In this issue: Stephen brings up continuity brought on by major crossover events, Rodrigo pitches a Wonder Woman television show, and Matthew… well, he’s Matthew.
[podcast]http://traffic.libsyn.com/majorspoilers/msp345.mp3[/podcast]Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com
A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends about the podcast, get them to subscribe and, be sure to visit the Major Spoilers site and forums.
8 Comments
On event continuity, World War Hulk: X-Men is a perfect example of how to do event tie-ins the right way.
It was a fun X-Men book, that had nothing to do with the X-Men at the time, but made sense in the World War Hulk event. Readers enjoying WWH did not have to buy this to continue enjoying WWH.
When a reader MUST buy a tie-in to enjoy the main title, its still okay, just let me know ahead of time. But they won’t do that because then I wouldn’t buy all the other crap. But now, I’m not buying it at all.
Its crazy that Marvel currently has 3 events going on: Fear Itself, the type-F event that includes tie-ins that MUST be read to understand the main event title.
Spider Island, the type-R event that does have some tie-ins, but those tie-ins are not required reading to fully enjoy the main event book (ASM, in this example)
Schism: a type-S event that is self contained in 1 book.
What’s really going on over there, Marvel?
Your itunes download is all f’ed up. I are sad panda this is my Saturday tradition.
you’ll need to redownload… the file is fine.
I’de watch Rodrigo’s WW show, it would be basically the WW anime but in episode form.
Worries about Superman’s briefs wouldn’t fall under fan concerns about continuity considering the briefs have been a constant through several continuity reboots. It’s a bit trite to say it will have no effect on the future of Superman (other than, “this version of Superman doesn’t wear briefs”) for a handful of reasons. The most significant reason being that the next major motion picture featuring Superman won’t have the briefs. Now granted, Superman being a stalker and deadbeat dad who tries to break up a common law marriage hasn’t stuck, but as you guys are fond of citing- Batman ’89 specifically-, a single movie costume depiction can change the landscape of costume / character design for decades to come.
If it sticks, it could fragment or dilute the Superman trademark (a different IP right from the contended copyright)… if it doesn’t stick, it’s just another detour that will devalue the Superman IP in the eyes of WB and potential licensees. Ask yourself which would a toy or lunchbox manufacturer rather license… the trade dress of the 75 year old icon or Regeneration Suit Superman? If it does stick, when does it stop? What character who has had “permanent” modern costume redesigns have been able to stop redesigning their costumes? Batman and Wolverine sport new looks practically every eight months… and while they’re popular enough to sustain their marks even ever shifting (and arguably aren’t… can the public distinguish between Dick Bats and Bruce Bat, Daken or Jimmy Hudson?), the lack of constancy in costumes can make it harder to build, promote, value, and sell your marks to licensees (or defend against infringers). Even a 4 year old can pick out the elements of Superman’s classic costume… but ask them to recreate, with reliability, someone with as many generic costume shifts as, say, Rogue and your IP has less value out the gate.
Of course, Superman is still quite popular and distinct and even with changes he’d be recognizable like Iron Man or Thor, but it certainly helps those two that there isn’t a huge extended Thor / Iron Man family (yes, there’s Beta Ray, War Machine, Rescue, etc… but not quite expansive compared to litany of Superman clones out there, even within his own books); but even outside of IP issues it sets a significant precedent that Superman’s look can be substantially changed for long (if it sticks) or significant (for the film) periods of time all in order to bend to fickle notions of style, popular criticism, or rationality arguments, whereas before he was constant and immutable by and large. Briefs aren’t the end all and be all of Superman, but if you’re willing to compromise on them then a vision like Jon Peters’ Superman pitched to Kevin Smith becomes a lot less absurd than we’d like.
I liked Rodrigo’s pitch idea, but why would Wonder Woman have to be a lesbian for the main character to be a woman? It could be gal-pal show, with a girl who wants to help her out, and Steve Trevor could have a supporting role.
You could kick off with Wonder Woman coming to America looking for Steve Trevor after he leaves Paradise Island.
I think that the romantic angle is important, so WW and secondary character would have to have some sexual tension.
That said the networks would never go for it, not in 2011 anyway.
Rodrigo’s Idea works for me, seeing the world unfold from Steve’s eyes would be great. Because she would be always around him, and then WW would show up, but the camera would be from Steve’s angle not WW. Almost like an eye witness account.
Also I think the WW should have both type of romantic angles. Male and Female, she a new girl from Paradise Island and she needs to find out what she likes.
To hell with the networks, they do not know what we want anyway. You make it I will watch it hell out of it.