It’s been a while since I’ve had the free time to write “A Skitch In Time” column. Between family, work, running a online RPG group, and my other work around Nexus, my poor little flashback column sort of got lost in the shuffle. So, here’s my attempt at getting back on track.
This week’s column is actually a simple request for Marvel. I do like their “Marvel Universe” wiki, but I think they are missing out on a major opportunity with it. I would love to see them turn this into a Marvel Saga wiki. To explain what I mean, I need to start in December 1985.
As part of celebrating the fact that Marvel had been publishing modern superhero comics for 25 years, in December 1985, they debuted a series called Marvel Saga. The series was very similar to “The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe,” where instead of the typical pictures with word bubbles, the comic was prose writing recapping the major events of the first 25 years of the Marvel Universe. Marvel Saga did have art, but it was mostly just excerpts from the original comics.
Marvel Saga was a great way for readers to catch up on everything that had happened in the first 25 years of the Marvel universe. It also helped show how stories from different series fit together time-wise.
It was a really cool concept, and while it was a bit dry at times, I really enjoyed the issues I have read. Issue 13, pictured below was the first one I remember reading. That Daredevil cover always stuck with me.
I always wanted to see this continued and expanded. At the very least, writers can use it to keep track of what came before so they don’t repeat stories or contradict past stories without realizing.
Grey did mention to me that Marvel has occasionally released free mini-sagas at comic shops like “Dark Reign Saga” and “Annihilation Saga.” This is a nice start, but (as usual) I am thinking on a much bigger scale.
Put together a massive online version of it as a Marvel Saga/Chronology. It could be broken up in numerous ways: year by year, by series, by character, by theme. They can even make it a wiki so fans can contribute to it.
Marvel has a long, often complicated history, but unlike DC, the main universe hasn’t gone through dozens of reboots. Fantastic Four stories from 1961 are still part of continuity. It would be nice to see how those stories are still important to understanding the characters today.
So, Marvel, please bring back Marvel Saga! It’s been almost 25 years since the last issue came out. It’s really time to bring it back!
I’m even willing to head up the project for you. Come on, put me on the payroll. We can call it “Skitch’s Marvel Saga!”
Tip of the Baseball Cap/ Wag of My Disapproving Digit
This week’s Tip goes to super hero animation. In the last few years, we’ve had excellent shows like Super Hero Squad, Legion of Super-Heroes, Wolverine and the X-Men, Spectacular Spider-Man, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and now Young Justice. I’m really looking forward to Green Lantern later this year. I might not read many comics these days, but I still love the characters!
And a Wag of My Disapproving Digit to IDW or BBC, not sure who I have to blame here. Infestation 1 was a very fun story, but I am pretty disappointed that my favorite IDW license got left out. DOCTOR WHO!! I wanna see a Zombie TARDIS!!
Other Thoughts
It’s never good when you pitch a column about a comic series to two friends who are pretty knowledgeable about comics, and both asked me “What’s Marvel Saga?” Now I feel old!
I really am hoping to get back on a regular schedule. I have some ideas for next week’s column. Unless of course, Marvel hires me to run Marvel Saga Online!
As always, I love hearing from the readers. Please drop me a line with any comments, criticisms, or suggestions for other books you’d like to see me take on.
