Chace C. writes: Referring to the Mail Shoot on Jan 16, 2006:

"Oliver R. writes: You said that adamantium can still withstand Cyke’s beams. But I remember in AOA that Wolverine only had one hand and it was cut off by Cyclops's optic beams. You may not be counting this because it happened in an alternate relaity, but it still happened.

Tipton: Hm. Good point."

Actually, there is a simple explaination which doesn't require alternate admantium being softer or Cyclops being stronger. First of all, Wolvie's claws were retracted at the time (he shows them popping out of the stump later in the series). Second, the wrist is a collection of small bones connected by ligaments and tendons. Cyclops's beam could easily destroy those, without destroying the admantium wrist bones, thus the hand could still be sheared off. It simply isn't as protected as the long bones of the arm. (Of course, by the same mechanism, Wolvie's knees and ankles are similarly vulnerable). I hope this helps! Congrats on an excellent comics column!

Tipton: Good answer! Thanks for the assist, gentlemen, as well as Tony B., who provided a similar response.

Brad writes: This is a little old but I was flipping through your archives and realized I had somehow missed the editorial on DKR.

I reread DKSB the other night because I read an old interview with Miller right before it came out. In the interview he talked about how pleased he was with the story and how it was going to undo the damage that DKR and Watchmen did to comics. I started thinking about the story and realized that almost two years passed between me reading 1 and 3 and thought that it may have clouded my judgment.

After rereading the series I thought that perhaps Frank was:

1. Trying to make the DKR look a little, stupid isn't the right word, but just a little less brilliant I guess. I'm sure that every time he's at a convention someone asks him about it or mentions it and that has got to get old for a genius like Frank.

2. Frank is spending too much time fighting the censors and the powers that be-even though he does it brilliantly.

3.I remember that the final issue was very late when it came out, a month or two wasn't it? I had heard he redid the entire final issue because of DC censoring something, I think that it was his foresightedness that the powers that be were going to use 9/11 to frighten us and he wanted to make sure that his views on that were heard.

This is also just a little observation that I wondered if you or anyone else noticed. I was bagging a boarding some of my comics the other night, I'm almost five or six years behind on this by the way, and I noticed that there seems to be no agreement, rhyme or reason to the size standards of modern comics. Compare an issue of DC's Starman to Marvel's Punisher. Even books that sat side by side on the newsstand from the same company no longer match. Doesn't really make a difference, just an observation-has the industry really gotten so chaotic in shocking us that they can't decide on a standard size?

Tipton: There's no real reason to keep the book sizes uniform, since comics aren't sold on racks in supermarkets anymore, so publishers just do whatever makes sense fiscally.

I gave up trying to figure out DK2 myself.

Greg S. writes: This is a bit of an obscure question, but do you have any idea why many of the older characters were designed to be wearing underwear on the outside of their tights? And what of someone like Robin (though I can’t really think of any other male characters that had similar designs to his original costume)? Have any of the creators of these characters, or maybe just a comic book historian ever elaborated on why the characters were designed this way? Thanks in advance.

Tipton: I think it's the influence of circus perfomers like acrobats and wirewalkers of the period.

Charles W. writes: I just read your piece on E3. It sounds like you had a good time checking out the new stuff. I noted that when you pointed out the Ultimate Spider-Man video game, you mentioned that you weren’t a fan of that comic . . . and honestly, that surprised me a little. I’m assuming that you have indeed tried it yourself and it didn’t work for you. (I’m sure you’ve said something more specific in the past, but your archives are starting to get pretty thick!)

There was a time when I read all of the monthly Spider-Man books that Marvel put out (and basically all of the X-books, too, but that’s another subject), but I was burned out of that habit by the interminably long Clone Saga. (Have you seen that series online that dissects the entire thing, with commentary by some of the creators who were working on it? It’s pretty informative.) I was tired of the interlinked books, but I did want to have a single decent Spider-man book to read. When the Ultimate title was announced, I was a bit skeptical, since John Byrne’s Spider-Man: Year One had left me a bit cold, but I gave it a shot anyway, and by the thirteenth issue it had become one of my favorite titles.

The book did waver a bit for me personally around the time of the Carnage storyline, and the subsequent two-parters, but the Hobgoblin arc has been much stronger. I also haven’t had to watch Norman Osborne making his O-face, something for which I am very thankful. (I sampled JMS’ first arc, and it was okay, but he seemed to bring in Doctor Strange elements a bit too often for my personal tastes.) I’m curious: which issues did you try? I really think that the book hit its stride in its second arc, once the origin was out of the way. Of course, if a book fails to grab someone from the beginning and they drop it, then that’s just how it is . . .

Oh, one more aside—I remember you had an issue (and it’s one I agreed with you on) regarding New Avengers, specifically Jigsaw being able to break Spider-man’s arm. Well, I don’t know if it means anything to you, but that’s not what Bendis wrote. He had someone else breaking his arm (I forget who, sadly), but David Finch drew Jigsaw instead, and it apparently didn’t get caught. Finch ‘fessed up to it on a message board a while back. I don’t want to come off like a Bendis apologist—Avengers: Disassembled was awful—but I’m just trying to give credit where credit is due.

Oh, if I forgot to mention it—I love the column! Thanks for the great reads and history lessons. It’s appreciated.

Tipton: I stuck with ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN for the first year and a half or so, but the slow pacing and Bendis' overreliance on unmasking Spidey or giving away his identity eventually drove me away. Then the introduction of Kitty Pryde as Pete’s new love interest got me interested again, and I’m considering picking up the hardcovers to see if I enjoy it more in larger chunks.

Mike V. writes: I'd like to say that i love your articles, a friend of mine told me about them and ever since i've been reading through the archives and getting familiar with all the comic material that i have never been able to read myself. I've never bought comics that much since i lived in latin america most of my life and buying them on a regular basis gets expensive. Anyways the reason i'm writting you is because i'd like to see you write an article featuring the mortal men of the comics world, the ones we all know (like batman, the question, rocketeer.. though i didnt know until recently he actually had his own comic) and the ones constant comic readers might not know.

To me the heros that inspire me the most and that i have grown attached to are the ones that lack the advantage of mutant factors, super powers and special abilities. The ones that get by through sheer will power, smarts, skills and wits.. these are the heros that feel closer to me because they are human, people i can relate to. Though there are many super heros we all can relate to and love there is always that factor of them coming from other worlds, being robots, androids, mutants, etc.

Since i was a kid i've always enjoyed and admired batman but recently i've been getting interested in hero types like The Question and have been happy to see that he is in the spotlight in the new Justice League though i'd like to see him in his solo comic.

Well, kind of veered away from my point here but it'd mean a lot to me and i'm sure to others out there if you took the time to shine the light on the Mortal Heros of the comic world.

Tipton: Hopefully you caught the QUESTION column a few months back…

Mark W. writes: Just read your review on "Countdown", and I agree with a hell of a lot of your points, (when the hell did Max turn evil, J'ohn needs to get back to the Oreos and remember who his friends are, the blood splatter pattern of Beetle's head), but you didn't mention a few big things. For example, Skeet's "death" and the various plot points covered in a page or two, and a great "what if" moment of what the scarab might have helped Beetle.

Ok, enough gushing, but let me ask you a question that I didn't even see in-between the lines of the article, "Who is the new Specter going to be?" Let your mind wonder for a bit on the idea that Ted's life in the next world might be being called to a higher service as the Big Spooky Green Hooded Guy (BSGHG).

Well, hopefully I'm not going to push your head around a spoiler that you don't want, but since the closest I am to a person at DC is an ex-girlfriend's mom grew up in Dan Jurgen's hometown, it can't be called a spoiler per say. More along the lines of a guess or a hope.

Tipton: It wouldn't surprise me, but I don't know if it's a good fit. Although a laughing, devil-may-care, mischievous Spectre could be at least interesting. However, based on current goings-on in GOTHAM CENTRAL and INFINITE CRISIS, it looks like they’re going in a different direction.

Eric M. writes: Just read your Spider-Man and Green Goblin piece. Once again, nice and very informative work. I actually do have a question about Little Normie. Is anything going on with him now in the comics, or has anything happened already? Is he still pissed at Spider-Man? Do you think he will eventually be another new Goblin? I am just curious about your take on the situation with him.

Also, word just broke that Matthew Vaughn has dropped out as director of X3. I was wondering how you felt about that whole situation and who you would like to see step into his place? See here for the story:

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=20349

Thanks again for the great work!

Tipton: I think Norman has taken custody of his grandson these days. I doubt they'll use him as the new Goblin, since he's so young, and it'd be hard to cheat his age unless he's artificially aged somehow.

No opinion on Vaughn leaving -- never saw LAYER CAKE, but always thought he seemed a little inexperienced for such a big movie. Thought the casting of Frasier as the Beast was inspired, though. I have little faith in Brett Ratner, I’m afraid.

JSBudd writes: Regarding your recent feature on Harry Osborn, I seem to recall an issue where he, Spiderman and Molten Man were teamed up against Tombstone. Is my mind playing tricks or did he have a brief period as a hero?

Tipton: Yeah, real brief, like one or two issues.

Rich C. writes: At the time [the Sal Buscema SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN run] came out, I was working in a comic book store and was pushing it hard on people. But this was coming out at the same time as that McFarlane/Venom crap and nobody was biting. So sad. Sal Buscema was the perfect choice for artist on this storyline. His art style added a perfect touch of horror to the story. It actually made me anxious a few times, like when your watching a good horror film and you get that creeping feeling of suspense. It was great stuff. I'd love it if Marvel got this story into a collection.

Tipton: Agreed, Sal is totally underrated.

Sean M. writes: Enjoyed your recent Goblin column, and based on your closing note, I thought you might like to know about this reprint TPB from about a year ago. It collects several of the key Harry-Goblin issues and fills in the gaps between them with historical summaries and panel excerpts:

SPIDER-MAN: SON OF THE GOBLIN TPB
In his father’s eyes, Harry Osborn was never good enough. Harry’s pal, Peter Parker, was truly the type of son Norman Osborn wanted — studious, inventive, strong-willed and industrious. In contrast, Harry had always wilted under life’s pressures and the strain of his father’s domineering influence, unable to live up to Norman’s expectations. Unfortunately, Harry remained unaware of his father’s dark side as the Green Goblin until it was too late. Witnessing Norman’s apparent death in battle with Spider-Man, Harry was driven to the brink of insanity. Assuming his late father’s identity, he began a descent into madness that would haunt him his entire life; only in death could he finally find peace. Now, for the first time ever in one volume, witness the startling tale of Harry’s tragic demise in this all-new collection of classic Spider-Man stories! Collects AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #136-137 and #312, and SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #189 and #200.
In Stores: 07-14-2004

Tipton: Cool -- thanks for the tip! I'd rather have the whole run collected, but it's better than nothing.

Joseph S. writes: A couple things:

1) You mentioned in the recent mail shoot that you almost gave up the gigs a while ago but decided to continue, at least in part, as a result of the feedback you receive and the fact that you are able to turn people on to great comics through your column. While I know you said you have no plans to stop at this point, I had a brief geek-panic attack and wanted to let you know that as a direct result of your column I have purchased the Watchmen trade (I read it several times prior but for some reason did not have it in my library), three classic Avengers collections (the Kree-Skrull War, the George Perez Legends collection, and The Korvac Saga), the Squadron Supreme trade, and the first Animal Man collection.

2) Great article today on Harry Osborn. I'm sure I had most, if not all, of those comics at one point but don't remember it being quite so emotional.

3) I recall you recently referred to the new Batman cartoon as a half-hour toy advertisement. I think that's a bit unfair. True, it's no Batman : The Animated Series (which itself generated quite a few toys, I believe) but it's geared mostly for a younger audience and I don't think the comparison is totally fair. Even with that, it's actually a fairly entertaining show and is more of a quality show than most people think. I ahven't seen all the episodes, and don't make an effort to see them, but the few times I did catch one I've enjoyed it. They recently introduced Clayface and it was actually quite a bit more serious than I expected, with one of the main supporting characters turning into the villian (which was a surprise to me, anyway). Anyway, I'm not sure how many episodes you've seen but I feel bad for the creators behind the show, who I think are trying pretty hard to make a compelling show and have the disadvantages of a) trying to appeal to a younger audience and b) following the still widely acclaimed B:TAS.

Anyway, keep up the great work. All the time and effort you put into these weekly pieces are very much appreciated. Are you planning on continuing your series on the JLA at some point? Are you reading any of the pre-Infinite Crisis books from DC?

Tipton: Glad to hear you're finding some good stuff via the column. As for the new Batman, I've tried to watch it a few times, and the scripts and dialogue just drive me away. A younger audience doesn't mean bad dialogue is acceptable.

Currently back to the JLA discussions, at least for a while. And yeah, I read all of the IC prequel books and am currently really enjoying the miniseries.

Tom P. writes: THANK YOU for not going near the Clone Saga.

That's all.

Tipton: I don't get paid enough to wallow around in that story for any amount of time.

TV RECOMMENDATIONS

Eddie C. writes: Aren't you gonna review any of the new mid-season shows? Seems like there's quite a few this year. How am I supposed to know if any of these shows are any good? Any word on "The Book of Daniel" or "Love Monkey"? I haven't had time to watch all these new shows. Just curious!

Ryall: I would if I had 'em. I get pilots for the Fall shows, but the midseason shows, nope. The only ones I get are stuff like SOUTH BEACH, which became a mid-season show but wasn't originally intended as such (and you should be very glad I spared you from that one). I also wonder why I'm not getting premiere episodes of shows like 24, but what can you do?

As far as these shows go, THE BOOK OF DANIEL is only six episodes long (much like Heather Graham's EMILY'S REASONS WHY NOT now). LOVE MONKEY, while feeling like it cribs a bit too liberally from HIGH FIDELITY, was decent enough, even if it tried a bit too hard to show off how cool ED's musical tastes were compared to everyone else.

E. Darnell A. writes: I am so sorry to say that, yes, you are right about the cartoon. This is what he could not do on FOX? I am entertained by it, yes, but i see the show as totally different from the strip, which is still brilliant. Sadly, The show is not on my "must list.

Ryall: And for an opposing viewpoint...

Chris G. writes: THE BOONDOCKS? Oh, no, you di'int!

Ryall! Buddy! Pal! C'mon! Harshin' on The Boondocks? Honky, please!

I mean, I've had your back the whole time you were takin' on the obsessive Family Guy fans, that show is amusing but clearly overrated.

But not the Boondocks, please! The Christmas episode alone was better than most TV should be, and referenced the comic with Jasmine conflating Santa and Jesus. The references to a Charlie Brown Christmas were also pretty good, and some I had to back up the Tivo to confirm. Did you notice the sound of the shredded contract falling?

Last night's episode, a "what if" scenario with Martin Luther King in modern times, was also pretty good. The speech from Dr. King at the end seems to sum up the theme of the series. This theme can be traced back at least to Chris Rock's "Black People and [N-words]" bit (and probably much further than that). It may not be new, but I'd argue it's still relevant. Now if only someone would come up with a version that lets my fellow Southerners know that "redneck" is not something to be proud of.

Being melanin-deprived myself, I may not be noticing the dated black references you refer to, perhaps if you name some examples I will be compelled to concede that point.

I will however give one character I think is too broad: Uncle Ruckus. He is pretty much just like he was in the strip, but he's much better in small doses instead of appearing in every episode.

Ryall: I'll admit I haven't watched all the episodes, and was basing my opinion on the first couple that I watched (hey, it's tough to come up with 30-some new comments about TV shows every single week). But the ones I watched were a bit dull, and of anything you can say about McGruder's strip itself, it's certainly not dull. It just felt like the edge that his strip has was so sanded down for the show. It's tough to turn a 3- or 6-panel strip into a successful 22-minute animated show (remember GARFIELD? DILBERT? Not even every PEANUTS episode worked all that well, really--not the later ones, anyway). But you do make me think I should give the show another look and see where it's gone since it started. It often takes shows a few episodes to really find their way (unlike, say, FAMILY GUY, which started bad and has maintained that level of mediocrity throughout its runs).

Eddie C. also writes:
THE 63RD GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- 8 PM, NBC:

Seems to also have better nominees than the Emmys. I'm not a huge fan of TV comedies (except for AD and Earl) but they managed to come up with 5 out of 6 (or was it 4 out of 5) that deserve to be nominated. Nice to see Weeds get a nod (bet you never see that in the Emmys). Only one I hope dosen't win is "Desperate Housewives." Decent enough show when it started, but undeserving of all the (overdone) hype it always gets. Wouldn't mind seeing any of the others win. Same for actor in a comedy series (not quite sure why they call it musical or comedy), except for Charlie Sheen. I'm pulling for Braff or Carell though. So, kudos to an awards show I would almost want to watch (but I still won't).

Ryall: How could anyone watch it while Jack Bauer was doing his thing opposite that show? Okay, Scarlett Johannsen at least made it worth flipping by, and I'm happy to see Carell win, but I couldn't sit through the show.

Grant C. writes: All I have to say is, thank God they finally killed That 70’s Show. Why you’d continue to produce the show without Topher Grace and (*shudder*) Ashton Kutcher is pretty much beyond me.

Ryall: Yeah, I liken it to HAPPY DAYS once Richie left. The heart's gone out of the show, but at least finally the show's following suit after this season.

Ryall: TV Reunion petition of the week:

"Hey there, where you goin'/not exactly knowing/every day is better than the--last"

GAME ON!

George C. writes: Ian, there was also a Japanese Saturn version of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. And get this -- It was also called Dracula X!

Ian Bonds replies: Yes, i'm well aware of that game, but i figured just one mention of a Japanese version of a title was enough, as the two really AREN'T THAT wholly different... ,p> I guess Konami likes to confuse the hell out of gamers? LOL

Ian Bonds: Wait til you hear about the CONTRA game they ignore...

Anyhow, there weren't a lot of big differences between the PS1 and Saturn versions of Symphony of the Night other than A) the Saturn version had a few reworked levels and missed some of the transparency effects of the PS1 version, B) it has an additional playable character usable from the start, and C) the Saturn version stayed in Japan. It was Japanese-language only, too.

Ian Bonds: Well, those, and there were two whole other familiars not found in the PS1 version...

(Oh, the Saturn COULD have done a perfect port of the PS1 Symphony of the Night PLUS MORE. It was a 2D powerhouse and MUCH BETTER for that kind of game. It's just that few companies outside of Treasure and Capcom actually plumbed the Saturn hardware to find out what it was capable of doing. Other companies DID learn how to do transparencies on the Saturn.)

The Saturn version got ragged on, but I really didn't see a lot of differences worth agonizing over. Sure, an English translation and subtitles would have helped, but the strategy guides and online FAQs apply as well to this port, too.

Ian Bonds: One day, i'll have my own copy of it, but for now, the only Castlevania game worth spending the fortune on is the Turbo Duo RONDO OF BLOOD...i can live without the Saturn one for now, since i have the PS1 version...

I sometimes wish I had kept my PS1 domestic version of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (never did finish it) for the English, but I still have the Saturn import of Dracula X.

Ian Bonds: See, if we combined our forces, we would be unstoppable! Erm, wait, no, nevermind, not what i meant...

Konami needs to get on the stick and release a compilation of ALL the console ports of the 2D versions of Castlevania in the near-future. Capcom's done it with Megaman (Megaman Anniversary Collection, Megaman X Collection).

Ian Bonds: Agreed...closest thing they've done was a CD-Rom compilation of Castlevania 1-3 and Contra 1 & 2 for PC.

Right now, the closest thing to a Castlevania compilation is a GBA re-release of the first two GBA Castlevania games (or the second and third games?) on one cart. It's for the guys who missed those games the first time around...

Ian Bonds: Actually, as i mentioned in my column, they've only re-released the first Castlevania for GBA...the two pack you're reffering to is not of II and III, but actually Harmony of Dissonance and Aria of Sorrow...which just hit stores this week.

Best of future luck with the column

Ian Bonds: Always a pleasure to talk games with you George.

Gwen or MJ?

Eddie C. writes:
"In the Spidey comicbooks, Gwen is a close pal of Mary Jane's who becomes Parker's g.f., though she loathes Spider-Man because her police captain father was killed during a skirmish between the wall crawler and Doctor Octopus."

This is how the writer of the Variety article describes Gwen Stacy? I know this is a re-posted article, but if you're gonna reprint articles from other sources, I have to hold you responsible for what's posted on your site. Gwen Stacy was Peter Parker's original girlfriend long before Mary Jane came onto the scene. I know the writer is trying not to confuse the movie fans unfamiliar with the comic, but he cites the source of this information as from "the Spidey comicbooks."

This is a gross error from a writer who obviously has no knowledge of the source material. I'm sure Scott Tipton would agree with me. He knows all about Spiderman. Heck, he knows everything about comics.

I also question the inclusion of Gwen Stacy into the movies at this point in time, but I'll reserve judgment on that till I see the movie.

Ryall: Well, yeah, anyone who knows the comics well enough knows that's a pretty gross over-simplification of who Gwen is in the mythos. But the article is out to touch on the comics as briefly as possible and just give a sense of who she is, and mentioning her dad's death at Doc Ock's hands is familiar to people who've only seen the movies and know who Doctor Octopus is.

Sure, us comic geeks would've preferred it said something like "Gwen Stacy was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first met Peter at college. For a time, she and Mary Jane competed for Peter's affections, and she even dated the son of the man who eventually killed her. Despite her eventual distrust of Spider-Man after he appeared responsible for her father's death, she was ultimately the love of his life until she met her end at the hands of Spider-Man's arch-nemesis, Green Goblin. Oh, and anyone who cares about the characters at all refuses to acknowledge that recent crappy run of comics that stated that Gwen once had a sexual relationship with the Green Goblin's alter ego" but it's never gonna happen in an article like that. Interesting casting, though--I like that Bryce Howard.

Photos of the Week

Pics from A SCANNER DARKLY

Synopsis
"A Scanner Darkly" is set in suburban Orange County, California in a future where America has lost the war on drugs. When one reluctant undercover cop is ordered to start spying on his friends, he is launched on a paranoid journey into the absurd, where identities and loyalties are impossible to decode. It is a cautionary tale of drug use based on the novel by Philip K. Dick and his own experiences.

Like a graphic novel come to life, "A Scanner Darkly" will use live action photography overlaid with an advanced animation process (interpolated rotoscoping) to create a haunting, highly stylized vision of the future. The technology, first employed in Richard Linklater’s 2001 film "Waking Life," has evolved to produce even more emotional impact and detail.

Directed by:
Richard Linklater

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder and Rory Cochrane

Scheduled to open: March 2006

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