In last week’s Amazing Spider-Man #619, Spider-editor Stephen Wacker devoted a full third of the “Amazing Spider-Mail” letter column to addressing Marvel’s new relationship with Disney, and what he hopes will bloom from that relationship.
If you haven’t read the issue yet (And you should have! Marcos Martin’s art is about as gorgeous as comic book art can get!), let me quote Wacker for you.
“Now I could go on an don about all the great Disney animated films I enjoyed in my youth and even now with my own kids,” he writes. “But I think I speak for everyone at Marvel when I say I’m most proud of being associated with the company that brought us Condorman.”
Unfamiliar with Condorman? You and most everyone else. It’s a 1981 superhero/spy spoof in which cartoonist and comic book writer Woody Wilkins (played by Michael Crawford), creates his own Condorman costume, complete with a flapping hang glider like set of wings, in order to ensure the veracity of his comics creation.
“If Condorman can’t do something in real life, then I won’t have him do it one of my comic books!” he tells his friend early in the film, explaining his form of method comic book making. “Kids all over the world read my stuff, they trust me. They know if I fake it.”
He gets his chance to play hero for real when his buddy, a file clerk with the CIA, enlists his aid in what’s supposed to be a simple mission. I imagine hilarity ensues, but I had to stop watching it before any actual hilarity began ensuing, on account of the fact that watching Condorman seemed to be physcially hurting me.
It did poorly at the box office in 1981, accrued plenty of bad reviews the year of its initial release (and it’s got a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the moment) and it isn’t particularly fondly remembered by anyone—except for Steve Wacker.*
Wacker again:
Dear new corporate overlords…in all humility I beg you to please—as your first order of business—let us here at Spidey Sentral take the first comic crack at this wonderfully winged character, restoring this feathered, falcon-esque funseeker to the heights he so rightly earned in the barely seen, hardly remembered 1981 feature film.
(Actually, I think a Wacker-edited Condorman comic would be the second comic crack that this wonderfully winged character).
Wacker ends his plea with a call to action, asking that “letters of support” be sent to “LET WACKER BRING BACK CONDORMAN c/o Spider-Man Office” at Marvel’s address, 417 5th Avenue, New York, New York, 10016.
Personally, I was more looking forward to a Scarecrow of Romney Marsh comic, but I can get behind a Wacker-edited Condorman revival. Especially if he gets Martin to draw it. And makes whoever ends up scripting it adhere to Condorman’s own creative process of doing everything the character does in real life before putting it in a comic to make sure it’s realistic.
*Well, Steve Wacker and maybe Mike Sterling, whose posted about Condorman on more than one occasion.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:49 am
I haven’t seen it for 2 decades but I remember that Condorman was one of my favorite movie when I was a kid. A fun and old school comic book like Billy Batson would certainly fit the character.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:47 am
I remember seeing Condorman in the theater when I was 10, and GOOD LORD was that an awful movie. Even then I remember distinctly that I wanted my money back.
Disney’s live action flicks of the 60s and early 70s were all pretty cheesetastic fun, but if I recall, between this and The Black Hole, Disney almost went bankrupt and as a result had a huge shakeup in management that ushered in the era of Michael Eisner.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:14 am
I want a Darkwing Duck comic. Maybe cross him over with Peter Porker. That’d make an excellent comic.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:19 pm
What a horrific idea…would have thought the house if ideas would have come up with something better.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:03 pm
I think it could be fun, especially if it’s in the vein of Strange Tales, let some of the Indie people do it
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Loved that movie as a kid, and rented it frequently up until the advent of DVD. Was always frustrated that I could never find the film in that format.
Can still hear the theme song in my head… “CooonnnnDORmaannn” and the gypsy truck that transformed into the Condormobile was awesome!
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:53 am
I love that movie. I even own the Condorman comics used to promote the movie. I hope this happens.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:40 am
Used to have those Condorman comics myself.
I would be all for this if it actually occurred. And hey, it might get Condorman out on DVD.
But somehow ever since Phantom of the Opera, Crawford has been able to erase this movie from the minds of people.
LOL I think he needs to be reminded of its existence.