My own contributions went up today: The Imp, Little Hercules, Stuporman and Super Baby! It's a fun little event and I hope you enjoy the profiles!
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Humor profiles at the Marvel Appendix!
My friends at the Marvel Appendix are currently hosting a special humor event, featuring profiles of characters from various humorous titles throughout Marvel Comics history.
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Rest in Peace Olivia de Havilland
At age 104, Olivia de Havilland has passed away.
Olivia de Havilland was a part of my childhood because my father brought up my siblings and I with one of his favourite films: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). I still love that movie and watch it frequently. De Havilland was the definitive Maid Marian in my mind's eye. As I became interested in classic film I soon sought out Captain Blood (1935) -- in fact, I persuaded my parents to buy a copy of the VHS tape for the whole family to enjoy! Captain Blood is another favourite of mine. My mother also introduced me to The Snake Pit (1948), where de Havilland played a woman with psychological troubles who endures a nightmarish stay in a mental ward; that's where I learned she could really act.
As I grew older and became more and more interested in film history, I gained a real respect for de Havilland's movie The Dark Mirror (1946) in which she played two twins, one of which was a killer. I don't think the movie itself is all that great -- just fine. But the story behind the movie fascinates me; de Havilland was tired of the unchallenging roles which Warner Bros kept giving her, so she broke away to star in The Dark Mirror for Universal. She picked Lew Ayres as her leading man because a few years earlier his career had been ruined after he declared himself a pacifist and conscientious objector to World War II. Although he ultimately served in the medical corps and performed acts of heroism, Ayres was despised for refusing to fight; studios were convinced no one would watch a movie with him again. De Havilland insisted on making Ayres her leading man and by doing so proved that the public had forgotten about their earlier hate campaign; his career was saved!
As a fan of old-time radio, there are a few performances of hers worth highlighting: Lux Radio Theater rendered a fantastic adaptation of Captain Blood in 1937 with Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland reprising their roles (I heard this adaptation before I saw the film); you can hear it on the Internet Archive. The Dark Mirror received a very abbreviated adaptation on Screen Directors Playhouse, which you can hear on the Internet Archive.
Finally, de Havilland appeared on one episode of my favourite series, Suspense: "Voyage Through Darkness" from September 7, 1944. De Havilland prortrayed a woman travelling by boat across the Atlantic when she discovers a notorious killer is among the passengers. It's not first-rate Suspense, but it's still a pretty good story. This episode is also on the Internet Archive.
Rest in peace, Ms. de Havilland.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Marvel One Shots: creator credits
It's easy to forget about the Marvel One Shots -- they were short bonus videos which appeared on a few DVDs for Marvel Cinematic Universe titles from Thor through Thor: The Dark World. Some of them are decent, particularly Hail to the King, but one senses the creators wanted to focus their efforts on the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series instead.
The creators whose work appears in the Marvel One Shots are listed below. My full list is here. Let me know what I might have missed!
Stan Lee: co-creator of the Skrulls, who inspired the Chitauri (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of the Hulk, Bruce Banner, a scientist who transforms into a monster; of General Thaddeus Ross, a US Air Force officer who battles the Hulk (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Nick Fury, a soldier (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of S.H.I.E.L.D., an international intelligence agency led by director Nick Fury (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of Jasper Sitwell, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who wears glasses (Strange Tales #144, 1966); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a genius inventor who wears a suit of armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's secretary (Tales of Suspense #45, 1963); of the Mandarin, a Chinese warlord who wears ten rings (Tales of Suspense #50, 1964); of Peggy Carter, Captain America's wartime love interest (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966); of the Abomination, a giant green monster who fought the Hulk (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967)
Jack Kirby: co-creator of Captain America, Steve Rogers, a red, white and blue-garbed patriotic hero of World war II (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of the Skrulls, who inspired the Chitauri (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of the Hulk, Bruce Banner, a scientist who transforms into a monster; of General Thaddeus Ross, a US Air Force officer who battles the Hulk (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Nick Fury, a soldier (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of S.H.I.E.L.D., an international intelligence agency led by director Nick Fury (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of Jasper Sitwell, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who wears glasses (Strange Tales #144, 1966); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a genius inventor who wears a suit of armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Mandarin, a Chinese warlord who wears ten rings (Tales of Suspense #50, 1964); of Peggy Carter, Captain America's wartime love interest (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966)
Don Heck: co-creator of Howard Stark, an inventive genius (Iron Man #28, 1970); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a genius inventor who wears a suit of armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's secretary (Tales of Suspense #45, 1963); of the Mandarin, a Chinese warlord who wears ten rings (Tales of Suspense #50, 1964)
Roy Thomas: co-creator of the Zodiac, a crime cartel (Avengers #72, 1970); of Seagate Prison, a facility which has incarcerated super-criminals (Hero for Hire #1, 1972); of Jackson Norriss, a man involved with superhumans (Incredible Hulk #125, 1970); of the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo, an eagle within a circle (Strange Tales #154, 1967)
Mark Millar: co-creator of the Initiative, a program guided by S.H.I.E.L.D. to police the USA's population of superhumans (Civil War #7, 2007); of the Chitauri, a race of extraterrestrial invaders (Ultimates #8, 2002)
Sal Buscema: co-creator of the Zodiac, a crime cartel (Avengers #72, 1970); of Peggy Carter's name (Captain America #162, 1973); of Peggy Carter as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #169, 1974)
Archie Goodwin: co-creator of Seagate Prison, a facility which has incarcerated super-criminals (Hero for Hire #1, 1972); of Howard Stark, an inventive genius (Iron Man #28, 1970)
Joe Simon: co-creator of Captain America, Steve Rogers, a red, white and blue-garbed patriotic hero of World war II (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)
Gil Kane: co-creator of the Abomination, a giant green monster who fought the Hulk (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967)
Mark Gruenwald: creator of Emil Blonsky, the Abomination's real name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1, 1983)
Larry Lieber: co-creator of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a genius inventor who wears a suit of armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)
Steve McNiven: co-creator of the Initiative, a program guided by S.H.I.E.L.D. to police the USA's population of superhumans (Civil War #7, 2007)
Dick Ayers: co-creator of Peggy Carter, Captain America's wartime love interest (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966)
Howard Purcell: co-creator of Jasper Sitwell, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who wears glasses (Strange Tales #144, 1966)
Steve Englehart: co-creator of Peggy Carter's name (Captain America #162, 1973); of Peggy Carter as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #169, 1974)
Mike Friedrich: co-creator of Peggy Carter as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #169, 1974)
Herb Trimpe: co-creator of Jackson Norriss, a man involved with superhumans (Incredible Hulk #125, 1970)
Fabian Nicieza: co-creator of Jackson Norriss interviewing people about their involvement with superhumans (Nomad #25, 1994)
Peter Garcia: co-creator of Jackson Norriss interviewing people about their involvement with superhumans (Nomad #25, 1994)
Jim Steranko: co-creator of the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo, an eagle within a circle (Strange Tales #154, 1967)
George Tuska: co-creator of Seagate Prison, a facility which has incarcerated super-criminals (Hero for Hire #1, 1972)
John Romita: co-creator of Seagate Prison, a facility which has incarcerated super-criminals (Hero for Hire #1, 1972)
Warren Ellis: co-creator of Aldrich Killian, a man connected to Iron Man (Iron Man #1, 2005)
Adi Granov: co-creator of Aldrich Killian, a man connected to Iron Man (Iron Man #1, 2005)
Bryan Hitch: co-creator of the Chitauri, a race of extraterrestrial invaders (Ultimates #8, 2002)
Bob Layton: co-creator of Justin Hammer, a tycoon who funds super-criminals (Iron Man #120, 1979)
David Michelinie: co-creator of Justin Hammer, a tycoon who funds super-criminals (Iron Man #120, 1979)
John Romita, Jr.: co-creator of Justin Hammer, a tycoon who funds super-criminals (Iron Man #120, 1979)
Dustin Weaver: co-creator of Howard Stark involved in S.H.I.E.L.D. (Shield #1, 2010)
Jonathan Hickman: co-creator of Howard Stark involved in S.H.I.E.L.D. (Shield #1, 2010)
Monday, July 20, 2020
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (season 3) creator credits
By this season, it's more and more clear that this television series owes more to Jonathan Hickman's Secret Warriors than any of the Nick Fury series. At the same time, it's also going deeper and deeper down its own road. It's a science fiction ensemble drama, not really a super hero show. But it's good on its own merits.
You can check out my full list of Marvel Cinematic Universe creator credits here!
Stan Lee: co-creator of the Inhumans, a sub-species of humanity who possess superhuman abilities; of the title "Among Us Hide..." (Fantastic Four #45, 1965); of the Alpha Primitives, the slave caste created and commanded by the Inhumans (Fantastic Four #47, 1966); of the Kree, an extraterrestrial race who have visited Earth (Fantastic Four #64, 1967); of Asgard, the home dimension of the Norse gods (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of the Absorbing Man, Carl "Crusher" Creel, a criminal whose body adapts itself, assuming the same properties of whatever he's in contact with (Journey into Mystery #114, 1965); of Nick Fury, a capable soldier (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, a German officer (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5, 1964); of Eric Koenig, an ally of Nick Fury (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #27, 1966); of S.H.I.E.L.D., an international espionage agency; of Nick Fury as director of S.H.I.E.L.D.; of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s flying cars; of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier vessels; of Life Model Decoys, lifelike androids used by S.H.I.E.L.D.; of Hydra, a terrorist organization opposed to S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of the Hydra insignia, a skull atop octopus arms (Strange Tales #151, 1966); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a heroic inventor who wears a suit of advanced armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Peggy Carter, intelligence operative and wartime love interest of Captain America (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966); of Henry Pym, a scientist who develops the means to alter the size of objects (Tales to Astonish #27, 1962); of Glenn Talbot, an officer in the US Air Force who battles rogue superhumans (Tales to Astonish #61, 1964); of the Terrigen Mist, superhuman crystals which grant the Inhumans their abilities (Thor #146, 1967)
Jack Kirby: co-creator of Captain America, Steve Rogers, a patriotic hero of World War II; of the Red Skull, an infamous Nazi agent (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of the Inhumans, a sub-species of humanity who possess superhuman abilities; of the title "Among Us Hide..." (Fantastic Four #45, 1965); of the Alpha Primitives, the slave caste created and commanded by the Inhumans (Fantastic Four #47, 1966); of the Kree, an extraterrestrial race who have visited Earth (Fantastic Four #64, 1967); of Asgard, the home dimension of the Norse gods (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of the Absorbing Man, Carl "Crusher" Creel, a criminal whose body adapts itself, assuming the same properties of whatever he's in contact with (Journey into Mystery #114, 1965); of Nick Fury, a capable soldier (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, a German officer (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5, 1964); of S.H.I.E.L.D., an international espionage agency; of Nick Fury as director of S.H.I.E.L.D.; of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s flying cars; of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier vessels; of Life Model Decoys, lifelike androids used by S.H.I.E.L.D.; of Hydra, a terrorist organization opposed to S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a heroic inventor who wears a suit of advanced armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Peggy Carter, intelligence operative and wartime love interest of Captain America (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966); of Henry Pym, a scientist who develops the means to alter the size of objects (Tales to Astonish #27, 1962); of the Terrigen Mist, superhuman crystals which grant the Inhumans their abilities (Thor #146, 1967)
Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of Victoria Hand, a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer (Dark Avengers #1, 2009); of Daisy Johnson as field leader for a S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored team of superhumans; of James, one of Daisy's fellow recruits, with the power to generate flames, including in the shape of a chain; of Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez, one of Daisy's fellow recruits with superhuman speed (Mighty Avengers #13, 2008); of Quake, Daisy JOhnson's codename (New Avengers #20, 2006); of James' codename Hellfire (Secret Invasion #4, 2008); of Daisy Johnson, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with the superhuman power to control seismic energy; of Daisy's gloves used to help control her powers (Secret War #2, 2005)
Jonathan Hickman: co-creator of various humans possessing latent Inhuman status, awakened when Terrigen is released on Earth (Infinity #4, 2013); of Nemesis, a Hydra base; of Omega Point, a Hydra base; of the Secret Warriors, a S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored team of young superhumans including Daisy Johnson and Yo-Yo Rodriguez (Secret Warriors #1, 2009); of Hive, a tentacle-headed creature who exists like a parasite, infecting various people; of Hive as one of the leaders of Hydra (Secret Warriors #2, 2009); of Eden Fesi, an Australian superhuman (Secret Warriors #4, 2009); of Daniel Whitehall, an agent of Hydra (Secret Warriors #11, 2010)
Roy Thomas: co-creator of Bobbi Morse's first name, Bobbi's blonde hair (Astonishing Tales #8, 1971); of Bobbi Morse's full name and background as a biologist (Astonishing Tales #12, 1972); of Bobbie Morse as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Astonishing Tales #13, 1972); of the nation of Transia (Avengers #36, 1967); of Ultron, the robotic enemy of the Avengers (Avengers #54, 1968); of Quinjets, the personal aircraft of the Avengers (Avengers #61, 1969); of the Kree possessing blue skin; of Hala, the Kree homeworld (Captain Marvel #1, 1968); of the round eagle logo used by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strange Tales #154, 1967)
Bob Harras: co-creator of Al MacKenzie as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1989); of Werner von Strucker, the son of Baron Strucker who is used as a pawn by others because of his family's reputation (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2, 1989); of Hydra taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. from within (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1988); of Aphonse "Al" MacKenzie, a spy affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D. (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #3, 1988); of S.H.I.E.L.D. exposed as rife with internal corruption and dismantled (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, 1988)
Stefano Caselli: co-creator of Nemesis, a Hydra base; of Omega Point, a Hydra base; of the Secret Warriors, a S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored team of young superhumans including Daisy Johnson and Yo-Yo Rodriguez (Secret Warriors #1, 2009); of Hive, a tentacle-headed creature who exists like a parasite, infecting various people; of Hive as one of the leaders of Hydra (Secret Warriors #2, 2009); of Eden Fesi, an Australian superhuman (Secret Warriors #4, 2009); of Daniel Whitehall, an agent of Hydra (Secret Warriors #11, 2010)
Mark Gruenwald: co-creator of the Watchdogs, an extremist militant conservative group who dress in body armor, carry rifles and threaten people who they believe are contrary to their ideals (Captain America #335, 1987); of the twin staves which Bobbi Morse uses as her personal weapons; of Bobbi Morse being forced to become a rogue agent (Marvel Team-Up #95, 1980); of Aida, a human-like artificial intelligence (Squadron Supreme #1, 1985)
Jim Steranko: creator of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker as supreme leader of Hydra (Strange Tales #155, 1967); of Hydra being a group which splintered out of Nazi Germany (Strange Tales #156, 1967); co-creator of the Hydra insignia, a skull atop octopus arms (Strange Tales #151, 1966); of the round eagle logo used by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strange Tales #154, 1967)
Alex Maleev: co-creator of Daisy Johnson as field leader for a S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored team of superhumans; of James, one of Daisy's fellow recruits, with the power to generate flames, including in the shape of a chain; of Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez, one of Daisy's fellow recruits with superhuman speed (Mighty Avengers #13, 2008)
John Buscema: co-creator of Bobbi Morse's full name and background as a biologist (Astonishing Tales #12, 1972); of Bobbie Morse as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Astonishing Tales #13, 1972); of Ultron, the robotic enemy of the Avengers (Avengers #54, 1968); of Quinjets, the personal aircraft of the Avengers (Avengers #61, 1969)
Paul Neary: co-creator of Hydra taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. from within (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1988); of Aphonse "Al" MacKenzie, a spy affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D. (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #3, 1988); of S.H.I.E.L.D. exposed as rife with internal corruption and dismantled (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, 1988)
Mark Millar: co-creator of S.H.I.E.L.D. overseeing the registration of the USA's superhuman population; of Captain America and Iron Man on opposing sides over the issue of registration (Civil War #1, 2006); of Hydra as an ancient organization active throughout human history (Wolverine #29, 2005)
Don Heck: co-creator of the nation of Transia (Avengers #36, 1967); of Howard Stark, deceased father of Tony Stark and previous owner of Stark Industries (Iron Man #28, 1970); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a heroic inventor who wears a suit of advanced armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)
Steve McNiven: co-creator of an elderly Peggy Carter dying in her sleep (Captain America #1, 2011); of S.H.I.E.L.D. overseeing the registration of the USA's superhuman population; of Captain America and Iron Man on opposing sides over the issue of registration (Civil War #1, 2006)
Gary Friedrich: co-creator of Bobbi Morse's first name, Bobbi's blonde hair (Astonishing Tales #8, 1971); of Eric Koenig as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #146, 1972); of the Red Skull funding the creation of Hydra (Captain America #148, 1972); of Lance Hunter, a British agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain Britain #19, 1977)
Dwayne McDuffie: co-creator of Damage Control, an organization which cleans up after superhuman battles (Marvel Age Annual #4, 1988); of Cybertek, a cybernetics firm which designs Deathlok as a living weapon (Marvel Comics Presents #62, 1990)
Dick Ayers: co-creator of Eric Koenig, an ally of Nick Fury (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #27, 1966); of Peggy Carter, intelligence operative and wartime love interest of Captain America (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966)
Tom Morgan: co-creator of the Watchdogs, an extremist militant conservative group who dress in body armor, carry rifles and threaten people who they believe are contrary to their ideals (Captain America #335, 1987)
Gabriele Dell'Otto: co-creator of Daisy Johnson, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with the superhuman power to control seismic energy; of Daisy's gloves used to help control her powers (Secret War #2, 2005)
Keith Pollard: co-creator of Werner von Strucker, the son of Baron Strucker who is used as a pawn by others because of his family's reputation (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2, 1989)
Bob Hall: co-creator of Al MacKenzie as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1989); of Aida, a human-like artificial intelligence (Squadron Supreme #1, 1985)
Herb Trimpe: co-creator of Bobbi Morse's first name, Bobbi's blonde hair (Astonishing Tales #8, 1971); of Lance Hunter, a British agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain Britain #19, 1977)
Charles Soule: co-creator of Lash, an extremely powerful Inhuman who battles other Inhumans; of Inferno, an Inhuman with the power to control flame (Inhuman #1, 2014)
Joe Madureira: co-creator of Lash, an extremely powerful Inhuman who battles other Inhumans; of Inferno, an Inhuman with the power to control flame (Inhuman #1, 2014)
Tom DeFalco: co-creator of the Absorbing Man working for Hydra (Captain America #24, 1999); of Kara Lynn Palamas, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Hercules: Heart of Chaos #1, 1997)
Ron Frenz: co-creator of the Absorbing Man working for Hydra (Captain America #24, 1999); of Kara Lynn Palamas, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Hercules: Heart of Chaos #1, 1997)
Joe Simon: co-creator of Captain America, Steve Rogers, a patriotic hero of World War II; of the Red Skull, an infamous Nazi agent (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)
Steven Grant: co-creator of the twin staves which Bobbi Morse uses as her personal weapons; of Bobbi Morse being forced to become a rogue agent (Marvel Team-Up #95, 1980)
Jimmy Janes: co-creator of the twin staves which Bobbi Morse uses as her personal weapons; of Bobbi Morse being forced to become a rogue agent (Marvel Team-Up #95, 1980)
Rich Buckler: co-creator of Bobbie Morse as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Astonishing Tales #13, 1972); of Deathlok, a cybernetic man (Astonishing Tales #25, 1974)
George Tuska: co-creator of Darkforce, a form of black energy which emerges from an alien dimension, has various uses including teleportation (Champions #7, 1976)
Bill Mantlo: co-creator of Darkforce, a form of black energy which emerges from an alien dimension, has various uses including teleportation (Champions #7, 1976)
Mike Deodato, Jr.: co-creator of Victoria Hand, a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer (Dark Avengers #1, 2009); of Quake, Daisy JOhnson's codename (New Avengers #20, 2006)
Sal Buscema: co-creator of Eric Koenig as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #146, 1972); of the Red Skull funding the creation of Hydra (Captain America #148, 1972); of Peggy Carter's name (Captain America #162, 1973)
Jerome Opena: co-creator of various humans possessing latent Inhuman status, awakened when Terrigen is released on Earth (Infinity #4, 2013)
Steve Ditko: co-creator of Glenn Talbot, an officer in the US Air Force who battles rogue superhumans (Tales to Astonish #61, 1964)
Marc Sumerak: co-creator of Holden Radcliffe, a business executive interested in super-science, particularly robotics (Machine Teen #1, 2005)
Mike Hawthorne: co-creator of Holden Radcliffe, a business executive interested in super-science, particularly robotics (Machine Teen #1, 2005)
Olivier Coipel: co-creator of humans affected by terrigen transforming from within a coccoon (Inhumanity #1, 2013)
Matt Fraction: co-creator of humans affected by terrigen transforming from within a coccoon (Inhumanity #1, 2013)
John Romita, Jr.: of Hydra as an ancient organization active throughout human history (Wolverine #29, 2005)
Frank Miller: co-creator of John Garrett, a cybernetic agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Elektra: Assassin #2, 1986)
Bill Sienkiewicz: co-creator of John Garrett, a cybernetic agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Elektra: Assassin #2, 1986)
Ernie Colon: co-creator of Damage Control, an organization which cleans up after superhuman battles (Marvel Age Annual #4, 1988)
Archie Goodwin: co-creator of Howard Stark, deceased father of Tony Stark and previous owner of Stark Industries (Iron Man #28, 1970)
Doug Moench: co-creator of Deathlok, a cybernetic man (Astonishing Tales #25, 1974)
Dan Slott: co-creator of the Inhumans' ability to transform humans into Alpha Primitives (Mighty Avengers #27, 2009)
Christos N. Gage: co-creator of the Inhumans' ability to transform humans into Alpha Primitives (Mighty Avengers #27, 2009)
Khoi Pham: co-creator of the Inhumans' ability to transform humans into Alpha Primitives (Mighty Avengers #27, 2009)
Rafael Marin: co-creator of the Inhumans being designed as foot soldiers for the Kree (Inhumans #1, 2000)
Jose Ladronn: co-creator of the Inhumans being designed as foot soldiers for the Kree (Inhumans #1, 2000)
Gene Colan: co-creator of the Kree possessing blue skin; of Hala, the Kree homeworld (Captain Marvel #1, 1968)
Larry Lieber: co-creator of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a heroic inventor who wears a suit of advanced armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)
Gregory Wright: co-creator of Cybertek, a cybernetics firm which designs Deathlok as a living weapon (Marvel Comics Presents #62, 1990)
Jackson Guice: co-creator of Cybertek, a cybernetics firm which designs Deathlok as a living weapon (Marvel Comics Presents #62, 1990)
Ed Brubaker: co-creator of an elderly Peggy Carter dying in her sleep (Captain America #1, 2011)
Joe Harris: co-creator of Scorch, a man with the superhuman power to control fire (Bishop: The Last X-Man #1, 1999)
Georges Jeanty: co-creator of Scorch, a man with the superhuman power to control fire (Bishop: The Last X-Man #1, 1999)
Barry Windsor-Smith: co-creator of Bobbi Morse, an adventurer (Astonishing Tales #6, 1971)
Gerry Conway: co-creator of Bobbi Morse, an adventurer (Astonishing Tales #6, 1971)
Neal Adams: co-creator of Bobbi Morse, an adventurer (Astonishing Tales #6, 1971)
Len Wein: co-creator of Bobbi Morse, an adventurer (Astonishing Tales #6, 1971)
Leinil Francis Yu: co-creator of James' codename Hellfire (Secret Invasion #4, 2008)
Steve Englehart: co-creator of Peggy Carter's name (Captain America #162, 1973)
Friday, July 17, 2020
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (season 2) creator credits
Continuing my catch-up on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., here are the comic book creators responsible for elements seen in season 2. This, of course, is the season which introduced the Uncanny X-... duh... I mean, the Incomparable Inhumans! More importantly, it's the season where Mister Hyde becomes the breakout character!
My full checklist of creator credits is here!
Stan Lee: co-creator of the Avengers, "Earth's Mightiest Heroes", a team of super heroes whose ranks include Iron Man and Hulk (Avengers #1, 1963); of Captain America missing since World War II, revived in contemporary times; of Captain America as one of the Avengers (Avengers #4, 1964); of the extraterrestrial Skrulls, from whom the Chitauri were derived (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of the Inhumans, a sub-species of humanity who possess superhuman abilities (Fantastic Four #45, 1965); of the Inhumans based in a hidden city in the Himalayan mountains (Fantastic Four #47, 1966); of Vibranium, a powerful metallic substance which absorbs vibrations (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of the Kree, an extraterrestrial race who have visited Earth; of the Kree employing a Sentry to guard their abandoned outposts (Fantastic Four #64, 1967); of the Hulk, Bruce Banner, a giant monster whose powers come from gamma radiation (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Thor, hero of Asgard (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Asgard, the realm of the Norse Gods; of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge which connects Asgard to the Earth; of Jack Kirby: co-creator of the Avengers, "Earth's Mightiest Heroes", a team of super heroes whose ranks include Iron Man and Hulk (Avengers #1, 1963); of Captain America missing since World War II, revived in contemporary times; of Captain America as one of the Avengers (Avengers #4, 1964); of Captain America, a World War II super hero; of the Red Skull, a Nazi agent (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of the extraterrestrial Skrulls, from whom the Chitauri were derived (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of the Inhumans, a sub-species of humanity who possess superhuman abilities (Fantastic Four #45, 1965); of the Inhumans based in a hidden city in the Himalayan mountains (Fantastic Four #47, 1966); of Vibranium, a powerful metallic substance which absorbs vibrations (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of the Kree, an extraterrestrial race who have visited Earth; of the Kree employing a Sentry to guard their abandoned ouposts (Fantastic Four #64, 1967); of the Hulk, Bruce Banner, a giant monster whose powers come from gamma radiation (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Thor, hero of Asgard (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Asgard, the realm of the Norse Gods; of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge which connects Asgard to the Earth; of Roy Thomas: co-creator of Bobbi Morse's first name, Bobbi's blonde hair (Astonishing Tales #8, 1971); of Bobbi Morse's full name (Astonishing Tales #12, 1972); of Bobbie Morse as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Astonishing Tales #13, 1972); of Ultron, the robotic enemy of the Avengers (Avengers #54, 1968); of Quinjets, the personal aircraft of the Avengers (Avengers #61, 1969); of Hawkeye's real name, Clint Barton (Avengers #64, 1969); of the Kree possessing blue skin; of Hala, homeworld of the Kree (Captain Marvel #1, 1968); of Jim Morita, a World War II Nisei soldier who fought alongside the Howling Commandos (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #38, 1967); of the round eagle logo used by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strange Tales #154, 1967)
Don Heck: co-creator of Howard Stark, genius inventor (Iron Man #28, 1970); of Mister Hyde, Calvin Zabo, a criminal scientist who experiments upon himself and has superhuman strength (Journey into Mystery #99, 1963); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a genius inventor who wears a sophisticated suit of powerful armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Blizzard, a villain who can generate ice; of Stark Industries, Tony Stark's business (Tales of Suspense #45, 1963); of the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, a spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Hawkeye, an expert archer (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964)
Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of Victoria Hand, a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer (Dark Avengers #1, 2009); of Daisy Johnson as field leader for a S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored team of superhumans (Mighty Avengers #13, 2008); of Daisy Johnson, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with the superhuman power to control seismic energy; of Daisy's gloves used to help control her powers (Secret War #2, 2005); of Calvin Zabo as Daisy Johnson's absentee father (Secret War #3, 2004); of Maria Hill, an officer in S.H.I.E.L.D. (Secret War #5, 2005)
Jonathan Hickman: co-creator of various humans possessing latent Inhuman status, awakened when Terrigen is released on Earth (Infinity #4, 2013); of Echidna Capital Management, a company used by Hydra as a legitimate front; of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Caterpillar program used to monitor latent superhumans (Secret Warriors #1, 2009); of Daniel Whitehall, an agent of Hydra (Secret Warriors #11, 2010); of Iliad, a S.H.I.E.L.D. carrier vehicle (Secret Warriors #17, 2010)
Bob Harras: co-creator of Al MacKenzie joining S.H.I.E.L.D. (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1989); of Hydra taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. from within (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1988); of Aphonse "Al" MacKenzie, a spy affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D.; of Alexander Pierce, a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #3, 1988); of S.H.I.E.L.D. exposed as rife with internal corruption and dismantled (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, 1988)
Dick Ayers: co-creator of Peggy Carter, intelligence operative and wartime love interest of Captain America (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966); of Jacques Dernier, a member of the French Resistance who fought alongside the Howling Commandos (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #21, 1965); of Jim Morita, a World War II Nisei soldier who fought alongside the Howling Commandos (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #38, 1967)
Mark Millar: co-creator of S.H.I.E.L.D. overseeing the registration of the USA's superhuman population (Civil War #1, 2006); of the Initiative used by S.H.I.E.L.D. to monitor and register superhumans (Civil War #7, 2007); of the Triskelion, the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Ultimates #1, 2002); of the Chitauri, an extraterrestrial race of warriors who invade the Earth (Ultimates #8, 2002)
Paul Neary: co-creator of Hydra taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. from within (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1988); of Aphonse "Al" MacKenzie, a spy affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D.; of Alexander Pierce, a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #3, 1988); of S.H.I.E.L.D. exposed as rife with internal corruption and dismantled (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, 1988)
Gene Colan: co-creator of Hawkeye's real name, Clint Barton (Avengers #64, 1969); of the Kree possessing blue skin; of Hala, homeworld of the Kree (Captain Marvel #1, 1968); of Angar the Screamer, David Alan Angar, a man with powerful sonic abilities (Daredevil #100, 1973); of Whiplash, a criminal mercenary who wields a metal whip (Tales of Suspense #97, 1968)
Jim Steranko: creator of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker as supreme leader of Hydra (Strange Tales #155, 1967); of Hydra being a group which splintered out of Nazi Germany (Strange Tales #156, 1967); co-creator of the Hydra insignia, a skull atop octopus arms (Strange Tales #151, 1966); of the round eagle logo used by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strange Tales #154, 1967)
Gabriele Dell'Otto: co-creator of Daisy Johnson, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with the superhuman power to control seismic energy; of Daisy's gloves which allow her to control her power (Secret War #2, 2005); of Calvin Zabo as Daisy Johnson's absentee father (Secret War #3, 2004); of Maria Hill, an officer in S.H.I.E.L.D. (Secret War #5, 2005)
Gary Friedrich: co-creator of Bobbi Morse's first name, Bobbi's blonde hair (Astonishing Tales #8, 1971); of Eric Koenig as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #146, 1972); of the Red Skull funding the creation of Hydra (Captain America #148, 1972); of Lance Hunter, a British agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain Britain #19, 1977)
John Buscema: co-creator of Bobbi Morse's full name (Astonishing Tales #12, 1972); of Bobbie Morse as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Astonishing Tales #13, 1972); of Ultron, the robotic enemy of the Avengers (Avengers #54, 1968); of Quinjets, the personal aircraft of the Avengers (Avengers #61, 1969)
Stefano Caselli: co-creator of Echidna Capital Management, a company used by Hydra as a legitimate front; of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Caterpillar program used to monitor latent superhumans (Secret Warriors #1, 2009); of Daniel Whitehall, an agent of Hydra (Secret Warriors #11, 2010)
Herb Trimpe: co-creator of Bobbi Morse's first name, Bobbi's blonde hair (Astonishing Tales #8, 1971); of Lance Hunter, a British agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain Britain #19, 1977); of Glenn Talbot being held as a prisoner of war (Incredible Hulk #187, 1975)
Rich Buckler: co-creator of Bobbie Morse as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Astonishing Tales #13, 1972); of Deathlok, a cybernetic man with a damaged face and artificial eye; Deathlok's internal computer system (Astonishing Tales #25, 1974)
David Michelinie: co-creator of Mark Scarlotti, Whiplash's real name (Iron Man #146, 1981); of Donnie Gill, a young man who has access to technology which generates ice and uses it for criminal purposes (Iron Man #223, 1987)
Sal Buscema: co-creator of Eric Koenig as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #146, 1972); of the Red Skull funding the creation of Hydra (Captain America #148, 1972); of Peggy Carter's name (Captain America #162, 1973)
Bob Layton: co-creator of Mark Scarlotti, Whiplash's real name (Iron Man #146, 1981); of Donnie Gill, a young man who has access to technology which generates ice and uses it for criminal purposes (Iron Man #223, 1987)
Doug Moench: co-creator of Deathlok, a cybernetic man with a damaged face and artificial eye; Deathlok's internal computer system (Astonishing Tales #25, 1974); of the Kree using truncheon weapons (Inhumans #11, 1977)
Steve McNiven: co-creator of S.H.I.E.L.D. overseeing the registration of the USA's superhuman population (Civil War #1, 2006); of the Initiative used by S.H.I.E.L.D. to monitor and register superhumans (Civil War #7, 2007)
Steve Gerber: co-creator of Angar the Screamer, David Alan Angar, a man with powerful sonic abilities (Daredevil #100, 1973); of Bessie the Hellcow, a vampiric bovine (Giant-Size Man-Thing #5, 1975)
Dick Ayers: co-creator of Hydra being active during World War II (Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #2, 1968); of Eric Koenig, an ally of Nick Fury (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #27, 1966)
Bryan Hitch: co-creatr of the Triskelion, the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Ultimates #1, 2002); of the Chitauri, an extraterrestrial race of warriors who invade the Earth (Ultimates #8, 2002)
Mike Friedrich: co-creator of Bobbi Morse hunting rogue agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy where agents are trained for the organization (Marvel Super Action #1, 1976)
George Evans: co-creator of Bobbi Morse hunting rogue agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy where agents are trained for the organization (Marvel Super Action #1, 1976)
Tom DeFalco: co-creator of the Absorbing Man working for Hydra (Captain America #24, 1999); of Kara Lynn Palamas, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Hercules: Heart of Chaos #1, 1997)
Ron Frenz: co-creator of the Absorbing Man working for Hydra (Captain America #24, 1999); of Kara Lynn Palamas, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Hercules: Heart of Chaos #1, 1997)
Len Wein: co-creator of Bobbi Morse, an adventurer (Astonishing Tales #6, 1971); of Glenn Talbot being held as a prisoner of war (Incredible Hulk #187, 1975)
Mark Bright: co-creator of Donnie Gill, a young man who has access to technology which generates ice and uses it for criminal purposes (Iron Man #223, 1987)
Robert Bernstein: co-creator of Blizzard, a villain who can generate ice; of Stark Industries, Tony Stark's business (Tales of Suspense #45, 1963)
Larry Lieber: co-creator of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a genius inventor who wears a sophisticated suit of powerful armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)
Joe Simon: co-creator of Captain America, a World War II super hero; the Red Skull, a Nazi agent (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)
Paul Jenkins: co-creator of the term Terregenesis to describe when Inhumans are exposed to Terrigen and awaken their powers (Inhumans #2, 1998)
Jerome Opena: co-creator of various humans possessing latent Inhuman status, awakened when Terrigen is released on Earth (Infinity #4, 2013)
Jae Lee: co-creator of the term Terregenesis to describe when Inhumans are exposed to Terrigen and awaken their powers (Inhumans #2, 1998)
Alex Maleev: co-creator of Daisy Johnson as field leader for a S.H.I.E.L.D.-sponsored team of superhumans (Mighty Avengers #13, 2008)
Barry Windsor-Smith: co-creator of Bobbi Morse, an adventurer (Astonishing Tales #6, 1971)
Gregory Wright: co-creator of Hydra brainwashing S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to serve them (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #44, 1993)
John Heebink: co-creator of Hydra brainwashing S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to serve them (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #44, 1993)
Derec Aucoin: co-creator of the Terrigen Crystals from which the Inhumans' Terrigen Mist is generated (Quicksilver #6, 1998)
Tom Peyer: co-creator of the Terrigen Crystals from which the Inhumans' Terrigen Mist is generated (Quicksilver #6, 1998)
Gary Friedrich: co-creator of Hydra being active during World War II (Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #2, 1968)
Gerry Conway: co-creator of Bobbi Morse, an adventurer (Astonishing Tales #6, 1971)
Neal Adams: co-creator of Bobbi Morse, an adventurer (Astonishing Tales #6, 1971)
Mark Gruenwald: co-creator of the twin staves which Bobbi Morse uses as her personal weapons (Marvel Team-Up #95, 1980)
Steven Grant: co-creator of the twin staves which Bobbi Morse uses as her personal weapons (Marvel Team-Up #95, 1980)
Jimmy Janes: co-creator of the twin staves which Bobbi Morse uses as her personal weapons (Marvel Team-Up #95, 1980)
Bill Sienkiewicz: co-creator of John Garrett, a cybernetic agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Elektra: Assassin #2, 1986)
Salvador Larroca: co-creator of Maria Hill leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. to work for Tony Stark (Invincible Iron Man #8, 2009)
Steve Ditko: co-creator of Glenn Talbot, an officer in the US Air Force who battles rogue superhumans (Tales to Astonish #61, 1964)
Frank Miller: co-creator of John Garrett, a cybernetic agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Elektra: Assassin #2, 1986)
Bob Hall: co-creator of Al MacKenzie joining S.H.I.E.L.D. (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1989)
Al Feldstein: co-creator of Jimmy Woo, a Chinese-American secret agent (Yellow Claw #1, 1956)
Joe Maneely: co-creator of Jimmy Woo, a Chinese-American secret agent (Yellow Claw #1, 1956)
Frank Brunner: co-creator of Bessie the Hellcow, a vampiric bovine (Giant-Size Man-Thing #5, 1975)
Mike Deodato, Jr.: co-creator of Victoria Hand, a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer (Dark Avengers #1, 2009)
John Romita, Jr.: co-creator of Mark Scarlotti, Whiplash's real name (Iron Man #146, 1981)
Dan Jurgens: co-creator of Cameron Klein, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (Captain America #32, 2000)
Jerry Ordway: co-creator of Cameron Klein, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (Captain America #32, 2000)
Mike Baron: co-creator of Micro, a crime scene enthusiast (Punisher #4, 1987)
Klaus Janson: co-creator of Micro, a crime scene enthusiast (Punisher #4, 1987)
Keith Pollard: co-creator of the Kree using truncheon weapons (Inhumans #11, 1977)
Rafael Marin: co-creator of the Inhumans being designed as foot soldiers for the Kree (Inhumans #1, 2000)
Jose Ladronn: co-creator of the Inhumans being designed as foot soldiers for the Kree (Inhumans #1, 2000)
Matt Fraction: co-creator of Maria Hill leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. to work for Tony Stark (Invincible Iron Man #8, 2009)
Rick Remender: co-creator of the Hub, a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility (Captain America #11, 2013)
Carlos Pacheco: co-creator of the Hub, a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility (Captain America #11, 2013)
Alessandro Vitti: co-creator of Iliad, a S.H.I.E.L.D. carrier vehicle (Secret Warriors #17, 2010)
Archie Goodwin: co-creator of Howard Stark, genius inventor (Iron Man #28, 1970)
Jeph Loeb: co-creator of "Crusher" Creel as a boxer (Daredevil: Yellow #1, 2001)
Tim Sale: co-creator of "Crusher" Creel as a boxer (Daredevil: Yellow #1, 2001)
Steve Englehart: co-creator of Peggy Carter's name (Captain America #162, 1973)
Bill EverettL creator of the lost city of Atlantis (Marvel Comics #1, 1939)
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (season 1) creator credits
Colour me amazed; I had heard that ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was not very good. And yet, this first season turned out to be somewhat... good. Especially when events from Captain America: The Winter Soldier kicked in towards the end of the season. It's certainly a heck of a lot better than dreck like Iron Fist or Inhumans.
My full list of creators credits can be found here. Your corrections and additions are greatly appreciated!
Stan Lee: creator of the title Journey into Mystery (Journey into Mystery #1, 1952); co-creator of the Black Widow wearing a skintight black costume (Amazing Spider-Man #86, 1970); of the Avengers, a team of super heroes which includes Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk (Avengers #1, 1963); of Captain America as one of the Avengers; of Bucky Barnes believed dead after World War II (Avengers #4, 1964); of Hawkeye as one of the Avengers (Avengers #16, 1965); of the Black Widow as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (Avengers #38, 1967); of the extraterrestrial Skrulls, from whom the Chitauri were derived (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of Vibranium, a powerful metallic substance (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of the Kree, an extraterrestrial race who have visited Earth (Fantastic Four #64, 1967); of the Hulk, Bruce Banner, a giant monster whose powers come from gamma radiation (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of the Hulk with green skin (Incredible Hulk #2, 1962); of Thor, the god of thunder, an Asgardian who wields a magic hammer (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Jane Foster, friend of Thor (Journey into Mystery #84, 1962); of Asgard, the realm of the Norse Gods; of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge which connects Asgard to the Earth; of Jack Kirby: co-creator of the Avengers, a team of super heroes which includes Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk (Avengers #1, 1963); of Captain America as one of the Avengers; of Bucky Barnes believed dead after World War II (Avengers #4, 1964); of Hawkeye as one of the Avengers (Avengers #16, 1965); of Captain America, Steve Rogers, a soldier in World War II who receives higher-than-average abilities from the Super-Soldier Serum; of Captain America's red, white and blue costume and shield weapon; of Abraham Erskine, inventor of the Super-Soldier Serum; of Bucky Barnes; of the Red Skull, a Nazi agent (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of Captain America's round shield (Captain America Comics #2, 1941); of the extraterrestrial Skrulls, from whom the Chitauri were derived (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of Vibranium, a powerful metallic substance (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of the Kree, an extraterrestrial race who have visited Earth (Fantastic Four #64, 1967); of the Hulk, Bruce Banner, a giant monster whose powers come from gamma radiation (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of the Hulk with green skin (Incredible Hulk #2, 1962); of Thor, the god of thunder, an Asgardian who wields a magic hammer (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Jane Foster, friend of Thor (Journey into Mystery #84, 1962); of Asgard, the realm of the Norse Gods; of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge which connects Asgard to the Earth; of Don Heck: co-creator of the Black Widow as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (Avengers #38, 1967); of the Black Widow as one of the Avengers (Avengers #111, 1973); of A.I.M., a criminal scientific organization (Strange Tales #146, 1966); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a genius inventor who wears a sophisticated suit of powerful armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Blizzard, a villain who uses technology to generate ice; of Stark Industries, the company run by Tony Stark; of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's secretary (Tales of Suspense #45, 1963); of the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, a spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Hawkeye, an expert archer (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964)
Larry Lieber: co-creator of Thor, the god of thunder, an Asgardian who wields a magic hammer (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Jane Foster, friend of Thor (Journey into Mystery #84, 1962); of Asgard, the realm of the Norse Gods; of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge which connects Asgard to the Earth; of Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of Victoria Hand, a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer who wears glasses and has red dye in her hair (Dark Avengers #1, 2009); of Stark Tower, the skyscraper base used by Tony Stark (New Avengers #3, 2005); of H.A.M.M.E.R., an organization related to S.H.I.E.L.D. (Secret Invasion #8, 2009); of Maria Hill, a senior officer in S.H.I.E.L.D.; Nick Fury leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. to operate under deep cover (Secret War #5, 2005); of Nick Fury depicted as a black man (Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #5, 2001)
Sal Buscema: co-creator of Graviton, Franklin Hall, a Canadian scientist who experiments with the power to control Earth's gravity field (Avengers #158, 1977); of Eric Koenig as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #146, 1972); of the Red Skull funding the creation of Hydra (Captain America #148, 1972); of Roxxon Oil, an energy corporation and scientific research company (Captain America #180, 1974); of Project: Pegasus, a US government facility (Marvel Two-in-One #42, 1978)
Joe Simon: co-creator of Captain America, Steve Rogers, a soldier in World War II who receives higher-than-average abilities from the Super-Soldier Serum; of Captain America's red, white and blue costume and shield weapon; of Abraham Erskine, inventor of the Super-Soldier Serum; of Bucky Barnes; of the Red Skull, a Nazi agent (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of Captain America's round shield (Captain America Comics #2, 1941)
Mark Millar: co-creator of S.H.I.E.L.D. overseeing the registration of the USA's superhuman population (Civil War #1, 2006); of the Triskelion, the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Ultimates #1, 2002); of Nick Fury depicted as Samuel L. Jackson (Ultimates #2, 2002); of Hawkeye as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (Ultimates #7, 2002); of the Chitauri, an extraterrestrial race of warriors who invade the Earth (Ultimates #8, 2002)
Bob Harras: co-creator of Hydra taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. from within, including control over its council; Jasper Sitwell allying with the conspiracy (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1988); of Alexander Pierce, a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #3, 1988); of S.H.I.E.L.D. exposed as rife with internal corruption and dismantled (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, 1988)
Paul Neary: co-creator of Hydra taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. from within, including control over its council; Jasper Sitwell allying with the conspiracy (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, 1988); of Alexander Pierce, a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #3, 1988); of S.H.I.E.L.D. exposed as rife with internal corruption and dismantled (Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, 1988)
Dwayne McDuffie: co-creator of Deathlok as Michael, a black man wih a son; Deathlok's civilian identity believed to be dead; Deathlok sent to eiiminate forces in South America (Deathlok #1); of Deathlok working with S.H.I.E.L.D. (Deathlok #2, 1990); of Cybertek, a cybernetics firm which designs Deathlok as a living weapon (Marvel Comics Presents #62, 1990)
Jackson Guice: co-creator of Deathlok as Michael, a black man wih a son; Deathlok's civilian identity believed to be dead; Deathlok sent to eiminate forces in South America (Deathlok #1); of Deathlok working with S.H.I.E.L.D. (Deathlok #2, 1990); of Cybertek, a cybernetics firm which designs Deathlok as a living weapon (Marvel Comics Presents #62, 1990)
Gregory Wright: co-creator of Deathlok as Michael, a black man wih a son; Deathlok's civilian identity believed to be dead; Deathlok sent to eiminate forces in South America (Deathlok #1); of Deathlok working with S.H.I.E.L.D. (Deathlok #2, 1990); of Cybertek, a cybernetics firm which designs Deathlok as a living weapon (Marvel Comics Presents #62, 1990)
Jim Steranko: creator of S.H.I.E.L.D. technology which includes x-ray glasses (Strange Tales #156, 1967); of Hydra being a group which splintered out of Nazi Germany (Strange Tales #156, 1967); co-creator of the Hydra insignia, a skull atop octopus arms (Strange Tales #151, 1966); of the round eagle logo used by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strange Tales #154, 1967)
Bryan Hitch: co-creator of the Triskelion, the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Ultimates #1, 2002); of Nick Fury depicted as Samuel L. Jackson (Ultimates #2, 2002); of Hawkeye as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (Ultimates #7, 2002); of the Chitauri, an extraterrestrial race of warriors who invade the Earth (Ultimates #8, 2002)
John Buscema: co-creator of the Overkill Device, a dangerous electronic contraption which can remotely activate nuclear warheads through sonic signals; of S.H.I.E.L.D. seeking to shut down the Overkill Device (Strange Tales #150, 1966); of the Levians, an extraterrestrial race with blue skin (Thor #256, 1977)
Roy Thomas: co-creator of Hawkeye's real name, Clint Barton (Avengers #64, 1969); of the Kree possessing blue skin (Captain Marvel #1, 1968); of the Man-Thing, a mysterious creature (Savage Tales #1, 1971); of the round eagle logo used by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strange Tales #154, 1967)
Gary Friedrich: co-creator of Eric Koenig as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Captain America #146, 1972); of the Red Skull funding the creation of Hydra (Captain America #148, 1972); of Hydra being active during World War II (Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #2, 1968)
Bob Layton: creator of the Pheragots, an extraterrestrial race with blue skin (Hercules #1, 1984); co-creator of Donnie Gill, a young man who has access to technology which generates ice and uses it for criminal purposes (Iron Man #223, 1987)
Gene Colan: co-creator of Hawkeye's real name, Clint Barton (Avengers #64, 1969); of the Kree possessing blue skin (Captain Marvel #1, 1968); of the Centaurians, an extraterrestrial race with blue skin (Marvel Super Heroes #18, 1969)
Robert Bernstein: co-creator of Blizzard, a villain who uses technology to generate ice; of Stark Industries, the company run by Tony Stark; of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's secretary (Tales of Suspense #45, 1963)
Dick Ayers: co-creator of Hydra being active during World War II (Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #2, 1968); of Eric Koenig, an ally of Nick Fury (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #27, 1966)
Steve Englehart: co-creator of the Black Widow as one of the Avengers (Avengers #111, 1973); of Roxxon Oil, an energy corporation and scientific research company (Captain America #180, 1974)
Walt Simonson: creator of Lorelei, a seductive red-haired Asgardian woman who can control men with her voice (Thor #337, 1983); of the Dark Elves, enemies of Asgard (Thor #344, 1984)
Jim Starlin: creator of the Sarks, an extraterrestrial race with blue skin (Strange Tales #179, 1975); of the Interdites, an extraterrestrial race with blue skin (Warlock #15, 1976)
Jonathan Hickman: co-creator of ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agents called "agents of nothing" (Secret Warriors #1, 2009); of Providence, a safehouse operated by Nick Fury (Siege: Secret Warriors #1, 2010)
Gerry Conway, co-creator of the Brand Corporation, a company with criminal connections (Amazing Adventures #11, 1972); of the Man-Thing, a mysterious creature (Savage Tales #1, 1971)
Ralph Macchio: co-creator of Project: Pegasus, a US government facility (Marvel Two-in-One #42, 1978); of Metrobank, a banking firm (Marvel Two-in-One #43, 1978)
Gabriele Dell'Otto: co-creator of Maria Hill, a senior officer in S.H.I.E.L.D.; Nick Fury leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. to operate under deep cover (Secret War #5, 2005)
Jim Shooter: co-creator of Graviton, Franklin Hall, a Canadian scientist who experiments with the power to control Earth's gravity field (Avengers #158, 1977)
Carmine Infantino: co-creator of Blackout, Marcus Daniels, a lab assistant exposed to darkforce, a villain with the ability to control darkforce energy (Nova #19, 1978)
Marv Wolfman: co-creator of Blackout, Marcus Daniels, a lab assistant exposed to darkforce, a villain with the ability to control darkforce energy (Nova #19, 1978)
David Michelinie: co-creator of Donnie Gill, a young man who has access to technology which generates ice and uses it for criminal purposes (Iron Man #223, 1987)
Mark Bright: co-creator of Donnie Gill, a young man who has access to technology which generates ice and uses it for criminal purposes (Iron Man #223, 1987)
John Byrne: co-creator of Metrobank, a banking firm (Marvel Two-in-One #43, 1978); of Department H, a secret Canadian facility (X-Men #109, 1978)
George Tuska: co-creator of Darkforce, a form of black energy which emerges from an alien dimension, has various uses including teleportation (Champions #7, 1976)
Bill Mantlo: co-creator of Darkforce, a form of black energy which emerges from an alien dimension, has various uses including teleportation (Champions #7, 1976)
Doug Moench: co-creator of Deathlok, a cybernetic man with a damaged face and artificial eye; Deathlok originating in the 1990s (Astonishing Tales #25, 1974)
Rich Buckler: co-creator of Deathlok, a cybernetic man with a damaged face and artificial eye; Deathlok originating in the 1990s (Astonishing Tales #25, 1974)
Mike Deodato Jr.: co-creator of Victoria Hand, a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer who wears glasses and has red dye in her hair (Dark Avengers #1, 2009)
Warren Ellis: co-creator of Extremis, a substance which alters people's DNA, granting them superhuman strength (Iron Man #1, 2005)
Adi Granov: co-creator of Extremis, a substance which alters people's DNA, granting them superhuman strength (Iron Man #1, 2005)
Mike Friedrich: co-creator of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy where agents are trained for the organization (Marvel Super Action #1, 1976)
George Evans: co-creator of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy where agents are trained for the organization (Marvel Super Action #1, 1976)
Howard Purcell: co-creator of Jasper Sitwell, a glasses-wearing S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (Strange Tales #144, 1966)
Mark Gruenwald: creator of the Abomination's real name Emil Blonsky(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1, 1983)
Frank Miller: co-creator of John Garrett, a cybernetic agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Elektra: Assassin #2, 1986)
Bill Sienkiewicz: co-creator of John Garrett, a cybernetic agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Elektra: Assassin #2, 1986)
Joss Whedon: co-creator of S.W.O.R.D., an organization related to S.H.I.E.L.D. (Astonishing X-Men #6, 2004)
John Cassaday: co-creator of S.W.O.R.D., an organization related to S.H.I.E.L.D. (Astonishing X-Men #6, 2004)
Fred Van Lente: co-creator of A.R.M.O.R., an organization related to S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel Zombies 3 #1, 2008)
Kev Walker: co-creator of A.R.M.O.R., an organization related to S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel Zombies 3 #1, 2008)
Steve McNiven: co-creator of S.H.I.E.L.D. overseeing the registration of the USA's superhuman population (Civil War #1, 2006)
J. M. DeMatteis: co-creator of Deathlok being designed as part of a super-soldier program (Captain America #286, 1983)
JMike Zeck: co-creator of Deathlok being designed as part of a super-soldier program (Captain America #286, 1983)
Joe Harris: co-creator of scorch, a man with the superhuman power to control fire (Bishop: The Last X-Man #1, 1999)
Georges Jeanty: co-creator of scorch, a man with the superhuman power to control fire (Bishop: The Last X-Man #1, 1999)
Leinil Francis Yu: co-creator of H.A.M.M.E.R., an organization related to S.H.I.E.L.D. (Secret Invasion #8, 2009)
Arnold Drake: co-creator of the Centaurians, an extraterrestrial race with blue skin (Marvel Super Heroes #18, 1969)
John Romita: co-creator of the Black Widow wearing a skintight black costume (Amazing Spider-Man #86, 1970)
Xavier Marturet: co-creator of Euromind, the European division of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Europa #0, 1996)
Paco Diaz: co-creator of Euromind, the European division of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Europa #0, 1996)
David Finch: co-creator of Stark Tower, the skyscraper base used by Tony Stark (New Avengers #3, 2005)
Terry Kavanagh: co-creator of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cybernetics Deathlok program (Uncanny X-Men #371, 1999)
Len Wein: co-creator of the Levians, an extraterrestrial race with blue skin (Thor #256, 1977)
Chris Claremeont: co-creator of Department H, a secret Canadian facility (X-Men #109, 1978)
Alessandro Vitti: co-creator of Providence, a safehouse operated by Nick Fury (Siege: Secret Warriors #1, 2010)
Steve Ditko: co-creator of Colonel Glenn Talbot, an officer in the US Air Force (Tales to Astonish #61, 1964)
Stefano Caselli: co-creator of ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agents called "agents of nothing" (Secret Warriors #1, 2009)
Gray Morrow, co-creator of the Man-Thing, a mysterious creature (Savage Tales #1, 1971)
Matt Fraction: co-creator of Maria Hill leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. to work for Tony Stark (Invincible Iron Man #8, 2009)
Salvador Larroca: co-creator of Maria Hill leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. to work for Tony Stark (Invincible Iron Man #8, 2009)
Tom Sutton: co-creator of the Brand Corporation, a company with criminal connections (Amazing Adventures #11, 1972)
Grant Morrison: co-creator of the Cube, a S.H.I.E.L.D. holding facility (Marvel Boy #6, 2001)
J. G. Jones: co-creator of the Cube, a S.H.I.E.L.D. holding facility (Marvel Boy #6, 2001)
Rick Remender: co-creator of the Hub, a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility (Captain America #11, 2013)
Carlos Pacheco: co-creator of the Hub, a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility (Captain America #11, 2013)
Alan Davis: co-creator of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cybernetics Deathlok program (Uncanny X-Men #371, 1999)
Jim Cheung: co-creator of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cybernetics Deathlok program (Uncanny X-Men #371, 1999)
Mike Allred: co-creator of Nick Fury depicted as a black man (Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #5, 2001)
Gil Kane: co-creator of the Abomination, a villain (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967)
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Now blogging at Sequart!
Greetings!
For some time I have been preparing a series of essays about Christopher Priest's Black Panther comics! Happily, the first of these is now available to read at Sequart! In this first essay I'm looking at how Priest's character Everett K. Ross is useful in demonstrating aspects of white privilege. I hope you enjoy it!
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Punisher (season 2) creator credits
I've finally written up creator credits for the 2nd season of Netflix's Punisher. Hey, did you ever thinnk Leon: The Professional would be improved with a 13-hour runtime? Good news--!
Corrections and additions are always welcome. Check out my full index here.
Ross Andru: co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974); of Jigsaw, the Punisher's greatest enemy, a criminal who survived a near-fatal encounter with the Punisher but had his face slashed apart by glass, disfiguring him (Amazing Spider-Man #162, 1976); of the Punisher maintaining safehouses; the Punisher carrying his arsenal within a custom van (Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, 1975)
Gerry Conway: co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974); of Frank Castle becoming the Punisher after happening upon criminals in a park who set off a gunfight which killed his wife Maria, daughter Lisa and son Frank Jr. (Marvel Preview #2, 1975); of the Punisher maintaining safehouses; the Punisher carrying his arsenal within a custom van (Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, 1975)
Mike Baron: co-creator of the Punisher wearing a trenchcoat overtop his costume; of Curtis Hoyle, a one-time member of Frank Castle's unit who became used in recruiting former soldiers for a non-army operation (Punisher #1, 1987); of Frank Castle using the name "Castiglione" (Punisher War Journal #25, 1990)
John Romita: co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974)
Klaus Janson: co-creator of the Punisher wearing a trenchcoat overtop his costume; of Curtis Hoyle, a one-time member of Frank Castle's unit who became used in recruiting former soldiers for a non-army operation (Punisher #1, 1987)
Len Wein: co-creator of Jigsaw, the Punisher's greatest enemy, a criminal who survived a near-fatal encounter with the Punisher but had his face slashed apart by glass, disfiguring him (Amazing Spider-Man #162, 1976)
Tony DeZuniga: co-creator of Frank Castle becoming the Punisher after happening upon criminals in a park who set off a gunfight which killed his wife Maria, daughter Lisa and son Frank Jr. (Marvel Preview #2, 1975)
Jason Aaron: co-creator of the Punisher battling the Mennonite, a zelous Christian hitman with a dying wife (PUnisherMax #3, 2010)
Steve Dillon: co-creator of the Punisher battling the Mennonite, a zelous Christian hitman with a dying wife (PUnisherMax #3, 2010)
John Ostrander: co-creator of the Punisher being tricked into thinking he killed innocent people, violating his moral code (Double Edge: Omega, 1995)
Kim Yale: co-creator of the Punisher being tricked into thinking he killed innocent people, violating his moral code (Double Edge: Omega, 1995)
Doug Wheatley: co-creator of the Punisher being tricked into thinking he killed innocent people, violating his moral code (Double Edge: Omega, 1995)
Bill Everett: co-creator of Karen Page, a blonde legal secretary employed by Nelson & Murdock (Daredevil #1, 1964)
Stan Lee: co-creator of Karen Page, a blonde legal secretary employed by Nelson & Murdock (Daredevil #1, 1964)
Marc Guggenheim: co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)
Bil Mantlo: co-creator of Frank Castle suffering from mental problems (Spectacular Spider-Man #81, 1983)
Al Milgrom: co-creator of Frank Castle suffering from mental problems (Spectacular Spider-Man #81, 1983)
Dave Wilkins: co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)
Mark Texeira: co-creator of Frank Castle using the name "Castiglione" (Punisher War Journal #25, 1990)
Gene Colan: co-creator of Turk Barrett, a gangster who fights Daredevil (Daredevil #69, 1970)
Roy Thomas: co-creator of Turk Barrett, a gangster who fights Daredevil (Daredevil #69, 1970)
Dale Eaglesham: co-creator of Billy Russo, Jigsaw's true name (Punisher: Year One #3, 1995)
Andy Lanning: co-creator of Billy Russo, Jigsaw's true name (Punisher: Year One #3, 1995)
Dan Abnett: co-creator of Billy Russo, Jigsaw's true name (Punisher: Year One #3, 1995)
Monday, July 13, 2020
Red, Red Wine
"Red Wine" is a 1930 short story written by Lawrence Blochman. You probably don't know his name, but he was a pretty busy mystery writer from the 30s to the 60s. "Red Wine" is his story which I'm most familiar with, thanks to its radio adaptations. The story was adapted for Escape and appeared on that series twice in a single year -- first on February 26, 1949, then again on August 11, 1949. The first adaptation starred Jeff Chandler as the lead and the second starred Willard Waterman.
Set in Borneo the story features an investigator hunting a killer across the world. The trail leads him to a particular outpost in Borneo, but there are three white men living there - together - and none of them match the description of the killer. It's possible that the killer has altered his hair, but it's also quite likely that all three men have something to hide and won't tell the investigator the truth. The detective finally tricks the killer into revealing himself by hosting a dinner. As the men had complained about the lack of ice, as a treat he provides ice for their drinks. When one man complains about the ice ruining their red wine it marks him as a gourmet -- and the killer was a gourmet.
"Red Wine" is a somewhat unconventional mystery story. There is no gradual reveal of the killer, no bread crumb trail of clues. The whole point of the story is that each of three men are viable suspects, there is no reason to favour one over the other. Consequently, when you reach the climax, you're bound to go, "Wait, which one of three was he?" but it doesn't matter. The point of the story is, after all, the "Red Wine" -- the clever solution the detective comes up with.
The Escape adaptation is quite faithful to Blochman's original text. I usually prefer the original adaptation of a story over the later one, but I give a slight edge to the 2nd version with Willard Waterman, as I prefer his performance over Chandler's. But they're both great.
The Jeff Chanlder version can be heard on the Internet Archive, and likewise the Willard Waterman version, right here.
Much to my surprise, three years before the twin Escape adaptations there was another version of "Red Wine" heard on radio. This one appeared on the Molle Mystery Theatre on March 8, 1946, but it is extremely different from the short story and, frankly, a very unfriendly adaptation. The narrative moves at a very different pace, opening with the detective already in Borneo and having been investigating for some time, rather than opening with his arrival in Borneo as in the original text.
Where the episode becomes a downright unfair adaptation is the climax. After the gourmet has been found out thanks to the red wine, the story keeps going as the other two suspects return home by rowboat. Suddenly, one reveals he's the actual killer! But then the other man reveals he's the detective's undercover partner! The end. It's an extremely lousy climax. Again, the point of this story is that the three men are equally viable suspects and that the red wine is the means to set them apart. Revealing that the red wine trick doesn't work is against the spirit of the story. Revealing that one of the suspects was actually the hero's sidekick is a tremendous cop-out.
You can hear this miserable adaptation on the Internet Archive.
So I definitely don't recommend the Molle Mystery Theatre adaptation. If you'd like to see the story done on film, there is a good television version from Four Star Playhouse starring David Niven.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Creeper, Creeper, Creeper. You give ME the creeps!
Joseph Ruscoll was a pretty busy radio script author in the 1940s. Many of his scripts were used on mystery programs, such as the four I'm about to discuss -- four series which I don't often talk about, as they're a llittle more obscure. Late in the 1940s Ruscoll wrote a few scripts for Suspense but most of his work wound up in these lesser-known places. He is not a remembered author today.
However! Ruscoll wrote one script which became seemingly the biggest achievement of his career, considering how frequently it was retold. "The Creeper" first appeared on March 29, 1946 as an episode of The Molle Mystery Theater on NBC. If you consider Suspense to be the epitome of great radio mystery drama (and I do), then The Molle Mystery Theater comes up a little short. Although NBC had some fine radio players, I find that CBS had the best in radio voice talent. To its credit, The Molle Mystery Theater put a lot of effort into adapting famous mystery stories for radio. Since by the time the series was on the air Suspense had mostly given up on adaptations, it was a good little niche to exploit. (I have some problems with how they adapted those stories, but that's another blog post, coming soon)
"The Creeper" is a strong drama about a killer who has been targeting beautiful women and gains access to their homes through unknown means. The so-called 'Creeper' leaves behind the message: "For heaven's sake, catch me before I kill more. I cannot control myself." The story's heroine is a housewife, married to a police officer who has recently been suspended from the force. After an argument over breakfast, the husband heads to a bar and talks about his wife and the Creeper to a down-on-his-luck reporter, whom we learn was once infatuated with the officer's wife. The reporter has a theory about a pattern to the Creeper's killings and he thinks the officer's wife could be next. The action returns to the wife as she tries to go shopping, but she becomes afraid of everyone she meets, fearing they could be the Creeper. After a neighbour suggests the Creeper could be a woman, she thinks she can't trust women either. The woman is afraid of a clerk, a neighbour, a manager, an elevator boy and then the reporter, who tries to use her as bait for the Creeper before she forces him out of her apartment. All this time she has been trying to get a locksmith to fix the broken deadbolt on her door. Just as the locksmith arrives, she receives a frantic phone call from her husband: the Creeper is believed to be a locksmith! The Creeper kills her and the reporter narrates the wrap-up to her death.
You can hear the Molle Mystery Theater version at the Internet Archive. The full cast is not given but the reporter sounds a lot like Richard Widmark to me. It's a very strong piece of radio drama, much more intense than the usual fare heard on that series. Joseph Ruscoll clearly liked his script a lot, given that he sold it three more times to radio and even tried to sue 20th Century Fox for releasing a 1949 film titled The Creeper (it had nothing in common with his story).
The same year as the Molle Mystery Theater original, Ruscoll brought his play to another mystery series he was contributing to: the transcribed program Murder at Midnight. This adaptation is not quite as polished as the original, but follows the original script faithfully. The show opens by noting this story had been told on radio before, but (naturally) does not name the competing program. You can hear this adaptation on the Internet Archive.
Three years later, Ruscoll was telling a few stories on NBC's Murder by Experts. This is an odd program - it's very well-produced, but it promoted itself as featuring stories selected by the greatest mystery authors - yet pretty often those stories were brand-new tales. One begins to question the premise of the series. Their version of "The Creeper" has a brief new scene to open the story where another woman is killed by the Creeper, but otherwise it's much like the other versions. You can hear it at the Internet Archive.
Four years later, NBC had a series called The Chase. I have to say, I have tried many, many times to get into The Chase -- it has an extremely loose premise which just about any kind of 'thriller' story can fit. It could have been NBC's answer to Escape! But like most of NBC's 1950s dramatic programs, it has a ton of repetitive musical bridges which are the audible equivalence of wallpaper. They don't enhance the productions at all. This is still a fine version of the story, but the music bridges make it feel inferior. Hear it for yourself at the Internet Archive.
Even as Ruscoll's story was being adapted for radio, television had come in. There was an adaptation on the TV version of Suspense in 1949 and on The Web in 1950, but I haven't been able to see either. However, in 1956 came what is probably the best-known version of "The Creeper" -- it's certainly where I first saw the story: Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The television adaptation changes quite a bit from the original -- many of the men who serve as red herrings are removed, the "for heaven's sake" message is gone, the heroine is a blonde instead of a redhead, the Creeper is not thought to be a woman, the reporter's closing remarks are omitted. It's a great adaptation, particularly how the Creeper appears: he's unseen except for his hands as they choke the life out of the heroine.
Ruscoll died a few months after "The Creeper" aired, but 30 years later Alfred Hitchcock Presents was back on television in a new version which had nothing to do with the then-dead Hitchcock and which adapted many stories from the 1950s-60s series. I don't really think a lot of the 1980s series, especially for the ways in which they altered the original stories. But regardless, I watched the 1986 version of "The Creeper", which starred Karen Allen.
Much to my surprise, my highest recommendation out of the six versions I've experienced of "The Creeper" goes to the most recent one! It's extremely different from Ruscoll's original script, keeping only the premise. But it makes one change which I wholeheartedly welcome: the heroine is in the forefront throughout the episode (until she dies). As a Suspense fan, I feel these thrillers are more intense when they don't divert from the protagonist's point-of-view, and the scenes in the earlier versions of "The Creeper" where the husband and reporter met up in the bar were unfortunate decisions that only exist to exposit more about the Creeper. It's ultimately a story about a woman alone in her apartment experiencing feelings of paranoia. If Ruscoll had made that the entire script, he would have penned one of the best thrillers of the 1940s!
There is also an unfortunate sense in Ruscoll's script that the heroine's death is some kind of disproportionate retribution. Mention is made that the heroine is flirtatious and the husband is suspicious of her. Certainly the reporter is attracted to her, and the elevator boy grumbles that she shouldn't be "so nice" to men like him. But this isn't otherwise supported by Ruscoll's script. When the reporter barges in on the heroine, she's not the least bit glad to see him -- because she thinks he's the Creeper. She drives him out; she's not some "loose woman" who should be punished.
And this brings me back to the 1986 version, where the heroine isn't a married woman, just a single woman in an apartment. She's trying to get away on a trip to Rome when her neighbour is killed by the Creeper. She had left her apartment keys with the neighbour so she could water her plants and she's terrified when she sees the keys are missing from the dead woman's apartment. The heroine tries to get a locksmith in to change her locks before she leaves to Rome. At the same time, a man who dated her once has begun stalking her.
The 1986 version really gets across the heroine's feelings of paranoia better than any of the earlier versions. As a lone woman, the audience is better able to sense her isolation.
The only part of the 1986 version I'm not crazy about is what happens after the heroine dies: as the Creeper gets into his car to leave, the dead woman's stalker appears and shoots the Creeper in the chest; the Creeper runs him over with the car before dying. It does serve to punish the Creeper, but I'm not sure the crazy stalker is the right person to meet out vengeance. Then again, the stalker dies too. I guess it's a value-neutral outcome? It certainly ties up all the loose ends while at the same time feeling extremely bleak; all the significant characters are dead! Good night.
So there you have it; if you only listen to one radio version of "The Creeper", go with the Molle original. And it you prefer TV, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the 1986 incarnation.
Monday, July 6, 2020
RIP: Ennio Morricone
Film composer Ennio Morricone passed away today, aged 91. He's probably best-known for his score to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966). Usually when I saw his name in books and articles about film, it was that particular score which was being referenced.
And yet he did so. Much. More. Than. That. In fact, IMDB lists 520 scores to his name! Two of his Italian films were mocked on Mystery Science Theater 3000: Operation Double 007 (1967) and Danger: Diabolik (1968).
My personal favourites are his scores to Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), The Thing (1982), The Mission (1986), The Untouchables (1987)
Rest in peace, Sig. Morricone.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
A certain tribute to Joe Sinnott
I missed that this had gone up -- back on the day of Joe Sinnott's death I wrote a new profile for the Marvel Appendix, and they got it up right away but I didn't notice it until just now. It's a profile of a one-shot character, Papa Roberti. I hope you enjoy the tribute.
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Inhumans (2017) creator credits
I had heard the 2017 Inhumans series was not very good, but I avoided judgement until I had seen for myself. Now I have and (phew!) it's pretty awful. Not as bad as the showrunner's other super hero series, Iron Fist, but one of the worst television adaptations of a Marvel Comics property, easily.
Sorry, Inhumans. You never wanted to be a major Marvel property! You were happiest when revelling in obscurity. Well, good news, it's back to obscurity for you!
The full list of my Marvel creator credits is here.
Stan Lee: co-creator of Maximus possessing Inhuman abilities which were rendered dormant (Amazing Adventures #1, 1970); of the title "Make Way for Medusa" related to the Inhumans (Amazing Spider-Man #62, 1968); of a city on Earth's moon which has a breathable atmosphere (Fantastic Four #13, 1963); of Medusa, a purple-clad woman with super strong red hair (Fantastic Four #36, 1965); of Gorgon, a superhuman soldier related to Medusa who has cloven hooves instead of feet; Gorgon causing seismic shockwaves with his hooves; of the title "The Gentleman's Name Is Gorgon" related to the Inhumans (Fantastic Four #44, 1965); of the Inhumans, a sub-species of humanity who live apart from humans, most possessing superhuman powers; of Black Bolt, the silent monarch of the Inhumans who has superhuman abilities; of Gorgon and Medusa as two of the Inhumans; of Karnak, a member of the Inhumans royal family whose mind can seek out the flaws in any object then exploit those flaws with his martial arts; of Triton, a member of the Inhumans' royal family who has green skin and amphibious powers; of Crystal, Medusa's sister, a member of the Inhumans' royal family who has elemental powers enabling her to generate flames and take control of the weather; of Lockjaw, a massive Inhuman dog who serves as Crystal's pet; Lockjaw's ability to generate space-time portals; of the Inhumans' royal family being forced to live in exile amongst humanity (Fantastic Four #45, 1965); of the title "Those Who Would Destroy Us" related to the Inhumans (Fantastic Four #46, 1966); of Maximus, brother of Black Bolt who jealously wants to usurp his rule; Maximus having no evident superhuman abilities; Maximus seizing control of Attilan in a coup; the royal family overthrowing Maximus' coup; of Attilan, the hidden city of the Inhumans; of the Inhumans enforcing a caste system within their society, forcing some to labour as slaves; of Maximus sending his agents to pursue the exiled royal family on Earth (Fantastic Four #47, 1966); of Black Bolt being in love with Medusa (Fantastic Four #48, 1966); of Maximus being jailed within Attilan (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); of Black Bolt communicating to the Inhumans using sign language; of Medusa as Black Bolt's official interpreter (Fantastic Four #54, 1966); of Black Bolt's voice being incredibly destructive (Fantastic Four #59, 1967); of Maximus lusting after Medusa (Fantastic Four #82, 1969); of the title "Divide and Conquer" related to the Inhumans (Fantastic Four Annual #5, 1967); of the Terrigen Mist, superhuman crystals which grant the Inhumans their abilities (Thor #147, 1967); of Agon and Rynda, Black Bolt and Maximus' parents; of the title "And Finally: Black Bolt" related to the Inhumans (Thor #148, 1968); of Black Bolt being imprisoned in isolation to protect Attilan from his destructive voice; of Medusa visiting Black Bolt in his cell when they were teenagers (Thor #149, 1968); of Triton being stranded amongst humans during a mission for Black Bolt (Thor #150, 1968)
Jack Kirby: co-creator of Maximus possessing Inhuman abilities which were rendered dormant (Amazing Adventures #1, 1970); of a city on Earth's moon which has a breathable atmosphere (Fantastic Four #13, 1963); of Medusa, a purple-clad woman with super strong red hair (Fantastic Four #36, 1965); of Gorgon, a superhuman soldier related to Medusa who has cloven hooves instead of feet; Gorgon causing seismic shockwaves with his hooves; of the title "The Gentleman's Name Is Gorgon" related to the Inhumans (Fantastic Four #44, 1965); of the Inhumans, a sub-species of humanity who live apart from humans, most possessing superhuman powers; of Black Bolt, the silent monarch of the Inhumans who has superhuman abilities; of Gorgon and Medusa as two of the Inhumans; of Karnak, a member of the Inhumans royal family whose mind can seek out the flaws in any object then exploit those flaws with his martial arts; of Triton, a member of the Inhumans' royal family who has green skin and amphibious powers; of Crystal, Medusa's sister, a member of the Inhumans' royal family who has elemental powers enabling her to generate flames and take control of the weather; of Lockjaw, a massive Inhuman dog who serves as Crystal's pet; Lockjaw's ability to generate space-time portals; of the Inhumans' royal family being forced to live in exile amongst humanity (Fantastic Four #45, 1965); of the title "Those Who Would Destroy Us" related to the Inhumans (Fantastic Four #46, 1966); of Maximus, brother of Black Bolt who jealously wants to usurp his rule; Maximus having no evident superhuman abilities; Maximus seizing control of Attilan in a coup; the royal family overthrowing Maximus' coup; of Attilan, the hidden city of the Inhumans; of the Inhumans enforcing a caste system within their society, forcing some to labour as slaves; of Maximus sending his agents to pursue the exiled royal family on Earth (Fantastic Four #47, 1966); of Black Bolt being in love with Medusa (Fantastic Four #48, 1966); of Maximus being jailed in Attilan (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); of Black Bolt communicating to the Inhumans using sign language; of Medusa as Black Bolt's official interpreter (Fantastic Four #54, 1966); of Black Bolt's voice being incredibly destructive (Fantastic Four #59, 1967); of Maximus lusting after Medusa (Fantastic Four #82, 1969); of the title "Divide and Conquer" related to the Inhumans (Fantastic Four Annual #5, 1967); of the Terrigen Mist, superhuman crystals which grant the Inhumans their abilities (Thor #147, 1967); of Agon and Rynda, Black Bolt and Maximus' parents; of the title "And Finally: Black Bolt" related to the Inhumans (Thor #148, 1968); of Black Bolt being imprisoned in isolation to protect Attilan from his destructive voice; of Medusa visiting Black Bolt in his cell when they were teenagers (Thor #149, 1968); of Triton being stranded amongst humans during a mission for Black Bolt (Thor #150, 1968)
Paul Jenkins: co-creator of Karnak wearing facial tattoos; of Maximus wearing a black suit (Inhumans #1, 1998); of the act of Terrigenesis being a public display as young Inhumans come of age (Inhumans #2, 1998); of Maximus shaving Medusa's hair to depower her (Inhumans #7, 1999); of Black Bolt feigning inaction while secretly plotting against his adversaries (Inhumans #12, 1999)
Jae Lee: co-creator of Karnak wearing facial tattoos; of Maximus wearing a black suit (Inhumans #1, 1998); of the act of Terrigenesis being a public display as young Inhumans come of age (Inhumans #2, 1998); of Maximus shaving Medusa's hair to depower her (Inhumans #7, 1999); of Black Bolt feigning inaction while secretly plotting against his adversaries (Inhumans #12, 1999)
Jonathan Hickman: co-creator of Eldrac, an Inhuman who appears as a giant head, has the ability to teleport others (Fantastic Four #577, 2010); of Terrigen Mist being spread on Earth, causing humans to transform into Inhumans; of the philosophy of Terrigen revealing something of a person's true self (Infinity #4, 2013)
Roy Thomas: co-creator of the title "Something Inhuman This Way Comes" related to the Inhumans; of Black Bolt accidentally killing his parents because of Maximus' manipulations; of Maximus forming an alliance with the Inhumans' enemies (Avengers #95, 1972)
Neal Adams: co-creator of the title "Something Inhuman This Way Comes" related to the Inhumans; of Black Bolt accidentally killing his parents because of Maximus' manipulations; of Maximus forming an alliance with the Inhumans' enemies (Avengers #95, 1972)
Ann Nocenti: co-creator of the Inhumans' Genetic Council which determines how to employ the Terrigen Mists and other matters related to breeding and genetic engineering (Marvel Graphic Novel #39, 1988)
Bret Blevins: co-creator of the Inhumans' Genetic Council which determines how to employ the Terrigen Mists and other matters related to breeding and genetic engineering (Marvel Graphic Novel #39, 1988)
Jerome Opena: co-creator of Terrigen Mist being spread on Earth, causing humans to transform into Inhumans; of the philosophy of Terrigen revealing something of a person's true self (Infinity #4, 2013)
Mark Gruenwald: creator of Auron, one of the Inhumans (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #6, 1986); co-creator of Black Bolt and Medusa being married (Fantastic Four Annual #18, 1984)
Warren Ellis: co-creator of Karnak's abilities causing him to philosophize, seeing "the flaw in everything"; of Karnak wearing a green hoodie and bandages on his hands (Karnak #1, 2015)
Gerardo Zaffino: co-creator of Karnak's abilities causing him to philosophize, seeing "the flaw in everything"; of Karnak wearing a green hoodie and bandages on his hands (Karnak #1, 2015)
John Byrne: creator of the Inhumans' city Attilan being located on Earth's moon (Fantastic Four #240, 1982); of Black Bolt and Medusa being married (Fantastic Four Annual #18, 1984)
Dale Eaglesham: co-creator of Eldrac, an Inhuman who appears as a giant head, has the ability to teleport others (Fantastic Four #577, 2010)
Skip Dietz: co-creator of Kitang, a member of the Inhumans' Genetic Council (Inhumans: The Great Refuge #1, 1995)
Robert Brown: co-creator of Kitang, a member of the Inhumans' Genetic Council (Inhumans: The Great Refuge #1, 1995)
Sean McKeever: co-creator of human scientists experimenting on Inhumans, hoping to cure human ailments (Inhumans #10, 2004)
David Ross: co-creator of human scientists experimenting on Inhumans, hoping to cure human ailments (Inhumans #10, 2004)
Mark Bright: co-creator of Black Bolt and Medusa being married (Fantastic Four Annual #18, 1984)
Doug Moench: co-creator of Iridia, a female Inhuman with butterfly-like wings (Inhumans #1, 1975)
George Perez: co-creator of Iridia, a female Inhuman with butterfly-like wings (Inhumans #1, 1975)
Matt Fraction: co-creator of humans affected by terrigen transforming from within a coccoon (Inhumanity #1, 2013)
Olivier Coipel: co-creator of humans affected by terrigen transforming from within a coccoon (Inhumanity #1, 2013)
Tom DeFalco: co-creator of Pulssus, one of the Inhumans (Fantastic Four #398, 1995)
Paul Ryan: co-creator of Pulssus, one of the Inhumans (Fantastic Four #398, 1995)
John Romita: co-creator of the title "Make Way for Medusa" related to the Inhumans (Amazing Spider-Man #62, 1968)
Richard Starkings: creator of the Inhumans logo (Inhumans #1, 1998)
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