# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/61 "2003-01-09T19:32:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*Ok, here’s a more serious one: > What is the best series that nobody knows about? \*\* I thought I would give my two cents here. You already got the best from a major publisher, but there are some other fantastic comics that are really unknown because they’re not from major publishers. The one that comes right to the top of my head is [Colonia](http://www.coloniapress.com/) by Jeff Nicholson. It’s a fantastic comic (in multiple senses) but it’s self published about as often as Nicholson gets around to it. Try to find the trade paperback that collects the first five issues. Another fun one is [Clan Apis](http://www.jayhosler.com/clanapis.html). I don’t know if anymore of those are being written though. Other titles that spring to mind are [Castle Waiting](http://www.mindspring.com/~johannadc/comics/castle.html), [Bone](http://www.boneville.com/), and [Usagi Yojimbo](http://www.usagiyojimbo.com/). They’re probably known to people who read comics regularly though. Hm…It seems that there’s a theme to my recommendations. They’re all black-and-white family friendly fantasy/adventure comics. Oh well, I suppose I’m in some sort of a rut. But it’s a pretty good rut, especially if you’re bored with/never got into conventional superheros. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/62 "2003-01-09T19:45:06Z")
How good is the new G.I. Joe? IMHO, the old Marvel series and the spin-offs were great until Serpentor and the mutants of Corbra-la came along. COOOOBRRRAAAAAA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LAAAAAAAA! ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/63 "2003-01-09T19:45:20Z")
Don’t forget {b]Maus\*\*. Known, but not extremely well. In terms of humor, Phil Foglio’s **Girl Genius** is pretty good too. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/64 "2003-01-09T19:51:27Z")
Daredevil vs. Wolverine: who has the better sense of 1) smell, 2) taste, 3) hear, and 4) touch? Related question: does Wolverine have enhanced vision to correspond with his other enhanced senses? Unrelated question: any theories about Ben Grimm’s sex life as The Thing? Did he have one? Was/is Alicia willing to forgo that aspect of their relationship? (Yes, inquiring minds will eventually take a stroll through the gutter.) ---
**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:** [January 9, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/65 "2003-01-09T20:05:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bearflag70 \* > \*\*How good is the new G.I. Joe? > > IMHO, the old Marvel series and the spin-offs were great until Serpentor and the mutants of Corbra-la came along. > > COOOOBRRRAAAAAA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LAAAAAAAA! \*\* Cobra-La was never a part of the Marvel GI Joe series. Larry Hama, the one who wrote most of the entire run of Joe (and all of the file cards for the Hasbro toys, and was the model for Tunnel Rat) flat out told Hasbro he thought it was a stupid idea and he wouldn’t include them in the book. Oddly enough, they went with him, thank God. Serpentor on the other hand was great! His entire existence in the comic was a fantastic arc. It led to the great Cobra Civil War on Cobra Island where Zartan got to show off his bad-ass archery skills. When I stopped reading it was when Transformers Generation 2 became part of continuity (not the awful GI Joe/Transformers x-over) and no one thought it was very odd that giant robots from space were roaming around. I can suspend my disbelief only so much. The new Image series is very well done. Blaylock has done a fine job of picking up where the Marvel continuity left off 7 years ago, with Larry Hama’s blessing. In fact, Hama is currently writing GI Joe: Frontline that fills in the gap between the Marvel and Image series. Also worth picking up. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/66 "2003-01-09T20:41:53Z")
Oh, sure. Answer all THOSE questions. Ignore me. I’ll be sulking. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/67 "2003-01-09T20:56:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*Not bad, but you left out Nathan and Rachel. 😃 > > Try wedging _them_ into the word limit. \*\* What am I, a miracle worker? –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/68 "2003-01-09T20:59:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*My sister sold all my Dark Shadows comic books, a dresser drawer full, thirty years ago when I was away at camp (as well as my Lionel train set). Admittedly, I can’t explain now why I ever bought those particular “comics” in the first place but I’m curious, did she do me a favor or rob me of a more comfortable retirement? \*\* Dark Shadows has a big cult following. These books are worth more than you’d think. Looking at a Comic Book Price Guide from about three years ago I’d say a complete run of the Gold Key Dark Shadows would sell for approximatly $500 if it was in mint conditon. If you wanted to buy a set it would probably cost you about $1000 **if** you could even find all the issues. Not exactly enough to retire on but not bad either. furryman Big Dark Shadows fan. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/69 "2003-01-09T21:46:11Z")
Thank you **furryman**! Those AND the Lionel set could have at least kept me on the links daily for a year or so. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/70 "2003-01-09T22:04:23Z")
Here’s the question for you: what exactly is Dr. Doom a Doctor of? He was expelled from college before graduating, after all. And the origin stories (original Lee and Kirby, Kirby’s later version, Wolfman, or the Byrne thing that tried to resolve them all into a coherant process) don’t make any mention of additional schooling. On top of that the later versions of his origin don’t leave him any time to do so off screen as he’s found by a State U recruiter in Europe, goes to school, blows himself up, gets kicked out, and then runs off to Tibet to get further training in mysticism. You could say that he awarded himself a doctorate from the university of Latveria but he wasn’t king there for several years after his first appearance. So what exactly is Dr. Doom a doctor of? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/71 "2003-01-09T22:52:06Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. The Interplanetary Chance Machine was used by the Legion in it’s early days to decide who would go on dangerous missions. A spinning set of planet colored balls would fly out and whoever was hit by one of the “planets” was selected. I think the last appearance was in a Legion of Substitute Heroes story in which one of the planets flew off too fast and knocked out Fire Lad. Actually, the machine, like many other silly fanboy Legion memories, re-appeared in the “TMK” Legion era. Specifically, in LSH (1989 series) # 41 and 50. Both times it was used by Matter-Eater Lad…another of those silly Legion fanboy things (although he was indeed a bona-fide Legionnaire) brought back at that time. ---
**Author:** ![BrightEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@BrightEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightEyes)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/72 "2003-01-09T22:54:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Interrobang!? \* > \*\*Daredevil vs. Wolverine: who has the better sense of 1) smell, 2) taste, 3) hear, and 4) touch? > > Related question: does Wolverine have enhanced vision to correspond with his other enhanced senses? > > Unrelated question: any theories about Ben Grimm’s sex life as The Thing? Did he have one? Was/is Alicia willing to forgo that aspect of their relationship? (Yes, inquiring minds will eventually take a stroll through the gutter.) \*\* I’ll rlue daredeviil on this… I’m sure if I had the the marvel universe guide( thanks marvel, I wanted to know that northstar has the burning power of one thousand candles), whic uses “real” numbers. I remember DD being able to understand if a person is lying by their heart beat, could apparently smell blood from 1000 feet away or something. Wolverine likely has a enhanced sense of sight… Although I can’t think of specific issues that indcate that. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/73 "2003-01-09T22:57:34Z")
I liked Matter-Eater Lad. It really wasn’t a bad power in terms of survival. The only thing he couldn’t digest was the Miracle Machine. ---
**Author:** ![BrightEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@BrightEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightEyes)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/74 "2003-01-09T23:01:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Just Some Guy \* > \*\*Here’s the question for you: what exactly is Dr. Doom a Doctor of? He was expelled from college before graduating, after all. And the origin stories (original Lee and Kirby, Kirby’s later version, Wolfman, or the Byrne thing that tried to resolve them all into a coherant process) don’t make any mention of additional schooling. On top of that the later versions of his origin don’t leave him any time to do so off screen as he’s found by a State U recruiter in Europe, goes to school, blows himself up, gets kicked out, and then runs off to Tibet to get further training in mysticism. You could say that he awarded himself a doctorate from the university of Latveria but he wasn’t king there for several years after his first appearance. > > So what exactly is Dr. Doom a doctor of? \*\* Doctor Doom does not atually have a degree for any sort of medical career. He was going to be a doctor, but when the machine(or was it a spell) that he was using to get his mother’s soul back from Mephisto exploded he was expelled. It scarred his face only slightly; the real face burning would come when he put his still molten hot faceplate. He never went back to get a real degree; although I’d imagined that he wouuld probably easily teach himself in any form of medical science. ---
**Author:** ![LoN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@LoN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoN)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/75 "2003-01-09T23:08:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Bee \* > \*\*I’m going to a wedding next month, and it was mentioned that Will Eisnerwill be there. When another guy, who is also going to be at the wedding, heard this he went a bit funny. 😕 > I asked ‘what’s up’ but he was a bit too excited to be able to explain himself properly but from what I can gather, he had something to do with comics but other than that I haven’t a clue. > > Who or what is Will Eisner? \*\* HOLY… Can I come to the wedding? I’m, um, your long lost brother! Yea, thats it! Seriously,. Eisner is one of the most influential comic creators ever. I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t actually read The Spirit, but I’ve heard enough from other pros to be in awe of him. The comic industry awards (the comic equivalent of the Oscars) are named after him, and that shows something… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/76 "2003-01-09T23:24:15Z")
Fenris Question 7) During the Legion’s battle with Darkseid (issues 290-294 or so of the original series) Element Lad turned something into gold kryptonite to rob the evil Superman clone of its powers and then Timber Wolf destroyed the clone (these were made of inorganic matter – don’t ask me, read the Legion books – so Timber Wolf didn’t violate the Legion’s code against killing). LoN: I have read a fair amount of Spirits and they deserve their reputation. As much as I admire Gaiman and Moore, Eisner is still Da Man. > [@](#): > > For extra credit, explain\* X-Men continuity from Uncanny X-Men 141 to present including all tie-in titles, spin off titles, reboot titles, the Age of Apocolypse, Rachel, Cable, etc. in 500 words or less. (Or don’t.) You don’t ask for much, do you buddy? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/77 "2003-01-09T23:27:52Z")
Even yet more questions Part VII: 1. Why do most corporate crossovers suck? (eg. Batman/Spawn) 2. Will the upcoming JLA/Avengers crossover suck? 3. What the buzz on non-superhero comics (eg Preacher, Strangers in Paradise, Stray Bullets, Transmetropolitan, etc) 4. Why can’t someone write an Elseworlds Superman story in which Big Blue STAYS evil? Some sort of contractural thing? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/78 "2003-01-09T23:54:36Z")
There have been two questions about the golden-age Batman that I feel I must address: He was killed in _Adventure_ #466, not 462 as stated. His marriage to Selena (Catwoman) Kyle was portrayed in _Superman Family_ #211, which was also significant because it’s also the only meeting of Clark (Superman) Kent and Harvey (Two-Face) Kent. ---
**Author:** ![BrightEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@BrightEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightEyes)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/79 "2003-01-09T23:54:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*Even yet more questions Part VII: > > 1. Why do most corporate crossovers suck? (eg. Batman/Spawn) > > 2. Will the upcoming JLA/Avengers crossover suck? > > 3. What the buzz on non-superhero comics (eg Preacher, Strangers in Paradise, Stray Bullets, Transmetropolitan, etc) > > 4. Why can’t someone write an Elseworlds Superman story in which Big Blue STAYS evil? Some sort of contractural thing? \*\* 1. Probably because the writer didn’t write in what **you** want. You could of think of hundreds of different ways it could play out. But chances are it’s going to be batman versus spawn for half the book and then go after the villian. Pretty formulaic. 2. Hopefully not, it’ll be cool just to read an event like that.just to see how Superman would react to captain marvel(marvel comics version ofcourse) ad infinitium. I wish there would be a good croosover book, and this would be a good place to start. 3. Buzz? I’m sorry I don’t know what you mean… 4. hell yeah. i’d imagined it has to do with the way people percieve superman as a representation of america. it would be saying on a symbolic level that superman(or america) could get corrupted beyond the realm of returning to being a good guy. But again, it would be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/80 "2003-01-09T23:57:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*Even yet more questions Part VII: > > 1. Why do most corporate crossovers suck? (eg. Batman/Spawn) I thought the second Superman/Spider-Man crossover was great, myself, though the first did, in fact, suck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=5)