sora_thekey

Happy 6th Vineversary to me!: http://www.comicvine.com/profile/sora_thekey/blog/6-year-vineversary/96152/

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CV's Roundtable User Discussion 010 - Team vs Solo Books

What's up Comic Vine! Welcome to the tenth "Roundtable User Discussion"! Big ten! What is this, you ask? A couple of CV users, like yourself, virtually met up to talk comic books and comic-related topics. That conversation has been posted here for you guys to see, read and enjoy. Be sure to comment below where you can submit your own opinions after reading ours. Also, go back and read our 9 other conversations (Here) and share your thoughts. Even if you disagree with us, we like comments.

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I am Geo, better known as sora_thekey and I will be moderating this discussion. I will also give insight along the way. I have three users "siting" here with me. Please help me welcome back: Emperor Gonzo Noir, haydenclaireheroes, xerox-kitty and for the first time Billy Batson.

Emperor Gonzo Noir: I'm Emp Gonzo, and I spin gold from the mouths of babes.

haydenclaireheroes: Hey I am haydenclaireheroes and I do video reviews on this site called Comic Uno and I am superfan of Spider-Girl

xerox-kitty: Evening everyone, your friendly neighbourhood xerox-kitty, here!

Billy Batson: Hi, I'm BB and your Gorillaz fan.

Welcome all!

So you guys know what I'm going to ask next right?

Emperor Gonzo Noir: Why we came?

haydenclaireheroes: Yes, What was the last comic you guys read?

Registered!
Registered!

Right, what was the last comic book-related thing you did? Read comics? Watch a CBM? Get registration for San Diego Comic Con? (Oh wait that last one was me!)

xerox-kitty: Show off!! ;)

haydenclaireheroes: The last comic I read was Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Vol. 3 trade.

xerox-kitty: Oh yeah... The last thing I read was the newest issue of X-Factor sorry I forget the issue number). If it was a movie, it would have had me on the edge of my seat. As it is, I nearly cried for Guido (and for poor Monet too!)

Billy Batson: Still not finished, an old mini series called: Just Imagine: Stan Lee creating the DC universe.

Emperor Gonzo Noir: I read the latest issue of Thunderbolts and The Bat, The Ring and The Arrow.

Solo vs Teams
Solo vs Teams

Cool... So you guys have been reading books which apply well into our topic of discussion: Solo vs Team Books. Billy, can you explain the differences between what we know as a Solo Book and a Team Book? (I like to put newbies in the spotlight!)

Billy Batson: >_> Isn't that obvious? A Solo Book stars usually one main character and A Team Book stars different characters.

Good. You get an A+! Lets compare and contrast. What do you guys prefer, Solo books or Team books?

haydenclaireheroes: I like Solo comics better.

Emperor Gonzo Noir: I really have no preference.

Billy Batson: Yay! Well it depends on the writer and on the team.

xerox-kitty: Looking at my buying habits, I guess I lean more towards team books. I like good characterisation & interaction. That's not to say that there aren't solo titles that I like, but they don't capture my imagination as much, but like Billy says, the creative team really makes a huge difference.

If we think about it Team Books seem to do better with sales than Solo books. There are definitely more Team books than Solo titles. Why do you guys think that is?

xerox-kitty: It's probably harder to keep the attention on a lone character unless they carry a major fan-base like Wolverine, Batman or Hombre Araña.

Hombre Araña, Hombre Araña. Hace todo lo que una araña...

haydenclaireheroes: Well I will say with a team book you have a better chance for peoples favorite characters to be in it so more people buy team books.

Billy Batson: I agree.

xerox-kitty: I like the way that Hayden puts it; all the characters in a team book is like standing at the counter trying to choose your favourite flavour of ice cream. You might not like them all, but you're guaranteed to like most of them and even pick a few favourites :)

haydenclaireheroes: Exactly

Emperor Gonzo Noir: With a team book you have a cast of characters which at least someone will identify with, as opposed to a solo book where you may not care about say Spider-man, but with the Avengers you have Thor, Iron Man or Captain America to root for.

Some Take Up More Space Than Others
Some Take Up More Space Than Others

What happens when the protagonist of a Solo title also spends time in Team books. Doesn't that take away from other characters to have the chance in the spotlight? (Spider-Man, Deadpool, Batman)

haydenclaireheroes: Ya I got bothered when a character gets to much spotlight. Especially when we have characters that never get spotlight. Although I am a little biased with Spider-Man LOL. I can never get enough Spider-Man.

Emperor Gonzo Noir: If it's in a minor capacity I usually don't mind, but I prefer to not see, say Spider-Man for example, front and center in New Avengers and Avengers when his book ships 2-3 times a month.

xerox-kitty: It's weird, really. I mean I know WHY Spider-Man is suddenly a New Avenger, Future Foundation and even featuring in the X-Men. But it's been nearly 50 years of publishing so why have him as a team-mainstay after all this time? On the other hand, I'm totally used to Batman being in the Justice League. But there's a long history there. It's not as if it was an overnight decision.

Emperor Gonzo Noir: I agree, Batman appearing in Justice League is like seeing a bird in the sky. It's just a normal thing that you never question. Spidey however is just showing up everywhere. He's really giving Wolverine a run for his money.

haydenclaireheroes: Totally agree.

Billy Batson: Emp don't you mean like seeing a bat in the night ;)

haydenclaireheroes: LOL

xerox-kitty: For me, Wolverine was the other way around; he was a team member who went solo & then whored his mutant tushy in to every team that would take him.

Do you guys think it would work better if these Solo characters to just be Solo characters or just be Team members?

xerox-kitty: It would certainly keep things simpler...

Emperor Gonzo Noir: Well a character appearing in a single team book would be perfectly fine, it's the multiple team books is where you get into trouble. It spread them too thin and can unintentionally lead to continuity issues if creators aren't keeping up with the other books.

Billy Batson: I'd like to see minor members of a team to have a solo (mini) series

haydenclaireheroes: I like to see the solo members in a team also. Kind of like what Red Robin is doing now in Teen Titans.

xerox-kitty: Yeah, like what Hayden is getting at; there's nothing wrong with a cameo, cross-over or team-up... just don't keep it permanent ;)

Emperor Gonzo Noir: I also think having a normally solo character appear in a team book might open up a new reader to a character whose book they might not read otherwise.

haydenclaireheroes: Then the solo character's sales would go up.

xerox-kitty: In an ideal world they do, but when She-Hulk crossed over with X-Factor (during Secret Invasion) the sales quickly settled back down to normal.

Some Work Better Alone
Some Work Better Alone

What happens when you take a Solo character and put him in a Team book when the character in question seems to work best by him/herself? (Moon Knight, Daredevil)

haydenclaireheroes: Well I guess it really depends on the character because like Xerox-Kitty is saying with She Hulk. Also She Hulk did fine when she was on the Fantastic Four.

Emperor Gonzo Noir: Well I think that really depends on the writer, I recall liking Moon Knight in Secret Avengers.

Billy Batson: It sometimes works (for Batman and others).

Most of These Characters Started Out on Their Own
Most of These Characters Started Out on Their Own

Here's something to think about. What were to happen if Solo Books and Team Books were completely separate? What if every character who has a Solo book didn't appear in a Team book, could that work? I mean Amazing Spider-Man #1 had the Fantastic Four in there.

haydenclaireheroes: I do not think that would work well for sales of the solo chracters. Because no one can get a taste of them if they never heard of them.

Billy Batson: I don't think it could work.

Emperor Gonzo Noir: No, I wouldn't see that working out. It kinda closes off the universe if no one else is showing up in the book. I mean one of the standard orders of business for a lot of DC series for example is to have Batman or Superman make an appearance.

It's seems that there is no black and white with this conversation. I say we finish up with one more question. If you could only read either Team or Solo books which would you read?

haydenclaireheroes: I would read Solo books because some of my favorite comic books is solo books. I feel with solo books you get to know a character much much more.

Emperor Gonoz Noir: If I really had to choose, I'd go with team books. I love Secret Six and Thunderbolts and can't go without them.

Billy Batson: Hmmm that's a though one. Maybe Team Books (for the different characters).

xerox-kitty: I'm sticking with my team books; X-Factor, X-Men Legacy, Avengers Academy... The best of the best :)

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Great, so lets end this then. Did you guys notice that you participated on the tenth Roundtable? Milestone baby! Thank you for helping me reach ten Roundtables.

Wanna say your good byes?

xerox-kitty: I sure did, it's all decadent goodness! Congratulations on hosting your 10th Roundtable!

Billy Batson: Bye, mon!

haydenclaireheroes: Bye Guys I had a fun time making this milestone roundtable.

Emperor Gonoz Noir: I'm Emp Gonzo, reminding you not to take any wooden nickels or any comics that have the character Wooden Nickel in them.

Thanks to all of the users who have participated in making amazing Roundtable Discussions. Here's to many more!

I am sora_thekey/Geo signing off.

-- Geo (sora_thekey) 24/7 geek! -- Follow me on Twitter: @sora_thekey

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