First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #38 (1966) Possibly inspiring A Tribe Called Quest, Just A Guy Named Joe appeared as a one-shot unintentional bad guy. Not only did he have no villainous intent, he never even requested to be called Just A Guy Named Joe; that was the title given to him on the cover in homage to the song "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe" by Judy Garland. Nevertheless, down-on-his-luck boxer Joe Smith gains super-strength and uncontrollable rage in a movie-set lighting and chemical accident. Must have been an Ed Wood film. Already clad in a supervillain-worthy outfit, Joe kept going berserk at random intervals, forcing Spidey to KO him each time. Once his rages went away, a movie producer was so impressed by his preternatural strength that he made him into a Hollywood star. Presumably in snuff films. Later issues expand on his post-villain career: his TV show was cancelled, his first and only child had birth defects, and his wife divorced him. He's really not living up to that song.
I'm a nice dude, with some nice dreams
See these ice cubes, see these Ice Creams?
Go to http://blackcomicguy.wordpress.com/ to read some of my thoughts on comics, film and television.
