She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Season 1) Creator Credits

There was always something a little silly about the very concept of She-Hulk; Stan Lee infamously stated that he only created her to ensure no one else could publish a 'She-Hulk' comic and infringe on the Hulk's trademark (thus, Lee only wrote her 1st appearance - just like Captain Marvel, another case of locking up rights for the company, not creative passion). John Byrne dove straight into comedy for his Sensational She-Hulk comics and that's really stuck for the character, eventually leading to the superb Dan Slott She-Hulk comics. The new Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law owes most of its content to the work of Slott (and artist Juan Bobilio). But since the program is full of other Marvel Comics connections...

As ever, you can read my full list of Marvel Cinematic Universe creator credits here.

Stan Lee: co-creator of the Avengers, a team of heroes including the Hulk (Avengers #1, 1963); of Captain America being frozen in ice during World War II, then thawed out in contemporary times and joining the Avengers (Avengers #4, 1964); of the Falcon, alias Sam Wilson, a costumed hero (Captain America #117, 1969); of Daredevil, alias Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with superhuman senses that compensate for his lack of sight; of Daredevil's yellow and red costume and billy club weapon (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Leapfrog, a small-time villain costumed like a frog who fights Daredevil (Daredevil #25, 1967); of Wakanda, African nation; of Black Panther, a Wakandan hero (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); of Vibranium, a rare metal from Wakanda (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of the Hulk, alias Bruce Banner, a brilliant scientist who is transformed by gamma rays into a large superhuman monster; of the Hulk called "incredible" (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of the Hulk having green skin (Incredible Hulk #2, 1962); of the Hulk leaping vast distances (Incredible Hulk #3, 1962); of Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Jane Foster, love interest of Thor (Journey into Mystery #84, 1962); of Loki, Thor's brother; of Asgard, the realm where Thor hails from (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of Captain Marvel, a space hero (Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967); of She-Hulk, alias Jennifer Walters, cousin to Bruce Banner; of Jennifer being exposed to Banner's gamma-irradiated blood, causing her to transform into the green superhuman She-Hulk; of organized criminals trying to assassinate Jennifer; of Jennifer as the "savage" She-Hulk; of Jennifer as a lawyer based in a California district attorney's office (She-Hulk #1, 1980); of Dr. Strange, master of the mystic arts; of Wong, a Chinese hero (Strange Tales #110, 1963); of the Book of Vishanti, a mystical tome (Strange Tales #116, 1964); of Wong's name (Strange Tales #119, 1964); of magic practitioner's called a "master of the mystic artts" (Strange Tales #120, 1964); of Iron Man, alias Tony Stark, armored hero (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Black Widow, a Russian spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Hawkeye, an expert archer (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964); of Peggy Carter, Captain Ameria's wartime love interest (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966); of Porcupine, a criminal who wears a battlesuit covered in quills (Tales to Astonish #48, 1963); of the Hulk's transformations caused by anger (Tales to Astonish #60, 1964); of the Hulk creating shockwaves by clapping his hands together (Tales to Astonish #65, 1965); of the Hulk's battlecry "Hulk smash!" (Tales to Astonish #88, 1967); of the Abomination, a Russian transformed by gamma radiation into a huge green scaly monster who fights the Hulk (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967); of the Wrecker, a criminal with a crowbar enchanted by Asgardian magic (Thor #148, 1968); of the X-Men, a team of mutant heroes (X-Men #1, 1963); of the Scarlet Witch. a quasi-mystical heroine (X-Men #4, 1964)

Jack Kirby: co-creator of the Avengers, a team of heroes including the Hulk (Avengers #1, 1963); of Captain America being frozen in ice during World War II, then thawed out in contemporary times and joining the Avengers (Avengers #4, 1964); of Captain America, alias Steve Rogers, costumed super-soldier from World War II (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of Wakanda, African nation; of Black Panther, a Wakandan hero (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); of Vibranium, a rare metal from Wakanda (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of the Hulk, alias Bruce Banner, a brilliant scientist who is transformed by gamma rays into a large superhuman monster; of the Hulk called "incredible" (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of the Hulk having green skin (Incredible Hulk #2, 1962); of the Hulk leaping vast distances (Incredible Hulk #3, 1962); of Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Jane Foster, love interest of Thor (Journey into Mystery #84, 1962); of Loki, Thor's brother; of Asgard, the realm where Thor hails from (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of Iron Man, alias Tony Stark, armored hero (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Black Widow, a Russian spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Porcupine, a criminal who wears a battlesuit covered in quills (Tales to Astonish #48, 1963); of the Wrecker, a criminal with a crowbar enchanted by Asgardian magic (Thor #148, 1968); of the X-Men, a team of mutant heroes (X-Men #1, 1963); of the Scarlet Witch. a quasi-mystical heroine (X-Men #4, 1964)

Dan Slott: co-creator of Craig Hollis, Mr. Immortal's real name (GLA #1, 2005); of She-Hulk wearing a white costume with purple fringe; of She-Hulk's ability to quickly metabolize large amounts of alcohol but resulting in Jennifer Walters becoming very drunk when she turns back; of Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway (GLK&H), a law firm who specialize in superhuman law and hire She-Hulk for their offices; of Holden Holliway, a senior partner at GLK&H; of Mallory Book, a lawyer at GLK&H who has a professional rivalry with Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk #1, 2004); of Augustus "Pug" Pugliese, a lawyer at GLK&H, friend to Jennifer Walters and enthusiastic fan of super heroes (She Hulk #2, 2004)

Juan Bobilio: co-creator of She-Hulk wearing a white costume with purple fringe; of She-Hulk's ability to quickly metabolize large amounts of alcohol but resulting in Jennifer Walters becoming very drunk when she turns back; of Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway (GLK&H), a law firm who specialize in superhuman law and hire She-Hulk for their offices; of Holden Holliway, a senior partner at GLK&H; of Mallory Book, a lawyer at GLK&H who has a professional rivalry with Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk #1, 2004); of Augustus "Pug" Pugliese, a lawyer at GLK&H, friend to Jennifer Walters and enthusiastic fan of super heroes (She Hulk #2, 2004)

Steve Ditko: co-creator of Dr. Strange, master of the mystic arts; of Wong, a Chinese hero (Strange Tales #110, 1963); of the Book of Vishanti, a mystical tome (Strange Tales #116, 1964); of Wong's name (Strange Tales #119, 1964); of magic practitioner's called a "master of the mystic artts" (Strange Tales #120, 1964); of the Hulk's transformations caused by anger (Tales to Astonish #60, 1964); of the Hulk creating shockwaves by clapping his hands together (Tales to Astonish #65, 1965)

John Buscema: co-creator of She-Hulk, alias Jennifer Walters, cousin to Bruce Banner; of Jennifer being exposed to Banner's gamma-irradiated blood, causing her to transform into the green superhuman She-Hulk; of organized criminals trying to assassinate Jennifer; of Jennifer as the "savage" She-Hulk; of Jennifer as a lawyer based in a California district attorney's office (She-Hulk #1, 1980); of the Light Elves, beings from Asgard with the ability to manipulate light (Thor #277, 1978)

Gene Colan: co-creator of the Falcon, alias Sam Wilson, a costumed hero (Captain America #117, 1969); of Leapfrog, a small-time villain costumed like a frog who fights Daredevil (Daredevil #25, 1967); of Man-Bull, a super-villain who is part-bull and has superhuman strength (Daredevil #78, 1971); of Captain Marvel, a space hero (Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967); of Carol Danvers, heroine tied to Captain Marvel (Marvel Super-Heroes #13, 1968)

Larry Lieber: co-creator of Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Jane Foster, love interest of Thor (Journey into Mystery #84, 1962); of Loki, Thor's brother; of Asgard, the realm where Thor hails from (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of Iron Man, alias Tony Stark, armored hero (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)

Sal Buscema: co-creator of the Wrecking Crew, the trio of Thunderball, Bulldozer and Piledriver whom the Wrecker shares power with (Defenders #17, 1974); of Bruce Banner integrating his Hulk persona with his own psyche, creating a version of the Hulk who has all of the hero's strength plus Banner's intellect (Incredible Hulk #272, 1982)

Don Heck: co-creator of Iron Man, alias Tony Stark, armored hero (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Black Widow, a Russian spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Hawkeye, an expert archer (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964); of Porcupine, a criminal who wears a battlesuit covered in quills (Tales to Astonish #48, 1963)

Gil Kane: co-creator of Daredevil operating in Hell's Kitchen, New York (Daredevil #148, 1977); of the Hulk's battlecry "Hulk smash!" (Tales to Astonish #88, 1967); of the Abomination, a Russian transformed by gamma radiation into a huge green scaly monster who fights the Hulk (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967)

Bill Everett: co-creator of Daredevil, alias Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with superhuman senses that compensate for his lack of sight; of Daredevil's yellow and red costume and billy club weapon (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Kamar-Taj, the mystical locale where Wong hails from (Strange Tales #148, 1966)

Bill Mantlo: co-creator of Bruce Banner integrating his Hulk persona with his own psyche, creating a version of the Hulk who has all of the hero's strength plus Banner's intellect (Incredible Hulk #272, 1982); of Rebecca Banner, mother of Bruce Banner (Incredible Hulk #312, 1985)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of Carol Danvers, heroine tied to Captain Marvel (Marvel Super-Heroes #13, 1968); of the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo, an eagle within a circle (Strange Tales #154, 1967); of the Light Elves, beings from Asgard with the ability to manipulate light (Thor #277, 1978)

David Anthony Kraft: co-creator of "Buck" Bukowski, a lawyer from the California district attorney's office, a frequent rival to Jennifer Walters; of Morris Walters, She-Hulk's father; of Elaine Walters, She-Hulk's mother (She-Hulk #2, 1980)

Mike Vosburg: co-creator of "Buck" Bukowski, a lawyer from the California district attorney's office, a frequent rival to Jennifer Walters; of Morris Walters, She-Hulk's father; of Elaine Walters, She-Hulk's mother (She-Hulk #2, 1980)

Steve Englehart: co-creator Of Earth's chief magical protector called "sorcerer supreme" (Marvel Premiere #10, 1973); of Star-Lord, a space hero (Marvel Preview #4, 1976); of Shang-Chi, a master of kung fu (Special Marvel Edition #15, 1973)

Jim Shooter: co-creator of Titania, a woman with superhuman strength (Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #3, 1984); of Matt Murdock and Jennifer Walters encountering each other as fellow lawyers (Marvel Team-Up #107, 1981)

John Byrne: creator of She-Hulk breaking the fourth wall and addressing both her audience and her creators (Sensational She-Hulk #1, 1989); of Mr. Immortal, a man who is unable to die (West Coast Avengers #46, 1989)

Mark Gruenwald: creator of Emil Blonsky, the Abomination's real name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1, 1983); of Mary MacPherran, Titania's real name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #13, 1986)

Greg Pak: co-creator of Sakaar, an alien world where the Hulk lived for some time (Incredible Hulk #92, 2006); of Skaar, the Hulk's son who was born in Sakaar (World War Hulk #5, 2008)

Trevor Von Eeden: co-creator of El Aguila, a costumed Spanish hero in red with a blue jacket, channels bio-electricity through his sword (Power Man and Iron Fist #58, 1979)

Jim Starlin: co-creator of Shang-Chi, a master of kung fu (Special Marvel Edition #15, 1973); of the Infinity Gauntlet, a powerful cosmic item (Thanos Quest #1, 1990)

John Romita Jr.: co-creator of Shuri, Wakandan heroine (Black Panther #2, 2005); of Skaar, the Hulk's son who was born in Sakaar (World War Hulk #5, 2008)

Len Wein: co-creator of the Wrecking Crew, the trio of Thunderball, Bulldozer and Piledriver whom the Wrecker shares power with (Defenders #17, 1974)

Jo Duffy: co-creator of El Aguila, a costumed Spanish hero in red with a blue jacket, channels bio-electricity through his sword (Power Man and Iron Fist #58, 1979)

J. M. DeMatteis: co-creator of Eugene Patilio, alias the fabulous Frog-Man, a wannabe super hero who dresses like a frog (Marvel Team-Up #121, 1982)

Kerry Gammill: co-creator of Eugene Patilio, alias the fabulous Frog-Man, a wannabe super hero who dresses like a frog (Marvel Team-Up #121, 1982)

Joe Simon: co-creator of Captain America, alias Steve Rogers, costumed super-soldier from World War II (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)

Tom DeFalco: co-creator of Matt Murdock and Jennifer Walters encountering each other as fellow lawyers (Marvel Team-Up #107, 1981)

Herb Trimpe: co-creator of Matt Murdock and Jennifer Walters encountering each other as fellow lawyers (Marvel Team-Up #107, 1981)

Ernie Hart: co-creator of Porcupine, a criminal who wears a battlesuit covered in quills (Tales to Astonish #48, 1963)

Gerry Conway: co-creator of Man-Bull, a super-villain who is part-bull and has superhuman strength (Daredevil #78, 1971)

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

Jamie McKelvie: co-creator of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel #1, 2012)

Ron Lim: co-creator of the Infinity Gauntlet, a powerful cosmic item (Thanos Quest #1, 1990)

Steve Gan: co-creator of Star-Lord, a space hero (Marvel Preview #4, 1976)

Rick Remender: co-creator of Sam Wilson as Captain America (Captain America #25, 2014)

Carlos Pacheco: co-creator of Sam Wilson as Captain America (Captain America #25, 2014)

Frank Brunner: co-creator Of Earth's chief magical protector called "sorcerer supreme" (Marvel Premiere #10, 1973)

Jason Aaron: co-creator of Jane Foster as Thor (Thor #1, 2014)

Russell Dauterman: co-creator of Jane Foster as Thor (Thor #1, 2014)

Dennis O'Neil: co-creator of Kamar-Taj, the mystical locale where Wong hails from (Strange Tales #148, 1966)

Carlo Pagulayan: co-creator of Sakaar, an alien world where the Hulk lived for some time (Incredible Hulk #92, 2006)

Don Rico: co-creator of the Black Widow, a Russian spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964)

Jim Steranko: co-creator of the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo, an eagle within a circle (Strange Tales #154, 1967)

Roger McKenzie: co-creator of Daredevil operating in Hell's Kitchen, New York (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Dick Ayers: co-creator of Peggy Carter, Captain Ameria's wartime love interest (Tales of Suspense #75, 1966)

Mark Millar: co-creator of the Hulk's origins tied to Captain America (Ultimates #2, 2002)

Bryan Hitch: co-creator of the Hulk's origins tied to Captain America (Ultimates #2, 2002)

Chris Claremont: co-creator of Titania as She-Hulk's enemy (Solo Avengers #14, 1989)

Alan Davis: co-creator of Titania as She-Hulk's enemy (Solo Avengers #14, 1989)

Mike Zeck: co-creator of Titania, a woman with superhuman strength (Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #3, 1984)

Jeph Loeb: co-creator of the Red Hulk, just like the other Hulk only red (Hulk #1)

Ed McGuinness: co-creator of the Red Hulk, just like the other Hulk only red (Hulk #1)

Reginald Hudlin: co-creator of Shuri, Wakandan heroine (Black Panther #2, 2005)

Paul Pelletier: co-creator of Craig Hollis, Mr. Immortal's real name (GLA #1, 2005)

Bart Sears: creator of Saracen, a vampire (Blade: Vampire Hunter #1)

Mike Mignola: co-creator of Rebecca Banner, mother of Bruce Banner (Incredible Hulk #312, 1985)

Creator Credits for Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

How did we end up with a Marvel Cinematic Universe where Iron Fist tries to be a gritty street drama while Shang-Chi is the one who goes to magical dimensions and meets dragons?

Despite his terrific work on the character, you'll see below that very little of Doug Moench's Master of Kung Fu made it to the silver screen; in fact, most of the creator credits for this film related to the guest stars, not the featured character. The film version of Shang is just barely inspired by the comic book version.

I think I expected a... martial arts film? Which is what the movie begins as, then turns in a by-the-numbers fantasy epic and seems to take an eternity to wrap up. It's a pity that Marvel Studios thinks they always have to to "big." Small would have served the character's mileu much better.

My full list of Marvel Cinematic Universe creator credits can be found here!

Stan Lee: co-creator of Bruce Banner, a brilliant scientist (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Captain Marvel, a cosmic hero (Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967); of Wong, a Chinese hero (Strange Tales #110, 1963); of Wong's name (Strange Tales #119, 1964); of Iron Man, a hero who wears sophisticated armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Mandarin, a Chinese warlord and international terrorist who wears ten rings that imbue him with superhuman powers; the Mandarin as an enemy of Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #50, 1964); of the Black Widow, an international spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of the Abomination, a Russian man exposed to gamma rays which transform him into a monstrous scaly green creature (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967)

Doug Moench: co-creator of Shang-Chi's sister, a criminal mastermind (Master of Kung Fu #26, 1975); of Razor-Fist, an enemy of Shang-Chi who has a blade in place of one of his hands (Master of Kung Fu #29, 1975); of the Golden Daggers, a criminal organization who fight Shang-Chi (Master of Kung Fu #40, 1976); of Shang-Chi's sister as the leader of the Golden Daggers (Master of Kung Fu #44, 1976); of Death Dealer, a masked assassin who serves Shang-Chi's father and battles Shang (Master of Kung Fu #115, 1982)

Jack Kirby: co-creator of Bruce Banner, a brilliant scientist (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Iron Man, a hero who wears sophisticated armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Mandarin, a Chinese warlord and international terrorist who wears ten rings that imbue him with superhuman powers; the Mandarin as an enemy of Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #50, 1964); of the Black Widow, an international spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964)

Don Heck: co-creator of Iron Man, a hero who wears sophisticated armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Mandarin, a Chinese warlord and international terrorist who wears ten rings that imbue him with superhuman powers; the Mandarin as an enemy of Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #50, 1964); of the Black Widow, an international spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964)

Steve Englehart: co-creator of Shang-Chi, a Chinese martial artist raised in Hunan by a father who is the leader of an international criminal organization; Shang sent out as a young man to kill someone on his father's orders; Shang disobeying his father, thereby becoming his enemy; Shang garbed in red gi (Special Marvel Edition #15, 1973)

Jim Starlin: co-creator of Shang-Chi, a Chinese martial artist raised in Hunan by a father who is the leader of an international criminal organization; Shang sent out as a young man to kill someone on his father's orders; Shang disobeying his father, thereby becoming his enemy; Shang garbed in a red gi (Special Marvel Edition #15, 1973)

Paul Gulacy: co-creator of Razor-Fist, an enemy of Shang-Chi who has a blade in place of one of his hands (Master of Kung Fu #29, 1975); of the Golden Daggers, a criminal organization who fight Shang-Chi (Master of Kung Fu #40, 1976); of Shang-Chi's sister as the leader of the Golden Daggers (Master of Kung Fu #44, 1976)

Mark Gruenwald: creator of the Abomination's real name Emil Blonsky (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1, 1983); co-creator of Ta Lo, a spiritual realm connected to Chinese deities (Thor #301, 1980)

Gil Kane: co-creator of the Abomination, a Russian man exposed to gamma rays which transform him into a monstrous scaly green creature (Tales to Astonish #90, 1967)

Keith Pollard: co-creator of Shang-Chi's sister, a criminal mastermind (Master of Kung Fu #26, 1975); of Ta Lo, a spiritual realm connected to Chinese deities (Thor #301, 1980)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Captain Marvel, a cosmic hero (Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967); of Carol Danvers, a blonde woman (Marvel Super-Heroes #13, 1968)

Kelly Sue DeConnick: co-creator of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel, wearing a red and blue costume with a yellow starburst on her chest (Captain Marvel #1, 2012)

Jamie McKelvie: co-creator of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel, wearing a red and blue costume with a yellow starburst on her chest (Captain Marvel #1, 2012)

Sax Rohmer: creator of Fu Manchu, from whom Shang-Chi's father is derived; of Fah Lo Suee, from whom Shang-Chi's sister is derived.

Don Rico: co-creator of the Black Widow, an international spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964)

Larry Lieber: co-creator of Iron Man, a hero who wears sophisticated armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)

Steve Ditko: co-creator of Wong, a Chinese hero (Strange Tales #110, 1963); of Wong's name (Strange Tales #119, 1964)

Gene Day: co-creator of Death Dealer, a masked assassin who serves Shang-Chi's father and battles Shang (Master of Kung Fu #115, 1982)

Ralph Macchio: co-creator of Ta Lo, a spiritual realm connected to Chinese deities (Thor #301, 1980)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of Carol Danvers, a blonde woman (Marvel Super-Heroes #13, 1968)

Gerry Conway: co-creator of the Dweller in Darkness, a mostly unseen demonic force that invades the Earth (Thor #229, 1974)

Rich Buckler: co-creator of the Dweller in Darkness, a mostly unseen demonic force that invades the Earth (Thor #229, 1974)

"It doesn't work... like that." Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands review

I wasn't ready for Kate Beaton's new book Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. I picked it up without researching it, knowing that - based on the quality of her hilarious Hark, a Vagrant - it would be worth reading. I knew it was an autobiographical comic so I wasn't expecting much humour. Beyond that, I had no idea what I was in for.

Ducks is a hefty 400+ page story; I read it in two sittings and it was in the 2nd part of my reading that I finally understood what the book was really about. It opens in 2005 as Kate has finished university with a staggering amount of student debt and no jobs in her field. Unable to earn a decent living in her home province of Nova Scotia, she looks to the Alberta oil sands as a means to make quick money to pay off her student loans. Beaton takes pains at the outset to describe Nova Scotia and its continual loss of residents as locals move to other provinces for better prospects. As such, on my first night of reading Ducks I thought that was the subject of the book - how Nova Scotians are forced to leave the land they love just to make a decent wage. That's part of the story, but not the largest part of Ducks.

It was my 2nd night reading Ducks that the true content of the book became apparent and then I couldn't put it down and had to finish it at once. Ultimately this book is about the impact of environment on people's psyches. The men whom Kate interacts with at the work camps are cut off from real communities - they spend most of their free time getting drunk and looking for sex. After Kate's sister Becky comes to work in the oil sands they have a conversation about the environment and wonder what their own father would be like if he had worked on one of those sites.

There are recurring scenes centered on workplace safety - lectures to staff in which no one seems to be paying attention. Stories Kate hears second-hand about men who died on the site or succumbed to drugs. One of her superiors seems to suffering from suicidal thoughts. The office celebrates 'millions' of man hours "without a lost time incident," meaning an incident in which someone was injured. Kate's superior explains that lost time incidents "look bad for the company so we don't have them." It exists but goes unreported. Kate's point seems to be that for all the emphasis her employers put on workplace safety there was little to no concern about what causes these breakdowns or what's going on inside the minds of the workers who are clearly not adjusting well to life on the work camps. The title "Ducks" stems from an incident during Kate's time in the oil sands where more than 500 ducks died in the sludge produced by the oil sands. The companies take measures to prevent future deaths of ducks but in a half-hearted way, with one employee surmising the new measures are there only so the oil companies can claim they tried to prevent future tragedies. Just as the oil companies care little for the plight of the ducks beyond bad optics, they care little for the lives and wellbeing of their employees.

There are two instances (just after where I stopped reading the first night) where Kate is raped by co-workers. These scenes are represented by black pages - a 'blackout' in her memoir. On the one hand, I'm glad the rapes were not depicted on-panel. On the other hand, it still extremely disturbing when the black pages appear. Just before her first rape, Kate tried to express to her boss how she felt about being one of the only women in the work camp and how uncomfortable the attention all the men were giving her made her felt (as well as the men wasting time by asking her for tools they didn't need just so they could gaze at her). Her boss responded, "you knew what you were getting into." Kate ended up apologizing to her boss.

Both of the rapes occur during Kate's first year, after which she went to Victoria to work in a museum, her chosen career, for one year; but after an unfriendly call from her student loan office (they don't get into it but I assume the cost of living in Victoria made it harder to save money for her loans) she went back for a 2nd year in the oil sands. When she left for Victoria at first I felt relieved - then I noticed the book had another 200 pages remaining... Seeing her return to the oil sands made me feel sick for her, although the 2nd year is much less disturbing - she works in an office instead of a tool crib, keeping her away from most of the men. Still, that she returned to a situation as awful as that simply to pay off her debt turns my stomach.

If nothing else, I hope I've conveyed that Ducks is not an easy read. It made me upset and angry - quite the opposite of what her humour comics achieve! Ducks left me stunned, but also determined to share this book with people in my life who I know will connect very strongly to the subject matter.

Ducks was published by Drawn & Quarterly.

Rest in Peace: Kevin Conroy

Batman is dead. To be more accurate, Kevin Conroy is dead, at age 66; he passed away yesterday from cancer.

I may have mentioned in passing that, historically, I didn't care very much for Batman. I think, in fact, that the 1989 Batman movie was the product that, more than anything, made me dislike the character. And yet, that film paved the way for Batman: The Animated Series. I was reluctant to watch the show when it debuted - I think it had been on television for about 3 years by the time I finally gave it a real attempt. And I was stunned; I really enjoyed the show and through it I gained an appreciation for Batman in the comics and later, films; it became the definitive interpretation of Batman for me, the barometer by which I judged other Batman media.

I only followed Kevin Conroy's performance as Batman from Batman: The Animated Series to Justice League Unlimited (with Superman and Batman Beyond in-between). I know he portrayed Batman in other products but I haven't experienced them; I'm glad he was given those opportunities because he was truly the voice of Batman. The levels in his voice - from light-hearted Bruce to grim Batman and all the variances along the way - made him a dynamic lead character and it was always pleasant to hear him reprise the roles of Bruce Wayne and Batman.

I didn't know much about Kevin Conroy's life and career outside of his animated work. It was only in his obituary yesterday that I learned he was gay. I read his story "Finding Batman" from this year's DC Pride 2022 book - it's a short but moving autobiography of his life prior to becoming Batman and how he channeled his broken family, the AIDS epidemic and the hostility he encountered in the performing arts into his role as Batman. I'm not ashamed to say it made me cry.

Rest in peace, Kevin Conroy.

Strength Through Vulnerability in Angola

Here's a recording of a talk I gave this morning about my year in Angola and the friendships I built while I was there.

Creator Credits for Black Widow (2021)

Not to get too deeply into a review, but this was better than I thought it would be; very little of the characters' personalities from the comics made it into the film (Yelena and Melina are two characters who despise Natasha in the comics, for starters). A bigger problem is that the Black Widow is the least interesting character in the movie - Natasha is simply overshadowed by the big, dynamic characterizations afforded to Yelena and Alexei; which is fine for those characters, since they'll be appearing in movies further on. But as a farewell to Natasha she feels strangely out-of-focus for part of her own movie.

You can see my master list of Marvel Cinematic Universe creator credits here!

Stan Lee: co-creator of the Black Widow's red hair, black bodysuit, Widow's Bite wrist weapon and carrying explosives (Amazing Spider-Man #86, 1970); of the Avengers, team of heroes whose ranks include Ant-Man, Thor and Iron Man (Avengers #1, 1963); of Captain America frozen in ice for decades; of Captain America as an Avenger (Avengers #4, 1964); of the Falcon, Sam Wilson, a costumed hero (Captain America #117, 1969); of Wakanda, an African nation (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); of Thaddeus Ross, a military official (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Thor, an Asgardian god and costumed hero (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Hydra, a terrorist organization and enemies of S.H.I.E.L.D.; of S.H.I.E.L.D., an international espionage agency (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a wealthy genius inventor and hero (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Crimson Dynamo, a Soviet Cold War agent (Tales of Suspense #46, 1963); of the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, a Russian spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Hawkeye, an expert marksman and ally of the Black Widow (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964); of the Black Widow's Widow's Line device (Tales of Suspense #64, 1965); of Ant-Man, a size-changing super-hero (Tales to Astonish #35, 1962)

Jack Kirby: co-creator of the Avengers, team of heroes whose ranks include Ant-Man, Thor and Iron Man (Avengers #1, 1963); of Captain America frozen in ice for decades; of Captain America as an Avenger (Avengers #4, 1964); of Captain America, Steve Rogers, a super-soldier; of James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, Steve's best friend (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of Captain America's round shield with star in its center (Captain America Comics #2, 1941); of Wakanda, an African nation (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); of Thaddeus Ross, a military official (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Thor, an Asgardian god and costumed hero (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Hydra, a terrorist organization and enemies of S.H.I.E.L.D.; of S.H.I.E.L.D., an international espionage agency (Strange Tales #135, 1965); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a wealthy genius inventor and hero (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Crimson Dynamo, a Soviet Cold War agent (Tales of Suspense #46, 1963); of the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, a Russian spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Ant-Man, a size-changing super-hero (Tales to Astonish #35, 1962)

Don Heck: co-creator of the Black Widow as an Avenger (Avengers #111, 1973); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a wealthy genius inventor and hero (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Crimson Dynamo, a Soviet Cold War agent (Tales of Suspense #46, 1963); of the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, a Russian spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Hawkeye, an expert marksman and ally of the Black Widow (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964); of the Black Widow's Widow's Line device (Tales of Suspense #64, 1965)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of the Red Guardian, Alexei Shostakov, a Russian Cold War operative from the Black Widow's family, wears a red costume with a star in imitation of Captain America's costume (Avengers #43, 1967); of Quinjets, the personal aircraft of the Avengers (Avengers #61, 1969); of Hawkeye's real name, Clint Barton (Avengers #64, 1969); of the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo, an eagle within a circle (Strange Tales #154, 1967)

George Perez: co-creator of Taskmaster, a villain who wields a variety of weapons including a shield, bow and sword, wears a skull mask (Avengers #195, 1980); of Taskmaster copying the fighting styles of various heroes, allowing him to match his opponents in battle (Avengers #196, 1980); of Melina Vostakovna, a Russian agent who fought the Black Widow (Marvel Fanfare #11, 1983)

David Michelinie: co-creator of the Falcon as an Avenger (Avengers #183, 1979); of Taskmaster, a villain who wields a variety of weapons including a shield and sword, wears a skull mask (Avengers #195, 1980); of Taskmaster copying the fighting styles of various heroes, allowing him to match his opponents in battle (Avengers #196, 1980)

John Buscema: co-creator of the Red Guardian, Alexei Shostakov, a Russian Cold War operative from the Black Widow's family, wears a red costume with a star in imitation of Captain America's costume (Avengers #43, 1967); of Quinjets, the personal aircraft of the Avengers (Avengers #61, 1969)

Larry Lieber: co-creator of Thor, an Asgardian god and costumed hero (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Iron Man, Tony Stark, a wealthy genius inventor and hero (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Ant-Man, a size-changing super-hero (Tales to Astonish #35, 1962)

Joe Simon: co-creator of Captain America, Steve Rogers, a super-soldier; of James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, Steve's best friend (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of Captain America's round shield with star in its center (Captain America Comics #2, 1941)

J. G. Jones: co-creator of Yelena Belova, a blonde-haired Russian graduate of the same program as Natasha Romanoff who also serves as the Black Widow (Black Widow #1, 1999); of the Red Room, the spy program which created the Black Widow (Black Widow #2, 1999)

Devin Grayson: co-creator of Yelena Belova, a blonde-haired Russian graduate of the same program as Natasha Romanoff who also serves as the Black Widow (Black Widow #1, 1999); of the Red Room, the spy program which created the Black Widow (Black Widow #2, 1999)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Hawkeye's real name, Clint Barton (Avengers #64, 1969); of the Falcon, Sam Wilson, a costumed hero (Captain America #117, 1969); of the Black Widow being orphaned at a young age (Daredevil #88, 1972)

Jim Steranko: creator of Contessa Valentina Allegro de la Fontaine, a government agent (Strange Tales #159, 1967); co-creator of the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo, an eagle within a circle (Strange Tales #154, 1967)

Ralph Macchio: co-creator of the Black Widow wielding handguns (Bizarre Adventures #25, 1981); of Melina Vostakovna, a Russian agent who fought the Black Widow (Marvel Fanfare #11, 1983)

John Romita: co-creator of the Black Widow's red hair, black bodysuit, Widow's Bite wrist weapon and carrying explosives (Amazing Spider-Man #86, 1970)

Don Rico: co-creator of the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, a Russian spy (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964)

Nathan Edmonson: co-creator of the Black Widow wearing a white variant of her costume (Black Widow #17, 2015)

Phil Noto: co-creator of the Black Widow wearing a white variant of her costume (Black Widow #17, 2015)

Scott Lobdell: co-creator of the red widow icon on Black Widow's belt (Journey into Mystery #517, 1998)

Randall Green: co-creator of the red widow icon on Black Widow's belt (Journey into Mystery #517, 1998)

Paul Gulacy: co-creator of the Black Widow wielding handguns (Bizarre Adventures #25, 1981)

Ed Brubaker: co-creator of the Winter Soldier, a legendary assassin (Captain America #1, 2005)

Steve Epting: co-creator of the Winter Soldier, a legendary assassin (Captain America #1, 2005)

Steve Englehart: co-creator of the Black Widow as an Avenger (Avengers #111, 1973)

Fred Van Lente: co-creator of Taskmaster's name Tony (Taskmaster #3, 2011)

Jefte Palo: co-creator of Taskmaster's name Tony (Taskmaster #3, 2011)

Mark Gruenwald: co-creator of the Red Guardian wielding a shield in imitation of Captain America (Captain America #352, 1989)

Kieron Dwyer: co-creator of the Red Guardian wielding a shield in imitation of Captain America (Captain America #352, 1989)

Robert Bernstein: co-creator of the Crimson Dynamo, a Soviet Cold War agent (Tales of Suspense #46, 1963)

John Byrne: co-creator of the Falcon as an Avenger (Avengers #183, 1979)

James Hudnall: co-creator of the Agent, Rick Mason, an intelligence operative (Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, the Agent, 1989)

John Ridgeway: co-creator of the Agent, Rick Mason, an intelligence operative (Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, the Agent, 1989)

Bill Mantlo: co-creator of Ursa, a strong Russian man (Incredible Hulk #258, 1981)

Steven Grant: co-creator of Ursa, a strong Russian man (Incredible Hulk #258, 1981)

Sal Buscema: co-creator of Ursa, a strong Russian man (Incredible Hulk #258, 1981)

Gerry Conway: co-creator of the Black Widow being orphaned at a young age (Daredevil #88, 1972)

Creator Credits for Werewolf by Night (2022)

This Halloween saw the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first television special: Werewolf by Night on Disney+. This hour-long story doesn't bear an incredible likeness to the comics but of course I do have a list below of all those elements which did come from the comics.

I have to admit, I expected that when Jack turned into the Werewolf that it would be either the 1980s Bill Sienkiewicz design (the big-snouted Howling look) or the original Mike Ploog visual (ala Universal's Wolfman). Although the special is very much an homage to the Universal Monsters films, the Werewolf's visual looks, if anything, most similar to the werewolf from Hammer's Curse of the Werewolf.

As always, check out my index page for the origins of all Marvel Cinematic Universe programs indexed thus far.

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning: co-creators of Elsa Bloodstone, daughter of Ulysses Bloodstone who was raised away from her father's influence but after his death becomes a monster hunter in his stead, wielding a bloodstone as her inheritance (Bloodstone #1, 2001)

Gerry Conway: co-creator of the Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell, a young man who suffers from a familial curse that transforms him into a werewolf during nights of the full moon; of the Werewolf's superhuman strength and stamina; of Jack and the Werewolf possessing separate personalities with little influence on each other's actions, with the Werewolf very bestial in behaviour (Marvel Spotlight #2, 1972); of the Man-Thing, alias Ted Sallis, a man who has been transformed into an immense plant-like monster whose physical touch causes people to burn if they are afraid (Savage Tales #1, 1971)

Juan Doe: co-creator of Elsa Bloodstone and the Werewolf by Night as allies (Legion of Monsters #1, 2011)

Warren Ellis: co-creator of Elsa Bloodstone speaking with a posh English accent (Nextwave: Agents of HATE #1, 2006)

Steve Gerber: co-creator of Ulysses Bloodstone's death (Rampaging Hulk #8, 1978)

Don Heck: co-creator of the Black Widow (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Hawkeye (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964)

Dennis Hopeless: co-creator of Elsa Bloodstone and the Werewolf by Night as allies (Legion of Monsters #1, 2011)

Stuart Immonen: co-creator of Elsa Bloodstone speaking with a posh English accent (Nextwave: Agents of HATE #1, 2006)

Jack Kirby: co-creator of Captain America (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); of the Hulk (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Thor (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Black Widow (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964)

Alan Kupperberg: co-creator of Ulysses Bloodstone's death (Rampaging Hulk #8, 1978)

Stan Lee: co-creator of the Hulk (Incredible Hulk #1, 1962); of Thor (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the Black Widow (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964); of Hawkeye (Tales of Suspense #57, 1964)

Stan Lee: co-creator of Thor (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)

Michael Lopez: co-creator of Elsa Bloodstone, daughter of Ulysses Bloodstone who was raised away from her father's influence but after his death becomes a monster hunter in his stead, wielding a bloodstone as her inheritance (Bloodstone #1, 2001)

Mike Manley: co-creator of Ulysses Bloodstone belonging to a team of monster hunters (Marvel Universe #4, 1998)

Bill Mantlo: co-creator of the Man-Thing and Werewolf by Night as allies (Marvel Premiere #28, 1976)

Gray Morrow: co-creator of the Man-Thing, alias Ted Sallis, a man who has been transformed into an immense plant-like monster whose physical touch causes people to burn if they are afraid (Savage Tales #1, 1971)

Mike Ploog: co-creator of the Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell, a young man who suffers from a familial curse that transforms him into a werewolf during nights of the full moon; of the Werewolf's superhuman strength and stamina; of Jack and the Werewolf possessing separate personalities with little influence on each other's actions, with the Werewolf very bestial in behaviour (Marvel Spotlight #2, 1972)

Stan Lee: co-creator of the Black Widow (Tales of Suspense #52, 1964)

Frank Robbins: co-creator of the Man-Thing and Werewolf by Night as allies (Marvel Premiere #28, 1976)

Rod Santiago: co-creator of Ulysses Bloodstone's death (Rampaging Hulk #8, 1978)

Joe Simon: co-creator of Captain America (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)

Roger Stern: co-creator of Ulysses Bloodstone belonging to a team of monster hunters (Marvel Universe #4, 1998)

Jean Thomas: co-creator of the Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell, a young man who suffers from a familial curse that transforms him into a werewolf during nights of the full moon; of the Werewolf's superhuman strength and stamina; of Jack and the Werewolf possessing separate personalities with little influence on each other's actions, with the Werewolf very bestial in behaviour (Marvel Spotlight #2, 1972)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of the Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell, a young man who suffers from a familial curse that transforms him into a werewolf during nights of the full moon; of the Werewolf's superhuman strength and stamina; of Jack and the Werewolf possessing separate personalities with little influence on each other's actions, with the Werewolf very bestial in behaviour (Marvel Spotlight #2, 1972); of the Man-Thing, alias Ted Sallis, a man who has been transformed into an immense plant-like monster whose physical touch causes people to burn if they are afraid (Savage Tales #1, 1971)

Mike Vosburg: co-creator of Ulysses Bloodstone, an immortal man who has fought and slain monsters across the centuries; of the bloodstone used by Ulysses which grants him his immortal and supernatural abilities to assist in battling monsters (Marvel Presents #1, 1975)

John Warner: co-creator of Ulysses Bloodstone, an immortal man who has fought and slain monsters across the centuries; of the bloodstone used by Ulysses which grants him his immortal and supernatural abilities to assist in battling monsters (Marvel Presents #1, 1975)