What Marvel Comics needs to do

[Cyberstrike]

I'm bored and want to vent.

1) Stop restarting and renumbering every damn book. Look at this point I really don't care if you use the current number system or revert back to the original series but keep the damn numbers easy to follow.

2) Stop the events. In January solicitations I counted 3 different events going on in your line: Inhumans vs. X-Men, Monsters Unleashed, and The Clone Conspiracy and NONE them looked interesting.

3) Stop over-using The Avengers. Look I get that the movies were great but seriously how many Avengers books do you need? You currently have Avengers, The Uncanny Avengers, The Great Lake Avengers, Occupy Avengers, and US Avengers not to mention The Mighty Avengers, The West Coast Avengers, The Dark Avengers, The New Avengers, The Young Avengers, The Secret Avengers, Avengers Academy, Avengers A.I., Avengers: The Next Generation, Avengers 2099, and A-Force.

4) Stop with the Multiverse, take a good look at DC and see that all stuff turned away a lot of potential new fans because it was so confusing and they still can't figure it out!

5) Stop the PR stunts! I mean for crying out loud: Thor is a woman, Steve Rogers is the "evil" Captain America, Sam Wilson is the good Captain America, Iron Man is now BOTH a 15-year old African-American girl and Doctor Doom, Spider-Man is biracial teen, Spider-Woman is a single mom, Peter Parker is now a rich guy, the Hulk is now an Asian kid, Bruce Banner is "dead", Wolverine is "dead" but now his daughter and an old version of him from an alternate timeline, Carol Danvers is a B****, the She-Hulk is mad at the world (and that is tied old joke right there), Iceman is gay, the original X-Men are time displaced versions of themselves from the 60s, and so on.

I get that you want to appeal to younger readers and make your characters more acceptable to minorities all are GREAT ideas and goals. Slow down, take Riri Williams introduce her in an issue of Iron Man and have her make her own armor and give her the code name Ironheart and giver her a mini-series called The Invincible Ironheart and if it sells well make it an ongoing series and if doesn't sell you have a brand new character that you can put on one of the many Avengers, Inhumans, X-Men, or other teams.

[TheeBaldMoose]

3) Stop over-using The Avengers. Look I get that the movies were great but seriously how many Avengers books do you need? You currently have Avengers, The Uncanny Avengers, The Great Lake Avengers, Occupy Avengers, and US Avengers not to mention The Mighty Avengers, The West Coast Avengers, The Dark Avengers, The New Avengers, The Young Avengers, The Secret Avengers, Avengers Academy, Avengers A.I., Avengers: The Next Generation, Avengers 2099, and A-Force.

New Avengers books as of 2017: Death of the Avengers, The Dead Avengers, Zombie Avengers, Resurrection; Avengers Avenging Dead Zombie Avengers!, and True Grit (it's an Avengers story)

[grendeljd]

I kind of think that companies like Marvel & DC are almost permanently broken, as they have essentially de-volved into corporate marketing platforms that only exist as pale reflections of whatever is being done with the character IP's in other media. I don't even just mean the movies - a lot of these characters are beyond stagnant because they are primarily used to sell other licensed products.

I say that having a little glimpse behind the curtain as an artist, with several professional artist friends (including my wife). I can't say anything more specific than that as either myself, my wife and/or my friends are bound by NDA contracts, but there is a practical reality to the business side of the industry that does taint the creative side of it.

I think it's actually great that they are trying to update the characters to appeal to other minority group fans, but it would have been nice if they didn't break down the original versions of the characters to achieve it. Riri as Ironheart as a separate new spin on an old character is a great way to go as an example, but it would also be great if they could just cone up with more entirely new characters.

I'm sure that even within the corporate IP marketing constraints there are good stories being told by talented people. Honestly though, I don't read anything by the big 2 anymore, so I can't really comment on the newer books in the last 4 years or so.

Here's an interesting article I stumbled across recently about Marvel's treatment of continuity over its long history - some bias in there but good food for thought too;

http://zak-site.com/Great-American-Nove ... verse.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TheeBaldMoose]

I kind of think that companies like Marvel & DC are almost permanently broken, as they have essentially de-volved into corporate marketing platforms that only exist as pale reflections of whatever is being done with the character IP's in other media. I don't even just mean the movies - a lot of these characters are beyond stagnant because they are primarily used to sell other licensed products.

I say that having a little glimpse behind the curtain as an artist, with several professional artist friends (including my wife). I can't say anything more specific than that as either myself, my wife and/or my friends are bound by NDA contracts, but there is a practical reality to the business side of the industry that does taint the creative side of it.

I think it's actually great that they are trying to update the characters to appeal to other minority group fans, but it would have been nice if they didn't break down the original versions of the characters to achieve it. Riri as Ironheart as a separate new spin on an old character is a great way to go as an example, but it would also be great if they could just cone up with more entirely new characters.

I'm sure that even within the corporate IP marketing constraints there are good stories being told by talented people. Honestly though, I don't read anything by the big 2 anymore, so I can't really comment on the newer books in the last 4 years or so.

Here's an interesting article I stumbled across recently about Marvel's treatment of continuity over its long history - some bias in there but good food for thought too;

http://zak-site.com/Great-American-Nove ... verse.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That was a good read, quite enjoyed it.

[grendeljd]

I kind of think that companies like Marvel & DC are almost permanently broken, as they have essentially de-volved into corporate marketing platforms that only exist as pale reflections of whatever is being done with the character IP's in other media. I don't even just mean the movies - a lot of these characters are beyond stagnant because they are primarily used to sell other licensed products.

I say that having a little glimpse behind the curtain as an artist, with several professional artist friends (including my wife). I can't say anything more specific than that as either myself, my wife and/or my friends are bound by NDA contracts, but there is a practical reality to the business side of the industry that does taint the creative side of it.

I think it's actually great that they are trying to update the characters to appeal to other minority group fans, but it would have been nice if they didn't break down the original versions of the characters to achieve it. Riri as Ironheart as a separate new spin on an old character is a great way to go as an example, but it would also be great if they could just cone up with more entirely new characters.

I'm sure that even within the corporate IP marketing constraints there are good stories being told by talented people. Honestly though, I don't read anything by the big 2 anymore, so I can't really comment on the newer books in the last 4 years or so.

Here's an interesting article I stumbled across recently about Marvel's treatment of continuity over its long history - some bias in there but good food for thought too;

http://zak-site.com/Great-American-Nove ... verse.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That was a good read, quite enjoyed it.

I was particularly fascinated by the points about how their approach to the continuity problem changed as early as the late sixties/early seventies. Makes me want to read that book "Marvel Comics: The Untold Story"

[Cyberstrike]

I kind of think that companies like Marvel & DC are almost permanently broken, as they have essentially de-volved into corporate marketing platforms that only exist as pale reflections of whatever is being done with the character IP's in other media. I don't even just mean the movies - a lot of these characters are beyond stagnant because they are primarily used to sell other licensed products.

I say that having a little glimpse behind the curtain as an artist, with several professional artist friends (including my wife). I can't say anything more specific than that as either myself, my wife and/or my friends are bound by NDA contracts, but there is a practical reality to the business side of the industry that does taint the creative side of it.

I think it's actually great that they are trying to update the characters to appeal to other minority group fans, but it would have been nice if they didn't break down the original versions of the characters to achieve it. Riri as Ironheart as a separate new spin on an old character is a great way to go as an example, but it would also be great if they could just cone up with more entirely new characters.

I'm sure that even within the corporate IP marketing constraints there are good stories being told by talented people. Honestly though, I don't read anything by the big 2 anymore, so I can't really comment on the newer books in the last 4 years or so.

Here's an interesting article I stumbled across recently about Marvel's treatment of continuity over its long history - some bias in there but good food for thought too;

http://zak-site.com/Great-American-Nove ... verse.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That is pretty what former wrestling manger Jim Cornette said in regard to the owners of the UFC (and wrestling, movies, music, and TV) firing people and this probably NSFW due to some foul language.

[Sven the Returned]

Did not expect number 5 from Cyber.

[jeremycoe]

What they need to do to ... what? Business-wise I think they're doing okay.

[dornwolf]

Stop chasing the twitter/tumblr users of the world is my thing. You covered it in point 5 but still it needs to be said over and over and over again. If all the people who tweeted how "awesome" it was that Iceman is gay that book would sell well over a million copies. Not the less than 50,000 that guarantee that it won't make a full year.

[Cyberstrike]

Did not expect number 5 from Cyber.

I'm sick of listening to people complain about it.

[Sven the Returned]

Did not expect number 5 from Cyber.

I'm sick of listening to people complain about it.

Here or just everywhere in general?

[nonplayer]

Marvel should just shut down operations.

[jeremycoe]

Marvel should just shut down operations.

Yeah, who likes making money?

[Sven the Returned]

Marvel should just shut down operations.

Yeah, who likes making money?

It's probably nothing compared to what Disney makes everywhere else. I would not feel any certain way about if it happened.

[Cyberstrike]

Did not expect number 5 from Cyber.

I'm sick of listening to people complain about it.

Here or just everywhere in general?

Both.

Like I said elsewhere I have no problem with Riri Williams aka Ironheart. I do think that Bendis' heart is in the right place but IMHO the way that both he and Marvel done it is all wrong they should have introduced her in the first issue of his run and developed her character and backstory for about 6 months to a year and see if she gets the right kind of feedback from fans and then give her either a solo arc in one of the Iron Man books or her own mini series as a tryout run and if that sells well then you do an ongoing series (for however long that lasts at Marvel these days) and if her series doesn't sell, then you send her to The Champions, The Thunderbolts, or one of the various Avengers X-Men, and Inhumans books and she if can be popular character in a team book and if she still isn't popular in a team book then you kill her off in the next big event.

But it seems to me, what he and Marvel are trying to do is push her down Iron Man fans' throats and then both Bendis and Marvel say that fans who don't like her are sexist racists (which there are some no doubt) and that fans who aren't sexist racists should buy the book to support an all-new woman of color superhero.

[whovian]

Much of Marvel's problems stem from an apparent unwillingness to create new characters. I think I've only heard of one new character they've introduced in the past five years -- I believe he/she is called Mosaic. I'll let Marvel readers chime in with their possible lists. I'm under the impression they don't want to pay creators to make new characters for them, despite the fact they offer the least amount of bang per page for the money. If Marvel will not come up with new characters, they're left with changing existing ones. I would love to see Ultraverse come back if Marvel would keep it completely separate from the Marvel universe, but they were allegedly unwilling to pay the creators of those characters a measly five-percent of the royalties for use of those characters.

[Sven the Returned]

Much of Marvel's problems stem from an apparent unwillingness to create new characters. I think I've only heard of one new character they've introduced in the past five years -- I believe he/she is called Mosaic. I'll let Marvel readers chime in with their possible lists. I'm under the impression they don't want to pay creators to make new characters for them, despite the fact they offer the least amount of bang per page for the money. If Marvel will not come up with new characters, they're left with changing existing ones. I would love to see Ultraverse come back if Marvel would keep it completely separate from the Marvel universe, but they were allegedly unwilling to pay the creators of those characters a measly five-percent of the royalties for use of those characters.

I am pretty sure they created plenty for the new Inhumans book/books. i liked them while i was reading it.

[Chiclo]

Much of Marvel's problems stem from an apparent unwillingness to create new characters. I think I've only heard of one new character they've introduced in the past five years -- I believe he/she is called Mosaic. I'll let Marvel readers chime in with their possible lists. I'm under the impression they don't want to pay creators to make new characters for them, despite the fact they offer the least amount of bang per page for the money. If Marvel will not come up with new characters, they're left with changing existing ones. I would love to see Ultraverse come back if Marvel would keep it completely separate from the Marvel universe, but they were allegedly unwilling to pay the creators of those characters a measly five-percent of the royalties for use of those characters.

Quite differently, I have heard that many creators are unwilling to create new characters for Marvel (and to a lesser extent DC) because they do not want to create a character only to lose it and that many creators are holding back original characters for creator-owned works. The aforementioned spate of Inhumans is an exception and Jonathan Hickman has said (to Dunlow?) that he was paid well enough for characters he created appearing in the SHIELD tv show.

[dornwolf]

Much of Marvel's problems stem from an apparent unwillingness to create new characters. I think I've only heard of one new character they've introduced in the past five years -- I believe he/she is called Mosaic. I'll let Marvel readers chime in with their possible lists. I'm under the impression they don't want to pay creators to make new characters for them, despite the fact they offer the least amount of bang per page for the money. If Marvel will not come up with new characters, they're left with changing existing ones. I would love to see Ultraverse come back if Marvel would keep it completely separate from the Marvel universe, but they were allegedly unwilling to pay the creators of those characters a measly five-percent of the royalties for use of those characters.

It's a he. He's an Inhuman as well so I don't know if that really counts as a "New" Character as much as just another inhuman. It's like celebrating a new mutant, "hey it's another mutant that only shows up because his creators on the book"

Too be honest has anything happened yet with Mosaic? I can't even remember if that's out yet.

[maraxusofkeld]

They need to stop making other people historic characters. Examples, the Hulk, Iron Man, Ghost Rider, if you want to do that, just make entire new characters instead of having them replace them. They are driving away long time collectors who have actually supported the hobby over the past few decades instead of someone who is going to read the books for a year or two and be done.

[Brother Darque]

Stop it with the progressivism, because they are shoehorning diversity in there comics.

Wolverine is now a woman, The Hulk is asian, and Mockingbird wants you to think men are garbage.

And they are doing it just to placate the left & SJW's.

I'm not a racist, it's just that i think there's a way to introduce diversity into comics, it's just that the way Marvel is doing it feels heavy handed.

They could instead introduce brand new characters that are diverse.

Like what they did with the new Ms. Marvel. Take a superhero name that's not being used and make a new diverse character. that's how they should do it.

Not make a long running male character suddenly become a woman.

[Cyberstrike]

Stop it with the progressivism, because they are shoehorning diversity in there comics.

Wolverine is now a woman, The Hulk is asian, and Mockingbird wants you to think men are garbage.

And they are doing it just to placate the left & SJW's.

I'm not a racist, it's just that i think there's a way to introduce diversity into comics, it's just that the way Marvel is doing it feels heavy handed.

They could instead introduce brand new characters that are diverse.

Like what they did with the new Ms. Marvel. Take a superhero name that's not being used and make a new diverse character. that's how they should do it.

Not make a long running male character suddenly become a woman.

I kind of agree with you but this is the kind of idiotic complaining which only gives them more attention which is what exactly what Marvel wants and it makes these kind of changes more frequent.

[ShadowTuga]

What Marvel comics need to do?
*SQUEE* Marvel.

[Sven the Returned]

Stop it with the progressivism, because they are shoehorning diversity in there comics.

Wolverine is now a woman, The Hulk is asian, and Mockingbird wants you to think men are garbage.

And they are doing it just to placate the left & SJW's.

I'm not a racist, it's just that i think there's a way to introduce diversity into comics, it's just that the way Marvel is doing it feels heavy handed.

They could instead introduce brand new characters that are diverse.

Like what they did with the new Ms. Marvel. Take a superhero name that's not being used and make a new diverse character. that's how they should do it.

Not make a long running male character suddenly become a woman.

I kind of agree with you but this is the kind of idiotic complaining which only gives them more attention which is what exactly what Marvel wants and it makes these kind of changes more frequent.

Every time they do it progressive writers shoot their nanites all over their underwear and write about it on entertainment sites and blogs. Complaining about it does not make much difference in terms of publicity.

[Phoenix8008]

I kind of think that companies like Marvel & DC are almost permanently broken, as they have essentially de-volved into corporate marketing platforms that only exist as pale reflections of whatever is being done with the character IP's in other media. I don't even just mean the movies - a lot of these characters are beyond stagnant because they are primarily used to sell other licensed products.

I say that having a little glimpse behind the curtain as an artist, with several professional artist friends (including my wife). I can't say anything more specific than that as either myself, my wife and/or my friends are bound by NDA contracts, but there is a practical reality to the business side of the industry that does taint the creative side of it.

I think it's actually great that they are trying to update the characters to appeal to other minority group fans, but it would have been nice if they didn't break down the original versions of the characters to achieve it. Riri as Ironheart as a separate new spin on an old character is a great way to go as an example, but it would also be great if they could just cone up with more entirely new characters.

I'm sure that even within the corporate IP marketing constraints there are good stories being told by talented people. Honestly though, I don't read anything by the big 2 anymore, so I can't really comment on the newer books in the last 4 years or so.

Here's an interesting article I stumbled across recently about Marvel's treatment of continuity over its long history - some bias in there but good food for thought too;

http://zak-site.com/Great-American-Nove ... verse.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What an great article that was! Speaks so much to what is going wrong with both Marvel & DC both lately. And to how Valiant can hopefully do better as time goes on, IF they can keep time moving, keep the continuity tight, and not fall into the 'rebooting everything' trap more than they already have.