- Published December 6, 2016
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All you really need to know happiness is a decent comic book subscription.
Since the 2002 and the first X-Men movie (to which I attribute the transition of Comic Book Counter-culture into Popular Culture), studios have pillaged the annals of comic book lore for source material for the movies.
Yes, they adapt and in some cases bastardise the material in order to push out the movies (with our must watch movie list being populated all the way through to 2019 at last check) we have come to love.
With geek culture growing faster than a speeding bullet and with more power than a locomotive as more and more people start to look for materials to fill their need for more of these amazing stories many more people are turning towards comic books.
While some of us giggle with glee at all these converts who previously mocked the lifestyle, others among us (like Moi for example) welcome the uninitiated.
Unfortunately, in order to ease the culture shock that continuity presents, most of the publishing houses (here’s looking at you “Shmarvel” and “PeeCee”) deem it necessary to reboot the universes every so often and “revitalise” classic characters for a newer and more “layered” audience. What are we- Pickled ox tongue?
Still change in the interests of progress is not a bad thing so I suppose I can stomach the changes in the comic universes.
Which brings us to today’s feature:
Darth ZadyBun’s Top 5 comic book occurrences for 2016
Please note that this article does contain some mild spoilers. If that is going to be a problem, skip on along to the
“Like” and “Share” buttons down below before you move on to read one of the other kick ass articles on the Geek Node.
You have been warned.
Anyway, as I was saying, I was not able to fine tune my focus to specific series or specific moments in comics or even specific titles.
The world is way too filled with colour to paint everything in sepia like that. So I decided I would focus on the so called “occurrences”; i.e. things that I saw and I thoroughly enjoyed throughout 2016.
Okay right off the cuff I am going to fess up and say that my list is limited to the few series that I am currently following. Please feel free to add on your moments.
Number 5 – Captain Hydra
Remember that one time? In issue 1 of Captain America : Steve Rogers that Cap, long revered as the sentinel of liberty and everything that makes America great (no no, try as he might, the Cheetos man with the hair do is not doing any of that) revealed that he was actually a Hydra Sleeper agent all this time?
Say what? Image via Marvel.com
Everybody and their sister lost their proverbial stars and spangles as a result.
I didn’t know what to do with myself. I mean yeah, comics have thrown me some curve balls over the years – Gwen Stacey porked with Norman Osborn; Everything in the Walking Dead comics; that whole fiasco with the Joker cutting off his face; Spider-Man making a deal with Mephisto to save Aunt May.
All of these things bugged me but I figured that they would be temporary because the canon couldn’t possible abide by these changes. I was right in most cases too as these issues were in some way or the other adapted or retconned or in other cases, just shooed over until we got over it and moved on to the next thing that bugged us.
This was something else- Marvel went out on a full media briefing about how it was legit as well so I was convinced that it couldn’t be a gimmick.
That will teach me not to trust mass media, because not too long after, there was another release that revealed that
Cap’s memories were addled because the living embodiment of the cosmic cube, is messing with his memories.
Yeah, I know right?
Still they had me going there.
Number 4 – Marvel: Secret Wars (WarZones!)
Image via Marvel.com
Okay hear me out. I know that this event was last year’s money spinner for Marvel but technically some of the arcs wrapped up earlier this year which makes it eligible for inclusion in this list.
So from as long ago as I can remember the different publishing houses have taught us about concepts of the multiverse, counter earths, alternate earth etc all of which explain how and why there are different versions fo the characters we love.
A vampire Batman, A Noir Inspired Spider-Man, A Soviet Superman: You name they have done it.
Most of this arcs are sort of like a “one –and-done” kinda deal, and we never get to see these versions of the characters again for the most part.
Well Marvel decided that not only will they bring all these characters to the fore, but they would also craft a story arc that allowed many of the characters from these worlds to interact.
Sounds good? Wait – there’s more!
For a limited period, Marvel also ran short arcs showcasing our favourite characters in these alternate universes.
Add in “dream team” writers and artist pairings on the different titles and walah! Entertainment guaranteed.
We saw the Age of Apocalypse, House of M and even the Marvel 1602 universes feature during this event. I liked how some of the stories touched on the canon from the original arcs in those universes.
There isn’t any way this could not be incorporated in this list.
Number 3 – The Mighty Thor
So around 2014 when the all new Thor (later revealed to be Jane Foster) was introduced I was a little antsy since I thought it was a mere marketing ploy at the expense of the character. Fast forward two years and bam – I am sold as a diehard fan.
The current creative team consistently add to the tapestry of this epic and their tales range from the typical “Thor-esque” story lines of battling berserkers across the realms to tongue in cheek stories that pit the wit and will of the new Thor against some very intriguing and multi- faceted villains.
It is often said that a hero is only is good as his (ahem her) villain. Well Dario Agger, one of the recurring big bads is one of the most intriguing characters I have ever seen, possibly more so than fan favourite Loki. Don’t get me wrong, he is an ass hole and I hate him.
Still I can’t deny that he is operating on another level of evil. One author suggested that his appeal lies in the fact that he has taken being a rich corporate douche bag and has essentially turned that into a super power in and of its self.
The story also has a deeper more sentimental side as the new Thor, Jane Foster is ailed by cancer and the story also touches on her struggle with the disease.
Image via Comicvine
Beautiful art, a compelling storyline and well -rounded characters make this a must read.
Number 2 – DC Comics: Rebirth
Okay, so anyone who follows my ramblings know that I bitch time and time again about how it irritates me when the publishing houses reboot their universes every so often to streamline the timelines.
This is supposedly because the years and years of continuity are simply too much for some people to get to grips with.
Image via Superherohype
Sinceriously (as in I am so sincere and serious in my disdain, I needed to use a made up word) you guys?
I am one of the millions of comic fans who spent many a night and toilet visit reading Wikipedia articles to get up to date on comic lore before I could afford to buy the comics and graphic novels.
Why do they have to reboot to accommodate these slackers?
I was irritated when they launched the New 52 timeline.
I eventually got into it after I gave up trying to understand how everything linked up.
Imagine my frustration when I learnt that the New 52 (which after that many years should have just been “the 52”) was coming to an end and was going to be replaced with the “Rebirth” line that is currently underway.
Still, I grudgingly forked out my money to buy Rebirth Issue one.
Best Idea Ever.
Aside from all the awesome moments we have seen in the Rebirth storylines to date, the one that started it off had to be the revelation that Dr. Manhattan, (you remember captain ding-a-ling who walked around with his ding-dong out? The blue dude from the Watchmen?) was the architect of the New 52 universe.
I distinctly recall the last couple panels featuring him in the Watchmen where he talks about going away to create life of his own.
Now it seems like he was the architect of the New 52!
I don’t know if DC had planned this entire curve ball back when they started out the reboot of the DC universe with Flash point in 2011 which resulted in the New 52, but I can’t deny that this moment gave me the chills.
I don’t know if there is going to be a huge brouhaha where the main DC Universe and Dr. Manhattan duke it out, but it is compelling.
I cant wait to see how it all turns out.
Number 1 – Batman does the impossible
I am unashamedly a Batman fan. I realise that he can’t possibly be the most powerful character ever and I do understand that his super power is probably master of the dues ex machina. You bathaters can lament all you want but #BatFan for life right here.
What never fails to rip me is when the artists and the creators incorporate this into their works in a tongue in cheek way.
So in Batman 1 earlier this year the issue closes with a classic scene:
An aeroplane is about to crash and Batman has to save it.
He can’t catch it ala Superman. Instead, he does the next best thing. He pulls a Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and tries to land the plane in the Gotham River.
But he can’t do it from inside the plane – no, he has to do it rodeo style.
He makes his goodbyes to Alfred and just a moment before impact, lo and behold, enter the two newest super heroes in Gotham who swoop in and catch the plane.
That moment where he is about to sacrifice himself is epic and cool.
However, its nowhere as epically cool as a segment during the next issue when Batman pulls his Houdini move and vanishes during a meeting with Commissioner Gordon and the two new heroes , Gotham and Gotham Girl.
The two new heroes reveal with shock that they can’t see him, even with their enhanced vision powers. Gordon replies as he walks away that “It’s not impossible kid, it’s Batman.”
I mean really… Did Gordon just give them the “Because he’s Batman!” treatment?
Classic!
It wasn’t a game changing moment. It wasn’t a moment that they will make posters of nor will it catapult the issue to grail status. Still it was one of those “#dropsmic” moments.
Well, there you have it.
What were your most catalytic moment sin comic books this year?
Be sure to share yours in the comments below.
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Darth Zady Bun
Guest Contributor
Zaid is a story teller, traveller, artist, entertainer and comic culture geek of note.
Powered by chocolate, and guided by an ever growing bucket (and collectibles) list, he finances his addiction to geek merchandise, comic books, action figures and all the cold cast porcelain and PVC pieces of heaven he can buy by giving (mostly) legal advice. He is also rumoured to have once eaten an entire pack of Marie Biscuits with a single mug of Five Roses Tea.
Witnesses deny the incident.
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