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View Full Version : ON THE GUIDING LIGHT SIDE OF THE MARVEL/GL CROSSOVER

MattBrady
10-16-2006, 04:14 PM
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/GuidingLightPrint2005.jpg" border="0" align="right">In two weeks, it’s time for the Marvel crossover that has topped Archie meeting the Punisher in its out of left fieldedness: Marvel meets the <i>Guiding Light</i>. The crossover will take two forms – a comic story appearing in select Marvel comics starting next week (click the link below for a list), and the November 1st episode of the long-running CBS soap opera.

We sat down with <i>Guiding Light</I> Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler and Head Writer David Kreizman for more on the CBS side of the meeting.

<b>Newsarama</b>: We’ve <a href= http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=85059>spoken with Marvel’s Jim McCann</a> about this, and how it got rolling form his perspective, but this really all began when Shawn Dudley [<i>Guiding Light</i> costume designer] was asked to design a dress for Storm’s wedding to Black Panther?

<b>Ellen Wheeler</b>: That is exactly how it started. When Shawn Dudley was asked to design Storm’s wedding dress, it just made Alan Locher [<i>Guiding Light</i> Director, Public Relations] and I realize that we had an opening to talk to Marvel, and when we called them, they were very willing to take a meeting. The second Jim and I sat down, we could see the similarities and the many, many ways that there were either small ways to have crossover – say, just have one of our characters walks through with a comic book, or have characters start reading comic books, or something bigger. As it went forward it just kept growing. The second I brought it to David, he jumped on the idea.

Click here (http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/GuidingLight/GLSide.html) for the full interview.
StrangeMark
10-16-2006, 04:30 PM
This sounds incredibly bizarre! I wonder if it will work... being in the UK I doubt I'll ever see the episode, but I think the comic story is scheduled to pop up in a few things I'll be reading... so could be interesting I guess!
deathshead2
10-16-2006, 04:33 PM
It looks like spider-man is in his black costume in that one pic.
StrangeMark
10-16-2006, 04:41 PM
It looks like spider-man is in his black costume in that one pic.

Hmm that's intriguing... I'm sure it was said this would be the pre-Civil War New Avengers, wasn't it?
xdemon
10-16-2006, 04:42 PM
16+ years ago, I used to watch GL along with some other soaps. (Thanks Mom! :p ) I am looking forward to this because it just seems like it will be FUN.
EyesBL7
10-16-2006, 04:52 PM
Yikes. Im embarrassed to have even READ this.
gwangung
10-16-2006, 04:57 PM
16+ years ago, I used to watch GL along with some other soaps. (Thanks Mom! :p ) I am looking forward to this because it just seems like it will be FUN.

You sound like someone who isn't anal obsessive over their hobby, doesn't take it over seriously and is willing to let the industry grow.

Of course, you know, you must killed.:D
michaelman9
10-16-2006, 05:04 PM
it's free, it's for people outside the industry, its mainstream exposure... i don't see how it hurts anything...go for it
MattBrady
10-16-2006, 05:13 PM
not to mention in all of this that soaps (including GL) are some of the highest rated daytime shows for college males...

MattB
EyesBL7
10-16-2006, 05:35 PM
I know Im probably in the minority but I think its degrading to the medium. Adult comic readers and the comic industry in general have a hard enough time being taken seriously as it is. Slapping the Marvel brand onto something that "normal" people view as even more ridiculous then comic books isnt really the way to go in my opinion. Im all for exposure and bringing more people to the industry, I just question the choice of the exposure here.
gwangung
10-16-2006, 05:35 PM
not to mention in all of this that soaps (including GL) are some of the highest rated daytime shows for college males...

MattB

Oh, we don't want to attract THOSE kind of people, now, do we?
David_T
10-16-2006, 05:41 PM
I think people should be very supportive of this idea for one simple reason.

We really don't need yet another story about comic fans having a problem with soap(s).

Plus, apart from the whole "Oh, my pristine comics, soiled by this crass television storytelling!" deal, it sounds kinda cool.
CodeGuy
10-16-2006, 05:50 PM
I think people should be very supportive of this idea for one simple reason.

We really don't need yet another story about comic fans having a problem with soap(s).

Plus, apart from the whole "Oh, my pristine comics, soiled by this crass television storytelling!" deal, it sounds kinda cool.

Agreed. The only people who are going to watch the episode of Guiding Light are people who *like* Guiding Light. It's kinda silly to say that something bad is going to happen to people's opinions of comics because of this.
Derek Ruiz
10-16-2006, 06:07 PM
I'm really looking forward to more fans from the outside checking our business out.
ETS
10-16-2006, 06:07 PM
This is lame, but, you know, I don't really care.

I'll just drop all my Marvel books and go to DC.

j/k
Penelopecat
10-16-2006, 06:20 PM
Yikes. Im embarrassed to have even READ this.

I thought the exact same thing, right before I hit the "quote" button. :rolleyes:
spiderrob8
10-16-2006, 06:22 PM
I know Im probably in the minority but I think its degrading to the medium. Adult comic readers and the comic industry in general have a hard enough time being taken seriously as it is. Slapping the Marvel brand onto something that "normal" people view as even more ridiculous then comic books isnt really the way to go in my opinion. Im all for exposure and bringing more people to the industry, I just question the choice of the exposure here.

Normal people view this as even more ridiculous? Despite the fact 2.5 million people watch Guiding Light on a DAILY basis. Daily. And other Soaps are more popular. Meanwhile, your typical say Spider-man comic sells 50-100,000 copies a month-sometimes multiple copies to the same people.

The only thing that can get degraded is the Soaps. You can't degrade something like comics that no one even is aware of these days.

Stop worrying about being "taken seriously." Just read comics. Read what you like, don't read what you don't like. I find it is the pleas to be taken seriously that lead to far more ridicule than just doing your own thing.
Dream Boy
10-16-2006, 06:35 PM
I want to start by saying that Ellen Wheeler rocks! I've been a fan of hers, since she was on Another World.

As far as Guiding Light, it isn't my primary soap of choice, I'll definitely be checking this out. Beth Ehlers, who plays Harley, is a great actress and this sounds like fun.
JLAJRC
10-16-2006, 07:02 PM
it's free, it's for people outside the industry, its mainstream exposure... i don't see how it hurts anything...go for it

I agree with you in theory. The problem is that I have yet to see any mention of this on any of the soap opera websites I visit. Something tells me people are gonna be in for a shock on Nov 1.

Also, that artwork doesn't work for me. It took me quite a bit to realize that was Harley, Gus, and Buzz (have no clue who the other two are). They just look like generic people, not like the actors who play them.

But, believe it or not, I think a comic based on a soap could work. Just look through the interview and they recognize all the similarities between the two formats. I would love to see Erica Kane in a comic, going toe to toe with someone. Maybe Catwoman can steal something from her, get caught, leading to a gigantic catfight. Or how about being interviewed by Lois Lane?
StrangeMark
10-16-2006, 07:04 PM
But, believe it or not, I think a comic based on a soap could work.

OC! OC! OC! Ok, not a soap in the strictest definitition, but still kinda! OC! OC!
zeraze1
10-16-2006, 07:07 PM
Stop worrying about being "taken seriously." Just read comics. Read what you like, don't read what you don't like. I find it is the pleas to be taken seriously that lead to far more ridicule than just doing your own thing.

That's the truth. If more comic fans would stop second-guessing who should read read comics, then they'd be more confident in sharing them with new reader and thus expand their audience. That was the case with once "fringe" pastimes like hip hop and video games.

zeraze
spider
10-16-2006, 07:12 PM
are they out of their effing minds? this is so ridiculous. way to go joe q - you rawk brah
Tobias
10-16-2006, 07:13 PM
OC! OC! OC! Ok, not a soap in the strictest definitition, but still kinda! OC! OC!
I'd jump for joy if that happened.
StrangeMark
10-16-2006, 07:22 PM
I'd jump for joy if that happened.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e21/SparkeyMarkey/704571081_l.jpg

We can dream. *sigh*
gwangung
10-16-2006, 07:42 PM
That's the truth. If more comic fans would stop second-guessing who should read read comics, then they'd be more confident in sharing them with new reader and thus expand their audience. That was the case with once "fringe" pastimes like hip hop and video games.

zeraze

Yeah, judging by the talk, you'd think comic book readers are insecure, overly senstive, overly defensive losers who couldn't possibly have fun.

We all know that's not the case, don't we....
EMeadow
10-16-2006, 08:15 PM
I know I'm going to get a call from my mother and aunt bout this one the minute they watch the show that day. Should be fun to watch. Need to remember to record it myself.
The Shadow
10-16-2006, 08:48 PM
it's free, it's for people outside the industry, its mainstream exposure... i don't see how it hurts anything...go for it
I agree.

I think it's an interestiong cross-promotional idea that can only help the slowly dying comic market.
matchesmalone
10-16-2006, 09:04 PM
It's an excellent idea!

Too bad they didn't hire a freakin' inker. The art lacks depth and dimension, and I think that will lessen its appeal to the non-comics-buying audience. And folks who don't like 90 percent of uninked comcs, such as myself.
zeraze1
10-16-2006, 10:15 PM
It's an excellent idea!

Too bad they didn't hire a freakin' inker. The art lacks depth and dimension, and I think that will lessen its appeal to the non-comics-buying audience.

It's tricky to predict what comics people will consider cool. I mean a decade ago who'd have guessed that black & white Japanese comics would be popular.

We'll have to wait to November to see the reaction from GL fans.

zeraze
Evil Rick Shea
10-16-2006, 10:45 PM
Although it's not the exact same thing, Valiant did something similar by having a soap star appear in their comics at least once. I think a second time was planned, but may not have ever been published.

It was Second Life of Doctor Mirage # 13 starring Walt Willey.

<img src=http://www.mycomicshop.com/res/unprocessed/fullsize/B139X013.jpg>
I.M.C.
10-16-2006, 11:14 PM
Well if we can accept demonic possession and aliens on Days of Our Lives, and vampires in Port Charles, superheros in a soap shouldn't really bother anyone. :rolleyes: But is this going on for just the one episode, or is it an ongoing storyline, because it sounds like its going to take awhile to tell ?
dantebk
10-17-2006, 12:49 AM
Superhero comic books ARE soap operas... And so is pro wrestling for that matter. You can tell because they all have evil twins once in a while.

Nothing wrong with a little cross-pollination of the audience...
Beefy McHuge
10-17-2006, 01:24 AM
Yeah, judging by the talk, you'd think comic book readers are insecure, overly senstive, overly defensive losers who couldn't possibly have fun.

We all know that's not the case, don't we....
Who are you really trying to convince? :rolleyes:
Bullet_Train
10-17-2006, 03:02 AM
To be honest...Im not female, nor am I 50 (the age at which I'm CERTAIN a gene is developed and people get into soaps. I've based this on experience since my mom's 51 and now enjoys them) but I'm looking forward to this. Color me intrigued.
John Cage
10-17-2006, 04:11 AM
Whatever gets comics out there, I suppose. Still think this is beyond bizarre for a crossover, but whatever.

Have a good day.
John Cage
sirbluenose
10-17-2006, 04:56 AM
I'm usually a great advocate of any other medium supporting comics.

This is the stoopidest fooking idea in publishing history.

And I better not be paying extra for this crap.

I don't want it, it's just an advert for a soap opera that my country doesn't even get and I damn well better not be charged extra for this!
JimShelley
10-17-2006, 06:25 AM
Sounds like a really fun idea and everyone involved should be applauded for thinking out of the box! :)
ZEBULON
10-17-2006, 07:35 AM
Joe Q is always trying to save the industry one person at a time. Mary jane, son of asgard and runaways got my little niece to read comics, now maybe my grandma will read them too. Way to go joe.
vbartilucci
10-17-2006, 09:40 AM
I'll tell you this, if the 1-800-comic book number doesn't get mentioned somewhere on that episode, someone SERIOUSLY dropped the ball.

But the big challenge this event presents is how are the comic stores going to welcome the soap watchers who come into their stores. If they shove the book into their hand, say thank you and they leave, the store will get a small spike in sales and that's it, those people will never come back.

You got the person in the store. No, how do you get them to come back? With Wolverine? No. With a TPB of Strangers in Paradise? Possibly. With 12 Reasons Why I Love Her? Now we're talking.

I used to say I could find a comic book to interest anyone. But not if the store doesn't stock it. Dealers had three months to prepare for this - here's hoping a few actually did.

But you know who's gonna make the most off this (other than Marvel of course)? The guy who buys 5,000 of them, hires the stars of GL to sign them, buys ONE commercial on the show, and sells them for 10 bucks a throw plus shipping. Not one comic fan will buy them.

Alternative marketing, people. If all you sell is superheroes, only superhero fans will come. It's easier to sell a person what they want than convince them they want something else.
trillian42
10-17-2006, 10:15 AM
To be honest...Im not female, nor am I 50 (the age at which I'm CERTAIN a gene is developed and people get into soaps. I've based this on experience since my mom's 51 and now enjoys them) but I'm looking forward to this. Color me intrigued.

Soaps have usually been popular with the younger crowd as well. I watched soaps in junior high/high school ("Another World" and "Santa Barbara", both of which are long gone, so no chance of a crossover I'd like ;) ), and I picked up the habit from my older sisters. I stopped watching when I went to college, becuase I didn't have a TV, but I've read that soaps are still popular with the college crowd, even guys (as Matt pointed out). I think they have a very good chance of finding Marvel fans (even if it's just the movies) who are also soap fans. And it's not like a superhero crossover is the weirdest thing a soap has done--as someone else pointed out, "Days of Our Lives" had demonic possession and alien abduction! :eek:

And really, comic books are just soap operas about people in spandex who can fly and melt things with their eyes and stuff. :p

Sara
zeraze1
10-17-2006, 07:11 PM
I'm usually a great advocate of any other medium supporting comics.

This is the stoopidest fooking idea in publishing history.

And I better not be paying extra for this crap.

I don't want it, it's just an advert for a soap opera that my country doesn't even get and I damn well better not be charged extra for this!

If you read the previous Newsarama articles, you'll see that the backup stories are FREE and add nothing to the cost of the comics they appear in.

Frankly, comics need all the readers they can get. As explained by IC v2, the mega popular comics are unfortunately draining sales from other comics:

http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/9472.html

This can be blamed on the lack of new readers coming into the medium. So, I applaud Marvel for exploring new ideas like tapping into the soap opera market.

zeraze
Storminator
10-18-2006, 12:29 AM
As a guy who actually knows who Harley Cooper is.........this is freaking bizarre.

Bad for soaps.
Bad for comics.

I stand by every bad thing I've ever said about Joe Quesada. Who the hell is your target audience, Joe? ____ing bizarre.
Kolimar
12-18-2006, 12:09 AM
The Complete List of Inter-Company Crossovers. Do you own any? (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=43303) :p :D ;)