SEMI-REGULAR MUSINGS FROM THE SEMI-REGULAR MIND OF WRITER J.M. DeMATTEIS
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Wednesday, October 21, 2026
THE EMERALD ISLE
Through the magic of the internet I take a trip to Northern Ireland to talk to the False Face podcast about all things Spider-Man. It's a very deep dive: we explore a wide swath of my Spidey stories. You can listen below. Enjoy!
You talk about the Dematteis-Buscema omnibus, you do realize I am the one who got that published, right?
If you pull out your copy of Spider-Man Shadow of the Goblin #4, which came out in 2024, you will notice that their is a letter from some one from Detroit that critiques Marvel for not having it collected. Interesting timing, no?
When he was in the JLI, and getting too full of himself, did you and Giffen ever use the fact that at the time DC had the licenses to use phantom (underrated series) and the Shadow, both of which he stol...sorry, "borrowed from," so you could just replace him, to get him in ine.
You know, imply he is replaceable when he was refusing to show up for Maguire's test drawings or Geffen's interviews of the adventures. Maybe mock Ted Kord a little too much
No, that came about when Giffen and I "borrowed" money from DC to fund our own luxury island resort which, unfortunately, ended up being situated on an island that was alive.
You are saying things like Ted Kord gaining weight because of an increased sedimentary role on the team, and making Star Trek references like Batman did in the early issues actually happened, to anyone? In real life?
There is a line between spinning a yarn and expecting people to believe nonsense.
Next thing you know you will be expecting me to believe that either you, Giffen or Maguire had to wait in line to take a shower when guests visited, like Oberon did when Highfather visited Mister Miracle. Or that someone was annoy by the antics of a co-worker, like the JLI was with Guy Gardner. You may even expect me to believe that that a millionaire would fund something seemingly altruistic, but use it for their own purposes like Maxwell Lord did.
Let's not get insulting with what you expect people to believe.
I'm only vaguely aware of MY FRIEND IRMA. Not sure if I've ever heard the radio show...although I think I saw the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis movie based on the show on TV when I was a kid. (Dean and Jerry's film debut!) But that's about it.
If it makes you feel any more root beer, I have only heard the show twice... and both were in the past 10 months. The reason why it stuck in my head was that Irma seemed so similar to Rose from the Golden Girls... right down to being from Minnesota.
Minnesota reminds people of Scandinavians, Scandinavians obviously to Snow goddesses. Obviously.
If we are being honest, the idea of the naive woman (I think calling Ice a ditz is not accurate) becoming friends with more worldly woman and the more worldly woman becomes a sort of older sister figure (unique take on Fire filling that role being centuries younger), especially in relation to them moving to a big city, has become a common comedic set-up. Not unlike I would say since the 1920s. It is just one of those natural pairings that seem to make sense.
I have always felt fandom has not given enough love to the Fire and Ice friendship. I would say it feels as real as Ted and Boost.
Interestingly, your old employer once had a My Friend Irma comic book..
And Atlas actually spent the money to license a MFI book? I'd think it would have been a DC series, since they're the company that gave us Dean & Jerry, Bob Hope, Dobie Gillis et all.
You talk about the Dematteis-Buscema omnibus, you do realize I am the one who got that published, right?
ReplyDeleteIf you pull out your copy of Spider-Man Shadow of the Goblin #4, which came out in 2024, you will notice that their is a letter from some one from Detroit that critiques Marvel for not having it collected. Interesting timing, no?
Just saying...
Jack
Ah...so THAT'S how it happened! ; )
DeleteYou know Batman...
ReplyDeleteWhen he was in the JLI, and getting too full of himself, did you and Giffen ever use the fact that at the time DC had the licenses to use phantom (underrated series) and the Shadow, both of which he stol...sorry, "borrowed from," so you could just replace him, to get him in ine.
You know, imply he is replaceable when he was refusing to show up for Maguire's test drawings or Geffen's interviews of the adventures. Maybe mock Ted Kord a little too much
Jack
Giffen brought up the subject, but Batman walloped him...knocked him cold with ONE PUNCH. Which gave us a great idea for a bit in the book!
DeleteOf course, it inspired the classic Kooey Kookey Kooey saga.
DeleteJack
No, that came about when Giffen and I "borrowed" money from DC to fund our own luxury island resort which, unfortunately, ended up being situated on an island that was alive.
DeleteAll those stories were based on real life! ; )
All of it?
DeleteYou are saying things like Ted Kord gaining weight because of an increased sedimentary role on the team, and making Star Trek references like Batman did in the early issues actually happened, to anyone? In real life?
There is a line between spinning a yarn and expecting people to believe nonsense.
Next thing you know you will be expecting me to believe that either you, Giffen or Maguire had to wait in line to take a shower when guests visited, like Oberon did when Highfather visited Mister Miracle. Or that someone was annoy by the antics of a co-worker, like the JLI was with Guy Gardner. You may even expect me to believe that that a millionaire would fund something seemingly altruistic, but use it for their own purposes like Maxwell Lord did.
Let's not get insulting with what you expect people to believe.
Jack
It's time you faced the truth, Jack: Comic books are based on real life. Or is it the other way around?
DeleteYou like old radio shows
ReplyDeleteWas how you wrote Fire and Ice... or at least Ice... inspired by the radio comedy show My Fried Irma?
Jack
I'm only vaguely aware of MY FRIEND IRMA. Not sure if I've ever heard the radio show...although I think I saw the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis movie based on the show on TV when I was a kid. (Dean and Jerry's film debut!) But that's about it.
DeleteSo, short answer: not in the least.
If it makes you feel any more root beer, I have only heard the show twice... and both were in the past 10 months. The reason why it stuck in my head was that Irma seemed so similar to Rose from the Golden Girls... right down to being from Minnesota.
DeleteMinnesota reminds people of Scandinavians, Scandinavians obviously to Snow goddesses. Obviously.
If we are being honest, the idea of the naive woman (I think calling Ice a ditz is not accurate) becoming friends with more worldly woman and the more worldly woman becomes a sort of older sister figure (unique take on Fire filling that role being centuries younger), especially in relation to them moving to a big city, has become a common comedic set-up. Not unlike I would say since the 1920s. It is just one of those natural pairings that seem to make sense.
I have always felt fandom has not given enough love to the Fire and Ice friendship. I would say it feels as real as Ted and Boost.
Interestingly, your old employer once had a My Friend Irma comic book..
https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/search/149661?keyword=irma
Jack
I agree that it's a classic combo, Jack.
ReplyDeleteAnd Atlas actually spent the money to license a MFI book? I'd think it would have been a DC series, since they're the company that gave us Dean & Jerry, Bob Hope, Dobie Gillis et all.