View Full Version : Licensed Comic Books
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 06:40 PM
I recently picked up a Trade based on the Fox Series 24 and i found it to be extremely lousy but it did get me thinking of Licensed comics.
I haven't read too many licensed books, mainly because I pegged them as being similar to a licensed video game: they're all shit. The way I see it, why would a TV show (and to a lesser extent, movie) waste a great storyline on a comic book? If they had a great idea for the comic series, they would no doubt save it for an episode of the TV rather than waste it on a smaller audience.
The only exception I can think of is the new Buffy series (i've only read the first issue but people here seem to like it). and i chalk that up to fact that Joss Whedon is writing and the series is finished.
I also remember enjoying the Chasing Dogma TPB that came out in the nineties but again, Kevin Smith was writing that (not to mention he took the best material in that book and turned it into Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)
Have you guys found any other quality licensed books? What about the vast number of Star Wars books released by Dark Horse?
I've heard it said time and again that they frequently fail because the publisher puts so much money into acquiring the license that they don't have much to spend on talent
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 06:44 PM
another reason may be because the publisher knows there is already an established audience who will no doubt buy it, so why waste a quality creator on them?
It the same reason they rarely have a great writer on Wolverine, people will buy no matter who is writing it.
kahunablair
06-19-2007, 06:48 PM
I've heard it said time and again that they frequently fail because the publisher puts so much money into acquiring the license that they don't have much to spend on talent
That is the answer I have always heard when the question was asked of "insiders".
It makes sense, when you think about it.
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 06:58 PM
but i have heard there are some decent ones out there. the new lone ranger series is suppose to be pretty good. I've never really heard anything standing out in the star wars line. i had some real fond memories of the old Marvel Transformers series
kahunablair
06-19-2007, 07:03 PM
but i have heard there are some decent ones out there. the new lone ranger series is suppose to be pretty good. I've never really heard anything standing out in the star wars line. i had some real fond memories of the old Marvel Transformers series
Well I'm sure there are going to be some good ones out there. We're talking in generalizations here though. I'm sure there has been some real talent behind some of the licensed stuff, but it gets thrown into the same boat as the crap. Sad but true.
Have you guys found any other quality licensed books? What about the vast number of Star Wars books released by Dark Horse?
http://www.newkadia.com/Covers/S/M/Madballs/madballs2.jpg
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 07:40 PM
http://www.newkadia.com/Covers/S/M/Madballs/madballs2.jpg
There was a Madballs comic!?!?!? i have got to get me a copy of that! i remember the straight to VHS movie they made and how attrocious that was, i can't even begin to imagine how bad the comic would be!:D
Yes the Star comics line was amazing.
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 07:54 PM
Yes the Star comics line was amazing.
after reading that I had to check out what titles they produced, here's a rundown from Wikipedia:
Air Raiders (1987-1988; #1-2 under Star imprint)
ALF (1987-1991)
Animax (1986-1987)
Bullwinkle and Rocky (1987-1989; #1-2 under Star imprint)
Care Bears (1985-1989; #1-14 under Star imprint)
Chuck Norris And His Karate Kommandos (1987)
Defenders of the Earth (1987)
The Flintstone Kids (1987-1989; #1-4 under Star imprint)
Foofur (1987-1988; #1-4 under Star imprint)
Fraggle Rock (volume 1:1985-1986 under Star imprint; volume 2:1988 under Marvel)
The Get-Along Gang (1985-1986)
Heathcliff (1985-1991; #1-22 under Star imprint)
Heathcliff's Funhouse (1987-1988; #1-5 under Star imprint)
Hugga Bunch (1986-1987)
Inhumanoids (1987)
Madballs (1986-1988; #1-8 under Star imprint)
Masters of the Universe (1986-1988)
Masters of the Universe The Motion Picture (1987)
Misty by Trina Robbins (six-issue limited series 1985-1986)
Muppet Babies (1985-1989; #1-17 under Star imprint)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984-1985)
Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham (1985-1987)
Planet Terry (1985-1986)
Popples (1986-1987)
Royal Roy (1985-1986)
Silverhawks (1987-1988; #1-5 under Star imprint)
Star Comics Digest a.k.a. Star Comics Magazine (1986-1988)
Star Wars: Droids (1986-1987)
Star Wars: Ewoks (1985-1987)
Strawberry Shortcake (1985-1986)
Thundercats (1985-1988; #1-21 under Star imprint)
Top Dog (1985-1987)
Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light (1987; #1-2 under Star imprint)
Wally the Wizard (1985-1986)
I KNEW there was a Popples comic book! HA! me and my friends were discussing how much fun it was to toss those toys at our sisters! their tails made for such perfect whipping tools!
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t268/mikegraham6/250px-Popples2.jpg
Wow, it took three years to produce 8 Madballs books. And we complained about Civil War.
I also like Chuck Norris and His Karate Kommando's.
esophagus
06-19-2007, 08:18 PM
I recently picked up a Trade based on the Fox Series 24 and i found it to be extremely lousy but it did get me thinking of Licensed comics.
I haven't read too many licensed books, mainly because I pegged them as being similar to a licensed video game: they're all shit. The way I see it, why would a TV show (and to a lesser extent, movie) waste a great storyline on a comic book? If they had a great idea for the comic series, they would no doubt save it for an episode of the TV rather than waste it on a smaller audience.
The only exception I can think of is the new Buffy series (i've only read the first issue but people here seem to like it). and i chalk that up to fact that Joss Whedon is writing and the series is finished.
I also remember enjoying the Chasing Dogma TPB that came out in the nineties but again, Kevin Smith was writing that (not to mention he took the best material in that book and turned it into Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)
Have you guys found any other quality licensed books? What about the vast number of Star Wars books released by Dark Horse?I think a loto f the quality depends on who is doing it, and how the series itself runs without a comic book. Gargoyles, Transformers, Buffy, and I'm sure others, have made great comic books because they have a small base point, something with plenty of room for a story that shouldn't effect the TV story that much, as well as the fact that much of their audiences wouldn't mind reading a comic between episodes to keep up.
24 is a money pile television show. It is a good concept thats not always done great, because they have the ratings no matter what. And there is very little continuity, not even enough for a basepoint. Theres really nothing other than the main characters and whatever is happening in that single season. But a person watching the show doesn't want to read a comic book, so the comic has to take place in a different time frame, and can in no way affect whats already been established, making it quite boring.
Star Wars though.... Star Wars is just a cash cow, 'nuff said.
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 08:28 PM
that's a good point, the source material does need to have some breathing room.
It reminded me of the Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born series by Marvel. They could have just adpated the book in graphic form, but instead they took a small scene in the book and expanded on it and the character's history.
Is anyone reading this book? i've been buying the issues but i'm waiting until i have them all and then i will read my copy of Dark Tower 1 and then read the series. but from what i hear it's a solid read.
that's a good point, the source material does need to have some breathing room.
It reminded me of the Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born series by Marvel. They could have just adpated the book in graphic form, but instead they took a small scene in the book and expanded on it and the character's history.
Is anyone reading this book? i've been buying the issues but i'm waiting until i have them all and then i will read my copy of Dark Tower 1 and then read the series. but from what i hear it's a solid read.
Yeah the Dark Tower Books have been great, I've only read the first novel in the series so perhaps bigger fans would disagree. I'd be surprised however, the art is incredible.
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 08:55 PM
Yeah the Dark Tower Books have been great, I've only read the first novel in the series so perhaps bigger fans would disagree. I'd be surprised however, the art is incredible.
it is definitely a pretty book. i find that if Jae Lee is coloured and inked properly he is one of the best in the business.
Did you find it was better that you read book ahead of time? did it add to the story? im wondering whether i should just bite the bullet and read the issues i have rather than read the book first. either that or read all the books prior to finally reading the comic.
it is definitely a pretty book. i find that if Jae Lee is coloured and inked properly he is one of the best in the business.
Did you find it was better that you read book ahead of time? did it add to the story? im wondering whether i should just bite the bullet and read the issues i have rather than read the book first. either that or read all the books prior to finally reading the comic.
Well, again I've only read the first one (the gunslinger), and it was many years ago, so I consider myself a Noob (woot!). The series stands alone very very well.
I'm with you about Jae. I've always loved Jae Lee, and as Fred attests Isanove is probably the best colourist working.
that's a good point, the source material does need to have some breathing room.
It reminded me of the Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born series by Marvel. They could have just adpated the book in graphic form, but instead they took a small scene in the book and expanded on it and the character's history.
Is anyone reading this book? i've been buying the issues but i'm waiting until i have them all and then i will read my copy of Dark Tower 1 and then read the series. but from what i hear it's a solid read.
I've been reading it. I've liked it. I've never read any of the novels.
it is definitely a pretty book. i find that if Jae Lee is coloured and inked properly he is one of the best in the business.
Did you find it was better that you read book ahead of time? did it add to the story? im wondering whether i should just bite the bullet and read the issues i have rather than read the book first. either that or read all the books prior to finally reading the comic.
Richard Isanove is the colorist. He is without equal today.
and as Fred attests Isanove is probably the best colourist working.
see that? I should've read ahead
mikegraham6
06-21-2007, 05:54 PM
has anyone had a chance to read the Battlestar Galactica comic? i was listening to Fanboy Radio this morning and they were interviewing Greg Pak and he will apparently be writting this eery soon, but i've heard they did a Tom Zarak mini series.
Any good?