Archie Comics' cast of superhero characters seem to resurface every few years with a new take on them. I remember liking some of DC's Impact comics line when they had ownership of the characters many years back. The Fly stood out to me as it was my introduction to the great artwork of the late Mike Parobeck. It looks like the Crusaders are back in yet another incarnation, and I quite like the new designs - more on that tomorrow, because this story will be continued then...
I'm pleased to see the Fly here. And I'm on record in many forums as saying that Archie's New Crusaders title is the best superhero title of 2012. It manages the extremely difficult task of both setting up a new series with all new characters AND simultaneously preserving all the rich history of what has gone on before in that universe. A new reader will relate to the new kids, while older readers have a ton of Easter eggs to discover. Great work all around!
ReplyDeleteSomewhere I think I have a copy of one of The Fly's original run in the 1960s. (I know I have had it; I'm just not sure it's still around.) I have no idea if it would be worth anything now.
ReplyDeleteBut it surprises me that anyone is still aware of this character. It's fun to see him with Spider-Man, but I think it'd be interesting to see him teamed up as part of an insect-themed group with Ant-Man, Insect Queen, the Tick, and maybe one or two others. (Okay, ticks aren't insects, but I don't think he's smart enough to realize that.)
I loved Parobeck's Fly. I also liked the first issue of the Comet. The horrible demise of the Impact line ( Crucible?) is too depressing to think about for too long.
ReplyDeleteBob, add Blue Beetle and the Wasp to your Bug Squad and pit them against Swarm and the HIVE.
need red bee yellowjacket bumblebee and black spider i know hes a bad guy but more bug like names i came up with
ReplyDeletewonderfull.a team-up i hadn't thought about since I was a kid in the '80s. The Fly was the only Archie comic I remember buying on the drugstore rack. By the 1990's I discovered comic specialty shops, but Archie's and Carltons were no where to be found. Too bad. I wish one of these comics would compile them all into series of books (Essential Archie's?), since I would be first in line to purchase them.
ReplyDeleteHey Ross, excellent work! Have you considered using Dondi? They have a compilation/retrospective book out on him now (it's beautiful). I would love to see how you could team him up with Annie or Terry and the Pirate (Dondi's artwork I felt was very similar to Milt Caniffs and Jim Aparo).
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I know next to nothing about Dondi.
ReplyDeleteDondi: Similar to Little Orphan Annie, Dondi was a syndicated comic strip in major newspapers about a orphaned Italian boy found by US soldiers in Italy during World War 2. The strip began in the late '40s. As the serial progressed, he was adopted a dashing WW2 vet who had a wealthy aunt. This aunt would send Dondi on adventures around the world. So basically, Dondi was cross btwn Johnny Quest/Orphan Annie.
ReplyDeleteDougie, yes! Blue Beetle (probably III) instead of Insect Queen.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad The Fly languishes in relative obscurity while other slipshod & lesser known properties get published on a regular basis. Archie, you should've never given back the character!
ReplyDeleteNo one has mentioned it yet. So I will. I liked seeing this team-up because in a way the Fly and Spider-man are, what I would say, related. Simon and Kirby pitched a character about a boy who gains the strength and powers of a spider to Archie. They liked the idea but thought the spider should be a villain. So the hero became the Fly. Later when Kirby was at Marvel he mentioned this to Lee when Lee was looking for a new character and eventually they came up with Spider-man. I feel that this kind of makes Spider-man a half brother to the Fly and Captain America.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see a new super team with a roll-call of Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, the Fly, Fly Girl, Insect Queen and the Blue Beetle. Perhaps they could fight a villain called Ultrathon?
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