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This thread's for talking about the Marvel Comics line, whether the comics are decades old or brand new.

As well as the superhero tales of the Marvel Universe, that also includes all the other things Marvel's done (Epic Comics, Icon Comics, Star Comics and all the rest), as well as the older stories by Atlas and Timely, the companies that later became Marvel.

Acquisitions like Malibu Comics and Miracleman are also on-topic, as are the licensed 20th Century Studios titles, the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Zoids and Transformers comics, and all of the comics created locally by regional imprints like Marvel UK and Marvel Italia.

  • We have dedicated threads for some groups of titles (such as Spider-Man and the X-Men). You can still discuss them here, but you might want to use the more specific threads.
  • We also have threads for Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Predator and some of the other franchises. Sometimes it may be more useful to discuss the comics there rather than here — but they're still on-topic and there's no hard rule.

Technically, Marvel's Infinity Comics (and their predecessors, Infinite Comics) are webcomics, not comic books, but it's fine to talk about them here.

Discussions that are only about Marvel adaptations in other media (films, video games etc.) are off-topic, but discussing the differences between the adaptations and the original comics is fine - as long as spoilers for the adaptations are tagged.

Please follow the spoiler policy rules - tag spoilers for the latest issues, for any previews or content leaks, and for off-topic comics (e.g. if comparing Marvel to a DC story). When including spoiler tags, try to write so that tropers can make an informed decision before viewing them (e.g. which series and issue will they spoil?).

    Original text of OP 
A thread for all the miscellaneous Marvel discussion that doesn't have its own thread.

So apparently, they're making a Black Panther movie. Let's hope Hudlin is kept as far away as possible. On a related note, anyone think that the whole 'Super Hero that is also a King/Ruler' is kind of ridiculous? I mean where do heroes like Aquaman and T'Challa find the time to both lead a nation and go gallavanting on the other side of the globe?

Edited by Mrph1 on Sep 1st 2024 at 8:36:28 PM

CheapMarzipan A Low Cost Confection Since: Dec, 2020 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
A Low Cost Confection
#53676: Feb 23rd 2022 at 10:56:46 AM

[up] Reminds me of Brave New World, the first arc of Grant Morrison’s JLA run in the 90s. Edgy new anti-heroes (the Hyperclan) show up, start killing villains, and replace the JL as public darlings.

Of course, being Morrison, the overall message of the arc is a total refutation of that kind of thing.

Edit: Also just realized Superman vs. the Elite is that too. There really are no new ideas in cape comics, huh?

Edited by CheapMarzipan on Feb 23rd 2022 at 1:11:58 PM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#53677: Feb 23rd 2022 at 11:15:11 AM

As they say ideas of circular. tongue

In another instance, Tom Taylor who created the Revolutionaries is currently writing Superman: Son of Kal-El starring Jon whose mission statement is for Jon to solve the "real world problems" and social issues of the globe.

He starts it by having Damian tell him he should listen to a conspiracy theorist podcast called The Truth for his news and information cause the youth like podcasts I guess.

Said leader of the podcast Jay who becomes Jon's boyfriend is also revealed to be aligned with the Revolutionaries with several members working with Jay. Though Nightwing (who Taylor is also currently writing) reveals that he's funding Jay's podcast cause its an entire organization where they work off a large freighter and shit.

Edited by slimcoder on Feb 23rd 2022 at 11:15:35 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
ClancyGardener life is a state of mind from 53 miles west of Venus Since: Jun, 2020 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
#53678: Feb 23rd 2022 at 12:39:39 PM

[up] What is a conspiracy theorist channel like in the context of a superhero universe? In the reality we live in, the more outlandish conspiracy theories can be dismissed out of hand, but in the DC and Marvel universes, the same theories may be not only plausible but entirely true.

"Shapeshifting alien reptiles impersonating countless superheroes in a plot to conquer world!" "Hundreds of black soldiers experimented on in WWII in government plot to create super-soldiers!" "Respected social club front for secret society of mutant power-brokers!"

Trope Editor (he/him)
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#53680: Feb 23rd 2022 at 5:01:38 PM

Nah they would instead insist all of the superheroes are in on it too.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#53681: Feb 23rd 2022 at 5:01:51 PM

Superhero universe conspiracy theorists must be basically Garth Ennis: "All suprheroes are lab-designed rapists who spend their time having orgies with each other rather than fighting crime!"

Edited by Gaon on Feb 23rd 2022 at 5:02:08 AM

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#53682: Feb 23rd 2022 at 5:15:25 PM

Yeah a superhero conspiracy would prolly be thinking that the heroes are involved in the crimes as apart of a worldwide racketeering scheme.

So its all fake, the aliens, the Mutants, the demons, even the Nazis so they can profit off the little guy.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#53683: Feb 23rd 2022 at 5:31:14 PM

That is....depressingly believable actually.

One Strip! One Strip!
shanejayell Since: Jun, 2011
#53684: Feb 23rd 2022 at 5:34:18 PM

In Marvels, someone claimed Galactus was faked...

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#53685: Feb 23rd 2022 at 5:46:17 PM

It all boils down to the driving forces behind conspiracy theories.

The need to feel special is a big one. A lot of us feel kind of adrift and insignificant due to how huge and complex the world is. Conspiracy theories draw supporters because they, oddly enough, simplify the world. They also make the theorist feel special because they are the ones who know the "truth" while everyone else is sheep.

In a superhero verse this would be combined with Tall Poppy Syndrome. Let's face it, it's a lot harder to think of yourself as special when you see people flying overhead performing awesome heroic feats such as preventing a building from collapsing or punching out a Kaiju. Some people would then respond by gravitating towards a conspiracy theory suggesting that these heroes are all charlatans who fake everything in a bid to control the world.

The conspiracy theorist will of course completely ignore any sign of the actual conspiracies in the world since they don't fit their narrative that makes the theorist someone special. The conspiracy theorist in the end doesn't give a shit about the truth. They aren't looking for truth. They are looking for validation.

Edited by M84 on Feb 23rd 2022 at 9:48:02 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#53686: Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:07:23 PM

Of course, in the more ominous end of conspiracy theorycraft, I'm pretty sure some denizens of Marvel must think superheroes as a broad concept are a globalist jewish invention. At least 500 youtube vids breaking down how the Avengers logo actually stands for some invented aramaic letter for "domination of goyms".

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
ClancyGardener life is a state of mind from 53 miles west of Venus Since: Jun, 2020 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
#53687: Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:20:09 PM

[up][up][up] IIRC, that was the Daily Bugle, which seems to waver between legitimate journalism and clearly biased libel depending on who's writing. Perhaps sufficiently lurid tabloid journalism is indistinguishable from conspiracy theory.

[up][up] Exactly, and that's what differentiates a conspiracy theorist from an honest truth-seeker. Conspiracists aren't just indifferent to the truth, they're outright hostile towards it, because to them, "being special" means rebelling against widely accepted truths, like the reality of climate change and the Earth being spherical. And the clearer it becomes that their beliefs are irrefutably wrong, the more fanatical they become, since they've gone too far to admit they were wrong and validate the establishment truths held by the "sheep" that they despise.

Trope Editor (he/him)
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#53688: Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:21:25 PM

[up][up]Yeah, I was thinking that too. A superhero universe conspiracy theorist would still likely include some antisemitic garbage.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#53689: Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:32:10 PM

No wonder HYDRA has such a fresh pool of recruits, after all.

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#53690: Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:33:23 PM

The Hand meanwhile gets recruits from Japan's rightwing nationalists.

That's actually how they started out. They were formed in response to dissatisfaction with foreign influence in Japan as it moved into the early modern era.

Edited by M84 on Feb 23rd 2022 at 10:34:09 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#53691: Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:38:37 PM

Okay so I guess the truth podcast Jon is working in in Son of Kal are the truthseeker type.

God though is working for a podcast a cringy way of giving him a job similar to his father being a journalist.

Just make him a journalist. He's ripping off his father sure but at least its more dignified.

Edited by slimcoder on Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:42:34 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Aleistar Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#53693: Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:47:43 PM

No its part of the convo. I previously mentioned Jon is working in a conspiracy theorist podcast.

Part of the whole solving "real world problems" thats been occurring in stories lately.

Edited by slimcoder on Feb 23rd 2022 at 6:48:25 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#53694: Feb 24th 2022 at 6:13:46 AM

I'm reminded of how JLU depicted the Question as a conspiracy theorist weirdo who no one except Batman and maybe Huntress took seriously.

I imagine superhero universe conspiracy theorists will be like J. Jonah Jameson in the Insomniac Spider-Man game except targeted at all superheroes.

Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#53695: Feb 24th 2022 at 7:10:49 AM

The Question and Jonah Jameson being actually some interesting examples of how the conspiracy theorist archetype evolved into something considered more dangerous as the issue of misinformation came more to the front-and-center in the past decade. Jameson becoming Alex Jones lite in the Insomniac game and the MCU has helpe viewers look at him with a lot more dim eyes.

I wonder if conspiracy theorist Question would fly these days (or at least fly without being played as significantly darker). The days of the harmless conspiracy theorist archetype (e.g most of the cast in the X-Files) may be past.

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Joshbones Since: May, 2015
#53696: Feb 24th 2022 at 9:34:55 AM

I doubt it. People love a good conspiracy story. Twin Peaks came back only a few years ago.

Jameson's transformation came mostly because people don't really seem to understand how to do newspaper people in the modern day, and nothing else, really.

windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#53697: Feb 24th 2022 at 9:40:49 AM

I think there are some (relatively) harmless conspiracies for people to find endearing. Like say, "the Loch Ness monster is the ghost of a dinosaur".

Zarius Since: Nov, 2012
#53698: Feb 24th 2022 at 10:03:48 AM

Marvel are teasing an Ant Man event for his 60th...and possibly introducing a new character in the role

https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/all-new-ant-man/

HalfFaust Since: Jan, 2019
#53699: Feb 24th 2022 at 10:56:33 AM

[up] Interesting. Kinda looks like a Tokusatsu hero suit.

windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#53700: Feb 24th 2022 at 11:06:30 AM

United They Stand and the MCU pretty much made the Ant-Man look like Kamen Rider. I guess its appropriate.


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