Marvel U: 2000-2010 The Dark Ages. Will There Be A Renaissance?

[marvell2100]

We're coming to the end of decade(our time) in the MU that could be only considered the Dark Ages because of all the cataclysmic events from Disassembled to Dark Reign that has left the superhuman community devastated. There have been some great moments, some controversial moments and some would say some very terrible moments. Whatever your opinions of Marvel, this has been one of the most talked about periods in the MU in a long time if not ever. As in most cases, there is a sort of Renaissance period following following a troublesome period in time. If Marvel does have a Renaissance era coming, can it live up to what came before it and how do you think it would come about?

[jarrod]

I thought the 90s were the Dark Ages?

[TheAmazingSpidey]

I thought the 90s were the Dark Ages?

Yeah, I'd take the 2000s over the 90s any day.

[marvell2100]

I thought the 90s were the Dark Ages?

Nah, the 90s was the age of Un-Reason. Seriously though, I'm not referring to creative maladies or mishaps but moreso the tone of the MU.

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Nah, the 90s was the age of Un-Reason. Seriously though, I'm not referring to creative maladies or mishaps but moreso the tone of the MU.

Ah, I see.

Well, soon, hopefully. I don't prefer a dark MU. I prefer the kind of MU of the past. Serious, but not too serious and dark.

[Lusus420]

I agree that Marvel has gotten much darker after the giant-shoulder-pad-wearing days of the nineties (I'm cracking up just picturing Cable). But, some of the stories have been great, like the early Daredevil (V. 2), Civil War and now Dark Reign. Have you read Dark Avengers #5? GREAT!!

One bad thing that happened over the years is that Uncanny isn't the flagship anymore. I personally think Uncanny has kinda stunk for a long time (I've been collecting it since 244)...it makes me kinda sad, cuz that used to be my NUMBER ONE title, now I just buy it because I can't bring myself to drop it! But, I'm very encouraged by recent issues and the upcoming crossover with Dark Avengers.

[Babylon23]

There's no renaissance forthcoming. The same people are still in charge that initiated all of these cataclysmic events over the past decade. Expect to see more of the same for the for forseeable future: more 'splitting the internet in half'.

[Sijo]

As unhappy as I am with some of Marvel's decisions of late (most notably One More Day) I *still* prefer them to DC's. Compare the number of characters killed (often in gross ways) since 2004 in DC's megaevents with Marvel's. I don't feel safe reading any DC title anymore, because even the most harmless seeming comic can have tragedy or horror thrown in it without warning.

[TheAmazingSpidey]

As unhappy as I am with some of Marvel's decisions of late (most notably One More Day) I *still* prefer them to DC's. Compare the number of characters killed (often in gross ways) since 2004 in DC's megaevents with Marvel's. I don't feel safe reading any DC title anymore, because even the most harmless seeming comic can have tragedy or horror thrown in it without warning.

Yeah, that Wonderdog thing from Teen Titans comes to mind. :biggrin:

[Butch Mapa]

Interesting topic.


As in most cases, there is a sort of Renaissance period following following a troublesome period in time.

Here's the thing though-- has there ever been a "light" period in Marvel? From day one, Spidey, Hulk, and others have been outlaws, Mutants have been hated and feared. There have been so many Avengers-US government witch hunts. The villains have been forming alliances since Acts of Vengeance.

But if you ask me if things will return to a "normal" level of paranoia, in-fighting and mistrust to and amonng the heroes, I'd say the answer would definitely be a yes. By "normal" I'd say Infinity Gauntlet or Secret War levels.

[celticguy]

so who gets to be Davinci?

Stark or Richards?

[Kylun123]

Yeah, to me the Dark Ages of this decade refers to the constant barrage of events & crossovers . . . a Renaissance would be a break from all those universe-encompassing disasters and allowing titles & characters to develop insularly. Which, as was said, won't happen with the current market and the current people in charge.

[Butch Mapa]

so who gets to be Davinci?

Stark or Richards?
.....

Rogers.

[Expletive Deleted]

What was so bad about 2000 through 2004, exactly?

[Jack W. Hellsing]

I thought the 90s were the Dark Ages?

Hey, I liked the 90s. I have a lot of fond memories. Of course I was just a kid and as long as I got to see Spidey and the X-men punching colorful bad guys with themed abilities and names I was happy. :biggrin:

Jeez. I miss the the days when everything was cool and exciting.

I hate growing up.:frown:

[Sighphi]

Dont worry, once Marvel hires me i'll make sure ill retcon a good part of 616 back to what it was before Bendis took over.

[rzerox21xx]

I would give for now to have a geass power from Code Geass and go and use it on the marvel staff to do whatever I want. of course it can only be use one time for each person. I'll have Bendis and Quesada call me "your highness" while i sit on my throne and give the office to the fans.

[Jack W. Hellsing]

I would give for now to have a geass power from Code Geass and go and use it on the marvel staff to do whatever I want. of course it can only be use one time for each person. I'll have Bendis and Quesada call me "your highness" while i sit on my throne and give the office to the fans.


That sounds like a horrible idea. As much as the head honchos end up with bad decisions, giving power to the fans would totally ruin things.

Remember what happened with Devil May Cry 2.

If fans ran things we'd probably be seeing a Wolverine killing Galactus arc or something.

[rzerox21xx]

I was just talking crap. Power corrupts and I glad I don't have that or anyone. As much as the thought of having something like to make everyone obey you no matter what if you use that.

Thank god there's no death note either,

[SquidSquod]

so who gets to be Davinci?

Stark or Richards?

Stark. He has Italian blood.

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Hey, I liked the 90s. I have a lot of fond memories. Of course I was just a kid and as long as I got to see Spidey and the X-men punching colorful bad guys with themed abilities and names I was happy. :biggrin:

Jeez. I miss the the days when everything was cool and exciting.

I hate growing up.:frown:

Don't worry, just stick to anything Loeb writes and you can feel like a kid again.

[jackolover]

Yeah, to me the Dark Ages of this decade refers to the constant barrage of events & crossovers . . . a Renaissance would be a break from all those universe-encompassing disasters and allowing titles & characters to develop insularly. Which, as was said, won't happen with the current market and the current people in charge.

I think the best effect on writing has been events. The best Ms Marvel was CW. The best HFH was WWH. The Best JMS FF and SM was CW.

But that aside, 2000 saw the first Ultimates appear in the MU. It muddied the waters of the MU because Ultimates was better than the MU. People were comparing a rejigged Ultimates to the way the "normal" universe was being written, and it came up poor. That's why the events phenomena came about. You put characters in a comfort zone, and you run out of stories to tell. You take the characters out of their comfort zone, and the stories write themselves. That's what the 2000 - 2010 meant to me.

What comes after will probably be an extention of the DR. I don't think you can go back to comfort zones the characters were in, ever again. But then. We do have Marvel Adventures for those that like that sort of thing.

Big Brother will always be looking over the heroes shoulder. In every book now, Norman Osborn is plastered all over the walls and on billboards. And if not Norman, then someone else. Like Goliath once said, "The way we do business is over". And the future doesn't look any brighter, if the New Warriors future story is anything to go by. And even in the Avengers Crossing book, the future it fortold wasn't very rosey either. But who defines what is rosey anyway. Maybe the glimpses of the future are the good times. We thought CW was bleak, but look what we got now, hey?