Surviving Big Events in Comics Today

Xeall · Surviving Big Events in Comics Today

Maybe its just that its midnight and i have had far to much caffine but i have been thinking about big events in comics that have been advertised to the skies (e.g. Civil War) and how the effect the comics to come after.

Now many complaints have landed on DC's doormat about how they have a big event and then everything is back to normal, nothing changes. Maybe a character dies here and there but they are usually back prety sharpish in some form or another.

Marvel on the other hand have recived great praise over the last few years for doing something and sticking by it. House of M is still in effect when you look at the X-men for example. Being a big marvel fan I'm all for this, however something just doesn't feel right (call it my spidersense tingling). Before we get into it lets look back on a few big events. (please, i'm going to try and get these in the right order but i'm bound to get some wrong)

Secret wars

The First big Marvel event with characters from all over the place appearing together in one major spin off title. With the introduction of the beyonder a powerful entity that wishes to battle good vs evil to see a true victor, you would think this important and in terms of comic history you would be correct. The beyonder has reappeared serveral times since his intial introduction but to no big effect that has lasted, the events within secret war have truly only had one lasting effect, the introduction of the symbiote that later became venom. Now for a big event this hardly is a massive thing, no matter how much i love venom and carnage. But admittedly this was a long time ago in comic history and cannot be judged by today's standard in story telling. God just read it again and try not to laugh at the language.

The Age of Apocalypse

With the death of Charles Xaiver at the hands of Legion the X-men world was turned on its head with magneto being the leader of the x-men against a foe stronger than anyother. Every x-men was changed in this event with scott summers becoming evil (for a time) and quicksilver replacing his role as leader of the team. After this event absolutely nothing seems to stay in the marvel continuity. Sure X-man appears for awhile but whatever happened to him? (maybe i missed it) Age of Apocalypse was an epic that took up 4 huge tradepaper backs for the original story, more parts have appeared since but soon forgotten. Apocalypse turns up from time to time in the X-mens lives to make some horsemen and then get beaten up but not really anything long lasting stayed from this event

House of M

Bendis changed the world of Marvel in this event. The main population became mutants and humans became the outsiders. This unlike other events was not limited to a group of characters but everybody in Marvel. Wanda Maximoff was truly the main character of this show when you boil it down and yes the incidents of House of M still are in effect in the continuity today. 'No more mutants' is a line that greatly effects the current events of the X comics, with endangered species and Messiah complex revolving around this single line, not to mention currently ongoing stories. Other lasting effects have been the return of Clint Barton better known as Hawkeye, Wolverine regaining all of his memories and the loss of power in certain enemies and heroes. However even some of these lost powers seem to be returning so maybe the House of M will not be as long lived as we see now, but with the recent edition of House of M avengers we can live in hope (for those who missed that, Shame on you go buy all 5 issues now!).

Nick fury's secret war

Really only known as secret war but has gained a new subtitle to stop confusion with the original classic (thanks by the way bendis for secret invasion, god is anything not a secret with this guy?). This is one of the best drawn comics i have ever had the pleasure to look upon, not part of this disscusion i know but needed to be said. Nick Fury has enough with red tape and politics and takes matters into his own hands to stop evil from funding supervillains in america. This title ended with the disappearing of Mr Fury from the marvel universe. This has only just been rectified in current story arcs but Nick's leaving had more effects than one might originally assume. Shield needed a new leader, this became Maria Hill a driving force in the battle of the Civil War. Also heroes with links to shield no longer had the acsess or co-operation that might have originally existed. Jessica Jones was also now out on a limb being a double double agent with no one telling her what to do. Now this has been long lasting but the round up for this can wait till the end.

Civil War

Where to start with this hot topic, however it may be unfair to look back on this one not even a year after it has finsihed (or has it been a year now?). Quite possibly the hottest topic ever discussed in comic book history with fans quite literally taking sides and falling out with one another over the content and political views within. Everything in this event is still in effect, but with a story so challenging and different to go back on it would be almost criminal. Unfortunately I have lied in this paragragh, one thing has been changed back since the end of this series, showing my point exactly about no event having a lasting effect. Another hot topic, Spider-man and his One More Day have deleted the public unvailing of spider-mans secret identity, an unbleivable move at the time that no one saw coming that already has been put out to dry, shame. But then there are those who like the new events, we call them crazy ( Wink

).

World War Hulk

Off the back of Planet Hulk, Bruce banners angerier side returns to earth after being shot into space really really pissed off. The whole major Marvel line-up is Hulk-smashed into submission as the Hulk goes after the members of the illuminiti that sent him into space and then continued to ruin his new life. What really came of this? Really? Pretty much nothing. A real non event of the back of possibly the greatest. The only constant thing is that Bruce Banner is now lock away somewhere not so angry anymore. Oh and so Marvel can try a whole new set on comics that nobody read and were soon forgotten about.

So we arrive at secret invasion the current event in Marvel history also written by the great Bendis. He claims all his previous stories are linked and hints have been in the New and Mighty avengers comics of coming plots for sometime. I know i missed out disasembled, but to be honest wouldn't you. Ill wrap it up quickly, Wanda makes stuff happen for House of M and New avengers, Thor goes bye and spiderman is really dull for a while.

Thors back so that one is gone. Here is where i (finally) get to my point, Bendis wrote all of these main stories (most of them) to lead up to this big event that is secret invasion and all of these stroies have been praised due to their continual effect on the Marvel universe. He even had the Civil War in his head as part of this story even though it wasn't his.

My problem comes with secret invasion being the final peice to this puzzle. Does this then turn everything around? Will Nick Fury return as head of shield? Will the registration act be something set up by the skrulls to divide or orginize the heroes of earth making them easier to conquer? Benis has mentioned that one character in house of M can change and effect everything that is happening in secret invasion, is that Wanda? by returning all mutants will earth have enough power to fight back?

My major worry is that everything is going to returned back to the way it was or if not completely then certain events are going to be reversed. I don't want Marvel to take a step back like DC have been doing (and Spider-mans Brand New Day). Will the great events we have been reading be reduced to nothing as we retread old steps.

This comic fan and reviewer hopes not. Just getting something off my mind here so please comment back let me know what you think.

Xeall - the tired of hand now

The Rascal King · Re: Surviving Big Events in Comics Today

I really want to reply properly to this almighty essay of a post, with a concise, well thought out response.
But as he said, it is late, and I'm pretty knackered myself.
I feel bad lowering the tone, but really, I can't help myself.

Web of Fear

I do question whether Civil War has had a lasting effect on the MU, now that Spidey's unmasking has been undone.

Most heroes still go about their business as usual, and whenever the New Avengers meet the Mighty Avengers, they just agree to team up to fight for the greater good, or are just let go ....

The Rascal King

I think the key word in this is in the Title, that being "Surviving".

The only real and lasting effects any big crossover events have, is someone dying, and the only thing about it is how long the company decides to let them stay dead for.

Longshot

It does seem that Civil war's huge repecusions are felt in some places very strongly, but in the X universe its not effected anything.

But then House of M is still fully effecting the X universe, but in other comics (punisher war zone being an example) its practically ignored.

But sometimes skipping around something is the only way to tell the story.

Reaper

I don't think Marvel will revert in a huge way if at all. As you've said they've received a huge amount of praise and an upturn in sales because of the continued repercussions of their Big Events. They must see that this is all linked and to revert to how things were five years ago would be a big mistake.
It's entirely possible that SEcret Invasion will have some minor effects but then go back to how things were a few months pre WWH, theres a good chance that that might be considered the new equilibrium (Media term ladies and gents).

Thats actually a pretty good summary of the Big Events, however in AoA Onslaught didn't kill Xavier, can't remember who it was but it wasn't Onslaught Smile

Xeall

Surviving Big Events in Comics Today

Re: Surviving Big Events in Comics Today