Comments on: Hellboy: Beginner’s Guide, Concluded http://www.badmouth.net/hellboy-beginners-guide-part-two/ Look, Ma! No pants! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:09:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: John Marcotte http://www.badmouth.net/hellboy-beginners-guide-part-two/#comment-149237 John Marcotte Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:03:24 +0000 http://www.badmouth.net/?p=879#comment-149237 <cite>Yet Hellboy is the only comic creation I can think of since, what, the early Marvel days in the 1960s, that has spawned an entire franchise. Apart from <strong>toys</strong> and key chains</cite> Toys weren't <em>my</em> measure... Maybe you're right about Spawn's longevity, but I never understood the appeal in the first place. Like Venom before him, Spawn appears destined to be a success despite being completely cliched and having all the emotional depth of a petrie dish. Yet Hellboy is the only comic creation I can think of since, what, the early Marvel days in the 1960s, that has spawned an entire franchise. Apart from toys and key chains

Toys weren’t my measure…

Maybe you’re right about Spawn’s longevity, but I never understood the appeal in the first place. Like Venom before him, Spawn appears destined to be a success despite being completely cliched and having all the emotional depth of a petrie dish.

]]> By: Brian McDonough http://www.badmouth.net/hellboy-beginners-guide-part-two/#comment-149236 Brian McDonough Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:38:06 +0000 http://www.badmouth.net/?p=879#comment-149236 ("Line of toys"? <i>That's</i> your measure?) Sure, and if you toss that in the ring, I guess you gotta do <i>Witchblade,</i> too. But <i>Spawn</i> is currently about as lively as a frozen goat turd, and <i>Witchblade</i> hasn't had all that much success in other media, far as I can tell. But, before you point out that the 13 episodes of <i>Birds of Prey</i> just came out on DVD, too, I'll suggest raising the bar to "successful franchise." Seriously, 20 years from now, <i>Hellboy</i> will be in print and on whatever direct-to-my-optic-nerve technology we'll be using. <i>Spawn</i>? Not. Although, interestingly, <i>Spawn, Hellboy</i> and <i>Witchblade</i> all have superhero trappings but are technically more horror comics. Flirt with the caped silliness, add more gore -- that appears to be the new recipe. (”Line of toys”? That’s your measure?) Sure, and if you toss that in the ring, I guess you gotta do Witchblade, too. But Spawn is currently about as lively as a frozen goat turd, and Witchblade hasn’t had all that much success in other media, far as I can tell. But, before you point out that the 13 episodes of Birds of Prey just came out on DVD, too, I’ll suggest raising the bar to “successful franchise.” Seriously, 20 years from now, Hellboy will be in print and on whatever direct-to-my-optic-nerve technology we’ll be using. Spawn? Not.

Although, interestingly, Spawn, Hellboy and Witchblade all have superhero trappings but are technically more horror comics. Flirt with the caped silliness, add more gore — that appears to be the new recipe.

]]> By: John Marcotte http://www.badmouth.net/hellboy-beginners-guide-part-two/#comment-149235 John Marcotte Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:17:30 +0000 http://www.badmouth.net/?p=879#comment-149235 <cite>"Yet Hellboy is the only comic creation I can think of since, what, the early Marvel days in the 1960s, that has spawned an entire franchise."</cite> Yeah. I can't think of another comic that <b>SPAWN</b>ed a whole franchise. I mean, what other comic has <b>SPAWN</b>ed a movie, <b>SPAWN</b>ed a line of toys, and <b>SPAWN</b>ed an animated series? “Yet Hellboy is the only comic creation I can think of since, what, the early Marvel days in the 1960s, that has spawned an entire franchise.”

Yeah. I can’t think of another comic that SPAWNed a whole franchise. I mean, what other comic has SPAWNed a movie, SPAWNed a line of toys, and SPAWNed an animated series?

]]> By: A Beginners’ Guide to Hellboy » Badmouth http://www.badmouth.net/hellboy-beginners-guide-part-two/#comment-149234 A Beginners’ Guide to Hellboy » Badmouth Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:46:05 +0000 http://www.badmouth.net/?p=879#comment-149234 [...] two, covering the most recent four volumes, is here. digg_url = [...] [...] two, covering the most recent four volumes, is here. digg_url = [...]

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