Mystery Characters

[StoneGold]

Marvel has been using a lot of mystery characters lately. Ronin, Banana Man, Ski Mask Man that ends up being Punisher, Winter Soldier, the entire cast of New Warriors, the fake DareDevil, etc.

There seems to be two ways of ending the mystery character: making it someone that no one guessed, which generally means using some obscure character no one cares about, but makes the payoff of the mystery semi-exciting, or making the character someone that everyone will guess, which dilutes the actual mystery, but makes the payoff of the character being someone you know and like more palatable. Think of it being the difference between Ronin being Echo, and fake DD being Iron Fist.

So my question is, which do you prefer? Being shocked by Ronin II being Irving Forbush, or being able to go yay, Hawkeye is back! (Choices are just examples, not actual guesses. But hopefully you get the point.)

[CaptainMech]

Im accualy not like all the msytery caracters
i kind ot think of it as bad writing
Hush was pretty cool and the winder soilder was alright
but the rest kind fo annoyed me

[StoneGold]

Im accualy not like all the msytery caracters
i kind ot think of it as bad writing
Hush was pretty cool and the winder soilder was alright
but the rest kind fo annoyed me

Sigh. Anyone else want to point out the complete, total and severe irony of this statement?

[Den]

I admit, I've become pretty jaded about the whole 'mystery character' thing. Marvel has played that hand a lot recently, and if anything it reduces my interest each time they do it. Of course, a good writer and plot can overcome that, but that goes for just about anything.

[StoneGold]

I admit, I've become pretty jaded about the whole 'mystery character' thing. Marvel has played that hand a lot recently, and if anything it reduces my interest each time they do it. Of course, a good writer and plot can overcome that, but that goes for just about anything.

I'll admit, I'm a little tired of it myself, but you have to admit, it gets results. It gets people talking. The problem is, there tends to be disappointment one way or the other with the reveal. Which way is less disappointing?