Who Is Marvel Comics' Big 7? Big 10?

[Seresecros]

Dazzler
Darkstar
Squirrel Girl
Hepzibah
Pixie
Ursa Major
Rain Boy

[Songbird/Diamondback]

I'm really not. Games have a huge cultural impact, and as mentioned above, Mario (for instance) has achieved universal recognition around the globe on a level approaching that of Mickey Mouse.

Games are referenced in TV, film, books and news media. They make headlines, and not just for controversy. Its not it just enthusiasts either; casual gamers are everywhere, across every age, gender and income demographic.

Its not an American thing, either. I'm British, thirtysomething, female. Games make up a large part of my media consumption, and I'm far from alone in that regard. Scandinavians, Germans, Danes and Dutch will all tell you a similar story. Head east. China, Japan. Huge consumers of games and gaming culture. Korea. In Korea, gaming is at the point of being a national sport, and it pervades right throughout the culture.

Trying to play down or paint the global influence of games as being niche or fringe at best is either intense denial or just ignorance.

There was a report on how newspapers in Britain were even hyping up the new Call of Duty Game!

And Germany has it's own Video Game expo. Germany is another heavy hitter in the video game market!

[EuphemismForSex]

That was a very... colourful exchange just now, wasn't it? I admire the enthusiasm.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Also, 10 million people play World of Warcraft, a game that you have to continually pay for monthly!

And that's just one, ONE game.

That was a very... colourful exchange just now, wasn't it? I admire the enthusiasm.

If you want a heated debate, bring up video games.

[PwrdOff]

That was a very... colourful exchange just now, wasn't it? I admire the enthusiasm.

One thing that I do genuinely hope for is that our generation will finally be able to break the cycle of deriding young people's tastes and claiming how everything was better back in the day and how we all had to trudge through a snowstorm to get to school, uphill both ways. I'm sure that when tony ingram was a wee lad his parents weren't too keen on him spending all his time obsessing over American funny books and would probably want him to consume some legitimate entertainment that's enjoyed by real people who matter.

[tony ingram]

The SAME Real world where Wreck it Ralph was a hit and is getting a sequel? The same movie that had lots of video game cameos?

I wish I could just cut and paste "I've never heard of it". I know, I'll just use 'INHOI' from now on...

And people are into video gaming! Hell, there's a lot of pop culture jokes about video gaming in TV shows that are on these days! Just on 30 Rock I heard "I'm the rotting Squirrtle in her Pokedex!"

INHOI (the reference, that is; I've heard of 30 Rock, though I've never watched it and know nothing about it beyond the title).

But the simple fact is, just because you don't know about Video Game culture does not mean it's a small thing! Just because you boost about how popular the hulk was prior to Wolverine and video games existence does not mean that the hulk is as popular now! Sure, maybe the Avengers movie helped, but that still doesn't help the fact that the call of duty games can outsell the ticket sales to Hulk's own movie!

Stop pretending that because you knew about it when you're young means that it's still popular now!

We were actually talking about general recognition, not popularity.

Well, I was, anyway. I'm increasingly unsure what you're talking about...

[Voss]

That was a very... colourful exchange just now, wasn't it? I admire the enthusiasm.

Maybe I'm a psycho but this thread along with the Wacker thread in the Spider Man forums have been extremely entertaining to me. Wish I had some popcorn lying around lol.

One thing that I do genuinely hope for is that our generation will finally be able to break the cycle of deriding young people's tastes and claiming how everything was better back in the day and how we all had to trudge through a snowstorm to get to school, uphill both ways. I'm sure that when tony ingram was a wee lad his parents weren't too keen on him spending all his time obsessing over American funny books and would probably want him to consume some legitimate entertainment that's enjoyed by real people who matter.

Haha! I'm already complaining about modern music and television shows. I don't think the cycle will ever end! Kids these days don't even know who Darkwing Duck is, can you believe that?

Just want to note, Marvel vs Capcom was one of the biggest reasons why comics stayed afloat in the late 90's. It brought desperately needed attention to the comic book industry. I know many (including myself) that has been brought to comics because of that game. I'm sure some people on this board would say the same.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

I wish I could just cut and paste "I've never heard of it". I know, I'll just use 'INHOI' from now on... INHOI (the reference, that is; I've heard of 30 Rock, though I've never watched it and know nothing about it beyond the title). We were actually talking about general recognition, not popularity.

Well, I was, anyway. I'm increasingly unsure what you're talking about...

Have you heard of Avatar? Or did you ignore that whole film and pretend it was a bust of a film?

Besides, what do you watch and read? If you claim hulk is popular and pretend Wolverine isn't, and you don't know how big video game culture is or the hit shows on TV, where are you to argue that things are culturally relevant?

And video games and other things are becoming increasingly more cultural relevant! Even as Gametrailers claim, you could play the first three notes of the Mario Brothers theme and people would instantly know what song it is.

[tony ingram]

Have you heard of Avatar?

I've heard the word. No idea what it relates to.

Or did you ignore that whole film and pretend it was a bust of a film?

I didn't know it was a film. Never heard of it, sorry.

Besides, what do you watch and read? If you claim hulk is popular and pretend Wolverine isn't, and you don't know how big video game culture is or the hit shows on TV, where are you to argue that things are culturally relevant?

Well now, there are actually quite a few, sall we say, subcultures in today's society-not just the one you happen to be into. I read comics, obviously, from several publishers in more than one country. I'm into cult TV, particularly Sci-Fi and British shows from the sixties. In terms of still current stuff, Doctor Who is probably my big passion outside comics, though I still prefer the classic series to the new stuff for the most part. I also read crime thrillers, mostly by British authors obviously, and I like a bit of comedic fantasy-Terry Pratchett being a favourite. I watch comparatively little current TV drama or comedy, and even less in the way of American imports, though I did like House. I also like The Big Bang Theory, though some of the cultural references are meaningless to me. I have never played a video game, I rarely listen to any music recorded after about 1988, and I rarely watch new movies. And y'know what? I don't feel I'm missing anything! We aren't all the same, and we don't all have the same frames of reference.

And video games and other things are becoming increasingly more cultural relevant! Even as Gametrailers claim, you could play the first three notes of the Mario Brothers theme and people would instantly know what song it is.

I doubt I would.

[Lady_Alternate]

So you're saying that despite your disconnection with and isolation from modern popular culture, you still feel qualified to pass comment on it and speculate what is presently recognised and / or popular.

[HaveAtThee]

I don't really watch much modern television or listen to modern music as I think it's mostly fake, piped-in noise. However I can see that Wolverine is a pop-culture icon. This argument is quite silly. Both Hulk and Wolverine are very famous worldwide. In the last fifteen years or so Wolverine has received more exposure and thus is a bit more popular these days, but it can always change. Hulk has made a pretty big comeback with two live-action solo movies and a highly successful team appearance in the highest grossing film ever. Popularity changes all the time, but staple characters like Wolverine and Hulk remain.

[tony ingram]

So you're saying that despite your disconnection with and isolation from modern popular culture, you still feel qualified to pass comment on it and speculate what is presently recognised and / or popular.

I wouldn't say I was disconnected from all modern popular culture. Just the bits you seem to be particularly connected to, it seems.

[Whirlwind Dinamo]

1[*]Spider-man[/*]
2[*]Avengers[/*]
3[*]X-Men[/*]

or

1Spidey TOTAL: $1,685,168,300....that's more than Avengers...ok it took 4 movies and cartoon shows...the only thing bigger than Spider-Man is the Bat
2Ironman....massively popular, cartoon shows and movies
3Thor....rising in popularity while brands like the FF and WW fall, Thor is soon to be third in movie Marvel franchise
4Huk was huge in the 70s, 80s and even 90s but he is falling like Supes, WW and F4
5Wolverine
6Cap America
7Storm