Comic Therapy

[KingVoyeur]

I started this thread for people, like myself, with questions about comics.

Here's my question:

I was thinking about subscribing to some comics, but with all the variations on single characters, I'm unsure about where to start. I'm a big fan of Batman and Spider-Man, so here's my question. What's the difference between Batman and Detective Comics (I noticed that there is currently a crossover story between the two) and the difference between Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Marvel ADV Spider-Man, Sensational Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Spider-Man loves Mary Jane? AHHHHH!
:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

[DaForce]

I started this thread for people, like myself, with questions about comics.

Here's my question:

I was thinking about subscribing to some comics, but with all the variations on single characters, I'm unsure about where to start. I'm a big fan of Batman and Spider-Man, so here's my question. What's the difference between Batman and Detective Comics (I noticed that there is currently a crossover story between the two) and the difference between Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Marvel ADV Spider-Man, Sensational Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Spider-Man loves Mary Jane? AHHHHH!
:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:



Not sure about the Batman comics (I only get Batman/Superman), but as for the Spidey titles...Amazing, Sensational and Friendly Neighborhood Spidey are all supposed to be in the same continuity. Supposedly.

Ultimate Spidey is an alternate take on Spidey in a slightly different universe. Spidey's a teenager, MJ knows his secret, Venom was created in a lab, etc.

And from what I know about Spidey loves MJ, it's supposed to be a mini-series.

If I were you, I'd buy a tradepaperback of a few of the titles you're interested in, read them, and then make your decision based on what you've read.

Currently, I get Amazing and Ultimate Spidey. Which is more than enough Spidey for anyone to handle.

[Quasar]

I haven't been big into buying comics for awhile, but Batman and Detective Comics were always just 2 different titles for Batman. Usually the two contained separate story arcs, but once in awhile a storyline would go into both titles.

[KingVoyeur]

Not sure about the Batman comics (I only get Batman/Superman),

Thanks for the info on Spidey, I can't imagine why they'd split the same continuity amongst three different titles (seems like a waste of paper, why not just have one title in one continuity with guest artists and writers), but what's this Batman/Superman title?

[Immortal1982]

Batman/Superman(or Superman/Batman, if you want to get technical, bastiches) is a sorta iconic take on the 2 biggest superheroes in the DC Universe. The first 25 issues are/were written by Jeph Loeb, with a bevy of artistic talent. It gives a chance to see these 2 work together and be the best that they can be.

If anything, i will recommend Issue 26 when its released. for that, check a topic that will be popping up.

~SkY~

[DaForce]

Thanks for the info on Spidey, I can't imagine why they'd split the same continuity amongst three different titles (seems like a waste of paper, why not just have one title in one continuity with guest artists and writers), but what's this Batman/Superman title?

I like the Bats/Supes title because it gives you the paranoia of Bats, and the goody two-shoesnis of the Big Blue Boy Scout.

Good stuff.

[KingVoyeur]

OK, next question. What's the difference between all the Golden-Age, Silver-Age, etc., superheroes? Are they just the incarnations from different time-periods?

[SinisterPryde]

It depends on the company you are reading.

For example, in Marvel Comics, while you can go back to the Golden Age (there are only a few characters from that era still around) there is no real difference. Marvel doesn't acknowledge the changes.

DC, however, seems to be the guidlines for the various ages. This is where it gets a little confusing because some characters are essentially the same people (like Superman, Batman, etc.) others are "generational" (The Flash, Green Lantern). Each age seems to have it's own incarnations of the generational heroes. Silver Age Flash is Barry Allen while the (Bronze?/Current age) is Wally West. DC explained this through their "multiple earths" which they seemingly elimated in the mid-eighties so that the Golden Age Supeman was a different Superman than that in the Silver Age, even though both of them were Clark Kent. The Golden Age Supes fought alongside the JSA (the Golden Age team with Flash, Green Lantern, etc.) while the Silver Age Supes was in the JLA.

If you're talking about publishing wise, the Golden Age was from 1938 to roughly 1964. The Silver Age started in 1964 with the first appearances of the new Flash and Green Lantern. I'm not personally sure when it ended, but I'm sure Highsky knows. I think in the early 80's when comics went from the action adventure and high fantasy to the grim and gritty.

[KingVoyeur]

Thanks, that helps....I think....

[DaForce]

From Comics Guaranty, LLC Glossary:

Golden Age. A period of comic book publishing that ran from Action Comics #1 (June 1938) ending with WWII in 1945.


Silver Age. A period of comic book publishing that begins with Showcase #4 in 1956 and ends in the early 1970s.

Bronze Age. A term for comics published between 1970-1979


Modern Age. Comic books from the late 1970s to the present.


And for those of you wondering what the hell Showcase #4 was...

http://www.geocities.com/mbrown123/showcase4.html





Am I the only person here that knows how to use Google?



:ohwell:

:wink:

[southpaw]

What's a google?

[Immortal1982]

The standard definition of the ages by Daforce is correct.

The Benchmarks by the companies themselves vary.

Dc's golden age ran from 1939 to 1945. That was the day of the JSA, All Star Squadron and many of the wartime heroes. Only 4 or 5 heroes from those days are still active in today's DC contiuity.

DC's Silver age is from 1957-1959(First Appearence of the Barry Allen's Flash) until 1985 (Saint Barry's Sacrifice to save the world in Crisis on Infinate Earths). Most of the established heroes were created in that timespan.

DC's Current Modern age began with 1986's Legends, and will end with the final Page of Infinate Crisis 7 and the One Year Jump. Most Debuting Superhores, like Superboy, Starman, Kid Flash, and Kyle Rayner fall in this period.


--------------------------------------------------

Marvel on the other hand kinda flows and alters a lot of its continuity with time. Peter Parker was in HighSchool in 1962 in Amazing Fantasy 15, but in the 2000's he is a Late 20's/ Early 30's High School Teacher. Tony Stark's Military service has been updated from Korea to the gulf war in Warren Ellis's recent run.
One or Two things do stay constant. James Logan "Wolverine" Howlett is over 140 years old, establishing his birth in the days following the US civil war. Captain America and Namor, among others, fought side by side during World War 2 as the Invaders, before "Bucky" Barnes was "killed"(1) and Captain frozen in ice water for years.

(1) Yeah i know, live with it.

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That being said. Back to your regularly scheduled Q&A thread.

[SinisterPryde]

Well, that's much simpler and more accurate. Just goes to show I don't know nearly as much as I think I do. :)

[Immortal1982]

Today's Lesson. The Companies and their lines....

Starting with Marvel Comics.

The Marvel Universe, is the common line, and includes pretty much every title that marvel publishes, from X-men to New Avengers, and the Miniseries like House of M.

Marvel Knights, while most of its stories are set in the Marvel Universe, The Books are skewed towards an older audience. Titles in the line include Daredevil, Squadron Supreme, and Marvel Knights/Sensational Spiderman. The Marvel Knights line is currently being phased out with most books keeping their ratings.

MAX, while a very small line, is the home of The Punisher, and is purely the Adult Line. MAX is also known as the imprint of the Shanna and Rawhide Kid Miniseries.

The Ultimate Universe, Founded in the year 2000, is home to a more modern and realistic version of the Marvel Universe, with Modern Interpretations of the Heroes. Ultimate Spiderman, Ultimate X-men, The Ultimates, Ultimate Fantastic 4, and the occasional miniseries make up the line.

Marvel Adventures, is a non-continuity based line that publishes comics for Marvel's youngest audiences. These Include versions of Spiderman, Fantastic Four and The Avengers.

The Final Imprint is called ICON. Its the home of Brian Micheal Bendis and Micheal Von Oeming's Powers. The Book is not set in the Marvel Universe, and is in fact, creator owned.

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DC comics is a little easier to grasp.

The DCU is the Home of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc. This is the Universe currently Suffering a crisis.

Vertigo is DC's Mature Imprint. Years ago, Vertigo did have a good connection to the DCU, with characters crossing back and forth, but that has since been closed, with no chance of it re-opening. Vertigo's Mainstays and Icons include John Constantine, The Hellblazer , and Lucifer. Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, and Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen have been published under the Vertigo Imprint. Please note that Alan Moore's ABC comics was a sublabel of Vertigo.

Wildstorm Entertainment is a company owned and founded by former Marvel comics artist Jim Lee. This Imprint is known for WildC.A.T.s(covert action teams), The Authority, Mr. Majestic, Gen 13, and Stormwatch. In 2006, Grant Morrison, Gail Simone, and Lee, among others will revitalize the Wildstorm U, relaunching many of its series and teams.

CMX is DC's Manga imprint. Its titles are mostly trade paperback novels.

Johnny DC is DC's kids line. It includes comics based on its animated properties, like Teen Titans go! , to Scooby Doo, Looney Toons, and Cartoon Network block party. The cornerstone of the line is the infamous Mad Magazine, the parody comic/magazine hybrid , published for over 50 years.

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wow. my hands hurt from typing this.

[SinisterPryde]

I could be wrong, but wasn't ABC initially an imprint of Wildstorm? I seem to remember there being some doubts about ABC's future when Jim Lee sold Wildstorm to DC. Wildstorm also had the Cliffhanger! Imprint.

Also, does All-Star count as an imprint?

[Immortal1982]

Thanks for the clear up on ABC, i figured i was wrong on that after rereading wikipedia.

All-star is a dc imprint, but i forgot to mention it. I'll be editing my other post later on. thanks.

[SinisterPryde]

I've got a couple of history questions (as much for me as for anyone else who might be interested in useless details).

1) What was the first graphic novel (complete original work in one volume)

2) What was the first trade-paperback collection (complete storyline)

3) First cross-title storyline and in what comics?


I am trying to accumalate this information because I need it for a "History of the Medium" project.

[DaForce]

I've got a couple of history questions (as much for me as for anyone else who might be interested in useless details).

1) What was the first graphic novel (complete original work in one volume)

2) What was the first trade-paperback collection (complete storyline)

3) First cross-title storyline and in what comics?


I am trying to accumalate this information because I need it for a "History of the Medium" project.


Umm...you do know how to use Google, right? Also Wikipedia is good researching tool.

Most of this stuff is right there if you just type it in.




:dunno: