Spider-Schlep

In one of the letter columns in the late-80s Question, Denny O’Neil refers to Peter Parker as a schlep, and always having been one. That’s Yiddish, and a little confusing because that precise word is a verb meaning to lug something inconvenient, but here, and as I’ve often heard or used it, it’s short for schlepper, meaning an inept, stupid person.

Going for baroque

art by James E. Shields

Chatting about role-playing some more … In the 80s, I was gripped by an utter fixation on this one supervillain concept, for whom I ripped off a name from one or another supplement … I think it was Villains & Vigilantes, anyway, the name was “Patternmaster.” God did I try to make Patternmaster work.

Who I am

This is the fourth and last post for my series on The Amazing Spider-Man #1-100 as a novel.

Bad guys and bad fathers

I’m on about Stan Lee’s run on Spider-Man as a novel again, for the second of four intended posts. The first one was Today I am a man.

All about the pie

Pfeh, you are not actually upset yet.

Just a minute here to talk about a comics supervillain whose type doesn’t figure into Doctor Xaos, neither lesser nor ultra, but rather personal, who is primarily dangerous due to what he knows, how he’s related to the hero through ordinary ties, and what flips his switch.