Narrative Transformations
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use your powers to blast a hole in that wall” just as often as he might have yelled, “Torch,
use your powers to, blast a hole in that wall,” and so on.
Another nod: as the story begins. Super Goat Man moves to and lives in Cobble Hill,
Brooklyn, an actual place, not some fictitious city. It is not Metropolis or Gotham City or
Smallville— cities and towns that changed shape, texture, size, architecture depending on
the demands o f the story or, more often, the whims o f the artist. Again, this was Marvel’s
genius. Though the first issue o f The Fantastic Four locates them in “Central City,” N ew
York City will be their home ( Origins o f M attel Comics, 22). And to a young boy living
on the other side o f the country, it was real and fantastic, otherworldly and solid. Li