Sep 06, 2017 nfl superpro told the story of phil grayfield, an exnfl football player turned superhero. Nfl superpro was not just a bad comic book, but it is widely regarded as one of the worst comic books of all time. Nov 28, 2016 in 1991 marvel and the nfl decided to team up to create a new superhero. Written by comic book writer and editor fabian nicieza, nfl superpro tells the story of a rising football star named phil grayfield. The scientist then gave him a specially designed suit to stop the robbers and was allowed to keep it, which he used to fight crime as superpro. Im not recommending these, but what happens if the creeper, blue devil, dakota north or nfl superpro get picked up for a movie directed by james cameron and starring brad pitt and jennifer lawrence. Feb 02, 2020 this is where i take a look back at various odd, unusual or noteworthy comic books that were published during that decade. In the long history of sports cards and comic books, nfl superpro is probably one of the most gimmicky ideas to come along. In this one, phil grayfield gets doused with chemicals which turned him into a nearinvincible superhero. Nfl superpro told the story of phil grayfield, an exnfl football player turned superhero. Artists jose delbo and charles barnett mimic marvels classic style, and some of their panels boast kirby and romitalike characteristics. Nfl superpro was a shortlived comic book series published by marvel comics, centered on phil grayfield, an ex national football league nfl player who survives a freak accident and wears a nearindestructible football uniform. Only slightly more lame than nfl superpro, almighty dollar was one of his crime fighting buddies.
Mar 16, 2020 nfl superpro is one of those characters that scream out that its a licensed character. Nfl superpro fought football themed heroes such the time manipulator instant replay, players with roid rage, and a kickerninja. The nfl also promoted superpro at some events by using a mascot. Superpro is a superhero in the marvel universe and star of the shortlived comic book nfl superpro. Nfl superpro and the characters in his book were considered to be the most shameless marketing ploys in marvel history. Not even a guest appearance by spiderman could save the day. Writers fabien nicieza and buzz dixon tried to make a readable comic from it, which included a couple of guest appearances by spiderman and captain america. Superpro fights mobsters in order to clear the name of a friend whos.
The 5 biggest comic book content marketing fails of all time. Nfl superpro and the characters in his book were considered to be. Nfl superpro was a shortlived comic by marvel comics, produced in. Terrible sales, predictable dialog, and endless football puns saw that this. Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. The nfl branched out into comic books in the early 1990s when marvel comics created the character nfl superpro. For auction is 3 comic books from the series nfl superpro volume.
Phil grayfield, an exnfl player turned sports reporter, became a. Find the value of the marvel comic nfl superpro volume 1. Of course, as terrible as it was, it could be ripe for a comeback. Strangely enough, in spite of being an official pairing of two immense and reputable brands, this comic really didnt flourish. Thats pretty much what happened in september 1991 when marvel joined forces with the. So, view our 2,000 comics or other nfl superpro comics. The comic didnt sell, it probably didnt help the nfl, and its widely regarded as one of the worst comics ever published. This is one of those strange concepts in comics where a product is attempted to be merged with a comic book character.
Nicieza, whos had an impressive comics career preandpost superpro cocreating deadpool, working on xmen and a bunch of other great titles, admitted in an interview with vice the gig came with perks. We finally went on to do the death of superman and i forgot just how poor, the jla issue aside, the overall comic is. Marvels nfl superpro is the 90s comic that never should. Feb 04, 2018 this includes a short, canon character biography and my own opinionated sage rating, which i use to give ratings of comic books and science fiction characters. Thats pretty much what happened in september 1991 when marvel joined forces with the nfl and released the oneshot nfl superpro. At the other end of the spectrum, we have nfl superpro. Apr 20, 2020 nfl superpro marvel comics 1991 1992 with as many years as marvel comics has under its belt, sometime in that long expansive history, youre going to falter. This was a very shortlived comic that was the result of what proved to be an unwise collaboration between the nfl and marvel in the early 90s. Its the final issue of gridiron action as comicdoms favorite football hero battles the nefarious forces of evil in compulsion and repulsion. The 10 most asinine 1990s comic book characters who never.
The hopi tribe tried to force marvel to pull an issue of superpro from the stands. It ran for 12 issues and is at best a cult book today since it has a reputation of beingmonumentally bad. Marvels nfl superpro is the 90s comic that never shouldve. A knee injury led to the end of grayfields football career, but an incident involving fire. Find great deals on ebay for nfl superpro and nfl superpro club. The nfl and marvel once teamed up for a terrible comic.
Large marvel nfl superpro comic and super pro super bowl special magazines. If superpro didnt inspire kids to pursue football as a. Since marvel and the nfl teamed up to produce comic book covers. Superpro, as the first issue states, thus went from sacking quarterbacks, to tackling crime, but his crime fighting was cut short after 12 issues. Sep 07, 2017 nfl superpro was not just a bad comic book, but it is widely regarded as one of the worst comic books of all time. Nfl superpro told the story of phil grayfield, an aspiring football player whos career is. Cover pencils by john romita and ron frenz, inks by joe sinnott. We believe nfl superpro to be one of the greatest comic books ever written. You bet your life, script by fabian nicieza, pencils by jose delbo, inks by mike decarlo. This is where i take a look back at various odd, unusual or noteworthy comic books that were published during that decade. That could prove once and for all that everything marvel. Nfl superpro was a marvel comics series, the product of a brief collaboration between marvel and the national football league.
Nfl superpro was a comic series from marvel, licensed through the nfl, featuring a superhero football player. The best cap could do was compliment superpros costume colors. Due to the nature of said podcast we tend to do bad comic books though real talk. Nicieza, whos better known for his work on xmen, deadpool and thunderbolts, later admitted that working on the comic book series did have its perks.
Whie visiting a scientific genius, sports reporter and former athlete phil grayfield stumbled across a robbery. Below are our images taken from comic book sources. A big part of the reason superpro hasnt appeared is due to the unique circumstances of the characters creation, which involve the national football league. Nfl superpro marvel comics 1991 1992 with as many years as marvel comics has under its belt, sometime in that long expansive history, youre going to falter. Produced in collaboration with the nfl and written by fabian nicieza and artist jose delbo, the. Nfl superpro was another marvel attempt at a sportsthemed comic book. Sure, everybody was buying stacks of comics with hologram covers and quoting wolverine nonironically, but so, so many godawful new characters. Marvels weird 90s nfl superhero may have just returned. This includes a short, canon character biography and my own opinionated sage rating, which i use to give ratings of comic books and science fiction characters. If superpro didnt inspire kids to pursue football as a career, perhaps he drove them to try drawing.
He received a nice royalty check for the first issue and nfl tickets for taking on the gig. Fabian nicieza on 30 years in comics, deadpools success. Wearing the indestructible nfl uniform, grayfield becomes the nfl superpro. Nfl superpro super bowl special marvel comics fabian nicieza, jose delbo, bob hall on. Nfl superpro marvel comic books romita jusko covers spiderman fabian nicieza. I think its kind of funny that the selling point of this issue, at least by the cover, is a teamup with captain america, and yet the two basically have one interaction in the middle of the comic and thats it. But that power was the ability to shoot pennies from his hands. Published by marvel comics, it inadvertently became one of the most controversial comic books of the 1990s. Phil grayfield, a former aspiring football player, lost his chance to make it to the big leagues when he suffered a crippling knee injury while saving a child, and now. The comic book and character was widely panned and only 12 issues of the comic book were printed.
The lead character gets his powers from strange chemicals and burning nfl souvenirs. While the character was debuted in a marvel comic by fabian nicieza and jose delbo, he was created in collaboration with the nfl. Dec 30, 2019 it also featured every comic trope imaginable. Nfl superpro was a shortlived comic book series published by marvel comics, centered on phil grayfield, an ex national football league player who survives a freak accident and wears a nearindestructible football uniform. Is there anything leftspeculation bronze age comic. See also our image sources for comic strips and webcomics. Nicieza received free tickets to a new york jets game and also made a trip to the 1994 super bowl in atlanta. No one really cared about it though and the result was a flop. Comic books quest for identity trust me, im an x zipping up the bodybag 300 bloodsplattered warrior 30 days of. Jan 15, 2018 the books that will generate the biggest returns are the ones that nobody bets on. Dec 25, 2019 in the long history of sports cards and comic books, nfl superpro is probably one of the most gimmicky ideas to come along. View market values for books, store your collection, and. The books that will generate the biggest returns are the ones that nobody bets on. In 1991 marvel and the nfl decided to team up to create a new superhero.
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