I hear what they say. They say that “Fantastic Forces” have disappointed, that it’s silly to have national pride, and that the Frontman would never go back to his original, ripped off gimmick.

But I say, wrong, wrong, WRONG! So I took one week off from my old intro, so sue me.

Welcome back to my ongoing argument with the whole wide world, I’m the Frontman, and this is Activation Click. In this special 4th of July AC, we’ll cover who I think are the most patriotic heroes, have a bit of tongue in cheek humor as far as political party villains, and a few other tidbits.

FIRST TOPIC!!

Even more of a reason to “love” Marvel Film productions

After quite a bit of juggling, X-men 3 is in full production now. We’re going to get new mutants added (Angel and Beast) with some cameos (Gambit) and no Nightcrawler.

* screeching of tires *

Yes, that’s right, after the braggarts at Marvel films claiming “the entire X-men cast will be back” they go and decide not to offer Alan Cumming the opportunity to reprise his role as Kurt Wagner. Now, if that’s not disappointing enough, hold onto your clix folks, you’re gonna love this.

Rumor has it Hally “I’m the star, just look at the box office draw for Catwoman” Berry pulled a prima donna, and will get more screen time and a possible romantic story with Wolverine.

* sigh *

Then they wonder why I get down on Avi and Joe Quesada so much. Folks, this is what you get when the actors get too much say on scripts and such. I knew we were in trouble when I heard Hugh Jackman had a say on who would be director after Bryan Singer opted to do Superman. Don’t get me wrong, Hugh is a good actor, but to have an employee have a say on who should be the boss or what direction a story should take is what causes problems in almost every endeavor. It doesn’t work in sports (see the Laker’s fiasco of this past season) it doesn’t work in TV shows (look at shows like “Rosanne” when she got say on which way the show should go) even pro wrestling (look at WCW where performers had “creative control” of their characters or the current problems in the WWE where HHH, the son-in-law of Vince McMahon, never seems to waiver from the title hunt.) It becomes all about themselves, versus serving the needs of the story. Just look at how many folks have jumped ship off of the X-men film (I think we now are at 3, with director Vaughn getting out and then the actors who either will not return or else have left after reading the script.)

I said I was worried about this film, now I’m no longer worried. There is now reason to worry anymore, as I now can say that this movie is going to blow chunks. More focus has been put on people’s egos versus the characters. I’m not going to see X3 because Hugh Jackman and Hally Barry are in it, I’m going to go see it for Wolverine and Storm. But I know there will be my critics as well, telling me to give it a chance, its going to be great, etc. I hate to let you think otherwise, but this has all the tell tale signs of “Highlander 2,” “Matrix anything beyond the original,” or any sequel that was rushed to theatres. It’s awful to say, but I no longer have any belief in Marvel films as being quality films, as they now are no longer consistently good, but consistently made.

Fantastic Future

Fantastic Forces is the first set done for Heroclix out of the new manufacturers, and with some small hiccups, has been a great success. The paint jobs, in my opinion, are now far superior to previous sets for Marvel, and I daresay better than some of the DC sets. Granted, there are a few head scratching moments (like Tigra only having stripes on her legs and then what looks to be a patch of chest hair) but all in all, the set looks great.

There have been a few problems in packing, as in every set. (This is the first set for me that's had missing figures. After literally hundreds of boosters over all the sets, I got two with only two figures! Meh, it happens. I'm sure WK will address that.)

I hope this is a great sign for the continuing improvment for both manufacturing and painting of sets in the future.

Heroes and legends

Ok folks, I’m putting a reader’s warning out there for you. If you take politics always seriously and never laugh at overgeneralizations, please, do not read this section of my column.

With the 4th of July upon us, I thought it would be fun look at our heroes and villains from the big two comic companies and who best represent the American ideal. Who are heroes that are great examples of what we strive for as Americans. I also thought it would be fun to take a tongue-in-cheek look at “perfect” examples of liberals and conservatives in America. Sadly, they’re both villains, so what’s THAT telling you.

Here we go.

Marvel= Marvel’s perfect example of an American Icon happens to have “America” in his name, Captain America. I think Cap is one of the greatest, if not the greatest example of an American hero. Never one to think of himself, he strives to be an example to all Americans to do what’s right. He never gets involved in political issues, as he serves the people. As a man out of time, he reminds us the readers of a previous generation, and in doing so, reminds us of what that generation did for us. From rising up out of the Great Depression, to answering the call to war after Pearl Harbor, the generation that Cap belonged to truly was “the greatest generation.”

Cap’s finest moment for me recently was the restart of his book under the Marvel Knights logo, where it wasn’t Cap who we saw first, but Steve Rogers, working as a volunteer going through the rubble at ground zero after September 11th. As I said to many after reading that issue, “It’s where it had to begin. It’s where we needed Captain America to be.” Granted, Marvel totally botched that story within 2 issues, but hey, what else is new about how Marvel treats Captain America?

Sadly, Cap not only comes in second to DC’s hero, but is way down the list as a popular hero in the Marvel universe. He comes in behind Wolverine, Spiderman, and Hulk and maybe even a few others, if people even think of him at all. I certainly get the feeling Marvel doesn’t think highly of him in general.

DC= DC’s American Icon amazingly isn’t American. He’s not even human. Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound, its Superman. The ultimate immigrant, Superman, with all his powers, is a living example of America as a Superpower. Capable of doing just about anything he wants, Superman is an example of selflessness and self-control. Imagine if he wasn’t the boy scout, but a jerk. If he wasn’t raised in the heartland of America; with a family of values, but in a loveless home and didn’t hold all life precious; we would of truly been an incredible villain. Do you think anyone could honestly stop him, short of killing him? Superman could easily been the worst villain in DC, and I think that’s the coolest thing about him. He shows that with restraint, any American can make a difference towards many of the world’s issues; while great stories like the Alex Ross/Paul Dini tabloid books show that even with infinite power, even Superman can’t stop every problem our world faces. But it’s his determination to keep trying that makes him an American Icon.

Liberals in Comics=Now of course, we all know Green Arrow is a card carrying liberal. Heck, even the producers of Justice League Unlimited touched upon in the episode entitled “Flashpoint.” But who is the ultimate liberal villain in comics?

Ra’s Ah Guhl.

Think about it folks, Ra’s has one issue above all others he holds dear, and that he’s an enviromentalist. He thinks man has ruined his precious mother earth with progress, he’s mad as hell, and he’s going to do something about it. Granted, with planning on wiping out 90% of the human population is a bit of overkill, but isn’t that what liberals do?

He also is hypocrite. Like many liberal spokespeople, he has an issue with the rich, who he’s labeled, “The Overclass.” Pardon me Ra’s, but don’t you have a vast, worldwide organization? Aren’t you on Forbe’s list of top 100 richest zealot’s in the world? Like Barbara Striesand, John Kerry, and Tim Robbins, all who could buy out DC comics easily, Ra’s is all about the “little guy” while flying in private jets and sitting in posh secret lair’s worth more than 50 housing projects.

Conservative in Comics= Now before anyone on the left side of the aisle says I’m playing favoritism and bashing liberals, hold onto your socks folks. I haven’t seen any character in comics who has come out and declared themselves a conservative, but we all know one great example who really turns up the right’s issues. That’s right, it’s the follically challenged former President of the United States of America.

Lex Luthor.

Lex is all about the corporation, he’s for giving the rich tax breaks. He’s for smaller government, with a particular focus on the investigation departments that would take a look at his doings. He is all for weapons research, especially weapons based on kryptonite. And what is his major issue?

Illegal Immigration.

Think about it. I’m not talking folks crossing our borders illegally, but from outer space. Who does he have the biggest beef with? Superman. The Kent’s had faked documentation made for Clark, who doesn’t even have a resident alien card or a green card to work in the United States. And that just dries Luthor nuts. Luthor is the biggest xenophobe there is, and his being rich and with an air of superiority, thinks he knows what humanity needs and that certainly isn’t the big blue boyscout. He certainly makes Rush Limbaugh really do look like a “harmless, loveable little fuzzball.” Name the last time you saw Rush strap on an Apokolips designed battlesuit and go after Al Franken? For that matter, name the last time you saw Rush doing anything physical beyond play golf?

Ok gang, that was all just to have a bit of fun. Please do not take any comment I made seriously, as this is all just to have a laugh with.

Stars and Stripes Forever

That was all in fun, here’s a bit of serious. To all Americans everywhere, have a happy and safe 4th of July. Celebrate our Independence proudly, and enjoy what we all take for granted. I want to send out a special thank you to all who are serving our country today, whether as a police officer, fireman, rescue paramedics, and especially the men and women of our armed forces. Get home safe, guys.

Some folks have commented to me recently both here and elsewhere that we shouldn’t take pride in something we didn’t really play a hand in creating or preserving; that you can’t have pride without putting down the other guy; and that there is nothing really is so great about America. To that:

But I say, wrong, wrong, WRONG! You can have pride without talking down something else. I’m proud to be an American, and I don’t think America is automatically better than all other nations. Each of us, as citizens of this world, have both positives and negatives, and no one way is the “right” way to live. And to those who say there isn’t anything that great about America, keep in mind that in many places in the world, we can’t have discussions with each other without fear of persecution by the government. And finally, while I might not have fought to liberate our country from England, nor fought in any war for that matter, I take pride in knowing that not only in my job as a United States Postal Employee that I take an active role in protecting our way of life, even in something small as making sure the mail gets through; but as a citizen of America, I take an active role every election in help guiding our country in picking leaders I feel will do the best for us as a society.

I’ll see you all back here on Thursday, for a special Activation Click, where I will begin new segment, where I’ll sit down one on one with various HCRealmers for a profile interview, to really see what they are thinking.

This week’s person in the hotseat, Psylockeslover.

Let Freedom Ring

The Frontman

Ultimate Captain America is also a modern day Uber Conservative

My FF case didn't have any Fantastic Four characters in it at all...Just an LE Sue Storm and LE Johnny Storm. I was missing 28 regular characters....my 1/2 case I bought later the next day filled most of my set, but it like the other had very few Fantastic Four members....weird.

I am happy with the set though just need more distribution of some of the characters...four rev nightcrawler sets was enough.

Good article Frontman!

By the way, I've heard that Shadowcat will be in X-3 as well....

no Nightcrawler and more Halle.

They better have Betsy, or I'll skip this one.....

Wow that whole X-3 news sucks. There I was all exited about Beast but no Nightcrawler?? Terrible disapointment. I hope that Hulk 2 and Spidey 3 will hold up. Well at least we still have F4 movie coming out Friday

remember the issue of the justice league i think it was a year or so ago when hawkman and green arrow almost came to blows over their problems and they ended up resorting to calling each other conservative and liberal. Just thought id toss that in there cuz i love my hawkman lol.

L8r

A fine column on this great day. And if anyone out there takes offense, they need to get over themselves. I can't wait for the interview segment. I have been around here a long time, and will be VERY interested to see who gives up what info (I think some will be tight lipped).

I vote. So I play a hand in creating and preserving this nation every election.


RE: the less important stuff

X-3: I'll let the creative process take its course. I expected "Hulk" and "Batman Begins" to stink and I enjoyed them. I thought Tim Burton's "Batman" would be great and it stunk.

There have been movies that have had turmoil throughout the production and I've really enjoyed (Apocalypse Now, Eaters of the Dead) and plenty of movies that have smooth productions and blown chunks (the recent Star Wars movies, Matrix sequels).

Comics: Funny stuff and well done. I could go off on a tangent about how the Democrats and Republicans are really the same party (you say liberal and conservative but really the D & R party is what everyone reads into it) - they just choose different sides of each issue while both simply trying to grow government to control our lives - but who'd listen?

Happy 4th of July to all my fellow Americans. And to all non-American posters, have a good Monday.

Loved the comments re: Ra's (read my sig)

Actually Hawkman is the ultimate conservative, Lex is far more libertarian in speech but tyrannical in practice (Lex strongly believes in the one man one vote system. He's the one man though)

Happy 229th America!

You know, I forgot that Hawkman could be considered conservative. Weapons, fight first, fix later mentality. Even has "Hawk" in his name. Yeah.

The Frontman, observer of the obvious?



The Frontman

Shadowcat is a character who's been recast already a few times. Let's see if she'll make the final cut, considering how production is already going.

The Frontman

Great Article Frontman!

Lets see what you think of the FF Movie Next week.

Yes,

Happy 4th to everyone. Frontman is a shining example of why america is so great... a diversity of opinion. You can have strong national pride, but I feel you don't necessarily have to love the government to do so.

Those of us out there who monitor the events of the last five years do have reason to be concerned, about the direction our country is headed, about what are leaders tell us, about whats happening to our civic programs, and the environment. July 4th is as much about a diversity of viewpoints that underpin our great nation as it is about celebrating.

Yes, support our troops! Get em' home safe and soon! Feel good about your country in these trying and tumultous times, but NEVER quit questioning, NEVER quit asking and challenging.

There is wisdom in making decisions for the betterment of society, but greater wisdom in knowing you might be wrong.



Loved all the hero/villan comments so far. I'm not gonna hold my breath on X-Men 3. It's just so sad. :disappoin

Topherbobofer