Marvel – Archaeology of the Frivolous – Comics, Culture, Criticism

Rereading Mark Gruenwald’s Squadron Supreme: 3. S/S

Maybe – or maybe it’s just me – looking at the loading of all these layers across a couple of pages has put you in mind of Barthes’ S/Z. It has, hasn’t it! Go on, you can admit it! Barthes, in S/Z, devises a series of codes that underpin the interpretation – the act ofContinue reading “Rereading Mark Gruenwald’s Squadron Supreme: 3. S/S”

Rereading Mark Gruenwald’s Squadron Supreme: 2. This is the rhythm of the fight

Here’s Foxfire, gunning for Nighthawk, even when it looks like the story’s over. Now, this is cut between Nighthawk’s monologue with Hyperion – we talked about this in the last post. After this three-panel clip, we will cut back to Nighthawk arguing that the real problem with the Squadron’s utopia program is its assumption thatContinue reading “Rereading Mark Gruenwald’s Squadron Supreme: 2. This is the rhythm of the fight”

Rereading Mark Gruenwald’s Squadron Supreme: 1. Inside the Hibernacle

Is there any way to begin thinking about Squadron Supreme (1985-86) other than with this moment? Nighthawk’s “Redeemers” have won; the Squadron are a page or two from formal surrender; the battlefield is littered with the dead and injured. Now, let me tell you – I was all of thirteen when I read this, andContinue reading “Rereading Mark Gruenwald’s Squadron Supreme: 1. Inside the Hibernacle”