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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 It took awhile, most of the costumes in those books are a bit out of
date, to begin with, but there's usually some inspiration to be found in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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