scott@hou2g.UUCP (N. Ersha) (07/22/85)
What really bothers me about Marvel is the continual "cross-overmania". I don't think this is just limited to Secret Bores, either. They have X-Men crossing over into New Mutants which crosses over into the "New Mutants Special Edition" which crosses over into X-Men Annual which ties into X-Men again. Then we have West Coast Avengers which crosses over into Vision and the Scarlet Witch which goes back to WC Avengers and then back to V&SW. And of course WC Avengers ties in with Iron Man and Avengers which is linked to the FF (via this year's Annuals). Not to mention Alpha Flight and Hulk (so I won't :-)). And all of the above without even bringing in the Beyonder! (And if you got thru that paragraph, I have a job to offer you. Write Marvel Comics; ask for Jim Shooter.) What bothers me the most about this (I DO buy most of the titles involved) is that they can't get the damn thing synchronized! The above mentioned "X-Saga" is one example, as is the "mystery" concerning who will be Iron Man "forever" (as if we didn't know already) and what the new armor will look like (they missed this one by more than two whole months!!) I know there are all sorts of problems involved with scheduling and publishing comics, but the people at Marvel certainly know this--why do they continue? Yeah, yeah, I know it's for PROFITS PROFITS PROFITS. With DC's "cross-overs" at least all they're doing is showing the "other side" of the Crisis stories or tying up little loose ends--these can be easily skipped. Marvel is concluding current storylines in Secret Bores, and initiating others. It's highly frustrating! But no, I AM NOT GOING TO SUCCUMB TO MARVEL'S CHEAP MARKETING PLOYS! I HAVE ONLY ONE LIFE TO GIVE FOR MY COUNTRY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND IT READING SECRET BORES!!!!! I have a great idea for Shitter and Co. Discontinue ALL their titles, and publish just one--"Marvel Secret Crossovers". And publish it, oh, say, 25 times a month. Then we can howl in dismay when issues 17-26 come out one week, followed by issues 11-16 the next, and then 27-34 (except #30, which comes out the following week). What fun!!! SJBerry ..!ihnp4!hou2g!scott