shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,864
Member is Online
|
Post by shaxper on Sept 7, 2014 19:15:28 GMT -5
There was a time in comicdom (especially at Marvel in the 1970s), when you couldn't get through a single issue without seeing some comment marked with an asterisk and followed by a:
.
I know these were controversial with readers. Some loved the idea suggested by these notations that there was a larger comic book universe out there beyond this single issue and that it was all connected, while others felt annoyed by the suggestion that they should go seek out some entirely different book (sometimes a book that was already several years old) to get the full story.
So I'm curious what your thoughts are about those little editor's notes. Did you like them? Hate them? What editors seemed to use them best? Who over and under used them most infamously? Do you recall any particularly ridiculous, inaccurate, or woefully unnecessary editor's notes? Do you recall one turning you on to a new title or causing you to stop reading the very one you were holding in your hands at the time?
Chime in!
|
|
|
|
Post by Pharozonk on Sept 7, 2014 19:29:17 GMT -5
I wonder if editor notes were more prominent in DC books, then the New 52 would have never happened?
|
|
|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Sept 7, 2014 19:33:24 GMT -5
I didn't know they were controversial. I don't recall any debates about them in the letter pages or fanzines. The ones in the Marvel books usually just denoted the last time a character might have appeared or when a mentioned event took place. But the comics were written in the manner that it could be the first time you were reading that title and made sure you were not lost. DC seemed to specialize more with science facts. Especially Julie Schwartz. None of them bothered me
The most ridiculous footnote was from the early 80s when Archie first revived their golden age characters. There were silly footnotes referring to The Shield's battle with Not-Nice-Nellie and her Nazi-ettes from a comic 40 years prior
|
|
|
|
Post by Icctrombone on Sept 7, 2014 19:53:27 GMT -5
They were nice and useful. There was a time when you could get those books and the history wasn't 70 years old, so it worked. I guess you would google it these days to find out what happened in the past.
|
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,864
Member is Online
|
Post by shaxper on Sept 7, 2014 19:55:26 GMT -5
It's only now occurring to me that the back issue market first really got started only a short while after those editor's notes did. I wonder if they had a hand in encouraging readers to seek out older issues.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2014 20:07:45 GMT -5
The asterisks leading to different comics, in my experience, often time contained essential information in order to follow along with the story. I hated it, and grew to hate shared universes for it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Sept 7, 2014 20:17:10 GMT -5
I always chuckled at some footnotes from the very early days of the Marvel superheroes. Like when Spider-Man had a cameo in a FF comic-"Spider-Man appears from a special arrangement with The Amazing Spider-Man magazine." Really Stan? Are you trying to fool the IRS that these are separate companies?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2014 20:52:41 GMT -5
I always chuckled at some footnotes from the very early days of the Marvel superheroes. Like when Spider-Man had a cameo in a FF comic-"Spider-Man appears from a special arrangement with The Amazing Spider-Man magazine." Really Stan? Are you trying to fool the IRS that these are separate companies? More likely Martin Goodman was  On topic, I liked those footnotes. -M |
|
|
|
Post by Randle-El on Sept 7, 2014 23:40:40 GMT -5
I actually liked them because it provided at least some cursory explanation for what was going on. Back in the 80s when I was reading comics as a kid, I wasn't usually able to string together long runs, so more often than not I picked up haphazard issues here and there (thankfully there were a lot more-done-in-one stories back then). So those notes helped since I usually missed out on details from previous issues that I didn't have. And then on those rare occasions that I actually did have those issues, it made me feel like I was special for knowing what the characters were alluding to. Yes, I was easily pleased as a child.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nowhere Man on Sept 8, 2014 2:24:39 GMT -5
They were certainly new reader friendly. With today's six issue arc method, you're expected to be a regular reader, and if not, you're screwed. One of the many things I like about The Sixth Gun is that they devote a page every issue that recaps the previous issue. If editor's aren't going to make notes inside the narrative, there is no justification that I can see for not using a recap page. If if you regularly follow a series, a recap can be helpful. I read a ton of stuff and sometimes take long breaks from series before I go back.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 2:29:15 GMT -5
They were certainly new reader friendly. With today's six issue arc method, you're expected to be a regular reader, and if not, you're screwed. One of the many things I like about The Sixth Gun is that they devote a page every issue that recaps the previous issue. If editor's aren't going to make notes inside the narrative, there is no justification that I can see for not using a recap page. If if you regularly follow a series, a recap can be helpful. I read a ton of stuff and sometimes take long breaks from series before I go back. Most Marvel books have a recap page now too. Not sure about DC. -M |
|
shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,864
Member is Online
|
Post by shaxper on Sept 8, 2014 4:59:01 GMT -5
Recap pages are pretty standard with most publishers now.
The difference is that recap pages are designed only to bring a reader up to speed on what's been happening within that title. Editor's notes were often used to bring the reader up to speed on all relevant information occurring throughout the universe, not all that different from a facebook feed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 6:35:45 GMT -5
I liked & miss the editor's notes... |
|
|
|
Post by Nowhere Man on Sept 8, 2014 6:39:29 GMT -5
Yeah, editor's notes did give a much broader perspective on what was going on in the universe. I only started reading new Marvel comics with Savage Hulk and Silver Surfer, so I was unsure how long the recap page has been standard. I like them both. Taking away thought balloon's, editor's notes and other uniquely comic book aspects to make comics more cinematic never appealed to me. If I want to watch a movie, I'll watch a movie. Part of the appeal of comics is their unique language.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 8:34:56 GMT -5
I love the idea of continuity and shared universes, and the idea that I can read this one story and enjoy it, but if I want to read more about the various players and plot-points there is stuff out there. So, naturally, I like the footnotes. I never feel I need to read another comic referenced to fully understand and appreciate what's going on in the current book. They're more a way to direct me to other stories featuring guest stars or villains that I may be interested in reading.
|
|
