Talk:Steeljack

Newcomer Vlad4 picked a great character entry that really needs to be improved. Especially since Steeljack was park of a major story arc, rich with character, and Kurt has mentioned in online interviews or blogs somewhere that Carl is slated for a possible updated visit.

I did some minor cleanup following Vlad's work, but it sure would be nice to see a full treatment on the Steel-Jacked Man.

--Infobroker (talk) 10:55, 9 December 2013 (PST)

Conflicting Dates

Quoting Zak:

" I know you'd rather not have it here and on a more relevant page, but I just wanted your thoughts (and anyone else who sees it) on this regarding the dates in The Tarnished Angel. The tombstone for the deceased boy that Carl kills reads 1952-1966, placing Carl being born around that time. But Kurt has said that that was a mistake, in that Carl it should have been in the late 1950s(jughead style hats, switchblade greaser fights), placing Carl being born in the early to mid 1940s.
So which do we go with, what's in the story or what Kurt says was the intention? A lot of the time frame, works with Steeljack being a teenager in the 1960s(and in his late 40's compared to mid 50s in age during the storyline), but Quarrel II's birth wouldn't. She would have had to been born in the mid 1960s at the latest herself...
I'm just curious for references on other pages. It's one of those things that doesn't matter, but it kind of does...

I'm also going back to figure out the story date. I know the general rule of thumb has been whenever the cover date says, but this one is tricky since it took almost two years and there is little actual years dropped aside from the first issue.
What I've got to go so far.

• Steeljack references as having served 20 years and another time that he'd been in jail since '78. He doesn't say over 20 years, but could be a case of rounding down. But still would point to the year being 1998
• The calender in his parole officers room would seem to either suggest March or November 1998 or August 1999. But it could be a generic calender type as it shows starting on a Sunday.
• The cover date of the first issue is April 1998, which would fit March 1998. But the later parts of the story feature more crappy type weather associated with the later parts of the year. And the trees seem like they're going dead and foliage building up.
• Overall, from my previous notes, I have the storyline taking place around 6 weeks total or so. And a big chunk of that a week and a half to two weeks, takes place in the first issue. And there is around a two week gap from issue 17 to 18.
• The only real other reference is the last scene, which takes place the next Spring, which would likely rule out Spring of 1998. It could set the ending as Spring 2000, which is closer to when the final issue of the story was published in late 1999....

August/Sepetmber/October 1999 could work, but I'm going to stick with October/November/December 1998 for now, unless someone can see something I miss or a consensus for switching it... I think I asked this on the old site too...

--Astrozac (talk) 14:10, 29 January 2014 (PST)"

Zak, I know you questioned this and then choose to delete it from the discussion tab for the main page. But actually, it has tremendous merit and touches on some core issues that give Herocopia its value. Similar to what prompted me to produce all those html pages documenting the history of the Honor Guard line up and then other characters of personal interest way back in 2003. However, I have moved your comments here where they will be easy for others to find when or if they have the very same questions.

Here are some quick responses;

1. For the gravestone date conflict: Let's put some comments into the Observation section, and mention Kurt's correction. If we can footnote where he said it that would be great. I will add an image of the grave marker from the comic when I get some time.

2. I think the fall 1998 date is correct for all kinds of reasons, even though the publication date is a year later. Health issues delayed those closing issues (IIRC) and also, and I am projecting my own interpretation of Astro City's clock and the real world clock, but sometimes a story arc like 'Tarnished' needs page space that a comic book schedule doesn't accommodate very well.

3. Spring 1998 for Jack's release date - actual month is quibble. You can maybe (should) mention the quibble, but be clear that it is speculative in nature.

4. Six week time window is probably ok, but from my 5000 foot perch, I view that as a strong, possible time summation. The actually timeframe could have stretched longer, perhaps as much as 12 weeks, maybe 15, but I would have to dissect and reread to come to a definitive summation myself, and actually, I am not too sure I want/need to. I doubt, given all that transpires, it could be shorter than six weeks.

--Infobroker (talk) 10:24, 30 January 2014 (PST)

After I typed it, I just thought we had this conversation three or four years ago and we came to the same conclusion. The only wrinkle I thought about this time was what if it was the next year? But I think the dates and when it was originally supposed to be finished in the Fall of 1998, leads it to that year(similar to Confession).

And like you, it's just part of the unique aspect of Astro City taking place in real time. The story's good enough it doesn't matter, but yet it does. The timeframe of this story and the age of Steeljack, effects so much else and others pages, like Quarrels. If we ever get her full story, it helps fill in some of these questions.

Kurt mentioned it on Bruiser's when I asked him about Steeljack's age and I'll work on it when I get some time.

--Astrozac (talk) 06:22, 31 January 2014 (PST)

White Line space versus "<br>"

For main body text, a full white line of space please. Double enter-key is all it takes. The "<br>" works fine elsewhere, usually in places where you want to keep things stacked closely together, (like a character list).

Thanks --Infobroker (talk) 10:19, 21 April 2014 (PDT)