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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Friday, January 18, 2008
We commence today's TOT with another "Tony's Back Page" blast from my phantasmagorical past. This little brainstorm originally appeared in Comics Buyer's Guide #1639:
Ultimate Green Arrow
I thought you were my friends, but would friends enjoy my tales of rejected projects as much as you do? And then ask for more of the same in e-mail after e-mail? Fortunately for you, I do have more of the same. Unfortunately for me, I strive to please, even at the cost of my own misery.
One of the most quickly dismissed pitches I ever made was sent to a DC editor in late summer of 2001. The relaunch of Green Arrow with Kevin Smith as writer was selling well and I thought a GA limited series - featuring a different and non-canonical take on the hero - might be a nice companion title.
My premise: "What if Jack Kirby had continued working on the Green Arrow feature in Adventure Comics and stayed with DC, making the hero popular enough to earn his own title...a title in which Jack would have introduced many of the concepts he co-created for Marvel in the 1960s and created for DC in the 1970s?"
I envisioned this Green Arrow as a high-tech Robin Hood, fighting for Earth against the Apokoliptian equivalent of Prince John...and you know I'm talking about Darkseid and his murderous minions. If Kirby and Stan Lee could have Captain America hold his own in battle with the cosmically-powered Red Skull, why couldn't Oliver Queen rise to a similar challenge?
My pitch was shot down in a brusque two-line e-mail, meaning it was never seriously considered. Back then, Kevin Smith's Green Arrow was just about DC's best seller; the market would've been ideal for more GA material. More importantly - because it really is all about me - I would have a chance to play in the incredible sandbox that Jack Kirby built.
Just imagine the Forever People as Green Arrow's band of merry men. Or an Arrow-Plane that could pierce the heavens and carry the fight to the enemy's own otherworldly castle. I couldn't have done this series as well as Jack could have, but I think I could have given DC and its readers some exciting stories.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back on Monday with a full-sized TOT.
Tony Isabella
<< 01/17/2008 | 01/18/2008 | 01/21/2008 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
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