Roy Thomas probably read some character like Wolverine in a pulp and wanted him as a character (just make him Canadian instead of Irish) and gave him to Len Wein to do all of the heavy lifting. From what I gather, it sounds like this method was handed down from Stan Lee.
He just suggested the name Wolverine from what I can tell. He did not generate any idea or story for pertaining to the character, he suggested a name and approved or rejected some of Len Wein's ideas related to the character. The argument made is that by rejecting one such idea that Wolverine would be 18, Roy Thomas is responsible for "creating" Wolverine. It's deliberately misrepresenting things in a way wherein one could turn around and say back to Roy that he didn't create Ultron or Vision because someone else rejected certain ideas related to them he might have had. And a lot of Roy's creations are obviously also loosely based on pre-existing characters created by other people (Black Knight, Vision, Iron Fist, Nighthawk, Man-Thing).
I think Acts of Vegans is funny. I need to make something of it. And also take credit for its creation. Perhaps characters fighting with with one telling the other they are a vegan. For a few pages.
OK, a couple of things 1) This was your funniest episode in a while. You plugged Arkon's arse with steel wool and then dared him to fart! Few have ever done that and lived! (Actually he usually pays them afterwards) 2) Viewed as an ironic, comedic, statement, Arkon can actually pass for a Steve Gerber character. A macho jerk, ruler of a world with rapidly depleting energy (Ronald Regan-esque, you could say) has implied ties to the political arena, while the "toxic masculinity" angle writes itself. Did you ever read the Man-Thing story featuring the Mad Viking? Arkon could be his kid.
Are you thinking of The Band of the Bland from the Defenders/Howard the Duck story? Arkon fits right in with them. Although, have you seen Mahkizmo?? He really puts Arkon into perspective. Roy Thomas' Arkon and Thundra shit all over Gerry Conway's Mahkizmo.
@@SonofCapwolf The Mad Viking story ran in MT from issues 16-18. It did feature a singer, Eugene “ Star” Spangler, a crazy Alice Cooper/David Bowie type. The Viking started out wanting to kill him for violating his idea of masculinity, the he hooked up with a crazy conservative woman and it ended in a book burning and riot. It was a great story with excellent art. If you can pick up a Man-Thing omnibus cheap it’s a fantastic read. Gerber was on fire for the majority of it. I did read this era of FF, Mahkizmo et al, it was good a rough sort of way. It just seemed… I don’t know, not unfocused, maybe uncommitted? To its own ideas, I mean. The stories just didn’t hit, like something was missing.
@@SonofCapwolf Yeah, the early issues are the “hit and miss” period. And there was schmaltz(A Candle For St. Cloud) to make you cringe, but at least read 16-22. It was prime Gerber (when the portly, middle aged man does a deal to to bring the forces of hell to earth, it’s a study in petty, mean-spirited angst. It calls certain people “shit” right to their face). Pick the series up again at 16, really (it’s even got a pretty girl! The Viking’s granddaughter, long blond hair and tits like cantaloupes).
@@SonofCapwolf Oh yeah she was in that terrible Wolverine Origins movie as Silverfox. Started doing TV after John Carter so I guess that killed her movie career.
Yep, Lynn Collins. She has said that she got the blunt of the blame for the John Carter movie flopping (even though he was one of the better things in it) and her agent dropped her and she couldn't get any work after it for years. Silverfox was also Emma Frost's older sister in that execrable movie. Also John Carter played Gambit in the same movie, he was bad in both.
@@SonofCapwolf In what world is that movie’s failure her fault? I admittedly haven’t seen it since the initial release but I don’t remember there being a particular thing that stunk about it, just that it was mediocre and they spent too much making it.
Hollywood has a tendency to blame "the hot woman" in bad movies rather than any of the men responsible for making it. Further examples: Megan Fox, Jessica Alba, Olivia Munn.
@@robert2430 Yeah, this was upsetting when I looked into it. This shithead that wears beanies has inserted himself as Roy’s “manager” and “best friend”. Cue outlandish claims from Roy that he made Wolverine and should be credited first in the movies (before the actors, director and writers). Every thing Roy has said has come from him. I don’t mean he is feeding Roy lines, I mean he is the one who publicly announces what Roy has said. Not Roy himself. He’s signed Conway now, spend his time trying to get Ditko to sign and shuts down people (widow of creator or otherwise) selling anything that he can pretend they need to pay Roy for first. Industry knows it too but Waid, Larsen, Simone, Busiek, Hama (always the same fucking names innit) are dog-piling on Roy. Rob Liefeld and Scott Edelman are the only two who have acknowledged the influence of this prick. There was one thing I found that was just fans sharing their stories about recent meetings with at Cons and Roy still is enthusiastic and excited about talking about Golden Age heroes and comics in general but this knob comes over and shuts down any conversation and says people have to pay to speak to Roy or pay Roy for his creations. BUT, that Jonathan Ross documentary is a video in its own right. Neil Gaiman pretending to cry was exactly when I clocked him. This was for show. He’d be crying at meeting Ditko (overwhelmed) or beforehand (anxiety). Afterwards? In front of cameras? No, if he was, he’d go “hold on, can you give me a few minutes, I’m still processing what I’m dealing with”. Then outside of the documentary and it’s narrative, you find out Ditko was not anywhere near as reclusive or separated from comics as they portrayed. He wasn’t a hermit in a cave like they built him up to be. People still spoke to Ditko and he even corresponded with letters with some fans about comics. Everything about Neil Gaiman’s performance… the gothic Patrick Bateman. “I’m so emotional and humbled that I cry after meeting God.” Based on Gaiman’s career trajectory maybe he’ll have to sign with this Nu metal reject prat and he can tour the circuit with Roy and Gerry. FYI, hours after Stan Lee died, the manager publicly posted boasting that he now has “big plans for Roy”.
