When my brother was around, he would make movies of me fighting off villains and saving the world. I don't think I ever kissed the girl though. I'm not a doctor but I had it on good source at the time that the smarter gender were, in fact, all infected with cooties. If you even touched one you could contract this horrible disease! Clearly this was the work of The Red Skull, and I would have stopped his diabolical plan, but Moma was calling so I had to go eat dinner,
Unfortunately, I fear my brothers films are lost to time, but clearly I was pretty baddass! Just look at (probably nine year old) me defending our front yard with Spider-Man!
Comic Book fans may recognize the pose I was going for, but more on that later. That's my brother, Spider-Man, next to me. (that's not Marvel canon) Yes, THAT brother...the one that talked me into this whole thing and started my pig to feasting again. I guess J. Jonah Jameson was right all along...he IS a menace! ;)
At the grocery store, I would grab a Cap book first and always...over anything else. If there wasn't a new one, then there was always Thor or The Avengers or any of the other great books from Marvel Comics.
I didn't really understand when the books were released so sometimes I'd go with my Moma or Da to the grocery store three or four times a week to see if a new one was out. Clearly I was not a bright kid.
I remember going to the Radio Station that my Da owned and thinking all of the artists would be in a line outside waiting to perform. However every time we went, they were nowhere to be seen, so I assumed it must be a commercial. A logical assumption to back up my theory, but again...not really bright. (Seeing a pattern here?)
I would then commence a grand adventure with Captain America and Falcon through the offices of the station.
I distinctly remember one adventure where Falcon was frozen by Baron Zemo's "Death Ray of Super Coldness"! (working title)
To freeze Falcon, I shoved him up into the soda machine slot, until Cap could defeat the henchmen and get Sam some hot soup. Then together they would go bring Zemo's plan to an end and save the world all the while avoiding touching any girls.
While I was off in another room choreographing the wild battle that Cap had found himself in, one of the D.J.'s, a Jamaican, went to get a soda.
I'm not sure what the word was that he screamed, but I'm certain it would get me grounded if I figured it out and used it. I ran over, took Falcon from his trembling hand and I said "that's mine". I glanced up at the terror on his face as he tried to come to terms with what had just happened. Without a second thought, I retreated back to the battle...an unfrozen Falcon held high over my head, racing through the air to go help out his buddy.
I'm glad that man chose to wear brown pants that day. I, also, don't remember ever going back to the radio station after that. Alas, I fear that somewhere in the world, during Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a Jamaican man was having flashbacks like a 'nam vet and screaming in the cinema.
So back to the books. I had been reading Cap for a long time before my Moma had made my brother and I those great costumes. One glorious day, I walked into the grocery store and I saw this.
I was gobsmacked...I stared at it in awe.
This iconic cover would go on to be used on notebooks and pads of paper that I would use for school, I think I even had a lunchbox with this. However, I'll NEVER forget that moment when I first saw this book on a rack in the grocery. I stood transfixed. Like a Jamaican D.J. that went to get a soda and instead got a voodoo doll...I couldn't move. I couldn't even pick it up. I just had to take it in...wait...and let the pig within my skull try and come to terms with this...this glory.
This would be the very first comic I ever bought multiple copies of. I had no idea of bagging and boarding..I'm not sure that was even a thing then. I had to have at least two copies. One I could read and one would go in my dresser drawer under my underwear.
Wait...I should get three just to be safe. What if my dresser were to be attacked by my mutant giant hamster named Mindy! (also not Marvel canon) There may be no defense as Cap and Falcon may just be laying there on my bed helpless because I was forced to go to the "Xavier School For The Kinda Dim"?!? (it was a franchise idea...didn't pan out) I had better get three to be safe.
Take a closer look at these two images and I think you'll see how much this book meant to me.
Shields on the wrong arm, but other than that...nailed it. :)
This particular issue of Cap (Vol. 1 #193) marked a big return to Marvel for none other than Jack "The King" Kirby! Today, August 28, 2016 would have been his 99th Birthday. Marvel has an entire series of stories celebrating The King and his work as well as videos and podcasts. There's too many to list,but you can find them on their news page.
I'm getting choked up thinking about the influence this man had on my childhood and my life. His worked helped form the person typing this and it will be with me forever. I have and will pass it on to people that I've encountered until my body finally gives me the finger. He is as important an influence to me as George Lucas and Stan Lee, and if you know me...well that says quite a bit.
I wish I could have thanked him in person.
Happy Birthday Jack Kirby! You are the one...TRUE KING! Your work will live forever. Not just in print and digital, but within the generations of people that you led wide eyed into other words...new possibilities...and further adventures.
Thank you for helping me dream, sir.
@GlenEwing
GE
No comments:
Post a Comment