Active Topics | Member List | Search | Help | Register | Login
The John Byrne Forum
Byrne Robotics > The John Byrne Forum Page of 3 Next >>
Topic: Tweaking Characters (Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message
Edward R Bohlman
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 04 November 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 6
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 9:24am | IP Logged | 1  

Back in the early years of the Marvel Universe, certain existing characters had to be tweaked to make them more popular.  Not full reboot, you understand.  Just minor changes to a character who wasn't quite working.  For example, Steve Ditko's updating of Iron-Man's armor from the bulky gold to the form-fitting red and gold.  Wally Wood's changes to Daredevil's costume.  Lee/Kirby's changing Ant-Man to Giant-Man.

I was wondering if you've ever been asked to tweak an existing character.  Also, I was wondering if there were specific creators who you thought excelled at such things.

As always, thanks for your time.

     
Back to Top profile | search
 
John Byrne
Avatar
Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132135
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 9:38am | IP Logged | 2  

I was wondering if you've ever been asked to tweak an existing character.

••

Does Superman count? :)

Back to Top profile | search
 
Anthony J Lombardi
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 January 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 9410
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 9:39am | IP Logged | 3  

 No Edward I've never been asked. I hope that answers the question to your satisfaction.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Brandon Carter
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 2338
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 11:42am | IP Logged | 4  

Steve Ditko's updating of Iron-Man's armor from the bulky gold to the form-fitting red and gold

******

I didn't know it was Steve Ditko that did that. That design itself has been tweaked a lot over the years but some variation of it has been used for the majority of Iron Man's existence. Ditko has definitely come up with some iconic costume designs.
Back to Top profile | search e-mail
 
Robert Bradley
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 20 September 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 4811
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 12:41pm | IP Logged | 5  

How about the FF getting costumes in their third issue?

Back to Top profile | search | www
 
Mike Norris
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4274
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 1:39pm | IP Logged | 6  

I was thinking about the FF getting uniforms a few days ago, as the subject came up on another board. What was the motivation for that change, just two issues in. Would there be sales data or fan reaction yet? Would issue 1 have even hit the stands yet? Or did Stan and Jack decide on the uniforms by a "gut feeling"? 

Back to Top profile | search e-mail
 
Eric Jansen
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 27 October 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 2280
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 3:52pm | IP Logged | 7  

Don't forget all the changes to the Hulk!  He started with three toes, a bad attitude, and the whole "change by night" thing.  They even had Rick Jones controlling him for a while.

It seems that Stan and co. were tweaking a lot of the books as they went, which is a good reminder that the company was a small office at the time, flying by the seat of their pants.  Makes it even more amazing to see how it's grown since.

The Hulk got finetuned when it was a split feature in TALES TO ASTONISH, and when he had all the right toes, endearing personality, and more of a "Fugitive" set-up, it finally graduated to full comic again--and got a magazine, a TV show, and movies!  I wonder what would have happened if they started it off "right" from the beginning--would it never have been cancelled?  And I also wonder what would have happened if Stan and co. hadn't had a slot for it to slowly grow in and get its legs.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Eric Jansen
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 27 October 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 2280
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 3:53pm | IP Logged | 8  

And then they tried to "fix" Dr. Strange by giving him a mask and skintight costume!  Not all "fixes" work or stick.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Robert Bradley
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 20 September 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 4811
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 6:28pm | IP Logged | 9  

And of course the Hulk changed from gray to green!

Back to Top profile | search | www
 
Mike Norris
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4274
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 6:58pm | IP Logged | 10  

And then they tried to "fix" Dr. Strange by giving him a mask and skintight costume!  Not all "fixes" work or stick.
************************************************************ *********************
I think that might have been the result of Roy Thomas's Golden Age DC fetish, "Let's make Strange like Dr. Fate!" . Or maybe not. 
Back to Top profile | search e-mail
 
Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15729
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 7:37pm | IP Logged | 11  

I think Dave Cockrum was a master of revamping/redesigning costumes.

Steranko's changes to Nick Fury and Thomas/Kane's changes to Marvell also spring to mind.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Brian Hague
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 14 November 2006
Posts: 8515
Posted: 28 March 2017 at 10:45pm | IP Logged | 12  

Roy Thomas' Golden Age fetish isn't restrained to DC characters. He's mangled a number of DC heroes to shoehorn in other companies' concepts into the mix. Basically, any way he can angle a reference to his childhood favorites in there, no matter how awkwardly, by God, he's going to do so. See also: E. Nelson Bridwell.

The Strange-as-a-superhero run was, however, just an attempt to turn Strange into a superhero. There wasn't a lot there to tie it into the early Dr. Fate's Lovecraft flavor or the later version's half-face-mask sorcery-vs.-bank-robbers era. It would be interesting to find out if he brought in Clea so Strange could have an "Inza" all his own. Hmm...

Back to Top profile | search e-mail
 

Page of 3 Next >>
  Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

 Active Topics | Member List | Search | Help | Register | Login