This post is Filed Under:
Home page Highlights,
Interviews and Columns
by beau Smith
I really want to get to know mainstream marvel and DC characters again.
I want to feel as close to knowing them as I did growing up from grade school through college. No, I’m not talking about a “getting old thing,” I’m talking about having the fictional characters written so that I truly feel I know who they are and what they’re about. I want someone to do for the marvel and DC characters what the writers of the TV series lost did for their characters.
In the 1960’s Stan Lee and the guys at marvel Comics originated superhero characterization. I truly think it’s time for marvel and DC Comics to get back to doing this. The background and continuity of the characters is being taken for granted by the editorial staffs and writers. They are assuming that every reader, new and old, knows the history and personality of the characters. They don’t know for two reasons, that history is not being retold and there’s very little personality in most of the characters.
The green lantern Corps by Doug Mahnke
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying EVERY character lacks personality, I’m saying most lack it. This is my opinion from reading the books that I buy and pay for. most of the time there’s too much “busy work” going on in a story to really let the readers get to know the main players and what they’re all about. The bulk of the green lantern related books are like that. There are so many characters with so little time allotted to who they are and what they’re about. They end up as a string of cookie cutter characters dodging ray beams and swirling in space every issue.
X-Men
I’m not talking about or asking for a bunch of talking heads issues. I’m asking for action stories where some time is set aside to really let the readers know who the characters are and why they do what they do as well as say the things they say. Some importance needs to be put into their words. The dialogue needs to explain who they are and where they stand on things. With books like the green lantern series and Marvel’s X-Men related books, I think that the writers are being spread too thin to do what they are really good at doing, making the characters interesting.
When my pals Geoff Johns and Brian Bendis are focusing on a couple of books, they are the best at giving superheroes interesting and dynamic personalities. Geoff’s work on the JSA is nothing short of text-book greatness. What Brian can do with The Avengers is the same on the amazing meter. Brian also carries the edge because he is so good at making the characters sound so real, every word gives you so much. He also doesn’t forget to add some real life humor to them as well. That’s so very important.
But, spread them out over four or five books and the edge of the razor starts to get a little dull. keep in mind, some of this is due to heavy handed editorial micro-managing for events and unneeded crossovers. too much of a good thing can turn into a very bad thing as we have all witnessed in the last few years.
I’m not singling out Geoff and Brian, I’m just using them as a broad example. There are plenty of writers out there doing just one book and the characterization will put you to sleep faster than Lunesta with one too many beers.
Fantastic four #49
My idea would be to not only take the time to add some deeper characterization in these even driven stories, but to maybe dedicate an event or limited series or one shot to each character where we “get to know” them again. For some it’ll be the first time, for others it’ll be a rekindling. note that I am not talking about doing yet another “origin” story. I’m talking about a story line where we get to really know and possible find out why we like wonder Woman, Captain America, Spider-Man or Iron Man. As a writer and former creative director, I know this can be done and everyone would reap the rewards. Stan Lee laid out the blueprint many years ago. We need to dust those plans off and make them the foundation to a stronger and more interesting home for our superheroes. The same lesson goes for those that are starting out their own new lines of characters, whether they be the new Atlas books or the Archie Superheroes.
I want to get to know my old pals and make some new ones in the process. Don’t you?
Your amigo,
Beau Smith
The flying Fist Ranch
www.flyingfistranch.com