Why go to the trouble of casting Depp for such a damp squib of a baddie?
#EXCELSIOR! Bob Pierce, mail Words escape me, it’s like losing my favourite uncle! I admit, I shed a tear when I heard the news on News At Ten. Stan helped to form my childhood and teenage years. Every month, I would haunt my local newsagents waiting for the new Marvel comics to turn up, laughing at each new Yancy Street prank played on Ben Grimm. I imagine him in heaven berating God for not having created superheroes on our world. Well he did, Stan – he created you, and thanks for all the tales! Make mine Marvel! And Excelsior!
Mark Howe, email I’ve been reading Marvel comics for almost 40 years and Stan Lee was a name I became familiar with almost from day one. It was there on the strapline at the front of each issue, “Stan Lee presents”, and then there were his “Stan’s Soapbox” columns that used to be in each issue.
When I think of Marvel, not only do I think of Thor, the Hulk, and Spider-Man, etc, but I think of the grey-haired, moustached guy with big tinted glasses who became so familiar.
His enthusiasm for the medium of comics never seemed to dwindle, and his name is as associated with Marvel as the characters he had a hand in creating. Through his film cameos, he’s also become familiar to those who may never have picked up a comic. Like his creations, he had become legendary. Goodbye Stan, and thank you for everything. SFX It’s a cliché but we will never see his like again – Stan’s impact on popular culture is simply mind-boggling. You can read our massive tribute on p48.
#RECYCLED MATERIAL Linda Scholefield, Bradford I thought the new Doctor Who series was going to be “new and exciting”. Instead it’s just recycled and boring. In all the years I have been watching Doctor Who I can honestly say I have never been bored with it until I watched the Thirteenth Doctor. This series should be dumped in the cosmic recycling bin and hopefully something better will come out of it. The best bit is Bradley Walsh, who is excellent.
Neil Hickman, email Though plenty of fans have weighed in with negative sentiments about series 11 of Doctor Who, you’d be hard pressed to see any negative reviews, with even those that have taken issue almost tripping over themselves to praise the episodes. Having come to terms with the gender flip, I just hoped the series would be good. Overall it’s been lacklustre. As a showrunner, Chibnall seems to be resting on his laurels with having made the Doctor a woman. Your place in history is assured but more is required, Chris. Episodes 5-8 were the sweet spot, so I’ll cut Chibnall some slight slack for “The Tsuranga Conundrum”, but the rest ranged from mediocre to shocking – hello “It Takes You Away”. I think that if these episodes starred Capaldi, or even Smith, they’d have been torn apart. SFX It’s funny how Doctor Who continues to divide the fanbase – as it did in the Moffat era. “It Takes You Away” was my favourite episode, while I found “The Tsuranga Conundrum” disappointing. If there’s something for all, maybe Chibnall’s getting something right!
#HOWLIN’ MAD ABOUT MURDOCK Rob Graham, email The cancellation of Daredevil is absolutely pointless. It was one of Netflix’s best shows with what I thought were excellent reviews and good ratings – for me it was perhaps the best superhero TV show ever made. I’m now not holding my breath on Jessica Jones and The Punisher surviving – no matter how good the new seasons turn out, it looks to be all over for Marvel and Netflix. SFX I’m not sure anybody’s mourning Iron Fist but Daredevil is definitely one to file under “gone too soon” – though I’d be surprised if Matt Murdock doesn’t crop up somewhere else soon.
#THE NAKED PUN Dicky Crisps, email I believe that in order to maintain a successful superhero franchise, you need more than one story hanging from the tree of ideas. Origins are not the only fruit. Sorry, not sorry. SFX Don’t be sorry. Own it.