Peter Parker and Sylvester Pemberton were both teen heroes that were able to headline their own series, something uncommon when they were each introduced. That, and their red & blue outfits, make this team-up a natural and long overdue. Adding Stripesy into the mix only improves things - the world needs more red-headed superhero action.
So many story directions to go in. Fake Spidy or Not money in the bag or a hoax. Why does Stripesy look like he is wearing the bottom half of Superman's costume?
ReplyDeletePeter has been a teacher... How about teaming him with Ralph?
Where to begin? Well, first, you're right about the color-coordination. The sample on this cover, alone, would've immediately caught my eye at the neighborhood news stand spin rack. It's also a fitting color combo for Memorial Day weekend, so thank you for that, as well.
ReplyDeleteYou're also right about the scarcity of redheaded superheroes. I could be unfairly over-generalizing. But, it seems like all the redheads from the Silver Age of Comics are getting ret-conned by Hollywood, as African-American, just for the sake of p.c. diversity. Which some might call a form of tokenism in itself! The only way that might not happen in Stripesy's case, being that he's the adult sidekick/paid employee, is if Sylvester Pemberton were ret-conned to being the scion of a wealthy black family (a la "Fresh Prince of Bel Air").
Last, but not least; Spidey's gone rogue?! How many times has that been depicted as seemingly happening? And you're right that readers would begin guessing almost immediately. Is it the Chameleon or Mysterio impersonating him? Some form of mind-control like the Puppet Master using a Wundagorian clay image of Spidey? Or an android double like something devised by the "Mad" Thinker?
If Stan Lee were still with us, he'd say: "You'll just have to shell out sixty cents to find out, dear reader. Excelsior!"
@Det.Tobor: only if it were a photo-capture of Spidey '77 as played by Nicholas Hammond.
ReplyDelete@Carycomic: given the presence of S-S-K & S, I'd say that the mind-control is more likely being exerted by the estranged husband of Sylvester's foster sister, "Merry the Girl of 1,000 Gimmicks". In other words; Henry "the Golden Age Brainwave" King. Perhaps working in cahoots with Clifton "the Silver Age Thinker" Devoe!
ReplyDeleteHeh heh! You don't see money-bags with the dollar signs on 'em anymore. GSAA - Great Silver Age Action! I'll play it safe and call this "Spider-Man" an imposter. Mainly because he's hoofing it, and not swinging away as the real Spidey would. And, on the practical side, that "vault" sure does look like it has some open windows.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the whole concept behind the Star Spangled Kid and Stripesy was in response to kid sidekicks; someone just thought, "What if the kid was the main hero, and the adult was the sidekick?" It all just evolved from there.
ReplyDeleteYes, even in the 40s, writers were coming up with ways to invert and subvert superhero tropes.
Say... Anon@10:33's mention of Merry makes me think: What about teaming her with Iron Man? They're two opposite types of gadgeteer -- armor wearer and hammerspace gizmo carrier -- so the dynamic would be interesting.
PS: I should add Merry to my list of "Hammerspace Heroes," along with Wakko Warner, Felix the Cat, Pockets (of the second Ant Hill Mob), and Shag (of the Road Rovers). The Second or Tenth Doctor probably could be included as well. And maybe Adam West's Batman.
Oh, and I'm with the "imposter" camp, given that Spidey's running away rather than swinging (though to be fair, there may be nothing nearby to swing on).
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bob. This might be one of Taskmaster's personally trained impostors, performing some kind of final exam.
ReplyDeleteGoodnight, everybody. :-)
ReplyDeletegoodnight Gary and all of you posters of the anonymous sign.
ReplyDeleteAnd it would not be surprising if this took place in Gotham with its giant props!!
@Det. Tobor: I wouldn't be surprised if that was Scrooge McDuck's house...on Madcap Island (from BATMAN v.1/#160, Dec. 1963)!
ReplyDeleteWay to go Anon 6:28!
ReplyDelete