Run Reader: Mighty Marvel Westerns (2006)

All four covers feature the handiwork of Goon creator Eric Powell!

In the last ten years I have become much more enamored with the Western comic book genre. Largely ignored in my previous 20+ years of reading, maybe something just happens as one gets older and the bygone days of yesteryear become more appealing. During this time, in addition to picking up modern western titles such as DC's Jonah Hex (Volume 2), I began seeking out older titles from variety of publishers. Among those were various reprints of classic Jack Kirby Rawhide Kid stories.

Not a "run" in so much as a minor event, the summer of 2006 saw Marvel Comics briefly return to its roots with a series of five one-shots published under "The Mighty Marvel Western" umbrella. Four of the five issues focused on individual characters, each headlined by one of the more recognizable characters in Marvel's stable of Western stars, such as Two-Gun Kid and Red Wolf, while including  minor characters in back-up stores via reprints and new tales. The fifth book in the series was a handbook called Marvel Westerns Outlaw Files that feature biographical information and "authentic" Wanted posters from the 1800s. Though ultimately collected in a cumulative hard cover, none ended in a return to monthly adventures for the characters that one might have hoped.

In fact, other than Marvel's Six Guns mini-series in 2012 that featured updated versions of Western characters in a modern setting and Rawhide Kid: The Sensational Seven (2010), Marvels' heroes have once again receded into the past glories of the publisher, failing to warrant much more than the occasional appearance in an in-continuity time travel story. (The Western will be making a brief comeback of sorts in the miniseries 1872 as part of Marvel's current Secret Wars event.)

Never too much Terrible Totem
by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, reprinted 
in MMW: Two-Gun Kid.

But we do have the wonderfully entertaining Mighty Marvel Western one-shots to re-read when the desire for Marvel Western magic is desired. A quick issue-by-issue review reveals that some high profile comic book talent, especially writers, (though the artwork is consistently good, anchored by Goon creator Eric Powell, who had a hand in all covers) took advantage of the opportunity to play in the Old West sandbox when these issues were released in summer 2006:

• Marvel Westerns: Kid Colt and Arizona Girl (2006) #1—one of the best part of these one-shot is the abundance of material one gets in each is. For example, this issue includes five(!) stories; a new Kid Colt and Arizona Annie tale written by Jonah Hex writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, a story introducing the Philadelphia Philly by Jim McCann and David Williams, and reprints of three classic tales by comic legends Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.
• Marvel Westerns: Western Legends (2006) #1—This beauty features three very solid all-new tales starring less-familiar Marvel Western characters Hurricane, Red Wolf and the Man from Fort Rango. All three stories are good, while the first "The Man Called Hurricane" by Jeff Parker and artists Tomm Coker is a personal standout, given it's earthy palette and classic story line (with a nod to the character much more flamboyant original design. I have long been a fan of writer Karl Kesel (mostly from his DC work) and his Red Wolf story doesn't fail to satisfy. With so many Kirby classics in these comic it is great to get the origin of Rawhide Kid by the King himself here, too.
• Marvel Westerns: Strange Westerns Black Rider (2006) #1—Includes four stories, the first featuring Marvel's dark Western avenger, the Black Rider, written by Steve Englehart and Joe R. Lansdale. Lansdale, with artsist Rafa Garres also contributes a Gunhawk story, and once again the issue concludes with Marvel classic Westerns, this time two Kirby Rawhide Kid tales.
• Marvel Westerns: Two Gun Kid (2006) #1—Features two stories, one new and one classic. The first features warp-around story set in the present with Two-Gun kid and She-Hulk written by (then She-Hulk writer and current Spider-Man scribe) Dan Slott with pencils by Eduardo Barreto. The story concludes with the promise that it was "Not the End: Two-Gun and Shulkie's adventure continues in She-Hulk #11!" (I'll have to check out those issues). The second new story stars Hugo the World's Smallest Cowboy from a bevy of talents including Keith Giffen and Mike Allred and is lots of fun answering the challenge declared in the credits box asking "how in tarnation can a li'l ol' Western yarn by th' likes'a... possibly be worth two rotten skunk eggs?" And, as with all books in this series, this one concludes with a classic Kirby tale, this one with the Rawhide Kid.

My primary takeaway from revisiting these stories (whether "new" or classic) is to reaffirm what I already knew: Western comic books can be very fun if handled by quality creators. Now that DC's All-Star Western has exited the New 52, only Dynamite regularly publishes traditional western comic books. With so many great characters, it would be tremendous if Marvel take the gamble to publish a monthly book dedicated to characters within the genre (rather than just Western takes on traditional  Marvel characters a la the aforementioned 1872). Based on this series of one-shots, the publishing giant certainly has the wherewithal to do so, now just needs the motivation to make it so.

All of these books are highly recommended as is the Marvels Westerns Hard Cover which captures them all in a single volume!

The end of Arizona Annie and Kid Colt's adventure...
and of the Mighty Marvel Western genre? Words by Justin
Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and pencils by Federica Manfredi.

Rabbit, Robin & I Are Friends

American Robin  and Eastern cottontail stop by for a chat. (5/15/15)

Continuing the spring observations of the comings-and-goings of our backyard wildlife, I recently glanced out the kitchen window to see both our backyard bunny and a ubiquitous American Robin snacking in close proximity to one another. Fortunately for me, both were so engaged in their activities that I had enough time to grab my camera before one or both dispersed.

This little fellow lives under our shed. (5/15/15)

While there have been rabbits in the hood for many years (at least as I have come to notice them with greater frequency), they seem to be even more brazen of late. Whether in the street, tree-lawns or in our backyard, the rabbits come and lay about in the grasses in broad daylight. In our own backyard,  since our dog passed away, I've come to look for them each time I'm at the kitchen sink. As evidenced by these pictures, the rabbit regularly hangs out in the backyard at all time of the day and night, clearly unconcerned about being chased back to his hole.

The common, but endlessly interesting, American Robin reflects. (5/15/15)

Despite their overwhelming prevalence in our urban neighborhood, I do still enjoy watching American Robins peck and flit about the trees. Maybe it's precisely because of their everyday presence that they still intrigue me.

No need for a lawn mower... (5/15/15)

Anthropomorphism is a fun thing, and like many I am prone to seeing the interactions between creatures in the "wild" (including mine with them) as having a level of relationship generally reserved for humans. While Robin and rabbit just happen to be in the same locale at the same time, I imagine that this is just them conversing about the day's agenda. When leaving for an early morning run, I usually happen upon Rabbit in the front yard, and wish him a "good morning."

The pecky eater. (5/15/15)

Highland Hospital Lilac 10k

Beginning in my traditional position toward the middle-back of the pack. (5/17/15)

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 66°F, 65% Humidity, Wind: From NW @ 1 mph; feels like 66°F.
Route: Highland Hospital Rochester Lilac Run (10k)
Time (Pace): 48:10 (7:45 min/mile)

Pre-Race Observations: After finishing the Flower City Half Marathon a few weeks ago, I began searching for another goal run. While the Lilac 10k is not "it," I did sign up for the 6+ miler this past week due to its proximity to my home (I can easily jog/walk the mile each way) and the distance. I am beginning to build longer back-to-back weekend runs, in addition to adding a day (now 5 of seven days rather than 4 of 7), so with my familiarity with the course, it seemed like a no-brainer. Having competed in this particular road race previously, the most recent effort was in 2008, there was a much smaller likelihood that there would be any surprises.

The out-and-back course, which starts and ends in beautiful Highland Park, has a number of challenging elements to it's layout, the most interstate being a number inclines including an uphill finish. The start of the 10k starts immediately follows the conclusion of a 5k, so there are sure to be many folks there to run as well as "sort of" run--just which group I will fall into on this day is yet to be determined. Given my 1:50.31 (8:26 min/mile) half three weeks ago, and that this will be my longest run by about 2 miles since then, I am shooting for a 54 minute finish time.

Post-race Reflections: Things went much better than I had anticipated. A tribute to the number of participants in the race (and just how far back in the start I was), my chip time was exactly 1 minute "faster" than the gun time! I completed the 6.2 mile run in 48:10, nearly 7 minutes faster than I had hoped.

My son and I walked to and from the race together and perhaps that helped my "warm-up" prior to the start. We arrived on site about 5 minutes before the gun, so there was not much waiting around other then to put my running shoes on (I walked to the course in my CROCS, naturally) and weave my way to the middle of the pack. The weather was very nice and the sky was cloud-free in contrast to the forecast, and things did get a little steamy once the course went outside the park area as we ran in direct sun for about 4 of the 6.2 miles. Once again, the community did a fantastic job cheering on all participants and the volunteers and police who managed the course (which went through some "busy" areas) were incredibly supportive and attentive. I did a much better job pacing myself with other runners during all phases of the run, which resulted in a stronger (though spent) finish than in my recent road races. The race also reminded me of how much fun running a well-organized 10k can be: it's a manageable distance that offers challenges but is less inclined to leave you physically or mentally beat-up.

I am glad I signed up for today as I left it feeling more like a "runner" than a slug ( and a part of this self-satisfaction was having my son there cheering me on); an important sense to have as I continue easing myself back into a running lifestyle.

Run Reader: Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine (2001)

With this alliterative splash page we return to the Marvel Universe
circa 1970 care of Erik Larsen, Eric Stephenson, Bruce Timm,
Kieth Giffen, Al Gordon, Jorge Lucas and Joe Sinnott 

With the conclusion of James Robinson's "The End is Fourever" storyline in May's Fantastic Four (issue #15 of Volume 5 or #645 in the continuous numbering), for the first time in a long time, Marvel is not publishing a comic book with the phrase "Fantastic Four" in it. As a long time fan (my first issue was Volume 1, #202 with the second part of the "There's One Iron Man Too Many!",  written by Marv Wolfman and with pencils by John Buscema when I was ten years old), it is the very real end of an era. Though with little more finality than any of the many previous "End of the FF" arcs, this one feels a tad more permanent (though nothing is fourever forever in comic books, right, Bucky Barnes and Gwen Stacey?) as far as "official" comic book endings go.

FF: WGCM #4 cover by
Bruce Timm. 

Like many fans, I will, however, continue to have copies of the FF on my reading table thanks to multiple longboxes of back issues, including many of the mini-series and one-shots that have been published in the past 40+ years. One such series that I recently completed purchasing the entire run of was the 12-issue miniseries from 2001, Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine. Published during one my my hiatuses from collecting, it was only in the last week that I was able to purchase the final three issues of the series, and reread the whole run in it's entirety.

Interestingly, despite being published in 2001,  Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine fits canonically between issues #100 (July, 1970) and #101 (August, 1970) of the original Fantastic Four, Volume 1.

Because legendary penciler Jack Kirby's run was unceremoniously halted after issue #102, modern superstar comic book artist Erik Larsen enlisted others to produce what Stan Lee and Jack Kirby might have put together had there run continued for 12 more issues.  While this can be seen as Larsen's formal tribute to the original World's Greatest Comic Magazine, one can rightly argue that his work as creator, writer and artist of the Savage Dragon series stands as its own homage to the Kirby aesthetic. In essence, the miniseries is one possible answer to the question of "What if Stan Lee and Jack Kirby concluded their historic run on FF with one last wild adventure?"

From FF:WGCM #5, written
by Kurt Busiek with art by
Gordon Purcell and Bruce Timm.

With Larsen's FF miniseries, the original title's iconic banner line takes center stage. As if to emphasize the prominence of the characters' and title within the Marvel Universe, the series' traditional "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine" moves from the area above the title, into the title proper.  Great effort is taken to suggest the comic books of the time with attention to details such as titling of each issue and use of time appropriate costumes for certain characters such as The Falcon's green and gold tights.

Each issue's story title also reflects Stan Lee's own penchant for alliterative names: for example issue #1 "The Baxter Building Besieged!", Issue #4's "The Merciless Menace Of MODOK!", and issue #9s "Nightmare In The Negative Zone!" I've written previously about the impact my childhood fandom had on early vocabulary development feel, especially the professorial dialogue written for Mr. Fantastic. It was wonderful to see nods to this in the editorial captions provided throughout such as in the lower right hand corner of the panel to the right declaring a "Special Note to lovers of Onomatopoeia."

It's not an FF saga without
an appearance from the Big G.

The conceit of the series is that it's firmly planted in the Fantastic Four timeline of the Lee-Kirby years, but that does not dissuade from the using certain popularized characters, most notably the X-Men and the Sentinels, in a way different than if published in the early Seventies. The inclusion of such characters is made to seem common, though in the true historical context, such drop-ins by popular characters would probably have been promoted on comic book covers as "Special Guest Appearances!" This is not a complaint, but an observation, as the fun manner in which all are used make their inclusion seem "event" worthy. Never fear, True Believers, as those characters once strongly associated with the FF, such as Galactus, the Sub-Mariner and the Black Panther, also join in the proceedings. It is also unusual that the conflict is developed through the use of the Cosmic Cube, an artifact never as connected to the FF as Captain America.

While this trip back to the 1970's Marvel Universe is co-plotted by Larsen and Eric Stephenson, the list of scripters reads like a who's who of late-Nineties stars including Chuck Dixon, Jeph Loeb, Tom DeFalco, Kurt Busiek, and Bruce Timm. Even Fantastic Four co-creator Stan "The Man" Lee receives a story credit for the final issue of the series (Issue 12, "Victor Von Doom: Emperor of Earth"). The art is suitably bright, vibrant with clean lines and a clear effort being made by the many pencillers (including Keith Giffen, Erik Larsen, Ron Frenz, and Rick Veitch) to recapture that Kirby Krackle magic.

Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine was originally envisioned as a kick-off to the 2001 40th anniversary of Marvel's First Family, but it also serves as an entertaining and worthy re-read suitable for the one-time flagship title's recent cancellation.

Emperor Doom versus Fin Fang Foom in issue #12 is almost worth the price of
admission alone!

Minor League Mascot Memories, Part 3

Hanging with the indoor lax team's old mascot Lax-calibur during
one of the many Mascot Kickball games that would be held prior to
home games. I think my parents had brought the kids and took some pics.

Fan picture from 2002.

Time sure does fly! It's been over a decade now since I last laced up the over sized bird feet and worked the local minor league baseball stadium for cheers, hugs and the occasional hot dog. Though the subject doesn't come up frequently in conversation in my current "real" life, other than to suggest to students that I was at one point "a professional cheerleader," there are many moments during spring/summer that I fondly recall this unique work experience. When, after three complete seasons of working home games for the team, I walked away from the experience, I did so in much the same way I hope to when I am ready to retire from my teaching career: I placed my belongings from my locker into a backpack, said a few thank yous and goodbyes, and never looked back.

Unlike the way I envision my post-teaching days, however, I do return to my prior place of employ from time to time: I love going to the ball park to experience the Americana of minor league baseball. For a few years after I left the team, when I did make it to the stadium for a game, some of the ushers and team employees with whom I interacted regularly would exchange pleasantries with me. But, time soldiers on. Eventually, I was happy to once again be an anonymous fan in the stands, albeit one with a little more insight as to what goes on behind the curtain of the day-to-day entertainment side of minor league baseball.

The bobble-head of the character I
played for 3 seasons. I think this
was released in summer 2002, my second
 season. I remember that night at the park
was very well-attended, and I
signed oodles of the white boxes
 in which they were packaged.

Not many mementos of this time remain. This was long before regular folks had cell phones with cameras, and every moment of life was not yet documented incessantly with digital images. I also adhered strictly to the secret code of not allowing myself to be photographed with some aspect of the costume off, thereby exposing my "human side." There are no "head-off" photos with overly muscled torso and four fingered furry hands out there. As a result, the only images I have of my time as a minor league mascot are those that family and friends took during appearances or games, as well as the small amount of tchotchke and memorabilia that I managed to collect. Like most collectibles, such as comic books and trading cards, these things have little value beyond the experiences they represent.

Most of what I do have is thanks primarily to kind stadium ushers or team staff who worked the games and would acquire things for my kids, at the time, semi-regulars at home games. They even were lucky enough to get out on the field to change the bases during the seventh inning stretch a few times. The baseball organization was beyond wonderful at allowing my kids to be a small part of the work I did for them at games.

Cards I posed for (and would often give out at
appearances) during my tenure.

At the time I was mascoting, I was also teaching full-time at an urban charter school for which our annual evaluation was a portfolio of artifacts and student samples. While putting together lesson plans and worksheets, I also did my best to compile some choice artifacts from the stadium, too, a few of which appear in this post. Always nutty about organization, I also kept a binder with pages of detailed directions for certain goofy dances (the Macarena was never as easy as it looked in videos), as well as my evening schedules for between inning games and appearances. This was the very early days of the Internet, so I printed out and stored in binders any research I could collect online about the art of mascoting, much of it prepared by the actor who portrayed the Detroit Tigers mascots, Paws.

The "relationships" those who portray mascots for extensive periods of time (no disrespect intended to the interns who participate in the time honored experience of slipping into the fur suit out of necessity) one develops with fans despite brief, mute interactions can be powerful. After a while, season ticket holders become attuned to those movements and signature moves (thumbs up, pratfalls, etc.) that become associated with you and your interpretation of the character to the point that they know when it's you, or when it wasn't you the previous game. Among my fondest memories are quiet moments of acknowledgement from the team's fans I met along the way. Many children would come to the park with personal drawings or notes for the character which I would occasionally hang in my locker during the season for inspiration.

After sharing with the team brass that I would be stepping down at the conclusion of the 2003 season, I was honored to receive (in costume as the character, of course) the plaque to the right during the team's end-of-year awards. Given out at home plate prior to the final home game of the season, it was just the last of many kindnesses afforded me from an exemplary organization during my years of service.

Now that my own kids are much older and have less interest in mascots and the like, nearly all of the related collectibles have migrated to the attic with other memories. The three summers from 2001-2003 I spent at the ballpark performing at nearly every home game (I was told I had a remarkable attendance record--I hated to disappoint fans that came to expect me) now seem many worlds away.

Last home game of the 2002(?) season with fan favorite Howie Clark. Notice how
far digital photography has come! Not sure where Howie is now
(I think he was briefly with the Blue Jays after leaving the Red Wings, but he was
one heck of a nice guy.

For previously published posts, click the links below:

Minor League Mascot Memories, Part 2
Minor League Mascot Memories, Part 1

Oneonta at 2015 Outdoor SUNYACs

First dusk lap of many for the Men's 10k race. (5/1/15)

This past Friday and Saturday the SUNYAC league Track & Field Championship were held at my undergraduate alma mater, SUNY Brockport (which in recent years has been rebranded as "The College at Brockport"). Despite it being a personal homecoming of sorts, I attended both days to root for the college my son competes for, SUNY Oneonta. (Truth is, I rooted for a number of student-athletes from Brockport and others as well given my past relationships with them as a local high school coach.) While SUNY Oneonta came in as the defending champions, victory this year was not assured, or meant to be, but that did not keep the student-athletes from giving their best and some of them from earning their way onto the podium.

Friday evening's events consisted primarily of preliminary heats which would lead to Saturday's finals. The last race of the evincing however was the Men's 10k which my son and his roommates were competing in. It was a beautiful evening for a race and by the 7:30 p.m. start time, the sun had just set behind the bleachers along the final 100 meters.

Women's 400 meter Intermediate Hurdle preliminaries. (5/1/15)

Women's 400 meter Intermediate Hurdle preliminaries. (5/115)

Men's 400 meter Intermediate Hurdle preliminaries. (5/1/15)

Men's 400 meter Intermediate Hurdle preliminaries. (5/1/15)

Oneonta prepares for the final race of the night, the Men's 10k. (5/1/15)

Tight pack at first 200 meters of a lo-o-o-o-ong track race. (5/1/15)

Oneonta's Charles Remillard moves up to the front. (5/1/15)

Oneonta's JP Scott continues working with two laps left. (5/1/15)

Oneonta's Anthony Lupia and Charles Remillard battle down the final lap. (5/1/15)

Oneonta's David Busby finishes strong.(5/1/15)

Remillard, Lupia and Busby  earn sports on the podium following a rigorous 10k race. (5/1/15)

The second day of competition featured the majority of finals for distances ranging from 100 meter dash to the 5k. Because of Free Comic Book Day festivities at my local comic shop, I came in time for the 800 meter race, but came primary for the 5k.

A beautiful afternoon at the College at Brockport track. (5/2/15)

Oneonta's coach cheers on athletes. (5/2/15)

Better conditions could not have been ordered. (5/2/15)

Women's 5k. (5/2/15)

Oneonta's JP Scott warms-up prior to 5k. (5/2/15)

Competitors at the start of the 5k. (5/2/15)

And they're off... (5/2/15)

Oneonta's Anthony Lupia and JP Scott after the second lap of the 5k. (5/2/15)

Oneonta's Scott, Remillard, and Miek Didas. (5/2/15)

Here they come. (5/2/15)

Oneonta's Remillard completes an impressive double following up 10k win with 5k! (5/2/15)

Oneonta's Lupia also doubles back to the podium position. (5/2/15)

Must be the sweatband! (5/2/15)

Oneonta's Remillard works hard to earn more team points. (5/2/15)

Oneonta's Didas pushing hard for the podium with competitors immediately behind him. (5/2/15)

Many solid performances and solid efforts at the two day SUNYAC championships on the part of the Oneonta Men's and Women's squads. For some, they'r end-of-season drive continues to a higher level of regional competition, while others will prepare to move on, gradate or give it another go next season: great job all!