Nice episode. These sort of geek culture things are what I like to see from Bob. I am less and less inclined to read the comics. I'll stick with cartoons and movies, thanks. 
The Big Picture: Continanity
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I understand comics so much less than I ever did...
...although if I was at least visual AND patient enough for print comics, I would probably have been ALL OVER these things my whole life. Oh, well. As it is, I've grown up being unable to tell what's going on in a still image (or an animation half the time)
...although if I was at least visual AND patient enough for print comics, I would probably have been ALL OVER these things my whole life. Oh, well. As it is, I've grown up being unable to tell what's going on in a still image (or an animation half the time)
Yeah, well at least they didn't have zombies running around....oh wait. Damn!
Seriously though, this is exactly why I compare Marvel and DC comics to Soap Operas. Every few years its new writers doing new (and sometimes old) things with old characters. So they have to re-write continuity again just so they can tell their story with the same characters, and have it so new fans can get in on the action and be caught up with in a few issues.
Pick a beginning, then pick the ending, then figure out how to link the two. Otherwise you turn into Lost and look like you have no idea what you are doing.
Seriously though, this is exactly why I compare Marvel and DC comics to Soap Operas. Every few years its new writers doing new (and sometimes old) things with old characters. So they have to re-write continuity again just so they can tell their story with the same characters, and have it so new fans can get in on the action and be caught up with in a few issues.
Pick a beginning, then pick the ending, then figure out how to link the two. Otherwise you turn into Lost and look like you have no idea what you are doing.
The idea being that the idea of a vengeance seeking guy putting on a mask to avenge wrongs outside of the law is fairly universal. The "Batman" concept can be applied to a lot of differant things. We've also seen things where you had a world of magic where it's the origin for all the heroes powers, except there is Batman who is the only guy who won't use magic, and uses science instead (sort of like how he won't use guns in the regular DC universe). We've also had "Gotham By Gaslight" set in the 1890s, and a 4 issue alternate universe called "Haunted Gotham" where Gotham is where all the demons, monsters, ghosts, and other nasty things live and are allowed to prey on people due to a deal with the rest of the goverment. The city itself being sealed off from the rest of the country. Batman's parents being part of a monster-fighting resistance cell, that groom him to be the ultimate monster killer before predicably croaking, various "big" creatures in the city are monsters themed after popular Batman villains....Skyy High said:
Batman was invented in like the 1930s, and truthfully it's not surprising that he's been through more than just about any other character ever created.
Personally I always kind of thought that Batman was probably inspired by "The Count Of Monte Cristo", which is about a guy who is framed, escapes from prison, recovers a treasure hidden by another prisoner, and then trains himself into a killing machine and sets about getting revenge on the people that set him up. It's just that Batman, being designed for continuous story telling has a more nebulous enemy (crime in general) as opposed to an objective that can be wrapped up within a single story.
This is why I read manga... I mean at least they tried right and its all fun I suppose.
Still what few inderpendent DC and Marvel I have seen I have enjoyed. Justice Leauge on TV (the sexual banter between Batman and Wounder Women is really cute) and X-Men Evolution (Gambit you swarve mutha fudger) were both AWESOME!!!
Still what few inderpendent DC and Marvel I have seen I have enjoyed. Justice Leauge on TV (the sexual banter between Batman and Wounder Women is really cute) and X-Men Evolution (Gambit you swarve mutha fudger) were both AWESOME!!!
Excellent video. I have had friends attempt to explain all this to me, but your video was the clearest explanation I have ever heard. This is also pretty much why I stick to trade paperbacks that collect an entire complete story or comics published under the Vertigo imprint.
Keep it up Bob!
Keep it up Bob!
And this is why the only comics I ever read were Watchmen and the Halo comics...
I like a normal and simple continuity, thank you very much.
Though I never knew it was THAT insane
I like a normal and simple continuity, thank you very much.
Though I never knew it was THAT insane
A fine episode, MovieBob, it really covers basically what is wrong with the superhero comic book company universes and I hope you elaborate further in a future installment.
I'm detecting a series here. Next will probably be "event addiction" for Marvel and "Character abuse" for DC.
Still it does seem the underlying premis will always be that comics aren't popular because they expect you to retain more historical knowledge than any other form of entertainment. While I contend this is less of a problem in the days of the internet and wikipedia than it was in the 80s, I do see the delema. Too much convoluted continuity makes books inacessable, too little kills the connection with the book reducing them to episodic distractions (think James Bond, Perry Mason, or the Simpsons).
Still, I prefer a little convolution to my story. I may have to hit wiki every so often to see what was up with Firestorm in Blackest Night, but it sure beats the scouring of back issue bins that I used to have to do.
Still it does seem the underlying premis will always be that comics aren't popular because they expect you to retain more historical knowledge than any other form of entertainment. While I contend this is less of a problem in the days of the internet and wikipedia than it was in the 80s, I do see the delema. Too much convoluted continuity makes books inacessable, too little kills the connection with the book reducing them to episodic distractions (think James Bond, Perry Mason, or the Simpsons).
Still, I prefer a little convolution to my story. I may have to hit wiki every so often to see what was up with Firestorm in Blackest Night, but it sure beats the scouring of back issue bins that I used to have to do.
Actually, she was an icon of feminism. What is often overlooked, especially by modern feminists is that feminism was originally about sexuality. Women started their plight for liberation in the bedroom. It was about showing their husband and boyfriends that sex was an enjoyably experience for the women too.littlerudi08107 said:
So many testicles wasted on forced new ideas.skfd said:
When it comes naturally I'm all for it though.
But it comes naturally so rarely.
Comics have a bit of a problem with continuity in general. That's ok though. It's part of the fun. Jump in and figure it out. It's also why there are so many reboot's, or separate series. In my opinion that is all Marvel's Ultimate's was, a place for newbies to start fresh.
It's also why there are so many reboot's, or separate series. In my opinion that is all Marvel's Ultimate's was, a place for newbies to start fresh.
You know DC dose need to set some ground rules for there comics.
Like how about this you have just a simple sires with the standard TV rule of one universe/reality. This simple sires has only one rule no multi-universe stuff so as to keep it friendly for the non nerds or new comers to comics. DC then gives it the simple stamp on the cover so new comers can find it easily.
Then we have everything else with the multivers. They do not have the simple stamp.
Like how about this you have just a simple sires with the standard TV rule of one universe/reality. This simple sires has only one rule no multi-universe stuff so as to keep it friendly for the non nerds or new comers to comics. DC then gives it the simple stamp on the cover so new comers can find it easily.
Then we have everything else with the multivers. They do not have the simple stamp.
Big Picture? More like tinniest sliver. In order to properly explain DC's continuity you'd need a full 2 hour documentary. Maybe more.
Incidentally, Cracked.com had a great article last week about crazy comic book resurrections:
http://www.cracked.com/article_18835_5-absurd-ways-comic-books-have-resurrected-dead-superheroes.html
One of the ones mentioned is Jason Todd, a product of that whole Infinite Crisis thing.
Incidentally, Cracked.com had a great article last week about crazy comic book resurrections:
http://www.cracked.com/article_18835_5-absurd-ways-comic-books-have-resurrected-dead-superheroes.html
One of the ones mentioned is Jason Todd, a product of that whole Infinite Crisis thing.
Bob, I don't want to be picky but theres high tone background noise in your microphone or audio. Most of people can't hear it but it is annoying the hell out of me since I have extremely good hearing.
Please fix this... Try cutting all useless high tones with compressor or EQ...
Thanks.
Good episode otherwise, even I am not a comic person.
Please fix this... Try cutting all useless high tones with compressor or EQ...
Thanks.
Good episode otherwise, even I am not a comic person.
