No Alternatives

Continuing to build on the Appearances page above, I want to lay out the (self-imposed) rules in regards to what qualifies and what doesn't.

Ultimately, I want to record significant appearances by the James MacDonald Hudson of the "main" Marvel Universe. In other words I have no interest in...

• What If? appearances.  I've never really understood the appeal of this book.  If it isn't in continuity, I couldn't care less.
• The Ultimate Universe version (or whatever other alternate realities Marvel has).  I think that's them on the right.  To quote from among the worst periods in Alpha Flight history, You Gotta Be Kiddin' Me.
• Speaking of the 3rd volume, the various alternate future versions of the character in the later issues will also be ignored (as should the book itself) for a reason similar to the What If? books.
• Repetitive flashbacks.  There are only so many times one can reference Mac's first meeting with Wolverine, when he (actually, Heather) shot him in the woods.  However, if said appearance adds something to the that event, then it would be included.
• Fact sheets.  The point is to record the character's adventures.  An entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe doesn't really fit that description.  Neither does an article in Marvel Age or some such.  It needs to be in a storyline.

On the flip side, though it's hardly a shining moment in the character's history, I can't help but feel that the young clone version from Volume Two should be in there.  I didn't like him much, frankly, but it was still intended to be Mac and is in continuity, so his appearances will be listed.

That's all I can think of at the moment.  So when the list is done, I will welcome anyone's feedback as to what might be missing from it so that I can make it as complete as possible.

Extra Material from Classic X-Men #16

The first thing I want to flesh out on this blog is the "Appearances" page above so I started on it right last night.  In doing so, I was reminded that the "Classic X-Men" comics reprinting the X-Men issues in which Alpha Flight was introduced included a few extra pages.

I don't know if this is common knowledge, or even if it is if many Alpha Flight fans would have bought Classic X-Men for the sake of those extra 3-4 pages.  In any event, one additional page from Classic X-Men 16, reprinting X-Men 109 (Guardian's first appearance, known as Weapon Alpha at the time) focuses on Mac as he prepares to confront Wolverine.

The other is post-battle hand-wringing.

Pencils are by Kieron Dwyer, inks by Terry Austin (wow, really?) and colours by Petra Scotese. Oh, and as you can probably guess by the rambling, bloated internal dialogue, writing credit goes to Chris Claremont.

Not sure where I'm going with this...

As described in the "About this Blog" page, this is essentially a notebook made public.  Past information about Guardian will be stored in the sections above and I'll use the blog to chat about new acquisitions (back issues, collectibles, that sort of thing), news about the character, page updates, etc.  For the most part, it'll be "thinking out loud" (just...in writing).

Directing my attention towards Canadian characters and publishers in recent months has rekindled my interest in comics as a story-telling format.  Most of that is expressed through my other blog They Stand on Guard, the growth of which I enjoy a great deal.  This is basically a branch off that tree.  An urge to research other characters (Alpha Flight or otherwise) may lead to other such branches.

I admit to not being crazy about the name of this thing so don't be surprised if it changes suddenly.  Trying to think one up was about the only thing preventing me from getting started, so I went with the one I hated least just to get going.  I wanted to refer to both Alpha Flight and a certain longevity so settled on that.  Meh.

It may be that the art in the banner is actually of Michael Pointer.  If that's the case, don't anyone point it out to me, I don't want to know. ;-)

The feedback I've seen/heard over the years would seem to indicate that the majority of fans consider Guardian's (currently estranged) wife, Heather McNeil Hudson (Vindicator), to be more interesting character and a better team leader than Guardian was/is.  I'll address that more fully later but I am not in agreement.  At least, not yet.

And yes, that's Puck in my avatar.  The reason for that is simple; In reality, I am far more similar to Eugene Judd than I am a 6' 2" petrochemical engineer/scientist. Therefore, the former is better representation.  Just keepin' it real. ;-)