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Nathan Greno
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 April 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 9154
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 2:59pm | IP Logged | 1
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I recently reread JB's AF run (via the TPBs) and for the first time it hit me why JB killed off Guardian. I really loved the character when I was a kid, but he truly has the least interesting personality of the group. Mac is kind of a one-note character... super cool costume, neat power, but a bit flat beyond that. Many of his solo pages in the series seem to be motivated by plot, not character.
What Guardian seemed to do best was hold the team together. He was the glue. I feel the book lost it's way when he died. Heather might have been a stronger figure, but Mac somehow held the group together better for me. Maybe it was mostly a visual thing... the design of that suit is simple but incredible.
Haven't read these issues in a long time... it's fun to see how your "sight" changes over the years.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 133693
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 3:01pm | IP Logged | 2
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As I said at the time, Mac was the least interesting character, yet his death generated the most interesting storylines.
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Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 16023
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 3:22pm | IP Logged | 3
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When we join the team in Alpha Flight#1 they've just had their funding cut and yet it was with the death of Mac that they seemed most under threat -- that they could simply fall apart, so 'he was the glue' seems a very fair assessment to me.
And, boy, did he have a great costume.
Edited by Peter Martin on 16 November 2011 at 3:22pm
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Nathan Greno
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 April 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 9154
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 3:26pm | IP Logged | 4
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JB: As I said at the time, Mac was the least interesting character, yet his death generated the most interesting storylines.
---
It took me a long time to see that for some reason!
Always listen to Master Byrne...
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Ryan Maxwell
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 12964
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 4:00pm | IP Logged | 5
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Sniff... I completely agree with you, JB, but it's still tough reconciling that 10 year old kid in me. He's still a little bitter.
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Ivan Black
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 09 May 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 762
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 4:04pm | IP Logged | 6
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Every time I re-read that page, I find myself wanting him to have a few seconds more, though I know what will happen. Kind of hoping each time, that THIS time around, he'll make it...
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William T. Byrd
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 04 August 2009
Posts: 209
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 4:31pm | IP Logged | 7
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I was one of those 10 year olds that got really mad when Mac died... When it seemed to be that Mac had returned later in the run, I was happy no matter how convoluted the explanation was...
And then next issue I was really mad again when it turned out to be a trap.
And then some years later with Byrne gone and me being older, I was even more mad when Marvel actually did bring him back.
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Mario Mariano Ruiz
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 12 June 2011
Location: United States
Posts: 15
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 4:52pm | IP Logged | 8
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I remember reading the story arc as a Navy recruit in bootcamp and during A- School. I was captivated as with most of JB's stuff. When I read the it now I'm instantly 18 years old and 90 pounds lighter :)
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Joe Smith
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 29 August 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 6680
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 4:57pm | IP Logged | 9
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I was seventeen, and it crushed me.
As if my Mr. Fantastic had been killed.
Echo the above sentiments about wishing for a different outcome
with each rereading.
Taught me about loss, it did for sure.
I always wanted to hug Heather and protect her after that happened.
Still sad.
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Flavio Sapha
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: Brazil
Posts: 12912
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 5:49pm | IP Logged | 10
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I will never forgive.
:-(
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Valmor J. Pedretti
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 October 2011
Location: Brazil
Posts: 786
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 6:42pm | IP Logged | 11
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That death scene got imprinted on my brain forever. One of the greatest.
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Nathan Greno
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 April 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 9154
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| Posted: 16 November 2011 at 7:08pm | IP Logged | 12
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I know some people blame Heather, but I remember being pissed at Sasquatch when I first read Alpha Flight #12...
..."He's right. I should be able to take him apart easily."
Dammit, Walt! You should have taken the chance...
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