# Ask the comic guy.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415 "2003-01-09T01:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 36
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/701 "2003-03-08T17:52:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > \*\*Again… his son Grant was a serious threat until his fight with the Titans made his power consume him. That is what sent the Terminator after them. \*\* Been a few years since I read the book, so IIRC, but… No, Grant wasn’t a serious threat because the HIVE knew that his power would consume him, and they wanted that to happen because they knew that Deathstroke would then go after the Titans out of revenge. IOW, if the Ravager’s power was always going to eat him up before he took out the Titans he could never be called a serious threat. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/702 "2003-03-08T18:09:00Z")
What are some good websites out there for comic book news/reviews/discussion? I’m mainly a mainstream reader (mostly Marvel, some DC TPBs, Image, and the offshoots) so I don’t want one heavy on the undergrounds and indies. [CBG.com](http://CBG.com) is ok, but I don’t care for the format or articles all that much. [FourthRail.com](http://FourthRail.com) is very shy on content. [Comicscontinuum.com](http://Comicscontinuum.com) is the style I like but again, not much content. [Zentertainment.com](http://Zentertainment.com) is ideal but not enough comic content. Where do y’all get the scoops? ---
**Author:** ![MachineHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@MachineHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachineHead)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/703 "2003-03-08T22:39:30Z")
Why don’t they use the golden age’s reason for having superheroes? It’s a pretty good idea. ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/704 "2003-03-08T22:55:18Z")
Max, There’s always [Four Color Review](http://www.4colorreview.com), but I have to mention that mainly because I’m one of its semi-regular writers. And the Fourth Rail sucks. Personal gripe; move along. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MachineHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@MachineHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachineHead)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/705 "2003-03-10T00:13:23Z")
Bump. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/706 "2003-03-10T00:42:08Z")
Not related to continuity or anything, but does anyone know if Marvel’s announced any upcoming volumes of the Essentials? I was just thinking today that I could really use a second volume of Iron Man and Thor. ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/707 "2003-03-10T04:11:07Z")
I can’t remember if this is completely correct, but why did they skip the rest of the originial X-men series? They collected the first 24 issues then skipped right to the new x-men? Why? ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/708 "2003-03-10T05:42:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I can’t remember if this is completely correct, but why did they skip the rest of the originial X-men series? They collected the first 24 issues then skipped right to the new x-men? > Why? I’d guess just because people are generally more interested in the Wolverine/Storm/Nightcrawler X-Men than the original team. Hence, like, 5 volumes of the new X-Men and just one of Uncanny. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/709 "2003-03-10T15:56:47Z")
The first 2 or 3 volumes of the Claremont X-Men were put into Essential format before the “Uncanny X-Men” volume reprinting issues 1-24. That’s because the early Claremont & Claremont/Byrne stuff is a classic of the genre, while the Silver Age X-Men decidedly aren’t. (Indeed, that’s why the title was cancelled.) I would like to see the rest of that run in Essential format eventually, though. A recent announcement on one of the news sites (by Quesada, IIRC) was that there were no Essentials volumes currently on tap but that the program has not been discontinued. I also saw a statement by one of the staff people on the Essentials program that they are currently working on the Tomb of Dracula volume (which was solicited and cancelled last year) and a Human Torch volume. (The Torch had a solo feature in Strange Tales early in the Silver Age before Nick Fury took over the spot.) My favorite comics site is [www.newsarama.com](http://www.newsarama.com) but it is primarily news with some features – essentially no reviews. Similar in focus is The Pulse at [www.comicon.com/pulse](http://www.comicon.com/pulse) which covers independent material more heavily. (Although both sites report on mainstream and indie books.) –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/710 "2003-03-10T22:32:31Z")
**Daredevil** I saw the film, and have never read the comic. I liked the film as a fairly fun action flick, with some serious bits, provided you ignore some really, really stupid bits. Glad someone noticed the defence/prosecuting thing. I assumed his heightened senses could tell the rapist was lying - would that make a difference to his vigilantism? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/711 "2003-03-10T22:45:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shade \* > \*\* > I assumed his heightened senses could tell the rapist was lying - would that make a difference to his vigilantism? \*\* In the comics? Not a bit. He’s a lawyer first. Superheroing comes second to him. Now if someone escapes the law and he knows that person is guilty, you bet your butt he’s gonna keep an eye on them and snag them next time they screw up, but he generally isn’t of the mind set “you may have beat me in court, but I’ll just bash your skull in later, so no biggie.” Of course, being a defense lawyer, his clients are the ones that look like the bad guys. You bring up a point that I forgot to mention about the movie. The show him listening to Quesada’s heart beat, then he mentions that plagiary is a crime. But was it really made clear in the movie that he is a human lie-detector? I knew what he was doing, being familiar with the character, but I didn’t know if the rest of the audience knew. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/712 "2003-03-10T22:55:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Carnage \* > \*\*You bring up a point that I forgot to mention about the movie. The show him listening to Quesada’s heart beat, then he mentions that plagiary is a crime. But was it really made clear in the movie that he is a human lie-detector? I knew what he was doing, being familiar with the character, but I didn’t know if the rest of the audience knew. \*\* No, it was _not_ made clear in the movie, but all of us who know DD know that. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/713 "2003-03-10T23:11:15Z")
Thanks. I can’t remember if it was clear - I got it. ---
**Author:** ![Isaac\_Cashman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a9a28c/32.png) [@Isaac\_Cashman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isaac_Cashman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/714 "2003-03-11T14:31:34Z")
To Make a few comments: Any change in the Superman Mythos which would invalidate Larry Niven’s “Man of Steel/ Woman of Kleenex” should be disregarded. I remeber an early Fantastic Four in which a villan managed to put up a force field which would kill the members of the Fantastic Four onlly to be foiled when Reed Richards was able to tur The Thing back in Bejamin Grimm. I want a “Here Comes The Inredible Hulk/There Goes The Incredible Hulk” (with the wooden duck) _sweatshirt_. To answer a few questions. RE: `` Doctor ‘’ Doom: III. He’s a villan. Why would he not take a title to which he isn’t entitled. II. Do we really have all of his back story? I. He runs an enitre bleeping country,. Some University will have given him an honorary PHD. Best Parody/Unmentioned 'till now group: The Inferior Five. Magia De Spell lives on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius and wants Uncle Scrooge’s “Number One Dime”. Since I first read about this in “The Unauthorized Biography of Scrooge McDuck” I see no need for a spoiler warning. Sam Glanman’s U.S.S. Stevens was a filler in DC War mags. “A Sailors Story” was two graphic novels from Marvel. Is this unique? What DC war comic had a tribute to Bill Mauldin’s Willie and Joe? 4 Newspaper Comics questions. Which appeared first: :There Ought To Be A Law" or “They’ll Do It Every Time”? How many newspapers currently carry “They’ll Do It Every Time”? When did “There Ought To Be A Law” end its run. Can you come up with two TOTBAL/TDIET Cartoons which are 180 degrees apart? Three which can be put 120 degrees way from each other? Four which can be put 90 degrees away from each other? Six that are 60 degrees from each other? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/715 "2003-03-22T07:26:05Z")
A couple of Superman related questions, today… 1. In the current continuity, when did Supes reveal his secret identity to Lois? 2. Did Batman attend Superman’s funeral, back in 92’? 3. I once ran across an old Superman comic in an antique store-I don’t remember the publishing date, but it looked at least a couple of decades old-that had some storyline that involved Superman being trapped on Earth behind an orbital forcefield, and some sort of doomsday device had been strapped to his waist, which no one was able to detach. (Some doctors even tried using “ **diamond bladed saws** ,” as they put it, to no avail.) Anyone want to take a crack at identifying that one? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/716 "2003-03-22T07:47:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ranchoth \* > \*\*A couple of Superman related questions, today… > > 1. In the current continuity, when did Supes reveal his secret identity to Lois? > > \*\* Shortly after she accepted Clark Kent’s proposal of marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/717 "2003-03-22T13:31:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ranchoth \* > \*\*3. I once ran across an old Superman comic in an antique store-I don’t remember the publishing date, but it looked at least a couple of decades old-that had some storyline that involved Superman being trapped on Earth behind an orbital forcefield, and some sort of doomsday device had been strapped to his waist, which no one was able to detach. (Some doctors even tried using “ **diamond bladed saws** ,” as they put it, to no avail.) Anyone want to take a crack at identifying that one? \*\* Easy: Action #342, featuring a one-shot (maybe 2 shot) villian called “Grax” who was smarter than Brainiac. See [here](http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=fullsize&issue=01062288700%20342) for the cover. The story was reprinted at least once and maybe twice in the '70s as well. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/718 "2003-03-22T14:12:26Z")
The current US military strategy is described as “shock and awe”. Am I the only one who thinks of Marvel 2099 every time they hear this? Shockin’ awe! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/719 "2003-03-22T16:09:36Z")
I was saying that same thing last night! Or “Awwww, Shock!” ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/720 "2003-03-31T19:54:32Z")
Plastic Man vs. Elongated Man vs. Mr. Fantastic 1. Who wins in a fight to the rubbery finish? 2. What are the major differences in their powers (if any)? 3. What’s Elongated Man up to these days, anyway? (And is “Elongated Man” one of the most ungaily superhero monikers around, or what?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=37)