francis@osu-eddie.UUCP (RD Francis) (07/20/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR chomp, munch, gulp!!
Does anyone else think that Roger Stern is Marvel's best writer
right now?? From the amount of press he seems to get, it doesn't
seem like it, yet his storylines are among the best I've ever read!
*****some spoilers in following paragraph -- take heed!*****
Take his present stint on the AVENGERS. He has produced major
modifications in the Marvel Universe, without major complaints.
Examples are: Hank Pym's retirement, Jessica (Spiderwoman I) Drew's
resurrection sans powers, a new Captain Marvel, the Wasp as chair-
woman of the Avengers ( this was Stern, not Shooter, right? ),
the Black Knight's return to the 20th century and eventual joining up,
the Vision's chairmanship/improprieties/attempt to take over the world/
humanization, the destruction of the Savage Land, and the removal of
the Skrull's shapechanging abilities.
Sure, not all of these were probably Stern's ideas, but he carried
all of them off in an acceptable manner. I especially liked the way he
destroyed the Savage Land -- I'll miss it, I'm sure, but in a battle with
someone who has destroyed worlds, you can expect some major devastation
to occur, and it **did**! Wow! And he even considered that the heroes
might be a little upset by it all. Dane's comments about he and Cap
having been in wars ( see AVENGERS 225-226 ) made sense -- it WAS a war,
of sorts.
Stern had consistently show a good grasp of characters. His work
on AMAZING SPIDERMAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA and other titles I can't remember
show this. The Hobgoblin, who I believe was created by Stern, is one
of the best Spiderman villains in a long time -- he may always lose,
but he never gets caught, does he?
Roger's work has been one of the bright spots in a medium too
full of mediocre or inconsistent writers.
RD "fozz" Francis !cbosgd!osu-eddie!francis
or francis@osu-eddie.UUCP
PS Of course, these are all MY opinions.