In this issue: Should a comic book company create a specific universe just for their movie franchise? The discussion gets heated.
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2 Comments
From what I can recall, the idea of “shared universes” began in the golden age when popular titles were brought together for team-ups, like with the original JSA comics, as a way to capitalize on successes and make more money. At least, I think that’s the case, although back then I don’t think it was ever done with the intention of creating something as grand as a “universe”, and likely no one really had concerns about continuity.
Did the contemporary understanding of shared universes evolve based mainly on this drive to increase sales? Is that still the prime motivator?
Certainly it can be a lot of fun to nerd-out keeping track of all the shared plot lines and histories of the characters – lord knows I love doing that, but is the fanboy love simply as byproduct of the cross-marketing synergies that are the main goal of shared universe comic lines?
Right now in the movies the growing shared universe of the movie heroes seems to clearly be the studios realizing the monetary benefit of linking all these properties in this way. Avengers certainly proved it.
E
I like Stephen’s idea, but as everyone else pointed out, it would have to have little or no effect on the continuity of the films. I’m glad Rodrigo brought up Batman the Animated Series, because that was one of two titles I was shouting at you guys in my head. The second being the Real Ghostbusters cartoon, which kicks off the very evening after the battle with Gozer, and then goes off on it’s own tangents and has little or nothing to do with Ghostbusters 2.