Clawg Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 Well, I just discovered it (the comic is from the 70s, maybe some of you know it already) and wanted to share it: http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/296/ http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/297/ http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/298/ He was created as an heroic personification of Objectivism (i.e. a hero with principles, hard to find these days) and was the predecessor of "The Question" (DC). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benpercent Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 The bits I've read are pretty darn good, though I felt a little uncomfortable every time the author of the article used the word "Randian". Are these comics available anywhere, or are they still in syndication? And man, one of those ads on that page has really stirred up a desire in me to watch Duck Tales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEgoist Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 I think it's kind of corny. Far too explicit with it's philosophy. That can be good for a novel, but not for a comic book. It's good to have a backing philosophy. I think Frank Miller's Batman is a decent example of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IchorFigure Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 This is ridiculous lol. A great laugh though. Much too bloodthirsty to take seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabo Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 Wow! I'm a big fan of Mr. Ditko. This is excellent material, thank you very much for posting. These comics are very difficult to get nowadays. If you enjoyed these, I recommend getting Mysterious Suspense 1 starring The Question, which was reprinted by DC Comics a few years ago. It's just as good, and less "bloodthirsty". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A New Intellectual Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 (edited) It's.... It's.... It's interesting. a guy beating initators of force while delivering a line about good or evil or collective, or money, or other objectivist principle to me is pretty awesome. Edited May 19, 2008 by A New Intellectual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Persephone Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 I loved it, but was it intended to be corny? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeatherFall Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 The first link, titled "1966: the question is..." To my knowledge -- that's the knowledge of me, Robby Reed, the author of this article and creator of this blog -- this incarnation of The Question rarely appeared without his featureless mask. Now THAT'S lack of ego for you! These big, egomaniacal Hollywood stars usually love to ruin comic book movies by refusing to wear a character's mask if it covers their face, but not The Question. Obviously, just as a true Randian Objectivist should, this Steve Ditko superhero has made every effort to destroy his own poisonous ego. Is this supposed to be sarcastic? In any case, it is nonsense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabo Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 The first link, titled "1966: the question is..." Is this supposed to be sarcastic? In any case, it is nonsense to me. I don't think it's sarcastic, I think it arises from a misunderstanding. The Question's faceless mask, as far as I know, was intended to represent ultimate Objectivity. Truth and justice without any interfering subjectivity. Probably this guy interpreted that as "suppression of ego", though of course that is not a happy thing to say when talking about Ayn Rand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEgoist Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 The Question, from what I have seen, is not as silly as Mr. A. It's a better comic, because it doesn't get all caught up in itself with philosophy. Philosophy is good in most things, but not so explicitly all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeatherFall Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Mr. A was an attempt at much more than your average comic. Given 30 years of innovation, it could be something extraordinary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'kian Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 I don't think it's sarcastic, I think it arises from a misunderstanding. A very deep missunderstanding. The Question's faceless mask, as far as I know, was intended to represent ultimate Objectivity. Truth and justice without any interfering subjectivity. Really? I thought it was a means to intimidate his opponents. People are intimidated when they can't read someone elses's expression, because such facial cues are an important part of communication. That's why it's diferent to talk with someone over the phone than in person. Arnold Schwarzenegger(sp?) has that effect in the original Terminator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanG Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 See if you can find the video "The Masters of Comic Book Art" from 1987, hosted by the smirking ass-hat Harlan Ellison. Ditko has a approx. 5 min monologue on Mr. A, Ditko's motivation as an artist, and pretty thorough condemnation of the modern anti-hero in comics. This is a snippet from the IMDB page for the program from a clueless reviewer. "The video is limited by what material could be licensed for the feature, which does not include the Marvel work of Kirby, Ditko, Adams, or Miller. Ditko does not appear on screen; but, rather reads a statement while images from his Mr A comic appear on screen. His devotion to the works of Ayn Rand continue to mar what was once a great body of work." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabo Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Really? I thought it was a means to intimidate his opponents. People are intimidated when they can't read someone elses's expression, because such facial cues are an important part of communication. That's why it's diferent to talk with someone over the phone than in person. Arnold Schwarzenegger(sp?) has that effect in the original Terminator. It also works that way, but probably Ditko's original motivation was what I mentioned earlier. I agree with what Featherwall said. A modern Mr. A comic, taking into account the innovations that the genre has undergone but with the philosophical message intact, would be mind-blowing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IchorFigure Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 It also works that way, but probably Ditko's original motivation was what I mentioned earlier. I agree with what Featherwall said. A modern Mr. A comic, taking into account the innovations that the genre has undergone but with the philosophical message intact, would be mind-blowing. Yeah, if only it were totally different, it'd be great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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