Thursday, March 25, 2021

Black Panther character profiles at the Marvel Appendix

The Marvel Appendix recently published two new profiles of a pair of supporting characters from Black Panther: Ogun and Kunta, written by yours truly. I hope to write up a few more interesting Wakandans in the weeks and months to come.

Monday, March 15, 2021

New Black Panther essay at Sequart!

Sequart has published another in my series of essays about Christopher Priest's Black Panther. This one is titled "The Knighted King: A Brief Publication History of Christopher Priest's Black Panther." This one simply sorts out the publishing history of Black Panther and the many factors internal and external which shaped the book's development. I hope you'll take a few minutes to read and enjoy!

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Day of the Spider

There's a mini-event going on at the Marvel Appendix today because it's the "Day of the Spider." To that end, I've submitted a profile on one of the Black Rider's enemies, The Spider. I'll be posting entries on the Appendix a little more frequently now. It's good to be back!

2020 Inkwell Awards Ballot Is Live

If you feel strongly about supporting the art of inking in comic books then I encourage you to visit the Inkwell Awards website and vote your opinion on the best inking of 2020. I'm a long-time member of the nomination committee and I hope you share my interest in supporting and promoting inking.

Sunday, March 7, 2021

WandaVision creator credits

Time for another list of creator credits for a Marvel Cinematic Universe product! I have a master list here if you're interested.

This was an interesting addition to the MCU. As a fan primarily of the comics, I was very pleased to see Wanda's powers, costume and alias move closer to the comics - previously she had almost in common with the Scarlet Witch. The only real dud of the series, I felt, was the SWORD plot, which just seemed to eat up time; Director Hayward is easily the most boring antagonist in the MCU.

Anway, to the credits! A lot came from Roy Thomas - it's easy to forget that Rascally Roy -- not Stan Lee and Jack Kirby -- had more to do with the success of the Avengers than anyone else.

Jack Kirby: co-creator of the Avengers, Earth's most powerful super heroes (Avengers #1, 1963); of the Scarlet Witch as a member of the Avengers (Avengers #16, 1965); of the Skrulls, an extraterrestrial race with green skin, ridged chins and the power to shapeshift (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of Vibranium, a rare metal which is almost impervious to damage (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of Agatha Harkness, a witch from Salem who wears a purple dress, shawl and gem; of Agatha having an animal who is her familiar (Fantastic Four #94, 1970); of the Vision, a green-garbed man in a cape (Marvel Mystery Comics #13, 1940); of Nick Fury, a heroic soldier (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of Baron Strucker, a European villain (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #5, 1964); of Hydra, a terrorist organization (Strange Tales #136, 1965); of Jarvis, a being associated with the Avengers (Tales of Suspense #59, 1964); of The Scarlet Witch, Wanda, a costumed hero who wears a red and pinky bodysuit with red tiara; the Scarlet Witch's power to cast hexes which affect probability; of Quicksilver, Pietro, the Scarlet Witch's brother who has silver hair and wears a costume with a lightning bolt design (X-Men #4, 1964)

Stan Lee: co-creator of the Avengers, Earth's most powerful super heroes (Avengers #1, 1963); of the Scarlet Witch as a member of the Avengers (Avengers #16, 1965); of the Skrulls, an extraterrestrial race with green skin, ridged chins and the power to shapeshift (Fantastic Four #2, 1962); of Vibranium, a rare metal which is almost impervious to damage (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of Agatha Harkness, a witch from Salem who wears a purple dress, shawl and gem; of Agatha having an animal who is her familiar (Fantastic Four #94, 1970); of Captain Marvel, a hero from outer space (Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967); of Nick Fury, a heroic soldier (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, 1963); of Baron Strucker, a European villain (Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #5, 1964); of Hydra, a terrorist organization (Strange Tales #136, 1965); of Jarvis, a being associated with the Avengers (Tales of Suspense #59, 1964); of The Scarlet Witch, Wanda, a costumed hero who wears a red and pinky bodysuit with red tiara; the Scarlet Witch's power to cast hexes which affect probability; of Quicksilver, Pietro, the Scarlet Witch's brother who has silver hair and wears a costume with a lightning bolt design (X-Men #4, 1964)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of Ultron, a robot who fought the Avengers (Avengers #54, 1968); of the Vision, an android with a synthetic body, built by Ultron; of the term Synthezoid, which describes Vision's android nature; of Vision becoming an ally of the Avengers; of Vision's power to alter his density, becoming heavy or phasing through solid matter; of Vision's red skin, jewel on forehead; of Vision's green and yellow costume (Avengers #57, 1968); of the Vision joining the Avengers; of Vision's ability to cry (Avengers #58, 1968); of the Scarlet Witch developing a famliarity with magic; of QUicksilver wearing a light blue costume with a lightning bolt design (Avengers #75, 1970); of the Scarlet Witch serving in the Avengers with the Vision (Avengers #76, 1970); of the Scarlet Witch falling in love with the Vision (Avengers #91, 1971); of the Scarlet Witch as a Nexus being, a unique figure of great power (Avengers West Coast #61, 1990); of Bova, a cow connected to Wanda (Giant-Size Avengers #1, 1974); of the Soul Gem, an extraterrestrial artifact, first of the Infintiy Gems (Marvel Premiere #1, 1970); of Carol Danvers, a woman connected to Captain Marvel (Marvel Super-Heroes #13, 1968)

John Buscema: co-creator of Ultron, a robot who fought the Avengers (Avengers #54, 1968); of the Vision, an android with a synthetic body, built by Ultron; of the term Synthezoid, which describes Vision's android nature; of Vision becoming an ally of the Avengers; of Vision's power to alter his density, becoming heavy or phasing through solid matter; of Vision's red skin, jewel on forehead; of Vision's green and yellow costume (Avengers #57, 1968); of the Vision joining the Avengers; of Vision's ability to cry (Avengers #58, 1968);of the Scarlet Witch developing a famliarity with magic; of QUicksilver wearing a light blue costume with a lightning bolt design (Avengers #75, 1970); of the Scarlet Witch serving in the Avengers with the Vision (Avengers #76, 1970)

Steve Englehart: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch forming a relationship with Agatha Harkness as her mentor in magic (Avengers #128, 1974); of Vision and the Scarlet Witch being married (Giant-Size Avengers #4, 1975); of the Sorcerer Supreme, a title held by Earth's most powerful magic user (Marvel Premiere #10, 1973); of Glamour and Illusion, a married couple who have magical powers but attempt to pass themselves off as mere stage magicians; of Vision and the Scarlet Witch conceiving children together (Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4, 1986); of Tommy and Billy, the Vision and Scarlet Witch's children, twin brothers; of Wanda believing she was pregnant with only one child, yet giving birth to twins (Vision and the Scarlet Witch #12, 1986)

John Byrne: creator of Tommy and Billy ceasing to exist (Avengers West Coast #52, 1989); of the Scarlet Witch discovering her powers permit her to alter reality (Avengers West Coast #56, 1990); of the Vision being disassembled by the government; of the Scarlet Witch being shocked to see Vision's disassembly (West Coast Avengers #43, 1989); of the Vision being reassembled into a body with pale white skin (West Coast Avengers #45, 1989); co-creator of the Scarlet Witch connected to the power of the Darkhold (Avengers #185, 1979); of Pietro and Wanda's surname, Maximoff (Avengers #186, 1979); of the Scarlet Witch learning her powers were linked to magic from the moment of her birth (Avengers #187, 1979)

Roger Stern: co-creator of Monica Rambeau, a black woman with the rank of captain who is exposed to energies which permit her to transform her body into any form of energy she imagines; of Monica wearing her hair in an afro; of Monica wearing a costume with black leggings and a white top; of Monica connected to Captain Marvel (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16, 1982); of the Vision, Scarlet witch and Monica Rambeau as allies (Avengers #233, 1983); of Maria Rambeau, Monica's mother (Avengers #246, 1984); of the Vision wearing casual garments in his home life with Wanda (Avengers #254, 1985)

Jim Starlin: creator of the six Soul Gems, later known as Infinity Gems and sought by Thanos (Avengers Annual #7, 1977); co-creator of Thanos using the Infinity Gauntlet to terminate 50% of all life in the universe (Infinity Gauntlet #1, 1991); of the effects of the Infinity Gauntlet being undone (Infinity Gauntlet #6, 1991); of Thanos, a purple extraterrestrial with immense power (Iron Man #55, 1973); of the Infinity Gems, the name bestowed on the Soul Gems (including the Mind Gem) by Thanos; of the Infinity Gauntlet, the six Infinity Gems as wielded by Thanos to grant him vast cosmic power (Thanos Quest #1, 1990)

Richard Howell: co-creator of Glamour and Illusion, a married couple who have magical powers but attempt to pass themselves off as mere stage magicians; of Vision and the Scarlet Witch conceiving children together (Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4, 1986); of Tommy and Billy, the Vision and Scarlet Witch's children, twin brothers; of Wanda believing she was pregnant with only one child, yet giving birth to twins (Vision and the Scarlet Witch #12, 1986)

John Romita Jr.: co-creator of Monica Rambeau, a black woman with the rank of captain who is exposed to energies which permit her to transform her body into any form of energy she imagines; of Monica wearing her hair in an afro; of Monica wearing a costume with black leggings and a white top; of Monica connected to Captain Marvel (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16, 1982)

Allan Heinberg: co-creator of William having magical powers like his mother; of William wearing a blue costume with headband and red cape (Young Avengers #1, 2005); of Tommy developing the power of superhuman speed like his uncle Pietro (Young Avengers #10, 2006); of Tommy wearing a costume similar to his uncle Pietro (Young Avengers #12, 2006)

Jim Cheung: co-creator of William having magical powers like his mother; of William wearing a blue costume with headband and red cape (Young Avengers #1, 2005); of Tommy developing the power of superhuman speed like his uncle Pietro (Young Avengers #10, 2006); of Tommy wearing a costume similar to his uncle Pietro (Young Avengers #12, 2006)

Ron Lim: co-creator of the effects of the Infinity Gauntlet being undone (Infinity Gauntlet #6, 1991); of the Infinity Gems, the name bestowed on the Soul Gems (including the Mind Gem) by Thanos; of the Infinity Gauntlet, the six Infinity Gems as wielded by Thanos to grant him vast cosmic power (Thanos Quest #1, 1990)

David Michelinie: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch connected to the power of the Darkhold (Avengers #185, 1979); of Pietro and Wanda's surname, Maximoff (Avengers #186, 1979); of the Scarlet Witch learning her powers were linked to magic from the moment of her birth (Avengers #187, 1979)

George Perez: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch wielding Chaos Magic (Avengers #10, 1998); of Scratch, who is an associate of Agatha Harkness (Fantastic Four #185, 1977); of Thanos using the Infinity Gauntlet to terminate 50% of all life in the universe (Infinity Gauntlet #1, 1991)

Mark Gruenwald: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch connected to the power of the Darkhold (Avengers #185, 1979); of Pietro and Wanda's surname, Maximoff (Avengers #186, 1979); of the Scarlet Witch learning her powers were linked to magic from the moment of her birth (Avengers #187, 1979)

Steven Grant: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch connected to the power of the Darkhold (Avengers #185, 1979); of Pietro and Wanda's surname, Maximoff (Avengers #186, 1979); of the Scarlet Witch learning her powers were linked to magic from the moment of her birth (Avengers #187, 1979)

Sal Buscema: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch falling in love with the Vision (Avengers #91, 1971); of the Scarlet Witch forming a relationship with Agatha Harkness as her mentor in magic (Avengers #128, 1974)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Captain Marvel, a hero from outer space (Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967); of Carol Danvers, a woman connected to Captain Marvel (Marvel Super-Heroes #13, 1968)

Don Heck: co-creator of Vision and the Scarlet Witch being married (Giant-Size Avengers #4, 1975); of Stark Industries, an industrial company which manufactures weapons (Tales of Suspense #45, 1963)

Kurt Busiek: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch wielding Chaos Magic (Avengers #10, 1998)

Mark Waid: co-creator of two versions of the Vision arguing about their identity through a philosophical discussion of the ship of Theseus (Avengers #6, 2017)

Mike del Mundo: co-creator of two versions of the Vision arguing about their identity through a philosophical discussion of the ship of Theseus (Avengers #6, 2017)

Len Kaminski: co-creator of the Vision disguising himself with a hologram to make himself appear to be a normal human (Avengers Spotlight #40, 1991)

Gavin Curtis: co-creator of the Vision disguising himself with a hologram to make himself appear to be a normal human (Avengers Spotlight #40, 1991)

John Cassaday: co-creator of S.W.O.R.D., an intelligence agency concerned with superhuman events (Astonishing X-Men #6, 2004)

Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch accidentally altering reality and causing harm to others (Avengers #500, 2004)

Al Feldstein: co-creator of James Woo, a Chinese-American agent of the FBI (Yellow Claw #1, 1956)

Joe Maneely: co-creator of James Woo, a Chinese-American agent of the FBI (Yellow Claw #1, 1956)

Gerry Conway: co-creator of the Darkhold, the book of the damned, a tome of black magic (Marvel Spotlight #4, 1972)

Mike Ploog: co-creator of the Darkhold, the book of the damned, a tome of black magic (Marvel Spotlight #4, 1972)

Rich Buckler: co-creator of Bova, a cow connected to Wanda (Giant-Size Avengers #1, 1974)

Gil Kane: co-creator of the Soul Gem, an extraterrestrial artifact, first of the Infintiy Gems (Marvel Premiere #1, 1970)

Mike Friedrich: co-creator of Thanos, a purple extraterrestrial with immense power (Iron Man #55, 1973)

Glenn Herdling: co-creator of Photon, an alias connected to Monica Rambeau (Avengers Unplugged #5, 1996)

M. C. Wyman: co-creator of Photon, an alias connected to Monica Rambeau (Avengers Unplugged #5, 1996)

Joe Sinnott: co-creator of the Vision, Scarlet witch and Monica Rambeau as allies (Avengers #233, 1983)

Robert Bernstein: co-creator of Stark Industries, an industrial company which manufactures weapons (Tales of Suspense #45, 1963)

Dexter Soy: co-creator of Carol Danvers serving as Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel #1, 2012)

Kelly Sue DeConnick: co-creator of Carol Danvers serving as Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel #1, 2012)

Dann Thomas: co-creatorof the Scarlet Witch as a Nexus being, a unique figure of great power (Avengers West Coast #61, 1990)

Paul Ryan: co-creatorof the Scarlet Witch as a Nexus being, a unique figure of great power (Avengers West Coast #61, 1990)

Bob Hall: co-creator of the Vision wearing casual garments in his home life with Wanda (Avengers #254, 1985)

Joe Simon: co-creator of the Vision, a green-garbed man in a cape (Marvel Mystery Comics #13, 1940)

David Finch: co-creator of the Scarlet Witch accidentally altering reality and causing harm to others (Avengers #500, 2004)

Frank Brunner: co-creator of the Sorcerer Supreme, a title held by Earth's most powerful magic user (Marvel Premiere #10, 1973)

Al Milgrom: co-creator of Maria Rambeau, Monica's mother (Avengers #246, 1984)

Todd DeZago: co-creator of Chaos Magic, a form of magical power (Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #83, 1995)

Patrick Zircher: co-creator of Chaos Magic, a form of magical power (Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #83, 1995)

Rick Leonardi: co-creator of Vision and the Scarlet Witch living together in New Jersey (Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1, 1982)

Bill Mantlo: co-creator of Vision and the Scarlet Witch living together in New Jersey (Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1, 1982)

Len Wein: co-creator of Scratch, who is an associate of Agatha Harkness (Fantastic Four #185, 1977)

Joss Whedon: co-creator of S.W.O.R.D., an intelligence agency concerned with superhuman events (Astonishing X-Men #6, 2004)

Tom King: co-creator of Sparky, the family dog in Vision's idyllic home life (Vision #6, 2016)

Gabriel Walta: co-creator of Sparky, the family dog in Vision's idyllic home life (Vision #6, 2016)