Suggestions Unboxed - Character Development Possibilities

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

Martinex1: Here are two suggestions based on character development, both historically and potentially -- 

• Worst plot developments ever (for me YJ hitting the Wasp) and how you would have changed it.
• Comic team ups or relationships we would like to see (Beast and Tigra, Commander Rann and the Wasp, Fixer and Ultron). 

Suggestion Unboxed - Rave On Wednesday!

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

The Prowler (sheesh - controlling the whole week!): "Rave on Wednesday": What's going on that you really like? Find an awesome "micro brew" line? Great burger? Find a penny with the head up?

 

Suggestion Unboxed - Throw a Tantrum Tuesday!

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one: 

The Prowler: "Throw a tantrum Tuesday"-- Find a lot of kids standing in your yard? Still mad about "Maximum Clonage"? Everything you want for Christmas over $200? Still trying to find the Panini Books everybody is raving about? 

Suggestion Unboxed - Upon Further Review...

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

The Prowler: "Upon Further Review" -- I know we often discuss movies when they first come out, but what about when they're released on DVD? Sometimes, subsequent viewings shed a different light on our opinions. Also, when there're different versions/updates of older movies... I don't like the final version of "Aliens". I think the added scenes actually distract from the theater version. The Bat-Man DVD collection is another topic for conversation.

Suggestion Unboxed - Wonky-looking Teeth and Other Concerns

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

DisneyMarvel: I know that there have been discussions of the Thing and his different artists, but I would like to read opinions on if he should be shown with teeth or not. The way Kirby would do it was only show them when great effort or anger was involved. A friend of mine feels that the Thing needs to have teeth to seem more realistic for modern audiences. For me, showing teeth makes him look ridiculous - especially if the proportions are off. He looks like a 'have a nice day' meme of a cat with human teeth. Even Buckler has redrawn Fantastic Four #159 showing the Thing's open mouth now with teeth and I don't like it.

Doug: And I'll add on -- what other aspects of certain characters can just seem "off" to you?

Suggestion Unboxed - My Comic Book Life's Education

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

Martinex1: Discuss examples when comics taught you something that school and life didn't...

Suggestion Unboxed - Who's the Best... Comic Book Cover featuring an Animal?

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

Rob Anderson: Who's the best comic book cover featuring an animal or animals?

Suggestion Unboxed - You as a Young Comics Creator

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

William: Did you ever create any of your own superheroes or villains when you were a kid? And if so, what was their story, name, powers, costume, etc.? I personally had my own entire superhero comics universe called "Superior Comics". 

I think it would be real interesting to hear what crazy (or not so crazy) ideas some of you guys might have come up with. 
 

Suggestion Unboxed - Characters Outside the "Super-stars"

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

jeirich: I'm endlessly interested in some of the Big Two's B-listers from that period: the Black Panther (particularly the Panther's Rage arc, by Don McGregor); Deathlok; Killraven; the Challengers of the Unknown; some of the lesser Kirby titles like Omac . . .

Martinex1: Discuss second tier teams like Alpha Flight, Outsiders, Doom Patrol, Ultraforce, Force Works, Eternals etc.

Suggestion Unboxed - Local Television Programming You Loved

Doug: Back in October we ran a post requesting ideas from our readers. We promised to run all of those suggestions at some point. While we've covered many of them, it's been a while since some of those thoughts graced our blog. Here's another one:

Martinex1 said: I am curious about local television, favorite local programming, and local shows from our childhood?

Suggestion Unboxed - Appreciating the Underappreciated

Doug: You may recall that back on October 9, in the midst of a fit of non-creativity, we solicited readers' thoughts on post ideas. What we got was amazing, and we've already mined that one-day flurry of brainpower for several good days' conversations. Today I'm pulling two thoughts from the same comment. Both were in a cornucopia (seasonal reference there) of offerings from Martinex1, and since they are related I am putting them together in the same post. I'll take the liberty of leading off with some thoughts of my own. Many thanks again to all -- and this isn't the last time we'll be doing this, so if you took a penny for your thoughts, you'll yet be further rewarded.

Mike S. (Martinex1): Under appreciated comic book artists and writers (no Kirby, Byrne, Lee, Claremont here...).

Mike S.: Under appreciated heroes and villains. If you were in charge who would you give a title to?

Doug: In answer to the first question, I've always enjoyed the inks of John Severin and Sam Grainger. Certainly Severin was a star in his own right in the 1950s, but most Bronze Age fans will remember him best as the inker over Herb Trimpe on early issues of the Incredible Hulk. Severin brought a polish to Trimpe's pencils that really did give it that throwback look to the period right before the Marvel Age dawned. Great pairing. Grainger worked into the 1970s and shows up all over the Marvel Universe. I most fondly recall his inks over a young Sal Buscema in those turn-of-the-Age Avengers tales. Again, Grainger really polished Sal's work and gave it a rich texture. Grainger also inked Dave Cockrum in the first issues of the All-New, All-Different X-Men.

Doug: As to underappreciated characters, count me among anyone who digs Kid Flash. While I don't know if Wally West could have carried his own series, he was always a favorite of mine in the Secret Society of Super-Villains and the Teen Titans revival.  Oh, and you want an underappreciated villain? I always thought the Gladiator had a great look. The whirling blades on his wrist seemed dangerous enough, but especially to him! I enjoyed his appearances in Daredevil and wished he'd crossed over into the Peter Parker or Nova books (for examples).

Suggestions Unboxed -- Getting My Comics Outside the 'Big Two'

Jeirich: I'd be interested in a discussion of the short-lived Atlas Comics line in the mid 70s. They managed to attract an amazing level of talent, which they promptly seemed to waste: Ditko, Adams, Toth, Heath, Chaykin, Buckler . . . I think a creator's rights approach helped them get these heavyweights (and to-be-heavyweights).

pfgavigan: There is a lot of great material out there that was produced by the small independent companies that we rarely touch upon that might make a good subject for a post. First, Pacific, Valiant are just a few of the companies that I was reading at the time.

To be honest, reading a lot more than the Big Two at the time.

Garett: I'll second PFG's suggestion about independent comics. To me they were a major part of the Bronze Age.

Suggestions Unboxed -- Free-for-All Friday!

Doug: Because Fridays can be somewhat slower than the beginning of the week, I am taking the liberty of tossing together a cornucopia of suggestions from several of our comments. Anything below is fair fodder for rumination today, friends!

Colin Bray: Perhaps the golden age of comics podcasting has passed, but there is still a lot of great existing material to explore. How about favourite comics podcast together with favourite comics podcast episode complete with links?

David B: Best original cast SNL character(s).., again from 1975-1980? And with 'Star Wars' fever raging back in 1978, helmed by the still-hot comic genius of Buck Henry along with notable movie star Richard Benjamin fresh off Westworld, why was 'Quark' so miserably terrible..?


Redartz: Comic creators' work in other media (such as Kirby and Gerber in animation, for instance), and how about Dungeons and Dragons/role playing games... or even favorite board games?

Suggestion Unboxed -- All Cereal, All the Time!

Martinex1: I know we have talked food, but has favorite cereal, favorite cereal related memory (toy inside; mail in prize; commercial) been covered?

Doug (now): I don't know if we've specifically covered cereal, but I'll add the following question -- was "kid cereal" a sort of forbidden fruit to you when you were a kid, or were you fully indulged?