Machine Man #10: All New! All Different!
Nov. 6th, 2024 05:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
angelophile posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
scans_dailyMachine Man's solo title returned in 1979 after it's cancellation the previous year. Sadly, creator Jack Kirby didn't return, his place taken by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Steve Ditko.
And that wasn't the only change...
The issue picks up numbering from the previous issue, but doesn't directly pick up on events of the last storyline. Between issues, Aaron guest starred in The Incredible Hulk and got himself badly roughed up fighting The Power Broker.
So the issue starts fresh with Aaron being rushed into 'surgery', thanks to his friend Peter Spalding and scientist Dr. Broadhurst, who we have previously seen overseeing the project that created Machine Man.
It transpires that in battle alongside the Hulk, Aaron's self distruct was activated (for some reason the issue is pretty vague on) and without immediate attention from Broadhurst he will die!
I assume the powers that be at Marvel at some point decided that the Swiss Army Knife approach of Aaron's many internal devices was just too potent and wanted him stripped down to bare bones and came up with an in-universe way of doing so. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they just didn't get particularly creative with those abilities they left behind on top of those abilities being really bland.
The characterisation of Aaron seems a bit off too, as he accepts the massive downgrades with more grace than he'd shown in the Kirby run, but there's still room for him to angst a bit over the next pages.
After that we get a round up of previous supporting characters as the gang of Spalding, Broadhurst, General Kragg and Senator Brickman all chase after Aaron. They catch up with him on the side of the mountain after he's fought a mysterious figure working for an underground criminal organisation (but a different underground criminal organisation to the one in the last couple of issues. As they all converge on Aaron an earthquake is brough down on their heads, burying them all alive!
Brickman continues to be the absolute worst, even in times of crisis.
I'm avoiding any political commentary as much as I can, but, god. Shut up Brickman.
Next issue, Aaron gets a job!
And that wasn't the only change...
The issue picks up numbering from the previous issue, but doesn't directly pick up on events of the last storyline. Between issues, Aaron guest starred in The Incredible Hulk and got himself badly roughed up fighting The Power Broker.
So the issue starts fresh with Aaron being rushed into 'surgery', thanks to his friend Peter Spalding and scientist Dr. Broadhurst, who we have previously seen overseeing the project that created Machine Man.
It transpires that in battle alongside the Hulk, Aaron's self distruct was activated (for some reason the issue is pretty vague on) and without immediate attention from Broadhurst he will die!
I assume the powers that be at Marvel at some point decided that the Swiss Army Knife approach of Aaron's many internal devices was just too potent and wanted him stripped down to bare bones and came up with an in-universe way of doing so. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they just didn't get particularly creative with those abilities they left behind on top of those abilities being really bland.
The characterisation of Aaron seems a bit off too, as he accepts the massive downgrades with more grace than he'd shown in the Kirby run, but there's still room for him to angst a bit over the next pages.
After that we get a round up of previous supporting characters as the gang of Spalding, Broadhurst, General Kragg and Senator Brickman all chase after Aaron. They catch up with him on the side of the mountain after he's fought a mysterious figure working for an underground criminal organisation (but a different underground criminal organisation to the one in the last couple of issues. As they all converge on Aaron an earthquake is brough down on their heads, burying them all alive!
Brickman continues to be the absolute worst, even in times of crisis.
I'm avoiding any political commentary as much as I can, but, god. Shut up Brickman.
Next issue, Aaron gets a job!
