Marvel vs. DC, Part Deux
Previously we talked about Marvel, this time it will be DC.
Well, actually, when I come to think about it, I have no real gripes with DC. Oh sure, there some storytelling things, you know, go right where they went left, but thats about it. DC consistently hires the best in the business and lets them work on the type of projects that they want to, telling the type of stories they want to. In my opinion one of the best things that DC has going for it right now is a consistent universe. Usually this means when Superman gets made into Red Superman and Blue Superman, it's reflected not only in his own book, but any book that he guest stars in during that same time, or is featured in, such as JLA. But right now, with them doing their Crisis, this means that they're keeping things in continuity from week to week. This week's comics happen after last weeks comics and before next weeks comics. I'm sorry, but when you see a company doing some thing like this, keeping track of 40+ books and only dropping one or two here and there, it really puts Marvels attempts into perspective. I mean really, how long do you think it will be before Spider-Man has his new costume on in New Avengers? Or any other book for that matter?
But DC is not above copying Marvel if they think they see a good thing. As evidence, I point out the All Star line, and DC's new Showcase books. The Showcases are their answer to Marvel's Essential books that have been coming out for quite a long time now, while the All Star line is similar to the Ultimate line. I had originally hoped the All Star books would be our first look at a whole new universe from DC, some sort of Earth 3 if you like, but oh well.
Where DC really shines is their commitment to things outside of their core super-hero audience. Do you know how many imprints DC has? Six. There's the DCU, Vertigo, Wildstorm, Johnny DC, DC Library, and CMX. Seven if you count DC Direct which handles all the toys, statues, posters, etc. DCU is the mainstream, with titles like Superman and such ilk. Johnny DC makes the kids comics like Batman Strikes, Elfquest, Looney Tunes, and Scooby-Doo. Wildstorm, while still containing the original Wildstorm Universe has expanded to include any sort of crazy super power book that can't go into DCU. Ex Machina is a good example of this, as is Jack Cross, or the winding down ABC Universe from Alan Moore. These titles are usually more mature or violent then would go into a regular DCU book. Vertigo, as we all know is DC's Mature readers line for the non-super powered. This is usually the one to watch in my opinion, as books from this imprint tend towards large, engrossing, character driven books such as Y the Last Man, 100 Bullets, Fables, and (my new favorite) DMZ. Now technically CMX and DC Library are sort of the same thing, so I guess you could say I was wrong and that there are only five imprints, and of course CMX is probably winding down into nothingness. DC Library for the most part is imports. This covers reprints of the fantastic English label 2000AD, European publisher Humanoids, who DC acquired US distribution rights with, and CMX, which does Japanese imports.
With these five imprints there is not a story that DC can't tell. You want super-heroes? Done. You want something for your kid to read while you're reading Lucifer? Done and done. Hell, they even have comics that your grandmother will like. Marvel doesn't. Look at one of their recent endeavors, the I Heart Marvel books, ostensibly a line of romance comics. Well, not really a line so much as a series of one shots. And I can't help but notice that they're all super-hero romance comics. It's like walking into a bookstore and finding out all they carry are novels about 19th century English ladies-in-waiting. 100,000 books and they're all Pride and Prejudice (sorry to all you P & P fans out there -b).
With that in mind, I would like you to answer me one question: When was the last time you read a novel? I know there are some of you out there who don't read anything but comics, my best friend is one of you. When was the last time you read a NON-fiction book? If it was for school it doesn't count. I'm talking about a good non-fiction book that you read because you liked it. If you can't remember, shame on you, you might as well be shopping at the Jane Austen store. Variety is the spice in life, don't forget. Tell you what, come in and I will help. We'll even start you off easy with a non-fiction comic. I know, I know, blasphemous, right? But I assure, they do exist, and they tend to be great reads.
Well, actually, when I come to think about it, I have no real gripes with DC. Oh sure, there some storytelling things, you know, go right where they went left, but thats about it. DC consistently hires the best in the business and lets them work on the type of projects that they want to, telling the type of stories they want to. In my opinion one of the best things that DC has going for it right now is a consistent universe. Usually this means when Superman gets made into Red Superman and Blue Superman, it's reflected not only in his own book, but any book that he guest stars in during that same time, or is featured in, such as JLA. But right now, with them doing their Crisis, this means that they're keeping things in continuity from week to week. This week's comics happen after last weeks comics and before next weeks comics. I'm sorry, but when you see a company doing some thing like this, keeping track of 40+ books and only dropping one or two here and there, it really puts Marvels attempts into perspective. I mean really, how long do you think it will be before Spider-Man has his new costume on in New Avengers? Or any other book for that matter?
But DC is not above copying Marvel if they think they see a good thing. As evidence, I point out the All Star line, and DC's new Showcase books. The Showcases are their answer to Marvel's Essential books that have been coming out for quite a long time now, while the All Star line is similar to the Ultimate line. I had originally hoped the All Star books would be our first look at a whole new universe from DC, some sort of Earth 3 if you like, but oh well.
Where DC really shines is their commitment to things outside of their core super-hero audience. Do you know how many imprints DC has? Six. There's the DCU, Vertigo, Wildstorm, Johnny DC, DC Library, and CMX. Seven if you count DC Direct which handles all the toys, statues, posters, etc. DCU is the mainstream, with titles like Superman and such ilk. Johnny DC makes the kids comics like Batman Strikes, Elfquest, Looney Tunes, and Scooby-Doo. Wildstorm, while still containing the original Wildstorm Universe has expanded to include any sort of crazy super power book that can't go into DCU. Ex Machina is a good example of this, as is Jack Cross, or the winding down ABC Universe from Alan Moore. These titles are usually more mature or violent then would go into a regular DCU book. Vertigo, as we all know is DC's Mature readers line for the non-super powered. This is usually the one to watch in my opinion, as books from this imprint tend towards large, engrossing, character driven books such as Y the Last Man, 100 Bullets, Fables, and (my new favorite) DMZ. Now technically CMX and DC Library are sort of the same thing, so I guess you could say I was wrong and that there are only five imprints, and of course CMX is probably winding down into nothingness. DC Library for the most part is imports. This covers reprints of the fantastic English label 2000AD, European publisher Humanoids, who DC acquired US distribution rights with, and CMX, which does Japanese imports.
With these five imprints there is not a story that DC can't tell. You want super-heroes? Done. You want something for your kid to read while you're reading Lucifer? Done and done. Hell, they even have comics that your grandmother will like. Marvel doesn't. Look at one of their recent endeavors, the I Heart Marvel books, ostensibly a line of romance comics. Well, not really a line so much as a series of one shots. And I can't help but notice that they're all super-hero romance comics. It's like walking into a bookstore and finding out all they carry are novels about 19th century English ladies-in-waiting. 100,000 books and they're all Pride and Prejudice (sorry to all you P & P fans out there -b).
With that in mind, I would like you to answer me one question: When was the last time you read a novel? I know there are some of you out there who don't read anything but comics, my best friend is one of you. When was the last time you read a NON-fiction book? If it was for school it doesn't count. I'm talking about a good non-fiction book that you read because you liked it. If you can't remember, shame on you, you might as well be shopping at the Jane Austen store. Variety is the spice in life, don't forget. Tell you what, come in and I will help. We'll even start you off easy with a non-fiction comic. I know, I know, blasphemous, right? But I assure, they do exist, and they tend to be great reads.
posted by Star Clipper at Friday, March 10, 2006
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home