comicbooksplus

Hey there,

Last time I mentioned that I would take a look at the more recent phenomenon of comic book publishers (well at least the big two) practicing something that has come to be known as the ‘never-ending event’.

The never-ending event is basically the idea that you have a storyline (usually company wide in nature) that influences or even over-rides the storylines of many of the company’s regular titles and that once this event storyline has run its course, you have something there (effectively a hook of sorts) that acts as a seed for the next company wide story arc to begin shortly after. Many comicbook fans have been expressing a sense of fatigue with this whole growing practise, because it encourages the fan to keep buying extra titles because of their supposed relevancy to a larger storyline as well as making one feel that their regular titles of choice are not being given enough freedom to develope their main characters free of the influence of the latest event. Both Marvel and DC have been guilty of this of late: Marvel went from the resolution of its blockbuster Civil War crossover event (which indirectly set up the events leading to the death of Captain America, to the World War Hulk miniseries, which also was a company wide crossover - complete with a main mini series, numerous cross overs with the monthly books and at least one monthly miniseries that was acompanion to the main miniseries!

Can you say K-Ching?

Not even six months later, and we have Marvel leading us into its latest event book, Secret Invasion , which basically deals with the shape-shifting race of aliens known as the Skrulls, and their infiltration and invasion of the Earth. After this we will have the storylines, Embrace Change, and after that, Dark Reign. It just doesn’t stop.

DC has been guilty of this as well, however, and next time I will recount some of their recent antics which have left many a comic book fan with a much lighter wallet…

-Dreamscaper

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