Letters to Mightiest Mortals #1

[isketch29]

Let us know what you think of this first issue!


Take care
Don

[isketch29]

Excellent story Don!
I will come back for more

Carlos

[Mockingbird]

Very nice work. I love Billy being so embarrassed at what Cap does, it's such a great touch on a 13-year-old boy. And I really liked the intercutting between the fiight and the flashback. It set a really nice mood, and let a lot of things happen at once--you got your exposition in at the same time as your first fight. great job!

[arcalian]

Well scripted story. Mr Ibac doesn't know what the situation is....yet. Of course, Doctor Sivana may have a thing or two to say about that.....

I didn't know Shazam died when Billy became Cap. That's a twist.

Somewhere out there Black Adam is waiting....

Good stuff.

[starlord]

I really enjoyed this and Mr. Ibac's role in this is already engrossing. Great job! I'll be back for issue 2.

[houseofmystery]

I always think that if I'm going to give feedback, I better make it worth the writer's while.

So let's go for it:

Dense.

That's a word that comes to mind when I read Mightiest Mortals #1

The prose is elaborate, the story tense and gripping. But with such elaborate prose, you sometimes border on being dense, making it hard to get into the story. As it went on, the 'density' kind of left, but it still left a taste in my mouth.

I didn't like Billy being all (paraphrasing): "Oh, no! Stumbled onto a hit ordered by Boss Ibac!" Thought that was something a bit over the top of his head.

I got this sense that Billy was trying to talk above his station when he met Shazam. Like he was trying hard not to mess up his words. I don't know if you were going for that effect, but I liked it.

Captain Marvel? Cool. Corny, but he's supposed to be. I too liked Billy's inner "Did I just say that?" monologue.

Roy, two wonderful pieces of art. Ibac looks menacing and chilling as he ponders matters over his maps, and that cover too is a wonder to behold. It didn't remind me of something of yours. 'Twas different. Not bad, just different.

Don, I bet you weren't expecting my feedback.

Heh.

I liked this. Not something I'd normally buy and take home, but something I'd certainly read in store and then wait for it to go into the 50p box.

(I like that analogy.)

I might be back when you post up the next issue.

Maybe

[chris]

Well, I've read this story a dozen times now and it's still awesome, Don! I'm still jealous of you because of the prose and style in which you write.

Everytime I read MM I feel a little tingle in my heart knowing that the magic of the SHAZAM! mythology is alive in your series. Makes me tear up a little *wipes tear*. lol.

As always, Don, you're still the UDCU master in my book.

Bravo!

[batmantwinky]

Hey, I'm glad I get to read this story again. I actually did read the first couple of issues over at UDCU, I just didn't keep up with it and I think houseofmystery answered why.

I too found it a bit dense to begin with. I think it comes out sounding a bit like a novel and less like a comic book. Add to that the cheesy-ness of Cap Marvel and it comes off as a bit of a contradiction. Then again, that could just be my unfamiliarity with Captain Marvel coming through. As you know, I've never been a big fan of the Big Red Cheese (in fact, I think I only just learned his nickname because of you, Don). However, I will say that this read through felt much better for me than I remembered the series being over at UDCU. Are these issues shorter or something? Whatever it is (and it may be nothing), I found myself warming up to the idea of this title and eager for more. I dare say that I'll be sticking around longer than I did last time.

[lissilambe]

It's kind of funny if you asked if this issue was shorter. I felt it was too short compared to my current stories, and with the other stories that are posted (it was my very first fan fiction after all), so I actually added to it, filling the story out with Billy's meeting with Shazam.

Glad you were able to find it more enjoyable this time around and hope to keep you for the long run.

Take care
Don

[eric the pilot]

Took too long, but I'm now setting down to read everything else here, so I apologize for that.

I loved this issue in its original form, and was looking forward to see the revisions you'd made to it. Unsurprisingly, I rather enjoyed them.

It's a sharp introduction to Billy and Cap's respective worlds, and it works well on both levels. You're able to find a real balance here between them that's compelling.

Playing around with the time structure as you do here works equally as well for you, the moving between the two scenes builds up an effective tension.

There's a real power to the conversation between Billy and the Wizard, the discussion is weighty, heavy for a little kid, but really illustrates just how Billy is no ordinary kid on his own, to say nothing of his association with Cap.

Ibac's men prove to be a good foil for the burgeoning Captain Marvel in this issue, and of course, any time you're writing Sivana is a treat and half, so the next issue is sure to be as much of a blast as I remember it being.

The artwork on the cover is great, as is the page of Ibac. Roy's art really adds to the story, which is great to see - a great effort all around on both pieces.

[rocketeerz]

I'm starting to weave my way through the DC3 tales.... and never being a big fan of Capt marvel (but never DISLIKING him either) I thought of starting here (after Supergirl of course).

I very much enjoyed the prose and mood of the story. I felt cold and wet and could easily get the feel of the situation. The exchange between Shazam and Billy was well done, and I especially enjoyed the Wizard's explanation about the Rock of Enternity.

If I had a complaint... it would be that while I know this isn't looking to make massive changes of the existing Capt Marvel mythos... it still was just a basic retelling of the original tale we all know.

Other than that, I did like what I read. I also thought the cover art was very good, although a little bare bones.

[Lissilambe]

It is true that my Mightiest Mortals title doesn't stray too far from the classic mold of the Marvel Family mythos, but for me, that's part of my belief in how a "defined for the modern day" take on Shazam should run. Mary won't be chosen as Captain Marvel, Billy won't be a emo, cruel gang banger with a mixed up moral code, any sort of stuff like that. Captain Marvel is like Coca-Cola...the classic formula works best, and should be the standard.

I hope to bring modern writing styles and some sensibilities to Mightiest Mortals (and hope I have been succeeding in that goal). Some of the goofier whimsy of the Golden Age which so informs my take on the Marvels will be, not missing but defined to have a veneer of plausibility behind it. Zeus won't miss with his thunderbolt and accidentally transform another person into Captain Marvel because he's suffering arthritis that day, for example. But as you'll see while the series goes on, the razor's edge of whimsy and modern story-telling is hopefully walked along to provide the reader with a truer depiction of what the Marvel Family should be about.

I'm glad you enjoyed the first issue, and I hope you keep with us and come to like the rest of the series, Pat! Thanks for the kind words.

Take care
Don

[Mischief]

I know that I got to reread this issue to truly appreciate it.

The way you write Billy is awesome. His inner thoughts. I loved when he said to himself...'I can't believe I said that, twerps, ooops.'

I feel that this book is more in line with the classic Captain Marvel than what Dragon and I are trying to do with the characters in DC2.

We will being checking out this series more often.

Mischief

[Lissilambe]

You're very right, this is much stronger attempt to be true to what makes Captain Marvel, and the Marvel Family, work while lending it a modern sound. Captain Marvel could get some tough and darksome moments in its Golden Age run, but never should the sheer fun of the concept fail to make it through to the reader. Attempts to update the property to be more in line with modern sensibilities just fail to grasp the inherent joy of the characters and their world. So I'm glad you enjoyed, and I do hope to have you come on back as the first year of Captain Marvel slowly heats up.

Take care
Don

[The Shadow]

Well, after reading Countdown to Zero Hour and Zero Hour, seeing all of the connections to some DC3 characters and on RocketeerZ's recomdation I thought I would come and check out this site. I stopped here first because I am a Marvel fan and also because Capt Marvel appears in Countdown to Zero Hour and wanted to see what his character goes through over here. I do like the first issue and it seems you have a true love of the character and it will be in very capable hands. I will try and get through a number of the issues to catch up (I'm also way behind on DC2 titles like your Justice League one).