Downtime Issues of Superhero Comics

I love issues of superhero comics where there is little or no action and fighting and instead focuses on the heroes' "downtime". This can be the heroes just talking to each other or going somewhere to relax. These issues can be used for Character Development or just getting to see what goes on in a character's mind.

Chris Claremont was known for doing this many times in X Men. Why, John Byrne once complained that an ideal issue for Chris would be for the characters to be in normal clothes and do nothing but talk.

One noticeable example from the X-books, but not from Chris Claremont, is X-Factor #87 by Peter David. In that issue, the team members are psychologically evaluated by Doc Samson. One of them is Quicksilver and we learn why he is so arrogant and agitated by others: Because of his superspeed, he feels that everyone else is too slow on the uptake.

What is your favorite "downtime" issue?

edited 4th Jul '14 1:39:09 PM by DS9guy

I love downtime issues. I could seriously read an entire series based on superhero downtime. A recent favourite would be the final issues of Kieron Gillen's Young Avengers. Party! With plenty of fantastic guest art from various excellent artists.

Another phenomenal instance: Journey Into Mystery #630, also by Kieron Gillen. The issue is Volstagg telling his kids the story of Fear Itself, and the first half is fun and goofy, with Volstagg painting himself as the hero of it all. Then one of the kids asked about Thor. And boom, you're wiping away tears. (Two issues later, in #632, Loki had to give away a bunch of Hel-puppies. I'm honestly not sure if it counts as downtime. But it was adorable and hilarious.)

The previous volume of X-Factor was full of downtime issues that were always great, because of PAD's expert mixure of humour and characterization. There was another issue of the team meeting Samson again. The one that sticks in my mind the best was right near the end, after the Hell On Earth War, where Wolfsbane goes to see Father Madrox. The writing and art do a great job getting across how totally, utterly empty Rahne feels after her son's death.

From the previous volume of Captain Marvel, I feel like #8 counts as a downtime issue. While it does feature Carol punching a dinosaur and beating up some gun-toting goons, it's really all about her going through her day. Buying bagels for the homeless woman in the park, taking her cat to the vet, and seeing a doctor. Punching dinosaurs was actually an interruption of meeting Spider-Woman for coffee.

First off, John Byrne is a douche, but I think that goes without saying.

Second, I love issues where they all dress in real peoples' clothing and just talk. It breaks up the monotony of 22 pages of "BIFF! BAM! POW!" month after month.

Avengers Academy issues 13 (Prom) and 38 (Flag Football) are probably my faves. Just seeing heroes taking the time to have fun and relieve a litte stress is something nice to see every once in a while.

Marv Wolfman, during his run on The New Teen Titans back in the '80's, was known for this, too. Usually he'd do a "down" issue after a big story, to show the characters dealing with the previous story's repercussions and/or decompress, or sometimes just deal with character stuff. My favorite is "Who is Donna Troy" where Robin/Dick Grayson investigates Donna Troy's (Wonder Girl's) past at her behest. It's not really a "chillin'" issue, but there's zero super-heroey action in it. It's just a great, character driven story. Another is "We are Gathered Here Today..." which is a wedding issue. Good stuff!

One of the reasons I've heard for these types of issues, aside from the fact that they're a good idea just from a variety perspective and to help readers sympathize with characters, is that they helped readers "catch their breath." I've gone back and read other comics, in collected editions and big runs, where it's just action after action after action, and it can feel a bit wearying even when the stuff is really good.

Interestingly, Peter David has said that he really didn't like his "X-Factor goes to therapy" issue. He did it at his editor's request, apparently, and has said that he dislikes "hit you over the head" characterization, which is what he calls that issue. Funny that it's a fan-favorite from his first run on X-Factor.

My favorite of these would be "The Night of Thanks but No Thanks" from Detective Comics in the eighties, and written by Harlan Ellison. It's not exactly a standard downside issue, in the sense it's not one where the character chooses to spend some free time, but... the subversion of the concept is too funny to spoil it here. A shame it apparently has never been collected anywhere.

edited 4th Jul '14 10:42:30 AM by NapoleonDeCheese

I've only read the first few issues, but the current Hawkeye series seems to be like this, showing what Clint's up to when he's not with the Avengers.

Does the Justice League have any of those types of stories? A JLA camping trip? If they have Clark, they won't need a fire starter.

De Matteis' and Giffen's JLI and JLE had a few of those, like their famous 'moving day' issue.

Wasn't the wedding of Donna Troy and Terry Long notable for avoiding the Wedding Smashers trope?

edited 28th Oct '14 3:33:26 PM by DS9guy