| Posted: 03 June 2018 at 11:49am | IP Logged | 1
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Wow, what a book:
I've just finished reading this most compelling book. Illusions well and truly shattered.
No spoilers (well, maybe one or two), but the book does what it says on the tin. It provides a potted history of the early years of DC and Marvel before going on to cover their rivalry. There are numerous anecdotes, quotes and links to interviews that have taken place, giving the book a credibility (the Kindle version will show an anecdote/quote, you click on it and it takes you to the references at the back).
I didn't realise how brutal the "war" was at times. It's a miracle collaborations such as SUPERMAN VS THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ever happened.
There were certain occurrences which I can only describe as being akin to "industrial espionage", and it seems like the two companies have had a near-permanent game of one-upmanship.
It does feel like, depending on who the editor-in-chief was, it was either a "friendly rivalry" (e.g. Stan Lee) or something much more bitter.
I am wondering, sources and links aside, whether some anecdotes are apocryphal, e.g. a golf game that led to discussions about the JLA, which then led to the FF being created.
I will say this - and I hate doing this - but if (and like I said, some are a matter of public record) certain things are true about two individuals in particular, then what they did and said seems very mean-spirited - and that's an understatement. Some of what has been recounted is incontestable, I actually do remember reading some interviews with those individuals, and it did seem very "below the belt".
When I read editorials from the likes of Stan Lee, the rivalry always seemed friendly, like there was a deep mutual respect even when things were heated, but in the modern era, it seems to be extremely adversarial and nasty.
Folks, this is a compelling read. If anyone has read it, or does read it, I would appreciate any views.
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