Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - "Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"

ComicsMarvel ComicsPatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. ComicsMarvel ComicsPatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Folio Society) Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum are well known as the creators of the MODOK animated series as well as the writers of a recent MODOK comic book, and they’re also the creators of their own superhero universe in the comic Minor Threats and its spin-offs. And while they’ve both had successful careers outside of comics, to the point where Patton (whose memorable acting credits are too numerous to name) has even had a role in the MCU as Pip the Troll, they both say that when it comes to superhero stories, there’s just nothing like a good old fashioned comic book. “I think it’s the most bombastic way to tell their stories,” Blum tells Newsarama. “Like there are visuals that will never be achieved in movies or TV that can be achieved in comics. The long form storytelling, the building. I mean, we cite Chris Claremont all the time. That guy wrote X-Men for 16 years. It’s incredible to be able to plot out and show the changes in these characters and how they progress for that long. You can’t really do that with anything else.” “You can really live a life with a certain character for a long, long time,” adds Oswalt. “Because of the way people age, the way actors age, you can’t really do that even, I think, with a TV show. So yeah, comics are, if you want a long run saga, it’s the only form.” “And I think they were born in this format, you know?” Blum continues. “Like, this is where they come from. So this is the best way to tell their stories.” (Image credit: Folio Society) And when it comes to great comic book stories, Oswalt and Blum are both lifelong fans ofMarvel Comicswho have now compiled a collection of so-called “unforgettable” Marvel issues from across the publisher’s decades of history. But their own love of Marvel goes all the way back to their childhoods. “I just remember comics being around just kind of piled up for us kids. And the Marvel ones, that was my first realization of like, oh, this company does their stuff better. The art looks cooler. The characters are cooler,” says Oswalt. “I remember a doc ox Spider Man issue that I thought was just brilliant. Great villains, great heroes. It was just this thing in the air that I was able to detect.” Comic deals, prizes and latest news Get the best comic news, insights, opinions, analysis and more! “My dad learned to read and speak English from comics, so it was kind of passed down to me immediately,” explains Blum. “Like there’s pictures of me in my highchair with them. And I think my earliest memory, I guess, like my first comic, was, I remember the toys of the ’80s kind of coincided with the comics. I remember simultaneously buying, I think, a bunch of the Secret Wars toys while reading Secret Wars. And it was like love at first sight for me.” Marvel Comics did indeed develop 1984-85’sSecret Wars comic book seriessimultaneously alongside the classic Mattel toy line in an unprecedented cross-media production. The now classic comic story will serve as the inspiration forAvengers: Secret Wars, the big payoff film of the current Multiverse Saga of the MCU. What makes a truly unforgettable Marvel Comics story? As it turns out, it’s remarkably hard to pin down just ten examples that sum it up. But Oswalt and Blum wound up focusing on stories that carry an element of surprise, and which sum up something special and elemental about the characters in them. (Image credit: Folio Society) “Putting the list together was actually kind of easy. The problem was then just, you know, we had to then cut the list down,” Oswalt says. “For me, it was easy, because there are moments in these comics that really stay with you. So for me, unforgettable is those moments that really jump on you and surprise you, that you do not see coming. That’s what helped us choose.” “Yeah, I think there were just these little touchstones of our history of reading, and things that hit us and stayed with us forever,” adds Blum. “I think of that X-Factor issue where Havoc goes to therapy to deal with his inadequacy issues, and as a kid in therapy I was like ‘Oh, okay. You can connect to these things on a deeply personal level.’ I think these stories can really go much deeper and explore interesting things. And we tried to have self contained stories, or at least moments that worked on their own.” As for what makes the Marvel Universe in particular so special, Oswalt says it all comes down to Marvel’s classic ‘world outside your window,’ while Blum says it’s all about Marvel’s focus on developing its characters. “I love how vibrant, messy and overcrowded it is. I love that any character can take the spotlight,” says Oswalt. “It is the closest thing to like, the messiness of life. It just happens to have superpowers and cosmic entities in it, but it is. They’ve really, really captured the chaos of the world we live in better than, I think, a lot of mediums.” “I think it’s character first, right?” Blum adds. “Marvel was the first one that was like, ‘You’re gonna care more about the secret identity than you’re gonna care about the superhero’.” Marvel: Unforgettable Stories is available now fromFolio Society. Check out our list of thebest Marvel Comics storiesof all time. More about marvel comicsAmazing Spider-Man is relaunching with a new #1 in 2025 with a focus on classic villainsMarvel Rivals made Jeff the Land Shark so stinkin' adorable that the MCU is bringing him on as an official hero: “We’re all Jeff fans around here. Man is he fun to play” More about marvel comics Amazing Spider-Man is relaunching with a new #1 in 2025 with a focus on classic villainsMarvel Rivals made Jeff the Land Shark so stinkin' adorable that the MCU is bringing him on as an official hero: “We’re all Jeff fans around here. 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the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”