Superheroes, from Ancient Greece to Norse mythology, man has always been fascinated by the allure of beings possessing powers beyond human imagination. Something about gods and demigods brings awe, hope, and envy to our imagination. You may have heard of Spider-Man, The Hulk, Thor, etc. But did you ever hear about the Sub Mariner, or Street Poet Ray? Enter the imagination of the man, the myth, the legend, Stan Lee and his empire of heroes and villains in various universes. I will attempt to chronicle the humble start of Stan Lee’s comic empire to prove that it’s nothing less than the ‘super’ billing it’s given. Without further ado, let’s dive in, going back 85 years to 1939. World War II was slowly escalating, but, stateside, thanks to the so-called ‘protective bubble’ Woodrow Wilson had spread from sea to shining sea. In a country reeling from the aftermath of Prohibition and the Great Depression, with Nazi Germany a looming threat, heroes were needed, and one of the first, published in 1938’s Action Comics No.1, was a certain caped alien with a weakness to green rock. Meanwhile, a rival company, one Timely Comics, watched from afar. They had seen their rivals succeed with spandex-clad, muscle-bound heroes, so it was only natural for them to do the same. The first of these was designed by an obscure artist by the name of Bill Everett. Though his name holds little significance in history, his creation, Namor, the Sub Mariner, a pale-skinned, half Atlantean who wielded a trident, and for some odd reason, had wings on his ankles. (It is important to note, however, that this came from DC’s much more vaunted but similarly-themed Aquaman.) His first public appearance came in Marvel Comics No 1., a full year after Superman, and just a few short months after Detective Comics, which gave the world its first look at Batman, and inspired National Comics to unofficially be renamed DC. But still, in a world where superheroes were still the new fad, there was a cordial reception to the fishy fiend, which inspired Timely to work on others, like the Human Torch, an android with no relation to the Fantastic Four character that would appear 20 years later. Eventually, their big break came in 1941: a star-spangled, boot-wearing guy with underwear on the outside–Captain America. Designed by an all-star writing team, and some guy called Stan, this was the killer comic. And on the front of issue number one? Cap socking Hitler. In the noggin. This was controversial, mainly because the USA hadn’t even joined the war yet. In fact, the New York police had to intervene, and Mayor La Guardia had to issue an official statement to the enraged packs of America-Firsters trying to swarm into the Timely offices. They had struck gold; there was no doubt about it. And, save for a brief dark age in the ‘50s, that was what propelled Marvel on its road to fame. And so, in the famous words of Stan Lee, “‘Nuff Said!”
Stone Soup Magazine for young readers, writers, and artists
Weekly Creativity #298: Create a Portrait Using Only Blank Paper, a Hole Puncher, and a Stapler
Create a portrait using only blank paper, a hole puncher, and a stapler.
Scar Island, Reviewed by Arjun Nair, 12
It is said that guilt is perhaps the most painful companion of death, but Jonathan Grisby feels he deserves far worse. After a terrible accident that leaves his family in despair, Jonathan takes responsibility for a crime that he did not commit. He is soon sent to the Slabhenge Reformatory School, a place that was once a prison and, in some ways, still is. As time passes on the forlorn island, chaos erupts like magma from the Earth while Jonathan sinks in guilt. Scar Island is a thrilling work, for author Dan Gemeinhart did an exceptional job crafting this story. The moment he arrived on the island, Jonathan faced his harsh treatment. The head supervisor of the island, the Admiral, kept a firm grip on everything that took place. The boys were forced to take care of every task that needed to be done, leaving the Admiral and his colleagues living in luxury. To ensure their comfortable and extravagant life was eternal, they extended the stay of many boys much longer, excusing themselves by saying, “There’s still more work to do.” Although he faced an excruciating life, Jonathan made a few friends who helped guide him in his new life. Just as he seemed to be getting used to Slabhenge, a strange event occurred on the island. On the second morning of Jonathan’s stay, a brutal storm swept through the island. The Admiral lifted his sword into the air during the morning’s event, completely unexpecting what was about to happen. As all the officials were standing in deep puddles, the outcome was inevitable. They were dead before they hit the ground. By this point, the magma had become lava, seeping through the crevices of the island, melting any form of peace to little more than dust. While this novel incorporates many thrilling elements, it also contains some meaningful value. Throughout the book, Jonathan struggles with guilt that he doesn’t deserve. In life, you should never blame yourself for things you did not do because it will only cause the downfall of your mental health. As the book goes on, Jonathan begins to understand this, something important for everyone to recognize. Altogether, Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart is an excellent book with ideas scarcely found in others of its genre. Author Gemeinhart managed to compose a riveting plot and convey a strong message at the same time, something that made this book a wonderful read. Thus, I recommend this book to the ages of 10-13, as it holds components perfectly suited for those of this age. Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart. Scholastic Press, 2018. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
