Blue Marvel - Meh for a reason.

[Varient]

I bought and read #1.

It's taken me this long to peculate why I'm not more excited.

1. It's Marvel - They don't do Human characters in Superman's class - their stories / worldview don't allow for it.
examples: Thor, Sentry, Gladiator, Hyperion.

2. He's Black with issues that run along being a moral conformist - He does right because it's right and because of his color can't be seen as a Boyscout,... but a person with hidden motives. Marvel doesn't do boyscout well.

3. By the nature of who and what he is,... he will have a short stay in the Marvel Universe,... someone of that powerlevel would make short work of the majority of the marvel supervillians currently on deck.
(can't have that)

Based on the above, I'm grateful that he exists almost sixty years of comics to get to a blackman @ that level of Power - Props Marvel -


But there is no place for him in the Marvel Universe.

In any event it looks to be a good read based on that first issue where you find out that he stepped down and has been out of the business for the sake of civil unrest.

I guess I wanna talk about it - see if my feelings are shared.

V.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

I havent picked it up yet , but from what i have read about him i am intrigued but i do know that a black dude on the power level of hulk and other heavyweights= count me in babies!

 

[SUPER MARVELMAN]

Well I like the Sentry, so I'm gonna give Blue Marvel a shot. if he sticks around we'll probably see him and Sentry go toe-to-toe.

 

[Ikaris-Eternal]

the point of the book seems less about the power level of the hero and more about the politics of pre-civil rights america

 

[Bubonic]

I thought the first one was really bland, tried to be relevant but just recycled old themes, and didn't execute it well.

Like you said he is simply too powerful, and unlike the Sentry doesn't have a psychiatric disorder that keeps him back... Either they can kill him off, or send him to space where the baddies will give him a challenge.

 

[Dread]

Without reposting my review, I liked ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL #1 enough to see where it goes. It did remind me a little bit of THE AMERICAN WAY, only Blue Marvel was not set up by the government as a hero like New American was, and Adam was not as militant a character as New American was (not that NA didn't have a right to be; it was a good WildStorm mini). The 60's were an era of racial conflict, although there were moments Grevioux was a bit blunt about noting so. But that in itself isn't so bad for a first issue. Honestly I ended up kind of liking Adam and want to see how this goes, which is what a first issue should do. It's not the greatest Marvel mini ever and it probably takes place before SECRET INVASION, but I'll stick with it for a bit.

 

[32CAGE]

Without reposting my review, I liked ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL #1 enough to see where it goes. It did remind me a little bit of THE AMERICAN WAY, only Blue Marvel was not set up by the government as a hero like New American was, and Adam was not as militant a character as New American was (not that NA didn't have a right to be; it was a good WildStorm mini). The 60's were an era of racial conflict, although there were moments Grevioux was a bit blunt about noting so. But that in itself isn't so bad for a first issue. Honestly I ended up kind of liking Adam and want to see how this goes, which is what a first issue should do. It's not the greatest Marvel mini ever and it probably takes place before SECRET INVASION, but I'll stick with it for a bit.

I share your take. It wasn't a bad read considering its only the first of what i understand to be a six-issue mini up from the originally planned four.

Is there a future place for him in the marvel universe, who knows? The fact that he could stand down for 40 decades based on principle alone is pretty darn impressive.

 

[32CAGE]

I share your take. It wasn't a bad read considering its only the first of what i understand to be a six-issue mini up from the originally planned four.

Is there a future place for him in the marvel universe, who knows? The fact that he could stand down for 40 decades based on principle alone is pretty darn impressive.

Opps. I ment 4 decades.

 

[Dread]

I share your take. It wasn't a bad read considering its only the first of what i understand to be a six-issue mini up from the originally planned four.

Is there a future place for him in the marvel universe, who knows? The fact that he could stand down for 4 decades based on principle alone is pretty darn impressive.

To admit some bias, for some reason Blue Marvel reminds me of the Silver Sentry from the 2k3 era TMNT show, who I happened to like.

I saw the issue as a good start. The stuff with Anti-Man trashing everyone was a bit obligatory, but I didn't mind the rest as a starting point. The theme of course is that this great champion was made to retire in his prime due to racial tensions. It is driven home a bit bluntly at times but it is an important point and things like that did happen. Some see Adam as dull; I have seen far more aggressive figures in stories like this and I see it as stoic. It is possible I may be giving Grevioux too much credit, but I still think the story has potential as does the character. The only major caveat is that by the time the Civil Rights era smoothed down, such as the 80's (which, in "Marvel time" could still have been a decade or so before the Fantastic Four formed), Blue Marvel could have returned and not caused such a stir. But, I am sure that will be explained somehow in subsequent issues.

Plus, for a "Silver Age" hero, he has a better design than Sentry, although I have to admit I like the mask bit of it, even if by the end of the tale I could understand why Adam might abandon it. It is a retcon, but at least it has something to say, and may work out if Grevioux did his homework.

A first issue should encourage me to want to see more for beyond obligation, and this did. Blue Marvel being hidden due to a Presidential order and race relations sits a little better with me than a series of complicated, world-wide mind-wipes (Sentry). Plus, Grevioux isn't pretending this is some lost Romita Sr. design for easy hype.

 

[Varient]

I havent picked it up yet , but from what i have read about him i am intrigued but i do know that a black dude on the power level of hulk and other heavyweights= count me in babies!

To be clear,.. it is a good read as far as i'm concerned. i'm just not liking the fact that marvel has never had an un-nerfed "Superman" class hero and am waiting for his limitation to show up.

Well I like the Sentry, so I'm gonna give Blue Marvel a shot. if he sticks around we'll probably see him and Sentry go toe-to-toe.

Yup "Sentry" started out real strong,.....

the point of the book seems less about the power level of the hero and more about the politics of pre-civil rights america

I realized this,... but my main point was that his power level kinda reduces his time in the marvel universe - unless he goes into space.

I thought the first one was really bland, tried to be relevant but just recycled old themes, and didn't execute it well.

Like you said he is simply too powerful, and unlike the Sentry doesn't have a psychiatric disorder that keeps him back... Either they can kill him off, or send him to space where the baddies will give him a challenge.

Ah,... disagree on the first part- didn't find it bland,... story showed he had strong beliefs and was a patriotic person trying to give the American dream a chance.

Agreeing on the second - people in his power range are in Asgard running things or in space.

Without reposting my review, I liked ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL #1 enough to see where it goes. It did remind me a little bit of THE AMERICAN WAY, only Blue Marvel was not set up by the government as a hero like New American was, and Adam was not as militant a character as New American was (not that NA didn't have a right to be; it was a good WildStorm mini). The 60's were an era of racial conflict, although there were moments Grevioux was a bit blunt about noting so. But that in itself isn't so bad for a first issue. Honestly I ended up kind of liking Adam and want to see how this goes, which is what a first issue should do. It's not the greatest Marvel mini ever and it probably takes place before SECRET INVASION, but I'll stick with it for a bit.

Pardon,... which thread is your review in? I'd like to read it.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

hmmm
well my take after reading it was it was alright nothing spectacular, but then again like someone mentioned this is only the first issue. for me i see the limiation is that this was someone who was a totally boy scout who was told to stand down and now when he is needed is going to come back with a major chip on his shoulder. which could be really interesting.
I also have to humbly disagree with you Varient that someone Superman like in powers cant exist in the Marvel U. Thor, Hulk , Surfer, Gladiator. they just have to be more developed than the uh "cough cough" Sentry is.( no offense to Sentry fans). Speaking of the Sentry i couldn't help but think if the introduction of Adam isnt a way for Marvel to end the Sentry experiment ( since it has gone awry again no offense to sentry fans) and for Adam to take his place as it's Superman.

 

[Mr. Green]

Hyperion may not have been very human (it was kind of the point that he was out of place) but Supreme Power was AWESOME.

AWESOME.

I'm so pissed that just as it was really starting to build momentum and start introducing a bunch of other characters they canceled it and eventually replaced it with a crappy book that nobody even cares about.

Really. It was AWESOME.

 

[Varient]

...
Well.
No heat,... I don't recognize any "Superman" class on Marvel Earth. Gladiator was the closest,.. then they nerfed him twice,.. first they limited him by his confidence/belief, then they had the hulk find some sort of "radiation" on a planet based powersource to rob him of his powers???

(Up to this point Gladiator was Supes "marvel-style" flying at multilight speed under his own power, THRU STARS if they were in his way.)

In the beginning,.. you want to beat Thor? Seperate him from his hammer for 60 seconds.

Now? take him up into space and beat him with his own hammer.

The Hulk? Cap him when he's banner,.... or toss him toward alpha centari.



Surfer? borrow Doom's Power Cosmic drainer, get him in an armbar first.


Yes I'm aware that current superman,... supposidly exposure to red sun radiation blocks his cells access IMMEDIATELY to his superpower set ( makes no sense - but then they had to explain it somehow - i like my explanation better - but thats another thread.)

But ALL of Marvels "Superman class heroes don't hang out on earth,... all the "Just under" Superman class do.

 

[Mr. Green]

Okay, I got what you're saying. I do think in a lot of the cases you mention (SS and BP, Thor and Rulk...) it's more bad writing on an individual writer's part and not very consistent with how things usually are.

But in some cases, do you think that it's a good idea to have Supes-level powerhouses get nerfed to at least some degree? Characters who can't get hurt are kinda boring.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

...
Now? take him up into space and beat him with his own hammer.
.

Hahaha oh man was that the dumbest crap I've seen in along time in comics no wonder i hate That red hulk book. Sheesh
i also get what you are saying. even though i still am fond of the days when Supes had super ventriloquism( yes it happened) and could fly so fast to break the time barrier and visit the legion, and juggle planets. I like that all these "Supermen" cant do that anymore.That was a bit much. i like that SS and thor are not all powerful( even though him getting beaten by Rulk was hella stupid).That's what Marvel was all about for me I just think that if Gladiatior and the rest are around so can Adam be. If the dont make him stupid and afraid to leave his house. Who the hell ever thought of that weakness should be made to listen to shawn Wayans stand up act.

 

[RAMORE]

I liked the blue marvel although the super powers seem just for the sake of being super you know. People would not have forgotten a guy like that villians would have been after him it's not plausible but then again it is a comic. But as a guy and character I like so far.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

hmmmi was thinking what if President Kennedy told Luke Cage to retire? Luke would have told him to go *&%$ himself like Marylin Monore did HAHA. That's why i will always dig Luke.
I really hope that Anti-Man dont turn into that Sentry/Void crap.

 

[Varient]

hmmmi was thinking what if President Kennedy told Luke Cage to retire? Luke would have told him to go *&%$ himself like Marylin Monore did HAHA. That's why i will always dig Luke.
I really hope that Anti-Man dont turn into that Sentry/Void crap.

that's what i thought then i realized that the person he's fighting was his old war buddy,..

 

[Shockdingo]

Hmm, I don't know how I missed this. Seems pretty interesting, I always am eager to see a new black hero. I hope he sticks around. Oh a question, what are his powers? Is it the "superman" type? (I.e. super strength, flight, etc?)

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

^ looks like he has all the Superman powers, but this being the 1st issue all the powers he have hasnt being touched on, but so far he looks like he could punch a hole through somebody chest!

 

[storyteller]

Well I dont think the idea is to keep Blue Marvel around for more then this limited series. So I dont see the need for him to have some long term weakness.

 

[Dread]

It has only been one issue. We don't even know if Blue Marvel got his powers via "accident" like many superheroes or if he is a mutant, or shoot, even an alien for all we know. The first issue just served to offer a basic introduction, which is what most debut issues do.

Even if Blue Marvel is a "flying tanker" type, he likely would be vulnerable to magical attacks, or psychic attacks. But who knows at this point. Power levels are only as constricting as a writer makes it.

Honestly, I thought this series got off to a better start that Grevioux's NEW WARRIORS did.