Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
***
Thanks to this being a shorter month than real months are, we're only going to be able to squeeze one Speak Your Brain into it.
Truly, there are times when human suffering knows no limits.
But what will it be about?
And what shall it contain?
That, I don't know because only you The Reader can decide.
Therefore, hesitate ye not. Whatever it is you're desperate for other people to get off their chests, make sure to mention it in the comments section below.
And let us see just what unrolls before us...
Posts
19 comments:
I'd like to elicit SDC's thoughts about Defenders # 24:
Preamble to Defenders # 24
One of the previous issues (Defenders # 20), was a Valkyrie origin story. Val's a demon's love-child, we learned, with a dubious mother. As this issue starts, Barbara Noriss (Val's civilian alter ego), sees a ghetto knife-fight, and - at the point (excuse the pun) of fatalities – intervenes.
Barbara's self-assurance, facing a knife ( Val's bladed weapon experience is extensive), astonishes the thugs. Chilling self-confidence, from a super-heroine's alter-ego later happens in Ms.Marvel, too ( Carol Danvers nearly kills two bar room thugs, during a 7th Sense trance. ) Claremont's tropes
(occasionally), anticipated by Conway & Gerber ( in Daredevil ), is something I've examined before! Barbara's clearly no pushover ( even before transforming into Val! ) Last issue Barbara Norriss carried a fully grown man ( Alvin ) down a Main Street, astonishing passersby. Admittedly, the Black Widow carried a Man bull-injured Ivan across San Francisco, but not during broad daylight ( Daredevil = twilight,under Colan), in civvies!
Next issue – A framing sequence sees Yellowjacket capture a Serpent for the Defenders to interrogate. This framing sequence is clever, artistically. YJ’s wings allow him to rapidly close distance to his opponents - the depictions imply - as well as fly, in the conventional sense.A human being shot by a superhero (Yellowjacket), with a gun? Pistols defined villains, not heroes, in the 70s ( Frank Castle’s not a ‘proper’ 70s hero, in my book. ) So, for children seeing a superhero ( Yellowjacket ) gun somebody through a window ( even if only stunned). . . .“ What’s going on here?” Later, Jim Shooter incorporated Yellowjacket’s disrupters into his gloves. To say the fantastic Avengers # 59-60 Yellowjacket is morally ambiguous is an understatement. And much later beating up Jan – a serious false note! This is more subtle, though!
A pistol-wielding superhero’s an interesting/subtle moral ambiguity. Moral ambiguity doesn't have to be the snarling faces of the terrible Wolverine-inspired “morally ambiguous” characters of the 1990s.
Thinking on…Paladin had a pistol, as did Dominic Fortune. But, neither are superheroes, exactly.
Defenders # 24 / Rampage # 23
Part 1: Context
As a comic, Rampage # 23 was a landmark for me, aged 8. A previous theme I've discussed is “the
more the merrier” (c.f. Bill Mantlo). To kids, injecting extra superheroes into a story, provides
'more for your money'. Yellowjacket, Daredevil, Daimon Hellstrom, and Luke Cage, swell the
Defenders' ranks, in Rampage # 23! More for a kid's (parents' ?) money was certainly Rampage
# 23's 1978 contribution, without a doubt! ( Plus, the Defenders' best inks, at that point, provided by
Bob McLeod, grace Sal Buscema's artwork! McLeod – a pinch-hitting inker - putting the regular
boys to shame! Like Daredevil # 108 - another Steve Gerber tale - when pinch-hitting Paul Gulacy's
inks exceeded previous inkers! )
Already, Yellowjacket & Luke Cage were introduced to young UK Marvelites, for Christmas Day
1977, in UK Avengers Annual 1978, and UK 'Mighty World of Marvel' Annual 1978, respectively.
( Introductions, for older Marvelites, being unnecessary! ) Yellowjacket's (Avengers # 59-60) origin
- a brilliant story – was reprinted in UK Avengers Annual 1978, its colours sharper than the original!
Similarly, Luke Cage vs. Moses Magnum (Power Man Annual # 1 ) was reprinted in UK 'Mighty
World of Marvel' Annual 1978, for Christmas. Thus, for Rampage # 23's readers (some aged 8!),
Yellowjacket and Luke Cage's characters were established already, by those two important Annuals!
In short, the UK annuals laid Rampage # 23's groundwork ( Yellowjacket and Cage's outing), ready
for March 1978! Of course, Yellowjacket & Luke Cage's Defenders debut isn't in Rampage # 23.
Yellowjacket appeared last issue, whilst Cage & the Defenders battled the Wrecking Crew, a few
issues earlier.That was unknown to me, aged 8(as was Cage's Giant-Size Defenders #2 appearance.)
Nevertheless, Cage & Yellowjacket appear together in the Defenders, for the first time, in Rampage
# 23.
Daimon Hellstrom & Daredevil ( 'the more the merrier' ) swell Rampage # 23's numbers, too! What
Defenders provenance is theirs? Well, Hellstrom's art team's his provenance! Daimon Hellstrom
had Sal Buscema & Bob McLeod's art and inking, in Marvel Spotlight # 22, just like Rampage #23!
Might McLeod's previous Hellstrom experience, with Sal, got him head-hunted? Plus, in Marvel
Spotlight # 22, Steve Gerber's the writer. Again, exactly like Rampage # 23! Coincidence? You,
decide! Even numerically - # 22 vs # 23 - the issues almost match! Hellstrom's storyline ( not art )
provenance, is: Giant-size Defenders # 2!
A provenance unknown, to me, nevertheless! I was only 8. Daredevil swells the Defenders' ranks,
too. What about him, then? Well, Daredevil previously helped the Defenders, in Giant-sized
Defenders # 3. Obviously, Steve Gerber wrote all of Daredevil's Terrex / Kerwin J. Broderick
business – as well as 'Defenders # 24'. Thus, Gerber had “previous”, for Daredevil crossovers ( e.g.
Captain Marvel & Moondragon appear, in DD's Kerwin J. Broderick & Terrex arc, & Spidey joins
Daredevil against the Ramrod. ) Anyway, with Gerber at the helm, Daredevil, Daimon Hellstrom,
Yellowjacket & Luke Cage joining the Defenders, should hardly surprise us! Gerber, moreover, was
Marvel's continuing storylines 'go-to guy' (e.g. DD's Terrex arc, aforementioned), long before Jim
Shooter and Chris Claremont!
Anyway, in Rampage # 23, Damon Hellstrom aids the Defenders, alongside Yellowjacket, Luke
Cage, and Daredevil. Let's see what happpens...
Next time...
Part 2: Characters & characterization
Then...Part 3: Parallelisms
Jumping off points for SDC discussion? My favourite non-team story is Defenders # 24. What are
SDC's favourite non-team (e.g. Defenders, Champions, etc) tales? Or, what does SDC think of
Defenders # 24's context, as outlined above? Or – easier still – just say whatever you feel like
saying – Speak your Brain is a democracy, after all!
Phillip
Sorry the spacing's all wrong on this - I'm off to eat my fish fingers!
Phillip
“Speaking Brains” in comics, TV, Movies etc.!
Honestly, I can only think of two off the top of my head (no pun intended) : Dr. Sun from TOMB OF DRACULA — and Dr. Thermopolus from the BUCK ROGERS TV show (although come to think of it, he might not have been an actual Brain In A Box, more like a digitized personality…?)
Wait! One of Captain Future’s sidekicks was a Brain In A Box named Simon Wright. And he did speak! Usually arguing with his foil, Grag the Robot.
Okay, I’m clearly scraping the very bottom of this particular barrel already, so I gladly yield the floor to somebody with a GOOD “Speak Your Brain” topic…
b.t.
Jesus, Phillip! How did you get all that typed in here so fast? Anyhow, your topic is much more interesting than mine, so I gladly yield the floor (and you beat me to the punch anyway)….
I know you’ve been itching to explore that subject for a week or two — I’m gonna have to re-read that DEFENDERS arc to refresh my memory before I can add anything intelligent to the conversation. But I’ll be back.
b.t.
b.t. - If Dr.Thermopolus is allowed, then so is ORAC from Blake's 7!
Phillip
Thanks, b.t. - I've just crossed messages with you! I'd got it pre-prepared, then copied & pasted it ( hence why blogger doesn't like the spacing! ) If my Defenders topic catches fire, there's a lot more where that came from!
Phillip
There's also thise giant brains in fish tanks - the Inheritors - from Doug Moench and Mike Ploog's Planet of the Apes stories, b.t.
-sean
Oh, would Hellinger - from the Deatlok run in Astonishing Tales - count? Admittedly his brain was in a robot/cyborg head rather than a box. But you could still see it as he talked.
The Brain of Morbius from Dr Who?
Sure there's loads. I mean. Those are just off the top of my head (so to speak) so I'm sure with a bit of thought there'll be plenty to talk about.
-sean
*those giant brains in fish tanks...
Apologies for the typo. Duh
And don't forget Dennis Potter's Cold Lazarus!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Lazarus
-sean
The Whisperer In The Darkness by HP has speaking brains!
sean:
I was seeing some Ploog-drawn brains in my mind’s eye but couldn’t remember which comic they were from — I thought maybe they were in MAN-THING but I guess it must have been The Inheritors in POTA I was thinking of. Good call!
I’m not familiar with that Dennis Potter project, and my knowledge of Dr. Who is spotty, but it doesn’t surprise me that talking brains showed up at some point on that series.
Phillip:
My knowledge of BLAKE’S SEVEN is even sketchier. I think I’ve only ever seen the episode where everybody dies. I take it talking brains weren’t the ones gunning everyone down…?
What about the various Gerry Anderson shows? Seems like talking brains are the kind of things that the crew of Moonbase Alpha might have run into.
I think the eponymous Gamesters of Triskelion were revealed to be brightly colored Talking Brains on STAR TREK.
b.t.
Oh, and I don’t remember if Spock’s Brain did any talking while it was temporarily outside of his body…
b.t.
b.t. - ORAC is a box-like computer (with all his innards visible). Sometimes carried around ( by Villa?), ORAC derides human beings' limitations, more abrasively than Spock.
'The president's brain is missing' on Spitting Image. As portrayed on Spitting Image, Ronald Reagan wasn't the icon he's now become in the USA.
Phillip
Part 2: Characters & characterization
The splash page: Dr.Strange, Val, Yellowjacket and Nighthawk - bound to pillars by coiled,
Asclepius-like, metal serpents. The racist Sons of the Serpents' plan's that inner city ghettos and
barrios should burn, driving minorities to suburbs, where whites will take arms against them. The
serpents' reasoning astonishes Val's innocent Asgardian perspective ( her 'Stranger in a Strange
Land' point of view) - exposing its irrationality. Val promptly breaks her bonds, and attacks the
Serpents!
One Serpent's a woman, so Val hesitates/falters. The Valkyrie can't harm women, according to the
Enchantress's magic. With that moment's hesitation, the Serpents blast Val unconscious, from
behind. This “Daughter of the Serpent” ( not to be confused with “Daughters of the Dragon” Misty
Knight & Colleen Wing) takes due credit, for Val's defeat. The Sons of the Serpent is racist, but isn't
sexist in its hiring policy.
Back at Dr.Strange's Greenwich Village pad, Bruce Banner tries to recall his Hulk experiences, for
Clea's benefit. Jack Norriss, Barbara/Val's husband's there, too. Is Jack's presence an ordinary Joe's
perspective? No – his job's over-reacting to superheroics, all the time ( basically, playing Kitty
Pryde's parents' future X-Men role! )
Banner asks Clea to summon previous Defenders' allies. Namely, the Silver Surfer, Daredevil,
Power Man, Daimon Hellstrom, the Submariner and Hawkeye. Using the Crystal of Agamotto,
Clea – at great psychic strain to herself - contacts Daredevil and Hellstrom.
What follows is Rampage # 23's ( or Steve Gerber's ) best bit – at least characterization-wise -
spotlighting Luke Cage, Daredevil and Daimon Hellstrom. Yellowjacket's framing sequence was
last issue ( and boy, was it good! ), so he isn't focused on. Gerber's characterization mini-
masterpieces anticipate Jim Shooter's later character-driven Avengers writing, in their quality.
Other superheroes, apart from the Defenders, utter exotic oaths/curses, to demarcate their
character's “otherness”. ( It's a Marvel method! ) Rom exclaims “Gods of Galador!” Captain
Marvel shouts “Hala!” or “By the Great Pama!” “By Crom!” defines Conan. ( A human
colloquialism or idiom, coming from an otherworldly character, is the converse – Mar-vell saying:
“As Rick would say...I've got my 'second wind!”, for example. )
In Rampage # 23 ( Defenders # 24 ), with Daimon Hellstrom, that demarcation technique's used
straight off the bat! “By the Seven Circles!” Hellstrom exclaims, as Clea psychically contacts him!
Another Hellstrom exclamation's “By the Hadean chimes!” To new readers, Daimon Hellstrom's
“otherness” is immediately established, very economically, in writing terms. Steve Gerber take a
bow!
Daimon Hellstrom knows Clea's message isn't a deception, through his “intuitive powers”, the
reader also learns. Hellstrom's trident's made of “nether metal” & has “psycho-sensitive
properties”, to boot! For new Daimon Hellstrom readers, such character-establishing is clearly
helpful.
In Chris Claremont stories, for “atmosphere”, evocative names are used. For example, “Storm wind
canyon”, and “Alkali Lake” ( many others, too!) Well, Steve Gerber's toolbox had that technique
years earlier! “Fire Lake”, Massachusetts, being from whence Daimon Hellstrom's demon steeds
and chariot are summoned, to transport him to Greenwich Village! Hellstrom himself's at more
prosaic St. Louis, Missouri.
Daredevil's an observer/thinker. On rooftops (or swinging between buildings), reader boredom, isn't
an option. Thus, Daredevil's internal monologues are provided by writers. Also, radar-sense “scans”
of DD's opponents, provide interesting details, for the reader's benefit. ( ROM's energy analyzer
functions likewise! )
From a rooftop, Daredevil's watching inner city New York burn - whereupon, Clea contacts him! If
DD's in New York, is this before his San Francisco relocation? For Marvel UK Daredevil, that's out
of step! Or, maybe it's later - if Daredevil's Hawkeye-fight over Natasha caused him to move – I
forget.
Concentric circles depict Daredevil's radar-sense, in this Defenders story. In Conway's Daredevil
run, a verbal description was all you got! In Steve Gerber's Daredevil, the concentric circles started,
with this Gerber Defenders continuing that tradition!
Daredevil, contacted by Clea, knows his limitations. Like Daimon Hellstrom, however, Daredevil
deduces Clea's message isn't a deception. To Daredevil's enemies, the Defenders' existence is
unknown, after all!
The Defenders, famously, is a “non-team”. Is a prerequisite of a non-team that its existence isn't
public knowledge? To Daredevil's foes, the FF & the Avengers can't be unknowns. I thought, a non-
team's a loose affiliation, not officially tied together, or established. The Champions being another
obvious example. Are the New X-Men & the Guardians of the Galaxy non-teams? Enough,
already – that way madness lies!
Unfortunately, overwhelmed by her psychic connection's strain, Clea collapses. With a more prosaic
solution, Bruce Banner “cuts the Gordian knot” of this communication problem. Put simply,
Banner 'phones Luke Cage, at “Hero For Hire”!
Returning to spotlighting the characters...
Luke Cage, sensing DD behind him before hornhead taps him on the shoulder, Daredevil declares:
“This fellow's street sense is as keenly honed as my radar sense”, In this story, parallelism's a
repeated method. This is the first parallel ( DD's radar-sense & Cage's 'street sense' ! )
Suddenly, Daimon Hellstrom's fiery chariot touches down, spooking Cage and Daredevil.
With his trident, Hellstrom looks exactly like...( the Devil – but it's left unsaid! ) Daredevil explains,
scanning the Son of Satan with his radar-sense. Second parallel DareDEVIL, with horns on his
head, having made that remark!
Daredevil's concentric circles radar-sense also detects 2 heart beats within Daimon Hellstrom.
A violent, demonic, second self, which Hellstrom holds in check is his second heart beat!
( To repeat, like ROM's energy analyzer, Daredevil's radar-sense makes other characters more
interesting to readers! )
In the 1980s, two personas(ae?) within one character was nothing special (Johnny Blaze/Zarathos
springs to mind ); but, in the 1970s...quite novel! Daimon Hellstrom's gaining the reader's interest,
with Steve Gerber drip-feeding information about him. Explaining it all at once, in an 'exposition
dump', wouldn't be half as effective!
Son of Satan rings Dr.Strange's Greenwich Village house's doorbell; Clea opens the door, and all
three heroes enter...
Dr Strange's Greenwich Village house?
I reckon that's it, Phillip, the difference between a super-hero team, and a non-team - there was an Avengers Mansion, and a Champions Building in LA. They had a headquarters... but the Defenders had to meet round Dr Strange's gaff.
-sean
Sean - yes, exactly. Greenwich Village - Beatnik central. Jack Kerouac eat your heart out!
Phillip
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