Monday, November 17, 2025
A TRIBUTE TO KEITH
I joined the fine folks at the Scary Stuff podcast to talk, in depth, about my longtime collaboration with Keith Giffen, with a special focus on our 1987 Doctor Fate mini-series. The podcast also features celebrated horror novelist, and Giffen pal/collaborator, Brian Keene. If you're a Giffen fan, I think you'll enjoy this. You can listen right here.
I realized yesterday that Keith Giffen my be responsible for the entire structure of the MCU.
ReplyDeleteYou see baclk in 2006, Giffen did Anihilation for Marve. However with typical Giffen timing (a version of SPider-Mans 'parker luck), it was overshadowed by teh parallel running Civil War. Though admittedly, I belive Annihilation was better, or at least more up my alley. '
Anyway, the process did not start with Annihilation #1. It actually started a few years earlier, with him taking over the Thanos ongoing series from Jim Starlin. This series et up a bit of what would be used in Annihilaton, but not so much that if you missed it you would be lost.
He then id teh Drax teh Detroyer Mini series, which remiagined the look of Drax, and vrought him fomr his Space-Hulk phase in INinity Watch to one more like his original version from the 70s... while adding a few wrinkles. This was about a year before Annhilation, but Drax being arrested is at the beginning of Annihilation: Prologue.
Annihilation Prologue then splits inot four mini series, Annihilaton Silver Surfer, Annihilation: Nova, Annihilation: Ronan, and Anihilation: Super-Skrull.
Then we have annihilation, which leads to teh Nova onhoinh series (which was not by Giffen, but really good). Then the process starts all over again with Annihilation: COnquest, which Gifffen took a backseat to, doing only ANnihilation COnquest: Star-Lord, if I remeber correctly. That was part of the three prologue mini-series.
Then it leadts to War of Kings, which I dont think he was a part of at all, and than the Thanos Initiative. Then they tried to keep it going with Annihilators, which was not bad, but fizzled after two minis
This all seems familiar, right?
And yes, as it progressed he had a smaller role, but he pitched the and spearheaded the initial set-up... which it seems clear that teh MCU was inspired by.
Jack
Oh, absolutely! And Keith was well aware of that.
DeleteHello sir, I have some questions. My name is Felipe, and I'm trying to understand your stories correctly. In some of them, like Silver Surfer and Doctor Strange or Strange Tales, it's confirmed that humans dream and create universes. Does this mean they create universes and these universes manifest in the multiverse? Or are they just thoughts generated in their minds that don't change anything? Also dream= possibilitiesOr anything a human dreams or thinks will create a universe, no matter if it's an alternate possibility. I'm confused about this part. I hope you're having a good day, sirš«”
ReplyDeleteThere's no definitive answer to this, just concepts I was playing with. Keeping that in mind, I'd say that we're al constantly generating imaginary universes within the greater dream of Creation, which is itself imaginary! So dreams within dreams within dreams. Again, nothing definitive, just a fun concept to play around with.
DeleteI think I'm starting to understand this, so, the power God gave to humans, which was to dream of infinite universes within God's grand dream, are placed within the dream, making it larger, starting from the nexus that unifies them. So, does that mean humans can create infinite universes in their imagination and they will happen in God's grand and marvelous dream, or rather, creation? Also, thank you for the answer, sir. This concept is very interesting in your stories.
DeleteAgain, no defnitive way of looking at this. Just a fun concept to play with...and your point of view is certainly a valid one. And you're very welcome!
DeleteYou know, there is only one other person I can think of sharing writing duties with Mr. Giffen, and that was William Messner-Loebs.
ReplyDeleteSo I just have to wonder, did Giffen have a rule abut only doing that with people who had three names?
Like, when they said he was going to be working with you did he say, "JIM Dematteis, you know my rule!"
and then they had to tell him, "no, it is J.M., short for Jon MArc."
Then he had to respond, "welll..okay, but that is on the bubble."
Am I assuming correctly here withb my obviously spot on deduction abilities.
Jack
Once again, Jack, your profound insights have illuminated another heretofore shadowed corner of comic book history!
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