10 Things You Might Not Know About the Marvel Universe

by Howie Decker @HowardTheDeck on January 6, 2019

in Comics, Deadpool, Marvel

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Thor is the only one who can pick up Mjolnir, except he’s not.

Captain America, Beta Ray Bill, Superman, Wonder Woman, Conan The Barbarian, Thunderstrike (which, shockingly was not the name of a 90s WWF tag team), various sentient robots, and an unnamed paramedic have all lifted Thor’s hammer.

 

The Human Torch was originally not human.

The original Human Torch was actually an android that fought in WWII (anyone who’s picked up a history book knows that). Gracing the pages of Timely Comics and created by scientist Phineas Horton, the first Human Torch was originally considered a monster, but eventually came to be known as a hero.

 

Daredevil and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ origins resulted from the same event.

When the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted in 1984, they were largely a parody of the comic book landscape at the time. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s style borrowed heavily from Frank Miller’s dark and gritty interpretation of Daredevil, and the Turtles were only given distinct looks and lighter personalities when they were converted to television and targeted at a younger audience.

Splinter (a parallel to Daredevil’s mentor “The Stick”) witnesses an NYC traffic accident involving a truck carrying radioactive ooze. He sees the canister strike a boy in the face before the ooze affects the turtles. That boy presumably is Matt Murdock, who, in his own origin, was affected by an identical incident in which the ooze blinded him but heightened his remaining senses. It’s also no coincidence that the evil ninja clan in Daredevil is named The Hand, while the Ninja Turtles’ foe is called The Foot.

 

Psylocke, the Asian ninja assassin, wasn’t born Asian.

It’s really cool to see people cosplay as Psylocke. It is not that cool to try to explain her origin. Psylocke began life in the Marvel Universe as Betsy Braddock, the twin sister of Captain Britain, who incidentally must have the laziest basis for a character in all of comics, and this is a medium that features things like Red Hulk, Man Bat, and Reverse Flash.

Betsy didn’t waste much time being Captain Knockoff’s sister though, as she eventually acquired the body, skills and personality of a Japanese female ninja mutant, which would have made for a cool story arc that gets fixed in the end when everyone gets their lives back, except that it’s just her origin now. Mind you, it’s not quite that simple- there was a stint filling in as Captain Britain, a brief modeling career, some spy work, magic doors, cybernetic eyes, and a six-armed cyborg invloved, but just know that Psylocke was not born Asian, despite now being Asian. Moving on.

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UN February 17, 2014 at 2:00 pm

sometimes i think its good that i dont read comics!!

Kalvin Parker February 17, 2014 at 9:19 pm

What about the coat hook in Jane’s London Apartment in Thor the Dark World, that is also worthy of the hammer. Lol

HowardTheDeck February 17, 2014 at 9:27 pm

GREAT scene.

Bob February 18, 2014 at 11:43 am

Um why was Superman, who is DC, carrying Captain Americas shield and Thors hammer who are both Marvel.

HowardTheDeck February 18, 2014 at 11:53 am

Happened in an Avengers-Justice League crossover book in 2003. Wonder Woman has held Mjolnir as well.

Philip James February 27, 2015 at 12:22 am

Which, by the way, is not considered “canon” in Marvel Universe continuity.

Mario July 23, 2015 at 3:40 pm

Except that it is canon for Marvel, not so for DC.

travis February 26, 2014 at 8:27 am

i noticed they missed Hulk lifting the hammer.. and i think it be awesome to have a Marvel/DC mash up animated movies or maybe a mini seires? I havent read the comic cause i cant find it :/

HowardTheDeck February 26, 2014 at 8:35 am

It’s worth the read Travis – here it is on Amazon if you’re interested http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1401219578/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&sr=8-1&qid=1393421712

icecycle66 July 10, 2014 at 2:05 pm

Spider-Man and Wolverine also get together for a beer on Wolverine’s birthday.

Howard Decker @HowardTheDeck July 10, 2014 at 2:53 pm

Nice! Link to a panel if you have one, that sounds cool.

@eclectik August 26, 2014 at 12:42 am

AND Once upon of time Marvel characters had secret identities and real jobs.

guest poster September 24, 2014 at 9:51 pm

Than there was Henry Hank McCoy a normal human scientist working for the avengers. When the unfortnate accident happens and turns him into the Beast. Who then became a mutant and was eventually recruited by Professor X to be a founding member of the Uncanny X-Men.

Globulon February 15, 2015 at 11:09 am

Incorrect. Hank was an original member of the x-men with larger than normal hands and feet and great acrobatic skills. He then worked for a corporation and used a serum on himself which further mutated him into a blue beast. He then became an avenger.

james howard March 12, 2015 at 4:54 am

This was a good list, till the bit about thors hammer, I have that comic, superman was allowed to hold it. he tried to lift it after the fight and they laughed at him

nythawk April 2, 2015 at 11:40 pm

I think underscoopfire.com came from the insane alternate universe.

jack June 17, 2015 at 2:41 pm

i knew trhe stuff about deadpool death and thanos. psylocke cuz shes one of the few awesome female superheroes. (which by the way brings in another thing you could put on the list when she is forced to star in that reality tv show.)
and i knew that human torch was originally an android. but the other stuff is crazy. id think thered be some rule against having presidents (by name) featured in comic books. but thats pretty sweet im gonna have to find some of these.

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