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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Professor X and Magneto are based on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.

This excellent piece on Screened highlights a succinct quote from Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont:

The X-Men are hated, feared and despised collectively by humanity for no other reason than that they are mutants. So what we have here, intended or not, is a book that is about racism, bigotry and prejudice.

Charles Xavier’s character is defined by a pursuit of mutant rights and equality via peaceful means and encouraging acceptance, while Erik Lehnsherr takes a more militant approach toward the same end. If you read the MLK and Malcolm X quotes in that Screened piece, the author astutely points out that these seem like the very sentences that would have been uttered in X-Men comic book panels. Michael Fassbender claims the dynamic between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X served heavily as inspiration for he and James McAvoy’s rehearsals for their roles in X-Men: First Class.

 

Peter Parker and Johnny Storm meet at the Statue of Liberty every Christmas to exchange presents.

And sometimes The Human Torch gives the gift of skywritten festive messages to the whole town.

 

Richard Nixon was a supervillain.

A 1974 Marvel Comics storyline featured Captain America battling a clandestine group called The Secret Empire, while simultaneously defending his image from a smear campaign engineered by a group called the Committee to Regain America’s Principles, or, as you might have already deduced, C.R.A.P.. Upon defeating the organization, Cap unmasks the mastermind, then-president Richard Nixon.

Rather than face the consequences, Nixon commits suicide, and is replaced by a double that is then allowed to resign after a government-crafted Watergate scandal, which was created as a way to explain the end of Nixon’s presidency. Steve Rogers is so disgusted by the entire mess that he decides to leave the mantle of Captain America for a time, although, like any readers who may have left for the same reason- this is comics, so we know they came back (as did Rogers).

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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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