Comic Vine News

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Comic Vine's Fourth Birthday

It all began four years ago today.

Comic Vine turns four years old today. Where were you on December 6, 2006? It's hard to believe it's only been four years. I still remember when Ethan and Dave came to me with the idea of starting the ultimate comic book site. I was busy teaching AP Statistics, Precalculus and Algebra to high school students but there was no way I could not be part of this venture. While Ethan and Dave kept themselves busy writing the code and setting the design for the site, I spent my time writing bios and finding as many images I could for comic book characters.  
     

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Backing up a bit, when Ethan and Dave approached me with the idea, there was a slight catch. We wouldn't just be Ethan, Dave and Tony on the site. Our hook was everyone would have a superhero persona. We would all have a superhero identity. We each had to come up with a name and costume before the site launched. This was when Dave and Ethan went to the boys section at Target to create their costumed identities of Captain Cascader and Red L.A.M.P. I simply went to a thrift store and bought a black suit to create my G-Man persona (some of my students had called me G-Man and I was also slightly inspired by Mike Allred's G-Men From Hell).  
 == TEASER ==
       G-Man From Heck by Darick Robertson
       G-Man From Heck by Darick Robertson
It was also in October of 2006 that I first met artist Darick Robertson and asked him if he could draw a picture of me in a black suit and sunglasses, swinging from a vine with a stack of comics in my hand. Thus G-Man From Heck was fully born.  
 
We spent the next few months cranking out as much as we could. I mostly worked from home and my classroom but sometimes visited Ethan and Dave in their...swanky office in Berkeley. Ethan insisted on playing Meatloaf and Regina Spektor over and over and I remember listening to My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade on my headphones to try to drown out the repetitive playlist in the office. It was fun and exciting just writing bio after bio. Ethan would tell me not to go too in depth because we had to leave something for the users to work on and it would be better to have more with less. 
 
Finally the day came for launch. Immediately people managed to stumble onto our little site. The community started growing. Wiki edits started pouring in (this was before we had moderators like fesak and Shatterstar, both who have been around since the beginning). Soon others like Buckshot, The Human Stain, NiteFly, Prodigal Son and Fourpower became frequent visitors. We didn't have News, Videos or Reviews back then. It was just wiki-pages and the forums.  
 
     Check out that unused logo! 
     Check out that unused logo! 
Looking back at the four years, it almost brings a tear to my eye. I am so proud of what this site has become. I quit my teaching job of many years to be here full time. I never thought I'd be doing videos, podcasts, convention coverage and working with people like Sara, Joey, Mat, Tom and Erik in spreading the word of comic books.  
 
And of course there is the community. In the months before we launched, I visited other comic related sites. Some were enjoyable and I continued to visit them after we launched. Others were sad with all the negativity and hostility the members had toward each other. The Comic Vine community is the best I've worked with and I wouldn't trade you guys for anything. The success of these past four years can easily be attributed to all of you. We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you guys. Thanks to everyone who has ever visited Comic Vine and helped make us what we are today. I look forward to see what will happen in the next four years and beyond! 
 
As an added treat, here are some early screen shots and a never before seen logo that Dave managed to dig up to share with everyone. We definitely have come a long way.
            
First, check out what the editing pages used to look like: 

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It's so warm and inviting, how could you not want to spend hours writing about your favorite characters on this page? 
 
I mentioned the forums played a huge role on the site (as they continue to do so today). There has been some changes over the years but more importantly, look at the tabs at the top. 

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Do you remember what the actual character pages used to look like? Have you ever wondered how much of an evolution they've gone through? 

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Forums used to be at the bottom of each page. As the pages continued to get larger and larger, it became clear that they were getting overlooked at the bottom. We also condensed the issue appearances to the top of the page to make it more accessible. Hero tags is something we never really used and soon abandoned. 
  
Who knows what changes and additions the next four years will bring. Let's all take time to celebrate the past four years.

167 Comments

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Neverpraying

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Edited By Neverpraying

Happy birthday comicvine!

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tbpinkfloyd

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Edited By tbpinkfloyd

Does this make Comic Vine a WILF?

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comicbikerscott

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Edited By comicbikerscott

happy birthday
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Zghost

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Edited By Zghost

Happy B-day Vine 

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blaakmawf

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Edited By blaakmawf

I love birthdays, AND VINES!

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#1ElderScrollsFan

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Happy Fourth Birthday!!! May You Last Forever!!!

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bobtv

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Edited By bobtv

Happy Birthday to The Comic Vine!!!

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sora_thekey

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Edited By sora_thekey
@ebuchanan said:
" @sora_thekey: me to those were the days ha ha, I waited a while before i decided to join myself "
I didn't! Actually I was really surprised when I first joined and added the first "The Other" set of powers to the Spider-Man page... then getting a PM from G-Man saying "Your Wiki Submission has been approved."! 
 
@inferiorego said:
"It has been awesome working with the CV crew, and meeting a bunch of you cats in person, and maybe harassing a few of you on the phone (Sora and Pinchuk to be specific)."
I blame CV for that too!  
if it wasn't for CV I wouldn't get that wake up call from inferiorego! (jk) :D
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inferiorego

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Edited By inferiorego  Staff
@sora_thekey said:
" @ebuchanan said:
" @sora_thekey: me to those were the days ha ha, I waited a while before i decided to join myself "
I didn't! Actually I was really surprised when I first joined and added the first "The Other" set of powers to the Spider-Man page... then getting a PM from G-Man saying "Your Wiki Submission has been approved."! 
 
@inferiorego said:
"It has been awesome working with the CV crew, and meeting a bunch of you cats in person, and maybe harassing a few of you on the phone (Sora and Pinchuk to be specific)."
I blame CV for that too!  if it wasn't for CV I wouldn't get that wake up call from inferiorego! (jk) :D "
Prepare for a harassing text message
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Ry Fryy

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Edited By Ry Fryy

Here's to four more!

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Roninidas

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Edited By Roninidas

Happy Birthday Comic Vine! 
 
You guys are the BEST part of my work day!
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queenfrost_

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Edited By queenfrost_

Wow, this site has changed :D
Thanks for giving us the behind the scenes info! When did Sara and the rest join the site?
Oh and...
 

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humanfly26

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Edited By humanfly26

happy birthday!

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btman

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Edited By btman

Happy Birthday Comic Vine.

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Halberdierv2

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Edited By Halberdierv2

ComicVine if ONLY you waited until the day after to form, you and I wouldve shared birthdays!

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AlwaysBeClothing

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Edited By AlwaysBeClothing

 Here's looking at you, kid
 Here's looking at you, kid
Congrats Comic Vine!  May the good times continue to a roll
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MadClawMannn

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Edited By MadClawMannn

Happy Birthday Comic Vine!
Great website!

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CaptainUseless

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Edited By CaptainUseless

Merry Birthday Comic Vine!

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Harddwarf

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Edited By Harddwarf

Happy birthday Comic Vine !

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Preacherl2k

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Edited By Preacherl2k

Happy Birthday Comic Vine!

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CharlesAlanRatliff

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Whoa. 
 
Happy Birthday! Yaaaaaaaay

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Pteruswynn

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Edited By Pteruswynn

Happy Birthday ComicVine!

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haydenclaireheroes

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Happy Birthday Comic Vine. Today is my one year anniversary on the site. So, I thought that was cool.  

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Decept-O

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Edited By Decept-O

Happy Birthday to Comic Vine.  A website that has meant a lot more than just comic books to a lot of people.   
 
Thanks for letting me be part of this great site and I also look forward to many more years for everyone.  
 
A great job by all the Staff and Mods and fellow users in creating a kick-ass site!
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Jimbo

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Edited By Jimbo

Happy Comikkah!
 
Well done to all involved.  You've built a great site and nurtured a fun and friendly community at the same time.  I don't know ZAP! about comics, but it's still always a pleasure dropping by here or chilling with the CV gang for Happy Hour.  Thanks & keep up the good work!

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Emperor Gonzo Noir

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Wow. Four years. I  think I came here around 2.6 or something

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EisforExtinction

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Edited By EisforExtinction

Are internet years like dog years? So four internet years is actually like forty years?

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Omega Ray Jay

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Edited By Omega Ray Jay

One of (if not the) best sites on the web, outstanding work by exceptional people =)

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Sasuke

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Edited By Sasuke
@sora_thekey said:
"I remember when the pages look like that!  (Well not the logo)
 
4 Years ago I didn't know the site existed but about 8 months after the site launched I remember looking for a website that would incorporate all of the information I wanted to know about comic books. (Wikipedia wasn't cutting it) Although I spent a lot of time on the Marvel website I still did not feel like it was helping me with the questions I had. 
  
Almost 3 years ago is when I stumbled upon the site for the first time when searching for Spider-Man images. After checking out the extensive information about my favorite character I found what I was looking for and did not hesitate on signing up for the site. 
 
I got to see the evolution of the site from this:  
    
 
 

 
 
To what we have now!   I have been a user for almost 3 years and I completely proud to be part of this awesome community! Congrats Comic Vine on your 4 years of brining us "geeks" and "nerds" together! "

I feel the exact same way
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churrific

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Edited By churrific

happy birthday!

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Silkcuts

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Edited By Silkcuts

Happy Birthday Comicvine!
That was a neat history lesson G-Man, the site really was a whole lot different from when it started off...lol

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lostlantern13

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Edited By lostlantern13

Happy Birthday to the Vine!

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Pizawle

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Edited By Pizawle

Happy Day of Birth, CV!

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Sidie

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Edited By Sidie

Cheers Comic Vine, to the many years to come

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Claire_Comixity

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Edited By Claire_Comixity

Happy Birthday to you! ^^

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Icon

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Edited By Icon

Hapy Birthday CV! I love you! x]
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Dick_Mohawk

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Edited By Dick_Mohawk

Happy 4th Birthday Comic Vine......and to many more :)

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heroclick6

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Edited By heroclick6

Happy Birthday Comic Vine. I'd be lost with out it.

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xerox_kitty

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Edited By xerox_kitty

Sometimes I wish I'd been around since the start of ComicVine... but then I think about all the hundreds (if not thousands) of hours I would have lost back then ;) 
 
Happy Birthday, Comic Vine!  Long may your tendrils grow & entwine geeks on the internet! :)

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The Sadhu

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Edited By The Sadhu

I take my hat off to you... thats if I had a hat... 
 
Happy Birthday Comic Vine!
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spider-man 2996

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Edited By spider-man 2996

Happy Birthday Comic Vine!!!!!!
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Jayso4201

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Edited By Jayso4201

I absolutely LOVE this site, it takes up many hours of my week, and I have recomended it to my friends, I sincerely appreciate all the hard work and dedication you guys have put into it, it is an awesome site, and truly one of the reasons the internet was created in the first place (that and porn).  
 
So from the bottom of my heart Happy Birthday Comicvine and here's to many more years to come 
Jayso
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AMP - Seeker of Lost Knowledge

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Congrats to CV! Make a wish.
Where was I on December 6, 2006   : In the 10th Grade ...which was also the year I found YOUTUBE from my classmates and become hooked on ever since.

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Red L.A.M.P.

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Edited By Red L.A.M.P.
@LordAndrew said:
" I declare this to be of historical interest. Thanks, guys. This is incredibly useful to me.  "Edit Histories"? You had edit histories back then?! Or was that only for individual users' edit history like we have now? "
Real edit histories.  Take that Andy McCurdy ( Inside joke )
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eldestrisk

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Edited By eldestrisk

This is as exciting as my brother's 5th birthday that was 2 months ago. =)

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sora_thekey

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Edited By sora_thekey
@xerox-kitty said:

" Sometimes I wish I'd been around since the start of ComicVine... but then I think about all the hundreds (if not thousands) of hours I would have lost back then ;)  Happy Birthday, Comic Vine!  Long may your tendrils grow & entwine geeks on the internet! :) "

Now think of the thousands of hours you will loose from now until the next 4 years!
 
 @queenfrost_ said:

" Wow, this site has changed :D
Thanks for giving us the behind the scenes info! When did Sara and the rest join the site? "

If I'm not mistaken Sara's been working for the site since July of 2009... and Riezner since June?...
 
 @inferiorego said:

" @sora_thekey said:

" @ebuchanan said:
" @sora_thekey: me to those were the days ha ha, I waited a while before i decided to join myself "
I didn't! Actually I was really surprised when I first joined and added the first "The Other" set of powers to the Spider-Man page... then getting a PM from G-Man saying "Your Wiki Submission has been approved."! 
 
@inferiorego said:
"It has been awesome working with the CV crew, and meeting a bunch of you cats in person, and maybe harassing a few of you on the phone (Sora and Pinchuk to be specific)."
I blame CV for that too!  if it wasn't for CV I wouldn't get that wake up call from inferiorego! (jk) :D "
Prepare for a harassing text message "
Should I be scared?
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Magian

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Edited By Magian

I know this site since 2007 IIRC. I have spent a lot of hours here. I think I should have made my account here a lot earlier. No idea why I didn't. Thanks for making this site.

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Mr_Anderson

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Edited By Mr_Anderson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY C VINE!
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The Poet

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Edited By The Poet

wow. Congragualations I believe are in order. I've been here for almost a year and I aprishate the hours I have spent here. 
Don't do drugs, do Vine!

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Mercy_

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Edited By Mercy_

Happy Berfday!