ben-Thing-etc.  Neither he nor anyone else understands why. (Though we later learn Reed has suspicions - 'cuz he's like that.)
• There is a race of humanoid beings on the planet whom our heroes encounter.  One of them, Zsaji, is a healer and also quite a beautiful woman.  Her healing powers are essential to the story.  So is the love triangle that develops between her, Johnny Storm and Colossus.  At the moment, Colossus is getting the worse end of the deal.
• Something I've realized in this series: Reed Richards, Scott Summers and Captain America are all essentially the same character.  Or at least, they all serve the same basic narrative function within each team.  They all employ the same arrogant approach to leadership, too - Cap least annoyingly, Reed the most.  There are other parallel characters within the teams: Thing-Wolverine (Beast, originally)-Hulk, for instance.

Secret Wars #9

January 10, 1985

Shooter/Zeck

• The fighting continues.

Secret Wars #10

February 10, 1985

Shooter/Zeck

via Marvel Database

• #10 might be the most interesting issue in the series as it includes a detailed Dr. Doom backstory, including the story of his mother, the witch Cynthia Von Doom.
• Galactus, prevented by the heroes from eating Battleworld must consume his own worldship.
• The energy generated by this meal is somehow absorbed by Doom who is now more powerful than ever.
• Doom defeats the Beyonder and, removing his mask (gasp!), declares the Secret Wars over.

Secret Wars #11

March 10, 1985

Shooter/Zeck

• Doom has stolen the powers of the Beyonder and, among other things, the scars on his face have healed.
• The other baddies believe that Doom has betrayed them so, of course...
• The fighting continues.
• Doom assures the good guys that his intentions are benevolent.
• Colossus finally confesses his love to Zsaji and she seems to reciprocate.  Nightcrawler worries about the implications for Colossus's relationship with Kitty Pride (Isn't she like 15 at this point?!!!) back home.
• The heroes vote unanimously that they must still fight to destroy the new more powerful Doom, despite his claim of reform.  Colossus is the final clinching vote.
• The instant the decision is made, there's a blinding explosion and everybody dies!

Secret Wars #12

April 10, 1985

Shooter/Zeck

• Okay, not really, obviously.  As we learned from The Princess Bride, there's a difference between all dead and mostly dead.  Colossus barely survived because he changed to his armored form at the last moment.  He revives Reed who is also merely mostly dead.  Together, they bring back everyone else.  But boy, Doom sure made his point!
• Long story short, the good guys win and everybody gets to go home.  Surprise!
• Molecule Man turns a Denver suburb into a spaceship (long story) and flies all of the baddies home.
• Reed reveals he's had the power to get everyone home all along.  Gee thanks, Glinda.
• Spider-Man makes a ruby slippers joke.  
• Zsaji dies.  For real.  Colossus is heartbroken.
• The Thing decides to stay on Battleworld for a while.  Since our last check in, he's discovered he can switch back and forth between Ben and Thing at will and he wants some time to himself to figure things out.
• She-Hulk takes his place on the Fantastic Four during his sabbatical.
• In a thought bubble, Reed notes his suspicions but decides not to share his theory with Ben.
• Gee thanks, Glinda.

Marvel Immersion Project: Secret Wars #1-6

Secret Wars is often credited as the first comic book "event."  It was a 12-issue limited crossover series pulling together as many heroes and villains as possible from the Marvel universe.  Mattel had bought the license for Marvel-themed merchandise and they wanted a promotional series to coincide with the toy release.  In truth, there isn't much to the story: basically a battle royale between the goodies and the baddies.  And interestingly, the toys didn't sell very well.

However, the comic books themselves flew off of the shelves: the best-selling series in 25 years.  The impact on the industry was huge.  Nearly four decades later, crossovers are still the norm for both Marvel and DC.  Plus, some of the toy innovations in turn became permanent features of the Marvel comic book landscape.

Jim Shooter, lead writer for Secret Wars, was born September 27, 1951 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He has been working professionally in comic books since he was 14 years old.  In 1978, he became Editor-in-Chief for Marvel, a position he still held when he decided he himself was the best choice to write Secret Wars.  

via Valiant Comics Database

While he is given loads of credit for putting the troubled company back on track, Shooter was a control freak and drove a lot of Marvel's best talent - Steve Gerber, John Byrne, Roy Thomas - to DC and elsewhere.  In fact, it was with Secret Wars that the biggest trouble began.  Marvel fired Shooter in 1987.  He went on to become Editor-in-Chief for Valiant Comics.

My Recent Reads

Secret Wars #1

Originally Published May 10, 1984

Writer: Jim Shooter

Artist: Michael Zeck

• A group of good guys - Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four - and a group of bad guys - Dr. Doom, Magneto, Galactus, Doc Ock, etc. - have been plucked from their usual dwellings and dumped on a distant planet, Battleworld.  A mysterious being called the Beyonder has brought them together to fight one another, presumably for his own amusement.
• There are a few new faces - for me, at least in the comics - on both sides.
• Good guys:

via Wikipedia

• Rogue

via Wikipedia

• Lockheed

• Bad guys:

via Wikipedia

• Ultron

via Wikipedia

• Bulldozer

via Wikipedia

• Piledriver

via Wikipedia

• Thunderball (The last three, along with Wrecker, comprise the Wrecking Crew.)

• A few interesting wrinkles:
• The two sides were summoned to separate camps.  Surprisingly, Magneto ended up in the good guy camp.
• Galactus, interstellar behemoth that he is, doesn't take much notice of the others.  He tries to attack the Beyonder (unseen) on his own but fails.  

Secret Wars #2

June 10, 1984

Shooter/Zeck

• Magneto breaks off and finds his a third fortress, essentially creating his own individual faction.
• The fighting continues.

Secret Wars #3

July 10, 1984

Shooter/Zeck

Volcana via Marvel Database

• Titania and Volcana make their first appearances, both on the bad guy side.  Mattel requested some new female characters.
• Magneto captures the Wasp and holds her prisoner in his fortress.  He tries to charm her over to his side.  It appears to work.
• On the good guy side, everyone misses their wives and girlfriends.
• Spider-Man has a tussle with the X-Men.  He suspects them of breaking off to form their own faction.  He's kind of right, though their intentions are good.
• Molecule Man drops a mountain on top of the Avengers.
• The fighting continues.

Secret Wars #4

August 10, 1984

Shooter/Bob Layton

• Haha!  Wasp was just fooling Magneto.  When the X-Men arrive at M's fortress, she turns on him.
• Thanks to Hulk's strength and Iron Man's ingenuity, the Avengers are able to escape from under the mountain which had been dropped upon them.
• Kang dies.  Doom kills him.
• The fighting continues.

Secret Wars #5

September 10, 1984

Shooter/Layton

• Galactus summons his worldship, as big as a solar system.  Apparently, he plans to eat Battleworld.
• Magneto is brought back into the good guy fold.  The X-Men initially bristle under Magneto's orders but Professor X convinces them it's in their best interest to cooperate.
• Dr. Doom finds his way aboard Galactus's ship where he finds the tools he needs to defeat everyone, Galactus and Beyonder included.
• The fighting continues.

Secret Wars #6

October 10, 1984

Shooter/Zeck

• After escaping from Magneto and the X-Men, Wasp finds herself on her own.  She encounters Lizard and the two develop a refreshingly trusting relationship.  Lizard is, after all, a more nuanced character than most of the other baddies.  They both get picked up by The Wrecking Crew, in Wasp's case, after they've knocked her unconscious.
• While on Galactus's ship, Dr. Doom encounters a very woozy Klaw and brings him into the fold.
• Storm and Charles quarrel over who is in charge of the X-Men.  Charles wins.
• Galactus has nearly finished his planet eating machine.
• The fighting continues.

Marvel Immersion Project: Thor #378-382

My Recent Reads

Thor #378

Originally Published April 1, 1987

Writer: Walter Simonson

Artist: Sal Buscema

• The Frost Giants attack Loki's castle.
• Loki realizes his disadvantage and runs away from them, throwing the still unconscious Thor in their way as a shield.
• Loki pleads with Iceman, his captive, to help but Iceman refuses, instead cranking up the cold to further strengthen and draw the attention of the giants.
• Loki falls to the giants but the now revived Thor comes to his rescue, shamed by the mistaken belief that Loki has acted bravely whereas he himself has not.
• Thor defeats the giants, though he feels ashamed by the fact that it was due to the new armor, not his own bravery.  Thor certainly does have a fragile ego!
• After retreating, the giants plot their next attack, planning to target Loki's son, Jormungand.

Thor #379

May 1, 1987

Simonson/S. Buscema

Fin Fang Foom via Marvel Database

• The giants travel to Norway to awaken Jormungand, son of Loki aka the World Serpent and Dragon of Midgard.  Instead, they find Fin Fang Foom (it really is Jormungand in disguise but they don't realize it yet).
• The giants goad FFF into fighting Thor.  The dragon goes to New York to find him.  They meet in the park, though FFF doesn't recognize Thor.
• The two reveal their true selves (Jormungand in a beautiful full-page panel) and the battle begins.

Thor #380

June 1, 1987

Writer and Artist: Walter Simonson

via Wikipedia

• Visually, the issue is stunning, each page but the last a single, full-page panel. 
• Storywise, it's pretty simple:
• Thor and Jorgungand battle.
• After their final, brilliant clash, Jorgungand is dead and Thor's armor lies empty.

Thor #381

July 1, 1987

Simonson/S. Buscema

• The frost giants discover Thor's armor.  He's still in there, but reduced to jelly.  They beat up on him for a while.

via Wikipedia

• But Loki summons the Destroyer who starts beating up on Thor, only to realize he isn't fighting back.  Impressed, he tries to absorb Thor's undying spirit.  Thor's spirit fights but Destroyer prevails.
• Destroyer puts on all of Thor's gear and even picks up Mjolnir.  He teleports away.
• Featured: the Avengers, including some new team personnel.

via Wikipedia

• Black Knight

via Marvel Database

• Doctor Druid

via Wikipedia

• Hawkeye

via Marvel Database

• Mockingbird

via Marvel Database

• Wonder Man

via Wikipedia

• Meanwhile, Utgard-Loki (based on Útgarða-Loki of Norse mythology) is planning to lead the giants in an attack on Asgard.

Thor #382

August 1, 1987

Simonson/S. Buscema

• Walter Simonson's last issue.
• The Destroyer, now in Thor garb, arrives in Hel and starts, well, destroying everything.
• Hela summons Thor and restores him, intending to kill him to stop Destroyer - death works in mysterious ways.
• The jokes on her.  As Thor returns, he triumphs and Hela lifts her curse over him.
• Thor then returns to Asgard and defeats the giants, though he lets Utgard-Loki go when he promises to lift Loki's curse over Asgard. 
• All is back to normal, just in time to pass the story on to the new creators.

Marvel Immersion Project: Thor #373-377

I will be moving on from Thor soon so it seems appropriate to offer a few thoughts on the series in general.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Thor movies rank high among my favorites.  I would, in fact, go so far as to say that Loki is the best character in the MCU thus far.  As such, my expectations for the comic books were high.

I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm disappointed, exactly.  I can't deny the quality of the work.  But I frequently find myself wishing the Thor story were different from what it is.  When he's on Earth, I long for Asgard.  But then sometimes he stays in Asgard too long.  And if he were always in Asgard, what would be the point in pretending he's part of the broader Marvel Universe?  But then when he's on Earth, how is he appreciably different from any other superhero?

You see my struggles.

I guess what I really want is for Marvel - or anybody - to create a more faithful comic book chronicle of the original Norse myths.  In fact, I'd love to see such a rendering for world mythology in general: Greek, Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, African, Native American, Celtic, Babylonian and on and on.  Maybe if I suddenly come into a lot of money, I will fund such a project.

I have one more stop before maybe taking a break from Marvel for a while: the original Secret Wars series.  Stay tuned.

My Recent Reads

Thor #373

Originally Published November 10, 1986

Writer: Walter Simonson

Artist: Sal Buscema

• This issue and the next are both part of the Mutant Massacre crossover event.
• Thor revisits his New York life as Sigurd Jarlson.
• He also runs into Puddlegulp and other froggy friends in Central Park.
• Puddlegulp tells him of a massacre in the sewers so Thor goes to investigate.

Blockbuster via Marvel Database

Harpoon via Marvel Database

Vertigo via Wikipedia

• Amid many Morlock corpses, Thor discovers Angel - currently of X-Factor, formerly of the X-Men - being held captive and tortured by the Marauders: Harpoon, Blockbuster and Vertigo.

Thor #374

December 10, 1986

Simonson/S. Buscema

• Back in the sewers of New York, Thor must fight off the Marauders before he can rescue Angel.  
• Thor prevails and now must carry Angel out of the sewers.

via Marvel Database

• Featured: Sabretooth, another of the Marauders.

via Marvel Database

• Thor meets the enigmatic Artie Maddicks, an X-Factor trainee.
• In a fight with Blockbuster, Thor's arm is broken.  Thor doesn't realize it yet but Hela has cast a brutal curse upon him (she does tell him by the end of the issue):
• His bones will break easily, then never heal.
• Then he will never die.
• Thor and company meet up with Cyclops and Marvel Girl (??!! - I guess I missed some important developments) of X-Factor.  Cyclops creates a sling for Thor's arm and they take Angel off his hands.

Thor #375

January 1, 1987

Simonson/S. Buscema

Man-Beast via Wikipedia

Wrecker via Marvel Database

• Loki's latest trick: turning innocent, unassuming Earth mortals into old Thor villains, specifically Man-Beast and Wrecker.
• Once Thor defeats each of them, Loki's illusion is revealed and Thor is powerless to prevent the mortals from dying.
• Thor also has to be careful because of Hela's curse, though Tony Stark has built him an armored arm to protect the broken one.

via Marvel Database

• When Thor arrives in New York, he finds he must battle Absorbing Man, though he assumes it's another Loki-created fake.
• Alas, no.  This time it's the real thing.

Thor #376

February 1, 1987

Simonson/S. Buscema

• Thor realizes it's the real Absorbing Man.

via Marvel Database

• However, Loki has one more trick.  He creates a fake Titania who attacks Thor.  Thor kills her only to discover the ruse as another innocent mortal lies dead at his feet.
• Absorbing Man, however, believes it was the real Titania.  Apparently, he loved her and now he's enraged.
• Using Mjolnir, Thor transports Absorbing Man to another dimension.
• Finally victorious, Thor staggers towards Avengers Mansion where he knows he can rest.
• Instead, he collapses in the street, right in front of astonished reporters.
• On the last page, Loki releases a powerful spell upon Asgard.

Thor #377

March 1, 1987

Simonson/S. Buscema

• Thor recovers in Roosevelt Hospital.
• Upon release, he heads to Pittsburgh to rent a steel foundry for a week (as one does) in order to forge new armor for himself.
• While at work, he is attacked by the Dark Elves, led by Grendell, an ancient warrior elf long presumed dead.
• Meanwhile, in Asgard, Loki kidnaps Iceman - currently of X-Factor, formerly of the X-Men - in order to harness his cold energy to restore the Frost Giants to their full size.
• Also, the spell Loki released in the last issue is causing fever among the gods of Asgard.
• In a surprise move, Loki rescues Thor from the Dark Elves bringing him back to his own castle where he can observe Thor's likely long suffering for his own amusement.
• When Loki finally turns off the cold, the Frost Giants turn on him.
• To be continued.