What's the better approach to events?

[DrNewGod]

Over the last couple of years, I've been reading about a dozen Marvel titles from 1961 forward (the number fluctuates a bit as titles cancel or launch). I'm in 1989 at this point, and it looks like this is when Marvel started using its various titles' Annual issues as the platform for continuity-wide events.

More recently, Marvel seems to have gone with an approach of launching short-term titles as the platform for events, that may or may not also reach into the on-going monthlies. (i.e. the recent Hydra event).

Which approach do you prefer?

[Zero Hunter]

I like the annuals crossovers better. It didn't interfere with the whatever story was going on in the main book and it is was over pretty fast since annuals usually only came out in the summer. They could do it full on with all the annuals telling one story or split it up into smaller crossovers which I like. The main thing for me is events should not be over 4 or 5 months long. One of the main factors that drove me off Marvel books under the Bendis regime was the 9 to 12 month long events that were 50% filler.

[Revolutionary_Jack]

Prefer the 80s to 90s approach, warts and all.

Under Quesada, event storylines like House of M and Civil War existed to rewire and rewrite the MU in a specific way. That wasn't how it used to be.

Event storylines in Cebulski's regime are on a more modest level. At least so far.

Hickman is the only guy who does event stories right. So anything he does, I am game.

[Adset]

Always dug the Annuals approach myself — a fun story without interrupting the main books. I get why companies don’t do this anymore, but as a fan I prefer it.

If an event is going to bleed into the main books, I prefer a weekly 4-issue mini-series and tie-ins all released in the same month — DC did this a lot in the 90s. Final Night, DC 1 Million, Day of Judgement, etc.

[PlatinumThorns]

I got into comics in something like 2012 so I don't have any experience with any other type of event releases, but I would love it if more of them were like Hickman's HoX/PoX with just the main title (or I guess technically 2) with extra large books, telling just the one story. But I wouldn't a series of one-shots or annuals along side.

[Gaastra]

I like the annuals crossovers better. It didn't interfere with the whatever story was going on in the main book

Same. Liked them better in the annuals also or in self contained limited series away from the main series.

[Snoop Dogg]

That annual crossover format sucks.

Events:
-Should not run for more than 4 months.
-Should have a premise that immediately validates their size.
-Tie-ins should include titles that logically must tie-in, titles that are in because writers want in, and Spider-Man.

[WebLurker]

I hate when events hijack series, so anything to keep events from doing that is fine by me.