PAID PROPAGANDA
FAST LANE - (Spider-Man) Parts 1,2,3,4
Fast Lane #1: "Media Blitz!"
Spider-Man defends himself from yet another attack by the special effects guru turned criminal, Mysterio. The fight ends quickly when the wall-crawler realizes he is not actually dealing with the villain but his cameras and simulations. Peter Parker doesn’t have time to investigate; he is late for another assignment at the Daily Bugle. He will be working with college interns Sam Exmore and Toni Harris as they try to get a story for the newspaper’s teen supplement, “On Target”. J. Jonah Jameson refuses to run ads for a new movie in which the star, Zane Whelan, seems to condone (if not promote) marijuana use. J.J.J. storms off after Toni reminds him that the advertisements pay for the paper. Sam idolizes Zane Whelan and leads the news team to an interview the interns arranged with the actor. As they drive across town, however, Mysterio strikes. Spider-Man’s foe uses a large crane and magnet to lift the vehicle off a bridge and dangle it precariously over the river. Sam falls out the driver’s side door, and the only way Peter can save him will reveal his secret identity.[2]
Fast Lane #2: "Feel the Rush!"
Sam Exmore falls out of the news van suspended in the air by Mysterio’s large magnet. Peter Parker quickly and secretly snags the airborn intern with webbing. He aims for the trap’s controls and manages to release their vehicle from the super-villian. Peter and the two young reporters race safely away. The three reach Zane Whelan’s video shoot in time to see a dangerous stunt in which the singer jumps off a building while high on drugs. Toni Harris tries to convince Sam that maybe his idol is phony. Sam scoffs at the notion and follows his hero only to overhear some disturbing news. Zane simply portrays an image of drug-use to appeal to the youth market. Sam leaves in disgust. He jumps into the van, smokes some of his drugs and drives off. Mysterio attacks at that moment preventing Spider-Man from stopping the speeding van.[2]
Fast Lane #3: "On the Edge"
Spider-Man defeats Mysterio; Sam drives the Daily Bugle van under the influence of marijuana, and is knocked off the Brooklyn Bridge; Spider-Man grabs the van with a webline at the last second, and holds on with all his strength[2]
Fast Lane #4: "Back on Target"
Spider-Man tries to stop the Daily Bugle van from falling into the river, and is assisted by numerous Marvel heroes; Sam learns his lesson about the dangers of marijuana.[2]
Fast Lane is a four part anti-drug story [paid for by the narc's] inserted with numerous Marvel comicbook titles [see list below] between 1999 and 2000:
- Astonishing X-Men #3 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- Avengers Forever #11 - Fast Lane: 1998 October 1999
- Avengers United They Stand #3 - Fast Lane Part 2 of 4 Feel The Rush January 2000
- Avengers United They Stand #5 - Fast Lane Part 3 of 4 On The Edge March 2000
- Avengers United They Stand #1 - Fast Lane Part 1 of 4 November 1999
- Black Panther #17 - Back on Target [Fast Lane, Part 4 of 4] April 2000
- Black Panther #18 - Back on Target [Fast Lane, Part 4 of 4] May 2000
- Black Panther #14 - Feel the Rush! [Fast Lane, Part 2 of 4] January 2000
- Blaze of Glory #3 - On the Edge [Fast Lane, Part 3 of 4] March 2000
- Blaze of Glory #4 - On the Edge [Fast Lane, Part 3 of 4] March 2000
- Cable #77 - Fast Lane Part 3: On The Edge March 2000
- Cable #73 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- Cable #79 - Fast Lane Part 4: Back on Target 1993 May 2000
- Cable #75 - Fast Lane Part 2: Feel the Rush 1993 January 2000
- Captain America #25 - Fast Lane Part 2: Feel the Rush January 2000
- Captain #5 - Fast Lane, Part 4 of 4: Back on Target May 2000
- Captain #1 - Fast Lane, Part 2 of 4: Feel the Rush January 2000
- Captain #3 - Fast Lane, Part 3 of 4: On the Edge March 2000
- Daredevil #11 - Fast Lane Part 4: Back on Target May 2000
- Daredevil #9 - Fast Lane Part 1: December 1999
- Deadpool #36 - Fast Lane Part 2: Feel the Rush! January 2000
- Deadpool #34 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- Domination Factor: Avengers #3.6 - Feel the Rush! (Fast Lane Part 2 of 4) January 2000
- Domination Factor: Avengers #1.2 - (Fast Lane Part 1 of 4) November 1999
- Domination Factor: Fantastic Four #3.5 - Feel the Rush! (Fast Lane Part 2 of 4) January 2000
- Domination Factor: Fantastic Four #1.1 - (Fast Lane Part 1 of 4) December 1999
- Fantastic Five #4 - Feel the Rush (Fast Lane pt. 2) January 2000
- Fantastic Five #2 - (Fast Lane pt. 1) November 1999
- Gambit #12 - Fast Lane Part 2: Feel the Rush January 2000
- Gambit #14 - Fast Lane Part 3: On The Edge March 2000
- Gambit #10 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- Generation X #63 - Fast Lane Part 4: Back on Target May 2000
- Hulk #8 - [Fast Lane, Part 1 of 4] November 1999
- Hulk #10 - Feel the Rush! [Fast Lane, Part 2 of 4] January 2000
- Incredible Hulk #12 - On the Edge [Fast Lane, Part 3 of 4] March 2000
- Incredible Hulk #14 - Back on Target [Fast Lane, Part 4 of 4] May 2000
- Iron Man #24 - Feel the Rush! (Fast Lane Part 2 of 4) January 2000
- Iron Man #28 - Back on Target (Fast Lane Part 4) 1998 May 2000
- Iron Man #22 - (Fast Lane Part 1 of 4) November 1999
- Juggernaut #1 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- Mutant X #19 - Fast Lane (Part 4 of 4): Back on Track May 2000
- Mutant X #16 - Fast Lane (Part 2 of 4): Feel the Rush! January 2000
- Mutant X #17 - Fast Lane (Part 3 of 4): On the Edge February 2000
- Mutant X #14 - (Fast Lane pt. 1) Nov 1999
- Mutant X 2000 #1 - Fast Lane (Part 4 of 4): Back on Track 2000
- Peter Parker: Spider-Man #11 - Fast Lane Part One: November 1999
- Punisher, The #2 - Back on Target [Fast Lane, Part 4 of 4] May 2000
- Spider-Girl #14 - (Fast Lane pt. 1) November 1999
- Spider-Girl #18 - On the Edge (Fast Lane Part 3 of 4) March 2000
- Spider-Girl #20 - Back on Target (Fast Lane Part 4 of 4) May 2000
- Spider-Girl #16 - Feel the Rush (Fast Lane part 2 of 4) January 2000
- Spider-Man Unlimited #2 - Fast Lane - Part 2 of 4: Feel The Rush January 2000
- Thor #21 - Fast Lane Part 3: On The Edge March 2000
- Thor #17 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- Thor #23 - Fast Lane Part 4: Back on Target May 2000
- Thor #19 - Fast Lane Part 2: Feel the Rush January, 2000
- Thunderbolts #38 - Back on Target [Fast Lane, Part 4 of 4] May 2000
- Thunderbolts #34 - Feel the Rush! [Fast Lane, Part 2 of 4] January 2000
- Thunderbolts #36 - On the Edge [Fast Lane, Part 3 of 4] March 2000
- Thunderbolts #32 - [Fast Lane, Part 1 of 4] November 1999
- Uncanny X-Men, The #374 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- Uncanny X-Men, The #378 - Fast Lane Part 3: On The Edge March 2000
- Uncanny X-Men, The #376 - Fast Lane Part 2: Feel the Rush January 2000
- Warlock #6 - Fast Lane Part 3: On the Edge March 2000
- Warlock #8 - Fast Lane Part 4: Back on Target May 2000
- Warlock #3 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #15 - Fast Lane, Part 3 of 4: On the Edge March 2000
- Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #17 - Fast Lane, Part 4 of 4: Back on Target May 2000
- Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #13 - Fast Lane, Part 2 of 4: Feel the Rush January 2000
- Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #14 - Fast Lane, Part 3 of 4: On the Edge March 2000
- Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #11 - Fast Lane, Part 1 of 4: November 1999
- Werewolf By Night #2 - Life In The Fast Lane March 1998
- Wild Thing #2 - (Fast Lane pt. 1) November 1999
- Wild Thing #4 - Feel the Rush (Fast Lane pt. 2) January 2000
- X-51 #8 - Fast Lane part 3 of 4: On the Edge March 2000
- X-51 #4 - Fast Lane Part 1 of 4: November 1999
- X-51 #10 - Fast Lane Part 4: Back on Target May 2000
- X-51 #6 - Fast Lane Part 2 of 4: Feel the Rush! January 2000
- X-Babies Reborn #1 - Fast Lane Part 2 of 4: January 2000
- X-Force #96 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- X-Force #100 - Fast Lane Part 3: On The Edge March 2000
- X-Force #98 - Fast Lane Part 2: Feel The Rush January 2000
- X-Force #102 - Fast Lane Part 4: Back on Target May 2000
- X-Man #57 - Fast Lane, Part 1 of 4: November 1999
- X-Men #100 - Fast Lane Part 4: Back on Target May 2000
- X-Men #98 - Fast Lane Part 3: On the Edge March 1999
- X-Men #96 - Fast Lane Part 2: Feel the Rush January 2000
- X-Men #94 - Fast Lane Part 1: November 1999
- X-Men Unlimited #26 - Fast Lane Part 3: On the Edge March 2000
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT
Oct 1996 / Dec 1996 / Jan 1997
"This is How I'm going to save the world, Ivy. Marijuana!. Unlike Most Villains, I don't want to rule the world. I Only want to get it STONED!"
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #56
DATE: Oct 1996
STORY TITLE: "Leaves of Grass #1 -Twin Peaks"
STORY PLOT: A Mysterious Supplier Of Genetically-Enhanced MARIJUANA Triggers A Drug War In Gotham. Meanwhile, Poison Ivy Is Released From Arkham By Mercenaries Holly Wood And Eva Green. At School, Tim Drake Deals With Marijuana Use Among His Friends.
CHARACTURES: Poison Ivy, Batman
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #57
DATE: Dec 1996
STORY TITLE: "Leaves of Grass #2 -Reefer Madness"
STORY PLOT: Poison Ivy confronts Jason Woodrue (the Floronic Man), who is revealed to be the supplier of the genetically-enhanced marijuana that is flooding Gotham. He relates being regrown under the influence of marijuana. The Floronic Man believes that marijuana can save the world. He pays Poison Ivy for the use of her blood to create a new life form. The Batman tracks them and is surprised and knocked unconscious by Holly and Eva. Also, the Tim Drake subplot continues as Tim's friend Norris has a bad reaction to the genetically-enhanced marijuana.
CHARACTURES: Poison Ivy, Batman, Floronic Man
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #58
DATE: Jan 1997
STORY TITLE: "Leaves of Grass #3 - Comedown!"
STORY PLOT: Tim Drake;s friend Norris hallucinates under the influence of the MARIJUANA created by the Floronic Man. Poison Ivy kisses Batman, releases him and watches as he and the Floronic Man fight. Batman wins the fight by shocking the Floronic Man and cutting off his head (which doesn't kill him, he's a plant). The Batman easily dispatches Holly and Eva. However, Poison Ivy escapes due to paralysis induced by the kiss she shared with Batman earlier in the story. Tim Drake stands before his class and explains why he will never take drugs.
CHARACTURES: Poison Ivy, Batman, Floronic Man
"Last year, in a scandal that rocked the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the press revealed that the ONDCP's advertising campaign included paying television networks to infiltrate regular sitcoms with anti-drug story lines. Cannabis Culture has discovered that they were doing the same thing with comics. . . . The mainstream press missed the fact that the ONDCP also paid – and continues to pay – comic book manufacturers DC and Marvel for anti-drug ads. Meanwhile, more suspicious anti-drug story lines have been popping up in the world of super-heroes. Marvel's Spider-Man, a government narc since the early 70's, takes a huge roll in a four-part series devoted to slagging marijuana. . . . . DC also carries an ONDCP ad on their website, with a link to the ONDCP's "Freevibe," a website with tons of anti-pot hysteria. . . . Meanwhile, the Freevibe site invites young people to "relate their experiences," potentially leaving themselves and their family at risk of DEA investigations.
In 2000, both Marvel's Spider-Man and DC's Batman received White House awards for their command prohibitionist performances. Yet the ONDCP's own follow-up research indicates that their anti-marijuana media campaign hasn't changed the minds of today's youth; it has only been a waste of taxpayers' dollars." -- Cannabis Culture Magazine
GREEN ARROW - The New Origin of Green Arrow
Oct 1996
Oddly enough, Green Arrow has had numerous origins (about one every 10 years or so); But by far the most interesting one is found in "The Longbow Hunters #1."
According to the DC Comic -- One day Millionaire Playboy, Oliver Queen got drunk and fell off his yacht (other versions of the story say he was pushed), anyway, he somehow made his way to an island, where he survived by making a crude bow and arrow for hunting. As time went on, he started improvising trick arrows to assist him in survival. Than after a year or so, he was finally rescued when a group of medical MARIHUANA Drug Lords came back to the island to harvest their crop. [which presumes that it was they who had planted it]
Green Arrow quickly overpowers the Medical Marihuana drug lords and forces them to take him back to civilization. After which he turns them over to the pigs.
Now what's the problem with this story?
First, ignoring the fact that it takes less than four months for HEMP (the Medical Marihuana plant) to grow to maturity. How was it possible for Green Arrow to have been on that Island for as long as he was WITHOUT noticing what was going on? Which now brings up a funny question, Why GREEN arrow, (as oppose to red arrow, or yellow arrow) etc.? As all this happened before the dangers of smoking was known; Did he, well you know?
The Anti-Medical Marihuana Ad's
SKATING ON THIN ICE (Spider-Man)
WANTED -The museum has not seen and is looking for a photo-copy] These full-length, full-color Anti-Drug Comics were not permitted to be circulated in the U.S. when they first came out. So well-informed Spidey fans (who heard of their existance) desired copies of these well-drawn, full-color collector's items - and had to have them sent down from a friend or "connection" in Canada! Eventually, years later, reprints were finally released to the American public.
Issue #1 (Skating on thin ice) features drug-use (beer drinkin', pill poppin'; plus Spidey fights Electro!), and a great Todd McFarlane drug-cover (with a marijuana "joint" hanging from the "S" in the logo; plus the powder vial, hypo., etc!) [Wording taken from an Internet auction website]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] -- From and article by Joshua Green, 2000 Playboy Enterprises, Inc., http://www.playboy.com
[2] -- Some wording has been taken from the following websites:
[3] -- Wording taken completely from the Grand Comic-Book Database
Our thanks to the Grand Comic-Book Database, for their help and all so many others that have given us their assisted.
WANT TO KNOW MORE:
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