Posted: 15 July 2017 at 3:04pm | IP Logged | 1
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I don't really follow many US titles now, maybe the occasional title such as KISS. I think "event fatigue" turned me off. I mean, there appear to be 2-3 a year now. One ends, another begins. How I pine for 1985, when the only crossover that occurred (Marvel) was SECRET WARS. Okay, I'm sure there might have been others, but they weren't ubiquitous.
Less is more. I wouldn't enjoy the FIFA World Cup if it was twice a year or every year. Every four years is perfect.
Okay, what's the alternative to events? Well, standalone tales is one such things. Whether it's our host's SUPERMAN VOL. 2 #9 (where the Man of Steel takes on the Joker) or that MARVEL FANFARE issue where Captain America investigated arson, I miss standalone tales.
But you know what I would like to see? Imagine Robert Parry becomes Editor-In-Chief of either DC or Marvel (I'm working on it). I would issue a directive: instead of events, I'd ask writers to come up with FIVE "cross-pollination" tales per annum. A free-for-all, if you will.
So, if I were at DC, I'd ask editors to "cross-pollinate". No big event needed, no contrived "Acts of Vengeance" style-scenario needed. Just "cross-pollination". Same if I was at Marvel.
I would NEVER want to overdo "cross-pollination". It is only workable when it is rarely done. But I'd like to see more. It'd be great to see Marvel have the X-Men take on Dr. Octopus. Or DC give us the Teen Titans VS Reverse-Flash. And I don't believe a contrived scenario (like DC VS MARVEL gave us) or a big event is needed.
I say that because the law of averages means there'll be confrontations. Why wouldn't Spider-Man be away - leaving Cap to come across the Vulture? Why wouldn't Bruce Banner, in New York looking for a cure, come across the Lizard? Why wouldn't Clark Kent be in Gotham, working on a story, only to come across Killer Croc (I know that'd be a short fight)? Why wouldn't Wonder Woman travel to battle Ra's al Ghul when his plans threaten Paradise Island?
My point is, you don't have to have contrived scenarios or multi-issue crossovers featuring "universe-crossing". Odds are that Daredevil will come across a Spider-Man enemy during one of his patrols; and given the devious plans of Ra's al Ghul, I'm sure he'd be on the "radar" of others besides Batman.
So, that's the directive I'd give if I was Editor-in-Chief. Don't overdo it, but once a year, have five books do a standalone "cross-pollination" tale. Standalone tales would get me back as a reader. And it'd be a lot more fun. I actually think there are some battles that have potential. Thing VS Abomination? Bring it on. Aquaman VS Ra's al Ghul? Yes, please. And one could even go down the villain vs villain route at times, i.e. Juggernaut VS Abomination or Reverse-Flash VS Brainiac.
Any thoughts?
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