tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post110624173715451070..comments2023-10-02T09:40:54.779-04:00Comments on Yet Another Comics Blog: Origin StoriesDave Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12392905720500587211noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1106568632256500642005-01-24T07:10:00.000-05:002005-01-24T07:10:00.000-05:00I think you're right on, here. REALLY right on. ...I think you're right on, here. REALLY right on. I hadn't thought about it so much, but a lot of the Arana problems would have been avoided if it weren't SIX ISSUES OF ORIGIN. It's what first turned me off Ultimate Spider-man . . .decompressed storytelling is easily boring, and origins are easily boring. Combine them and you're smack dab in the middle of a boring pizza.Mr. Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03221098688529569487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1106341764065919642005-01-21T16:09:00.000-05:002005-01-21T16:09:00.000-05:00Although I think you bring up some good points, I ...Although I think you bring up some good points, I think it is unwise to compare movies to comics. And there are notable exceptions. I think the problem is that more often than not the origin is done poorly.<br /><br />Spider-man (the movie) was a clear success at the box office and in using the origin as its starting point because at its heart, it's a romance movie with superhero trappings. I agree that Spidey 2 was stronger, but not even mostly because it didn't have to revisit the origin. I think among the non-comic movie mainstream, they (although a segment certainly are)aren't looking as much for the costumes and villians and the hero-come-alive. <br /><br />In comics, I think you are right more than not. However, the most notable current exception I can think of is the Ultimate re-telling of Spider-man. That works tremendously well as an origin, because the characters are well-developed. Although most people were already familiar with the Spider-origin, at the time the Ultimate universe was an unknown and open to any possible variation; yet despite familiarity, it holds up as an origin story told well. I would also suggest this holds true for the original origins of many Marvel heroes and teams, in which an entire issue was typically dedicated to the origin. <br /><br />I'm sure there are others I can't recall off-hand, but I believe background information can be interesting, if you develop the characters worth caring about.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08345076657753826652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1106316501452185632005-01-21T09:08:00.000-05:002005-01-21T09:08:00.000-05:00Star Wars is Luke Skywalker's story, and it begins...<I>Star Wars</I> is Luke Skywalker's story, and it begins with his 'call to adventure,' but it isn't his Secret Origin. We don't learn until later about his true parentage, and then only when it becomes dramatically necessary.Dave Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12392905720500587211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1106315491090948672005-01-21T08:51:00.000-05:002005-01-21T08:51:00.000-05:00Also (this is Dave again), Star Wars IS an origin ...Also (this is Dave again), Star Wars IS an origin story. It's the origins of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight. Don't fall into Lucas' retconning trap...in no way is Star Wars or even most of Empire the story of Darth Vader. It's the story of Luke Skywalker. And we see him rise from dopey farmboy to dopey Jedi. Hell, it's practically Batman's origin story: after his guardianss are killed, he uses his father's legacy to avenge their deaths, and trains with a bunch of masters to become the best he can. Whatever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1106261088953691782005-01-20T17:44:00.000-05:002005-01-20T17:44:00.000-05:00Agreed w/r/t to comics, I'd much rather just jump ...Agreed w/r/t to comics, I'd much rather just jump into things and have the backstory unfold over time, especially in these days of expanded story arcs. That said, I did like (like, not love) how they told AraƱa's story, fully developing her character while dropping hints about the larger story surrounding her. Certainly could have been done in three issues, though, as opposed to the TPB-friendly six.<br /><br />Movies, I think, can benefit from that same kind of character development process, as exhibited in the first Superman and Spider-Man movies. While Burton's Batman is on my Top 5 Movie list, I think it was the exception to the rule, able to take for granted the fact that Batman was pretty well-known and jump right into the story. One of the major criticisms of the movie, however, was that the Joker stole the show as the more fully-developed character, something I agree with.<br /><br />Interestingly, I've been intrigued by the Batman Begins previews I've seen, whereas the Fantastic Four trailer left me flat, all special effects w/o any sense of the characters behind them.Guy LeCharles Gonzalezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113334407249093149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1106257689005710102005-01-20T16:48:00.000-05:002005-01-20T16:48:00.000-05:00Total agreement. Give me an exciting, engaging sto...Total agreement. Give me an exciting, engaging story right off the bat, so I'll *want* to know more about the backstory. Force me to sit through 6 to 12 months of prologue and I'll be long gone by the time the good bits start.<br />--<br />J. Kevin CarrierAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1106247475053212832005-01-20T13:57:00.000-05:002005-01-20T13:57:00.000-05:00I think you're right on. I remember watching The ...I think you're right on. I remember watching The Shield DVD (season 1) and in the commentaries they mention it's good to start off a show with what would be episode 10, hopefully one of the most exciting episodes, and then get to the background later.<br /><br />Creators need to a "hook" to get the audience in. Starting with the origin story, as opposed to a big superhero fight where afterwards you can work your way back, is not the way to do it.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11923040690657152891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7963510.post-1106243724582453652005-01-20T12:55:00.000-05:002005-01-20T12:55:00.000-05:00I couldn't disagree more.
http://slithytoves.syte...I couldn't disagree more.<br /><br />http://slithytoves.sytes.net/~dave/main.php?wl_mode=more&wl_eid=419&wl_offset=7<br /><br />Dave LArtigueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com