How many Marvel Comics references can you find in the line-up?
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How many Marvel Comics references can you find in the line-up?
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This is the companion piece to my Deck Log Entry # 191 "What's on TV in the DC Universe" I posted back in 2016. Aye, it took me eight years to put together a Marvel version. The stories in Marvel Comics just didn't lend themselves to television shows as DC's did. Even so, I had to stretch my Silver-Age limits a bit, and go as far as 1970 for some of the "Easter eggs". And I had to go back to the Golden Age for two of the references; it was the only way to make them age-appropriate to a Silver-Age television line-up.
There's a grunch of them to find, folks. Even some of the few things I made up (in the character names) have hidden meanings.
This would fall outside of your self-imposed Silver age limit, but I remember there being Marvel counterparts to the first four Star Trek series: Star Kings, Star Kings: A New Dynasty, Star Kings: Border Outpost and Star Kings: The Lost Patrol. I'm reasonaly certain they were mentioned in an Avengers comic, but I'm drawing a blank on the exact issue.
The Star Lords television show was first mentioned in Astonishing Tales #21 (1973), produced by Delazny Studios, where special effects wizard Bob O'Bryan worked. That's outside the Silver Age limit, too, but Bob O'Bryan has his roots planted firmly in the Silver Age, Tales of Suspense #14 & #20 (1961). Like Bob's Star Kings example, many Star Trek-like spin-offs of Star Lords were likewise mentioned in later appearances of "It, The Living Colossus."
Again beyond the Silver Age, but Simon Williams (Wonder Man) was often shown performing on TV or in the movies. Noteably, he appears as "Mr. Muscles" on the The Uncle Elmer Show (Avengers #201, 1980). Come to think of it, Wonder Man and the Beast also met Bob O'Bryan in the Avengers Two limited series.
And waaay beyond the Silver Age (2009), Marvel published Marvel TV: Galactus: The Real Story exposing the "hoax" of Galactus' first appearance on Earth, but it is set in the Silver age.
Agents of SHIELD appears to be an analogue of the Man From UNCLE show with Stag and Kasimir in place of Solo and Kuryakin. The actor playing Kasimir is Joe Smith from Spider-Man #38.
The Beverly Hillbillies is the show Aunt May said she hated to miss in Spider-Man Annual #1..
Dino Manelli is the Dean Martin analogue from Sgt Fury and His Howling Commandoes. And one of his guest is Millicent Collins of Millie the Model fame.
Harris Hobbs who appears on the Dan Dunn show is the reporter who was involved with Thor during the thunder gods first confrontations with the Absorbing Man.
And that is all I've got.
I had to look up actor Goris Barloof, who first appesred in Captain America Comics #3.
Dan Dunn is based on Joe Pyne, a right-wing radio and television talk-show host known for his confrontational interviewing style IRL.
Monica Lynne (guest on The Dino Manelli Show), was a singer who later became the Black Panther's girlfriend.
Both characters first appeared in Avengers #73. Monica Lynne was revealed to have died in Black Panther Annual #1 (2018).
I remember from a previous quiz that Agents of SHIELD had the Man from UNCLE slot on network TV in the MU.
Brad Carter helped out Nick Fury during an encounter with a High Evolutionary knockoff. Later he became Bloodstone's sidekick only to die ingloriously.
Bernard Bushkin was happy to buy photos from Peter but too nosy about how he acquired them.
Hap Tanner and Cord Ryan both appear in Patsy Walker 107, which is when Cord replaces Hap as star of the Spy-Smashers movie.
BJ Cosmos was the producer the Green Goblin used to lure Spider-Man to Hollywood for their first battle.
Dee-Dee Collins was in an issue (at least one) of Millie the Model.
Dan Dunn was one of the leaders of the second incarnation of the Sons of the Serpent. It's difficult not to think he's the black sheep of kid scientist Danny Dunn's family.
I believe Bill Brinkley was established as existing in the MU but I don't remember where
Nan Miller helped her husband Steve thwart Don Russell, an alien invader posing as a crooner, from implanting mind-control messages in his records (Strange Tales 93)
Jerry Larkin was a terminally ill buddy of Dino's who sacrificed his life in Sgt. Fury 63.
Millie Collins is Mille the Model. Points for hiding the answer in plain sight — it's so obvious it's not obvious.
Looks like we were researching/replying at the same time, Fraser! Jinx!
Not mentioned so far:
Hap Tanner was an actor whose hot-headedness cost him the starring role in The Spy Smasher and the Frantic Females (Patsy and Hedy #107).
Brad Carter was an actor who was introduced in Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #2.
Victor Marshall was an old actor who saved Earth from an alien invasion in Tales to Astonish #33.
Ted Braddock appeared in Strange Tales #112, a TV host who didn't like the Human Torch. He changed his mind.
Barney Bushkin was introduced as JJJ's counterpart at the Daily Globe in Amazing Spider-Man #27.
Jerry Larkin, based on Jerry Lewis, appeared in Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandoes #63, a comedian who was Dino Manelli's former partner. Lewis & Martin didn't continue in our world due to a falling out, and in the 616, Larkin & Manelli didn't continue after the war because Larkin was killed.
B.J. Cosmos was introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #14 as a producer famous for The Nameless Thing in the Black Lagoon of the Murky Swamp. He also used Thor for some weather effects in Journey Into Mystery #92.
Cord Ryan was a singer in the Zip-Tones, the favorite band of Patsy and Hedy in Patsy and Hedy #104. He later became an actor and starred as Flint Cannon in The Spy Smasher and the Frantic Females (Patsy and Hedy #107).
Millicent Collins is, of course, Millie the Model.
Vincent Sterling was an actor who killed his co-star in Daredevil #65 and stole his exo-skeleton, and was killed in turn in Daredevil #66. Dr. Silver-Ear seems to be a play on Goldfinger.
Dee-Dee Collins appeared in Millie the Model #148-153. She is Millie's cousin. Peachy Keen was a jewel thief in a Hostess ad in Marvel Comics starring Daredevil (and peach pies).
Sally Sanders was the girlfriend of Millie's brother Mike, and in acting school, in Mille the Model #143. Not be confused with Sally Struthers.
Jillian Jerrold was a model at the Hanover Agency in Mille the Model #143-144, 146-151.
Carson Bells was an actor promoting war bonds in Captain America Comics #22, who was kidnapped by Nazis. He assisted in his own rescue (by the Secret Stamp) using ventriloquism. He was based on Orson Wells.
I couldn't find anything for Ava Stromstedt, unless it's a wink to actress Ulla Stromstedt on Hogan's Heroes.
Ah, I just checked an episode guide and I see "The Giant Jackrabbit" is a real episode from the second season.
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