THE MARVELOUS AWARDS!!

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SUPPORTING CAST AWARDS

It’s been a long time since I’ve added to this blog, and I could tell you that the entire time I was away, I did nothing but comb through the Marvel Comics of 1964 to find the very best nominees and winners for the Awards that are about to follow. And if I told you that, it wouldn’t be true. Preparing for these Awards does take a lot of time, but not actually that much. You know how life gets: one thing after another, and sometimes you get a little tired, or lazy, or whatever. There’s really no excuse for my being away from this blog for so long. But I’ve taken a deep breath, and I think it’s time to come back. And what better way to come back, than with a series of Awards, one installment each week for the next seven weeks!

Right before I went on this extended break, I had just finished reading the comics of 1964. And there is so much ground to cover in the active Marvel year of 1964! So where should we begin? Same as last time, I think, with Supporting Characters. The premise is that we’re starting at the bottom and working our way up—but don’t tell that to any of these supporting characters, who actually bring so much to the table, vibrantly fleshing out the hero vs. villain core of the comics world, which, frankly, would be rather boring without all the personality and soap opera provided by these peripheral players.

And so! Let us now begin the epic undertaking known as the 2nd Annual Marvelous Awards!

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: BEST NEW SUPPORTING CHARACTER

Behind every great superhero, there’s a great supporting cast. Old friends are gold, but the new ones are one of the best things about the Silver Age of Marvel Comics. Which new supporting cast member will win the coveted title?

In the category of New Kid on the Block: Best New Supporting Character, the nominees are…

• Foggy Nelson, long-suffering law partner to Daredevil’s alter-ego, Matt Murdock
• Karen Page, attractive and sympathetic secretary to the aforementioned Nelson and Murdock
• Maj. Glenn Talbot, the latest major pain in the you-know-what to long-suffering scientist Bruce Banner, and his alter ego, the Hulk

And the Award goes to…

Glenn Talbot! Though Talbot has only recently appeared, he’s planning to provide no end of trouble for Bruce Banner. Foggy, frankly, is little more than office wallpaper at this point. And Karen, though attractive and sympathetic, has not yet brought anything new to the table beyond what we’ve already seen from other unrequited love interests (think: Jane Foster, Betty Brant, Pepper Potts). Things may brighten up in Daredevil’s corner of the Marvel Universe, but right now, no one’s stirring the pot quite like Major Talbot!

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MOST SUPPORTIVE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

But hold on, Ms. Page! You may yet have your turn, as we turn now to the Most Supportive Supporting Character award, granted to that supporting character who goes above and beyond to show commitment and devotion to their star players.

In the category of Most Supportive Supporting Character, the nominees are…

• Karen Page, for writing a letter to an eye specialist in hopes of getting her blind boss an appointment that could lead to the restoration of his sight

• May Parker, for constantly nagging nephew Peter (in the most loving way possible, of course) to take his vitamins, wear a sweater and get plenty of rest. She’s a never-ending source of love and devotion, particularly when she gives an ailing Peter “The Gumption Speech.”

• Happy Hogan, for risking his life not once, not twice, but at least three times in repeated shows of extreme devotion to boss Tony Stark

And the Award goes to…

Aunt May. Though Karen’s heart is in the right place, anyone can write a letter. True, Happy seems willing to make the supreme sacrifice, but at the same time, I wonder how much of his performance is merely a machismo attempt to impress Pepper. Aunt May, however, is so consistently insistent on making sure Peter stays on the right track. And honestly, you just can’t beat that Gumption Speech.

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SIDEKICK WITH THE BIGGEST KICK

When is a supporting character more than a supporting character? When they’re a sidekick! Sidekicks are just like real people—or, real comic book characters, anyway—except for one thing: While enjoying an exceptionally close affinity to their designated Alpha, they pretty much have no life of their own. If we didn’t have heroes and villains, there would be no need for sidekicks. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why a sidekick needs to have a BIG KICK! So, let’s take a look at our short list of nominees.

In the category of Sidekick with the Biggest Kick, the nominees are…

• Rick Jones. Not only does he spend a good deal of time nursing Banner back to health after so many Hulkish episodes, but he also trains with Captain America, perfecting the art of Judo so that he’s actually pretty handy in a fight.

• The Teen Brigade. Sidekicks galore! But they function together as a seamless unit to provide whatever is needed at the moment.

• Toad. Though Toad is nowhere near as useful as Rick Jones or the Teen Brigade, absolutely no other character in the Marvel Universe surpasses him for complete devotion to the master.

And the Award goes to…

Rick Jones! Mr. Jones serves as the most traditional sidekick, akin to a DC Comics sidekick, a la Batman’s Robin or Green Arrow’s Speedy. Where would Banner or Cap be, and what would they do, if Rick Jones had not driven his jalopy into that restricted military zone during a gamma bomb test? And let’s face it. Without Rick, there wouldn’t even be a Teen Brigade. As for Toad, his overwhelming loyalty and devotion to Magneto is amply balanced by his complete lack of any other redeeming qualities. Though many Marvel readers of 1964 may well have over-identified with Rick Jones, or imagined themselves an unseen member of the Teen Brigade, I doubt anyone at any time has ever felt an affinity to Toad.

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SUB-PAR SUBORDINATES AWARD

Sometimes it seems the hero succeeds because his adversary isn’t always that adversarial. Super-villains, even those who are up to snuff, often employ an army of minions to do their dirty work. And nearly as often, those minions prove less than adequate.

In the category of Sub-Par Subordinates, the nominees are…

• The Enforcers, for their easy round-up and capture in Amazing Spider-Man #19

• Namor’s undersea army, who, in Fantastic Four #27, are easily juggled like so much fruit by the ever-lovin’ Thing

• The alien Air Force of Tales to Astonish #49 that Giant-Man lassos and twists around a skyscraper, like so much string played with by an adorable kitten

And the Award goes to…

Namor’s Undersea Army! Mostly because Thing just seems to be having too much fun.

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GLOATING ANTAGONIST AWARD

Not all antagonists are super-villains. Sometimes an antagonist is…just an antagonist. And if there’s one thing an antagonist can do well, it’s GLOAT. A good gloat can go a long way to escalate the dramatic enjoyment of any story. Let’s take a quick look at some of Marvel’s most boastful gloaters of 1964.

In the category of Gloating Antagonist, the nominees are…

• Hard-boiled Gen. “Thunderbolt” Ross

• High school bully Flash Thompson

• Media mogul J. Jonah Jameson

And the Award goes to…

Jameson, of course. Hands down. The example above is not the only time Jameson gloats about Spidey’s misfortune, but it may be the best (at least, so far). If you look up the word “gloat” in the dictionary, Jameson’s big stupid grin will be there, staring right back at you.

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MOST AUTOCRATIC ODIN MOMENT

Superheroes aren’t the only leaders in the Marvel Universe. Most notably, the Asgardian All-Father Odin rules with an ego and tenacity unlike any other in the known Universe. His commanding presence and no-nonsense approach to…well…everything, makes him worthy of his very own award.

So many to choose from! In the category of Most Autocratic Odin Moment the nominees are…

• In Journey Into Mystery #100, Odin’s denial of Thor’s petition to make Jane Foster an immortal

• From Avengers #7, the banishment of the Executioner and Enchantress to…of all places (gasp!) the planet Earth

• In Journey Into Mystery #108, the electrical storm pitched in a hissy-fit, when Thor does not immediately answer Odin’s summons

• The Journey Into Mystery #104 punishment of erring son Loki

• Odin’s angry banishment of Thor from Asgard depicted in a spectacular burst of yellow and black, in Journey Into Mystery #110

And the Award goes to…

Odin’s petty and overemotional reaction to his son basically not answering his cell phone. It’s okay to be annoyed when someone is ignoring you, but it is not okay to threaten harm which you can do as a result of your lofty political position.

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THE OLD-TIMERS AWARD, OR…MOST AGED AND DECREPIT

Popular wisdom suggests that with great age comes great wisdom, and the Marvel Universe is no exception to this trope. However, in an overwhelming desire to get the point across, some of Marvel’s wise ones are depicted as well past their expiration date.

In the category of Most Aged And Decrepit, the nominees are…

• The Ancient One, from Dr. Strange’s mystical side of the Marvel Universe. Even his name suggests he’s campaigning hard for the award!

• Aunt May, who actually appears more a grandmother than an aunt. No, make that a great… great grandmother!

• Odin, father of all!

All good choices!

But the Award goes to…

Aunt May! The Ancient One is a wizard, and he may in fact be really, really old, and Odin is probably hundreds, if not thousands of years old. As old as they are, both of them look pretty good! But how old is Aunt May? She’s Peter’s aunt, but she looks like his great, great grandmother. And she has no mystical powers or otherworldly influences; she’s just an ordinary human being, but she keeps on kicking. But you know what? For as old as she looks, she still gives a pretty good gumption speech.

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MOST CLUELESS SUPPORTING CAST MEMBER

Heroes are smart. We all know that. But sometimes the people those heroes surround themselves with are…to be kind…not so smart. In fact, there’s a disturbing trend in Marvel Comics of some supporting cast members presenting themselves as absolutely clueless.

But which one will take the prize? In the category of Most Clueless Supporting Cast Member, the nominees are…

• Betty Brant, who, in Amazing Spider-Man #14 frets about her high school beau Peter dating Hollywood starlets, when he’s actually out fighting Green Goblin and the Enforcers.

• And here’s Aunt May again! Isn’t she so quaint and clueless in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1?

• And then, you gotta love these Tales to Astonish #57 cops for their utter naiveté.

• Parents sometimes don’t really want to know what’s going on with their kids. Perhaps none so much as Mr. and Mrs. Grey in X-Men #5.

• Finally, in Journey Into Mystery #110, poor Jane Foster is just trying to get Donald Blake to take her out to dinner, when, unbeknownst to her…

And the Award goes to…

Yikes! It’s a tough choice, but I have to give this award to Mr. and Mrs. Grey. Betty is simply an insecure female letting her imagination run away with her, and Jane finds herself in a similar situation, dreaming of a candlelit dinner, rather than paying attention to the super-villain about to snatch her away. Of course, one generally doesn’t anticipate super-villains sliding in through an open window of your otherwise safe and secure place of employment, so I’ll give Jane a pass on this one. And speaking of employment, those cops are basically puffing out their chests and putting on their best machismo. All in a day’s work…right? As for Aunt May, in a way you can’t blame her for looking past Doc Ock’s ungainly arms, since he is, in fact, serving her coffee and danish, which under any other circumstances would constitute a rather charming host. But Jean’s parents…oh, Jean’s parents…they should know better. Really. I don’t care if it IS 1964. When your teenage daughter is the only girl in an otherwise all-boys school, and the headmaster is nowhere to be found, bells and whistles should be going off in your head. I don’t care how charmingly Professor X presented himself while recruiting young Jean for a “free scholarship” at his mysterious and exclusive school. There’s no excuse for believing high school classes are classified as Top Secret by the government. In fact, there’s no excuse for these parents thinking anything about their teenage daughter’s current situation is normal or OKAY.

Okay. I spent way too much time on that one. Let’s move on.

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BEST CAMEO

Who can resist a good cameo appearance? They usually come as a surprise, and don’t detract too much from the action. They’re just fun. When it comes to cameo appearances, 1964 did not fare as well as previous years, but let’s look at a few that are worth mentioning.

In the category of Best Cameo, the nominees are…

• A myriad of historical and mythical bad guys are summoned by Immortus in Avengers #10 to fight each Avenger

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• In Fantastic Four #22, a police officer looks suspiciously like Officer Francis Muldoon from TV’s Car 54, Where Are You?

• And…ahhh! The ever-popular World’s Fair Globe, seen here in Strange Tales #123

And the Award goes to…

the mythical and historical figures of Avengers #10, for providing so many cameo appearances on such a frugal amount of newsprint. In the interest of getting more bang for your buck, you can’t beat the rapid-fire boom Boom BOOM of Paul Bunyan, Ghengis Khan, Goliath, Hercules and Merlin the Wizard.

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SUSPICIOUS MINDS

In 1969, Elvis Presley will sing about Suspicious Minds. You remember the song:

♪ We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds… ♪

Yes, it is difficult to go on after suspicions have been aroused. Which makes me wonder where Marvel Comics is going with the following situations. Supporting cast members appear nearly on the verge of discovering the highly classified secrets of the most secretive superheroes.

In the category of Suspicious Minds, the nominees are…

• In Daredevil #3, Karen briefly ponders the similarity between superhero Daredevil and the red-headed attorney she has a crush on. Could it be…?

• Loyal employees Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan don’t exactly believe Iron Man when, in Tales of Suspense #59, he tells them boss Tony Stark left the office unexpectedly through a secret exit after an unexplained illness.

• And finally, Maj. Talbot and Gen. Ross seem to be on to something in Tales to Astonish #61…

The stage is set for future drama!

But for right now, the Award goes to…

Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan, for rightfully distrusting the mysterious Iron Man, who never reveals his identity, yet seems to know everything about Tony Stark. Kudos to the Marvel Bullpen, for conveying their level of misgivings by placing the doubts of their suspicious minds in sketchy “whisper balloons.”

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GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

And finally, we must sadly deal with the fact that not all supporting characters are granted a lifetime contract with Marvel Comics. In the interest of melodrama, a number of our fair friends have been stricken from the page. Stricken, I say, as in struck down, but not down and out, as they will always live in our memories.

In the category of Gone But Not Forgotten, let us pay tribute as we fondly recall the following who are no longer with us.

• In Tales of Suspense #52, Soviet scientist Anton Vanko sacrifices his life to prove his loyalty to his new nation, the good old USA.

• Dr. Franklin Storm also makes the supreme sacrifice in Fantastic Four #32, as he throws himself on a bomb, in order to save the lives of his children.

• And last but not least, who can forget the dearly departed mother of Doctor Doom, in Fantastic Four Annual #2?

And our final Award of the evening goes to…

Doom’s mother. Interestingly, she is not specifically pictured in any 1964 comic, but somehow that makes her case even stronger. Because she is gone, but not forgotten; she serves as the driving force behind all that motivates one of Marvel’s strongest villains. Had Victor von Doom’s mother not been murdered, perhaps he would have been able to recover from the unscrupulous death of his father. But instead, he finds himself alone in the world, a lonely and angry young boy, consumed with a desire for revenge. And because Doom’s mother dabbled in the dark arts, young Victor takes comfort in these activities as well. In fact, could we not say that young Doom inherited the tendency? Mother von Doom’s influence shall be felt well beyond the grave, as we move forward through 1964 and beyond, in the Marvel Universe.

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Well, that about wraps it up for this installment of the Marvelous Awards. But speaking of Doom and his villainous ways serves as the perfect segue for me to invite you back next week at this same time, as we delve deeper into the very best of the very worst of the Marvel Universe—the Super-Villain Awards! I’m sure that’s one you won’t want to miss, so until next time, have a simply MARVELOUS week!

So. I’ve now read all the Marvel superhero comics from 1961-1964. This is a good time to sit back and reflect on how far I’ve come.

It’s also a good time to take a breath, because now that I’ve reached the end of 1964, it’s time for (tum tum ta tum!!!) the Marvelous Awards! Yes, I have once again embarked on the enormous task of trying to determine the best of the best and the worst of the worst of an entire year of Marvel Comics, and let me tell you, this is not easy. It’s time-intensive, thought-intensive, and involves a tremendous amount of effort in gathering together all the pieces. So, right now, taking a break from all that, I’ve decided this month to simply embark on a quiet moment of reflection regarding my Marvel experience thus far.

IN THE BEGINNING….
When I began this venture about four years ago, I had no idea how far it might go. I had no expectations regarding how much I might enjoy, or perhaps be bored with, the antiquated two-dimensional figures and one-dimensional stories originally presented on the flimsiest of paper for the lowest price possible.

But, I married a “comics guy,” so I wanted to read a few comics, and acquaint myself with this alternate Universe which has so thoroughly captured my dear husband’s imagination. After all, he introduced me to college football, and that’s turned out to be a blast! Could comics be just as much fun?

So I began to read the earliest stories, and almost always felt there was reason to go on to the next issue. Since I often felt I had quite a bit to say about what I was reading, it occurred to me that Russ and I might do a podcast about these early comics, a discussion between an expert and a novice. At the time, we were producing The Drawing Room podcast about the 1960’s TV soap opera Dark Shadows, so podcasting was new and fun. I don’t know what in the world made us think doing ANOTHER podcast at the same time was something two working people could possibly handle in their spare time, but we recorded one episode of a Marvel-themed podcast and immediately realized it wasn’t going to work. So we put that idea aside.

But I still felt I had so much to say about Marvel Comics, and then one day…it hit me! A blog! A blog is a hell of a lot easier to put together than a podcast. And so The Marvelous Zone came into existence.

Originally, my intent was to “read Marvel Comics,” with no end-point in sight, but I soon realized such an enterprise was madness. I did the math and decided that even if I read one comic each day, my time here on earth would be up long before I ever reached the end of Marvel Comics. Because Marvel Comics is a living, growing entity. Like the impossibility of counting every person on earth if one walked in front of you each second, you would never get to the end, because while people were waiting in line for you to count them, they would be having babies, who would grow up and have more babies, and so it goes. There is no end.

This realization was disheartening, forcing me to face my own mortality. But then I thought of this: I might be able to set parameters on my blog so that I was only reviewing “The Silver Age.” Russ informs me the Silver Age goes to about 1973 or so, which means there is an END, and though long off, one day it will actually be in sight. THIS is do-able.

THE SILVER AGE
Besides, the Silver Age has great personal appeal for me. It mostly encompasses the 1960’s, one of my very favorite decades (if you don’t believe me, check out my other blog, Whimsieville, which stars my adorably funny-looking dolls from the 1960’s). I was a kid during the 1960’s, so despite the social unrest of the era, most of my memories are pleasant. And reading Marvel Comics brings back those pleasant memories of a simpler, kinder time.

When I see Torch flying by the World’s Fair Globe, I remember the day my parents took us to the World’s Fair. I don’t remember anything else about the World’s Fair, except the globe, and the fact that it was a fine, holiday-like summer day, and I had a pretty new dress to wear, a paisley print of lime green, bright pink and orange, colors so popular and stylish during the 1960’s. That day, I felt so much a part of everything going on in the world. Thank you, Marvel, for reminding me of that.

In addition, when I read Marvel Comics, I run into Ed Sullivan and JFK, which takes me back to my childhood, and that feels good. Even when I run into “the Commies,” that also makes me feel good. Despite the fact that at the time I had no idea about politics, these Cold War Commies seem so much less menacing than the threats that face us today.

At that time, I also had no idea how distinctive the social climate, language, fashions and hairstyles really were, because to my 1960’s kid-self, that’s just the way it was. But now, looking back, it appears so excessively stylized…and nostalgic. Even the Marvel depiction of “little green men from Mars” evokes the sci-fi of the day. Which now seems so innocent and quaint. And even comfortable, in a wistful way.

THE AGE OF MARVEL MOVIES
So at this juncture, I feel compelled to ask myself several questions about my experiences so far. But before I do, one more observation: I suspect that most readers of this blog are seasoned comic book readers, having started their lifelong obsession as boys, and I of course am completely different. Not only am I distinguished from the average comic reader by my sex, but also by my age. As an adult, my initial exposure to these stories yields observations no eight-year-old boy from 1964 would ever make.

But that’s not my observation. I’m just setting the stage.

My observation is that by coming to this party fifty years late, I’ve arrived at the best possible time. This is the age of Marvel Cinema! I first became aware of the Marvel Universe when my teenage kids talked me into seeing the X-Men movie in 2000. And that was only the beginning! During the next fifteen years or so, the Marvel Universe has exploded on the screen like nothing anyone could have predicted.

Thinking of those eight year old boys from the 1960’s, I wonder if they could have ever even begun to IMAGINE that their favorite superheroes might one day appear in such fabulously beautiful, complex and realistic movies. Like the Bible verse that tells us “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him,” I feel certain it never occurred to those little boys that movies like this could possibly exist. But now, they do. And not only that…they just…keep…coming.

It’s a GREAT time to be alive in the Marvel Universe!

Well now, having said all that, let’s get on with my questions.

WHAT DO I LIKE MOST ABOUT MARVEL COMICS?
Previous to reading Marvel Comics, my exposure to the idea of “superheroes” was probably limited to the Christopher Reeve Superman movies of the 70’s and 80’s, and the aforementioned X-Men movies early in the 2000’s. I understood that for movies, a certain amount of drama and romance would need to be incorporated, but I never EVER expected to find so much drama and romance between the pages of a twelve cent comic book! Ten years ago, if you had asked me what comic books were about, I probably would have said “A good guy in tights fights a bad guy, and the good guy wins.” Pow, Bam! Oh yeah…that’s right…I’m just now remembering the Batman TV show of the 1960’s…but that’s exactly my point! Action and adventure, but very little in the way of deep character development. Who knew comics could be all this?

But picking up my first issue of Fantastic Four, I found a family of ordinary people, thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and from there, the depth of their characterizations and relationships continues to grow. I love the idea of the Noble Villain, like Sub-Mariner, who opposes the heroes, but as the monarch of his own kingdom, he’s trying to do what’s best for his own people. I also love the idea of a really smart, generally good guy like Reed Richards, who can sometimes be sort of a jackass. Not to mention a complete romantic doofus.

It’s not all black and white. Between these newsprint pages we find so many shades of gray. Thor struggles with his love for a mortal woman. Matt Murdock finagles a way to use his powers and still honor the promise he made to his dead father. Pym decides being Ant-Man is no longer good enough, now he must be GIANT-Man as well. You could psychoanalyze these guys for hours! And I do.

WHAT DO I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MARVEL COMICS?
I’ve had the opportunity to glance at some recent Marvel Comics, and honestly, I’m blown away by the art. It appears that nowadays, the art is the star, and word balloons take a back seat. Somehow, Marvel has learned to let the pictures tell the story. I’m looking forward to moving into these more streamlined stories, that don’t take half of forever to read, because there’s just so…many… freaking…words!

Now, having said this, I know what’s going on, at least to some extent. When the Silver Age of Marvel Comics was in its infancy, the audience was growing month by month. I’ve waded through many re-tellings of origin stories, to say nothing of how Daredevil keeps chattering about his stupendous abilities. It gets a bit tiresome, but at the same time, I understand the need for repetition, so new folks can catch up. However, when you have panels like this one, where the talky-talky completely obliterates a character’s face, I think it’s time for someone in the Marvel bullpen to step back and rethink the process.

But you know what? If that’s the worst I can come up with, I’m probably doing pretty good.

WHAT DO I MOST LOOK FORWARD TO?
What do I look forward to? Are you kidding? So much, so very much! Let me mention just a few thoughts.

First, because of my exposure to the movies, I’m aware of so many great characters that haven’t even been hinted at, by the end of 1964! Can’t wait to meet them, especially some of the X-Men, like Storm and Wolverine. Of course, one of my favorite places in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Planet Television. I’ve been enjoying SHIELD for over three years now, but even that doesn’t hold a candle to when they take a break and let Peggy Carter go at it. Oh, wait! How could I have forgotten Guardians of the Galaxy?

When I finally meet all these characters in the comics, I wonder if they’ll live up to my expectations…

As for villains, you have to admit, in these first years of the Silver Age, many of them aren’t very impressive. Not only do we have your garden variety thugs and gangsters, but there’s also the Tinkerer, and Paste Pot Pete. Some preliminary efforts have already been made to rehabilitate PPP’s image, but honestly…how much improvement can we expect from a guy whose motto is “Paste is the supreme weapon”?

I know the day is coming when I’ll meet Ultron, and I hope Magneto and his gang of evil mutants will stop bickering like a dysfunctional family and get down to some serious EVIL. I look forward to bigger, better, truly villainous villains. I look forward to the day when comic book Loki impresses and terrifies me as much as Tom Hiddleston’s Loki.

As previously mentioned, I’m also looking forward to more sophisticated artwork, but also more sophisticated storytelling. Not that long ago in my Silver Age reading, I began to run into story lines that stretch across two issues. I know eventually stories will stretch across several issues, so that reading Marvel Comics will be more like a series of novellas, rather than short stories. (And I do prefer novels to short stories.)

And maybe…just maybe, if I’m lucky… some of those stories will advance the stagnant romances that so far spin around in huge circles of secrecy and misunderstandings. Don’t spoil me, but I can’t wait to see if Reed and Sue, Tony and Pepper, Matt and Karen, Hank and Janet, and Donald and Jane can ever get past these high school games that people play and move into more serious adult relationships. And would it be too much for the romantic in me to hope for the chiming of wedding bells?

In the old days, movies always ended with a wedding; now they often begin with an unhappily married couple. I don’t want any of these characters to be unhappy, but I would like to see their lives move along, as if they are real people. Even though, of course, they are not real people. And they don’t have normal lives. But still. I want to see at least some of them eventually get married. (Again, don’t spoil me!!)

You’ll notice there was no mention of Peter Parker in my long list of romantic couples. And why not? Because I have not yet met Mary Jane Watson! Aunt May keeps hinting and teasing that she’s about to appear, but so far…no Mary Jane. And I know Peter will also have a romance with Gwen Stacy, but I don’t think I can get anywhere near Gwen Stacy until I first at least MEET Mary Jane.

So, yeah. I’m looking forward to meeting Mary Jane Watson.

FINALLY, WHAT HAS SURPRISED ME MOST ABOUT MARVEL COMICS?
The single thing that has surprised me most about reading Marvel Comics is that I enjoy them as much as I do. I knew from the beginning these were stories originally written for little boys, so there was no particular reason to anticipate I would find anything significantly compelling. It seemed extremely likely I was simply not the audience for this particular form of entertainment. After all, I’ve never been able to see the attraction of video games or Shakespeare, though there are plenty of fans for each in this diverse world of ours. And that’s fine. Different strokes for different folks.

At first I thought I would read a few stories to please Russ, show him that I gave Marvel a chance, then move on. But Marvel would not let me simply “move on.” Very quickly, over the course of a dozen or so stories, I became interested, and invested.

Have you ever flipped through the TV channels and run into one of those murder mysteries like Dateline or Forensic Files? If you linger even a moment, somehow you end up watching the whole damn thing. Something about it grabs you and won’t let go.

In the case of murder mysteries, it’s a morbid sense of “whodunit?” But with Marvel comics, I come back full circle to what I said at the beginning: The characters, the relationships, the drama, the romance. And most of all, the FUN.

If these stories weren’t fun, I wouldn’t read them. If they weren’t fun, I wouldn’t do this blog. But they are, and I do.

And now what I do, is get back to preparing (tum tum ta tum!!!) the Second Annual Marvelous Awards!