Book Review: Slugfest

[bedsitter23]

Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle between Marvel and DC by Reed Tucker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There is a show that the History Channel shows about once a month which documents the history of comics, and it goes something like this: Siegal and Shuster created Superman. Comics got us through WW2. Comics got a bit of out of hand and the Comic Authority Code came along. Comics got out of touch then Stan Lee came along. Then they got unhip and Jim Steranko came along. Then they got lame again and Alan Moore and Frank Miller came along. Then things got bad again, but now comics are cool again, because people like Michael Chabon like them. (There's a similar History of Wrestling show that airs nearly as often and comically ends with the rise of WCW).

There's more to the comics story, of course, as anyone like myself who spent the 90s reading the Comics Journal can attest. Surely, though there is a story to tell. Reed keeps his story keyed on the years of the relationship between DC and Marvel, but that covers much ground.

DC was born of uptown 9-to-5 suit and tie publishing and it's manner is still tied to its origin now over 80 years on. Marvel was born of the pulps and is the brasher young brother. DC owned the market (literally) and should have squashed Marvel like a bug. Marvel with nothing to lose, put its product in the hands of Lee and Kirby who made relatable comics and changed the game.

This book covers all of that focusing on the leadership and editors who have come and gone. With some of what feels like insider gossip (stories that you won't know anyway). The rivalry continues as they try to steal writes and artists from each other, and blast each other in the editorial page (with DC as the moral high ground).

Through the years, the idea occasionally comes up for the two to collaborate, but the politics usually sucks the winds out of those sails, and the product (like that 90s crossover) are usually underwhelming.

There's a lot of things you have likely forgotten (like Stan Lee writing for DC) or maybe never knew. Marvel eventually wins the charts, while DC wisely holds onto its iconic characters.

DC does innovate (Moore's Swamp Thing, for example) while Marvel seemingly bumbles opportunity (They steal Grant Morrison only to have him write Skrull Kill Krew). The book ends with the modern era- Superman finally breaks what seems to be a superhero movie curse, but then the sequels put us in the era those my age might remember when big comic projects were often rumored, but never panned out, or they became Dolph Lundgren movies.

Marvel conquers the cinema (though as my friend who owns a comic shop complains) have no idea how to turn that into comic book sales. DC has bumbled and fumbled but have a pretty good foothold into television. There's talk of modern day chat rooms and David Ayer's "F*ck Marvel" makes it here.

I really enjoyed this book. Tucker keeps it pretty level-handed. It s interesting in a fun easy read gossipy way, but the content is actually covered quite well. This is a must read for comics fans. I think some of this will be new for even those most die-hard, and those with only a passing interest in the medium will like the stories of the two giants and their sniping at each other.



View all my reviews
Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle between Marvel and DC by Reed Tucker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There is a show that the History Channel shows about once a month which documents the history of comics, and it goes something like this: Siegal and Shuster created Superman. Comics got us through WW2. Comics got a bit of out of hand and the Comic Authority Code came along. Comics got out of touch then Stan Lee came along. Then they got unhip and Jim Steranko came along. Then they got lame again and Alan Moore and Frank Miller came along. Then things got bad again, but now comics are cool again, because people like Michael Chabon like them. (There's a similar History of Wrestling show that airs nearly as often and comically ends with the rise of WCW).

There's more to the comics story, of course, as anyone like myself who spent the 90s reading the Comics Journal can attest. Surely, though there is a story to tell. Reed keeps his story keyed on the years of the relationship between DC and Marvel, but that covers much ground.

DC was born of uptown 9-to-5 suit and tie publishing and it's manner is still tied to its origin now over 80 years on. Marvel was born of the pulps and is the brasher young brother. DC owned the market (literally) and should have squashed Marvel like a bug. Marvel with nothing to lose, put its product in the hands of Lee and Kirby who made relatable comics and changed the game.

This book covers all of that focusing on the leadership and editors who have come and gone. With some of what feels like insider gossip (stories that you won't know anyway). The rivalry continues as they try to steal writes and artists from each other, and blast each other in the editorial page (with DC as the moral high ground).

Through the years, the idea occasionally comes up for the two to collaborate, but the politics usually sucks the winds out of those sails, and the product (like that 90s crossover) are usually underwhelming.

There's a lot of things you have likely forgotten (like Stan Lee writing for DC) or maybe never knew. Marvel eventually wins the charts, while DC wisely holds onto its iconic characters.

DC does innovate (Moore's Swamp Thing, for example) while Marvel seemingly bumbles opportunity (They steal Grant Morrison only to have him write Skrull Kill Krew). The book ends with the modern era- Superman finally breaks what seems to be a superhero movie curse, but then the sequels put us in the era those my age might remember when big comic projects were often rumored, but never panned out, or they became Dolph Lundgren movies.

Marvel conquers the cinema (though as my friend who owns a comic shop complains) have no idea how to turn that into comic book sales. DC has bumbled and fumbled but have a pretty good foothold into television. There's talk of modern day chat rooms and David Ayer's "F*ck Marvel" makes it here.

I really enjoyed this book. Tucker keeps it pretty level-handed. It s interesting in a fun easy read gossipy way, but the content is actually covered quite well. This is a must read for comics fans. I think some of this will be new for even those most die-hard, and those with only a passing interest in the medium will like the stories of the two giants and their sniping at each other.



View all my reviews
Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle between Marvel and DC by Reed Tucker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There is a show that the History Channel shows about once a month which documents the history of comics, and it goes something like this: Siegal and Shuster created Superman. Comics got us through WW2. Comics got a bit of out of hand and the Comic Authority Code came along. Comics got out of touch then Stan Lee came along. Then they got unhip and Jim Steranko came along. Then they got lame again and Alan Moore and Frank Miller came along. Then things got bad again, but now comics are cool again, because people like Michael Chabon like them. (There's a similar History of Wrestling show that airs nearly as often and comically ends with the rise of WCW).

There's more to the comics story, of course, as anyone like myself who spent the 90s reading the Comics Journal can attest. Surely, though there is a story to tell. Reed keeps his story keyed on the years of the relationship between DC and Marvel, but that covers much ground.

DC was born of uptown 9-to-5 suit and tie publishing and it's manner is still tied to its origin now over 80 years on. Marvel was born of the pulps and is the brasher young brother. DC owned the market (literally) and should have squashed Marvel like a bug. Marvel with nothing to lose, put its product in the hands of Lee and Kirby who made relatable comics and changed the game.

This book covers all of that focusing on the leadership and editors who have come and gone. With some of what feels like insider gossip (stories that you won't know anyway). The rivalry continues as they try to steal writes and artists from each other, and blast each other in the editorial page (with DC as the moral high ground).

Through the years, the idea occasionally comes up for the two to collaborate, but the politics usually sucks the winds out of those sails, and the product (like that 90s crossover) are usually underwhelming.

There's a lot of things you have likely forgotten (like Stan Lee writing for DC) or maybe never knew. Marvel eventually wins the charts, while DC wisely holds onto its iconic characters.

DC does innovate (Moore's Swamp Thing, for example) while Marvel seemingly bumbles opportunity (They steal Grant Morrison only to have him write Skrull Kill Krew). The book ends with the modern era- Superman finally breaks what seems to be a superhero movie curse, but then the sequels put us in the era those my age might remember when big comic projects were often rumored, but never panned out, or they became Dolph Lundgren movies.

Marvel conquers the cinema (though as my friend who owns a comic shop complains) have no idea how to turn that into comic book sales. DC has bumbled and fumbled but have a pretty good foothold into television. There's talk of modern day chat rooms and David Ayer's "F*ck Marvel" makes it here.

I really enjoyed this book. Tucker keeps it pretty level-handed. It s interesting in a fun easy read gossipy way, but the content is actually covered quite well. This is a must read for comics fans. I think some of this will be new for even those most die-hard, and those with only a passing interest in the medium will like the stories of the two giants and their sniping at each other.



View all my reviews