The Incredible Hulk vs. Some Temporary Housing

Just finished Essential Avengers Volume 1 which includes Avengers #1-24.

In issue #1, the Hulk destroys a circus tent. (There are apparently more circuses than Wal-Marts in the comic book world.) Stan Lee describes the event as such:

"Never have human eyes beheld such an awesome spectacle... Never has mortal man witnessed such a stupendous sight!!"

The man is a genius. The enthusiasm is positively infectious.

Sometimes he gives personal advice:

"Caution!! Don't tear this magazine or wrinkle the pages or get food stains on it! We have a hunch you'll want to save it as a collector's item for long, long time!" (#6)

"Please read this masterwork slowly--you will treasure it for years!" (#15)

Sometimes just fair warning:

"You'll gasp in amazement at the most unexpected final panel you've ever seen!" (#13)

For the record, I did gasp.

As if any more evidence were necessary, witness this speech Captain America spits out whilst pummeling the crap out of an ex-Nazi, in issue #6:

"I still remember how you sneered at democracy... how you called Americans soft... timid... too spoiled to fight for freedom!

You mocked free men! You boasted of your contempt for liberty!!

Feel my grip, Zemo! It's the grip of a free man! Look into my eyes, tyrant! They're the eyes of a man who would die for liberty!

The world must never again make the fatal error of mistaking compassion for weakness!! And while I live, it won't!!"

Somehow Marvel lost interest in creating works of pure joy and imagination.

Nobody fights lava men any more.

Fridge Women

I'm trying to up my Marvel quotient, and I happened upon a Spider-Man/Black Cat comic written by Kevin Smith. I don't know why I continue to have faith in that guy, but even though he usually fails, he tends to fail interestingly.

Anyway, it starts as a nice amusing story with Spider-quips that are almost funny, a little bit of non-sucky banter and the inescapable Smith homo jokes (some of which are slightly funny). Basically a decent read. The key point seemed to be that Black Cat is supernaturally hot, and in that aspect he was succeeding quite well.

But then the thing turns into a thoroughly unpleasant After School Special about incest and rape that didn't make me feel particularly sympathetic, but did make me feel bad and icky inside. That guy is totally tone deaf.

Maybe he was just trying to get into the Fridge Hall of Shame.

So, in short, yuck.

Mister Fantastic vs. Some Reading Material

So, in Fantastic Four #281, Reed says:

"I've been so busy analyzing the molecular structure of this pamphlet, I'd forgotten conditions outside the mansion might be worsening..."

Then a few pages later...

"There! I believe the sub-neuro frequency radiated by this device will be sufficient to counterbalance the effects of the alien hypno-poison in those hate pamphlets."

Also he is stretchy.