Assassin’s Creed 3 Gameplay Trailer
Pretty straight forward. Ubisoft released the Assassin’s Creed 3 gameplay trailer today. Here it is via joystiq.
Continue after the jump for some of my opinion. Read More…
Battle Royale: Game of Thrones Ep. 2.06
So as a trio, we enjoy getting together to watch certain shows. The current series we’re enjoying as a group is Game of Thrones. For those wishing to avoid spoilers of the books or who haven’t seen this week’s episode, avert your eyes.
Without any further ado, Game of Thrones Episode 2.06: The Old Gods and the New.
Ricky
The amount of things that are being changed from the book interests me. So far, we lost Storm’s End and Edric Storm, and in this episode, we’ve lost Reek to the gods of adaptation. Granted, his true identity is mentioned as the Bastard of Bolton, but we’re bound to only see him take Winterfell. The occurrences surrounding Daenerys’ visit to the House of the Undying is changed. Only time will tell if it was for the better. Overall, a good episode. A first glimpse of Ygritte, and yet again the circumstances are slightly different. But those scenes were enjoyable.
The complaint I did have was the riot in King’s Landing, specifically the scene with the High Septon. It just seemed poorly directed. The crowd seemed more like zombies than unruly hellions. And yes, I know in the book they tore him apart, but in a show that is so consistently realistic, it just could have been better.
Danny
They have definitely started to rewrite the story or maybe I just do not remember it from power-reading I did over the summer. Either way while they are leaving some of the fans from the books a little disheveled, they are keeping the story fresh and different for everyone (still surprises to be had for someone who is caught up in the books).
I am a little on edge on whether I liked this episode or not. I mean it still keeps the story interesting, but the whole hour feels disjointed. As a person who was able to follow what was going in season one and knows the story of the second book, I am frankly lost as to where they are in the story. With so many different ideas being rewritten, it is hard to know how accelerated the show’s story has become. Now I have to wonder how Theon and Reek will interact, knowing that there is no subterfuge. The show’s budget is obviously to blame for most of this. Again, I hope it shows when it comes to the Battle of Blackwater.
On a positive note, the show continues to impress me with the location of their shoots. The frozen wasteland of the north is a great backdrop for the Night’s Watch. I especially enjoyed the chase scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte (Ygritte is pretty hot).
Natalia
I think I must have asked Danny 5 or 6 times while watching this episode, “Was that in the book? I don’t remember this at all.” I understand that this show is not going to follow the book word for word, but I think some of the plot points they’ve changed are kind of important. Many minor characters are missing from Winterfell and they killed Sir Rodrik so early! Well, I will put my faith in the series to sort it out.
Was is just me or was this episode kind of funny? We finally get to see Ygritte and she is doing her best to get under Jon Snow’s skin the whole scene. Eventually he ties her up to make camp where they are forced to spoon to keep warm. “Stop Moving!” “I didn’t even realize I was doing it that time…” Another fun exchange was between Arya and Jaqen H’ghar; she is frantic trying to keep Tywin from learning she stole his correspondence and demands that Jaqen kill the messenger. The messenger dies in Tywin’s doorway without a word. Well… my synopsis leaves much to be desired, but I laughed when I watched it.
Daenerys is becoming so strong and her speech about how she is a special person was great. Although I think the choice to have her dragons stolen was a poor one. The character in the book had instilled enough fear and awe that no one would have been successful in stealing her children. Perhaps, I just want to think that though. As I said earlier… I am putting my faith in the series. What would happen to the Mother of Dragons amazing storyline without her dragons? This will be resolved in the next episode… right?
Well four episodes left… I am expecting big things!
DVR Weekly: 5-7-12
Life can get pretty busy, so the invention of the Digital Video Recorder, aka DVR, has been a godsend for those of us who love television programming. Well, I’m one of those people. In this weekly article, I’m going to talk about some of the shows I am keeping up with on my DVR. Pretty straight forward, right? Well let’s get started.
Due to some weird confluence of synapse firings or the alignment of some stars, I missed out on Thundercats and Sherlock this week. I’ll get caught up on those ASAP, but until then, let’s see what I have watched.
Community – Ep. 3.18 “Course Listing Unavailable”
Before I get into this week’s episode, let me acknowledge the wonderful spoof of Law & Order from last week. It really stuck to its guns as far as spoofing. And it led us to the tragic loss of Starburns.
And now this week’s episode: I’ve loved Community from the beginning, and I believe that the focus shift to Troy and Abed is one of the best decisions made since coming back. Having said that, this episode fell a little flat. It was a build up episode to what may be the series finale. However, the episode won me back a little at the end with the reference to “Remedial Chaos Theory”. It almost felt like a finale on its own, but there are a few episodes remaining before the big question of renewal or cancellation is left hanging in the air.
Young Justice – Ep. 2.02 “Earthlings”
Young Justice lives up to being an excellent follow-up to both Justice League and Teen Titans. In this episode, we get to join the “away” team’s visit to Rann. In terms of redesigns, I am loving the look of Beast Boy. The fact that he has also altered his appearance so he wouldn’t look like his original appearance from last season adds an interesting twist to the tragedy surrounding his origin. Adam Strange is also in a redesigned costume, but I was left wishing for the Pascal Ferry armor. Adam Strange is definitely a lot of fun to watch as little as he actually makes it on-screen. The mystery of the “missing 16 hours” will be revealed soon as the surprisingly brutal Miss Martian has discovered the truth. So many things to love about this series.
Green Lantern – Ep. 1.10 “Regime Change”
What is it about Warner Bros. that they make their animated media so good, but they cannot make a decent superhero movie to support a franchise (Batman not included)? Green Lantern: The Animated Series is a new add. I wasn’t sold by the mini-movie that launched the series, but I went back and watched a few episodes on demand and was blown away by how much they are squeezing in. Comic book fans, keep in mind canon is slightly different, but they are doing a fine job of inserting Geoff Johns’ run. Previous episodes have featured the likes of Iolande, Mogo, Saint Walker (pre-Lantern), and of course, series baddie, Atrocitus. This episode is no different as the Guardians are taken to task for their history, and the lines are being drawn between Appa Ali Apsa (C’mon, Nerds…. you know!) and Ganthet. In fact, we get our first glimpse at the effects of hope.
Ultimate Spider-man – Ep. 1.07 “Exclusive”
This episode managed to hit all the wrong notes. The use of the Hulk was fairly standard. The “found footage” look was really annoying. It begged too much of the viewer. Keeping this short and sweet, I didn’t like this episode that much and the series as a whole is falling short, in my opinion of course.
I’ll see you all next week… same DVR channel… same DVR time…
Bird, Stallone, and Stark… Oh, my.
So let’s start with the farthest away in time to the closest.
Brad Bird signed to direct Lindelof-penned 1952
Brad Bird has been signed to direct a Disney mystery movie (1952) written by Damon Lindelof. This could be really interesting. Whether it’s animation or live-action, Brad Bird has proved he can do both extremely well. Damon Lindelof writing mystery should be good considering his involvement with Lost (I don’t want to hear whining about the ending). More info over at Deadline.
The Expendables 2 Trailer
Yesterday, we got the now-prerequisite teaser to the trailer, but today The Expendables 2 trailer actually dropped. Check it out:
Definitely gonna be full of camp and 80s/90s schlock that I know and love. I’m not expecting it to win any awards, but I definitely look forward to it. Probably won’t beat out The Raid for my fave action movie of the year though.
Not just Iron Man cosplay…
For those of you waiting in line already or prepping yourself for this weekend of The Avengers, check out this clip of amazing Iron Man cosplay:
With that, I’ll leave you with: Enjoy The Avengers. We’ll talk about our thoughts on this weeks podcast along with the promised thoughts on Telltales’ Walking Dead: Episode One.
Black Ops 2 Trailer Released (updated)
Coming a day earlier than anticipated (unless there’s more coming), Treyarch has released the first trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Check it out here via joystiq.
Now keep in mind that I enjoy these games for the story mode. I enjoyed multiplayer for a long time, but I’ve been burnt out for the last couple years. So what do I think? Well, then that definitely feels different from the setting of the previous Black Ops. The story now in the near-future where tech is all over the place. At first, I almost expected an AI story, but it turns into an “enemy controls our weapons” story. As long as the crazy perks and killstreaks are balanced, the game should be fun especially with quadrotors and quadriped droid/tanks.
(Updated)
There’s also some added info from joystiq on the story mode, and it’s looking pretty ambitious. The story will range from the 1980s to the near future of 2025, and it will also feature Alex Mason and his son, David, in their respective time periods. And most interesting, a game mechanic that allows for choices that effect the story. But it all honesty, the article had me at “David S. Goyer”. Sixty bucks down the drain this fall.
Battle Royale: Game of Thrones Ep. 2.05
So as a trio, we enjoy getting together to watch certain shows. The current series we’re enjoying as a group is Game of Thrones. We’re already five episodes into the second season, but we’ll jump in right away. Keep in mind, the three of us have read and enjoyed the books, so there will be spoilers as to content that may or may not show up in the show. For those wishing to avoid spoilers of the books or who haven’t seen this week’s episode, avert your eyes.
Without any further ado, Game of Thrones Episode 2.05: The Ghost of Harrenhal.
Ricky
This was a more story-driven episode, so don’t expect too much action in this episode. Let’s look at some of the highlights of the episode for me. Catelyn witnesses some of the most explicit magic we’ve seen in the show so far: a shadow demon literally born last episode. This effect was definitely well done, as you can see the shape of Stannis. I’m not seeing the naivete of Brienne in these episodes, but she has room for growth as the show continues. Bran hears of Theon’s attack on Torrhen’s Square and sends Ser Rodrick to deal with it. Rickon is present also, but I don’t think they’re doing enough to display the feral nature that he develops in the books. I am a little disappointed by the look of the Fist of the First Men, where the Night Watch have made camp when meeting Qhorin Halfhand. It doesn’t seem nearly as defensible as it is said to be in the book. Daenerys meets Pyat Pree in this episode, and again magic is definitely being used more explicitly. The audience, along with Jorah, gets to meet Quiathe, who I did not recognize at first and goes unnamed. I had forgotten that she wears a wooden mask, but thinking back, I didn’t expect one as ornamental as the one shown. I hope it changes from appearance to appearance, but they definitely made sure she remained cryptic as all hell. And finally, the best scenes of the show occur in my favorite location: Harrenhal. Arya runs into Jaqen H’ghar who promises her 3 deaths to appease the 3 lives she saved. Her first is the Tickler. There continues to be some trimming from the source material as Storm’s End has apparently been forgotten. We have also apparently lost Vargo Hoat, who I was anticipating meeting this episode. Time will tell if these are revisited, but these events should have already come to pass.
Danny
I have to say that after watching the last few episodes and the last episodes at the end of season one, I am a little disappointed in this one. A Clash of Kings, which this season is based on, is one of the most action filled books of the series. For Christ’s sake, the time is called the “War of the Five Kings.” So far they have cut out the siege of Storm’s End, Jon Snow finding the dragon-glass and they are not really mentioning all the raping and pillaging being done by the Mountain That Rides.
Before I go any further, I want to iterate that I do enjoy this season so far. It is just that last night’s episode left me disappointed. For an episode titled “The Ghost of Harrenhal,” it left me wanting more Arya. I know they have a lot to cover but it feels like they spread this episode. If I remember correctly, I recall the show runners stating that they would not “Tyrion knock-out” other battles. Maybe they are saving it all for the Battle of Blackwater that comes later in the book, but I am not seeing a change from last season.
I may just be whining to whine, but there are things that I do honestly miss in this show that are in the book. The dialogue between Stannis and Renly with the peach, the taking of Storm’s End and one of the best known bastards of Robert, and Arya’s interaction between so many characters at Harrenhal are all gone from the show. Yes, they have to cut stuff to fit into the show. It does not mean I am happy about it. Hell, they have even added things that are not in the book to flesh out the story. I guess with a book that is over ten years old, they get to play a little more loose than I would have liked.
On to the positives of last night’s show. Missing some of the character moments that are taken out, I am happy they kept that oath between Catelyn and Brienne. I was not a fan of their characters in the book, but I can always appreciate the connection those two shared. Visually, the show continues to shine. I immediately liked how they showed the wildfire in the glass vase. It was an interesting look that I wanted to grab and launch as a grenade. Every showing across the Narrow Sea is showing some fantastical images and magic. The differences between Qarth and Westeros really intrigue me. Westeros is dull and stuck in reality. Qarth is bright and full of magic. But I am still waiting to see my damn cape of feathers!
Next week I can not wait to see more Halfhand and to see more about a certain marriage proposal.
And a little bonus: Roy Dotrice, the narrator for the audiobooks, plays the pyromancer. He has such an excellent voice and presence that I got a kick out of.
Natalia
This episode is really moving us closer to big events. We started out with a major show of magic and of course the scheming began shortly after. That Tyrell girl doesn’t want to be A queen… she wants to be THE queen. Very bold statement from a character that is kind of a pawn in the books. Natalie Dormer was tapped to play her for a reason, I believe that we will see this girl make some moves this season.
My favorite character in both the book and television series is Tyrion Lannister. He is witty and conniving, but at the end of the day his motives are for the greater good. He is not pleased to find out from a raving peasant that the people see him as the source of all their suffering, but he pushes on with his own agenda. This episode we get to see wildfire which is revealed to be this glowing-green-extremely-explosive substance. Cersei has apparently been stockpiling it and Tyrion has just stolen it for his own purposes. The groundwork is being laid for a huge battle and I hope we get to see it in all its green glowing glory.
On the other side of the world we have Daenerys finally out of the desert and into some color. I find Daenerys to be one of the most interesting characters because we are watching her grow and learn to play the games of society on many levels. She is one of those characters that teaches the audience about the world through her experiences. She started out this lost little girl being sold to a barbarian and now she is the mother of dragons demanding hospitality. Inside Qarth we get a glimpse of the warlocks from the house of the Undying. I really hope we actually get to see more from that before we leave Qarth behind.
All in all, this episode had so much story and I am excited for what’s to come. Hopefully we see more magic and more action!
One last thought though… What about the red comet? I haven’t heard much about it in a few episodes.
DVR Weekly: 4-30-12
Life can get pretty busy, so the invention of the Digital Video Recorder, aka DVR, has been a godsend for those of us who love television programming. Well, I’m one of those people. In this weekly article, I’m going to talk about some of the shows I am keeping up with on my DVR. Pretty straight forward, right? Well let’s get started.
Short list this week, as I’ve fallen behind on some shows.
Up first, Young Justice. This has been a great animated show. It definitely maintains the standard set by the Justice League animated series. This past weekend saw the season premiere. Felt a little weird considering the previous season finale was the week before, but I digress. This season pulls a “Five Years Later” on us. Dick Grayson/Robin has graduated to Nightwing and has also passed the mantle onto Tim Drake (a personal favorite). Aqualad, Artemis, and Kid Flash appear to no longer be members allowing room for new members such as Bumblebee, Blue Beetle, and Lagoon Boy. Zatanna and Rocket have also achieved League membership which Miss Martian, Superboy, and Nightwing have all turned down. Definitely a status quo shake up for the new season. I look forward to finding out more of the missing years especially with the slight hint of Jason Todd’s death as Robin. This episode we also get to meet Lobo (with a cool redesign), Wonder Girl, and Batgirl. Next episode looks like we’ll get a peek at Rann and find out about the missing sixteen hours of the six Leaguers.
And, Ultimate Spider-man. A few episodes in, and we’ve yet to see Spider-man’s rogues gallery really take some action. Doc Ock is still meddling in the background for Norman Osborn (aka Green Goblin, but not yet). The series has a fun feel to it, similar to the Teen Titans series from a few years back, but I’m not completely sold on the illustration style of the characters. I felt like last week’s episode was stronger with its ties to the Marvel movie universe, but this week fell a little flat. Taskmaster is the villain of the week, and they do some cool/overdone things with mathematical equations as he learns the heroes’ moves. This episode also highlighted the relationship between White Tiger and Spider-man which is being hammered to death. We get it… she takes everything more seriously than him. I’m gonna leave this on the DVR for a couple more episodes, but it may become a dud.
Check back in next week, hopefully I’ll be caught up with shows like Once Upon a Time, The Voice, and Thundercats. If not, I will definitely be able to talk about series two of Sherlock.
Ka-Pow 101: Intro to Comic Books (for Adults) Pt. 2
Last time, we went through some of the basics of comic books and their vocabulary. This time around I’m going to give you a few rules (…more like guidelines) to introducing a full-grown non-comic reader to the world of the funny book. I will also look at some personal suggestions for an introductory reading list.
So what kind of rules should you follow for introducing someone to comic books? And what kind of hints should you heed if you are going into this solo?
Respect the Reader
Just because you have convinced someone to read comic books, it does not mean they want to read about superheroes. Just like all forms of art there different forms, styles, and genres. One person may enjoy serialized horror books (Walking Dead) while another may enjoy fantastical anthology books (Flight). Even if they do want to get into superhero stuff, keep in mind the next rule.
Start Small
Now this may sound counter-intuitive to the wording, but start small means start with the bigger format: trades. Generally, trades are easier to read and digest. You can get a full story in a single trade as opposed to getting a portion in a monthly issue and having to wait. I always find watching a show on Netflix or saved up on my DVR is a lot easier than waiting week to week. (I know! I know! Another comparison to TV, but it’s so easy!) Also, trades are generally older stories which have a known quality.
Another thing to keep in mind about starting small. Use trades which are self-contained and not part of a series. (Sorry Sandman and Lucifer.) Anthology trades work too. Don’t necessarily expect the last read, but don’t anticipate continued reading. It might not happen.
Try Other Media
In introducing someone else to comics, don’t instantly jump in and say, “Here’s a comic book! READ IT!” There have been amazing strides in adapting graphic novels and comic books to both television and film. Walking Dead has been a cultural phenomenon that has lit up so many televisions on Sunday nights. Young Justice, while not identical to the source material, has been a thrill to watch. There also some really fantastic feature films to check out. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World does an amazing job of capturing the spirit and themes of the comic book. Marvel Studios has had amazing success with their properties (Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor) all leading up to the highly anticipated Avengers. DC Comics’ direct-to-DVD animation endeavors, like Justice League: The New Frontier, have adapted some of the most cherished storylines in DC’s long history without dragging in all of the continuity.
After taking the time to watch an adaptation, take a look at the source material. It’s an interesting comparison as you can see character moments that hit the cutting room floor, or find new scenes that never made it from page to screen.
Now let’s make the transition to ongoing series.
Start in the Present
If you want to get started on an ongoing series, the best way is to start with the current story arc. Make sure not to jump in mid-arc because you will get lost. If you enjoy what is happening and want to understand more of the back story, you can track down the relevant material. There is an exception to the rule: on-goings written by the creator (generally creator-owned books). Books like Fables, Walking Dead (Last time I use this as an example, I swear!), and Locke & Key are working toward an eventual end. It’s not always clear if such is the case, but a good sign of the series direction is the consistency of the creative team.
Utilize Reference
Wikipedia and sites like Comic Vine are your friend. The comic book articles on Wikipedia are surprisingly (or not, considering nerds run the interwebs) well-organized. Comic Vine runs its own dedicated wiki on characters, books, teams, and arcs. If you have the money to spend, DC and Marvel both have encyclopedias which catalog many of their characters with details such aliases, origins, history, and team affiliations.
Now that you have the guidelines/rules on getting someone or yourself started in reading comic books, what book do I suggest? Well let’s see.
Novice Level – You’re brand new and have never touched a comic book
300 by Frank Miller – This one is a great example of utilizing all the rules I just explained. It’s self-contained and collected in a trade. It is also available in another format: the 2007 adaptation by Zack Snyder. It is also a breath-taking story of honor and heroism.
Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughn and Nico Henrichon – This is a beautiful but tragic tale based on a true story of lions roaming the streets of Baghdad. This graphic novel stands on its own, and good for someone who isn’t necessarily interested in superheroes or war.
Joe the Barbarian by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy – Released as an 8 issue miniseries in 2010, this story of friendship and imagination is a thrill ride. It actually gets better with multiple read-throughs, and I hope someday it gets made into a movie (…by me! … If only). It has since been collected into a single trade with some excellent extra content.
Wanted by Mark Millar and JG Jones – Edging into the world of superheroes, this mini-series from 2005 tells a story of wish-fulfillment and responsibility with which Mark Millar excels ( see also Kick-Ass). This would be an interesting experiment for the alternate format rule due to the vast difference from source to adaptation.
Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale – This one pushes the limits of all the rules. It is a self-contained story, but it features characters from a long and storied history. Loeb does a fine job of making sure the reader does not get lost. This is also an exception to the rule of starting in the present. With characters as engraved in the collective unconscious as Batman, many of Loeb and Sales books can also be included in this list.
Advanced – Longer-form books to get into once you’re committed
Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore/Charlie Adlard – I know I said I wouldn’t use this again, but it’s so obvious. Get someone hooked on the amazing show from AMC, and then let them read the comic book. The great thing about the two is the separate path the show has taken from the comic. I would suggest starting in the beginning, especially if using the show as a jumping on point, but starting with current issues would be fine. Just remember the potential for spoilers.
Sandman by Neil Gaiman and various artists – A rich and intense epic, this long-form series will keep you on your toes. Curve balls will catch you off guard. The over-arcing story is also broken up by some very interesting vignettes.
Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez – A dark, yet fun series with a mystery/horror feel. It is a fairly new series, which will be easy to get caught up on.
That’s gonna be the end of Ka-Pow 101, for now. These suggestions are all based on books I am reading or have read. There are many more possibilities and amazing suggestions I could have added, but I’d love to hear from you!. Let me know other techniques you might have used to introduce new readers to comic books. Ask me anything you think I missed or forgot to mention. Let others know about comics you think they should start with. Leave a comment below.
Ka-Pow 101: Intro to Comic Books (for Adults) Pt. 1
I was recently talking to my girlfriend about comic books and realized that I’ve never seen a rule book to introducing comic books to an adult. I have a history with comic books. I got a box full at a young age and have been hooked ever since. Many of the stories that I’ve heard from other comic book fans start the same way: a relative bestows upon them the first treasured comics at a young age. I am not claiming this is the only way it happens, but in my own experience, it is the most common. But what about those who never experienced that magic moment in youth? How do they stumble into the dense and wonderful world of Kryptonians and super-soldiers? Here are a few helpful hints.
Let’s start with the vocabulary of comic books.
Comic books are generally published as single issues on a schedule (generally monthly) and generally known as “floppies” or pamphlets. Think of these as episodes of a TV series. You get one and wait for the next to continue the story. These are the most common formats for comic books. You’ll find them in your local comic shop, news stands, and some bookstores. In major bookstores, such as Barnes & Noble, these will be stocked in the magazine section.
After some time, a group of issues are collected into a single book called a trade paperback (sometimes shortened to simply “trade”). Maintaining the TV comparison, this would be a season collected into a box set. When you stumble into the wasteland of a book store, these are categorized in a section labeled “Graphic Novels” (More on that later).
Now this is where it can get a little confusing. There are also other ways issues can be collected. Certain series can gain credibility and fame over time. If a publisher recognizes this, they may release special editions in various formats including paperback and hardcover. Some terms included in these special editions: Omnibus, Showcase, Absolute, and Premiere.
Let me go back for a second. There was a term I used not too long ago: Graphic Novel. This is a very vague term in the world of comic books. Graphic novels are defined by the dictionary as: a fictional story that is presented in comic-strip format and published as a book. It can be agreed that books like The Watchmen and Maus are graphic novels. However, there’s a certain qualifier lacking in the definition. As it is, all collected comics are considered graphic novels. But, this is where my own opinion comes in. I think graphic novels are a form of comic books, but not all comic books can be graphic novels. I think there should be a certain story structure to graphic novels that does not allow for the loose-threads of serialized comics. A book like The Watchmen is self-contained and does not require outside reading to understand the basic story. On the other hand, a book like The Death of Superman requires an understanding of many aspects outside the individual story including the Matrix Supergirl’s relationship to the fully-follicled Lex Luthor. But here’s the twist, a graphic novel can be serialized. I define The Sandman series as a graphic novel series because it is a fairly finite and self-contained. Again, I reiterate: this is my opinion. If in doubt, call it a graphic novel. I won’t hate you… much.
All right, that’s out of the way. Let’s continue with a look at story structure in comics. In the early days of comics, single issues would tell a full story. As two-part stories grew into sagas, a practice called decompression allowed for the prevalence of story arcs. Story arcs followed the story structure (beginning, middle, end) over multiple issues. The common practice is to run a story arc over six issues to ease the transition to trade.
Crossovers are common stories in comics. These refer to stories in which a character from one title appears in a book of another title (i.e. Superman appearing in a Batman book). This is not to be confused with a Team book, which groups multiple heroes together (i.e. Avengers). Crossovers can occur in single issues, or they can occur in multiple issues. They can also take place between two titles.
As crossovers became more popular and the stakes raised with multiple heroes, events became a staple in comics. Event comics mainly are either mini-series or crossover. These stories raise the stakes to global and even universal levels. They commonly feature multiple characters from various titles uniting against a common foe. In the case of Civil War and Avenger vs X-Men, they can also feature multiple heroes battling it out due to differing opinions of a certain catalyst.
With the evolution of events, tie-ins became necessary to explore characters and moments that can only be glimpsed in an event series. These tie-ins can be a mini-series created specifically for the event, or they can take place in titles featuring a specific character involved in the event.
And finally, let’s talk a little about titles, characters, and publishers. This is gonna be a little more free form, because it’s just clarifying a few confusing areas. First up, titles are very simply the title of the comic book. In super-hero comics, the common practice is to name the title after the protagonist. However, certain titles began as anthologies, which told various stories throughout the series. One major example of this would be Journey Into Mystery which began as a horror/mystery anthology series, but would later introduce and feature Thor and more recently, Loki.
I’m going to revisit the TV comparisons now as I talk about publishers. Each publisher is like a channel with different programming. There are two major publishers (commonly referred to as the Big Two) which dominate the market: DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Each contains its own stable of characters created throughout the years. DC’s stable of characters contains iconic heroes such as Superman and Batman, while Marvel consists of some of the more “modern” characters like Spider-man and Iron Man. They have titles (think shows) which they produce on a monthly schedule. There are other channels to watch besides NBC and CBS, so we also have other publishers. A few examples in no particular order:
- Image Comics – Walking Dead, Spawn
- Dynamite Entertainment – Robocop, Green Hornet
- IDW Publishing – GI Joe, 30 Days of Night
- Dark Horse – Hellboy, The Umbrella Academy
- Oni Press – Scott Pilgrim, Queen & Country
Now, I know what a lot of you are thinking: how does a vocabulary lesson get somebody started reading comics? It doesn’t. It’s a foot in the door. And this is only part one. In part two, I’m going to talk about how to introduce someone into the world of comic books and suggestions for books to start reading.
Call Yourself A Nerd 