The Bullpen

[MichaelBailey]

About halfway through the episode and wanted to post a couple of thoughts before they escaped and ran screaming into the night.

First, I really need to get my hands on Deus Ex Comica.  Sounds like just the sort of book I like to read. 

Second, digging on the Cap talk.  Captain America is my third favorite Marvel hero and unlike other Raker segments (either alone or with others) I have read these issues and dozens more featuring the Star Spangled Avenger.  I am a huge fan of the early Tales of Suspense stories, especially that first one and the re-telling of Cap's origin.  These are the comics that made me realize why Kirby was such a freaking genius.  I am not a devoted disciple of the King but I am a fan.  There is so much energy in those pages and more often than not Cap looks and feels like an icon, which is awesome.

Steve and Adam (who brings a lot to the show and I enjoy it every time he is on) talked about Streets of Poison and the whole mess involving Cap losing the super soldier serum and having to go back to intensive training to do what he does.  Outside of the awesome fight between the Kingpin and Red Skull at the end of that story (LOVE that fight) I really didn't like this arc.  I realize the point Gruenwald was trying to make and I am by no means trying to say that his run on Cap wasn't one of the best ever because it was, warts (i.e. Cap-Wolf) and all but Streets of Poison seemed to be comparing apples and oranges.  Cap started looking on the process that made him Captain America like it was in the same classification as crystal meth or crack and it isn't.  Sure there was a chemical component to the process but it wasn't like Steve Rogers volunteered for the process so he could get all 'roided up.  It was over the top preachy and I didn't care for the writing. 

The art on the other hand was awesome.

I may post more later, but I had a break here at work and wanted to get this out.

[Steve Raker]

About halfway through the episode and wanted to post a couple of thoughts before they escaped and ran screaming into the night.

First, I really need to get my hands on Deus Ex Comica.  Sounds like just the sort of book I like to read. 

Second, digging on the Cap talk.  Captain America is my third favorite Marvel hero and unlike other Raker segments (either alone or with others) I have read these issues and dozens more featuring the Star Spangled Avenger.  I am a huge fan of the early Tales of Suspense stories, especially that first one and the re-telling of Cap's origin.  These are the comics that made me realize why Kirby was such a freaking genius.  I am not a devoted disciple of the King but I am a fan.  There is so much energy in those pages and more often than not Cap looks and feels like an icon, which is awesome.

Steve and Adam (who brings a lot to the show and I enjoy it every time he is on) talked about Streets of Poison and the whole mess involving Cap losing the super soldier serum and having to go back to intensive training to do what he does.  Outside of the awesome fight between the Kingpin and Red Skull at the end of that story (LOVE that fight) I really didn't like this arc.  I realize the point Gruenwald was trying to make and I am by no means trying to say that his run on Cap wasn't one of the best ever because it was, warts (i.e. Cap-Wolf) and all but Streets of Poison seemed to be comparing apples and oranges.  Cap started looking on the process that made him Captain America like it was in the same classification as crystal meth or crack and it isn't.  Sure there was a chemical component to the process but it wasn't like Steve Rogers volunteered for the process so he could get all 'roided up.  It was over the top preachy and I didn't care for the writing. 

The art on the other hand was awesome.

I may post more later, but I had a break here at work and wanted to get this out.

Glad you enjoyed....I knew we were on to something when Andrew & I had this discussion!....one of my favorites.

I agree with your thoughts on Streets of Poison.  I think this must've been part of his community service for having unknowingly used a black man in the role of Bucky....as soon as the 'racial slur' connection was brought to his attention, he renamed the character Battlestar.

[MichaelBailey]

Glad you enjoyed....I knew we were on to something when Andrew & I had this discussion!....one of my favorites.

I agree with your thoughts on Streets of Poison.  I think this must've been part of his community service for having unknowingly used a black man in the role of Bucky....as soon as the 'racial slur' connection was brought to his attention, he renamed the character Battlestar.

Odd that you metion that as I am re-reading the Gruenwald interview in Comics Interview where he talked about that.  I was fascinated by that part of the discussion.

By the way, the John Walker as Captain America/Steve Rogers as the Captain story is my all time favorite Cap story ever.  It was such a great examination of why Steve Rogers is (at the time) the only person to bear the shield.  Plus it had such great artwork and D-Man.  For some reason I have a soft spot for D-Man.  It puzzle me that we have two Fighting Chance trades, a Bloodstone Hunt trade and a freaking Cap-Wolf trade and yet the John Walker as Cap storyline has never been reprinted.

Oh well...at least the Stern/Byrne run is in trade.  I double dipped on that one.

[Steve Raker]

It puzzle me that we have two Fighting Chance trades, a Bloodstone Hunt trade and a freaking Cap-Wolf trade and yet the John Walker as Cap storyline has never been reprinted.

Check your local comic shop next month

(I think it was solicited in last month's previews)

[MichaelBailey]

Check your local comic shop next month

(I think it was solicited in last month's previews)

Indeed it is.  I just looked for it and suddenly I am really excited.  I was also jazzed to see so many Cap trades and hardcovers coming out.  They're even reprinting the Scourge stuff.  Given the fact that all of these great trades are being solicited I can only say, "Justice is served!"