Sure, Stumptown is a new show on ABC-TV but like so much else in mass entertainment these days, it also has a life in comic book format. Originally debuting in late 2009 as a four-issue mini by Oni Press, Stumptown
Mephisto Reading Order
The devil. Or Marvel’s closest equivalent thereof.
While it should be noted that the character Mephisto is not intended to be the actual Biblical devil, he is one of the most prominent demonic denizens of the Marvel Universe. [Read more…] about Mephisto Reading Order
Baron Zemo Reading Order
Captain America’s long-standing German adversary. No, not the Red Skull- the other one. The one with the purple sock over his head. Usually wearing some sorta gold tiara/crown-type deal and some polka-dotted fur collar and/or shoulder-pad flairs? That guy. Same love of flashy pants and boots as the Skull, though, no doubt.
While the Red Skull is Captain America’s uncontested historical arch-nemesis, that doesn’t necessarily make the Zemos also-rans in their hate for the fighting man in the spangly costume. The Skull is ideologically opposed to the things Steve Rogers embodies and in that clear black and white dichotomy lies a billion broad-stroke stories depicting good versus evil.
The Zemos, however, are born of aristocracy and possess an innately misguided “old world” entitlement. It’s a bad base, sure, but it does make them inherently more “gray area” at times- kind of like how Doctor Doom will sometimes work with the Fantastic Four and everyone’s like: “See, now that wasn’t so hard was it, Victor??”. It can occasionally be like that with the younger Zemo as well. Once you work through the blind revenge, you can see his motivations lie more in being frustrated by how easily Rogers wields compassion- a quality he himself is unable to unlock. Truly a great character example of nature versus nurture…
The elder Zemo was a Nazi, though. So @#%& that guy. Straight up. [Read more…] about Baron Zemo Reading Order
Journey Into What If: Marvel’s Next 80 Years!
Hard to believe but Marvel has just turned 80 years old. While that’s certainly a milestone calling for celebration and reflection, it’s also a great opportunity to cast an eye to the future.
Sure, the just-released, oversized Marvel Comics #1000
The 10 Best X-Men Stories of the 2010s!
It’s not always easy being the X-Men. As advertised, they are “hated and feared by a world they’re sworn to protect.” However, they are also capable of selling millions of comics and becoming household names.
Indeed, their very publication history would graph with quite the insane peaks and valleys of popularity- from cancellation and reprint limbo to perpetuating one of the most unwieldy multi-title franchises.
That being said, it’s truly been some time since fans have been genuinely excited about Marvel’s Children of the Atom. All that has recently changed with the launch of Jonathan Hickman’s slate-cleaning take-over as the intertwining mini-series House of X and Powers of X currently unfold and astound. [Read more…] about The 10 Best X-Men Stories of the 2010s!