TEX's Back-Issue Quest Episode 73: Carol Danvers...Captain Marvel!

Hello, Fellow Questers!

    Welcome to another episode of Tex’s Comics Quest! Today, we talk about one of the most powerful superheroes in the MU...Carol Danvers, AKA, Captain Marvel!!

    Above, you will see Marvel Super-Heroes #13, printed in March of 1968. It features the first appearance of the current Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, ex-Air Force ace pilot, and colonel. As a young Security Chief at The Cape, NASA’s Florida base, Carol Danvers met Dr. Walter Lawson - a scientist who was secretly Mar-Vell, a mighty Kree soldier who was on a mission to learn more about the human race. Mar-Vell had taken on the dead scientist’s identity, and under this guise, he had a turbulent relationship with Danvers - one of distrust, secrets, and conflicts of interests, as Danvers’ growing affection for Lawson struggled with her suspicion of his long disappearances, and secretive activities. Often, her adventures with Lawson or Mar-Vell would put her directly in harm’s way, which would lead to her gaining marvelous super-powers! On to the FUN FACTS!

FUN FACT 1: Carol Danvers comes from a military family - her father, Joe, served in the Navy, and her brother, Steve, was killed in combat in Vietnam.

FUN FACT 2: Carol Danvers was an Air Force pilot who graduated at the top of her class. She has been a test-pilot, and served in Special Ops with the likes of Nick Fury, Wolverine, and Black Widow. This led to her scoring her dream assignment as NASA’s youngest Security Chief ever at The Cape. 

FUN FACT 3: Carol Danvers gained her powers in Captain Marvel vol 1, #18 (see my copy above) during a struggle between Yon-Rogg (Mar-Vell’s murderous commander who wanted Mar-Vell’s lover, Una, for himself), and Mar-Vell. 

FUN FACT 4: Carol Danvers first appears as a superhero in Ms. Marvel vol 1, #1 (see my copy above), printed in January of 1977 - just a bit under a decade after her first appearance. Would you believe that this comic was a free gift from a comic-seller?

FUN FACT 5: Carol Danvers’ powers have ebbed, flowed, and evolved over the years. She has used several names with her different power sets: Ms. Marvel, Binary, and Warbird. 

FUN FACT 6: Carol didn’t really gain her powers…She already had them - they were just latent. Why? Because eventually it was revealed that Carol Danvers’ mother was Kree champion, Mari-Ell.

FUN FACT 7: Carol Danvers has had plenty of highs and lows in the MU, but no low as bad a being raped by your own kid. I don’t know WHAT the writers were thinking: https://www.geekinsider.com/on-the-rape-of-ms-marvel/

FUN FACT 8: Eventually, Carol would become the MU’s Captain Marvel - a powerhouse of might and leadership; however, Carol wasn’t the first hero to call herself Captain Marvel after Mar-Vell’s demise. The first was Monica Rambeau (a devastatingly powerful ex-cop); then, Genis-Vell (the nearly unstoppable son of Mar-Vell; next, Phyla-Vell (universal anomaly and sister to Genis-Vell; then, Khn’nr (Skrull sleeper agent); then, Noh-Varr (Marvel Boy), and finally Carol Danvers took up the mantle in Avenging Spider-Man #9 in 2012, which, I do not own. 

FUN FACT 9: It is no secret that Marvel and DC’s long-running rivalry sometimes leads them to, umm, borrow ideas from one another. Sometimes it’s all in fun, other times, it’s outright swiping. Captain Marvel shares several similarities with DC’s Supergirl. Coincidence? You decide. Captain Marvel’s name is Carol Danvers, and Supergirl (who was created nearly a decade earlier than Carol)  went under the alias/secret identity of Linda Lee Danvers, and eventually Kara Danvers. Carol Danvers’ mother is named Mari-Ell, which seems like a riff on DC’s Krypton’s illustrious family, The House of El, from which both Superman (Kal-El), and Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) descend. 

     I have only been a moderate fan of her character in the MU (comics), her outing as the leader of the Ultimates made me a true-believer. Captain Marvel is AWESOME! And I LOVED her debut in the MCU, and her powerhouse showing in Avengers: Engame!! More Captain Marvel, please!

   Thanks for reading!! Like and share!!!

CBCS Reveal Episode 8 (All-New Marvel Point One - Kamala Khan)

Hello Fello Questers!

   It's time for more of my CBCS REVEALS!!

   Today's reveal is the first appearance of one of Marvel's most popular new heroes...Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan!! Well, not really. It's her first appearance as Ms. Marvel and the issue where here name is actually revealed. But we'll get to that some other time.

   But, who IS Ms. Marvel? 

   Kamala Khan is a 16-year old Pakistani-American from Jersey City trying to juggle a life of crime-fighting, school-attending, and ALL the many family obligations that come along with a traditional, Muslim Pakistani family. One night, on the way home from a party (that she wasn't supposed to go to), Kamala was engulfed in the Terrigen Mists that had been released by Black Bolt's Terrigen Bomb. Kamala endured Terrigenesis, emerging from her cocoon with amazing powers - from size and appearance shifting to strength and mass amplifications or reductions. She became the costumed defender of Jersey City, and soon, she would be much, more than that...Soon she'd be called up to the Big Leagues as an Avenger, and one of The Champions!

   Kamala Khan first appeared as Ms. Marvel in All-New Marvel Point One #1 in 2014 in a story entitled, "Garden State of Mind." In this debut story, Ms. Marvel takes on the mechanical menace of one of the Inventor's machines, while trying to make it to a relative's wedding party. She is the breakout star of the book in a story that showcases her big personality, sharp wit, smart mouth, and her hilarious, bratty, teen angst, as well as her cool superpowers. Kamala is the brainchild of a team of comics-creators: Sana Amanat, Stephen Wacker, G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, and Jamie McKelvie. I was lucky enough to come across a copy the Steve McNiven Variant of All-New Marvel Point One #1 a few years ago for about $30. I finally sent it off to CBCS, and this is what happened:

   Hey, it's not the 9.8 I hoped for, but I guess it's the 9.4 that I deserve. LOL! 

   If you haven't read any of the wonderful stories and story arcs with the All-New Ms. Marvel in them, do yourself a favor, and do so. I am positive that Kamala Khan WILL soon be a part of the MCU, and probably a fan favorite - she is definitely my daughter's favorite superhero. Thanks for reading!! More reveals to come!!

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Shuri #1,#2, and #3 Review

"Shuri" #1, #2, and #3 from Marvel Comics -


    The Black Panther, symbol and protector of the advanced African Kingdom of Wakanda, is missing. Several weeks ago, T'Challa took flight on a space mission with his trusted friend, Eden Fesi, a reality-warping teleporter, in a ship designed by his sister, Shuri, and built under her exacting supervision. Shuri is one of the greatest minds that the world has ever known - she was also once the ruler of Wakanda, and carrier of the sacred mantle of the Black Panther. Now that T'Challa is missing, the pressure is on Shuri to find her beloved brother, and her beloved boyfriend, Eden, while staving off the burden that her mother and several advisors want her to carry once more: the role of the Black Panther. However, it's going to take more than Shuri's prodigious intellect to solve this problem, she'll need the help the ancient Elders who accompany her in spirit, and she'll need the help of T'Challa's greatest love, the goddess known as Storm. Can Shuri save her brother, without losing herself to unbridled mysticism, and the burden of the mantle of The Black Panther?

    Award-winning author, Nnedi Okorafor, pens this wonderful mystical, magical, sci-fi actioner, "Shuri"! Shuri is a GREAT character with her own burgeoning, evolving mythology - it was inevitable that she would step out of the Black Panther's shadow, and become a new, special, different type of hero in her own right. Shuri has a strong sense of right and wrong, a growing sense of self in a new, more democratic Wakanda which is now a constitutional monarchy. Shuri, loyal to Wakanda, and to her brother, has dreams and ideas for her future - and none of them involve taking up the mantle of The Black Panther again, even though her brother is missing. She is at odds with her mother, at odds with her situation, and at odds with herself; Shuri is one of the most gifted scientists on the planet, yet, she is possessed of old, arcane, mystical powers - the ancient Elders, who whisper in her ear, offering up wisdom and guidance that Shuri doesn't always welcome with an open heart. The Elders call her "Ancient Future," a dichotomic name that symbolizes the struggle that Shuri feels inside: the old ways, or the new; the mantle of The Black Panther or something new, something else; science, or magic? All these things swirl inside her as she struggles to find her footing in the world while trying to find her brother, who is lost in space with her new boyfriend, Eden Fesi. Okorafor has succeeded in masterfully crafting an engrossing, compelling protagonist in Shuri, and in bringing to the forefront a supporting cast of intriguing female characters who both support and create tension in the tightly written storyline - a storyline which is itself a very enjoyable sci-fi/mystical mash-up set in the growing world of Wakanda. There are several variant covers, but Sam Spratt's painted covers are my favorite, portraying a painfully gorgeous, lifelike Shuri that was so beautiful that I have to admit that my heart nearly skipped a beat. Leonardo Romero's interior pencils are straightforward and uncomplicated, yet very expressive with a cartoon-y tilt that makes Shuri's adventures fun to look at. If that weren't enough, the brilliant, effervescent Jordie Bellaire slides in with quirky, joyful colors that really get Romero's pencils to popping on the page! Okorafor, Romero, and Bellaire? Talk about a WINNING COMBINATION! WOW! My daughter loves this book. I love this book. I recommend that you pick it up because you just might love it too. "Shuri" definitely ROCKS!

RATING: An enthusiastic 10 out of 10!!

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TEX's BACK-ISSUE QUEST EPISODE #72 (VENOM)

Hello there, fellow Questers!

    It's TEX, back again with the skills to pay the bills and the comic books to hit your pocket-book! Today on TEX'S BACK-ISSUE QUEST, the anti-hero known as...

VENOM!!

Venom, originally a Spider-Man villain, made his first partial appearance on the final page of Marvel Comics' Amazing Spider-Man #299, printed in April of 1988. However, his first full appearance happened one issue later:

In this dynamic page from Amazing Spider-Man #300, printed in May of 1988, Venom explodes on the scene confronting a very bewildered Spider-Man, and reveals both, his identity, and his reason for hating Spider-Man!!

   Venom was created by comics scribe, David Michelinie, and superstar artist, toy sculptor, and comics writer, Todd McFarlane. Klyntar (the actual name of the symbiotic), was chronologically first seen on Battleworld in 1984's Secret Wars #8; however, historically, it made its first appearance here:

Above is my well-read copy of Amazing Spider-Man #252.

  The symbiote bonded with Spider-Man when his suit was damaged after a battle, and he found that it enhanced his strength, his ability to stick to wet surfaces, gave him stronger webbing that never ran out like his web-shooters, and it could mimic his everyday clothing which made crime-fighting a whole lot easier. However, through a series of unsettling events, Peter finds that the symbiote is alive with aid from Reed Richards, and removes and imprisons the symbiote. What Peter never figured on was that the symbiote had grown deeply attached to him - it escapes and re-bonds with him once more.  When Spider-Man finds out, he uses church bells to drive the symbiote away. Enter Eddie Brock, a once-successful journalist who has, through his own carelessness, ended up disgraced with his life in shambles. Because he sees Spider-Man as having a hand in his downfall, Brock focuses all his blame and hatred on Spider-Man. Seeking a way to kill himself and end his suffering without violating his religious beliefs, Brock ends up in the same church in which Spider-Man had ejected the symbiote from himself! Sensing his rage, and hate, the symbiote attacks, and bonds with Brock! Twisted by the pain of Spider-Man's rejection and Brock's hatred and rage, Venom was born and made his first full appearance here:

Above is my copy of Amazing Spider-Man #300, CBCS grade, 4.0.

    Venom gave Eddie Brock all of Spider-Man's powers, much greater strength...And all of Spider-Man's secrets, including his identity and those of his friends and family!! Venom went on to become one of Spider-Man's greatest, most dangerous enemies. Eventually, Klyntar, the symbiote, would bond with disabled war veteran, Flash Thompson, and be freed of its madness to become one of Marvel's coolest superheroes: 

Agent Venom!

On the FUN FACTS!

FUN FACT 1: In 1982, Marvel ran a competition for artists and writers who wanted to break into comics. The idea for the black costume came out of that competition, submitted by a fan named Randy Schueller. The idea was then purchased for Marvel by then Editor-In-Chief, Jim Shooter. 

FUN FACT 2: Todd McFarlane hated drawing the black suit. 

FUN FACT 3: Venom made his first big-screen debut in 2007's much-maligned "Spider-Man 3." Topher Grace was a terrible choice to play Eddie Brock:

FUN FACT 4: Tom Hardy, who made his debut as a supervillain in 2012's much-lauded "The Dark Knight Rises" as Bane, jumps from DC to Marvel to executively produce and star in 2018's "Venom."

    I enjoyed Venom VERY MUCH. I think it's probably the best Spider-Man-related film that I have seen since "Spider-Man 2," which in my opinion is the greatest Spider-Man film to date. I have seen Venom twice - once with Regal Theaters, and once with AMC. AMC get my vote. Why? They had lower prices (in my area), and cool Venom swag:

    Check out "Venom" in theaters, and drop back by this blog and let me know what you thought about the film and this article! Thanks for reading!

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Strontium Dog Fan Film Awesomeness

Hello there, fellow Questers!!

    I hope that you are all doing well! I apologize for the radio-silence; however, it takes me a bit to get back in the swing of things after school gets into full swing. I promise to be back soon with those great articles that give you all that comic book knowledge that you can't get in any college!!

   Cuz THAT'S what I do. :-)

   Today, I have a nice treat for you, coming straight from the UK's premiere sci-fi comic book anthology series: 2000AD!! A comic much overlooked by filmmakers, very few offerings from this legendary series have made it to the big or small screens (not counting the series' most enduring, star property, Judge Dredd). Luckily for us, there are brilliant fans out there who are ready, willing and able to take matters into their own hand. Case-in-point: There is a Strontium Dog fan film...AND IT IS AWESOME!!!

   The Strontium Dog made his debut in Starlord #1, a UK publication produced in 1978 from IPC Magazines - the same company that published 2000 AD. Unfortunately, Starlord was short-lived, so Strontium Dog made the jump over to 2000AD in prog #88 published in 1978. Strontium Dog is from 2/3rds of the creators of Judge Dredd (John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra) and follows the futuristic story of Johnny Alpha, a badass, mind-reading, mutant bounty-hunter who can see through darn-near anything. Johnny is even more unstoppable than is vision - he is a highly skilled fighter, a relentless tracker, and one mean mutha with a hidden heart of gold.

   These filmmakers really did Johnny some justice. Without further ado, I present to you the award-winning Search/Destroy: A Strontium Dog Fan Film!

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Secret Origins of the Legion of Super-Heroes

Hello fellow Questers!!

    I hope that you Labor Day Weekend is going great! Mine is moving along nicely since it's about the only time that I have had since the beginning of the school year to kick off my shoes, put my feet up, and indulge in a little rest and relaxation.

   Being a teacher isn't a 9 to 5. It's more like a 7:15 AM to 6:00 PM gig, with nights and weekends dedicated to extra-curricular activities, parent meetings, and grading papers...And all that comes along with having a wife that travels, and basically being a single parent of a new high-schooler who ALSO has her own activities going on. But you didn't come here to read about my struggles...YOU CAME FOR THE COMICS!! Well, have I got a treat for you today!

  I have been a fan of The Legion of Super-Heroes since I was a kid. There's something so awesome about the mix of fantasy, futuristic sci-fi, super-powered do-gooding, and the hefty drama that The LoSH has always brought to the table. The LoSH has dealt with complex issues like love, betrayal, family issues, flawed personalities in heroes, and even death long before the advent of the darker, grittier Bronze Age. By 1968, The LoSH had dealt with the loss of Ferro Lad, Lightning Lad, and even Chameleon Kid's beloved, shape-shifting pet, Proty, had given his life to save The Legionnaires!

  If you've never been a fan of The LoSH, I encourage you to pick up some of their stories in TPB format, or in the LoSH archives, and walk yourself down through their amazing stories in chronological order. You'll be glad you did. Let me start you off with the obvious...The origins and powers of some of the Legionnaires out of the pages of Legion of Super-Heroes: 1,050 Years if the Future from DC Comics!! Click to enlarge and ENJOY!!

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The New World #1 Review

"True love is a boot in a human face. True love is imposing the will of The State for the benefit of the many. True love, Dear Stella, means allowing the many to benefit from the abuse of the few." -Aleš Kot, The New World

The New World #1 from Image Comics - 

    The old world is dead. In 2037, nuclear weapons exploded over several major cities in what once was The United States of America. Invading forces occupy a large swath of what was once called The Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave, bringing the resistance to heel. But not everywhere. California, allied with neighboring states, has managed to not only repel the invaders but to reestablish order - an order in which The State is the unquestionable, absolute authority. To resist is to invite erasure...Yet, there are still those who try to stand against the system. Kirby Miyazaki, a brilliant hacker, is one such dissident. Stella Maris, on the other hand, is the darling of the system - she is a superstar law enforcement officer with her own rebellious streak and granddaughter of the President of California. Predator and prey. Natural enemies...But what happens when they fall head over heels in love? 

   From brilliant scribe, Aleš Kot (Wolf), comes this post-apocalyptic, dystopian love story, The New World. Just a bit reminiscent of George Orwell's seminal work, Nineteen Eighty-Four, The New World introduces us to a familiar, but futuristic California that seems to have prospered after the bombs exploded and the invaders came. But things change once we discover that militarized police keep the seemingly happy citizenry in line and that a barbaric voting system is used to decide whether criminals, or other specified targets of the state, will live or be executed for the entertainment of the masses on live television. Enter our protagonists, Stella Maris, and Kirby Miyazaki. Stella is one of The State's top law-enforcement officers, one who always gets her man, but refuses to kill any of them. Kirby is a genius hacker with an individualist streak a mile wide - and he's ready to give the system a little pain for the pain it caused him, and his father, years ago when it snatched his mother away. It seems that Stella's rebellious streak may come from a very similar pain. A series of random events bring them together in a whirlwind of a night of passion...After which Stella discovers that her new love is The State's new Public Enemy No. 1! Wow. This book is top-notch. It's slick, gripping, and balances precariously on the thin line between advocating for personal freedoms, justice, and equality, or simply pushing for anarchy. Kot's world is believable - half desirable, half monstrous - a place where sunny neighborhood barbecues and state-sanctioned, televised murder can take place simultaneously. Order through ruthless force. It's summed up quite nicely in a tongue-in-cheek splash:

    Kot has fleshed his protagonists out perfectly, each with their own beautiful idiosyncracies: Kirby Miyazaki is something of a revolutionary, with shades of an anarchist, yet he is as straight-edge as they come in his personal life, coloring inside all his own self-imposed lines; Stella Maris, an agent of order, lives a life of sex, drugs, and parties, with an upscale apartment that looks like a hazardous waste dump. These two have so much in common, yet are worlds apart. I am very interested to see how their love fares, and how their lives change (or end) when The State tightens its grip. Will Kot give love a win, or will he go the same route as Orwell did in Nineteen Eighty-Four? Either way, it should be one hell of a ride, as Kot never disappoints with his observations and deeply reflective social commentaries. Tradd Moore's (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode) pencils pop - clean, dream-like, psychedelic, and strangely oppressive at times - Moore does some of his best work here, backed by Heather Moore's gorgeous colors. The $4.99 cover price may seem a bit steep, but don't let that deter you. Issue #1 is quite oversized with a hefty page count and the added pleasure of a haunting back-up story by Aaron Stewart-Ahn and Sunando C make the price more than a bargain. The New World is pure, engrossing reading bliss. 

RATING: 10 out of 10. 

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