So in late 2011, Marvel released a few different books as being "from the Marvel vault". Which mostly meant comics that were most of the way done, but never saw the light of day, for one reason or another. The only one I picked up was this one, and that was as much for the interesting history behind it. During the Busiek/Larsen Defenders run, there was a point when it looked like they might not be able to get an issue out on time. So the editors asked Nicieza if he could write something up real quick, and then asked Bagley if he could draw it up real quick.
As it turned out, the issue wasn't needed, so it went in a drawer somewhere until this whole "vault" thing. Nicieza was working for DC in 2011 I think, so he couldn't script it, so they asked Busiek if he'd do it. Except Nicieza didn't have his story notes, so he couldn't tell him what it was supposed to be about. Bagley didn't remember, either. So Busiek basically looked at the art and reverse-engineered a story from it.
It ends up being some sort of alien thing that gives you an opportunity for a dream world, except the Defenders' minds get swapped/merged with some average teenagers. So we get Hulk being surprised and happy Abomination wants to build sand castles with him, and the Surfer asking Dr. Strange if he knows what 'wrecked on Red Bull' means. There's also a bit where Strange uses the Eye of Agamotto to understand what's going on, and once he sees the creature's history, is completely confused.
Anyway, it's an interesting little artifact of an unusual creative process.
3 comments:
Huh, I had no idea about this "event", but if it's 2011 I think I was probably well out of the loop by that point. It's quite a neat idea, and I like the story behind the Defenders issue; I doubt they all have such interesting origins, but I'm interested in finding out.
I don't even remember what any of the others were, unfortunately.
It looks like only five were published. Nothing exciting, although there is a Hulk/Human Torch team-up drawn by Steve Ditko!
I find it very difficult to believe that there are only five unpublished Marvel Comics "in the vault", or even that these five were the best options. A bit of a wasted opportunity, I reckon.
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