Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Turnabout?
Conjecture here, but I would like to think that Grant Morrison has just returned the favor to DC chief Dan Didio (who completely blew the surprise ending to 52, months in advance) by casually revealing just what big mystery DC's new weekly series Countdown is counting down to:
We all wanted to do something new with the multiple Earths so what you've already seen in 52 is simply the tip of the iceberg - each parallel world now has its own huge new backstory and characters and each could basically form the foundation for a complete line of new books. If you like the ongoing soap opera dynamics of New Earth, you can watch Mary Marvel turning to the dark side as her skirt gets shorter and shorter, or you can buy the Earth 5 line of books featuring more iconic versions of the Marvel Family. If you miss Vic Sage as the Question, you should be able to follow the adventures of Vic's counterpart on the Charlton/Watchmen world of Earth 4.In any event, it is refreshing to see creators consciously adding something to a superhero line for once, rather than subtracting from it.
The idea behind the Megaverse is to basically create a number of big new franchise possibilities. It's like having several comics companies and universes under one umbrella, so, as I say, there could be one book or a whole line of books spinning out of the new Earth 10 (I handled that particular revamp, so I can tell you that the original concept of the Freedom Fighters on a world where the Nazis won World War 2 has been greatly reconsidered, expanded and intensified into something that's a bit more Wagnerian and apocalyptic and a bit more adult) That's how I'd like to see the Megaverse played out as we move forward. And no crossovers! Each of the parallel universes should exist in its own separate stream with no contact from the others - not until we have a story worthy of bringing them together.
# posted by Cole Moore Odell @ 5/08/2007 
Comments:
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If true, and the intent is to run separate lines where characters with the same name run in their own, regular, monthly adventures, then this is the same (IMHO) bad move Marvel made with the launch of the "Ultimate" line. It dilutes the characters and gives creators license to rape universes rather than be their caretakers. It also creates a type of fan that, amazingly to me, fails to see the difference between one version and another.
Sure, the characters are all pretend. The stories are all imaginary. But if the people on the other side start treating them that way then there's nothing to hold onto, nothing to care about, and the type of fan who enjoys it won't be likely to develop deep roots and really stick with a character. That there are people who enthusiastically swallow a version of Captain America who makes France = surrender jokes, or reads All-Star Batman & Robin and thinks it's a good Batman title rather than a perverse train wreck, a Sin City in dress-up, is something I wouldn't have believed were I not seeing and hearing it.
Now, all that said, I like the idea of the multiverse (of Megaverse, if that's what they're calling it in this instance), and something like the Freedom Fighters can work. They have to be selective in what they approach, though.
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Sure, the characters are all pretend. The stories are all imaginary. But if the people on the other side start treating them that way then there's nothing to hold onto, nothing to care about, and the type of fan who enjoys it won't be likely to develop deep roots and really stick with a character. That there are people who enthusiastically swallow a version of Captain America who makes France = surrender jokes, or reads All-Star Batman & Robin and thinks it's a good Batman title rather than a perverse train wreck, a Sin City in dress-up, is something I wouldn't have believed were I not seeing and hearing it.
Now, all that said, I like the idea of the multiverse (of Megaverse, if that's what they're calling it in this instance), and something like the Freedom Fighters can work. They have to be selective in what they approach, though.
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