“The insurance company’s not going to believe this story.”
Robotech Masters #3
Comico The Comic Company (November, 1985)
“Volunteers!”
WRITER: Mike Baron
PENCILER: Neil D. Vokes
INKER: Rich Rankin
COLORIST: Tom Vincent
LETTERER: Bob Pinaha
EDITOR: Diana Schutz
I don’t think this is going to get me on Project Rooftop. At least I hope not.
That comic’s pretty relevant to what I’m seeing about Superman & Lois, the CWverse DC show spinning out of the soon-ending Supergirl series, because it looks like Superman and his family is getting CWed like they did to Riverdale and The Tomorrow People. The CWverse, known first to fans as the Arrowverse since it all started with the CW’s take on Green Arrow, has basically followed the formula for nighttime dramas they had back before the merger of the WB and UPN. Dark, not necessarily gritty but focusing more on teen and college age drama with some kind of gimmick. It could involve space aliens, vampires, or just general superpowers but CW’s sci-fi and hero shows are all teen drama with (insert favorite paranormal circumstance here), with some exceptions. I think. I didn’t watch Supernatural, even when the did the Scooby-Doo crossover because dismembered bodies and Scooby-Doo SHOULD NOT GO TOGETHER!!!!!!!! And it’s rare when I use “should” these says but some limits are necessary.
At any rate, doing a teen Superman story wouldn’t work. For one thing the last live-action “Superman” series was Smallville, so they can’t redo that. Also, this spins off of Supergirl, and they’ve depicted Kara’s cousin as being older and established as Superman since the CBS season, with Tyler Hoechlin as Superman, who is not a teenager. He also looks the part pretty well. So how are they going to stick this into the CW mold? Well, he has a son that DC already aged up and that worked to our advantage with Black Lightning…but we can do worse. We’re the CW Network!
And there’s 2020 giving us the finger as we drive away.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #3
Marvel/Paramount Comics (January, 1997)
“The Cancer Within” part 1
WRITER: Mariano
PENCILER: Tom Grindberg
INKER: Al Milgrom
COLORIST: Matt Webb
LETTERER: Jim Novak
EDITOR: Bobbie Chase
There’s a science to designing a proper superhero costume. Granted you’re about to read the words of someone who was never published but honestly I’ve been creating superheroes since I was in sixth grade and I’d like to think I picked up a few tricks, which has been useful on Captain Yuletide to give each elf a unique look. I’ve read and watched superheroes for even longer and have seen many different costumes through an artistic eye as well as a fan’s. I do have some level of knowing what I’m talking about.
Sometimes this includes changing an outfit to match the times. Batman and Iron Man are good examples of this. While there’s a certain core aesthetic to the iconography, like the Iron Man armor’s red and gold color scheme (which is why the Silver Centurion armor doesn’t work for some fans though I happen to like it), there have been numerous changes and adaptations with each new design. Some work and some don’t. However, as the great Shaggy Rogers once said, why mess with a classic look? Outside of the S shield Superman has had basically the same look since his introduction in 1938 and any attempt to change that, even the often-lampooned trunks, meets with disapproval from long time fans. Meanwhile Batman is somewhere in the middle. Like Iron Man our good Mr. Wayne has altered the Bat-suit a few times but there’s still a core concept that each design has to properly follow.
Spider-Man is one of those characters who creators has tried to change the look of. The webbing does take longer to draw and even Steve Ditko once said he was sorry he went with it. However, his costume is iconic. When you see that red and blue with the spider motif you know who it is. That hasn’t stopped attempts at minor tweaks and major replacements, which they’re going to try again in March of 2021. I honestly like the costume, but as a Spidey suit it has some major flaws.
Carol attempts the Liefeld Captain America pose. Ends up in traction for a week.
New Avengers #17
Marvel (May, 2006)
WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILER: Mike Deodata, Jr.
INKER: Joe Pimentel
COLORIST: Dave Stewart
LETTERER: Albert Deschesne
PRODUCTION: Kate Levin
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Molly Lazer & Aubrey Sitterson
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Andy Schmidt
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
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
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BW’s Daily Article Link: The Great Lie
I like good stories. I like the stories I grew up with. They were important to me and part of my life. I am not afraid to point out flaws in things I like, whether for fun or to improve my own skills as a storyteller. And as a critic I will point out bad works by people I usually enjoy or in franchises I love because I want to be better myself and hopefully get them to be as great as they usually are. Nobody’s perfect and we all have an off story or some committee comes along and forces changes. It’s a fact of life and the creative world. In this article the writer makes the case that it’s okay not to like everything tied to your favorite genre, franchise, or creators and the term “true fan” is a lie to shut up any detractors who don’t toe the party line. I’ve never toed the party line because I think for myself. I’ve had to just to keep my sanity in check.
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Posted by ShadowWing Tronix on January 7, 2021 in Uncategorized and tagged commentary.
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