Marvel's The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu was selling well in 1975, so, as editor of the magazine, I was asked to put together an Iron Fist magazine as a companion title. The second magazine never came to pass, but the lead story I had conceived and plotted for it was scripted by David Anthony Kraft and used in Deadly Hands #10 [March, 1975].
I barely remembered this story when Stuart Vandal, one of the current Marvel Handbook writers, e-mailed asking if I had ever come up with a "real" name for the Steel Serpent, the martial arts assassin who fought Iron Fist in the story. It's that kind of attention to the most minute details that has me simultaneously in awe of and terrified of the Marvel Handbook writers.
My response:
"I remember almost nothing about the Steel Serpent. I created the character, figuring he'd be a powerful and scary foe for Iron Fist, but he was always intended as a one-shot character. The idea was to build up his death-punch, make it look like Danny Rand was a dead man, then have the power of the Iron Fist turn the deadly force of the punch back on the assassin. The Steel Serpent would walk away, doomed to die. In my mind, he was dead, but I think I showed him walking away in case someone else wanted to use him for some future story.
"If the Steel Serpent had a real name, he would have stopped using it years before he went after Iron Fist. More mystery, more fear, bigger legend. It's your call - I won't be offended either way - but I kind of like that no one knew his real name and that it died with him."
When he thanked me for my response, Stuart seemed inclined to use the information I'd provided. Whether he does or not, I always get a kick out of being asked this kind of thing by the relentless Marvel Handbook crew. A little respect goes a long way in shaping a comics creator's view of a publishing company.
TOT readers should also feel free to ask me questions about the comics I've written or edited over the years. You never know when a question will spark a forgotten memory and thus reveal some previously lost bit of comics trivia.
******
COMICS IN THE COMICS
Today's Comics in the Comics presents the first three strips in the Funky Winkerbean sequence that kicked off on Monday, August 11:
Two quick notes:
I'm not Pete, nor is this story based on my own comics career. When Pete made his reappearance after the time jump, a dozen Medina friends and/or associates asked me if he was based on me. Which is still far fewer than the number of folks who have asked me if Tony Montoni was based on me. (He wasn't, having first appeared in the strip years before creator Tom Batiuk and I had ever met, much less become good friends.)
I didn't write this sequence. Though I have written material for Tom on occasion, I have not written anything with Pete.
I believe this sequence will run three weeks. As it continues, you can read it here:
If you read Tuesday's TOT, you know about the "Dragons Two," characters I created during my time as a Marvel Comics editor who never actually made it into a comic book. I decided to have some fun with these young heroes in the form of a "Dragons Two" contest. Artists were are invited to send me their own interpretation of the characters as described in that column...with the further direction that they didn't have to keep the siblings in their original 1970s setting. In fact, modern takes on the kids have the best chance of winning this contest.
Send me a .jpg of your drawing by Monday, September 1, along with an e-mail granting me permission to run your drawings here in Tony's Online Tips. I'll run your drawings during the month of September and pick the winner once all of the drawings have been published.
Since "contest" and "winner" do imply some sort of reward for excellence even beyond the immeasurable honor of appearing in TOT and being lauded for your talent and imagination, the artist whose work I deem the best will receive over $100 worth of comic books and other books from the cool stuff that rises high in every corner of my office. Heck, if I'm a good mood, there will also be prizes for the runners-up.
You can e-mail your drawings to:
I can't wait to see what you come up with.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
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Some random opening remarks. Then I review Drawing Heroes in the Backyard: Tim Sale: Black and White, Witchblade Volume 1-3, Strip for Murder, Justice League Unlimited: The Ties That Bind, and Leader's High!.
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.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
