CBCW : Hobgoblin

Comic Book Character of the Week : Hobgoblin

 

The Hobgoblin was created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Romita, Jr. for The Amazing Spider-Man #238 (March 1983). Like other writers Stern found himself under pressure to have Spider-Man fight the Green Goblin again, but did not wish to bring Norman Osborn or Bart Hamilton back from the dead, have Harry Osborn become the Green Goblin again, or create yet another Green Goblin. Instead he created a new character as heir to the Goblin's legacy and developed the Hobgoblin.^[3] Stern recounts that he directed Romita to base the costume on the Green Goblin's but to make it "a little more medieval-looking", while Romita asserts that he was given no direction beyond using the Green Goblin as a basis. Both agree, however, that the costume was chiefly Romita's design.^[4]

The character's identity was not initially revealed, generating one of the longest running mysteries in the Spider-Man comics. According to Stern, "I plotted that first story with no strong idea of who the Hobgoblin was. As I was scripting those gorgeous pages from JR [John Romita, Jr.], particularly the last third of the book, and developing the Hobgoblin’s speech pattern, I realized who he was. It was Roderick Kingsley, that sunuvabitch corporate leader I had introduced in my first issue of [The] Spectacular [Spider-Man]."^[4] A handful of readers deduced that Kingsley was the Hobgoblin almost immediately. In order to throw them off the scent, and in the same stroke provide a retroactive explanation for his inconsistent characterization of Kingsley in his early appearances, Stern came up with the idea of Kingsley having a brother named Daniel who sometimes impersonates him, sealing the deception by having the Hobgoblin conspicuously appear in the same room as Daniel Kingsley in Amazing Spider-Man #249.^[4]

Stern's original plan was to have the mystery of the Hobgoblin's identity run exactly one issue longer than that of the Green Goblin's identity, meaning the truth would be revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man #264.^[4] However, Stern left the series after The Amazing Spider-Man #252. Editor Tom DeFalco took his place. Wanting to resolve the mystery in a manner that would do justice to Stern's stories, he asked Stern who the Hobgoblin was, but objected when Stern told him it was Kingsley. DeFalco argued that the "twin brother" scheme was cheating the readers since, aside from a single thought bubble, there had been no hint that Roderick even had a brother, much less one who could serve as a double for him. Stern disagreed but said that DeFalco should feel free to choose whoever he wanted for the Hobgoblin's secret identity, reasoning that "I knew that whomever Tom chose, he would make it work."^[4] Upon reviewing the clues, DeFalco decided that the Hobgoblin was Richard Fisk. Moreover, he decided that the mystery of his identity should be prolonged as long as possible, since it was the chief element that made the Hobgoblin interesting.^[4] Through both Stern and DeFalco's runs, the answer to the mystery was continuously teased on the cover art, with the covers of Amazing Spider-Man #245, 251, and 276 all showing Spider-Man unmasking the Hobgoblin.^[5]

The mystery became further complicated after James Owsley came on as editor of the Spider-Man titles. Owsley's relationship with DeFalco and artist Ron Frenz was strained from the beginning, and so when Owsley asked who the Hobgoblin was at a Spider-Man creators conference, DeFalco lied and said it was Ned Leeds. Owsley then wrote the one-shot Spider-Man vs Wolverine in which Ned Leeds is killed off (though the actual death is not shown), and instructed The Spectacular Spider-Man writer Peter David to reveal the Hobgoblin as the Foreigner. David objected and argued that the only person who fit the clues was Leeds (having been present at the Spider-Man creator's conference, David also thought that Leeds was who DeFalco intended it to be). Because Spider-Man vs. Wolverine had already been drawn, however, it was too late to undo Leeds's death.^[4] Thus, the Hobgoblin's identity was revealed posthumously in The Amazing Spider-Man #289, a double-sized issue. With Spider-Man's then-archenemy now dead, a new Hobgoblin was created from the storyline of Jason Macendale's hatred of the Hobgoblin.^[5] Though the posthumous unmasking of the Hobgoblin as Leeds was unpopular with fans, in a 2009 interview David said that he is still proud of the story, arguing that the Hobgoblin being unmasked in a climactic battle with Spider-Man was the sort of tale readers had already seen countless times before, whereas having an archvillain unmasked in a flashback after having been brutally killed by nameless assassins was unprecedented and shocking.^[4]

Macendale supplanted the original Hobgoblin for a decade (1987-1997). Initially he wielded only the weaponry of his predecessor, but during the 1988-89 Inferno crossover writer Gerry Conway had him imbued with demonic powers by N'astirh. In addition to giving him power over hellfire and increasing his strength and speed to far greater than that of the original Hobgoblin, these powers also disfigure Macendale so that his head is even more grotesque than his Hobgoblin mask, and ultimately alters his mind so that he is deluded into thinking that his appearance is normal. Several years later, in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, Macendale succeeds in purging himself of his demonic powers. Towards the end of Macendale's run as the Hobgoblin he was revamped again, this time with cybernetic implants.
Stern was unhappy with the revelation that his character's civilian identity was Ned Leeds, and in 1997 he wrote a three-issue miniseries, Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives, with the retcon that Roderick Kingsley was the original Hobgoblin, and had brainwashed Leeds into serving as a fall guy. Macendale is killed off in this miniseries, and Kingsley is returned to operating as the Hobgoblin. According to Stern, initially he had not known how to resolve the situation of having two Hobgoblins, and it was at the suggestion of the editorial staff that he had Kingsley kill Macendale and take his place.^{[4]  - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobgoblin_%28comics%29}

 

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CBCW : Squirrelpool

Comic Book Character of the Week : Squirrelpool (Wade Wilson TRN-351)

First Appearance : Deadpool Kills Deadpool #4

Death : Deadpool Kills Deadpool #4

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CBCW : Daredevil

Comic Book Character of the Week : Daredevil

 

Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City, Matt Murdock is blinded by a radioactive substance that falls from an oncoming vehicle. While he no longer can see, the radioactive exposure heightens his remaining senses beyond normal human ability. His father, a boxer named Jack Murdock, supports him as he grows up, though Jack is later killed by gangsters after refusing to throw a fight. After donning a yellow and dark red, and later an all dark red costume, Matt seeks out revenge against his father's killers as the superhero Daredevil, fighting against his many enemies including Bullseye and the Kingpin.^[2] Daredevil's nickname is "the Man Without Fear".^[3]
While Daredevil had been home to the work of comic-book artists such as Everett, Kirby, Wally Wood, John Romita, Sr., and Gene Colan, among others, Frank Miller's influential tenure on the title in the early 1980s cemented the character as a popular and influential part of the Marvel Universe. Daredevil has since appeared in various forms of media including several animated series, video games and merchandise, and the 2003 feature-length film Daredevil, where he was portrayed by Ben Affleck. Charlie Cox plays Daredevil in Marvel's Daredevil live-action television series.^{[4] -} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daredevil_%28Marvel_Comics%29

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CBCW : Red Fraggle

Comic Book Character of the Week : Red Fraggle

 

Red Fraggle is one of the five main Fraggles in Fraggle Rock. She is yellow and her hair is red with yellow and orange highlights which is always in big pigtails. She usually wears a red sweater and has the most hair of any Fraggle.

Red is athletic and energetic. She likes to think of herself as the fastest and strongest Fraggle in the Rock. She is highly competitive with her friends, which sometimes causes extreme interpersonal problems, especially with Gobo Fraggle (though, as revealed in a recent SFX interview, despite their constant competition, she secretly admires him).

Red also has her share of insecurities; she especially hates to admit her mistakes.
Red loves sports, especially diving and swimming. Her job is to clean the pool in the middle of Fraggle Rock. She also teaches swimming classes, and considers herself an expert at rock hockey.

Red shares a room with her best friend Mokey Fraggle yet doesn't get along very well with Mokey's plant Lanford. Red later strikes up a friendship with Cotterpin Doozer. She is particularly loath to listen to Uncle Traveling Matt's postcards.

In The Secret Society of the Poobahs, it is revealed that Red is a member of the Poobahs as the Mind-Reader. Mokey didn't know about this until the end of the episode.

Red is the first Fraggle that Kermit and Robin meet when they visit Fraggle Rock in A Muppet Family Christmas. She later reappears with the other Fraggles during the Muppets performance of "The Holly and the Ivy."

She also was part of a group of Muppets who sang "Just One Person" at Jim Henson's memorial service.
Starting in 2008, Karen Prell began making live appearances with Red at various events. Red has also appeared in promos for the The Hub. - http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Fraggle

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Comic Book Character of the Week : Supergirl

 

 Comic Book Character of the Week : Supergirl

Although Kara Zor-El was the first character to use the name "Supergirl," DC Comics tested three different female versions of Superman prior to her debut.

Supergirl's first appearance in Action Comics.

The first story to feature a female counterpart to Superman was "Lois Lane – Superwoman," which was published in Action Comics #60 (May 1943). In the story, a hospitalized Lois Lane dreams she has gained superpowers thanks to a blood transfusion from the Man of Steel. She begins her own career as "Superwoman", complete with a version of Superman's costume.^[2]

In the Superboy #78 story entitled "Claire Kent, Alias Super-Sister", Superboy saves the life of an alien woman named Shar-La, who turns Superboy into a girl, in retaliation for his disparaging thoughts about women drivers which she picked up telepathically. In Smallville, Clark claims to be Claire Kent, an out-of-town relative who is staying with the Kents. When in costume, he appears as Superboy's sister, Super-Sister, and claims the two have exchanged places. Once Superboy has learned his lesson about feeling more respect for women, Shar-La reveals the episode to be a dream which she projected into Superboy's mind.^[3] This incident could be a reflection of the gender discrimination present against women at the time and the resentment by women of the period.

In Superman #123 (August 1958), Jimmy Olsen uses a magic totem to wish a "Super-Girl" into existence as a companion and aid to Superman; however, the two frequently get in each other's way until she is fatally injured protecting Superman from a Kryptonite meteor. At her insistence, Jimmy wishes the dying girl out of existence. DC used this story to gauge public response to the concept of a completely new super-powered female counterpart to Superman.^[4]

Otto Binder wrote, and Al Plastino illustrated, her debut story in Action Comics #252 (May 1959), in which the definite Kara Zor-El is sent to Earth by her parents Zor-El and Alura to be raised by her cousin Kal-El, known as Superman.^[5]

Reaction at the DC Comics offices to Supergirl's first appearance was tremendous, with thousands of positive letters-of-comment pouring in.

Following this debut appearance, Supergirl adopted the secret identity of an orphan "Linda Lee", made Midvale Orphanage her base of operations, and like her cousin, as a teenager joined the Legion of Super-Heroes.^[6] Linda was adopted by Fred and Edna Danvers in 1961, becoming "Linda Lee Danvers".^[7] Supergirl acted for three years as Superman's "secret weapon," until she was at last introduced by her super-powered cousin to an unsuspecting world in Action Comics #285 in 1962.^[8] Supergirl shared Action Comics with Superman until transferring to the lead in Adventure Comics at the end of the 1960s. During this period, "Linda" moved to Stanhope College, and then to San Francisco.

In 1972, she was finally moved to her own eponymous magazine, but the move, which involved a change in creative staff, was not successful and the magazine was canceled. Supergirl, along with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, whose magazines were canceled at about the same time, was moved to Superman Family, of which she soon became the lead, before her magazine was relaunched some years later. - Wiki

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