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Daring to bring Daredevil to the Small Screen
The Marvel machine will be releasing their Daredevil Series on Netflix sometime in 2015. I always thought that comic book shows would be most successful on such stations as HBO, AMC and now Netflix. If the Walking Dead is any indication as to how well shows based on comic books can do...Daredevil certainly has a shot. While Marvel's foray into television has been somewhat lack lustre so far with Agents of Shield, it has churned out hit after hit on the big screen, here's hoping that this series follows in the footsteps of its silver screen predecessors. Daredevil's first stint outside the pages of his comic book was in the third season of the animated series Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends in 1983 (one of my favs as a kid). In the episode, Murdock appears primarily as himself, and only dons his Daredevil costume in a flashback. Daredevil is seen next in the popular NBC live-action series, the Incredible Hulk, starring Bill Bixby as Bruce Banner and Lou Ferigno as the Hulk. This production was the second of three made-for-TV movies that aired six years following the cancellation of the weekly show in 1982. In The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989), Matt Murdock, played by Rex Smith, tries to help prove David Banner's innocence when he is arrested. The biggest complaint from fans in this interpretation of the man without fear is his costume; gone is the iconic red costume with horned mask, and in its place is a drab ninja-style black get up. Daredevil is next seen in two more animated series. First he assists the Fantastic Four against Dr. Doom in the 1994 series, the Fantastic Four and in 1996 he appears in two episodes of Spider-Man: the Animated Series, defending Peter Parker when he is framed for industrial espionage by the Kingpin. Daredevil on the Big Screen Daredevil pops up in a cameo during a chase scene in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) and finally in 2003, Daredevil is granted his very own feature film starring Ben Affleck in … [Read more...]
Getting Acquainted with Thanos
Thanos' Popularity Increasing Since his first cameo following the credits in the first Avengers feature film, Thanos' popularity has increased significantly. The brain-child of writer/artist Jim Starlin, Thanos has certainly come a long way since his first appearance in Iron Man #55. On a side note, creator Jim Starlin has often stated that Jack "the king" Kirby's Darkside was the inspiration for his own celestial villain. This post will outline many of this beefy villains key appearances, just in case you want to pick up some of these issues and brush up on your Thanos lore, as he gears up to be the main antagonist in more than one Marvel movie. How Thanos Was Introduced by Marvel Thanos' first tryst with the Marvel universe extended over five titles, including the Iron Man comic book mentioned above. The plot line would then pit Thanos against Captain Marvel (which was a bi-monthly series) in issue #s 25-33 of C.M's self titled comic book (1973-1974). Following/ during this, Thanos then appeared in Marvel Feature #12 (1973), Daredevil #107 (1974) and finally Avengers #125 (1974). Thanos was a Marvel mainstay during the 1970s, being featured once again in a second extended story arc from 1975-1977. This arc took place in Strange Tales #s 178-181 (1975), Warlock #s 9-11 (1975-1976), Marvel Team-Up #55 (1977), Avengers Annual #7 (1977) and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #7. Thanos also made an appearance in a back-up story in Logan's Run #6 (1977). The character went on an eight year hiatus following a cameo in the Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel in 1982. Following this break, Thanos was resurrected in Silver Surfer vol.3 #34 - and he stuck around until issue #50 (1990). During his run with the Surfer, he also appeared in Thanos Quest 1-2 (1990) and the popular Infinity Gauntlet #s 1-6 (1991). The Infinity Gauntlet cemented Thanos as a Marvel Universe heavy hitter, and he has appeared consistently in a plethora of titles, including his own, since then. And … [Read more...]