Growler on Superhero Fiction!

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Superhero fiction is one of the hottest storytelling genres out there. Here's where I comment on everything you need to know!

See also, Essential Comic Book Links and Growler on Superhero Comic Books.

Truly, science fiction action adventure in a style like you've never seen before!

Click here to check out Black Panther: Civil War (Marvel Comics) by Reginald Hudlin

Journey through the fictional African nation of Wakanda. The most technologically advanced country on Earth and a beating hub in the Marvel Universe. Enter T'Challa, a scientist and adventurer and king of his country. Decades ago, a huge meteorite struck the land and embedded itself therewith. The material and unknown metal ore was found to be that of Vibranium, a substance that had the unique ability to absorb sound. This commodity helped the country become wealthy by international trade. T'Challa himself underwent extensive training as a youth and aided by a heart shaped herb acquired enhanced senses and strength. He was chosen to don the ceremonial costume of the Black Panther, the symbol of his nation, like his father before him. A member of the global super team known as the Avengers he fought against many adversaries including his nemesis, Ulysses Klaw. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, his creators, launched the character as a guest star in the Fantastic Four in the late 1960s.

Click here to check out Batman: R.I.P. (Deluxe Edition) (DC Comics) by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel

He had a few miniseries throughout the years and became an A-list Marvel character.

This situation was further enhanced when the Marvel Knights imprint emerged and helped the character gain a wider audience.

Click here to check out Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (DC Comics) By Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert

The writer known as Priest launched the new Marvel Knights Black Panther title by updating the character and emphasising the technological gadgets that T'Challa employed in his costume and introducing greater depth in his world and supporting cast.

He was placed well and truly in the middle of the Marvel Universe and his status as a soveriegn of a nation was played up to great effect.

Intelligent interactions with many of the key players including the Avengers made the title a joy to read. When his run came to an end the character had a brief spell in limbo making guest appearances here and there.

Click here to check out Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (DC Comics) by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness

The title recently relaunched with writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr at the helm in a blaze of glory. Again placing T'Challa at the centre of the Marvel Universe and fleshing out his surrounding world.

The character's recent marriage to Storm of the X-Men expanded his supporting cast and he joined the Fantastic Four at the end of a split in the team.

Superhero fiction has rarely been this good with a healthy mix of science-fiction and action adventure thrown in. This is a title I love to get into and heartily recommend it.

Long before Heroes, long before Newuniversal and long before Rising Stars there were...

The Strangers!

Click here to check out Jumpstart: The Strangers Collection (Ultraverse)  

Ordinary people going about their lives until a supernatural random event gave each of them extraordinary powers and abilities. This series came out amid a burst of new titles from Malibu Comics in an imprint called the Ultraverse. People with powers were called Ultras and the world was never the same again. Many of the great and the good of the comic book creative community were involved at the time. And the imprint produced many fantastic titles. My own favourite was The Strangers. I've always had a leaning towards groups of superheroes. Team books were and still are my thing as I always get the sense of getting more story with more characters. It just seemed like great added value, when done well. The Ultraverse was born on June 1993 and the Strangers creative team was writer Steve Englehart and artist Rick Hoberg. The team comprised of an eclectic mix of characters that could have given Marvel's Avengers or X-Men a run for their money.

Click here to check out Teen Titans: A Kids Game (DC Comics) by Geoff Johns and Mike McKone

A total of 59 people were travelling on a tram when a bolt of energy struck giving all occupants ultrahuman powers.

The heroes Atom Bob, Grenade, Lady Killer, Electrocute, ZipZap and Spectral were born that day and decided to stick together later joined by the mysterious Yrial.

Click here to check out Death of the New Gods (DC Comics) by Jim Starlin

The thing that was so fresh about this title was the element of the unknown. It didn't have years of history behind it that would stifle all but the best writers in the business and thus it had no previous continuity to worry about.

You were truly on the ground floor and watching something grow before your very eyes.

Creativity unleashed is a wonderful sight to behold and often awe inspiring. Steve Englehart had previously written the Avengers, Doctor Strange and the Defenders titles for Marvel as well as numerous other titles for various publishers.

What was being created here however was a recipe for greatness.

Click here to check out Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Volume One (DC Comics)

The title ran for 24 issues and I for one was sad when the series was eventually cancelled in May 1995. Shortly after that Malibu Comics was acquired by Marvel Comics.

The Ultraverse continued for a little while after that with many characters crossing over with the Marvel Universe. However this wasn't enough to save the imprint and the doors finally closed.

The Strangers was a great concept and a title I'll always be fond of. Quality superhero fiction is always guaranteed to make the mouth water and this was no exception.

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