The Big Two Are On The Summer Nostalgia Circuit (More than usual)
David_D
Posts: 3,884
At the shop today I saw all of the DC Convergence books in a lineup-- I saw covers that harkened back to the Bwah-ha-ha Justice League International days, the 90s Reign of the Supermen Superboy and Steel, more 90s things like Azbats and Hal Jordan in Zero Hour mode, a late 80s looking Suicide Squad etc. (Unfortunately, most of these covers were imitations, as few if any of the creative teams on these books are the ones who created in the eras being imitated).
Soon we'll get the same from the various Marvel Secret War tie-ins that return to fan favorite stories, time periods, and alternate futures.
Funny how both of these summer events ended up being on the same wavelength. A sort of summer nostalgia circuit festival of the bands you liked growing up, back to put their faces in again.
And I don't think one company actually copied the other. I think sometimes there are ideas that are just in the air, for a variety of cultural reasons. And both companies have done small things like this over the last few years, perhaps successful enough to get them to want to drill down on this idea. (Some things that come to mind are the multiversal Spider-Man video game, and later the Spider-Verse comics; or Multiversity at DC, which is only getting published now but has been in development for years.)
So I think both of the Big Two independently felt it was the right time to have a summer event that is basically breaking out their greatest hits.
My question is, why? Why do you think this is the direction that they both seemed to head in this year?
And, does it work for you? Do you find you are enticed to revisit these eras and stories? And does it matter to you if, across both companies, the new spin on these old stories are being done by different creative teams?
Soon we'll get the same from the various Marvel Secret War tie-ins that return to fan favorite stories, time periods, and alternate futures.
Funny how both of these summer events ended up being on the same wavelength. A sort of summer nostalgia circuit festival of the bands you liked growing up, back to put their faces in again.
And I don't think one company actually copied the other. I think sometimes there are ideas that are just in the air, for a variety of cultural reasons. And both companies have done small things like this over the last few years, perhaps successful enough to get them to want to drill down on this idea. (Some things that come to mind are the multiversal Spider-Man video game, and later the Spider-Verse comics; or Multiversity at DC, which is only getting published now but has been in development for years.)
So I think both of the Big Two independently felt it was the right time to have a summer event that is basically breaking out their greatest hits.
My question is, why? Why do you think this is the direction that they both seemed to head in this year?
And, does it work for you? Do you find you are enticed to revisit these eras and stories? And does it matter to you if, across both companies, the new spin on these old stories are being done by different creative teams?
Comments
The bitter old(ish) man in me feels like this is them appeasing me as one of those sour grapes bitching about the New52 before they give me the final kiss off. "Did you like Matrix Supergirl? Well here she is one last time...then we're gonna kill her once and for all, so you can either suck it up and keep buying our books or move on to the indie books. Thanks for your money all those years."
The kid inside that old man's body is in hog heaven. He also can't wait to read The Omega Men again, and only wished someone had brought back Arion. :)
The real proof is in the long-term pudding. Even though the post-convergence titles look great, barring the mini-series, how many of them will still be around June of 2016?
Why are Marvel and DC revisiting familiar material? Well, they didn't talk to my mom but they did talk to their accounting department and found out what made them lots of money before.
The big difference is Aunt Sue bought me that greatest hits album because even though she doesn't know me that well she still wanted to do something nice for me. What she didn't do was try to sell me overpriced singles of each song on that greatest hits album that turn out to only be re-recorded versions of the originals.
This is, however, simply my opinion. Your mileage may vary. I just prefer not to fill my tank as often.
And not only that, but part of me wants to see the numbers for NOT the Convergence main series, but the two issue mini's. I want to see the numbers for those juxtaposed against their regular ongoing counterparts. (For instance, show me the numbers for the two most recent issues of Earth 2 VS the two issue mini of Justice Society) Because, I'm betting dollars to donuts that the majority of the Convergence mini's outsell their prior counterparts. In which case, I can't understand with "voting with your dollars" mentality, why DC wouldn't see that and go, "Well shit, maybe we're doing something wrong here."
But, that's just speculation until I see the numbers.
You and your white power fantasies.
Arion this. Arion that. When will they bring back Arion.
We both know Arak the Son of Thunder is the truth.
I will hunt it down!
M
I'd rather see a 2 year sample size where they release both titles by the same creative team. Look at the numbers to see where they fall. Now, I wouldn't make an announcement it's a survey, nor establish a time period for the survey to last.
M
Should be at The Tangled Web for me next week!