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Monday, August 1, 2011

Retail / Nerd Some Nerds Are Racist; Others Are Principled

Posted by Paul Constant on Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 3:04 PM

1. Rumors are circulating that the new Ultimate Spider-Man* will be black. According to Bleeding Cool, the New England comic book store chain Larry's Comics started posting racist Spider-Man jokes on Twitter in response to the news:

Screen_shot_2011-08-01_at_1.49.14_PM.png

In the comments to Bleeding Cool's post, someone claiming to be Larry from Larry's Comics says he posted the jokes because "Marvel making Ultimate Spider-Man African American is simply a cheap publicity play to bolster sinking sales. I think it's a desperation move, and I took some good natured jabs at it." He continues: "Rich and others take offense when I occasionally use the Word Gay to mean lame. My new England panties do not get bunched up when the english use fag for ciggarette...Anyhoo...I'm not homophobic and I'm not a racist."

Well! That settles that!

2. Last week, a federal judge ruled that Jack Kirby's estate** has no claim to characters Kirby created for Marvel Comics. Cartoonist Steve Bissette is now calling for a Marvel boycott:

I’m done with Marvel and all Marvel Kirby-derived product, period. No movies (I was planning to see Captain America this weekend; that’s forever off the table), no more comics from their Kirby legacy, nothing.

Bringing greater public shame/pressure to bear may or may not yield results, but removing further investment in their exploitation of the Kirby legacy—which is, undeniably, 85%+ of Marvel’s pantheon—will send a message.

No matter where you fall on this issue, you have to agree with Bissette's point that Marvel Comics is the House that Jack (and Steve, and, yes, Stan) built. Their post-Kirby output (Wolverine, Punisher, Ghost Rider, and maybe Deadpool are the only post-60s-created characters I can think of who even approach that early Marvel level of stickiness) isn't anything to be proud of.

* If you don't know what Ultimate Spider-Man is, you probably don't need to read the rest of this post.

** If you don't know who Jack Kirby is, I have no use for you.

Comments (16) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Thanks for keeping Kirby alive! Some people create plots and some artists illustrate plots. Kirby created whole Worlds! ( and worlds within them...)

Posted by cracked on August 1, 2011 at 3:15 PM

Jack Kirby is that little pink blobby guy after he inhaled JFK, right?

Posted by MacCrocodile on August 1, 2011 at 3:17 PM

@2: Oh fuck, nerdiest comment ever.

Posted by Baconcat on August 1, 2011 at 3:33 PM

Honest question: Wasn't Kirby working for Marvell (or DC, or whomever) when he co-created those characters? Is there something generally unique in the comic book work environment, or in his contract in particular, that would have his estate believe he hadn't already been compensated for his work? Do these guys negotiate for points or something?

Posted by Dougsf on August 1, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Like Kirby or not, he created the characters as an employee of Marvel. His work product would be the property of Marvel, unless his contract stated otherwise. This would be like the designer of the Corvette claiming that he is entitled to the proceeds from the sale of the car. Might suck for his estate, but Kirby has no claim to the character.

Posted by konstantConsumer

on August 1, 2011 at 3:48 PM

"The new spider man isn't exactly the same as the old one! This is a stupid publicity stunt!"

And the dude might not be racist or homophobic (even if, you know, his language suggests he is in fact both of those things), but after the "panties in a twist" line, we can be reasonably sure he's sexist. Right? Or does he get a pass for that one as well for bein' a cool bro just tellin' it like it is?

Posted by Zebes

on August 1, 2011 at 4:27 PM

Based soley on the example given, I suspect that the owner is in fact making "good-natured" jokes; from his own standpoint.

Posted by fetish on August 1, 2011 at 4:46 PM

Larry from Larry's Comics: Worst. Comic Book Guy. Ever.

Posted by smcke0wn on August 1, 2011 at 4:55 PM

People realize that Spiderman wears a full head-to-toe body suit.

I mean...they do realize that...right?

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on August 1, 2011 at 5:28 PM

Is it still going to be Peter Parker? Or is this going to be some new Spiderman-type spin-off?

If it's the former, I have to say I don't like the idea of making him black either. You just shouldn't mess with existing beloved characters like that.

If its the latter - rock on. Though you should still just make a new black superhero rather than milking an existing character. Every character doesn't need to be like the Green Lantern/Flash and have 800 different versions.

Posted by Schmapdi on August 1, 2011 at 6:11 PM

Gee golly, I just don't understand why minorities and women aren't into comics! It's a mystery.

Posted by kersy on August 1, 2011 at 7:13 PM

Forgive me for not remembering specifics, but hasn't Larry from Larry's Comics gotten into trouble for going out of his way to be an offensive blockhead before? Name rings a bell.

Posted by Paul Pearson on August 1, 2011 at 9:39 PM

@11: Who says they aren't?

Posted by Talking Out Your Ask Me No More Questions on August 1, 2011 at 11:08 PM

@4 and @5 have it right, I'm afraid. Courts don't decide morals and ethics: they decide legal issues. One would hope that those things would be at least roughly compatible, but there's a huge difference between "Kirby oughta get a piece of that action" and "Kirby is legally entitled to a piece of that action".

Posted by Catherwood on August 2, 2011 at 7:52 AM

I say since Kirby created those characters FOR Marvel, they're now Marvel's characters.

Posted by suddenlyorcas on August 2, 2011 at 8:22 AM

@10, It's a new person, so nobody is changing anything. It might help to know that the Ultimate Universe is a newer one that does not have any bearing on the "regular" universe.

As for changing the race of a character, I am all for it, if there is some gain. It has to be an organic transition and requires a passion to be present. It's why Donald Glover would make a wonderful Spiderman, and why Justin Chatwin makes for a shitty Goku.

Posted by Fenrox on August 2, 2011 at 9:48 AM