From the Hip

Did I tell you about the time I called and spoke with the editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics?

Years ago, back in the mists of time (the late-eighties/early-nineties), I voraciously read comic books. Marvel Comics, specifically. DC was good for movies, but when it came to reading, I preferred the stories that Marvel put out. Among my favorite series were Thor, The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, The Avengers, Fantastic Four, Transformers, Marvel's Secret Wars, X-Men, The Punisher, Marvel's New Universe and, occasionally, Daredevil. I would go to various locations around town -- Fantasy Realm, and Book Nook, among others -- every month to purchase new issues.

I shared my love of comic books with my friend, Derrick. We would discuss the content of new issues over the phone, and in-person. In fact, our love of comics led us to draw our own. The one I was proudest of was Foxbolt, which, if I'm being perfectly honest, was a rip-off of Batman and the TV cartoon character, BraveStarr. Not only did I make about 60+ issues of Foxbolt, but I wrote a thirty-page short story for him, inspired by the novelization of the 1989 Batman movie, that I read around the time the film came out. Derrick and I would share new issues of our own comics, alongside discussions of the real comic books we enjoyed.

Every month, in most Marvel issues, there would be a space devoted to musings from the editor-in-chief. During part of the 1980s, the person in that role was Jim Shooter. I didn't know much about him, except that he was tall. They would make note of this, having his picture be that of just a pair of long, panted legs. I would read his monthly writings, but never gave them much thought. One day, however, Derrick & I were discussing something Marvel-related, and had a question we just couldn't answer. It should be noted that, today, I've no clue what it was we were pondering, only that we were flummoxed. Derrick was resigned to either not knowing the answer, or waiting to see if it was dealt with in a future issue. I, however, had other ideas.

Once Derrick had left my house I, somehow, found the phone number for Marvel headquarters in NYC, and proceeded to call it. A secretary answered and I asked to speak with Jim Shooter. I think I asked for him because he was the main-man-in-charge and, well, it seemed best to go straight to the top. Somehow -- I don't remember how -- I was put through to Jim Shooter's office. He answered, I introduced myself, then immediately launched into my quandary and the questions I had. Mr. Shooter sounded incredulous, his voice raised, asking how I'd gotten through to him. I felt stunned. To my eleven-year-old mind, his reaction seemed surprising. After stammering for a bit, he yelled, "I've just been canned!" and hung up the phone.

I immediately called Derrick, to tell him of my encounter with the editor-in-chief. "I don't think that was really him, Matt," Derrick said. "I think someone was messing with you." As he went on, Derrick made perfect sense. How on earth had I been put through to the big dog? How would that happen? And, probably most importantly of all, they wouldn't fire Jim Shooter! Someone was obviously putting me on. The next month, when a new batch of Marvel comic books were released, it was announced that Jim Shooter had been let go. I think someone had to pick mine and Derrick's jaws off the floor. To this day, I choose to believe that was really the main man, himself, that I spoke with on the phone that day in 1987.

Derrick and I weren't done reaching out to the media companies whose products we enjoyed, however. A few months or so later, after several HBO screenings of Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th horror movies, and countless hours of playing Nintendo games, we happened upon a brilliant idea -- why doesn't Nintendo make a Friday the 13th and/or Nightmare on Elm Street game?! Now, most kids our age probably had similar ideas. We weren't unique in that regard. What most kids likely did not do, however, was to call-up Nintendo and go over, in some detail, what those games should be like.

This time, Derrick was with me when the call was made. I'm not sure what the exact phone number was, but we got through to somewhere (a call center, I think) at Nintendo, and the person who answered did a very nice job humoring us as we explained our concept for each game -- what the gameplay should be like, which characters from the films should be included, different cutscenes, the connecting themes so there could be a kind of a story, and suggestions on how the graphics should look. When the call was over, Derrick and I were smiling, feeling like we'd really accomplished something.

Within the next few years, Nintendo actually did release video games for A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th. And, dear reader, I cannot convey to you how much they suuuuuuucked. The storylines, the graphics, the gameplay -- it was all terrible, for both games. If any of you out there have played these old games, you'll no doubt know of what I speak. I think that Derrick and I disavowed any involvement with the releases.

Meanwhile, between reading and creating comic books, calling-up Marvel and Nintendo, riding our bicycles around town, playing putt-putt golf, going to see 1989's Batman at the Virgina Theatre in downtown Champaign, watching Predator and Tales from the Crypt on HBO, and playing Ninja Gaiden and Super Mario Bros, Derrick and I finally conquered Mike Tyson's Punch-Out, beating the game's namesake in the final round. When that moment occurred, we gave each other the biggest hug you can imagine, smiling from ear-to-ear. Those days won't come again.