Have the Fantastic Four become Marvel's New Gods

SPOILER Warning: For Wanda Vision (better catch up on the series or I'll spoil a reveal)

No Artist has launched as many profitable IP’s as Jack Kirby. But the two series that are most associated with the King of Comics are the Fantastic Four (the series that launched him from obscurity) and The New Gods (his failed DC follow up). While Jack Kirby launched, The Hulk, X-men and Iron Man he did the more issues of the Fourth World Saga (an umbrella term for almost all of Kirby’s DC work in the 70’s) and Fantastic Four (which he and Stan Lee still have the record for collaboration on series). But to the more casual fans these series are most loved for their Villains Dr Doom and Darkseid in particular topping best villains list.

When Marvel sold the film rights to their First Family to Roger Corman’s Constantine films in the 1980’s they had no idea what a thorn in their side this would be. The Fantastic Four were Marvel’s first big success and every subsequent title would either be spun off from a concept introduced in the series or legitimised by a crossover. The Hulk’s sales got so low that series would get cancelled, look who guest stars in issue 12, Stan Lee wants Spider-man to be a success Fantastic Four Guest star in Amazing Spider-man 1. Dr Strange was introduced as the second feature in the Human Torch’s solo book, The Kree were introduced in Fantastic Four 13 to be the ancient enemy of the Skrull who were introduced in issue 2. Shield and Nick Fury first appeared in Fantastic Four 21. Wakanda and Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four 52 with Ulysses Klaw introduced in the next issue. 

With Fox buying Constantine Films and making Fantastic Four movies just to keep the license (I have already written a blog about those movies), Marvel’s film productions had constant arguments over who owned what, and what characters could be used. Joss Whedon wanted to use The Skrull in Avengers but instead they had to create the Chitari. After this Marvel realised they had very few villains to work with so instead had to make deals with Fox until buying the company out completely. Ulysses Klaw was the first F4 villain to make it off the comic page into the MCU, then Ronan the Accuser appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy (who debuted in Fantastic Four 65). A deal had to be made so that James Gunn could use Ego the Living Planet in the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel in its current state would’ve been impossible without the Fox/Disney Merger. Wanda vision in it’s latest episode revealed that Agatha Harkness was behind everything (with a theme tune that sounded suspiciously like the Munsters). Agatha Harkness the live in Nanny to Franklin Richards the son of Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. Agatha Harkness the mother to Dr Strange and Fantastic Four Villain Nicholas Scratch.

The future of the MCU looks to continue this trend with rumours of Dr Doom as the villain for Black Panther 2 and Kang the Conquerer for the villain in Ant Man 3. Kang may not be a Fantastic Four villain but he is the time travelling descendent of the team although the F4 often clash with his alter ego The pharaoh. Kang has many different personas from different altered Timelines and is often in conflict with himself.

So what of the New Gods? well Darkseid is the villain in “Snyder-cut” of Justice League. The Super Powers team cartoon (the later less goofy version of Super-Friends) had Darkseid, Desaad and Kalibak as frequent villains appearing in the show more than Lex Luthor, the Joker or the Legion of Doom. The earlier or “Whedon” cut of Justice League had Steppenwolf as the antagonist. But where are the heroic New Gods, Orion, Big Barda, Mr Miracle, Light-Ray or The High-father? Does anyone who doesn’t obsess over superheroes even know who they are? 

This October I redrew Marvel comics covers

Inktober comes just once a year, unless you're doing Inktober 52 (which I am). This year I chose not to follow the prompts but instead I would redraw Comic book covers from Marvel and the Silver-age (So I didn't have endless choices to make). I also miscounted so there are 32 not 31.

Antman and the Wasp

Where better to start with as, Hank Pym is actually the first Silver Age character. But not Antman, he debuted in one of Marvel's Sci-Fi Horror stories about a scientist who invented a shrinking potion and had to be friend the Ants to survive. Original cover Tales to Astonish 44. (Also the only one I signed because after this one it felt wrong signing work that was a copy of another artists).

Black Panther

I think the real reason for the Fox/Disney merger was so that the MCU could continue without constant legal battles. With Fox owning the Fantastic Four and all of Marvel spinning out from there (Fantastic Four had the first appearances of The Kree, The Skrulls, Galactus, the Microverse, The Inhumans and The Black Panther). Fox's Lawyers could make legitimate claims to most of Marvel's characters.

Also this bugs me about the Jack Kirby era, every scientist has the same style of technology, Wakanda is isolated from the rest of the world yet, their advanced technology is identical to Mr Fantastic's and Dr Doom's. Thankfully later artists gave Wakanda a more Afro-Futurist style and Doom a more Gothic style.

Original Fantastic Four 52

The Black Widow

The Black Widow was originally Iron Man's Archenemy. Well during the Don Heck run, Ditko's era which introduced the Red and Gold armour had the Mandarin and Jack Kirby's was short-lived because he had new series to start. 

Don Heck tended to get the table scraps left over after Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, which might surprise MCU fans that Iron Man was not popular enough to keep Tales of Suspense instead the series went to Captain America.

Original Tales of Suspense 53.

The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants

Silver-Age X-men is Jack Kirby's Other book, While Fantastic Four was the flagship series (until Jack left Marvel). I'm sure Jack forgot to draw Quicksilver and then had to add him in later.  The line up is of course Magneto in the centre, Toad in Beige, Quicksilver just back from answering the door bell, Scarlet Witch in Green and Mastermind as the other guy also in green.

Original X-men 4

Captain America 

I thought about excluding Captain America as he debuted in the Golden Age, but after a backdoor pilot in Strange Tales (Human Torch's solo book). Marvel decided to retcon out the 1950's Anti-Commie Cap and reveal he had been frozen since World War 2. 

PS the Issue of Strange Tales didn't actually have Captain America in it, just the minor villain the Acrobat wearing his costume.

Original Avengers 4 

Captain Marvel

Carol Danvers was originally a human sidekick to this guy Mar-Vell. A Kree Warrior hiding on Earth. 

People who only know the movies will think Mar-Vell is a woman, but nope originally a man. Probably for the best they made that change.

Still I love this original costume, his later Red and Blue makes it more obvious that he's a Superman knock off. Also Stan Lee's Just Imagine Superman was just a rehashed Captain Mar-Vell

Original Marvel Superheroes 12

Daredevil

What else can be said other than oh Wally Wood. I saw this cover and had to redraw it. I wanted to do the original yellow costume and well this is perfect. My favourite feature of it is the 2 on-lookers who are not impressed with these Superhero shenanigans.

Original Daredevil 5

Doctor Doom

Kneel before the most feared man in the world. The greatest of all Supervillains. I could have chosen from a few different covers. But Doom holding his most hated enemies in his hand toying with them just fits him.

Original Fantastic Four 16

Dormammu

The Dread Dormammu of the Dark Dimension. For Doctor Strange see "S" for "Stephen Strange".  (Shame I couldn't find any Steve Ditko full covers for Dormammu, Strange Tales either had The Human Torch getting the cover or had a split cover. Later the series alternated between Dr Strange and Nick Fury being the cover story).

Original Dr Strange 173

The Enchantress

I wanted to do a female Villain and she was the first one that came to mind. That said I also did the Hela who stole her Executioner for the movie Thor Ragnarok. Also I think in the originals background we see some proto-Kirby Crackle

Original Journey into Mystery 103

The Fantastic Four

Marvel's First Family that nobody knows how to adapt. This cover with them in the "Flying Bathtub", is just so iconic. So iconic nobody can remember the name of the villain in the story. He's a magician, also Fun Fact this was the first American comic book Alan Moore ever read.

Galactus

He eats planets!!! 

Original Fantastic Four 49

The Green Goblin

One of the first John Romita Sr covers, shame his son isn't as good at drawing.

Original Amazing Spider-man 39

Hela

Yeah I only coloured of the back ground that's Loki's face, but I thought this was about inking not colours.

Also I chose Hela and Enchantress over the Thor Villain Ego the Living Planet. (What can I say with 31 spots not everyone makes the cut).

Original Thor 150

Hulk

I love the Hulk, so much I thought about doing 2 Hulk covers. Unfortunately I don't think any of Hulk's supporting cast I could justify doing a cover for except The Abomination, but he only appeared on a comic cover after 1972 my cut off point.

Original Hulk 1 (the shortest lived Silver Age Marvel series at 6 issues and then cancellation)

The Inhumans

It would be controversial to include them and not include them. So enjoy Crystal, Lockjaw and Blackbolt.

Original Fantastic Four 46

Iron Man

Scroll past this one quick!!

Original Tales of Suspense 39

J Jonah Jameson

Because I know you opened this looking for pictures of Spider-man

Original Amazing Spider-man 52

Kang The Conqueror

Yeah he made the cut because of the rumours of him being the MCU Phase 4's main villain. Sorry Hawkeye but you and the rest of Cap's Kooky Quartet appear on this cover.

Original Avengers 23

Loki

Yeah I know there isn't much Loki, but the cover for Avengers 1 is famous. Also look and Iron man in his crappy clunker armour trying to touch his toes. Yeah that'll scare off a supervillain calisthenics. If you want more Loki comment on this blog with "More Loki" at least four times, less than that and I won't think you want it enough.

Original Avengers 1

Mary Jane

Gwen Stacy only appeared on one cover before her death (which ended the Silver-Age). So Spider-man's love interest won out. Also this might be my laziest not only have I not coloured the background theres a second goon who I just haven't drawn. Space gets cramped and I only have an A4 Scanner (the originals were done on much bigger drawing boards around A2)

Original Amazing Spider-man 59

Mysterio

I knew I had to do at least one Steve Ditko Spidey cover. For Spider-man's Rogue's I had found a Green Goblin and a Dr Octopus from Romita Sr's tenure. The Kingpin and the Rhino debuted during Romita's run so I was a bit stuck. So Mysterio made the list. Sandman was also considered.

Original Amazing Spider-man 13

Namor

Like Captain America a Golden Age character who got reintroduced in the Silver Age. This story also massively retcon's his past, after the Human Torch shaves a homeless man who turns out to be the Anti-Hero. Namor returns to Atlantis for revenge against the surface dwellers. Did you spot the Retcon? Bill Everrett (The Writer and Artist for Golden Age Namor) specifically said Namor was not from Atlantis because he thought Atlantis was a real place.

Original Fantastic Four 4

Nick Fury

I had to do a Steranko cover. Also while drawing this I noticed a lot of similarities between Steranko and Rob Liefeld. Like weird poses, pouches everywhere and Guns that make no sense at all.

Original Strange Tales 167

Dr Octopus

This has shades of GCSE Art, and it looks like a piece that would only get a C at best. Oh well I tried, I admit Romita Sr is a better artist than me. But Imagine his son drawing this, it'd be squarer and more awkward.

Original Amazing Spider-man 55

Peter Parker

I had a few iconic choices for Spider-man, like Amazing Fantasy 15 or Amazing Spider-man 1 or 33.

In the end I like this one because it has Spider-man and Peter Parker together.

Original Amazing Spider-man 50

The Red Skull

That is not the Tesseract or the Space Stone, it's the Cosmic Cube.

Sorry the Infinity Saga making other artifacts from the comics into Infinity stones annoys me, especially when the artifacts do completely different things like The Cosmic Cube can rewrite reality, the Eye of Agamotto increases the Sorcerer Supremes power (nothing to do with time travel).

Original Captain America 115

The Silver Surfer

John Buscema would replace Jack Kirby as the architect of the Marvel Universe. PS If you like drawing comics totally read How to Draw Comics the Marvel way.

Original Silver Surfer 1

Dr Strange

I wish I could've done another Dr Strange by Steve Ditko, but him having a chat with Eternity will have to be the only one.

That said I was tempted to draw the issue of Strange Tales where the Human Torch and the Thing meet The Beatles (I love the Beatles ok!).

Original Strange Tales 146 

Thor

I drew the pose and couldn't figure out what of the background to keep so here he is thwaking Korg. (Yes that is Korg).

Original Journey into Mystery 83

Vision

God that is a lot of Red!!! No Ultron because the MCU wasted James Spader. (Also I didn't want to get into the whole Ultron being evil because Tony Stark bullied Hank Pym because the movie had Stark make Ultron).

The X-men

Do I need to say anything? Other than what is Jean Grey doing? Did Jack Kirby forget to draw her? Seems about right as this era of X-men she seemed to only exist for the boys to fight over.

Original (Uncanny) X-men 1

 

Conservative Comic book characters (who aren't white men)

You hear the term conservative and you think an old white guy. We all think it, it’s the default but the political spectrum is more diverse than that and so are people. So Comic book characters should be no exception  .  Let’s have a look at different Right Wing characters who aren’t white men.

Icon

Created by Dwayne McDuffie explicitly to be a conservative black hero. This character shines a spotlight on black political philosophies with his admiration Booker T. Washington and his philosophies of self reliance. This ideology also put him at odds with his sidekick, Rocket.  Icon is a card carrying republican, kind of imagine him as a kind of Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince of Bel Air mixed with Superman.

War Machine

Iron Man was created by Stan Lee to be the hero that left-leaning Marvel fans would hate. Well Jim Rhodes in ideology is even more Republican. Any soldier hero must either be critical of the military or conservative and Jim Rhodes is nothing if not a good soldier. He’s not the only Black military hero, because Green Lantern Jon Stewart is a good soldier but also questions the military. 

Other than his military connection there is something far worse and often overlooked about Jim Rhodes and that is that he’s racist. Now he’s not racist against any real world groups but Mutants, but Mutant hating is Right wing if you ask me.

George Washington-Bridge

Ok there are about 1000 characters created by Rob Liefeld who could fit this article. But I chose Washington-Bridge because he’s the only one I could remember the name of. Rob Liefeld specialised in creating teams of para-military task forces that added new members mostly men and not all white. Almost any character created by Liefeld on his own is interchangeable.

Black Manta and Erik Killmonger

I put these two villains together because they both have the same goal of creating an ethno-state. Whilst they’re both wanting reparations for slavery and wanting a land for their people, this doesn’t justify their wants. But of course these ideologies make them the bad guys while fighting for peace and diversity make Aquaman and Black Panther the heroes.

Martha Washington

You’d think Dave Gibbons would hate Ayn Rand having worked with Alan Moore on Watchmen. But I’m not sure Gibbons’ political beliefs are in any way similar to the anarchist writer who penned the book. Dave Gibbons’ follow-up to Watchmen was a collaboration with Frank Miller, and the book constantly quotes Ayn Rand. Martha becomes a strong independent character by rejecting everything about her identity. While it may seem progressive that Frank Miller wrote a black woman as the lead to a book , she only became strong in his eyes by thinking of herself as a white man. 

(More on Frank Miller and Ayn Rand in an upcoming blog keep an eye out).

Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)

Possibly the most surprising to many but the only thing progressive about Carol is that she is a woman. It’s so progressive to have a female Air force colonel and she’s often used as a straw feminist. But you take that away she’s really a Karen. Now I’m not hating on the character, or her stories or the movie. Well maybe Civil War 2 where she becomes a totalitarian dictator probably helps my case.  

The Umbrella Academy and their mainstream counterparts (Teen Titans and the X-men)

 So it’s pretty obvious that the Umbrella Academy is a deconstruction of the teenage superhero team. One of the core ideas is that the kids from the team would grow up to be total misfits. The series itself does pay homage to storylines like Titans Hunt and the Dark Phoenix saga. “But who is each Umbrella academy’s Teen Titans or X-men counterpart?” asked nobody. Well, I’m here to answer that. Also, these are only guesses at best. I have no way to contact Gerard Way, Gabriel Ba or Steve Blackman.

Reginald Hargreeves is Professor X

Lets start off with the most obvious. He’s the leader of the group who doesn’t go into the field. He’s there to teach them how to use their powers. He does share some ideas with the Chief of the Doom Patrol and, with him being the abusive father figure, he has a touch of Deathstroke. But Deathstroke (or Slade to some of you) is The Teen Titan’s archenemy, not their team leader.

Luther is Cyclops

Sure, he may share some visual similarities to Beast or Colossus, but he is Cyclops. The handpicked leader of the team because he can’t think for himself. This was an issue Cyclops faced in the comics after the Phoenix saga and it’s Luther’s main struggle through the series. 

Klaus is Beast Boy

Not taken seriously by the rest of the team, fully of witty remarks and an obsession with fame. Sure, Klaus shares a lot with Gerard Way’s mentor Grant Morrison, who always seems to be 3 fanboys away from forming a cult. But Morrison is a real person, not a superhero. 

Alison is Psylocke

This one is probably my biggest stretch because the girl of the group is often involved in a love triangle. But Psylocke was a model, has some mind control and that’s enough for me. Ok, her powers are more similar to the Scarlet Witch or Raven but neither of them are as glamorous as the fashion model turned ninja assassin. 

Diego is Speedy

Diego sucks. I can’t avoid it, but he takes himself too seriously and has a massive hero complex. Speedy has similar problems, like how he can’t stand Beast Boy. Diego thinks he’s Wolverine, with his constant questioning of commands, but Speedy did this as well. Speedy, of course, tried to rebrand as Arsenal and we all laughed at his stupid hat and attempts to be cool.

Grace is Moira McTaggert

Obviously, really. Professor X’s non-powered love interest is the team’s surrogate robot-mother. Gen 13 had a robot maid called Anna but that’s a more obscure series than Teen Titans or the X-men so it’s not a common calling point.

Ben is Jericho

Ok, having an abusive father isn’t something special in this team. But, like Jericho, Ben can only communicate by possessing others bodies. 

Vanya is Jean Grey

The weakest member, patronised and abused by the team, that turns into the strongest. That is unless you forgot that Jean Grey turned evil and ate a sun in their most famous storyline after being abused by the Hellfire club. 

Five is Wolverine

The team’s grumpy man of mystery, for fuck’s sake neither of them have a first name. They’re both “the best at what they do and what they do isn’t very nice”. Both are the most competent members of the team and have a history of being used as a secret weapon by a shady hidden cabal. 

Also, how funny is it that the coolest character has been devolved into a 12 year old kid.