Edited by author 08-08-2002 02:48 PM
On WNYC/NPR's On The Media (08/02/02), they interviewed both the current Marvel editor (who says he based the Thing's jewishness on the late Jack Kirby's ideas about him) and Stan Lee, the other co-creator, who says that the Thing was never thought of as Jewish. Lee says there was nothing particularly Jewish about anything in the post-war assimilationist comic world. Really, nothing. What?

On the Media: http://www.wnyc.org/onthemedia
transcript: http://www.wnyc.org:80/onthemedia/transcripts_080202_thing.html
realaudio:
http://www.realimpact.net/rihurl.ram?file=.../raotm/otm080202.ra

''You're really Jewish?'' asks the villain of the piece.

''There a problem with that?'' replies The Thing.

''No,'' says the bad guy, looking into that craggy, orange puss. ``It's just . . . you don't look Jewish.''

Hehe...pretty funny stuff. I love The Fantastic Four, here's hoping nothing happens to ruin the movie plans, according to Superhero Hype, they're planning on pouring some major cash into it.

betcha it'd take me under an hour to find an FF Xmas story that at least strongly implies Ben being a gentile. The absence of Jewishness and presence of schmaltzy Xmas stories in Lee/Kirby's work is fairly notorious.

Then again, in the modern continuity Ben's a Gulf War vet and the FF's exposure to cosmic rays was during the test of an experimental star drive, I think it was, rather than a WW II vet and trying to beat the Russkies to the moon in the heart of the Cold War, so what the hell.

(Let me be clear about my feelings: Jewish superheroes in comics: good thing. Failing to respect the continuity: bad thing, for this fanboy.)

Ignore anything Stan Lee has to say about any Kirby comic book. Kirby invented the FF and wrote every story.

According to the NPR story, Kirby had a painting of the Thing in rabbinical gear hanging in his house.

"revealed to be Jewish"
...what, he did a nude scene?...

...revealing a chip off the old block?

Seems to me I recall a drawing of the Thing in prayer locks and Hassidic clothing, though where I saw it I don't recall.

Funny the thoughts I file away...

A month or so ago, I finished reading an absolutely wonderful book called [a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/067...102-5779941-0619363"]The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier And Klay[/a]. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel followed the lives of two young Jewish men breaking into the comic book industry between the late 30s into the mid 1950s. It involves a Golem, a Gay man...and many references to the REAL artists/pioneers of the comic book genre. Highly, highly recommended book.

"Rabbi, why are carrying a hammer and chisel?"

"I go to perform a very unusual bris."

Ditto Don's recommendation. Chabon's Kavalier & Klay was excellent; a ripping good adventure plus lots of comic book history.

I just started reading The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by the same author.