Big Reinventions That Worked

[t hedge coke]

Big changes are a rocky proposition, and often, if you try to redefine an established character, it gets reverted down the road, if not immediately, because nostalgia, comfort, and sometimes folks just think the original idea was better. War Machine can't be an ugly alien armor forever, and Machine Man, eventually, had to stop calling people 'fleshy ones." So, what are some big changes that worked so well, they've been working more or less ever since?

For the MU, the grandaddies of this are probably Captain America being a man out of time, which, of course, wasn't part off his deal for over twenty years, but has framed him significantly ever since, and also, the more close-to-the-beginning change of Hulk going from a grumpy bully to an angry, easily emotional child.

Much as I love Stan Lee and Paul Ryan, I have to admit, Ravage 2099 was a pretty mundane title until Mills and Skinner took over and changed the tone of the comic, the look and powers of the protagonist, the supporting cast, and, well, everythin about the comic except the name and just started doing patented Pat Mills machismo, religion, and slavery are a bit funny aren't they? stories where Ravage was set on by big game hunters with slaves or running around massive and naked with a telepathic bat and a girlfriend with the powers of an Asgardian death god.

Back in,, say, 1992, who'd have thought that a fiercer, tactically-strong, charging-to-the-fore Sharon Carter would,, or could, be such a big part of Captain America's life? But since Waid and Garney brought her back - and she'd been dead quite some time - she's never really gone away, and she's never gone back to being "classic" Sharon.

[XPac]

Wolverine worked out pretty darn well, from his initial debut. They definately reinvented the wheel with that one.

[Sutekh]

Hulk's transformation having something to do with rage / anger, which I've heard was first introduced in the TV show, and then brought over to the comics.

[KOSLOX]

Priest's Black Panther.

If you read his interviews he basically went back to the original concept of a hypercompetant king who took down the FF in his first appearance and pushed that forward incorporating more modern sensibilities into the character. I think now his version is probably the most associated with the character.

[ariwl1]

This:



To This:



http://www.deviantart.com/art/Jean-G...enix-256147799

Now if only editorial hadn't mucked about with the concept things would be golden.

[sifighter]

This:
image.jpg

To this:
image.jpg

And now this:
image.jpg

[Panic]

Hulk's transformation having something to do with rage / anger, which I've heard was first introduced in the TV show, and then brought over to the comics.

No, at least in England the premiere of the show was later than comics showing anger as the trigger.

[Dispenser Of Truth]

to


worked out pretty well.

[Iron Maiden]

That Phoenix is beautiful. I can't make out the artist sig...who did it?

[Iron Maiden]

to


worked out pretty well.

Except for Starlin killing him off in the graphic novel, I suppose you are right. And talk about dead being dead, Marvel has not relented on this one yet.

[ariwl1]

That Phoenix is beautiful. I can't make out the artist sig...who did it?

Right here

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Jean-G...enix-256147799

[jphamlore]

Chris Claremont's God Loves, Man Kills beginning the start of turning Magneto at least into a tweener and possible ally of the X-Men not an outright villain. Even Grant Morrison couldn't succeed in destroying that part of this character Grant Morrison despised.

Walt Simonson having Odin seemingly lost with Thor finally becoming somewhat his own man. Thor not needing to have Donald Blake or another human identity.

Ultimates having Nick Fury looking like Samuel Jackson?

[Panic]

Alan Davis and the Captain Britain makeover in the 80's:

And of course Betsy Braddock going from telepath to thongy Asian ninja.

[Nelson]

The way Terry Moore handled Klara in Runaways. People complain about vol.3 and havefair points, but he took Klara from character that was a tragic mess and made her much more sympathetic, funny and gnerally pleasant to read. And she provided great dynamics with Molly which added another dimension to her.

[People Of The Earth]

Ultimates having Nick Fury looking like Samuel Jackson?

People can say what they want, the ultimates were a brilliant take-on of the Avengers (at least, the two first seasons with Millar/Hitch at the helm).