Episode 1219 Talkback: Comic Talk
Pants
Posts: 567
Topics of discussion include DC Comics' upcoming #0 issues, Batman: Odyssey, the Young Justice Season Finale, Marvel's Augmented Reality App, Batman: Night of the Owls and more. (1:16:11)
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And about Bernard the Poet. I don't think anything really "happened" to him. I think they just stopped using him and he faded away. And I didn't know he was in First Class at all (I've only read a handful of the Uncanny First Class issues, but want to read the rest because what I read I liked) so I looked it up and found out that the issue of First Class he was in revealed that he is a mutant with the ability to alter the perceptions of others when he reads his poetry.
http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/bernardthepoet.htm
http://marvel.wikia.com/Bernard_the_Poet_(Earth-616)
So then how about the GL animated series? It doesn't have a toyline. Why? Because retailers passed on the concept of one all together. They took one look at the underwhelming GL movie toyline (which is still stinking up the isles) and said "thanks, but we're good"
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/GraphicCity/news/?a=58490
I also agree with everyone that suggested that the best and smoothest integration of the AR content would be as a part of the digital comic. To have the option of drilling down for extras come up during a digital read, a la some of the special features integration on Blu-Rays, makes worlds more sense than trying to aim the camera of a mobile device at a printed funnybook. I think, even in a room by myself, I would feel ridiculous doing that.
Unfortunately, it seems clear to me that the whole idea of the AR, as well as the free digital copy included with a lot of the paper issues, are to recruit readers to become digital customers of Marvel, as well as users of their various apps and website, so their eyeballs will also see ads, and potentially might buy more comics and licensed goods, etc.
The AR nonsense is a recruiting tool in the guise of bonus content. It is an attempt to educate buyers of the paper comics how to start cutting out the brick and mortal middle man. And I resent having to have that campaign ugly up the pages I paid for.
I guess you didn't read "R.I.P." or Morrison's run in general? What Snyder's doing reads like a streamlined version of that. The Court of Owls, with its links to Gotham's past and Wayne family history, seems really, really similar to Morrison's Black Glove organization. The Talons even look like a "Third Batman" character that Morrison created. Even the storybeats -- with Bruce being captured and drugged, with the bad guys invading Wayne Manor and running amok throughout Gotham -- almost seem lifted right from "R.I.P." I mean, overall it's a different story, but a LOT of aspects are really, really, really, really similar.
Maybe you guys just aren't aware of this or something, because I know some of you don't like Morrison. But when Jamie (I think it was Jamie) was saying something to the effect of "Why did no one ever think of this before?", I just had to say "Well, Morrison did think of it." The Black Glove was a secret society in Gotham; Bruce didn't want to believe it was real; and it tied into Gotham/Wayne history and changed things around a bit. I'm happy that Snyder is doing another similar story -- because it's awesome -- but it has been done before.
That's not to say that there isn't a lot to celebrate about Court of Owls. I'm loving it. And Capullo is a much better artist than the guy Morrison had to work with. I can also definitely see how Snyder's run seems to energize the fanbase. It's a relatively straightforward story that cuts to the chase and is just cool. Do I prefer Morrison's much more difficult, obscure story? Yes. But I can like what Snyder's doing on its own terms, and I will admit that it's better in certain ways.
I just think you guys are kind of exaggerating what it "is", though. I mean, at one point it seemed like you were saying that the only reason Red Hood & The Outlaws existed was because it was going to have a Night of the Owls tie-in. Do you realize that not all of the tie-ins are going to be as co-ordinated as the Nightwing issues? The rest of them are just going to be, well, the same thing as most of the "R.I.P." tie-ins: they'll just show the Bat-family tackling the secret evil group's minions throughout the city.
So, I mean, not to take anything away from Snyder. He's one of the best writers DC has right now and I read Batman first thing every week that it's out. But Snyder isn't the reason why there are so many Bat-titles. The popularity of BATMAN is the reason there are so many Bat-titles.
I'll get off my soapbox. Hope you guys don't take this comment the wrong way. It's not meant to be antagonistic.
And I AM a fan of Morrison. Yes he has been messing with the past for quite a while. Some changes/additions/clarifications came from batman and robin and the return of bruce wayne as well.
Well, I hope Batman: Night of the Owls lives up to the hype for me. I've enjoyed the story thus far, but I haven't thought it was THAT great. I think Batman and Robin is better.