Monday, August 31, 2009

Disney buying Marvel

Disney is buying Marvel Comics for 4 billion.

Wow.

This was not something I expected to see this morning. Huge huge news for comics. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, this will do to the comics themselves.. I have some hopes, as I think Marvel has been a cesspool of bad writing (with a very few expections) for years, I hope this will make things better. Others will feel differently of course.

The biggest reason, I'm sure, is to get access to the characters for theme parks, movies and videogames.

I've lamented the "disneyfication" of other source material (Hunchback for example, or the Three Musketeers), but as bad as I feel Marvel is right now, I'd welcome it.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Marvel-DC Dustup (Part 5)

All right, it's been a while, but let's pick up the action right where we left off. Since there are a total of nine pairings left, we'll look at five matchups this time instead of four.

Triathlete vs. Steel
Triathlete? I've never even heard of him. What does he do? I'd better look up his powers and skills and see if he can even give Steel an entertaining fight.
:: looks up info ::
Um, no.
Winner: Steel

Sub-Mariner vs. Aquaman
The 'Meh' fight of the series. Seriously, Fishboy vs. Hook-hand? Hard to get excited about this one. Okay, so you can live underwater and talk to fish. That means you have the same powers as Spongebob Squarepants. Oh, except that Fishboy can't even talk to fish.
Winner: Aquaman

Black Widow vs. Black Canary
This is a hard one to call. Black Widow's espionage skills and combat training (armed and unarmed) make her a formidable enemy. Chances are, she'll take you out before you even know she's looking for you. In a straight-up fight, though, Black Canary's sonic scream gives her a profound advantage.
Winner: Black Canary

Tigra vs. Huntress
Another hard one to call. Huntress is so skilled and so driven that it's hard to pick against her in a fight. But the fact is that Tigra is faster, stronger, and more agile. Huntress keeps it interesting, but Tigra eventually takes the fight.
Winner: Tigra

Vision vs. Martian Manhunter
These two have quite possibly the most bizarre powersets for major heroes in their respective companies. Vision is a phasing energy projecting android flying brick. Manhunter is a phasing shapeshifting telepathic alien flying brick. If you were a GM and one of your players brought either of these concepts to you for a character, would you let them play it? Seriously, though, I think J'onn's wildly varied powers would prove too much for Vision to overcome with his wildly varied powers.
Winner: Martian Manhunter