Blue Marvel Appreciation 2020

[Riv86672]

A solid idea.

The one part about Adam's origin that I have difficulty with is understanding who comprised the superhero community of the early 1960s. Marvel's sliding timescale doesn't help. Grevioux's story gave me the impression that Blue Marvel was "the Superman" of that era, which is to say that he was the most popular, respected and generally revered for 2-3 years before his identity was revealed. Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but I think Grevioux intended for Adam to occupy that period before the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-men and all of the other "modern" costumed champions launched their careers. He wasn't only the most powerful hero, but perhaps the only active hero. Something about that doesn't seem right.

It's too bad that Grevioux didn't set aside a panel or two to show Blue Marvel interacting with other heroes from his era. I mean if Adam is Superman, where is his Justice Society? And even if he never formed a team with anyone, who were his superhero contemporaries that he could interact with and possibly hold him accountable? Part of me wishes Grevioux would come back and fill in the blanks.

Technically speaking, there were superheroes around back then. Fill in Captain Americas and sliding timeline notwithstanding, characters have retroactively been placed in the 50s-60s. Any long lived or immortal character was around, John Byrne did a whole lost generation book in that time era. Characters from Agents of Atlas (if not the team itself) were around then. Dr. Strange may have been, depending on what his origin is nowadays.

Basically though, i think you’re right in that Adam was likely the most visible guy out there. Really it depends on how a writer wants to spin the subject if it ever sees print which i would love.

[DMightyBlue]

He was the only person operating at his power tier. During that time there was nobody that was as mighty as he was.

[The Cool Thatguy]

He was the only person operating at his power tier. During that time there was nobody that was as mighty as he was.

Yeah. Most of the 'Lost Generation' under Byrne weren't much higher than street level.

Adam was Thor level.

Plenty of guys in or near his weight class now sure, but back then? He was in a league of his own.

[JudicatorPrime]

When I think of Conner Sims, not the unstable powerhouse driven crazy by suddenly gaining Cosmic Awareness, but Conner, Adam's best friend, I think of him speaking as Pete Carroll does here.

I really don't know what the powers that be at Marvel are thinking. Given the current state of our country, this is the perfect time for Adam Bernard Brashear and his supporting cast to be center stage. Not somewhere on the periphery or secreted away in off-panel purgatory. His experience can't be told by Black Panther or Blade and it can't be matched by the Falcon, Brother Voodoo or Luke Cage. Now is the time Marvel. Now. Because your readership needs to be "coached up" and educated as much as any other's. Launch a Blue Marvel title and let's start the hard work that needs to be done, so that future generations of readers can benefit.

[ed2962]

When I think of Conner Sims, not the unstable powerhouse driven crazy by suddenly gaining Cosmic Awareness, but Conner, Adam's best friend, I think of him speaking as Pete Carroll does here.

I really don't know what the powers that be at Marvel are thinking. Given the current state of our country, this is the perfect time for Adam Bernard Brashear and his supporting cast to be center stage. Not somewhere on the periphery or secreted away in off-panel purgatory. His experience can't be told by Black Panther or Blade and it can't be matched by the Falcon, Brother Voodoo or Luke Cage. Now is the time Marvel. Now. Because your readership needs to be "coached up" and educated as much as any others. Launch a Blue Marvel title and let's start the hard work that needs to be done, so that future generations of readers can benefit.

They're thinking that he's not that popular and that they can make more money with event comics and variant covers LOL?

But more seriously, I agree that you can get a really thought provoking story out of BM and setting it against today's social climate. It starts with him saying something like, "I stepped down once. But not this time." But it needs a talented and informed writer. Don't just have Adam punch out a racist cop or governor and think the problem is solved.

[XPac]

They're thinking that he's not that popular and that they can make more money with event comics and variant covers LOL?

But more seriously, I agree that you can get a really thought provoking story out of BM and setting it against today's social climate. It starts with him saying something like, "I stepped down once. But not this time." But it needs a talented and informed writer. Don't just have Adam punch out a racist cop or governor and think the problem is solved.

His power level makes that sort of story somewhat tricker (though not impossible).

Sam/Falcon can handle stories where he's dealing with crooked police or politicians because he's more street level and those sort off issues can still be a moderate threat to him. But to Adam, a crooked police offier is about as threatening as a solitary leaf floating along a warm summer breeze. You need to find something worth his time punching in a story that's more grounded and real life. Again, not impossible... but it's almost easier to just use Falcon or maybe Nightthrasher.

Unless of course they forgo the super hero aspects and do a story that doens't revolve around him having to punch something. That can work if the story is good enough.

[ed2962]

His power level makes that sort of story somewhat tricker (though not impossible).

Sam/Falcon can handle stories where he's dealing with crooked police or politicians because he's more street level and those sort off issues can still be a moderate threat to him. But to Adam, a crooked police offier is about as threatening as a solitary leaf floating along a warm summer breeze. You need to find something worth his time punching in a story that's more grounded and real life. Again, not impossible... but it's almost easier to just use Falcon or maybe Nightthrasher.

Unless of course they forgo the super hero aspects and do a story that doens't revolve around him having to punch something. That can work if the story is good enough.

Well, it's not that hard to come up with a story that's like the Sons of the Serpent find a magic stone a raise a racist demon or something. That would be a credible threat. Or some giant robots that were built by the Nazis or something. My thing is I would like to see Blue Marvel try to wrestle with the systemic problems that inform or empower racism, that is the tougher story to write.

[JudicatorPrime]

His power level makes that sort of story somewhat tricker (though not impossible).

Sam/Falcon can handle stories where he's dealing with crooked police or politicians because he's more street level and those sort off issues can still be a moderate threat to him. But to Adam, a crooked police offier is about as threatening as a solitary leaf floating along a warm summer breeze. You need to find something worth his time punching in a story that's more grounded and real life. Again, not impossible... but it's almost easier to just use Falcon or maybe Nightthrasher.

Unless of course they forgo the super hero aspects and do a story that doens't revolve around him having to punch something. That can work if the story is good enough.

Superhero stories about reversing the course of a corrupt or broken system are rarely about power levels. Remember, it was the potential for human casualty that made Adam adhere to the Presidential Executive Order more than anything else. That same dynamic exists now as evinced by tragically fatal clashes occurring in Portland and Kenosha.

As much as I wish otherwise, you can't stamp out hundreds of years of racism and inequality with a punch that knocks a bad guy into the next firmament. Not even if the bad guy was a Cosmic Cube-wielding Red Skull. But you can create a poignant allegory that appeals to readers of varying levels of intellectual sophistication. Characters like Spider-Man and the Hulk have been doing that sort of thing for years. I would expect nothing less from Marvel.

[dkrook]

When I think of Conner Sims, not the unstable powerhouse driven crazy by suddenly gaining Cosmic Awareness, but Conner, Adam's best friend, I think of him speaking as Pete Carroll does here.

I really don't know what the powers that be at Marvel are thinking. Given the current state of our country, this is the perfect time for Adam Bernard Brashear and his supporting cast to be center stage. Not somewhere on the periphery or secreted away in off-panel purgatory. His experience can't be told by Black Panther or Blade and it can't be matched by the Falcon, Brother Voodoo or Luke Cage. Now is the time Marvel. Now. Because your readership needs to be "coached up" and educated as much as any others. Launch a Blue Marvel title and let's start the hard work that needs to be done, so that future generations of readers can benefit.

I agree with so much bro, however I sadly believe that the depth of vision required to make a move like this is lacking throughout the company right now. The statements being made with the narratives coming out now strike me superficial and basic. The energy required to do justice to your idea needs a nurturing, and supportive environment, allowing Adam to be developed and incorporated properly to maximize his potential.

[JudicatorPrime]

I agree with so much bro, however I sadly believe that the depth of vision required to make a move like this is lacking throughout the company right now. The statements being made with the narratives coming out now strike me superficial and basic. The energy required to do justice to your idea needs a nurturing, and supportive environment, allowing Adam to be developed and incorporated properly to maximize his potential.

Sadly, you're probably right. Still, I'd like to see Marvel put in the work. They have to start somewhere. We've already seen that the more Blue Marvel is used properly, the more his fandom grows.

[dkrook]

Sadly, you're probably right. Still, I'd like to see Marvel put in the work. They have to start somewhere. We've already seen that the more Blue Marvel is used properly, the more his fandom grows.

Hey, I was thinking and looking over the response to your suggestion was great, I realized the amount of negative energy I put out and that everything is hitting me and now even our inspirational fiction is taking body blows with the passing of Chadwick.

[Agent Z]

I think with DC/Milestone about to put out an Icon book for the first time since the 90s, we can look at it as an example of what and what not to do for a Blue Marvel book. Blue Marvel is pretty much the Marvel equivalent to Icon.

[JudicatorPrime]

Anyone know if Blue Marvel has met Thor on panel?

[XPac]

Anyone know if Blue Marvel has met Thor on panel?

I believe the Mighty Avengers fought inverted Avengers heroes in Axis, and both were on different teams. Don't remember the fight too well.

[JudicatorPrime]

I believe the Mighty Avengers fought inverted Avengers heroes in Axis, and both were on different teams. Don't remember the fight too well.

That's right. That's the issue where Iron Man determined that facing Monica and Adam with only an unworthy and/or depowered Thor wasn't a good idea and hastily retreated. I hope that wasn't the only interaction between Adam and Thor, but knowing Marvel, it probably is.