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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 4, 2020 13:29:58 GMT -5
Marvel Super Special #26, Octopussy Blame Fleming for the title, from one of his short stories (an okay one; but nothing spectacular) The cover is a cropped version of the movie poster and looks a bit too much like a Mad parody cover, if you ask me. Thing is, this was a bit less of a jokey Bond than others (especially for Moore). It's not as serious as For Your Eyes Only; but, they kept more emphasis on plot & action than gags (sticking them in for brief blocks). Creative Team: Steve Moore-script, Paul Neary-art, Annie Halfacree (better than no cree)-letters, John Barraclough-editor Based on the way the art looks, the names involved and the seeming declining interest in these things, it looks like this was assigned to Marvel UK to produce. I have nothing to confirm this; but, Moore, Neary and Halfacree are all British comics mainstays and worked at Marvel UK. Halfacree is married to Steve Parkhouse. Also, the scans I'm looking at seem to come from a cheaper edition than the usual Super Special. They were ususally done on slick paper; but, the scans look flat and almost newsprintish, especially in the text features, which are all in black & white. It has US and Canadian pricing on the cover; so it wasn't from a UK edition. Neary's artlooks very "British comics." Synopsis: Opening teaser about Bond attempting to sabotage a fighter plane in what is alluded to be Cuba, then escaping in a Bede stunt mini-jet.  In Berlin, a clown ends up dead at the British Embassy, holding a Faberge egg. The man was 009. Bond arrives in M's outer office and is summoned for his briefing, where the Faberge egg is revealed to be a fake, with the real one up for auction. Bond accompanies an expert to help spot the seller (adapted from the short story "Property of a Lady.") Meanwhile, in the USSR, hawkish General Orlov is advancing the idea of a conventional strike on the West, dismissing the idea that the US would retaliate with nuclear weapons. He is shot down by Gen. Gogol and a Brezhnev stand-in. It turns out he is involved with the fake egg. At auction, Bond spots a hot blond chick with Louis Jordan, who is the world's least convincing Afghan prince. He is bidding on the egg and Bond drives the price up and switches the fake for the real egg. He uses this to earn Kamel Kahn's attention and run the route of the art objects, which the British believe are being sold to fund covert operations by the KGB. Bond goes to India and meets up with his contact, Vijay, who has traded playing tennis for snake charming. he goes to his hotel, charms the staff and spots a barge with an octopus flag. he then meets up with Kahn and plays a crooked game of backgammon, with the real egg as security. Bond cheats better than Kahn and gets his dice crushed by Kahn's thug (possibly a literal thug, or thugee, though he is dressed as a sikh). After a series of gags during a mini-cab chase, Bond meets up with Q...  He plants a tracking device in the egg and gives bond a receiver, disguised as a pen. Bond goes off to bed the hot blond, Magda, to loves him and leaves him, with the egg.  Brond gets bashed on the head and wakes up on the barge to the Monsoon Palace, where he is Kahn's "guest." He overhears an exchange with Orlov and something about other treasures. Bond then hides out as a corpse and escapes, but finds himself in the middle of a tiger hunt, with him wearing the stripes! After a Tarzan gag and a Barbara Woodhouse joke, Bond escapes on a tour boat. He then sneaks into Octopussy's palace (that didn't sound right) in an alligator sub and meets up with the strange lady, who made him nervous; she took him in and gave him breakfast. Wait, he's not an Aussie... She relates how Bond showed her father kindness and she is indebted to him, and dismisses Kahn. They then begin their joint study of the Kama Sutra when assassins, sent by Kahn, try to kill both of them with a yo-yo saw. Bond kills them and leaves in his sub, to find Vijay dead. He heads for Berlin, for the next link in the chain. Octopussy thinks she is smuggling out rare Soviet jewels, but is actually smuggling in a nuclear device, to be detonated at an American airbase (probably Wiesbaden). Bond is discovered, fights it out with knife throwing twins, then gets dumped off the train. He hitches a ride to the base and stops the bomb from detonating...  Then, it's time for the Third Act Commando Assault on the Villain's Lair, with the sexiest commandos in the series, as Octopussy's gang of women, use their feminine wiles to get in and kick the men in the goolies, while the head lady goes after Kahn. This being a bond film, she is slapped around and Bond has to rescue her by hanging on top of a Beechcraft.  One aerial fight and a crash landing later, Bond and Octopussy get down to some disabled lovin'. We are told that Duran Duran will be here for the enxt one. Thoughts: Decent adaptation, with some lively art, though probably not vivid enough for the regular Marvel audience. Probably sold better in the UK; but I have no way of knowing. I like Neary's art; it's not quite on model; but it gives the feel of the movie. Text pieces follow...  The Royal Marines never looked like that! Back cover has an ad for a James Bond role playing game...  I'm willing to bet the game focused more on sexual fantasies than espionage missions. Next time, the wrap up to some space series; something about Revenge or Returning......had an R in it, anyway.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 12, 2020 15:04:43 GMT -5
Marvel Super Special #27 Let's see, what does the cover say? Re..turn..of the...Jedi... Jedi? Oh...I bet that's a typo...Return of the Jed....must be a Beverly Hillbillies thing. Cool; I loved that show! Weeeellllllll doggie! Hillbillies in Space! Is that Jethro under the gorilla suit? Ellie May sure looked different. Creative Team: Archie "Best Star Wars writer, ever" Goodwin-adaptation, Al "On Model" Williamson & Carlos "Everybody Forgets About Me" Garzon-pencils, Tom "It's Not Tracing" Palmer-inks, Ed "It's not just writing letters" King-letters, Christie Scheele, Bob Sharen and Louise Simonson (You try coloring all of this by yourself, with a tight deadline)-colors, Jo "No, it's not Joseph" Duffy and Michael "Not John Michael" Higgins-editors. Jim Shooter-more evil than the Emperor (according to a rather large group of disgruntled ex-Marvelites) Story retroactively conceived by George Lucas (I'll get to that, briefly), with script credited to Lawrence Kasdan & George Lucas, "directed" by Richard Marquand (with Lucas in his ear, a lot!) Synopsis: The Rebels win! Thoughts: Too brief? Remember the old saying; "Brevity....wit!" Fine, if you insist...... More Detailed Synopsis: Opening title crawl...yadda-yadda-yadda...Rebels...new Death Star......Jabba the Hutt....um.........did I mention Rebels?  Darth Vader turns up on the under-construction Death Star to spur on production (union job...), as the Galaxy's baddest strike-breaker. Meanwhile, on Tatooine, Threepio is whining and Artoo is beeping to him about "something, something something and the horse you rode in on!" They come to a big door and knock, then say they have a message for Jabba the Hutt. They are brought inside and some weird looking dude who takes a pontytail to extremes ask for the message. We then meet Jabba, who doesn't look like this...  (guy on the left, with the mutton-chops) but, instead, looks like this...  Artoo delivers a hologram of Luke, in a dark robe, wanting to bargain for Han's release and he gives Jabba the droids, as a token of respect, which had Threepio ....um...can a droid soil himself? Well, it's the electronic equivalent. After Jabba deals with domestic issues, a bounty hunter turns up with Chewie (the Wookie, not the on-line pet supply retailer) and demands payment or he sets off a hand grenade. Tough negotiator! Meanwhile, we get a peak at Han and an undercover Lando...  When everyone is asleep, the bounty hunter unfreezes Han and then removes "his" helmet, to reveal Leia, which would explain why he was so short. they are interrupted by Jabba and the palace laughing at them, with somehow a huge crowd actually staying silent enough for the surprise. Han tries to bluff, but is taken away and Leia gets some tongue; but, thankfully, outside her mouth. Bad touch! She should file a complaint with Hutt HR! Han and Chewie are reunited and Chewie barks about Luke's plan and Han is less than reassured. This is the same kid who walked him into a detention center, resulting in a headfirst slide into wet garbage. Luke later turns up and sees Leia dressed in a Frazetta-inspired costume, though Jean-Claude Mezieres might dispute that, and Luke feels a disturbance in the Force, as do a whole generation of adolescent males (some females too, I would bet). He threatens Jabba, Forces a blaster, then gets dumped into a pit and doesn't jump right back out, like in Empire, when he was dumped into the freezing chamber. He then fights a monster and survives, but is pulled up and he, hand and Chewie are in for it. Over the Dune Sea, Han, Luke and Chewie face a rather bad metaphor for George Lucas' divorce and Luke plays Errol Flynn. Leia goes all MeToo on Jabba's throat and escapes with Artoo's help. Luke buckles on his swash and swings Leia out to a skiff and the droids drop into the sand, as Luke has kicked a laser cannon into firing into Jabba's barge. Han took care of boba Fett in the most anticlimactic fight, ever. The fly off to rendezvous with the Rebel fleet, though Luke takes a sidetrip to Dagobah, to harangue Yoda about Vader, but he says FU and dies. He then whines at Ben's ghost and learns that he has retroactively been made a pervert and the other best Star Wars writer has his totally awesome novel voided as continuity. Ben is also made a big fat liar and Lucas pretty much makes a hash of his backstory and spends the next decade trying to convince people he planned all of this. Meanwhile, the Emperor arrives on the Death Star and stormtroopers nudge their mates to check out Vader kissing up to him, only to be hissed, "Shuuuut up! He has ears like a gundark!"  At the fleet, Lando has been made a general and Han turns out to volunteer to lead David Niven, James Darren, and Stanley Baker to blow up Navarone, with Leia's help. Luke turns up to join them and is awkward around Leia. Yeah, well, when you have swapped spit with someone who turns out to be your sister it is going to be uncomfortable at the holidays. They are going to blow up another Death Star, but fly inside to do it, cause why wouldn't their be spaceship-size space inside? Some Arab squid briefs them and we also learn that Leia isn't the boss of the Rebels. So, off go the commando team in a stolen shuttle (see Tag and Bink are Dead for a really fun idea of how they got it) and fly casually to the Forest "Moon" of Endor. They are passed through, though the Imperials know it is them. Adm. Piett suppresses his Northern Accent to tell Vader. The Rebels land, run into Scout Troopers (who knew the Empire had boyscouts?) who try to help them cross the forest and end up drag racing speeder bikes. Luke kills them and Leia gets dumped and wakes up to find the Care Bears around her (well, one of them). Everyone over the age of 8 lets out a loud groan, in theaters. The Care Bears capture the rest and take them to their tree forts, where Leia is waiting. they have a barbeque and Luke tells Leia that he kissed his sister and runs off to find Dad. The Care Bears help the Rebels get to a bunker and Lando leads the fleet to attack the Death Star. Luke runs into dad, they have an argument, Dad's boss is a jerk, and everyone fights...  Luke kicks his father's butt, Vader kills the Emperor, Han blows up the shield generator, Lando blows up the Death Star, Ackbar suckers two Sta Destroyers into crashing and Vader's ship into the Death Star and then Vader is revealed not to be Hayden Christianson or even Dave Prowse. Everyone celebrates on Endor, Luke burns Vader's body and George signs away half his Empire int he divorce settlement. Fans leave theaters going..... ...well, that was...............um.........the lightsaber battle was cool.................yeah and the space battle..............................speeder chase was good....................yeah, but Bobba Fett was wasted...I Know, and what's this about Leia being Luke's sister; what about Splinter of the Mind's Eye?.......yeah, and the kiss in Empire....and Star Wars...that's sick..........How come it wasn't Dave Prowse under the mask? Who was that guy.......What was the big deal with the red dudes? They didn't do anything....Who's the chick in charge of the Rebels? i thought Leia was in charge...you're thinking of Al Haig....shut up, that is so 1981......is anybody going to say it?...what?.....About the teddy bears...Don't get me started! Wanna see it again?.......Yeah, there's nothing else good playing....... Thoughts Revisited: So, yeah, Marvel had to put the Star Wars comic into a holding pattern for two years while Lucas concocted a story he had allegedly planned out some 10 years before. Then, they had to play catch up, without giving away the plot, yet still managed to have this on stands too early, thus giving away said plot before the movie was released. Sucked to be Jim Shooter when Lucasfilm called. Archie and the gang (does that make Al Williamson Jughead? Shooter is definitely Reggie) do the bang up job you expect. The characters are on model, the story mostly reflects what you would see in theaters (though Archie isn't allowed to fix the massive plotholes that match the pathways through the death Star superstructure)...it is what we have come to expect from Archie and his team, who concocted more great Star wars tales than anyone, including Lucasfilm and Timothy Zahn. Hell, Boba Fett and the Mandalorian owe a lot to Goodwin's Valance. The only problem with this is in the source material. George Lucas did not plan this out in advance, no matter how much spinning he did after the fact. Star Wars was conceived as a standalone story, that could elad to other adventures, every couple of years, like the Bond films. It had a beginning middle and end. However, it went through a ton of rewrites and major changes, as the story was too convoluted. It eventually got stripped down and slicked up, giving us the film that the world fell in love with. then, it came time for a sequel. It started out picking up where Star Wars left off, but, Leigh Brackett had cancer and only wrote a first draft, that Lucas didn't like. So, he and Lawrence Kasdan went about trying to rework it and stumbled across the idea of merging the Father Skywalker character, who appears to Luke as a ghost, on Dagobah, with Darth Vader, which suddenly gives them some meat for the film. They switched some of Father Skywalker's dialogue to Obi Wan and run with it. That decision changed everything. no longer was the series to be The Adventures of Luke Skywalker; now it was the Star Wars Saga. Lucas had talked about a film series liek they were chapters in a serial, but not really interconnected, other than featuring the characters. One film would look at a younger Ben, Luke's father and Vader. Now, suddenly, we were in a saga of Luke vs Vader. The loose plan became that they would do a trilogy, with the third film wrapping up Vader's threat, but keep the Emperor in the background for a sequel trilogy. Lucas would then go back and look at Ben & Vader's past, though that went from a movie to three movies. Then, a sequel trilogy would reveal Luke's twin sister, raised in secret, who would aid in the fight to defeat the Emperor. Then, Marcia Lucas, tired of George's workaholic neglect, had an affair and the couple divorced. Lucas was burnt out from the stress of making the films and running an empire that he never wanted, but needed to have his independence. And, he was good at running it, but trapped because he wouldn't trust others to take some of the burden. So, Lucas abandoned doing more and went off to finish the Indian Jones films and do a tv series about his youth, produce some other films (including some real turkeys) and find work for his divisions. Then, in the 90s, after things had been quiet for a while, a new Star Wars novel came out and became a runaway bestseller. A comic that had been planned for marvel came out from Dark Horse and was a huge hit. the 20th Anniversary was coming up and Lucas announced the films would come back to theaters, with "new" scenes (some deleted, some newly created) and digital remastering of the effects. Those films did massive business and Lucas was selling tons of toys, books, comics and other stuff. We got the promised "prequel" films, where the plot of one movie was (badly) stretched into three films with acting so wooden it was petrified. Lucas was a good director with American Graffiti and an okay one with Star Wars; but, he was not a good one here. Then, he had enough and abandoned the whole thing, sold it for a fortune, gave a ton to charity, and went off to do his thing and let fans gripe about Disney and Kathleen Kennedy. And Marvel ended up with Star Wars, again. I bought this new, read the heck out of it, and promptly left it in a hotel room when we went to my cousin's high school graduation, in St Louis. We went back for it, but, the maid had tossed it with the trash. I was POd; but, mostly at myself for not carrying it with me when I left the room and trusting others to bring it. Archie makes it work and it was my ending to the Marvel Star Wars, as I was disenchanted with the post-Empire stories (what I saw of them, as my comic reading had slacked off). When I was collecting and assembled the Marvel run (I lucked into a great source of most issues, at near cover prices), I only acquired up to Empire, then the Jedi mini-series version (I Later bought the Treasury editions of Star Wars and Empire). To me, that was the stuff worth reading, along with Archie, Al and Carlos' newspaper strips. People these days are either unaware or forget that Star Wars was pretty much put to bed, with Jedi, apart from stuff for little kids (Ewok telemovies and Droids & Ewoks cartoons), until Heir to the Empire and Dark Empire. The novels had petered out, the toys were pretty much gone from shelves; even the Marvel series came to an end. Then, suddenly, everyone rediscovered what they had loved about it and a new generation, which had only seen it on tv screens, discovered new life with it. From that point, Star Wars became a self-sustaining merchandising and media juggernaut, for good or ill.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jul 13, 2020 12:57:32 GMT -5
Once again, this thread made my day! The coffee is a bit hard to clean from the monitor, but that's a price I'm willing to pay. Keept it up, cody!!! Marvel Super Special #27 That one I read in its miniseries form, with interspersed pin-ups and/or extra art by other hands than Williamson's and Garzon's. I didn't understand why the story wasn't adapted in the regular comic, hopefully over the course of six issues, as the original Star Wars had been... in hindsight, I guess it was a matter of making as much money as possible. I think that's what's referred to as a data dump. That's your sister, Luke!!! You're not a %$? Targaryen!!! Love him as I do, I never got Jean-Claude Mézières' anger at Leia's costume... Iron bikinis were already all the rage way back in Margaret Brundage's time, and everyone from Alex Raymons to Barry Smith by way of Wally Wood could truthfully say "been there, drew that". "I know... somehow, I've always known". Really leia? And your were still cool with it? I'm feeling uncomfortable now. I never quite understood the love fans had for Bobba Fett. Yeah, he had a cool helmet and his doll was popular, but the only time he got to do anything on screen was in the Holiday Special... I didn't understand why he was seen as important, nor why Vader didn't treat him like s#it like he did everybody else. Word!!! |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
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Post by Confessor on Jul 13, 2020 19:37:34 GMT -5
Very amusing review of the ROTJ adaptation, codystarbuck. There were a couple of tiny, nit-picky points I was tempted to pick you up on, but decided that this was meant to be an affectionate, but tongue-in-cheek take on the comic, and just decided to laugh along with it instead. A very enjoyable read. Well done.  |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 13, 2020 19:51:22 GMT -5
I think the mystery of the guy intrigued people and the costume/armor was pretty darn cool. Like I said, Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson's Valance, the cyborg bounty hunter who first appears in issue 16 of the Marvel series was a much better character and it always seemed to me that what there was of Boba on screen, drew a lot from that source (aside from the stortrooper alternate design that became the starting point for Fett's armor). For my money, Valance was the best character created in the Marvel series and one of the best in any Star Wars medium. Even better than green rabbits! A close second was Baron Tagge, the primary villain through the third year of the comics. He wanted to destroy the Rebels and get revenge on Darth Vader, which made for some interesting stories.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 13, 2020 20:10:21 GMT -5
Very amusing review of the ROTJ adaptation, codystarbuck . There were a couple of tiny, nit-picky points I was tempted to pick you up on, but decided that this was meant to be an affectionate, but tongue-in-cheek take on the comic, and just decided to laugh along with it instead. A very enjoyable read. Well done. I like Jedi (only one of the originals I don't "love," though); but, I had issues from my first viewing and, given that it came out the summer leading into my senior years of high school, I saw it about a half dozen times. It's got plot holes. It's got some wonky story decisions. It's got some pretty bad acting by Carrie Fisher, who was usually pretty good (though she was deep in a coke habit, at the time). It does nothing with Boba Fett, after making him look like a bad dude in Empire. And, it has teddy bears. If they had chewed the leg off one stormtrooper and beat three more to death with it, I would give them a pass. As far as the story issues, I've done a lot of reading over the years and read a lot of Lucas interviews, before Empire and Jedi and before all of the later revisions. Lucas never planned out a saga. He had a vague idea about doing a lighthearted adventure series, with a new film every couple of years. Splinter of the Mind's Eye was commissioned from Alan Dean Fister to provide material to be adapted into a low budget sequel, had Star Wars just done okay business. It has scenes of Luke and Leia smooching. It has Luke vs Vader in a lightsaber duel. It has primitive natives aiding Luke and Leia in a fight against stormtroopers. Then, Star Wars was a hit and the rewrite on Empire changed the whole focus of the story and they dropped the propose sequel to that book. The idea that there would be adventures for Luke really only got carried out in the comic books and comic strips. Gary Kurtz has remarked that when they started looking at sequels, the vague outline was that they'd do a trilogy, with Vader moving up to lead baddie, after being the henchman in Star Wars. The third film would end the Vader trheat, but leave the Emperor for later; and, the :other," was to be a twin sister, to be revealed later, but not Leia. She was to go off and lead the remnants of the people of Alderan. One film was what was originally envisioned for the flashback film of younger Ben and young Vader. That was expanded to three films and then the "other" would be the key point of the third trilogy. Lucas' story issues going into Jedi meant he pulled in the Emperor and the sister, made her Leia, since it was too hard to introduce a new character, and that's what we got. The divorce and the stress killed his desire to want to go to the prequels, for years. The stress of that and age and everything else (including having used material intended for it in Jedi) meant he didn't want to do the sequel trilogy. So, Disney ends up with it and rehashes the originals, while making Rey a sort of "other," and mostly boring me into a coma. I love the originals, warts, plotholes dodgy acting and all. So, pure affection. Loved the Marvel material, up to Empire, then I felt they were stuck for plots. I read a few and there were a couple of things; but, my reading was also sporadic, due to money and availability. So, it was harder to maintain momentum. I just kind of lost interest in the comics; so, I'm sure I missed some good issues; but, I'm pretty happy with the ones I had and the ones done without Vader being Luke's father and Ben being a liar, and Leia being Luke's sister. Those first 40 or so issues were exactly the kind of thing I wanted in Star Wars adventures. Still, I can poke fun at the things I love. Lucas gives you so much ammunition, too!  At least there was no green rabbit in the film! (I still say, why do people question the rabbit; but, not the porcupine?) |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
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Post by Confessor on Jul 13, 2020 20:19:49 GMT -5
For my money, Valance was the best character created in the Marvel series and one of the best in any Star Wars medium. Even better than green rabbits! You're dead to me. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2020 20:26:05 GMT -5
(I still say, why do people question the rabbit; but, not the porcupine?) because it's wabbit season, and never porcupine season...!  -M |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 13, 2020 20:32:18 GMT -5
I also wish Kennneth Colley would have used his native Manchester accent; would have livened up the Imperials.
Now, if he'd have "Yorkshired" it up a bit, even better...
(Ripping Yarns is the best!)
He turns up in some odd films that make you stop and try to remember where you saw him before; he's even Jesus in Monty Python's The Life of Brian.
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Post by badwolf on Jul 14, 2020 9:44:01 GMT -5
(I still say, why do people question the rabbit; but, not the porcupine?) because it's wabbit season, and never porcupine season...! -M I loved Hedji! |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 15, 2020 15:41:10 GMT -5
Speaking of poking fun at favorites..... Marvel Super Special #28, Krull Ninja envy is a terrible thing.... Whoever wrote the trailer didn't watch the movie; the Slayers are not "from the future." Creative Team: David Michelinie-adapter, Brett Blevins-pencils, Vince Coletta-inks, Rick Parker-letters, Christie Scheele-colors, Denny O'Neil-editor So, does Nyssa fall for the Beast in this one? I mean, Michelinie does have a history (aided and abetted by Shooter)... Synopsis: On an ancient world, called Krull, Freddie Jones recites a prophecy about a wooden king and a dubbed princess, and their child shall rule the galaxy, or at least have a popular, if weird arcade game.  Anyhoo, a big hunk of spiky rock lands on Krull and the Slayers ride out on horseback, though no one ever explains why the horses are okay with this. These guys....  end up looking not quite so menacing...  So, these guys are causing trouble across the land and at an impossibly white castle, King Eirig and his daughter Nyssa await the arrival of her intended, Prince Colwyn (ah, Welsh boyo). Nyssa arranged this marriage, against her father's better judgement. In comes a small party, riding hard, which proves to be King Turold and Prince Colwyn. They argue about escorts and Colwyn shuts them up, then finds his bride-to-be and makes goo-goo eyes. They don't stand around on Krull and the wedding comemnces in the evening. There is some stuff about giving fire to water and water to fire, which I guess is some metaphor about the honeymoon being steamy, or something. The priest asks if anyone has any objections and before the two fathers can open their mouths, the Slayers pop in, play their greatest hits (oh, wait, that's Slayer) and kidnap Nyssa, leaving everyone dead, except a wounded Colwyn.  Colwyn is found by the old seer, Ynir, who alternately rasps and bellows at him, as only Freddie Jones can. They ride off to find Nyssa, but first they have to retrieve a legendary weapon, the Glaive.  Turns out, it is rather easy to find, in a volcano lava chamber, in a pool. So, off to the Fortress, I assume.... Along the way, a fireball crashes into their camp and it turns out to be a rather shaken hedge wizard, Ergo the not-so Magnificent. They chat for a bit, but he heads off when told they are headed for the Fortress and the Beast, until he runs into a cyclops and yells for them to wait up. They ride off and Nyssa is wooed by the Beast, while running around in dreamy/nightmarish corridors, depending on your POV. Colwyn and his buddies run into Alun Armstrong, from telly!  Oh, aye, a fine actor is our Alun. He introduces Ken Marshall to someone who will be a real movie star....  a man with a special set of skills. Also joining them is Robbie Coltrane, before Cracker and Harry Potter (and The Pope Must Die)...  Yet somehow, Ken Marshall is getting paid more. They are escaped criminals, from the kings jail and Colwyn offers them freedom from their chains (well, manacles, as they broke the chains, in exchange for helping him. A younger member of the team agrees and the rest follow, while Robbie Coltrane mutters to himself. They move out and Ergo sees the cyclops again, who ends up rescuing him from a Slayer. Ynyr leads them to a seer, to find the Fortress.  Ergo befriends the seer's apprentice, Tich, a young boy with candy. The Beast interrupts the seer's broadcast and they move on to a new location. While they cross a swamp, the Seer is killed and replaced by a Changeling, who gets all creepy and black-eyed and tries to kill Colwyn. But, they are saved by the Cyclops, Rell. They now have to consult the Widow of the Web, Ynyr's ex-wife. Manwhile, Ergo turns himself into a puppy, to brighten the spirits of Tich, who mourns the loss of the only family he has known. And Nyssa is further wooed by the Beast. The Widow gives Ynyr the vision to see the Fortress, at a cost and he dies delivering it, at full bellow. The Beast tries to kill Colwyn again and sends another changeling to seduce him, showing infidelity to Nyssa. However, Colwyn is honorable and the changeling is inspired by his devotion and rebels against the Beast. Nyssa laughs at him. The band lassos the Budweiser Clydesdales and rides them to the Fortress...  They do some rock climbing, fight Slayers, get crushed (some), caged and nearly impaled, and Ergo turns into a tiger and fights off Slayers, to protect Tich. Colwyn finds Nyssa and uses the Glaive to F-up the Beast, then Nyssa "gives him fire," which he uses to kill the Beast and destroy the Fortress.  It looked better on the screen. Everyone escapes, Alun Armstrong is made the Lord Marshal, Ergo the court jester, and Freddie Jones bellows the prophecy again. Thoughts: The art is less than impressive and really fails to capture the spirit of the thing. It just kind of lays there on the page. The story is matter-of-factly adapted and you get the sense that no one at Marvel cared much about this. Blevins was a rookie and his Super Specials were early work, which shows the importance Marvel gave to the property, if it wasn't Star Wars. He doesn't do a bad job; but, he doesn't really add anything, like Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon or Howard Chaykin. I would assume this is just content for Marvel, just marketing for the film. Krull took a drubbing from critics; but, I love it. Oh, not to the point I can't see the huge flaws. Ken Marshall has all the personality of a table lamp and makes for a pretty bland adventure hero (which also marred the Marco Polo mini-series he did, for tv). Needless to say, a film career was not in the cards. Lysette Anthony was dubbed, for whatever reason, but married the producer, so she came out okay. She was much better in the Sherlock Holmes spoof, Without a Clue. She does provide a commentary track for the DVD. Freddie Jones chews up more scenery than anyone this side of Brian Blessed; but, he has some really good scenes with Francesca Annis, as the Widow of the Web. What makes the film is the main supporting cast of Alun Armstrong, Liam Neeson, Robbie Coltrane, Bernard Bresslaw and David Battley. They add much needed weight to things and make the fantasy world believable. the Slayers are well done and well used, never letting the camera catch them in full light so you can't see the seams. The Beast, not so much. The disembodied voice is creepy enough, as are his changelings and such. however, the on-screen thing looks like the budget ran out, so he was shot out of focus, in dark lighting. It;s a bit anti-climactic. The Fire Mares, which were Clydesdales, did not really work, as the fire effect looks horribly fake. The Glaive should have been a maguffin that drives the film and its discovery should lead to the final assault; but, it is dispensed with early on, then never used when there is danger. Why have it then? It is used way better in the video game. Regardless, there is a spirit of adventure and there was a real attempt to do a strong fantasy adventure, that mostly fails due to bland leads and a few dodgy effects. otherwise, if it had focused on the supporting cast, as an ensemble, you could have had a real classic. As it is, it is a fairly enjoyable romp that isn't too serious about itself and has most of its money on the screen. It's a different take on the fantasy quest and has a real otherwordly feeling. The tie-in novel was handled by go-to writer Alan Dean Foster and I read it. He did his usual excellent job and added a few things to it, which is more than Michelinie did. The comic was also published as a two-issue mini-series, which had become the trend for many of these, probably for marketing in comic shops vs newsstands. My favorite character is Ergo, played by David Battley, who was an old favorite from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket's teacher) and a few other things. He makes the character arrogant, but lovable, and though he befriends Tich out of greed, you do see him really come to care about the boy, which is seen by Rell, the cyclops, who commends him for it. He comes to admire Rell, once he knows him, and is saddened when he must leave, though Rell returns to help them at the Fortress. Ergo's spells never quite come off; but, when the chips are down, he morphs into a large tiger and kills many Slayers, earning a bad wound in the process, all to protect Tich. I have long contended that Ergo shows how Jar-Jar could have been a better character in Phantom Menace (aside from losing the racist voice). Jar-Jar is a fool and a screw-up, who is annoying and causes trouble, yet everyone seems to accept him, without him ever earning it. His dumb luck puts him in the center of the battle where an accident wins the day. he never deliberately does anything heroic or endearing, beyond cheering for Anakin, in the pod race. By contrast, Ergo is an arrogant fool, who is comic enough for you to forgive his ego, as his befuddled nature tells everyone he is a bit of a clown. He ends up tagging along out of self-preservation, but Colwyn needs whatever help he can get and Ergo can at least cook. Later, at the Seer's place, he befriends Tich, looking for something sweet to eat. He ends up bogarting it, but, he seems to honestly enjoy Tich's company and Tich latches onto him, because he is kind to him and talks to him, while the adults focus on the Beast. During the swamp journey, Tich and Ergo discuss wishes, with Tich saying he'd like a puppy. Ergo is stunned by the smallness of the wish, but it is all Tich wants in life. he asks the same of Rell, who has now joined them and he replies "Ignorance," as he can forsee parts of the future, especially his own death. Ergo is actually saddened when Rell must leave, to meet his fate, realizing that he had been afraid of Rell because of his outward appearance, which almost kept him from knowing the gentle, noble soul that lived inside. When the Seer is killed and Tich is grieving, Ergo slips off and turns into a basset hound puppy, which delights Tich. He carries the puppy off, and we later see Ergo change back and is caught by Rell. ergo passes it off, "I still say it was a silly wish;" but, Rell just quietly smiles and the nobleness of the deed. this blustering, ego-maniacal fool and coward, committed a selfless act, to cheer up a small boy, a friend, who needed it. It shows Ergo's true character and that the rest is just defense mechanisms for someone who lacks confidence in himself. Ergo follows all the way to the fortress and when he and Tcih are cut off and face Slayers, he finds the true depths of his skill and immediately transforms into a tiger and charges the Slayers. He fights them off and is wounded, and is found later by the others, as Tich tends his wound. Colwyn and the rest quietly nod their respect. In the end, Ergo is rewarded and it is right, because he has earned it. Jar-Jar stumbled into a reward, yet never really commits a selfless act or does anything to show real courage, when it counts. he is unchanged through the film and never redeemed after, because Lucas chose to hide him after the backlash. So, to sum up: film good (with a forgiving eye to some bad lead actors), comic mediocre marketing. Sadly, this would be more the trend of these things |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 22, 2020 15:56:29 GMT -5
Marvel Super Special #29, Tarzan of the Apes Bo Mangani! So, at first glance, I thought this was an adaptation of Tarzan the Ape Man... But, that came out in 1981....to massive derision and horror, though it made money (well, a naked Bo Derek was going to make money in 1981, when you couldn't find free nudie pics on the internet). That thing is so awful it makes the Denny Miller film look like Greystoke. Speaking of which, it came out the year following the publication of this magazine... Marvel had the Tarzan license from 1977-1979, when they produced the series, with John Buscema on art. This just carries Burroughs trademarks. My suspicion is that this was done to help sell Greystoke, but that wasn't ready yet. Greystoke had been in development since the mid-70s, when Robert Towne acquired the rights to film Tarzan. He had been writing a script, based more closely on Burroughs' Tarzan of the Apes, rather than the old MGM films. In fact, when the 1981 film came about, Warner Bros, who had a deal with Towne, sued, claiming exclusive rights. MGM claimed they were just remaking Tarzan the Ape Man, their 1932 film, which they had the rights to do. That movie was basically John Derek's voyeuristic porn of his wife and Tarzan. Meanwhile, Town got the chance to direct, with Personal Best; but, it had production difficulties, partially due to an actors' stike and other forces. Towne sold his interest in Tarzan to help finance Personal Best, which came out in 1982. Warner went to Chariots of Fire director Hugh Hudson to make Greystoke. I think Burropughs, Inc commissioned this to fan the flames, until the film was ready for release. Creative Team: Sharman DiVono & Mark Evanier-adaptation, Dan Spiegle-art, lettering by C McCarthy, Colors by Jo Meugniot (wife of Mark's DNAgents collaborator, Will), Danny Crespi-"production coordinator," Tom DeFalco-"executive editor" I'm betting Crespi edited the comic and DeFalco handled Burroughs Inc. Or Shooter. Painted covers and frontispiece by Charles Ren Synopsis: John Clayotn, Lord Greystoke, has been appointed to a Quango (Quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization) to West Africa and is about to refuse it, when his wife of 3 months forbids it to go along...  They arrive in Freetown (Sierra Leone) and charter a sailing vessel to take them to their final destination; but, the captain is a bully and tyrant and the crew erupts in mutiny....  The Claytons are spared, as they showed kindness to one fo the mutineers, Black Michael, and are put ashore, with Michael promising to alert the government of their location (not even Lord Greystoke bought that one). They get to work building shelter in a tree. Alice Clayton reveals she is pregnant. Time moves on and John builds a cabin for them and Alice prepares for the baby. One day, scores of animals come tearing through, afraid of something, when a great ape comes smashing through the brush. It charges madly at John and he tries to defend with an axe, when Alice shoots the ape dead. though it collapses on her. She is unconscious for two hours, but awakens in a delirium, that they are still in London. The baby is born. Life moves on, but John notices more apes coming into the area and tries to frighten them off. He reads to his wife and newborn son. A year later, Alice dies quietly in the night, still believing she is in London. The baby cries for milk and a helpless John writes in his diary. Meanwhile, Kerchak, leader of the great apes, is raging against his tribe. Kala interrupts, returning from foraging for food. he turns his rage on her and she flees, losing her baby in the process. Kerchak's rage subsides and he commands the apes to follow. he leads them to kill John Clayton and Kala finds the baby, in need of milk...  She feeds him, while Kerchak finds the thunderstick, the rifle. He accidentally sets it off and the apes flee in terror. Kerchak knocks the door shut and can't get back in, so he leads the tribe away. Kala takes the human boy for her own. She is protective of him and names him "white skin;" or, in her tongue, Tarzan. At first, Tarzan is far behind the other young apes, as they can hunt and climb. Soon, he shows how far ahead he is in intelligence and cunning. he tries to make himself look more liek the apes, but fails. then, one day, a lioness comes hunting and Tarzan falls into the river, in panic. However, he is able to swim to safety. He grows in courage and intelligence and treks to the cabin and finds a way in and begins to explore his past.  He finds John Clayton's knife, which is sharper than anything Tarzan has seen. he finds the books and becomes engrossed in the pictures. he leaves the cabin and encounters a bolgani, one of the giant apes, and a rival to his tribe, the mangani. Tarzan is able to kill it with his knife. He vows that Tublat, Kala's mate, will no longer bully him. Later, after a hunt, Tublat tries to take food from Tarzan, who goads him to follow him, then kills him with the knife. He lets out a fierce cry that is heard through the jungle.... Tarzan copied the letters he saw in the books and a primer helps him learn to read (Burroughs is reaching; but, he makes it seem plausible) and is soon reading the books of his father. Meanwhile, Kala encounters Kulonga, son of Mbonga, from a new nearby village. Kulonga fires poison-tipped arrows at Kala and wounds her, and her cries draw the tribe. Kala succumbs to the poison, before Tarzan can find him. He vows to kill the murderer and tracks Kulonga, observing him from afar, waiting for his chance and strikes just outside Kulonga's village, killing him in retaliation for Kala's death. He takes a bow and arrows, after Kulonga's body is discovered. he learns to use them and Kerchak sees that Tarzan is growing into a rival for his spot, as leader of the tribe. Finally, they have it out and Tarzan emerges triumphant...  Thoughts: A fine retelling of the first story of Tarzan. Spiegle isn't the flashiest artist around; but, he is one of the best pure storytellers you will fine, especially for this kind of material. Tarzan has always drawn some of the best artists, with a legacy that includes Foster, Hogarth, Manning, Kubert, Buscema, Grell and, now, Spiegle. If anything would revive interest in Tarzan, it was this and Greystoke would prove a pretty good attempt at a serious Tarzan, which took its cues from Burroughs (though it still mucked about with it). Lord of the Apes knows, Tarzan needed some help after John Derek made a mess of it. However, were it not for that film, we might not have got Mile O'Keefe's short but bizarre film career, which gave us an MST3k classic, Cave Dwellers!
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Post by mikelmidnight on Jul 23, 2020 11:43:16 GMT -5
I also wish Kennneth Colley would have used his native Manchester accent; would have livened up the Imperials. I think when Stan Lee created the High Evolutionary he didn't realise what the implications were of giving his birthplace as Manchester. I've been hoping to see the character show up in a film with the proper accent even though they'd probably make him an American. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jul 23, 2020 19:48:18 GMT -5
I also wish Kennneth Colley would have used his native Manchester accent; would have livened up the Imperials. I think when Stan Lee created the High Evolutionary he didn't realise what the implications were of giving his birthplace as Manchester. I've been hoping to see the character show up in a film with the proper accent even though they'd probably make him an American. Yeah, I want to hear him threaten to punch Thor in the mush. |
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Post by rberman on Jul 23, 2020 19:54:01 GMT -5
I love Krull too. There's a lot of goofiness but a lot of interesting and ambitious ideas. And James Horner's score, which borrowed liberally from his work on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, is a keeper.
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