Dolt! Fool!

[Gilgabob]

I was recently reading some the exploits of Captain Marvel in a Marvel Masterworks and it dawned on me how much I enjoyed the arrogance and bravado of villians in the silver age.

A few exerpts:

Captain Marvel: "Incredible! With his amazing strength he's broken free already!"

Super Skrull: "Of course, FOOL! Am I not called--The Super Skrull!"

a few panels later...

Super Skrull (pointing at a fleeing Captain Marvel): "Spineless, Brainless Dolt!"

Exchanges like this take place repeatedly between in the two issues that encompass this story. No one was better at casting insults than silver age villains.

I enjoy modern storytelling, and maybe it's nostalgia, but there is something about the dialogue of the silver age that still makes me smile. So, don't be a fool, Dolt! Go read some silver age goodness!

[Perry]

While I certainly enjoy going back and reading some of the comics of my past, I find that most times it is such a horrendous journey that I regret taking and so I seldom make the trip. I know I am in the minority here, but I usually have to stick to my fond memories of issues and not put forth the effort to relive them again.

That is not for every title of course, but there are some that I just can not read now. Early X-MEN, HULK and, sadly, even early issues of DAREDEVIL are just three titles that make me want to poke my eyes out.

[BobBretall]

I enjoy modern storytelling, and maybe it's nostalgia, but there is something about the dialogue of the silver age that still makes me smile. So, don't be a fool, Dolt! Go read some silver age goodness!

This is a good point, I enjoy this too.

From Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #1 (by Steranko):
Scorpio: "No while I hold the key to the Zodiac, FOOL!"
- and a few pages later -
"Observe, FOOL! The Battle is not yet lost!"

From Doctor Strange (1st) #169 (renumbered from Strange Tales) (by Roy Thomas):
Mordo: No puny human is truly Mordo's master, fool -- but only the Dread Dormammu!"

From Avengers #109 (by Steve Englehart):
Champion: "You're my pigeon, FOOL! I even like you -- but you must yield!"

3 random old comics I pulled out & 4 instance of "Fool!". Nice catch on a pattern I'd not really consciously noticed.


For those who can't read old comics, I think it's just not being able to put yourself into the right mindset to enjoy the stuff that is not written for a contemporary sensibility. Kind of like how my kids have a hard time watching any old B&W movie.

[Perry]

For those who can't read old comics, I think it's just not being able to put yourself into the right mindset to enjoy the stuff that is not written for a contemporary sensibility. Kind of like how my kids have a hard time watching any old B&W movie.

Very well could be the case, Bob, but I think it goes even deeper than just a mindset. I thoroughly enjoy reading old (Silver/Bronze age) Marvel titles like (or books about) THOR, DR. STRANGE, CHILLERS, PREMIERE and of course, FANTASTIC FOUR and some others, but some titles, no matter how much I like the character, I just can't sit through.

It is not just a writer thing either as Lee wrote titles I don't like to read and titles I really enjoy reading.

I had a brief brainstorm, as I was writing this ... I got the notion that perhaps it is just the "strange, unknown realms or ideas" type of books from that era that I can sit down and enjoy. Maybe the oddness of those titles I enjoy overrides the cheesy feel or dialog. But then I reminded myself that I also enjoy early AMAZING SPIDER-MAN so I don't think that is the case.

But then again, maybe that IS the case and I just also enjoy Spidey.

[Gilgabob]

I always enjoyed the undeserved arrogance of villains during this time. The more powerful the villain the better their insults seem to be. To the villains, the hero's plan was always considered moronic, misinformed, and ill-conceived. That is, until the plan worked, in which case the plan was fortunate, unimaginative, and improbable.

Now, as for my favorite insult, Dolt. Well, it's like idiot, moron, and fool rolled up into one. I love it! It's short and sweet with a nice snap to it at the end. I imagine a villain punctuating that word with a bit of spittle. Although Dolt has fallen out of favor in modern venacular it is alive and well in the pages of the silver age where it is hanging out happily alongside the forgotten and oft maligned thought balloon.

[Gilgabob]

I just read Superior Spider-Man #3 wherein Spider-Ock calls Vulture a Dolt! Haha, love it. (He laters calls him a fool too.)

[torchsong]

While not Silver Age per se, my favorite exchange, which I use all the time, comes from Trigon, a New Teen Titans villain:

Trigon: "Find her!"
Minion: "We will master...we swear!"
Trigon: "Do not swear...DO!!!"

I love whipping that one out anytime someone says they'll try or that they swear they'll get a job done.

[Gilgabob]

While not Silver Age per se, my favorite exchange, which I use all the time, comes from Trigon, a New Teen Titans villain:

Trigon: "Find her!"
Minion: "We will master...we swear!"
Trigon: "Do not swear...DO!!!"

I love whipping that one out anytime someone says they'll try or that they swear they'll get a job done.

Yes, very Yoda-esque

[Perry]

Damn it. You got me keying in on when people say "FOOL" in comics now.


Recently decided to go back and read some of my old IRON MAN issues (trying to get through 100-150 hopefully) and on issue #112, we have a page that features the great Fred Hembeck discussing the latest Bill Mantlo editions of Iron Man, to Mantlo himself. Pretty funny page, but one thing in the middle of the page really caught my eye ....