Marvel Comics
| Marvel Comics | |
|---|---|
 Marvel Comics's logo | |
| First reference: | Genesis |
Marvel Comics is an American comic book line published by Marvel Entertainment.
About
Marvel was created in 1939 by Martin Goodman. Being one of America's best known comic book producers, Marvel's best-known comics titles include Fantastic Four, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Daredevil, Thor, Captain America, and X-Men. Most of Marvel's fictional characters are depicted as inhabiting a single shared world; this continuity is known as the Marvel Universe.
References
Genesis
Hiro compares his powers to Kitty Pryde, one of the X-men: "...X-Men, #143, when Kitty Pryde time travels..."
Don't Look Back
The NYPD detective in Isaac's apartment notes that Hiro is a member of the "Merry Marvel Marching Society", a Marvel Comics fan club that was disbanded in 1971.
Graphic Novel:The Crane
Hiro keeps a poster of Spider-Man and a figurine of The Hulk in his apartment.
Collision
When Hiro does not want to cheat in a roulette game at the Montecito Casino, Ando says, "Is Peter Parker cheating when he sells pictures of Spider-Man?"
The Hard Part
Mr. Claremont runs Jittetsu Arms. The character is named for Chris Claremont, the comic book writer responsible for Uncanny X-Men, Days of Future Past, and many other graphic novels.
Landslide
Candice brings Micah several Marvel comic books, including Hulk: Gray, Daredevil: Yellow, and Silver Surfer, Issue #1. Incidentally, the Hulk and Daredevil stories were illustrated by comic mainstay Tim Sale, the real-life artist behind Isaac Mendez's artwork.
Graphic Novel:Heroism is Found in the Heart, Part 1
Ando compares himself to Peter Parker by saying that they both have public personas and are heroes.
Four Months Ago...
Micah mentions how his family could be like the Fantastic Four, minus one.
It's Coming
Hiro, mentally reverted to his ten year old self, is shocked and dismayed at the developments in the Marvel Universe since he was ten. Specifically, he is shocked that Captain America has died, that Peter Parker has revealed his identity, and that The Hulk is now red.
Heroes Evolutions
- In a blog entry, Hiro muses that someday "a mutated spider will prick me and I can spew webs all over the place" just like Spider-Man.
- In a blog entry, Hiro dreams about picking up a copy of X-Men so he can meet Stan Lee or Tim Sale. He signs off the post with the oft-repeated theme of Spider-Man: "With great power comes great responsibility".
- Hiro blogs that Charlie corrected him on his Kitty Pryde reference.
- Hiro's blog refers to Charlie saying, "Charlie wasn't my Marle, she was my Gwen Stacy." Marle refers to the character from a video game called Chrono Trigger. Gwen Stacy refers to the first true love of Spider-Man; she is killed by the Green Goblin, and is pivotal (and controversial) to the Spider-Man stories. Hiro then signs the blog, "With great powers comes great responsibility," one of Spider-Man's overriding themes.
- Hiro also worries in his blog that Ando will become his "Uncle Ben", referring to Peter Parker's murdered uncle whose death led Peter to take the responsibility of his powers as Spider-Man seriously.
- Hiro reiterates in his blog that Charlie was his Gwen Stacy, but he doesn't want Ando to become his Uncle Ben.
- In Hiro's Blog 1784.0 Hiro says, "To fly like Superman, to heal like Wolverine, to be strong like the Hulk. Who would have thought all my dreams would come true." This is most likely an allusion to the abilities of Nathan, Claire and Niki, respectively.
- A crossword puzzle clue on Hiro's blog reads "Kitty family"; the answer is "Prydes". Another clue reads "Mulligan's aunt, a Diego"; the answer is "Scream", referring to Patrick "Toxin" Mulligan's aunt, Donna "Scream" Diego, from the comic book Venom/Carnage.
Notes
- Hiro is actually wrong about his Kitty Pryde reference. Kitty Pryde's time traveling story actually occurs in X-Men #141-142. However, Hiro did note this error in his blog, stating that Charlie corrected him. However, he misspells Kitty's last name as "Pride" while doing so. These mistakes could have been avoided if the reference originally written were used instead: in the script for the unaired pilot, Hiro says he learned about time travel from "X-Men, issue 117, when Wolverine breaks into Professor Xavier's lair".
- Given that Hiro is 24, he would have had to have joined the "Merry Marvel Marching Society" eleven years prior to his birth. Of course, it's possible he made his own membership card.
- Many people have compared the powers of Heroes with those of the X-Men. For instance, Claire and Wolverine both regenerate, D.L. and Kitty Pryde both phase, Matt and Professor X are both telepaths, Peter and Rogue both mimic others' powers, and Sylar and Jean Grey are both telekinetic. There are, however, vast and notable differences between the levels, limits, and capabilities of these powers.
- Peter's apartment number is 1407. This is confirmed as an homage to 1407 Graymalkin Lane, the address of Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters from X-Men.
- Agents Quesada and Alonzo may be named for Joe Quesada and Axel Alonso, both editors at Marvel Comics.
- Stan Lee, known as the father of Marvel Comics, cameos as a bus driver. (Unexpected)
- Ted Sprague says, "You're gonna upset me. Do you know what happens when I get upset?" (Company Man). This is possibly an homage to the famous "Don't make me angry" quote by Bill Bixby portraying Dr. David Banner in The Incredible Hulk 70s-era TV series.
- According to Joe Pokaski and Aron Coleite, Kirby Plaza is named for Jack Kirby, the well-known Marvel artist.
- In the episode Lizards, Peter Petrelli tries to summon lightning by saying different "keywords" like "lightning" and "shock". This might be a reference to the Spider-Man movie, where Peter Parker tries to shoot webs by doing various gestures and saying different words.
Gallery
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Among other posters, Hiro owns a black-and-white poster of Spider-Man. -
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...Hulk: Gray... -
...and Silver Surfer, Issue #1.
(Landslide)
External Links
- Marvel.com -- Official Website