Comments on: Marvel proves comics ARE soap operas http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:30:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: PopCult » Blog Archive » The Comic Book/Soap Opera Connection http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-15736 Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:22:46 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-15736 [...] This is a bit of a bizarre development, and somewhat surreal for the tiny population of people who both, watch Guiding Light, and read comics. Reaction has been mixed. Heidi MacDonald has a good sampling of mainstream reaction here. CBS has a preview of the episode up here. You can also see the trailer here (scroll down). Word is that her powers go away by the end of the episode, but they’re being a bit coy about whether or not they may return someday. I’m in that tiny population that follows both GL and comic books, so I’ll just sit back and watch. [...] […] This is a bit of a bizarre development, and somewhat surreal for the tiny population of people who both, watch Guiding Light, and read comics. Reaction has been mixed. Heidi MacDonald has a good sampling of mainstream reaction here. CBS has a preview of the episode up here. You can also see the trailer here (scroll down). Word is that her powers go away by the end of the episode, but they’re being a bit coy about whether or not they may return someday. I’m in that tiny population that follows both GL and comic books, so I’ll just sit back and watch. […]

]]> by: Jimmie Robinson http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-11677 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:49:28 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-11677 Brilliant! I must watch! Brilliant! I must watch!

]]> by: geoff http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-11659 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 23:10:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-11659 Wouldn't alternative comics from Fantagraphics, Drawn and Quarterly, Onipress, etc have a better chance of "making" it into mainstream culture - more so than superhero comics? Real people in tights just look plain ridiculous. Wouldn’t alternative comics from Fantagraphics, Drawn and Quarterly, Onipress, etc have a better chance of “making” it into mainstream culture - more so than superhero comics? Real people in tights just look plain ridiculous.

]]> by: BradyDale http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-11649 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:48:12 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-11649 this is so funny. I think it's great. it would be way, way better, though, if a superhero made a cameo. What if one of the characters had a dinner with Sue Richards, who for some reason decided to turn Invisible. Funny, funny stuff. this is so funny. I think it’s great.
it would be way, way better, though, if a superhero made a cameo.

What if one of the characters had a dinner with Sue Richards, who for some reason decided to turn Invisible.

Funny, funny stuff.

]]> by: Cheryl Lynn http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-11595 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:25:49 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/31/morvel-proves-comics-are-soap-operas/#comment-11595 Soaps have done things like this before. Many soap operas are known for having "fantasy moments" where they stick their characters in a completely different setting with new stories. They've had characters travel back in time to the Old West and visit futuristic underground cities. This is the first time I've heard of a superhero story though. I think it's a great way to reach a new audience. Unfortunately, companies need to have something to sell to that audience once they have their attention or else this was pretty much a waste of time. What does Marvel have right now to offer the stay-at-home mother who wants to forget about the pile of laundry and her screaming kid, or the homesick college student who wants something comforting and familiar, or the tired working woman who wants to zone out with a romantic fantasy before the night shift starts? How about the female viewer who wants a damn good romantic story and a heroine to root for? Marvel has some amazing books, but for the most part, those amazing books feature power fantasies for men and boys. And the books that don't are for a much younger audience than the one watching soap operas. Does Marvel even have a romance comic geared towards grown women? Why not? What about an action comic that stars a woman and features a heavy dose of romance? If I worked at Marvel, I would have had something lined up to sell to these women. Maybe a Dakota North series or something with Friday Foster. Hell, even Daughters of the Dragon or She-Hulk could have been slightly retooled to fit. But something tells me the women who watch soap operas will be reading manga romances and books like 12 Reasons Why I Love Her long before women interested in soaps will ever really be courted by Marvel and DC (not counting CMX/Vertigo/Milestone). Manga and independent comic companies already have the daughters and little sisters hooked, and they don't have to change their product all that much to snag the mothers and older sisters too. Nor do they even have to change the place where they've set up shop. After all, women are in the manga/graphic novel section all the time. Someone has to go in and drag those kids/teens out of Borders. Still, I think it was a good idea that will get the women watching soaps to think about superheroes. And once they do a little research, they'll see that Marvel has some fabulous superhero books that are geared towards their husbands, boyfriends, younger siblings and kids. And while they're buying comics for all those other people, maybe they'll drift a step or two over and buy some indie/manga books for themselves. Sorry for writing a book here. I'm a crossover geek and this interests me. PS: Many of the old cast members from b and c-level nerdbait shows like Mutant X often go on to star as heartthrobs in soaps. Those actors can be wonderful marketing tools if used correctly. Someone should look into that. Soaps have done things like this before. Many soap operas are known for having “fantasy moments” where they stick their characters in a completely different setting with new stories. They’ve had characters travel back in time to the Old West and visit futuristic underground cities. This is the first time I’ve heard of a superhero story though.

I think it’s a great way to reach a new audience. Unfortunately, companies need to have something to sell to that audience once they have their attention or else this was pretty much a waste of time. What does Marvel have right now to offer the stay-at-home mother who wants to forget about the pile of laundry and her screaming kid, or the homesick college student who wants something comforting and familiar, or the tired working woman who wants to zone out with a romantic fantasy before the night shift starts? How about the female viewer who wants a damn good romantic story and a heroine to root for? Marvel has some amazing books, but for the most part, those amazing books feature power fantasies for men and boys. And the books that don’t are for a much younger audience than the one watching soap operas. Does Marvel even have a romance comic geared towards grown women? Why not? What about an action comic that stars a woman and features a heavy dose of romance? If I worked at Marvel, I would have had something lined up to sell to these women. Maybe a Dakota North series or something with Friday Foster. Hell, even Daughters of the Dragon or She-Hulk could have been slightly retooled to fit.

But something tells me the women who watch soap operas will be reading manga romances and books like 12 Reasons Why I Love Her long before women interested in soaps will ever really be courted by Marvel and DC (not counting CMX/Vertigo/Milestone). Manga and independent comic companies already have the daughters and little sisters hooked, and they don’t have to change their product all that much to snag the mothers and older sisters too. Nor do they even have to change the place where they’ve set up shop. After all, women are in the manga/graphic novel section all the time. Someone has to go in and drag those kids/teens out of Borders.

Still, I think it was a good idea that will get the women watching soaps to think about superheroes. And once they do a little research, they’ll see that Marvel has some fabulous superhero books that are geared towards their husbands, boyfriends, younger siblings and kids. And while they’re buying comics for all those other people, maybe they’ll drift a step or two over and buy some indie/manga books for themselves.

Sorry for writing a book here. I’m a crossover geek and this interests me.

PS: Many of the old cast members from b and c-level nerdbait shows like Mutant X often go on to star as heartthrobs in soaps. Those actors can be wonderful marketing tools if used correctly. Someone should look into that.

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