Amazing Fantasy #9

Greetings, true believers! It has been brought to my attention that there is a minor Marvel comic book character very loosely based on... me! Seriously! This means your favorite real life mild-mannered travel blogwriter is now a part of the Marvel universe with the likes of Wolverine and Spiderman -- and I mean the ficticious one, not the dress up guy wandering around the streets of Manila on New Year's Eve.

In Marvel's revival of Amazing Fantasy, in issue No. 9 (June 2005), the main character, a globetrotting female assassin known as The Scorpion, encounters Troy, a young aspiring travel writer on a round-the-world trip. She actually starts falling for Troy until she has to leave him to kick some ass, leaving Troy all confused and alone in Prague.

If you pick up the issue (available at comic stores everywhere), you'll see that while Troy is an aspiring travel writer who keeps a travel blog, his illustrated likeless doesn't exactly fit me; he's a blonde white guy and I'm a guy who looks like this. You're probably thinking, That could be any backpacker; there are thousands of them! But if you turn to the last page, where there is a full page panel of Troy's make-believe blog, you'll see its likeness is strikingly similar to one you are familiar with.

Note the similar layout design and font color scheme of the text, the labels of the pull down menus (of the same varied sizes), and even the "BLOG" logo in the upper right-hand corner. It is an obvious rip off of my crude design.

Coincidence? Hmmm... Is it a coincidence that the second comment is from a blogreader named "erik"?

(Well, perhaps not; I'm the friend of a friend of one of the writers at Marvel.)

Now if only I had some mutant powers....

If you enjoy this daily travel blog, please post a comment! Give me suggestions, send me on missions, let me know how things are going back home in the USA. Knowing that I have an audience will only force me to make this blog more entertaining as the days go by. Don´t forget to bookmark it and let a friend know!

Posted by Erik on July 6, 2005 07:30 PM
Category: Epilogue

I go to reuse this Firefox tab... and blammo I see comments... thinking, "wtf" I examine a little more closely. By J Jonah Jamison, its a new entry! Our intrepid travel writer has infected yet another medium. Next thing you know, he'll be fighting crime with Rage in, oh nevermind. I watch too much TV.

Congrats man... now if we can only get those peeps in the glass building in McLean to wake up and hire you already. E, you know Discovery and Nat Geo are down here too, but the city still stinks.

Posted by: Duaine on July 7, 2005 09:13 AM

Whoo-hoo, another update!!!

First off, I haven't read all your entries (since there's so many) but reading that Spiderman/Manila entry was hilariously entertaining!! I'm in awe of how many fantastic moments u had while travelling!! If I could only experience 1% of the moments you had, I'd be content!!

And I was starting to think "what the -- are you going to sue??" until I read down further. You're starting to have an underground cult following, what with all the mentions you have.

Posted by: Joyce on July 8, 2005 04:09 PM

My first comment was going to be "when are you going to sue?" But now knowing that you have friends at Marvel, not so much...

Funny, though. They shoulda just made him like you...woulda been better...

Posted by: Noelle on July 7, 2005 02:22 AM

Erik, came across your blog after talking to a friend at a hh who says she knows your brother. I'm addicted(at day 136 and coutning). Now I'm thinking of doing the same thing. Sure you've heard this several times–but how much did you save before going, what are you doing now for money, what was the grand total? I'm sure I'll figure most of this out by the time I get to day 503

Posted by: Dan on July 7, 2005 10:04 AM

dude, that's cool! but why the hell does he have to be some blonde hair white guy? what's wrong with making him non-white? booooo!!!! they should have made him look like you. and added some butt scenes since you love mooning everyone and everything. =P

Posted by: Alice on July 7, 2005 10:14 AM

Ha ha, told you so.

And I can see the drug store Halloween costumes now... complete with baseball tee and soul patch. That's gotta be worth like 1/2 a point, right?

Posted by: RachelJC on July 7, 2005 10:47 AM

Thanks Erik. I mentioned traveling and the friend immediately mentioned the blog. Really great idea–glad I found it. Welcome back(a few months late).

Didn't realize it was going to be that expensive–maybe if I avoid buying the Carnaval costume...

Posted by: Dan on July 7, 2005 01:37 PM

Hey, in that case I can quit my job tomorrow! I think I'll finish all 503 entries first so I can get a few ideas. Thanks again, this is a great reference for travel ideas.

Posted by: Dan on July 7, 2005 01:48 PM

Greetings from Canada,

Funny thing is....I haven't clicked on here in awhile....but for some reason I did today!! Cool news....I too agree that he should have looked just like you!

Posted by: Lisa on July 7, 2005 02:28 PM

Hi Erik,
I accidentally deleted your email address from a while ago, would you mind giving it me again or sending me a quick email. I have a couple of super quick travel questions if you don't mind.
Thanks!
And yes, I check this website once a week to see if anything new is posted.

Posted by: Kirsten on July 11, 2005 11:07 AM

July 06, 2005