Crossovers are great for sales and fan interest, but is the industry now scraping the bottom of the barrel?
Several of the ones that recently caught my attention made me scratch my head. Why these characters?
- Nick Fury vs. Fin Fang Foom #1. “NICK FURY knows how to handle problems, no matter the size – but he’s never faced a foe THIS big before!” Long-time fans just might recognize that monster from the early days of Marvel. Old FFF has long been a favorite of monster fans, and bringing him back is cool, all right. But facing Nick Fury?? Really? If FFF just “puts his foot down” in the right place, Nick Fury will just be a spot on the carpet! (By the way, why is Nick the “old” version instead of the hip, swinging version we usually see these days?)
- Archie Meets Jay and Silent Bob. As the article said, “Archie Comics announced the crossover you never thought you would see as Archie and the gang meet Jay and Silent Bob!” Granted, the issue will be written by Kevin Smith, so it will likely make sense, but I prefer the days when Archie and the gang ran into Kiss, The Punisher, The Predator, and The Ramones, just to name a few. This crossover doesn’t add up to me!
- What If…? Mickey and Friends Became the Avengers #1. Here’s the important part of the description: “DONALD DUCK is THOR! MICKEY MOUSE is IRON MAN! GOOFY is THE HULK! MINNIE MOUSE and PLUTO are THE WASP and ANT-MAN! How did these sensational super heroes become THE MIGHTY AVENGERS, and what part does a “cake monster” and GLADSTONE-LOKI play in their origin?” I realize this was inevitable given that we’ve seen covers for several Marvel comics feature Disney characters getting Marvel powers, and I hope this will be the final edition of this micro-trend!
- Captain America and Volstagg #1 Here’s more about this book: “When a war breaks out in the Nine Realms, Volstagg of the Warriors Three turns to the only man skilled enough to end it: Steve Rogers, Captain America!” Look, I’m happy that Steve is recognized by the Norse gods, but working with Volstagg? Why not Thor or another, better-known god? I just don’t get it. By the way, this is only the second in a series of one-shots “bringing unlikely Marvel characters together for tales unlike any other!”
- Doctor Doom and Rocket Raccoon #1. This is what this book was about: “Doctor Doom does the one thing he never wants to do: ask for a favor! What awaits Rocket in Latveria? Mischief, miscommunication and an emotional journey across space and time in the Mighty Marvel Way!” I mean, Doctor Doom and Rocket Raccoon? I’m sorry, but this was way, wayyy out there!
There are more of this unusual team-up series of one-shots, and they will also include Hulk and Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider vs. Galactus, and Spider-Man vs. Doctor Octopus. (That last one has happened many times before, so I’m curious to see what will make that book stand out.)
I’ve often discussed why crossovers are so popular and why I particularly enjoy them. We get to see characters meet and work with each other, and we see aspects of each character’s personality. This will help us understand what makes each one tick.
It’s also a great sales technique. Seeing team-ups we haven’t encountered before is not only good reading, but they are also very collectible! Give these books a few years, and some fans will be looking for them if one of the heroes or villains takes off among fans. Just look at how popular Rocket Raccoon has become, so he tends to work well in these circumstances.
I mean, this is what made team books so important in years past. When the Avengers first met up, it was a huge deal! Same was true when the Justice League of America got together and became a team. It also was terrific when the JLA would run into the JSA once a year—I really looked forward to those and wish they would get back to that!
But bringing Doctor Doom together with Rocket Raccoon, well, that’s just not as memorable or big a deal as bringing Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man together has been. Have we run out of great team-ups and are left with bringing people together just because they are not likely to meet? Huh?
I’m all for giving comic characters their moment in the sun so that maybe, just maybe, they will become as popular as Rocket Raccoon has become. I mean, it’s probably worth the effort, especially if it pays off. But how likely is it for Volstagg to become a huge hit, get his very own monthly comic, or even become an Avenger? Sorry, not likely!
Still, it’s worth it to take chances. Sometimes, today’s comics are just way too safe, so I’m for these “unlikely” team-ups. We just have to keep the good stuff coming as well as the “lower-tier” meet-ups. Maybe we need to see Rocket Raccoon work with other Marvel animal-heroes, then have an Iron Man/Thor team-up not long after.
“If you’re gonna do it, do it right.” Right?
Honestly, the House of Ideas should not be terribly surprised if some of these lower-level groupings don’t sell so well. But it just might work, right?
I do have one request—please, please, please NO more Disney characters becoming Marvel heroes. Maybe next time they should have Marvel heroes become Disney characters! Tony Stark becomes Donald Duck! Steve Rogers (or even Miles Morales) becomes Mickey Mouse! Now THAT would be different!
What do you think? Team books used to be all the rage, but that’s not so true these days. Could the same thing happen to crossovers? What crossovers would you like to see that has NOT happened yet? What crossovers have happened but deserve another shot? Feel free to share your opinions below!
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