Something recently happened that has fans speculating, and in a good way!
Perhaps those pricey Amalgam Universe reprints were more than just a cash grab! Maybe they were hinting at something bigger coming!
During the recent ComicsPRO event, one of the things that got comics fans the most excited was a presentation that teamed up Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski with DC’s Marie Javins. They actually discussed an upcoming crossover event between the two biggest comics publishers taking place in the months ahead!
Of course, they kept any and all details close to their vests, but what they DID say was that there will be two one-shots crossing over characters from Marvel and DC, with one being published by DC Comics, the other by Marvel.
Fans have already begun posting their “wish lists” of what this could mean, with some even hoping the Avengers and the Justice League (now Unlimited) might run into each other, much like the fabled mini-series from George Pérez and Kurt Busiek, still a favorite among fans! OF course, others hope to see Batman and Spider-Man interact another time, and other fans want to see Wonder Woman work with Storm. Superman and the FF crossing over again? Titans and the X-Men? And the speculation just keeps growing!
Sadly, those Amalgam books were indeed big and expensive, but they seem to have sold well, so might we see some new adventures with those unused characters? Or maybe even see some of them interact with the House of Ideas Ultimate line or DC’s Absolute books? (Or perhaps let characters from those two currently successful expansions interact?)
At this point, everything seems to be on the table!
The crossing over of these two companies has been something fans have been longing for ever since the industry really took off in decades past, which has led to the previous crossovers. I still remember the shockwaves that ran through fans when Superman met Spider-Man. Batman and the Hulk, well, not so much.
Really, the comics industry badly needs more infusion of excitement to revive interest in the medium. Yes, the Ultimate and Absolute lines have helped quite a lot, but many of us long to see the days when lines form outside of local comics shops, with fans anxious to plunk down their hard-earned quatloos to get the latest (and hopefully greatest) issues of comics being released into their hands so they can rush home to dive into the issues.
I often tell the stories about the Dark Knight Returns time, when I drove all over the state to bookstores to pick up any and all copies of that debut issue I could find! I wasn’t the only one because they were deuced tough to locate! My friends and I would gather together and quote the lines we enjoyed most in the latest issue, some of us able to carry on pages of dialogue together! Those were great times!
There have been other books that excited fan interest over the years, too many for me to list here! I had such a good time because, as I often tell my friends who aren’t interested in comics, it’s not the getting that matters, but the having!
And I think the people at DC and Marvel are reaching the place where they have to put away the daggers aimed at each others’ backs and work together because, if something really special doesn’t start happening, we could soon face a time where NOTHING is happening in the comics industry. Really!
See, word of mouth is one of the best means of advertising that any industry can have. Your trusted friend tells you about a comic book they are excited about, and your interest just might get piqued! If he or she really likes this, well, maybe I should give it a try, too!
And the truth is, many fans have had to set aside their love for comics and superheroes. I often point out that paying the bills to have a place to live is top priority, so if it takes all you do to make sure that happens, your love for comics has to take a back seat—at least, for a while. If we can re-ignite the passion felt by previous fans and get them to go back to their local comics shops, that could make a huge difference in the industry!
I have often said that there are some books that are perfect examples of why I read comics. I often point out that I’m a big Bat-fan, but I also love other comics that I return to when I need to dive back in deep to get lost in the books when I need a break from reality.
They include Rust from Royden Lepp, Guerillas by Brahm Revel, ElfQuest by the Pinis, Dreadstar by Jim Starlin, Scott Snyder’s Batman, Klaw from Antoine Ozanam with Joel Jurion and Yoann Guille, as well as the books from Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Have you read Last Sons of America and Smoke Town yet?), the aforementioned Mr. Snyder (He makes too many good ones for me to list them here), and collected editions of Justice League of America (several incarnations), just to mention a few!
This list also much feature that JLA/Avengers crossover I mentioned before. It was so thoughtful and insightful that it remains one of the top, all-time reads I’ve ever experienced.
And I don’t think we have reached the end of the line when it comes to high-powered storytelling that grabs one and pulls you in, for at least a while! I just know there are many, many more comics on the verge of making it to our local comics shops and exciting our fancy, transporting us to areas we have heretofore never explored, and takes us place we didn’t even know we needed to go to!
So, I’m already excited about whatever these DC/Marvel crossovers will be! Graphic novels? Something that could lead into an exceptional mini-series? The possibilities are simply endless! I can’t wait!
What do you think? If this is a big enough success, might Marvel and DC make this a yearly event? Which team-ups do you want to see? Or could we even see villains face each other, like Doctor Doom versus Lex Luthor? Feel free to share your opinions below!
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Wayne Hall creates the Wayne's Comics Podcast. He’s interviewed Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, John Layman, Kyle Higgins, Phil Hester, Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray, David Petersen, Christos Gage, Mike Grell, and Matt Kindt. On this site each week, he writes his "Comics Portal" column (general comics comments and previews) and reviews comics.
1 Comment
I have recently learned that the largest and longest established LCS in my not so small city has decided to close as of the end of April. I am personally saddened by the news, as it will also mean that my days of collecting will also end at that time. It has been a wonderful close to 50 years but all good things do come to an end eventually. They made the decision due to the uncertainty and chaos of the distribution system, and the on again off again tariffs that would add close to 60% to the price of the books( at least the ones they can get) if implemented. I understand their reasoning. and just wish to say thanks to the industry that has been with me for most of my life, and this was the place I thought I would do it. Goodbye and thanks!