I'm a bit confused as to who is The Atom these days. I grew up with the Ray Palmer version, and then a few years back he went missing and Ryan Choi was introduced as his replacement. A few years later he was killed off and Ray Palmer returned to reclaim his title. Now the entire DCU has been rebooted and from art solicitations it looks like the Ryan Choi version will be back, at least in the JLA. I think Ray Palmer may have a supporting role somewhere but not as the Atom. It's all a bit murky. Over at Marvel, poor Hank Pym finally started to be getting hi act together when his on and off partner The Wasp was killed off! I'd like to see her back among the living and the two of them acting like a non dysfunctional couple for once.
Dave sez,
ReplyDeleteVery cool!
I think I've become an official Silver-Age fan. Most of the more original stories were told by the mid-'70's. Since then the only way to shake things up or change things around is to kill off or retire characters...
That's amazing that you were able to find covers featuring both characters stuck on fly paper! It would be fun if you could get Giant-Man/Elasti-Girl with Wasp and Mento upset at the paring.
ReplyDeleteHoy Murphy
stories are driven more by market forces (what will drive lucrative sales ala The X-Men franchise) then originality these days. its sad and you can see the results throughout the 1990's and 2000s. like a hollywood movie, its literally a miracle when a quality graphic series gets produced now.
ReplyDeleteNeed an intro to who Ant-Man is?? I suggest this song by Insane Ian, free to listen on The FuMP (Funny Music Project):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thefump.com/fump.php?id=1520
Ray Palmer is currently the scientist-in-residence at SHADE, the organization featured in the current FRANKENSTEIN series from DC (as well as the last few FREEDOM FIGHTERS runs). Ryan Choi is rumored to be back as the Atom in future issues of the Justice League, but hasn't shown up as yet. But Ray Palmer can shrink currently - he just chooses not to do so on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteAwesome cover! I do prefer the ones where the two heroes are working together against a villain, as opposed to fighting each other. Great job!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Ryan - ever thought of confronting him with one of other Ant-Men, Scott Lang or Irredeemable Ant-Man Eric O'Grady?
ReplyDeleteRyan's a little tougher to use as there aren't as many images floating around but I never rule out anything.
ReplyDeleteThese are two of my favorite DC and Marvel characters. What I find really interesting are the notable parallels and divergences the characters had in the 80's. Both of them among the few married superheroes were further distinguished by their nearly unprecedented divorces from their wives. Following their divorces, both Ray and Hank abandoned their heroic identities; Hank by living at normal size full-time and devoting himself to scientific pursuits, Ray by giving up his life as a normal-sized human and living in a primitive, tech-scarce culture.
ReplyDeleteOK Ross, you got your wish...Jan is back in the land of the living, as a function of Bendis leaving the Avengers Universe....Now, whether they are disfunctional, only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteWell, time and the need for the comic book equivalent of Nielsen ratings.
ReplyDelete