The last time Marvel felt like Marvel was when DeFalco did his Spider-Girl and the whole MC2 universe. I re-read it often. Marvel, in it's utmost fanboy stupidity, canceled the books because they were ashamed of it and didn't want the kind of fans they had, namely young people and especially girls and women, even though it sold AMAZING in the bookstores. Anyone else a fan? While some of the costumes were not great, still lots of fun.

I enjoyed the MC2 Universe. It was a lot of fun!

And it felt like Marvel too. Such a wasted opportunity.

One of the rare times I agree with CBR

https://www.cbr.com/mc2-spider-girl-best-marvel/

Tom DeFalco also did a nice Fantastic Four run with Paul Ryan, which my son loved when he was little.

DeFalco is underrated as a writer. He understood what made Marvel work and did good "meat and potatoes" comics in a classic style.

I didn't mind those issues but I drifted away from comics completely around the end of that run. It was a case of me changing a lot, I think, rather than the comics not being good. I haven't read the Avengers stuff that's been mentioned but I do like DeFalco's writing.

I liked the writing of that run but Ryan was too workmanlike for my taste, in fact I think he held back the Squadron Supreme maxi-series from being more legendary and thought of in the same vein as Watchmen etc. Solid, better than most today, but just ehh. But yes, DeFalco knew what made Marvel work.


Me too and Quesada's run was the finishing touch for me and Marvel. It sold well so i can't blame them but not my kind of comics any more.

I really liked his style. You're right, it wasn't flashy or especially unique, but it looked very attractive to my eyes. A good analogue might be Don Heck.

I think Paul Ryan was underrated.

I haven't really read any of this but the DeFalco / Frenz run on Thor is one of my favorite runs ever.

Though I've not read a lot of the MC2 material myself, I recall it enjoying some popularity with young readers back in the day when I got some of it for the library.

I've sometimes thought that letting the Silver Age characters eventually age and be gradually replaced by a new generation of heroes would have been an ideal way for the Marvel Universe to remain sustainable in the long term. Besides recognizing the reality that people age and have different life stages, it would have been a great way to organically phase in greater ethnic diversity and the like. At least in theory, this sort of evolution of the comics line could have made Marvel comics a creation that welcomed new readers without alienating older ones.

Plus, DeFalco wrote one of the greatest funny books of all time, according to my childhood. (MTIO Annual #7) I happen to have re-read it this weekend, because Creed III put me in the mood.

I can see that, though his art is smaller than Heck's if you know what I mean. I also prefer Heck's drawing of Goliath and he drew women more attractive

A few tweaks and Ryan could be really great. Some bigger drawings, with some power. But he has excellent storytelling skills, which is lacking today.



I am re-reading it rightn ow and love it!. Classic Thor stuff and one cover in particular was so much a classic marvel cover



Plus I love the look of the Captain





Especially since it is the very premise of early Marvel, "the world outside your window" and we had changes like Peter graduating, Franklin born etc.

I feel this way about Earth 2, a wasted opportunity to have heropes for every generation.



Other than the copout of the Hulk and Thor "losing" their fights in the lamest way, this was awesome with so many character defining moments. I love the look on the Champion's face when he sees Ben won't give up until he dies, and he looks at him with such respect. And the regular people in the crowd, like the cab drivers, all rooting for Ben, knowing inherently he is one of them, despite appearances.