the matt fraction cavalcade of whimsy

**nickellis** · 10-31-2011, 04:53 AM

Btw, the Mandarin focused Iron Man Annual was my introduction to the character (aside from a bit part in an X Men book where he was messing with Psylocke) and I didn't pick up any caricature hangovers. In fact I mostly got 'Prince as a super villain'.

N

**beamish** · 10-31-2011, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by mattfraction

also, beamish, no. but the oceans would rush to the poles and flood everything from Chicago on north and south from... oh, Paraguay. the revealed ocean floor would create a new pangea. everybody'd probably die for a little while.

You are a wizard, of that I am certain. What with the viewing of edited questions and the knowledge of Earth sciences.

**Kefky** · 10-31-2011, 08:14 AM

You can't escape from the truth, beamish.

**beamish** · 10-31-2011, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Kefky

You can't escape from the truth, beamish.

Well sure, I had suspicions, but, wow, proof and everything. I had to test, like the King did in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. FRACTION floats everyone, he FLOATS!

**Arion** · 10-31-2011, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by mattfraction

gentlemen and scholars all, none would have anything to do with such shenanigans for that is not the way men behave, but children, and animals, and the dull and giftless. and they are most assuredly none of those things.

Oh well, maybe we should throw a whole different set of artists into the mix.

**mattfraction** · 10-31-2011, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by nickellis

Btw, the Mandarin focused Iron Man Annual was my introduction to the character (aside from a bit part in an X Men book where he was messing with Psylocke) and I didn't pick up any caricature hangovers. In fact I mostly got 'Prince as a super villain'.

N

Something like that. He's Tony's negative shape. Tony was given everything, Mandarin had nothing; Tony was spoiled and effete, Mandarin a ruthless survivor; Tony made weapons of war, Mandarin was (maybe) a hood and a criminal; both had transformative experiences in a cave where both emerged with weapons; Tony's transformed him and his life, setting him on a course towards aggressively making the world a better place; Mandarin had rather the opposite reaction and real power made him want more power...

**Slewo.O** · 10-31-2011, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by mattfraction

No, not in particular. The easiest anticedent I can summon is Luke Cage, about whom the same things could've been said, once upon a time?

Alright, I got your point then. Thanks Matt.

Originally Posted by nickellis

Btw, the Mandarin focused Iron Man Annual was my introduction to the character (aside from a bit part in an X Men book where he was messing with Psylocke) and I didn't pick up any caricature hangovers. In fact I mostly got 'Prince as a super villain'.

N

Same here, up till then I knew about him from wiki. But the annual was my true introduction to him.

Originally Posted by mattfraction

Something like that. He's Tony's negative shape. Tony was given everything, Mandarin had nothing; Tony was spoiled and effete, Mandarin a ruthless survivor; Tony made weapons of war, Mandarin was (maybe) a hood and a criminal; both had transformative experiences in a cave where both emerged with weapons; Tony's transformed him and his life, setting him on a course towards aggressively making the world a better place; Mandarin had rather the opposite reaction and real power made him want more power...

Huh, I never thought about it that way. The easiest anti-Tony I could think of was Obie or Ezekiel Stane, but that would be too obvious wouldn't it? When you put it that way, it puts the presentation of Mandarin's history in a different light.

**mattfraction** · 10-31-2011, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Slewo.O

Huh, I never thought about it that way. The easiest anti-Tony I could think of was Obie or Ezekiel Stane, but that would be too obvious wouldn't it? When you put it that way, it puts the presentation of Mandarin's history in a different light.

The Stanes, to me, are Tony-turned-bad, rather than... whatever complimentary shape Mandarin is to him. Then again, one day I won't be writing the book anymore and someone else will come along with a new plan for the thing and do whatever, so... so for this leg of the relay race, that's my vague POV (vague not because I can't be more specific but rather choose not to be so as to not color anybody's reading of the book)

**nickellis** · 10-31-2011, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by mattfraction

Something like that. He's Tony's negative shape. Tony was given everything, Mandarin had nothing; Tony was spoiled and effete, Mandarin a ruthless survivor; Tony made weapons of war, Mandarin was (maybe) a hood and a criminal; both had transformative experiences in a cave where both emerged with weapons; Tony's transformed him and his life, setting him on a course towards aggressively making the world a better place; Mandarin had rather the opposite reaction and real power made him want more power...

Hence the cover of the annual? Very nice.

**jenifu** · 11-04-2011, 10:39 AM

Matt:
I kid you not when I tell you that I was dropping off to sleep last night and started thinking about Casanova and suddenly had the burning need to know how you ended up picking Paco Rabanne as the designer behind Zephyr's dress.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?