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1974-11-01 00:01:18
Previous:
Marvel Team-Up #27
Up:
Main

1974 / Box 9 / EiC: Roy Thomas

Next:
Iron Man #72

Power Man #22

Issue(s): Power Man #22
Cover Date: Dec 74
Title: "The Broadway mayhem of 1974"
Credits:
Tony Isabella - Writer
Ron Wilson - Penciler
Vincent Colletta - Inker

Review/plot:
Stiletto returns and this time he's got a partner, Discus.

In Stiletto's previous appearance he mentioned his father ("It's just like I told dad! Once a con, always a con.") but in this issue we learn that his father is Tyler Stuart, the prison warden who got fired after Luke Cage escaped from Seagate. Discus is Stuart's other son. Stuart was not a bad guy and unlike Billy Bob Rackham, he doesn't have a vendetta against Cage, but his sons obviously do.

It's also said that someone else is involved in Discus & Stiletto's activities. They say that their technology was developed at their university...

...but it's implied that there's more to it than that ("The knives are constructed of an explosive metal never before seen on Earth. But Luke Cage has less time than we to wonder about this technological 'advance' and the mystery it adds to Stiletto's past."), and a "third associate" is mentioned.

Like last issue, art is by Ron Wilson and while it's kind of clumsy, you can see the big chunky style that will eventually serve him very well with the Thing.

As vigilantes, Discus & Stiletto might have become more interesting characters if we ever got to see them outside the context of Luke Cage. In fact, as mentioned in the comments of Stiletto's first appearance, the "third associate" will much later turn out to be Justin Hammer, and a story where these justice-minded but misguided boys discover that they are funded by a guy that supplies technology to super-villains might have been an interesting story. But i suspect that reader reaction to these guys didn't merit them getting a lot of fleshing out; their costumes and motifs are a little lame.

An appearance by a strangely colored "Doug" and "Debbie" set off my real-world cameo detector, but i'm not sure who they are supposed to be.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first Discus

Chronological Placement Considerations: The issue begins with Cage and D.W. inspecting the rubble in D.W.'s uncle's Gem Theater after the battle with Erik Josten last issue. Cage and D.W. leave for California at the end of the issue - Cage is looking for Claire Temple, and D.W. is on a forced vacation since his theater is trashed.

References:

  • Cage tells D.W. about his recent encounter with the Defenders in Defenders #17-19, which was another job he didn't get paid for.
  • Stiletto previously appeared in Hero For Hire #16.
  • Cage describes Tyler Stuart as "The only warden who ever gave me a fair shake. The guy they fired when I escaped." He previously appeared in Hero For Hire #1.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Inbound References (1): show

  • Power Man #24-25

Characters Appearing: D.W. Griffith, Discus, Luke Cage, Stiletto, Tyler Stuart

Previous:
Marvel Team-Up #27
Up:
Main

1974 / Box 9 / EiC: Roy Thomas

Next:
Iron Man #72

Comments

Doug Moench and a girlfriend?

Posted by: Mark Drummond | April 20, 2013 5:38 PM

According to Wikipedia, Doug Moench has been married to a woman named Debbie for a while, so that may be it.

Posted by: accordion321 | August 15, 2015 2:20 AM




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