Comic Reviews by Walt

Like many things that become a big part of one’s life, there are numerous elements that lead us toward something. We can tell of the same thing with different amounts of detail, leaving some things out or adding more detail, resulting in what–out of context–can seem to be different stories, while really all being parts of the same story.

For me, there were several things that got me into comics, and the roles each played may seem more or less important depending on where in the story we pick up.

There’s “Mr. S” of The Letter People, with his Super Socks that turned him into a “super sonic streak in the sky.” There’s my grandfather. There’s my sister and mom that day some 20+ years ago at the bookstore in the mall. There’s my friend Zack that spring/summer 17 years ago.

But whatever part of the story one gets into, for me it’s my grandfather who directly and indirectly played the largest role–the others were all lead-ups and supports. My grandfather provided the FOUNDATION. And I wonder if that is THE reason I simply like DC characters better than I do Marvel, whatever the great stories from either or other companies.

I remember talking about Superman with my grandfather. I remember all those comics he shared with me. All those visits where I’d get to raid “the comic cabinet” and read whatever looked interesting (mostly Superman or Batman, but there were some other characters…most of whom I didn’t really recognize at the time, but am now QUITE familiar with).

I once noted that he and I had different views on Superman, in particular.  To him, Superman was the primary character, and Clark Kent was “the mask.”  Yet to me–growing up on new comics from 1989-present–Clark Kent was the primary character, and Superman was “the mask.” Yet, we both greatly enjoyed the character, even with our expertise lying in two different versions of the character.

I remember about 5 1/2 years ago reading Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek when it shipped as single prestige volumes. I read the fourth/final chapter, and couldn’t wait to share this story with him. This was a version of the character–and a great story–that I found to be instantly one of my favorite Superman stories. And it was one that I KNEW my grandfather would enjoy, as well. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to share this story with him–he died maybe a week or two after that final chapter came out. (That, perhaps, is a huge factor in why I so hated the perversion of “Superboy Prime” in Infinite Crisis through to the present…it was a perversion of something that spawned this story.)

Years before all this, when my family visited my grandparents, I remember Grandpa excitedly showing me a new Batman comic.  He was working part-time at that point–I believe as a janitor or some such function at a local K-Mart (this was before I’d even heard of “Wal-Mart,” I’m pretty certain). He’d happened across one of those old 3-packs of “collector’s item comics.”  This one had Batman Beyond #1. (I don’t recall if it was a one-shot or first issue of a mini-series…and I don’t recall if there even WAS an ongoing at any point).

But Grandpa thought this was a fantastic comic. He loved the way it introduced this new character who was THE Batman, and yet had Bruce Wayne–the original Batman–in a mentor role. And the art…he seemed to think that was one of the best parts. The package, the concept…quite the exciting thing.  To me, it wasn’t all that special at the time. But looking back…that was definitely “a moment.” And more recently…it jumps out not just for nostalgia, but as an example of someone who had–maybe “grown up with” isn’t quite the phrase, but to that point “had always known” Batman to be Bruce Wayne–and had NO PROBLEM WHATEVER with accepting a comic showing someone DIFFERENT as the starring Batman.

Grandpa was never a comics academic. He (to my knowledge) never read a magazine about comics, and the only “advance” knowledge he had of any given comic story was what was published as an ad in one of the comics that he bought…or if something made the newspaper (Death of Superman, Broken Batman, etc). He simply enjoyed the stories that he read when he’d buy an issue.

I remember one time that he and my uncle found out about a huge Avengers story. Between the two of them, they got the entirety of Operation: Galactic Storm in singles.  It was years later that I read that story, borrowing their copy of the issues.

And finally (for now)…I remember back in late spring/early summer of 1998 or so, when the new post-Heroes Reborn Thor series made its debut. Grandpa was here visiting for a golf tournament with Dad, and we got to talking about comics, and I showed him these new Thor comics. Now, Grandpa knew Thor–both the version starring in the title during Operation Galactic Storm, as well as the classic. This was a much different take on the character.  But he read it, and enjoyed it.

It was such a cool thing at the time…comics that *I* bought, that were new things to ME…and I got to share them with HIM.

My parents gave me a love of reading. My grandfather provided me foundation of comics my own acquisitions expanded upon.

Here I am 20 years later. A degree in Popular Culture because someone once asked me–in context of discussing college majors–WHAT did I have a PASSION for?  And nearly every Wednesday, I’m at the comic store getting my new comics.

And Wednesday Comics?

I think Grandpa would’ve LOVED it.

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: avengers, Batman, DC Comics, family, galactic storm, grandfather, grandpa, grandparents, Marvel Comics, nostalgia, Superman, thor, Wednesday Comics | Leave a comment »