Discussion on:

Geek Trivia: Why (and how) did the real-life US government rule that the fictional X-Men aren't human?

First quibble: neither did the court nor Toy Biz ever refer to the characters being "less than human." I quote, "Toy Biz contends that the action figures at issue are properly classifiable as Toys representing animals or other non-human creatures (for example, robots and monsters) and parts and accessories thereof."
All geeks know of course that the X-Men etc. are more advanced than humans.

I don't know if this qualifies as a quibble or not, but you have an editing issue. You say "This is pretty strange, and not just because neither Spider-Man nor the Fantastic Four are mutants ??? they???re human beings granted superpowers via cosmic rays and a radioactive spider bite, respectively."

However, you have it reversed. When you use the word "respectively," that implies that the order of the items match between the two parts. They way you have them ordered, your statement says that Spider-Man got his powers from cosmic rays and the Fantastic Four by a radioactive spider bite.

That could make for an interesting "What If?" issue but that's not how things happened in the Marvel universe.

I would definitely classify that as a quibble! I was going to say the same thing, but you beat me to it.

If so, it would be the first interesting "What If?" Most of them sucked.

I actually liked that series back when it first came out. I remember reading a number of them that I liked.

but I thought most of them were in the same league with the 'Sons of Superman and Batman' and other DC 'Imaginary Stories'. (Aren't ALL stories 'imaginary'?)

*Puts on nerd hat* Magneto has often said that mutants are the next evalution of humans, so mutants are not sub-human but super-human. If you want want to stick to your current argument then you might as well say that neanderthal are superior to humans and monkeys are superior to neanderthal. What a crazy world that would be. :P

Is my account posting right now? Test

Yeah I have had a few issues in the past that a post I write will "magicaly" disappere.

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I didn't post that so I guess I had better start making some changes.

Col

They got your Moderator Account from a device from the Secret Wars...


(Ok, that was a bit obscure)

But if this helps I was told by the wifes son after he watched the Capitan America DVD that there was a new movie coming out this year that had 4 of Marvels Super Hero's as the stars. Thor, Capitan America, The Hulk & Iron Man. Somehow the Avengers where involved as well but I'm not too sure how as he was more than a bit vague.

Both his wife and he where drooling over the idea and wanting to know which theater they could see it in when it hits the Big Screen in a few months time.

OK so I don't know if it's right or not and I haven't looked it up but it certainly got both of them drooling heavily.

Col

but I have no opinion on the matter... apart from http://abuckforjack.com/

But the secret wars thing has to do with spider venom

The four heroes you named are members of the Avengers. It's also the title of the movie.

I don't go to superhero movies any more. I spend too much time screaming, "That's not how it is in the comic!" and embarrassing my wife. Well, I tend to embarrass her just by my continued existence, but more so at movies.

I just didn't want to point it out to the Wifes Son and his Wife.

Personally I prefer to watch those things on DVD in my home but that's because no one will go to the movies with me and the Theaters are not open when I find that i have time to watch the movie anyway.

Other then with the Nephews I don't go to the "Pictures" any more. But I did find it funny how people could watch the trailer of the thing and completely misunderstand what they where watching.

Of course the Trailer may have messed everything up as I've yet to see it.

Col

Each time you start from the discussion list and get here, then click the blog post to view it, it starts on page 3....

In less than a year, Chris Claremont dropped two rocks into the Marvel pond (the second only two issues wide) that are still sending waves across it almost 30 years later. They're definitely in the top 10 stories that forever altered the Marvel universe. I still have a copy of X-Men #137.

It was actually the other way around; Marvel was a partial owner of Toy Biz. Toy Biz got their royalty-free license to create toys based on Marvel properties, by giving Marvel almost 50% ownership of Toy Biz, and 10% ownership and a spot on the board of directors to Avi Arad.

Toy Biz DID help fund Marvel Studios when it was first created, and owns quite a bit of stock in it (Presumably Avi Arad helped push this deal, as he was going to head Marvel Studios). But even though Marvel Studios' largest shareholder is Marvel Comics, it's a separate company with its own incorporation.