In 2005, Civil War was a turning point in Marvel’s history, a before and after: superheroes facing each other like never seen before, choosing a side, making decisions that would change their future. What was the result? The best-selling graphic novel in the company’s history, a movie adaptation that grossed 1.15 billion… And of course, logically, they have tried to make the donkey pull the cart again even though it has no strength or desire left. Civil War, but now done well The company has just launched the first comic of a new collection […]
In 2005, Civil War was a turning point in Marvel’s history, a before and after: superheroes faced off against each other like never before, choosing sides, making decisions that would change their future. The result? The best-selling graphic novel in the company’s history, a film adaptation that grossed 1.15 billion… And of course, logically, they have tried to make the donkey pull the cart again even though it no longer has the strength or desire.
Civil War, but now done right
The company has just released the first comic of a new collection titled Civil War: Unmasked, dedicated to telling us secrets that no one told us during the initial run 20 years ago. And the first one tackles something fundamental: the reason why Tony Stark insists relentlessly that a Superhero Registration Act is needed. Just in case the explosion by Nitro that killed 600 people, including children, wasn’t enough.
In this case, shortly after the start of the war, Tony Stark goes to see the mutants to try to persuade them not to remain neutral, and then Bishop decides to show him his future, a world in which he shows what will happen if he loses: the Wideawake Project, a future with millions of Sentinels enslaving the population. And of course, Iron Man, after a talk with the president, ends up supporting the act even more strongly because he believes he must prevent any other future. Anyway.
This issue, if anything, diminishes Iron Man’s decision, who is fully aware of the existence of alternate futures and multiverses that do not have to be our own. In the next issue, the real reason why Spider-Man decided to show his face to the world. While we’re at it, why not mess that up too.
Punisher is one of the most controversial heroes in Marvel. Violent, tortured, and always with a weapon in hand, he has always been a discordant note in the Marvel universe. One that has added many shades to other superheroes and has allowed for the exploration of darker and more adult themes that are usually not permitted for superheroes, especially those more grounded in the virtue of not harming anyone while working alone. But his creator, Gerry Conway, was never afraid to address sensitive topics. Something he demonstrated in a long career full of exceptional […]
Punisher is one of the most controversial heroes in Marvel. Violent, tortured, and always with a weapon in hand, he has always been a discordant note in the Marvel universe. One that has added many shades to other superheroes and has allowed for the exploration of darker and more adult themes that are usually not permitted for superheroes, especially those more grounded in the virtue of not harming anyone while working alone.
But its creator, Gerry Conway, was never afraid to talk about delicate topics. Something he demonstrated in a long career full of exceptional creations, both in terms of characters and stories, which have made him a figure of great importance in the history of comics. Even more so now, as he has left us.
Deceased this April at the age of 73, for unknown reasons but after years of battling cancer, he leaves behind an amazing career in comics that has changed superheroes forever. This is something we are going to talk about today so that a man who was Punisher, but was much more, does not fall into oblivion. Because his importance goes far beyond a single creation.
A very young creator
Conway began working in the world of comics at the age of 16, writing the story Aaron Philips’ Photo Finish in issue 81 of DC Comics’ House of Secrets in 1969. His first superhero comic would be for Marvel, where he would write issue 72 of Daredevil in January 1971, and in May of that same year he would write the first issue of Savage Tales, where the Man-Thing would appear for the first time, the first character created by him. The creation of both the character and the comic would be attributed to Conway as well as to Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gray Morrow.
His great year will be, however, 1972. Because in addition to writing the first issue of the popular comic The Tomb of Dracula, he will take charge of one of Marvel’s most important series, if not the most important: The Amazing Spider-Man.
Conway was only 19 years old and no one had touched Spider-Man until then except for Stan Lee. But between issues 111 and 149, which were from August 1972 to October 1975, he left an indelible mark on the character. He was the one who signed off on the death of Gwen Stacy in issue 121 in June 1973, and he also created The Jackal, a villain who still appears from time to time in Spider-Man stories, and more importantly, he created a Spider-Man antagonist who would soon become much more than that: Frank Castle, aka Punisher.
A man named Frank Castle
Created by Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru, the character’s first appearance was in issue 129 of The Amazing Spider-Man, in February 1974. Presented as a vigilante, heavily inspired by the protagonist of the Executioner novels of a Vietnam veteran seeking revenge against the Mafia for murdering his family, he was a brutal contrast to everything that had been seen in superhero comics until then. He was violent and had ideas that were completely opposed to what superheroes did, especially one like Spider-Man, which led to constant clashes.
With the design sketched by Conway himself and later completed by John Romita Sr., who was inspired by the comic Black Terror by Richard E. Hughes and Don Gabrielson, the character was already more or less everything we know him to be. A tortured man with expedient methods, but in his first appearance, he attempted the unthinkable: to kill Spider-Man for considering him too soft. Something he did not achieve, and they clashed on several occasions.
Although Frank Castle is a character that will be developed in detail by other authors —in particular, Garth Ennis, Mike Baron, and Greg Rucka—, Conway would develop all the details upon which later authors would build. Creating one of the most iconic characters in history.
His career was far from over there, even if that is his most notable point. He worked on numerous Marvel and DC comics, on a popular Star Trek comic strip for years, and even worked both on the script and production of some of the most well-known and popular television series of the 80s and 90s, such as Matlock, Hercules, or Law and Order. Demonstrating that his genius went beyond the pages of the comic.
After his passing, he will undoubtedly be remembered for his work on the creation of Punisher. Perhaps also for his excellent work on Spider-Man. But Conway is much more than that. He was an excellent writer who showed that comics could be deeper and more complex than what was being done until then. Also television. And for that, we should be grateful.
Sabrina, an iconic character who debuted in 1962 in the Archie comic strips, became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s with the television series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, starring Melissa Joan Hart. The series, which aired for seven years, captured the audience’s attention with its mix of humor and the adventures of a teenage witch trying to balance magic with her daily life. This adaptation established itself as one of the most powerful of the time, generating a universe that spanned from movies to video games and a magazine, even available in […]
Sabrina, an iconic character who debuted in 1962 in the Archie comic strips, became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s with the television series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, starring Melissa Joan Hart. The series, which aired for seven years, captured the audience’s attention with its mix of humor and the adventures of a teenage witch trying to balance magic with her daily life. This adaptation established itself as one of the most powerful of the time, generating a universe that spanned from movies to video games and a magazine, even available in Spain.
Melissa Joan Hart never felt comfortable playing Sabrina
While Melissa Joan Hart enjoyed a successful career, her popularity would fade over time, leading her to focus on her family life and content production. After the conclusion of Sabrina in 2003, the actress took on several minor projects, such as her show Melissa & Joey and got involved in behind-the-scenes production. Although reunions of the show’s actors took place, such as the one that occurred in 2023 to commemorate its 27th anniversary, her return as Sabrina seems unlikely, according to recent information.
In 2018, Netflix launched a reboot titled The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which, despite gaining some popularity, did not match the phenomenon of Hart’s version. The new adaptation, more faithful to the original comics, offered a darker and more mature approach, while the 90s series was aimed at a young audience, exploring teenage themes with a comedic perspective.
As nostalgia for the classics of the 90s grows, rumors about a possible return of Melissa Joan Hart to the role of Sabrina have intensified. However, there are currently no concrete plans for the actress to reprise this iconic character that defined a generation.
George Lucas, the renowned creator of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones sagas, made a milestone at the San Diego Comic-Con by participating for the first time in more than 50 years of the convention’s history. In front of more than 6,500 enthusiasts, Lucas, 81, chose to focus on an unconventional aspect of his career: his extensive comic book collection, which exceeds 40,000 works. This interest in comics reflects a personal facet of the director, shaped throughout his life and career in film. May the panels be with you! During the […]
George Lucas, the renowned creator of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones sagas, made a milestone at the San Diego Comic-Con by participating for the first time in more than 50 years of the convention’s history. Before more than 6,500 enthusiasts, Lucas, 81, chose to focus on an unconventional aspect of his career: his extensive comic book collection, which exceeds 40,000 works. This interest in comics reflects a personal facet of the director, shaped throughout his life and career in film.
May the vignettes accompany you!
During the panel, Lucas was joined by renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and production designer Doug Chiang. Moderated by the famous host Queen Latifah, they discussed the creation of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a museum that will open in Los Angeles in 2026. The museum, which is considered a tribute to popular art, will house works by iconic comic artists and painters, as well as a special selection from the Lucas archive, which includes models and costumes from his most emblematic projects.
Lucas assured that the museum seeks to give recognition to comic art, which, in his youth, was not valued as it should have been. “When I was a child, comic art was not taken seriously. I was always told: ‘Doug, someday you’ll get over it.’ And I’m very glad I didn’t”, stated Chiang, highlighting the cultural importance of this medium. Del Toro added a historical perspective, pointing out that “comics were the first to hit the Nazis”, emphasizing their social impact.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will not only be a space to admire art, but it also seeks to educate and promote the history of comics and their influence on modern culture. With its opening scheduled for 2026, the museum promises to be an important new cultural destination in Los Angeles.
James Gunn and Peter Safran, in charge of DC Studios, have confirmed that they are working on a new script for the iconic superheroine Wonder Woman. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn stated: We are working on Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman is being written right now. However, the company has not provided details on who is behind this new script. The new Wonder Woman is currently a mystery. This announcement comes at a crucial time for DC, which is looking to revitalize its film franchises after various criticisms and strategic reevaluations. Wonder Woman, previously played by Gal […]
James Gunn and Peter Safran, in charge of DC Studios, have confirmed that they are working on a new script for the iconic superheroine Wonder Woman. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gunn stated: We are working on Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman is being written right now. However, the company has not provided details on who is behind this new script.
The new Wonder Woman is currently a mystery
This announcement comes at a crucial time for DC, which is looking to revitalize its film franchises after various criticisms and strategic reevaluations. Wonder Woman, previously portrayed by Gal Gadot, has been a pillar of the DC universe, and her return has been highly anticipated among fans. It is worth noting that Gunn has not yet selected the actress who will take on the role of Princess Diana of Themyscira, leaving an open space for speculation about who could don the iconic costume of the heroine.
Despite rumors about possible candidates being raised, no concrete information has come to light from the project leaders. This, along with the creative process currently in development, creates an atmosphere of uncertainty but also of anticipation among the character’s followers, who have shown their devotion over the years. With the approach that Gunn and Safran have brought to DC Studios, the coming months will be decisive for the fate of Wonder Woman on the big screen.
For now, fans must wait for more news about the script and the eventual selection of the new face of one of the most beloved heroines in comics, while the entertainment world continues to closely watch DC’s strategic moves on its path to recovery and expansion of its cinematic universe.
