Edgar Rice Burrough’s famous jungle hero Tarzan has been interpreted in many forms for movies and television both animated and live-action, as well as comics. But only one version, the 1966 series with Ron Bly as the jungle lord, featured a guest appearance by the Supremes as nuns. Here’s an article about the season three episode “The Convert”, which also has a young James Earl Jones. You have to go to Super-Team Family to find a closer Tarzan/Darth Vader crossover.
One of the complaints made against continuity in comics by modern writers is that there is so much history that surely the reader can’t follow it all. This history we’re told is too limiting so clearly new readers can’t get on to it. Only by tossing everything out and starting over can the mythical “new audience” be created. That’s a load of hooey to me, as writers who want full control of a cultural icon (he/she who controls the origin has the power) or are too lazy to do any research–or both–make that stuff up. With fan wikis, easy access to back issues and trades, and just some common sense when it comes to how previous characters and events are used and presented it’s easy to keep a sense of continuity, a sense that you care about the stories you work on and this is what brings in new longtime fans just like it did the one ones. I’ve heard someone say that he stopped reading DC because they kept rebooting things in large and minor ways so there is no continuity anymore so the stories only matter in these little bubbles without further signifcance.
Want proof that continuity can work? How about video games?
In tonight’s bonus video posting from Comic Drake he uses the example of video games to show how you can tell a good story with established history.
Of course Chakotay and Neelix are in trouble. It’s happened every story arc in this comic series.
Star Trek: Voyager #5
Marvel/Paramount Comics (March, 1997)
“Homeostasis” finale
WRITER: Howard Weinstein
PENCILER: Jesus Redondo
INKER: Sergio Melia
COLORIST: Shannon Blanchard
LETTERER: Chris Eliopoulos
EDITOR: Bobbie Chase, Mark Paniccia, & Tim Tuohy
Catch more WhatCulture Comics and complain about that thumbnail on their YouTube channel.
I’m still willing to make this comic, IDW. I have a contact page.
This summer’s Godzilla Vs. Kong, the latest chapter in Legendary’s “Monsterverse”, will hopefully not go the way of the other hero versus hero movie parent company Warner Brothers put out recently. While the Godzilla movies under this banner have had their pluses and minuses, Kong: Skull Island was the first time something other than a remake received positive praise. It would be nice to see an updated Mechakong (I’m sure it’s not just me), I’ll be happy if we don’t get giant monkey pacemakers and matchmaking. Even Kong’s cartoons haven’t always lived up to the legacy, while Godzilla’s have either been pretty good for the time or actually improving a namesake’s questionable movie.
The tales of King Kong and Godzilla in cinematic history have a surprising number of comparisons and contrasts. While the Big G has managed to create a huge franchise the big K’s legacy is a beloved first movie, a decent but really long remake, and a bunch of other movies with questionable support. However, both are a huge part of our culture, both have fought in the past, and both have not had the best attempts at being a dad more than once. Kajiu discussion channel Up From The Depths takes a look at the shared history of the two both before and after their original 1962 slugfest.
Doing two Free Comic Book Day comics in a row is a coincidence, not a plan.
“Hey, where did the city go?”
Free Comic Book Day 2007 (Spider-Man)
Marvel Comics (June, 2007)
“Swing Shift”
WRITER: Dan Slott
PENCILER: Phil Jimenez
INKERS: Andy Lanning with John Dell
COLORIST: Jeromy Cox
LETTERERS: Chris Elipoulos & Cory Petit
ASSISANT EDITOR: Aubrey Sitterson
EDITOR: Stephen Wacker
Catch more Abbie Emmons on her YouTube channel.
And here’s a link to sign up for her Writer’s Life Wednesday material, including the study guides mentioned.
Another method could be start your own blog and examine stories you like or should like but don’t to see what they did right and what they did wrong. That’s what I do. 😀
The Clutter Reports (my other site) Atop The Fourth Wall Crisis On Earth Prime Lean Into Artcast Bully Says “Comics Oughta Be Fun” Siskoid’s Blog of Geekery
Cartoon Hero’s Lair SF Debris Four Million Years Later
