And if you can't read the sarcasm in that, welcome. You must be new here.
So, I was traipsing about the internet and came across this.
...well, it was bound to happen eventually. I mean, in spite of the fact that Joe Quesada said back in 2005 that if the main 616 and Ultimate universes ever crossed over, Marvel would officially be out of ideas (though he later reversed his position like we wish he would about One More Day),this was going to happen at some point and in some shape or form. Nobody can really deny it. Why? Because comic book writers love their retcons.
Ah, yes, retcons! Things that - when used well - can wipe away any inconsistencies or flubs in a story or - when used poorly as is often - can screw up things for years. In this case...I don't know. Throwing together not only the main Marvel universe and the Ultimate, but several others from What Ifs and spin-offs? Very tricky. And then, of course, there's the title.
Secret Wars.
...really? You took the most beloved and well-remembered crossover in Marvel history (y'know, the one crossover that actually does what a crossover is supposed to do in comic books?) and decided to make that your title? Congrats on handing yourself a massive pair of shoes to fill. Really, Secret Wars seems to be the last great Marvel crossover that anyone cares to remember (though, as I've heard, Mutant Massacre in the 90s wasn't terrible). While Civil War tried to make Captain America the bad guy in a moral debate (which is insane), Original Sin had a very interesting whodunit story about the death of Uatu the Watcher that turned into being more concerned about advertising the tie-in comics than about telling a decent or even intelligible story, and even Spider-Verse has had some questionable moments (though I have enjoyed it, by the way), Secret Wars had only one thing going for it.
It. Kicked. Ass.
Thrown onto an alien world by an immensely powerful entity, it was a simple fight of good versus evil. Heroes on one side, villains on the other, badassery ensues. Now, that's not to say that stories that give us heroes versus heroes can't be good. However, the problem is...none of Marvel's crossovers that involve heroes versus heroes have been. This is because either, A) Marvel attempts to flaunt a ridiculous premise that they don't actually bother to explain fully and attempt to turn the person who is the paragon of all things good, decent, and moral into the villain (Civil War), or B) Marvel has done so many of these types of crossovers by this point that even if the attempt were made to do this, it would fall completely flat. The "hero vs. hero" concept has become so played out that it's become passe.
Needless to say, I'm hoping the new Secret Wars really isn't going to be that. Though now, I can actually say a few good things about it. Namely how everything is now together in terms of characters and ideas. This is actually good, since it would allow new ideas to be created and new opportunities to be explored. However, where this is going to trip up - if it does anywhere - is in the execution. Like with many, many Marvel events before it.
That I can't really speculate on. I admit, despite my previous sarcasm they do have me in - hook, line, and sinker. I, like many I'm sure, are very curious to see how this will be done. Am I going to be surprised if it's terrible? Nope. Will I enjoy it if it is? ...well, yeah. I'll be surprised, but yeah.
To be truthful, all I've been reading of late has been Amazing Spider-Man (a tip of the hat to Mr. Slott for a thoroughly enjoyable return of the character thus far), Scarlet Spiders, and Nova and while I know at least the first title will be involved in it, not entirely sure about the others - though I sincerely hope that the adventures of Sam Alexander will continue. Really, been very much enjoying that.
Of course, I speak of this event as though it were just another crossover when Marvel has gone out of its way to say that this is how the Marvel universe will be from now until the end of time. Axel Alonso himself said so. My response?
"Sure, until you retcon it."
Marvel's "Secret Wars" will begin publishing in May of 2015.
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