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In the comics, everything old is new again. Why?
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The original Human Torch (blogspot.com)
Seems like so many of the newest comic concepts are just some of the oldest ones in new wrapping.
Just yesterday, Marvel released the latest issue of "The Torch," a miniseries focused on the original Human Torch character who was largely active during World War II. Also out on stands yesterday was the newest installment of "Captain America Reborn," which featured many of the most familar shots of the hero - fighting Nazi soldiers, trying to avoid being hit by longtime nemesis Baron Zemo, squaring off against the Red Skull. You may also be reading "The Marvels Project," a miniseries that looks at the lives of a young Sub Mariner, Human Torch, Nick Fury and Captain America. These all follow a year-long series featuring today's Avengers wrangling withthe old Invaders, the super-team that fought in World War II as well.
Meanwhile,over at DC, the powers that be are trying to bring back good ol' Doc Savage and bring new life to the enervated Spirit. And they are also trying to bring the old Archie "Red Circle" characters back to life. Remember The Web? The Shield? If not, DC hopes you will.
Are there so few original concepts left that the big comic-book companies have to revive some of their oldest stories and notions?
The modern version of The Web (DCComics.com)
My theory? It's not so much that the comics publishers are suffering from a lack of information so much as they realize that younger readers have absolutely no deealing with those crucial stories of yore. Cap and Bucky fighting Nazis is a founding concept in the Marvel pantheon, as are the Invaders, the story of the Sub-Mariner, etc etc. You get the idea.
Over at DC, I don't think kids will necessarily thrill to the adventures of the Red Circle heroes -there's a reason they've only appeared in such spotty fashion over the decades . But Doc Savage has been virtually absent from pop culture for years and DC's "The Spirit" series has lost steam since Darwyn Cooke gave up writing duties some time ago. And newer readers might just get hooked on a character who they may have heard about in hazy discussions but never really experienced.
So my hypothesis, is, like always, that it comes down to money. These characters worked in the past, have a built-in history and can essentially be rolled out and be ready to rock. Besides, theyare characters the companies already own or to which they have rights. Letting them sit unused in a dusty corner of the intellectual property attic doesn't do a publisher any good. Which is why Marvel tried to dust off some of its ancient properties for a series called "The Twelve" about a year ago or so to wonderful effect - execept the writer and Marvel never completed the damned thing.
No matter how great and valuable and interesting any of the old characters are, the companeis have to come up with good stories that are relevant to today's reader, and then make sure they carry everything out from start to finish.
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