countercontinuity-blog

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Good run down from IGN about the titles coming from Marvel during Secret Wars.

My wallet has gone into hiding...

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I'm scared of Marvel's Secret Wars

Don't get me wrong, I'm also very excited. You've got some of the best counter-continuity realities being formed in Battleworld, new stories based on some of my favorite story-lines (Planet Hulk, SpiderVerse, Old Man Logan, House of M, just to name a few).

The breadth of this event is staggering - and only in the last few weeks, have I really been able to wrap my head around it, thanks in part to Comic Book Resources and their posting of May's Marvel Solicits. 

See, before this event even got a name - we were provided with this grandiose promise - 

We had been teased, prodded with announcement after announcement, of slightly altered art cards representing major Marvel events and storylines from the past twenty years - all with the dubious promise of Summer 2015. They've been slow coming with information after that but now that I've seen those solicits, it's all starting to take shape in my mind - and it scares the shit out of me. 

Part of the reason is this - 

That's right, three different sublines under the Secret Wars banner. Tie that in with this beauty - 

And I'm looking at quite a large number of tie-ins, one-shots, and stories that take place under this beautiful counter-continuity/multiverse nightmare/dream. The only saving grace I can think of at this time is the fact that there is a mini-series containing the main Secret Wars story. Phew! 

However, the fact that so many interesting premises, characters, universes are coming out is terrifying. 

Hopefully, and this is probably a bit of wishful thinking on my end, they'll put together some kind of collection soon after they're all out so I don't blowout my box space.

Despite the fear I have in my heart, I am BEYOND(ER) excited that Marvel is doing an event like this. Some of these universes they'll be highlighting/featuring are very close to my heart - as I mentioned previously, Earth X trilogy is still on my favorite epics - and it's really great that they're bringing them back and focusing on them - even if it's only for a one-shot or a cameo.

And, as confirmed by my contacts within the Illuminati - this'll be what resparks comic fandom for a new What If? series!

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Earth X Vs. Kingdom Come 

Not the best resolution, but this is still a really cool piece, featured from Wizard’s #2000. Alex Ross painted this for one of the covers that shipped with this issue.

One of the first Counter-Continuity trades I ever got was Earth X, from that moment one, it became a race to try and collect them all. I purchased all the individual issues of Universe X and Paradise X before selling those to getting the trades. Even then, I only just got the Paradise X Vol. 2 trade late last year on a fluke - (noticing it in the background of one of my LCS’ Facebook photos). 

These two were great epics. I’m not here to say which was better - but The Kingdom felt very tacked on, and Paradise X just got really trippy for a bit there.

Aside from that, I accept them for what they are - great, highly-recommended Counter-Continuity epics. 

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Spider Verse Thoughts - or coming to terms with why I like Spider-man so much.

Spider Verse has been a very interesting story so far. Bringing together all of these "totems" to defeat this hyper-evolved, super-powerful evil family has been a blast to read so far.

Seeing all these Spider-men (and women) in one place has lead to some real cool fights and stories. I hadn't considered picking it up, until I saw this image. 

It made think of all the variations of Spider-man i'd encountered throughout my life - first I had the Spider-man with that awesome theme song. 

I remember rushing home from elementary school to watch this after school, or the one birthday party I had where my folks got me a few of the figures based on the show (Kingpin, the Shocker, Spider-man, and Scorpion - if memory serves). 

I haven't really been reading much Spider-man lately though. I really like how he was utilized in Civil War and I peeked in a bit with Superior Spider-man (Superior Foes of Spider-man was awesome btw). But it's interesting to trace back my enthusiasm for the hero back to that '94 show.

The threats were never insurmountable, the danger really not overwhelming, but somehow Spider-man always fought through, and came out on top. Hell, they even did a mini-version of Spider Verse when they brought in a few other Spider-men from other universes (TV Spider-man, Armored Spider-man, Six-Armed Spider-man).

Today, the last issue of Spider Verse comes out, and we get to see where this'll leave our Peter Parker and the new allies he's come into contact with.

I really hope Punk Rock Spider-man sticks around at least.

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Update

Hit an interesting milestone recently. Less than 50 comics remain before I’ve completed my What If? collection!

Undoubtedly, Marvel will eventually release more as per usual with any of their large crossover events (e.g. House of M, Secret Invasion, Age of Ultron, A vs. X, etc.). 

Hitting that milestone the other day made me examine why I collect what I collect. Undoubtedly, there’s a huge swath of the What If? collection that is pure rubbish. Either the art ruins my interest in the story or the story itself features a character I couldn’t care less about (i’m looking at you Death Head’s II).

I doubt I will go for the tie-ins for Secret Wars or Convergence, sticking with the main title has served me well for the past events. But I’m sure I’ll try and get my hands on the collected edition when that comes out.

I do this because, after being a comics fan for more than 10 years, I can appreciate how the little intricacies about a given hero can start to make them feel stale. How we just accept the story as it’s presented, even if it’s not where you would have taken it, or no real ramifications spin out of it.

I prefer self-contained universes, I want to see creativity, and character nuances highlighted in ways I couldn’t have imagined. That’s why I stick with my Elseworlds and other counter-continuity tales.

Still this is in an interesting time to be a counter-continuity fan, what with Secret Wars coming out later this year, and Convergence right on the heels of that, both my shelves and my wallet fear the impending onslaught. 

Bring on the counter-continuity tales, Marvel and DC, and i’ll keep on collecting!

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Alonso: What I can say is that none of these teasers are for “What If?” stories. These stories really happen. And they happen in real-time — they’re not flashbacks. They count.

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Counter-Continuity Review: Detective Comics #27 - 75th Anniversary Special

Doing some reordering of my collection for an upcoming show and I came across this gem. 

In celebration of Batman's 75th Anniversary, DC Comics released a special edition of Detective Comics #27, containing a reprint of the original debut of the "Bat-Man" and several back-up stories from creative teams that deal with the current iteration of Batman. 

One such story, named masterfully Twenty Seven, written by Scott Snyder and featuring art by Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth, stood out to me.

There have been Batman stories placed in the future, most notably Paul Pope's Year 100, but the way this story plays out twists the idea of the never-aging hero.

In this story, the villains exist, they're more technologically advanced then ever, and a wise sage mentors an ever-replaceable clone of Bruce Wayne.

He's giving him the tour around the Batman's iconic cave and shares glimpses of previous Batmen throughout the ages. 

The clone is spawned at the exact moment Bruce Wayne first dedicates himself to donning the cowl and protecting Gotham. Each Batman brings their own experiences, allies, and costumes to the Batman mythos - unburdened by the previous Batman. 

It's not a glamorous life, seen by the scars and years on the oldest surviving Bruce Wayne's face, but it's a necessary one.

The tour is well-rehearsed, the lines and visions fresh, as if he's an old pro at convincing a younger, newer Bruce Wayne to dedicate his life to being Batman. 

The ending stuck with me. 

Bruce Wayne is given a choice, backing out of the pressures of the cowl and the Batman heritage. He runs, leaping for his chance to not have his destiny dictated to him before hearing the desperation in a local police bulletin. 

It's at the point, that you realize what makes Bruce the hero he is.

Great story in such few pages. Highly recommended.

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Yes, please!

Haven't had a lot of time to analyze the image but I'm seeing quite a few versions of characters, I see Daredevil from 1602, like three Thors. 

I'm in, Marvel!

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Steranko: The Exile At the Edge of Eternity

Nice little Superman story.

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Grant Morrison's The Multiversity offers the reader much beyond the surface level cosmic adventure. ComicsAlliance provides deep insight into the DC Comics series.

Really enjoyed yesterday's Multiversity. Hope the weirdness continues for the remaining issues. 

Comics Alliance has a great dissection of the first issue, taking stabs at Morrion's intention and the symbolism behind lice and landlords. 

Worth a read indeed.

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Something is wrong with Superman. In fact, something has been wrong with Superman for twenty years. The Man of Steel is one of the DC Universe's first and greatest heroes, using his array of numero...

Great discussion and dissection of Superman.

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What If…? #24 (Marvel Comics - April 1991)

Illustrator: Tom Morgan

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Nice article and graphics showing off some of the more recognizable "alternate histories" (Counter-Continuity) X-Men line-ups through the years.

Special bonus, the article also mentions some of the other Counter-Continuity stories that Marvel has done throughout the years.

Great list to review for you, good research fodder for me.

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Future's End and My Changing Reading Habits

I wanted to wait a bit after FCBD before I passed judgement on DC's latest foray into headline stories - Future's End.

Now that it has been out  for a bit, (Future's End #0 dropped on FCBD 2014 and #1 dropped this past Wednesday) I felt like now would be a good time to talk about the series

DC Future's End

Despite some really awesome designs, and a great opening issue - this felt just a too similar to Marvel's Age of Ultron. I liked the dystopia as it was presented. The Earth's protectors turned against those who they're sworn to protect. Heroes and Villains alike (with beards!) trying to save the last vestiges of humanity in vain.

However, I feel the best stuff, the things that would have kept me reading was jammed in the Zero book. It sold me and if it was a mini-series, I probably would have continued to read it.

The problem is, and I knew this getting in, it was a weekly. 

Back when I was a young pup, and could waste paychecks on as many series as I wanted, a Weekly sounded like a great idea.

After dredging through 52 and Countdown to Infinite Crisis, I realized how pointless the entire weekly scheme is. Sure they get you in with some flashy deaths, a c-lister gets the shot at the big time, but mostly, what you'll end up is a retconned ending you can see coming a mile away. 

The best part of Future's End, the future shown during issue #0 was fleeting, and yes the Bruce Wayne and Batman Beyond stuff was great, but we've been down this road before.

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1983 - Anatomy of a Cover - What If? #41 by Michael Golden

Finally something I own shared by brianmichaelbendis! The comic not the page obviously.

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Chris Pratt - er… Star-Lord 3 & 4 - (mostly) Movie versions.

The likeness isn’t 100% but i tried to get it as close as i could under the constraints i’ve established for myself.

(and yeah, i’m counting Walkman™ headphones as Headgear.)