Move to big screen dazzles Berkley comic artist
Comic book artist Al Milgrom was thrilled to follow in the footsteps of the late Jack Kirby, who created or co-created such iconic characters as Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, the X-Men and more — characters that went on to reach mass audiences on the big screen.
“I’m an inveterate Kirby fan. He’s my all-time favorite,” says Milgrom, who grew up in Oakland County and now lives in upstate New York. “He’s the single most creative force in the history of comic books.
“Kirby, through decades and decades, has created stuff that has had legs and gone on to incredible success for a long, long, long time,” Milgrom says. “How many other creators have movies based on stuff they’ve created at two to three different companies? It’s astonishing.”
Milgrom, an alumnus of Norup Middle School in Oak Park and Berkley High School, graduated alongside fellow artist Jim Starlin, who created Thanos, the villain in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” After graduating from the University of Michigan, Milgrom has worked as a comic book artist, writer and editor for about 45 years, primarily at Marvel.
Milgrom’s artwork is featured in a new paperback, “The Eternals: The Dreaming Celestial Saga.” In this lesser-known Kirby creation, the Eternals are an immortal offshoot of humanity that’s been around since the dawn of civilization, often confused with Greek gods. For instance, Sersi is based on Circe, the sorceress of Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
“Anything based on a Kirby character, I’m always happy to be part of,” Milgrom says. “I recently reread a ‘Captain America’ story I drew, where Cap needs to disguise himself and goes to Sersi — ‘Can you turn me into a teenager?’ She intimates (that) to return the favor, she wants to have sex with him down the line. It was a little more subtle than that, being Marvel Comics in that period.”
An “Eternals” movie will be released Nov. 5 as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Oscar winner Angelina Jolie and Gemma Chan (“Crazy Rich Asians”) as Sersi.
Milgrom praised Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige for his ability to bring background characters to the forefront.
The following is a list of inperson and online worship services and activities happening at churches and synagogues in the Oakland County area.
Due to the pandemic, there are capacity restrictions and other safeguards in place, and registration may be required for in-person services.
• Adat Shalom, Farmington Hills, online services, on telephone and Zoom. To view daily Minyan video conferences; email Rabbi Michael Wolf at mwolf@adatshalom.org or visit adatshalom.org.
• All Saints’ Episcopal, Pontiac, online services, allsaintspontiac.org, 248-334-4571, rector@allsaintspontiac.org.
• Antioch Lutheran Church of Farmington Hills online services are at 9:30a.m. Sundays. In-person services remain suspended until further notice, facebook.com/ antiochelca,antiochelca.org, youtube.com/channel/UCK0f5Io6IEmIzig9fy0DDug.
• Archdiocese of Detroit, livestream Mass times, aod. org/livemasses.
• Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Troy, online service at 10:30a.m. Sundays, beaconcongregation.org, admin@beaconcongregation.org.
• Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Bloomfield Hills, livestream online services at 9 a.m. Sundays at facebook/bslcmi, also posted at bslcmi.org, archive at bslcmi.org/about_ bslc/sermons, 248-646-5041. Individual/family sets of ashes and Holy Communion kits are available to be picked up.
• Berea Family Tabernacle of Faith, Pontiac, online worship services are noon Sundays, Berea’s YouTube Channel: youtu.be/5QnjxMyFwJ4 or visit experienceberea.org and click “Watch Now,” 248-3384748.
• Birmingham First, A United Methodist Church, livestream and in-person services, 9:30 a.m. Sundays, 1589W Maple Road, Birmingham, fumcbirmingham.org
• Bridge Community Church, Sunday online worship services, 10:45a.m. Sundays, bridgecommunitychurch.com/ live livestreamed from 5700 Rochester Road, Troy, 248879-9500.
• Calvary Chapel Oakland County, 1975E. Long Lake Road, Troy, 248-457-9673, ccoaklandcounty.com. Worship 7p.m. Wednesdays and 10a.m. Sundays.
• Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Clarkston, livestream online worship only, 9:30 a.m. Sunday, calvary-lutheran.org
• Central United Methodist Church, Waterford, livestream online worship, 10:30a.m. Sundays, waterfordcumc.org.
• Christian Tabernacle Church, Southfield, ctabchurch.com, 248-213-4770.
• Christ Church Cranbrook of Bloomfield Hills, Church At Home is 9a.m. Sundays, online, cccathome.org.
• Christ the Redeemer Parish, 2700Waldon Road Orion Township, 248-391-1621, weekly online Mass at 10 a.m. Sundays, also in-person Masses, ctredeemer.org
• Commerce United Methodist Church, Commerce Twp., commerceumc.org/media.
• Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Southfield, offers virtual Jewish religious services including daily morning and evening Minyan services, Shabbat morning services and Youth Shabbat activities, shaareyzedek.org, 248-357-5544.
• Cornerstone Baptist Church, Ortonville, livestream online worship services, Sundays at 11a.m. and 6p.m., Wednesdays at 7p.m. at Facebook at Cornerstone Baptist Church Ortonville, cbcortonville.com, 248 627-4700.
• Cornerstone Church, Highland, online services, cornerstonehighland.com, 248-887-1600.
• Christ Lutheran Church, Waterford Twp., online worship services, christwaterford.org/ livestream, 248-673-7331.
• Door of Faith Christian Church, Pontiac, online services, 9a.m. and 11a.m. Sundays, mydooroffaith.org.
• Empowerment Church of Southfield hosts virtual worship services, 10:30a.m. Sundays at empowermentmi.org/ stream and on Facebook Live.
• First Baptist Church, Birmingham, firstbaptistbirmingham.org/, Zoom Audio/Video Meeting services start at 10:15 a.m. for conversation before worship service begins at 10:30a.m. The service is also live streamed on First Baptist Birmingham Facebook group page and recorded for later viewing on website.
• First Presbyterian Church in Pontiac, 99Wayne Street, Pontiac, fpcpontiac.info.
• First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak online services available anytime at www.fpcro. org, 248-541-0108.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (ELCA), Royal Oak, weekly pre-taped worship services posted on website, goodshepherdro.org and Facebook at GoodShepherdRO.
• Greenfield Presbyterian Church, Berkley, Virtual Sunday Service at 11a.m. Sundays, youtube.com/user/GreenfieldChurch, greenfieldchurch.com, 248-544-1800.
• Hazel Park First United Methodist Church, morning worship is 11:15a.m. Sundays, 313E. Nine Mile Road, Hazel Park, 248-546-5955, hpfirst. org.
• Hillside Bible Church, 73 N Church St, Ortonville, 248-627-2513, hillsidebible. org, 9a.m. or 11a.m. Sundays, register in advance, seating limited.
• Holy Cross Church, Oxford, Sunday Morning Worship 10 a.m. Sundays and “Wednesdays in the Word” 7 p.m. Wednesdays, facebook.com/ holycrossoxford/live, info@ holycrossoxford.com, 248628-2011.
• Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 4800Orchard Lake Road,
West Bloomfield Twp., spiritdrivenchurch.com, 248-6825441, weekly worship service on YouTube channel, youtube. com/channel/UCSTzf6Jn_ j2iepSePY4yiyw, website, spiritdrivenchurch.com, or Facebook, fb.com/spiritdrivenchurch.
• Immanuel Congregational Church of Christ, Oxford, 248628-1610, icucc.org, virtual service at 11a.m. Sundays, facebook.com/oxfordimmanuelucc.
• International Christian Church, 3980Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills, online and in-person services at 11:30 a.m. Sundays, 248-494-8757, www.myiccglobal.org, www. facebook.com/icchurch/live.