# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/161 "2003-01-13T20:28:51Z")
Well the fact he got Banned (on top of not knowing nearly as much as 3-4 different posters in this thread) probably had had an impact on that issue. Some of the action: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=156114](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=156114) and probably here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=156130](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=156130) **Fenris** it appears your crown is safe. šŸ™‚ ---
**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:** [January 13, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/162 "2003-01-13T23:44:14Z")
Maybe for general stuff, but when it comes to specialists, I have to doff my crown for **Hastur** and **Chaim** to name just two. šŸ™‚ But it seems like thereā€™s an interest in this thread, so now that I donā€™t have to worry about stealing **Brighteyes** thunder, Iā€™d be interested in continuing, especially if othersā€™ll join in and answer too. So: got any questions that donā€™t involve X-Men from about 1986-1999 or Spider-Man during the Clone-Saga? šŸ˜ƒ Fenris ---
**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 14, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/163 "2003-01-14T03:34:57Z")
What ever happened to the Great Lakes Avengers? I read _West Coast Avengers_ when they were introduced (and I loved that they were based in Milwaukee, not Chicago!). What happened to them after their illustrious debut? ---
**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 14, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/164 "2003-01-14T04:28:49Z")
Iā€™ll take those Clone queries, and maybe any Ultimate Marvel questions. Actually, most anything Spider-Man. The Great Lakes Avengers, IIRC, were last seen in the pages of Thunderbolts attempting to capture the titular group after having changed the GLA name to Lightning Rods. They even had a nifty battle cry: ā€œLightning Rods, Strike!!!ā€ Of course someone pointed out to them that lightning rods donā€™t really _strike_ anything. All the original members were still active, like youā€™d expect any less of Mister Immortal. ---
**Author:** ![TigoleBitties](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TigoleBitties](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TigoleBitties)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/165 "2003-01-14T06:24:42Z")
Hey Fenā€¦Whatever happened to Longshot? He seemed to be a pretty popular character with some. What form is The Thing in now? Thing, Ben, ultra Thing? I lost track a long time ago. while I am at itā€¦ -Anyone want to nominate worst story arc? I say Spider Clone was bad, so was bringing back Aunt May for that matter. Maybe that jackass killer who wiped out a bunch of no name characters saying ā€œjustice is servedā€ all the while. -Best story arc? I would say the DC Crisis was a godsend for the entire line and one hell of a gripping story (even though I did not know a lot of the heroes). -Anyone read The Golden Age? What a story! I heartily urge you to go pick up the trade. -Best parody of superheros? My vote is a splitā€¦Savage Dragonbert is hilarious if you like Savage Dragon, but I picked up one a couple of days ago that had me rollingā€¦its called ā€œThe Proā€. Good lord, if you have not read this, you got to see it. It practically meltsdown the entire hero genre with the worldā€™s only prostitute superheroine. Itā€™s adult, but not in the way you think. Garth Ennis is a part of the team so you know what to expect in terms of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/166 "2003-01-14T08:43:33Z")
**TigoleBitties** : > [@](#): > > Maybe that jackass killer who wiped out a bunch of no name characters saying ā€œjustice is servedā€ all the while. That was the Sin Eater, if Iā€™m not too much mistaken. I donā€™t recall it being all that bad (in fact, I seem to think I liked it when it was released) but itā€™s been a metric buttload of moons since I read it, now. IIRC, he ends up getting "Jack Ruby"ed once heā€™s in police custody, by a never revealed perpetrator, who uses his own tagline after waxing him. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/167 "2003-01-14T12:19:51Z")
No, Sin-Eater was the one who snuffed whatshernameā€¦the lady police detective from Spider-Man (IIRC, it was also one of Peter Davidā€™s first stories). Scourge was the ā€œJustice is Servedā€ guy. And what an idiotic concept that could _only_ have come about in the late ā€œI donā€™t like the toys, so Iā€™ll break 'emā€ '80s. Why snuff villians that could be useful later? :rolleyes: (Real reason? Marvel was feeling spanked by DCā€™s more mature stuff and wanted to get rid of some of what they considered their ā€œsillierā€ stuff.) I think it turned out that Scourge was financed by The Red Skull (revealed around Cap #350 or so) Longshot? No clueā€¦I think heā€™s dead though. Itā€™s part of that big incomprehensible X-Men era. Thing: heā€™s back to his normal Kirby-era self. Fenris ---
**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:** [January 14, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/168 "2003-01-14T12:23:05Z")
Best storyarc? Mooreā€™s Anatomy Lesson onward in Swamp-Thing. The best reinvention of a character ever. The Dark Phoenix saga The original Galactus story. Steve Englehartā€™s Justice Leagues (JLA 139-150). Stunning stuff and completly forgotten. The Return of Barry Allen storyline in Flash I could keep going, butā€¦ Worst storyarc? Umā€¦Can I count every ā€œByrne decides to revamp a bookā€-storyline?\* Or how 'bout the way Nancy Collins(?) and later writers broke Swamp Thing? Hottest DC book for years and over about 20 issues, they ruined the character so badly that weā€™ve only seen Swampy about 15 times since his book ended about 10 years ago (the recent mini-series about his daughter notwithstanding)? Or Gerry Conwayā€™s Justice League with Vibe, Gypsy, Vixen and so on? The Spider-Clone, of course. (Note to writers: donā€™t start a mystery until AFTER youā€™ve worked out whodunnit and why) The Green Lantern/Green Arrows by Oā€™Neil and Adams (IMHO, of course: I realized that these are loved by most people. But the characterization is just plain wrong (Halā€™s not a snivelling wimp\*\*), theyā€™re preachy, the dialogue is terrible etc) The three part ā€œEmerald Twilightā€ crap. Like Kyle Raynor or not, ā€œEmerald Twilightā€ makes no sense (to the extent that it does) unless you ignore the previous 20 issues (and they did). [sub]Iā€™ll stop now[/sub] Fenris \*Note: I donā€™t dislike Byrneā€™s stuff, as long as heā€™s not breaking other peopleā€™s toys. And again, I highly recommend his current Elseworlds series for DC: Generations \*\*Allegedly, one of the reasons that Emerald Twilight happened (beyond the obvious: the Death of Superman and Breaking of Batman series sold really, REALLY well) was that the powers that be (including Oā€™Neil) were upset that Gerard Jones, the writer prior to Emerald Twilight had done a short story arc explaining that Halā€™s behavior in the Oā€™Neil/Adams stuff was due to psychic brain-damage (Bwah-hahahaā€¦ I loved itā€¦) and kicked Jones off the book. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/169 "2003-01-14T13:43:47Z")
A couple of things off the top of my head: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > **No, Sin-Eater was the one who snuffed whatshernameā€¦the lady police detective from Spider-Man (IIRC, it was also one of Peter Davidā€™s first stories).** Thatā€™s Jean DeWolfe. > [@](#): > > **Longshot? No clueā€¦I think heā€™s dead though. Itā€™s part of that big incomprehensible X-Men era.** Actually, Iā€™m pretty sure heā€™s alive and back on MojoWorld. I could be wrong though. And while Iā€™m here, I just want to thank you **Fenris**. I picked up _The Legion_ a while back on your reccomendation and Iā€™m enjoying it. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/170 "2003-01-14T14:14:23Z")
No prob, **Trion**. If you donā€™t mind one more recommendation, get Flash. Thereā€™s two trade paperbacks thatā€™ll catch you up to near current: Geoff Jones is doing some amazing things in that book. And thanks for the info on Longshot. Didnā€™t he die at one point, though? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/171 "2003-01-14T14:24:16Z")
Flash it is. Iā€™ve gotta do something with that Gift Certificate to the comic shop my wife gave me for Christmas. Regarding Longshot - I donā€™t _remember_ him being dead, but considering that just about everyone was dead at one time or another I probably just missed it. But it turns out that my info on Longshot was outdated. I just checked the [X-Men Faq](http://www.enteract.com/~katew/faqs/racmxFAQ/) which tells me the following. > [@](#): > > Longshot left the X-Men to find himself, reappeared, left to deal with Mojoworld, and was last seen with a group of former mental patients roaming the midwestern United States on their way to New York City. This took place in the Longshot one-shot. ---
**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 14, 2003, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/172 "2003-01-14T15:58:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Scourge was the ā€œJustice is Servedā€ guy. And what an idiotic concept that could only have come about in the late ā€œI donā€™t like the toys, so Iā€™ll break 'emā€ '80s. Why snuff villians that could be useful later? (Real reason? Marvel was feeling spanked by DCā€™s more mature stuff and wanted to get rid of some of what they considered their ā€œsillierā€ stuff.) I disagree. I thought the Scourge story - especially the way it was built up with a glance here and there in most of the books, until after two years the character was dealt with in Capā€™s book - was brilliant. And dead villains can always be replaced. > [@](#): > > I think it turned out that Scourge was financed by The Red Skull (revealed around Cap #350 or so) No, I think youā€™re thinking of Flag-Smasher. The secret behind Scourge was revealed in USAgentā€™s miniseries. Scourge turned out to be financed by the Golden Age Angel (a very old Timely character who had not been introduced into modern Marvel continuity until then, except possibly from Rick Jonesā€™s mind in the Kree-Skrull war). That guy ended up dying at the end of that series, and a ā€œScourgeā€ has since been seen quite a bit in the Thunderbolts series. But I donā€™t think that plot thread has yet been resolved. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/173 "2003-01-14T16:58:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiat Lux \* > \*\*Is it _actually stated_ anywhere in the DC Vertigo line that Matthew, Dreamā€™s raven, is the same Matthew Cable of the Swamp Thing series, and if so where? \*\* Swamp Thing #84, the issue where Cable finally dies, has an appearance by Dream where he asks Cable if heā€™d like to come serve Dream and try to redeem himself. The appearance was done with Gaimanā€™s permission. ā€“Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/174 "2003-01-14T17:02:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*Or do you think some fans of the book will see this as a publishing gimmick, get pissed off and leave? \*\* Itā€™s absurd to think of it as a gimmick ā€“ whatā€™s gimmicky about getting a new regular penciller whoā€™s very good at the job? I havenā€™t read it but Iā€™ve heard it is somewhat blah. Of course, most of the people I talk to comics about donā€™t read superheroes (because the vast majority of superhero comics are crap), so maybe thatā€™s just the audience. ā€“Cliffy ---
**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 14, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/175 "2003-01-14T17:38:14Z")
1. Has Spider-Man ever joined and participated in a super-team for any significant length of time? I know he tried to join the FF very early on, and Iā€™m pretty sure I remember the Avengers offering him membership at some point. (Iā€™m also pretty sure he turned it down.) Is there any particular reason heā€™s never done the superteam thing? I mean, even Batmanā€™s part of the Justice League, and Spider-Man doesnā€™t seem as introverted as the Caped Crusader. (I know, different universes.) In fact, heā€™s downright social. 1. Same question for Daredevil, without the ā€œwhat a social guyā€ commentary. 2. Speaking of Daredevil, can someone give me a rundown on Elektraā€™s story, post-Bullseye story arc? Is she active? Dead? Retired? What? (And, while I love Jennifer Garner, is she really the best choice to play Elektra in the Daredevil movie?) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/176 "2003-01-14T18:01:05Z")
OK, this is marginal - Anyone seen the re-issue of ā€œAgents of T.H.U.N.D.E.R.ā€? The Lovely and Talented Mrs. **Shodan** got it for me for Christmas, and it has been on back order since late November. I _loved_ those comics when I was a wee **Shodan**. If it isnā€™t good, please lie to me. So - old Raven, or new? Regards, Shodan ---
**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 14, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/177 "2003-01-14T18:10:55Z")
1. Spidey was invited to the Avengers at one time, but he turned them down. About a year later, he tried to join up with them but they turned him down. Late 80ā€™s-Early 90ā€™s he teamed up with the Avengers to fight Nebula and a couple of issues later he was made a reserve member (along with Sandman [take THAT John Byrne] and others.) After Heroes Reborn though, I think he turned in his ID card unofficially (I asked Kurt Busiek about it one time online and he said Spidey was no longer a reservist, and since Kurt was writing the Avengers at the timeā€¦) Yeah, in issue 1 of ASM, Spider-Man did try to join the FF, but of course they werenā€™t hiring. Much later though, when the FF was in trouble/dead/in the Negative Zone (memory fuzzy), he teamed up with Wolverine, grey Hulk, and Ghost Rider to form the all-new, all-different Fantastic Four, but that only lasted 3 issues. Spidey is not much one for taking orders or advice. He respects and admires a lot of the original heroes (Capt. America, Reed Richards) but he feels restricted when not allowed to cut loose and be unconventional. And I donā€™t think he likes being told to ā€˜quit cracking jokes.ā€™ 1. I think around Avengers #200, vol 1, DareDevil may have been considered for Avengers membership (he was on the cover, anyway) but either he turned them down, or the cover was full of crap. 2. Electra is currently alive (again) and well and working unofficially as a SHIELD assassin. You can check out the first part of her series online at [www.marvel.com](http://www.marvel.com). ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/178 "2003-01-14T18:18:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Interrobang!? \* > \*\*1. Has Spider-Man ever joined and participated in a super-team for any significant length of time? I know he tried to join the FF very early on, and Iā€™m pretty sure I remember the Avengers offering him membership at some point. (Iā€™m also pretty sure he turned it down.) > > Is there any particular reason heā€™s never done the superteam thing? I mean, even Batmanā€™s part of the Justice League, and Spider-Man doesnā€™t seem as introverted as the Caped Crusader. (I know, different universes.) In fact, heā€™s downright social. > \*\* (I always feel like I have to preface any comic book discussion I join with the reminder that my moniker comes from the team of the university I attended and not the X-Men. But no more, this is my last time. I mean it. This is the last time. Until next time.) Besides fighting alongside superhero teams, Spider-Man has been briefly with two teams. The replacement FF with Ghost Rider, Hulk, and Wolverine when the originals where thought dead. They didnā€™t last very long. Made an interesting What If? storyline when the original FF stayed dead. The second was a group a ex-cons (at the time) who were trying to go good. Early '90s before the clone stuff. This included the Prowler, Sandman, the Rocket?, and the Jaguar?. I donā€™t remember what they were called but they were never an official group. Essentially they came together for a couple of issues to do some work. As far as I know, the reason he doesnā€™t join a team is because he wants a normal life. Wake up, go to work, live the married life, be responsible with his power shtick. That sort of thing. A team would take 1. too much time from his personal schedule and 2. expose family and friends to attacks from supervillans, crime lords, and numerous small time crooks heā€™s put away throughout the years. ---
**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 14, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/179 "2003-01-14T18:25:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wolverine \* > [B > The second was a group a ex-cons (at the time) who were trying to go good. Early '90s before the clone stuff. This included the Prowler, Sandman, the Rocket?, and the Jaguar?. I donā€™t remember what they were called but they were never an official group. Essentially they came together for a couple of issues to do some work. > > \*\* That would be the Outlaws, brought together by Silver Sable who had employed each of them at one time or another. The two members in question are Rocket Racer and Puma. I believe when Thunderbolt came out of the closet (so to speak), the Outlaws went after them. Former criminals turned heroes chasing pretend former criminals turned heroes. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/180 "2003-01-14T18:29:01Z")
My particular expertise is limited, but Iā€™m an in-depth specialist in **The Maxx** (and other Sam Kieth stuff) and **Generation X**. So if anyone has questions on those titles, ask away. (Iā€™m also a recent Batman addict. I did know the answer to the Sasha Bordeaux question. (damn, I miss herā€¦)) but I lost track of what happened to my favorite team after their book ended. I know Chamber joined the Uncanny team, I tried to follow him, but got bored after he dated that Britney Spears clone. And I know I saw Emma on some New Xmen covers, so I assume she ended up there. I assume Bansheeā€™s gone back to his second-string Xmen position. But has anyone heard from any of the following characters lately? M Husk Jubilee Skin and especially Penance It really pissed me off that they never resolved who the ā€œnewā€ Penance was after Monet was freed. (silly plotline anyway). And to answer **TigoleBitties** , I assume Synch remained dead. Donā€™t know if heā€™s major enough to count, or if heā€™s been miraculously revived in the past few years, though. Also, what issues do I need to get the whole scoop on Cain from Batman? The end of the Fugitive storyline was a bit lost on me since I didnā€™t know who he was other than Batgirlā€™s father. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=10)