Will the Marvel Universe ever revert to its "classic" configuration?

[Buried Alien]

During the past few years, the DC Universe has gradually moved towards a more "classic" configuration. Many of the changes implemented after CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS have been rolled back. In recent years, we've seen the return of the Oliver Queen Green Arrow, the Hal Jordan Green Lantern, the Multiverse, the Barry Allen Flash, and histories of the JLA, Superman, and Wonder Woman that more resemble their Pre-COIE histories than their Post-COIE histories. Even Batman has somewhat reverted to his Pre-COIE persona (i.e. less of a jerk). A "back to basics" agenda seems to have emerged at DC as of late.

The Marvel Universe today is certainly a different creature than it was during the Silver/Bronze Age of the 1960s-1980s. The classic Avengers are no more. The classic Captain America is gone. The Incredible Hulk has evolved into a very different character from his classic depictions. The Post-CIVIL WAR atmosphere of the Marvel U is a far cry from the mutually cooperative atmosphere among the Marvel superhero community that prevailed from the 1960s until the early 1990s.

At some point, however, do you expect Marvel to roll back some of these changes and revert to a more "classic" configuration?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[matthewaos]

I guess that they will probably built it slowly, but not entirely classic. I think that some things will remain and hunt the universe.

[Asian_Invasion]

I think they have gone past the point of no return. Plus it might be too radical of a change for some people.

[Shellhead]

While I miss the classic Marvel Universe, I realize that the current fanbase is very different from the silver age fanbase, and they have different interests and expectations. So I don't think Marvel should bring back the classic Marvel Universe configuration, unless somehow these newer fans really demand it.

[Shellhead]

That said, there are some aspects that have reverted back recently. Thanks to Civil War and Secret Invasion, there have been a lot more hero versus hero fights in recent times, just like in the early silver age when the heroes didn't know or trust each other yet. Thanks to the very controversial BND storyline, Spider-man is back to being a swinging single, and also to being hunted by the authorities. The New Avengers are a street-level outfit comparable to Cap's Kooky Quartet incarnation of the Avengers in the mid-'60s. The Mighty Avengers are the classic "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" line-up.

[drwho]

They did toss out 20 years of Spider-Man continuity. It has already happened some.

[Tanjint]

some characters yes, some no.

eventually.

-T

[ChrisIII]

I think they're currently using the Savage Hulk in HULK along with the Red one, so they've sort of brought him back to basics.

[Babylon23]

These kind of reversions usually occur when there's a big drop in sales. The last time there was a major reversion would have been Heroes Reborn, when we saw a return to more classic versions of Cap, Iron Man, Thor, the Avengers and the FF.

With sales where they currently are, I don't see it happening soon, but maybe in another 10 years or so.

[Maestro]

Marvel doesn't go backwards as much as DC does. That's what I like about them. They're always trying to change and move forward

[kidpernicious]

I don't expect as cohesive a movement as DC's, but I'm sure elements of the MU will return to their classic status. Steve Rogers will come back, and I'm sure some day Iron Man and Captain America will be Avengers teammates again.

Far, far from now.

[XPac]

During the past few years, the DC Universe has gradually moved towards a more "classic" configuration. Many of the changes implemented after CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS have been rolled back. In recent years, we've seen the return of the Oliver Queen Green Arrow, the Hal Jordan Green Lantern, the Multiverse, the Barry Allen Flash, and histories of the JLA, Superman, and Wonder Woman that more resemble their Pre-COIE histories than their Post-COIE histories. Even Batman has somewhat reverted to his Pre-COIE persona (i.e. less of a jerk). A "back to basics" agenda seems to have emerged at DC as of late.

The Marvel Universe today is certainly a different creature than it was during the Silver/Bronze Age of the 1960s-1980s. The classic Avengers are no more. The classic Captain America is gone. The Incredible Hulk has evolved into a very different character from his classic depictions. The Post-CIVIL WAR atmosphere of the Marvel U is a far cry from the mutually cooperative atmosphere among the Marvel superhero community that prevailed from the 1960s until the early 1990s.

At some point, however, do you expect Marvel to roll back some of these changes and revert to a more "classic" configuration?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

I'm sure some aspects may at times revert to a more classic form.

But the universe as a whole won't do that. Marvel doesn't have these Crisis things which can reboot the entire universe all at once. Will we see dumb Hulk again? Sure. Will we see a more classic Avengers line up? Probably. But it won't happen all at once. It'll be a case by case thing dependent on the creative team.

That said, there's always Marvel Adventures for those that want a more old school approach.

[Ptrvc]

No, I think unless a lot more people are revealed as Skrulls, somethings are just not gonna heal between the Marvel heroes.

Hulk is going to hate the illuminati forever.

Cap, when he come back, is going to have to change his overall outlook on the world before he even things about being friends with Tony again.

As for Thor, I'm not sure what is up with him exactly, but I don't expect to see him on the Avengers unless Odin comes back and takes over Valhalla for him. Unlikely, but hey, he did it in the original mythology, so maybe.

I mean I could be wrong, but I think certain friendships and team memberships are kinda broken.

[Optimus]

Most of the things that are currently different will go back to normal. But by then a bunch of other people will be different.

[RedRonin]

Eventually sure, but never a full scale reset.

You just have to accept that most changes will be unmade at some point, just something you have to deal with when characters don't age and die. The illusion of change and all that.

[Abrojo]

They might make a couple more heroes take that route (along with spiderman) and i guess thats mostly writers prerrogative. But the setting itself i think they wont reboot ala DC.

First, i think Marvel enjoys the current setting. Plenty of story opportunities and an interesting setting (even Morrison said CW was great for that)
Second, when they do want to do some changes, i dont think they will go for drastical ones. They will do slight adjustments shifting towards what they want.

I dont think we will see a "classic" configuration while Quesada is in charge, and even then, whoever comes after him, not many people will try for a classic config considering how well this one does on sales.

Personally i dont want to see a "classic" configuration ever again. Current or something totally different, but certainly not a classic configuration.

[mimic_616]

I don't think Marvel should revert to its classic configuration because it would just be, well, boring! The reason Marvel is better today than I think it ever has been is because of change. Characters need to grow, teams need to change, people need to die, etc, etc.

[Whitster]

The thing is comics move with the times and will always be vague analogues to current events so I doubt things are ever gonna go back to the old-school.

[matthewaos]

Also it depends what "classic" means for anyone. Is it the 80s? The 70s? The 60s? Cause I started comics in the 90s, and the "classic" usually means "how it was when I was younger"

[Buried Alien]

Also it depends what "classic" means for anyone. Is it the 80s? The 70s? The 60s? Cause I started comics in the 90s, and the "classic" usually means "how it was when I was younger"

I think classic in the superhero comics sense is a point relatively close to the origin of most of the major characters (although not necessarily right AT the beginning...or even within the first ten years sometimes), when the status quo is fairly stable from year to year, giving time for those characters to develop their iconic images.

For the Marvel Universe, that period would be between the 1960s to 1980s. Much of what came to be known as the Marvel Universe was established in the 1960s, gelled in the 1970s, and persisted into the 1980s. After the publication of SECRET WARS, things began to gradually evolve away from the classic configuration.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Kevinroc]

Some things will revert back to a more "classic" take on the Marvel Universe. Although I doubt we'll ever see Daredevil in the yellow costume anymore. :tongue:

That said, there are some things that will not exactly change back. Daredevil will probably never be able to return to a pre-Frank Miller style.

[Buried Alien]

Some things will revert back to a more "classic" take on the Marvel Universe. Although I doubt we'll ever see Daredevil in the yellow costume anymore. :tongue:

For DD, of course, "classic" is the crimson costume. Yellow is "original," but didn't hang around long enough to become "classic."

"Classic" and "original" in this context are often the same thing, but not always. Another example is Iron Man. Nobody would call Tony's first, grey, crude Mark I armor his "classic" armor, although it's definitely his original. The classic will always be the red and gold model that he used from the mid-1960s until the mid-1980s.

That said, there are some things that will not exactly change back. Daredevil will probably never be able to return to a pre-Frank Miller style.

I really liked the *early* Frank Miller DAREDEVIL (pre-Elektra), and consider that to be DD's classic period. My favorite issue of DAREDEVIL ever was that issue (I think it might have been Miller's first) where DD took on the Deathstalker in a graveyard.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Herr Mike]

I don't think Marvel has ever really had a "classic" configuration.

The Avengers? They've always had weird line-ups.

Cap? He's quit before.

Hulk? Where to start?

Spider-Man? I guess he's gone back to classic.

Thor? His recent change isn't as radical as the Masterson change.

[hawkeye comeback]

everything goes in circles in comics one day the avengers will be back to a classicier team.

there will be mutants again

spidey and mj will end up going out again

pheonix will be back

there will be a green hulk

odin will probabaly return

[shades of eternity]

well I guess it is what you mean by classic configuration.

It can be argued that between the 80's to mid 2000's that classic configuration was interrupted by what can be best described as a mutant congaline.

plus I'd rather have the thunderbolts then the masters of evil at this point.

plus spidey's omd showed how annoying it is when marvel hits the big reset button.

Personally, I want to see it keep evolving. Some stuff will rubber band back to where it was before, but quite a bit of stuff will not.

I'd rather see brilliant repackaging of old heroes and villians, the introduction of new characters and seeing how characters will change over time.

[matthewaos]

Personally, I want to see it keep evolving. Some stuff will rubber band back to where it was before, but quite a bit of stuff will not.

I'd rather see brilliant repackaging of old heroes and villians, the introduction of new characters and seeing how characters will change over time.

There are times I think I'm alone...

[djshalope]

At some point, however, do you expect Marvel to roll back some of these changes and revert to a more "classic" configuration?

i don't mean to sound like a dick, but i don't think there ever was such a thing. i think the notion of a classic marvel is completely subjective to the fan and what they internally define as "classic."

[Hulk_Is]

It could possibly return one day to some degree, but the "classic" MU was still untapped in many ways, so reverting back entirely is death, really. We live in a time of wonderment on a grand scale, so I think the Marvel U is great where it stands now. If you want truly classic Marvel, Marvel makes those stories readily available today.

[Scavenger]

DC and Marvel are different types of Universe.

Marvel isn't really changed then it was 20 years ago. It's more the types of stories being told are darker, more gritty. Mainly cuz that's what JoeQ wants to do...but he'll leave eventually and the next guy might like a brighter universe...and things will shift again...it's more organic than DC where there doesn't as much have a feel of gradual change...more boom...here's a new status quo from here on out.

[josh straightedge]

The classic feeling is gone but it's hard to say whether the new style of it is bad. Civil War did open up a lot to work with. Secret Invasion will probably do the same. And the books sell right now. I tend to think if you don't enjoy something, don't buy it. And we can bitch but the books sell...because people unlike some of us really like what Marvel is doing and are in the majority.

We can all complain about One More Day but it probably hasn't hurt sales at all for ASM. ASM probably sells much more now that it's 3 times a month and took over all the Spidey titles. Then again, we can't ever use the internet as an example of how people feel in general about books. If so, Black Panther would have been a memory by now.

[Fuji]

I like that Marvel is the way it is. They change things around drastically all the time and they don't undo as much as DC does. I like that things are so different now than they were when i started reading comics in like 1990.

[Hawk]

I hope Marvel doesn't go "classic". What I like about Marvel right now is you don't know what's coming next, the status quo is constantly changing. It makes for some very interesting reading.

What I'd really like to see is more new characters, though. They've been using the same characters for the past 40+ years, let's throw some fresh blood into the mix. Rather, some fresh, not-lame blood. More characters like the Runaways and Young Avengers, less like those kids in Avengers: Inititive.

Or give us old characters in a completely new light, like Bucky/Winter Soldier.

[Hypestyle]

.... destroy the registration act, but keep superheroes in every state.. there must be geographic diversity at all costs... crime happens in Chicago and Kansas City, too!

I'm surprised that super-villains didn't all move to the midwest and the deep south and get rich off robbing those banks, since the NY and LA banks all had "somebody" in the superhero world on duty...

[Bruce Wayne Jr.]

There are times I think I'm alone...

You're not alone.