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Thing #31
Issue(s): Thing #31
Cover Date: Jan 86
Title: "Devil Dinosaur: The movie!"
Credits:
Mike Carlin - Writer
Ron Wilson - Penciler
Kim DeMulder - Inker
Mark Gruenwald - Editor
Review/plot:
The "National Safety Commission" has decided that the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation needs a forcefield around the wrestling ring to protect the spectators (and even seems to be footing the bill for it), so the Thing gets to take some time off while it's being installed. He decides to spend the time by traveling to a remote island where Sharon Ventura is filming a movie.
Before leaving, he gets into an argument with Vance Astro, and during the argument he has a mysterious dizzy spell.
Sharon's movie is based on Devil Dinosaur and Moonboy...
...which raises some interesting questions. Devil Dinosaur was a Jack Kirby book from the period where he returned in the 70s, and like Eternals and 2001, it really wasn't meant to take place in the Marvel Universe (as far as i know). Since it was set entirely in the past, it didn't really matter if it did or didn't take place in the MU, until Godzilla #21 when Mr. Fantastic sent Godzilla back in time where he fought and then teamed-up with Devil Dinosaur.
So if people are making a movie about Devil Dinosaur in "1986", does that mean that people know he really existed? Is it considered scientific fact or just a legend? And does Godzilla, who appears in this story, remember his one-time buddy?
As we saw in Godzilla's previous appearance, he's mutated considerably since the end of his own series (and Marvel's loss of the Toho license), and he's mutated further and become Ron Wilson-ized here. He's also not actually named Godzilla, except when he is.
The story here is your basic "boy cried wolf", with the Thing at first not realizing that the dinosaurs on the set are animatronic...
...and otherwise interfering with Sharon in an attempt to be macho while she's on the job.
So then when Godzilla shows up to attack, he sits it out.
Luckily, Godzilla stomps off after defeating the fake Devil Dinosaur. I guess he didn't like this depiction of his friend.
A fun if weird final footnote for Marvel Godzilla.
A fairly major point settled in this issue is that Sharon Ventura is not Tarianna.
Quality Rating: C+
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A
References:
- A report about Iron Man fighting Godzilla in Iron Man #196 was reported in the World Weekly News, but no one believed it.
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
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Comments
Devil Dinosaur was briefly transported to Earth in Devil Dinosaur 9. The Official Handbook claims that this is how the filmmakers knew about him, although it should be noted that Moonboy never appeared on Earth.
Maybe this Moonboy was just a bratty kid who kept dropping his pants?
"Devil Dinosaur was a Jack Kirby book from the period where he returned in the 70s, and like Eternals and 2001, it really wasn't meant to take place in the Marvel Universe (as far as i know). "
Actually it's the opposite. Devil dinosaur was intended by Kirby to take place in the past of the 616 universe. Godzilla #21 respects that intent (Godzilla uses a time machine to meet Devil dinosaur). However the fallen angel miniseries retcons Devil dinosaur and moon boy to live on another planet. This goes on for a LONG time with loads of retcons but usually the idea is that Devil Dinosaur and Moon boy are from dinosaur world (earth 78411). My theory about how a movie about devil dinosaur that includes moon boy can be made in the 616 reality is that devil dinosaur and moon boy are fictional characters in the 616 reality and real people/dinosaurs in dinosaur world (kind of like how in the ,nam universe marvel characters (excluding punisher) are only fictional comic book characters while in the 616 reality they are obviously real).
I got my information from the Devil Dinosaur Wikipedia page for those who are interested. I don,t know how,to make links so the link is in my name.
