Artistic License by Joe Singleton

I sat down with a stack of old Marvel Universe books the other day and started flipping through them to see what might catch my eye, this month. It took awhile, most of the costumes in those books are a bit out of date, to begin with, but there's usually some inspiration to be found in them. I always liked the original Handbook of the Marvel Universe, as well as the second version, but hated the last version. I'd love to see an updated version, or even a nice reprinted collection of the old ones, on decent paper. I liked the level of detail included in the history and explanation of powers, even though many writers at Marvel did not.

Finally, I managed to come across a character who, if not in need of revision, I could at least take a stab at. First, a little history, though.

Marvel made a stab at launching a few super-hero characters in the 1950s, most of whom have been forgotten by all but a very few nit-picking types. Among them, was a young boy named Robert Grayson, whose father had made contact with the inhabitants of the planet Uranus in the years before World War Two. Dr Horace Grayson was able to entice these technologically advanced humanoids to provide him with the knowledge to construct a space ship that could travel from Earth to Uranus, that he and his son might live in an environment of peace and scientific inquiry.

We later learned, thanks to the miracle of retroactive continuity, that the Uranians were, in fact, an advanced offshoot of the human species known as Eternals, who'd left Earth centuries before. The Uranians equipped young Robert Grayson with a pair of energy-manipulating wrist-bands of unknown origins, with which he was able to produce blinding flashes of light, and eventually, laser-like heat beams. Robert returned to Earth, seeking adventure, in the 1950s and became one of the preeminent heroes of his day, calling himself Marvel Boy.

Later, learning that his father's health was failing, Robert attempted to purchase medical supplies to take back to Uranus with him, though what 1950s Earth medicines could be superior to the technologically, and presumably, medically, advanced Uranians' medicine, I cannot imagine. He was delayed in his attempt, and failed to save his father, discovering upon his return to Uranus that through some fault in the protective dome, the entire colony had perished. Determined to wreak vengeance on those who'd delayed him, he returned to Earth. Somehow, he spent several years locked in suspended animation, awakening in the 1970s, still angry over his father's death.

Calling himself the Crusader, he fought the Fantastic Four and died attempting to channel solar energy through his wrist-bands improperly. Robert Grayson was disintigrated, but the wrist-bands survived intact.

The bands were turned over to S.H.I.E.L.D. for safe-keeping and analysis, where a S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist's son acquired them, for testing purposes. It was discovered that the bands could channel other forms of energy than solar, and that the energy could be shaped and controlled by the wearer. Taking the name Quasar, Wendell Vaughn adopted a costume virtually identical to the one Grayson had worn as Marvel Boy and as the Crusader. In fact, on a visit to the government exotic energy research station known as Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., Ben Grimm, the Thing mistook Vaughn for Grayson/Crusader. They fought, at their first meeting, as was done in those days, but parted later, as friends. Also as was done in those days...

Over the years, Quasar has had a colorful career, learning more about the powers of his energy bands than any before him. Trying his hand at the super-hero game, for a time, he was eventually convinced by his father to travel to Uranus to investigate the origins of the quantum-bands, where he met the entitity called Eon and was made Protector of the Universe. Considering the vast size of the universe, you'd think there might be a need for at least two or three Protectors, at any time, but apparently the universe only needs one.

Quasar did his Protector thing for some time, and like the previous protector, Captain Mar-Vell, he bagan to accumulate allies in his never-ending battle. Eventually, he allied himself with the Avengers, and has spent much of the last several years on deep space watch, protecting the Earth.

As far as the current costume, goes, it's fine, but any hero can use a bit fo variation from time to time. I like the way they've done the lining of the cape as a starfield, so I kept that, and I like that nice, simple chest emblem. Very memorable. I don't like the way the blue piece flares over the shoulders, so I've altered that a bit, bringing the point down further and wrapping the blue around the torso, with the cape an integral part of the shirt. The lower half I've changed even further. I like vertical lines in a costume design and I like wraparound elements, and I think they work together well, here. I think it has, overall, a sleeker look that suits a guy who can chase comets.

So, there we have it.

See ya next month!


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Copyright © 2004 Joe Singleton

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