Champions of the Galaxy - Filsinger Games :: Tom's Comic Book Tributes

TOM'S COMIC BOOK
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Stan Lee and Spiderman

The biggest influence on the actual writing of Champions of the Galaxy is the classic "Marvel Age of Comics" that took place in the 1960's. I certainly liked wrestling, but I was totally obsessed with comic books. I was lucky to come along at a time when Marvel Comics was hitting its stride during their classic era from 1964-1968.

The writer and editor of Marvel Comics during this time period was Stan Lee. Stan's style influenced me in many ways. I adopted many aspects of characterization that he utilized, including conflict and personal antagonism within groups. For example, there was conflict in the Fantastic Four with the Thing feuding on and off with the Human Torch. This made the characters compelling because they were real people rather than one-dimensional caricatures. Fans of Champions of the Galaxy will be able to think of many examples of GWF teams where there is an underlying (or very open) conflict among members (one example off the top of my head is Mandrill and Nefarus).

I was also influenced by Stan's flare for drama in creating an adventure with subplots and a continuing storyline. In fact, I would like to think that I was among the early influences in bringing the concept of dramatic storylines and ongoing team conflict to the world of professional wrestling. Or, perhaps, I'm just having delusions again.

In any event, the writing of Stan Lee is the single most direct influence on Champions of the Galaxy. I had the privilege of telling this to Stan last year and he was very kind in his reply to me. He gave a plug to Champions of the Galaxy and I continue to speak with him regularly. He is a class act and it's always nice to find out that your heroes are indeed worthy of your adulation.

THE SUB-MARINER

My favorite superhero is an underdog choice in the enigmatic Sub-Mariner. The Sub-Mariner was Marvel's first superhero, introduced in 1939 by Bill Everett.

The Sub-Mariner was a stroke of genius. Here was a man who lived underwater in Atlantis but also could breath on the surface and fly in the air! But the real brilliance was in creating a character who didn't really feel comfortable anywhere. He was a rebel with a chip on his shoulder. It was impossible to distinguish him as a hero or a villain, he had characteristics of both, or more accurately, he transcended the usual labels. He staked his own territory and I have always liked these kind of rebels. It's probably the reason that Johnny Valentine was my favorite wrestler and the Sub-Mariner is still my favorite comic book character. The fact that the Sub-Mariner is nowhere to be found in Marvel Comics today is yet another reason that Marvel has turned me off in recent years.

The Sub-Mariner had a particularly good series of stories in Tales to Astonish before he got his own book in 1968. The Sub-Mariner shared Tales to Astonish with another out-of-control hero, the Incredible Hulk! This became my favorite comic book because it had an edgy feel since it featured two rabble rousers as opposed to the "good guy" style of superhero in most of the other books. Gosh, even when it came to comic books I was hardcore!

FANTASTIC FOUR

It was impossible to not like the Fantastic Four in the 1960's. It was simply the best comic book of its time. It featured the classic writing of Stan Lee and the superb art and plots of Jack Kirby. What a combination.

This all reached a creative peak in Fantastic Four #37-50. What a year (or so) it was! Stan and Jack introduced the Inhumans, Galactus and the Silver Surfer. The stories lasted multiple issues and each issue saw a grander and grander scope until the pinnacle was reached with the classic introduction of Galactus! Mighty powerful stuff.

SPIDERMAN

Spiderman inhabited a completely different world than the Sub-Mariner and the Fantastic Four. Spidey, or more accurately, Peter Parker, was more like the guy next door. He was an awkward and clumsy guy that just happened to be bitten by a radioactive spider. Other than that, no big deal.

Spiderman had the best cast of characters and best rogues gallery of villains. There was his irritating boss, J. Jonah Jameson. There was also his list of sweethearts, from Betty Bryant to Mary Jane Watson. Let's not forget his fragile Aunt May and his nemesis, Flash Thompson. Lots of room for character development with such a rich cast.

Steve Ditko was the man who plotted and did the drawings for the early issues of Spiderman. His unique style combined with Stan Lee's crisp writing made the book a classic in the comic book genre. It was too bad that Steve Ditko left the comic book after only three years because his distinctive style could never be replaced.