Category Archives: What Were They Thinking

What Were They Thinking?: Marvel’s Rebirth Problem

HEATH AND SAFETY WARNING: THIS WEEKS WWTT CONTAINS "ART" BY ROB LIEFELD. PLEASE TAKE ALL NESSESCARY HEALTH AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BEFORE READING. THANK YOU.

You know, doing a reboot isn't always a bad thing. DC successfully did it back in the 50's, taking the names of established characters from the 40's and changing their origins and personalities to create new characters and boom, Silver Age of comics. I mean, ok, they have now officially over-egged that omelette after the 18 trillionth time they've rebooted their universe, but still the original idea of taking the name "The Flash" and having it be a guy called Barry Allen rather than Jay Garrick was possibly the best in comic book history, maybe after the idea of putting Superman in bright red underwear over a blue one-piece. But, that's DC, what about Marvel. They aren't exactly known for their reboots are they. Whilst DC was creating all new characters from old ones, Marvel just slotted the new characters in alongside the old. So, they never needed to do a big reboot right? Yes, that's true, but this is What Were They Thinking (the place where we look at the stupidest most ill-advised things in all of comic book history), so of course, they did it anyway and what did we get? We got this...

Rob Liefeld cannot art.

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What Were They Thinking?: DC Does Dallas

In last weeks What Were They Thinking (the place where we take a look at all of the stupidest, most ill advised things in comic book history) we talked about Superman. And this week, we're going to be talking about... Superman, because why not. The Man Of Steel has been around longer than most and he has so many dirty secrets under that cape that we've barely scratched the surface. But with that in mind, this week we're going to be taking a look at the time he made a "specialist film for gentlemen" with the wife of fellow Justice League do-gooder type Mr Miracle, Big Barda.

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What Were They Thinking: I Wish They’d Destroyed This

You know, one thing has surprised me about this weeks What Were They Thinking. In all the weeks we've done this feature, a feature where we look at the stupidest, most ill-advised things in comic book history, we have yet to look at DC's Elseworlds. You know, that imprint that they publish all of the stories that are too weird to be considered canon to DC continuity, which is saying something when it is canon that you can punch a whole in the fabric of the universe with just your fist. Admittedly some of the stuff in there is good, some even very good, but that doesn't mean there isn't dross. And what dross it is. So without further ado, I present to you Superman Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy

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What Were They Thinking: A Thor Point

So, it's a new year and as we all know, when there is a new year people often make resolutions as to what positive changes they are going to make over the coming year. And as What Were They Thinking is all about the worst things in the history of comics, I thought a good resolution would be to be more positive, not to focus on the negative so much. Unfortunately, I then remembered that Marvel Comics exist and, as much as I love them, they are the best at being the worst. So, with that in mind, I'd like to talk to you all about equality in comics, through the medium of The Mighty Thor.

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What Were They Thinking- The Christmas Special: GLX-Mas

Usually here on What Were They Thinking we look at the stupidest, most ill-advised things ever in the history of the comics industry. However, as today is the Christmas Special, we're going to change things up a bit. We're still going to look at something completely mental, something that still fulfils our quota of strange and stupid and full of What The...? moments, but something that cannot and should not ever be described as something bad. Ladies, Gentlemen and assorted alien life-forms, I present to you 2005's GLX-Mas featuring the Great Lakes Avengers.

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What Were They Thinking: Marvel’s Image problem

So, here on what were they thinking we usually look at the worst, most ill-advised things to happen in the history of the comics industry. However, since it is the season to be jolly (tralalalala lalalala), today we're going to take a look at something that wasn't actually so bad, in fact you could even say it was a really good thing for all involved, but somehow ended up with what can only be described as Marvel in the 90's. So strap yourselves in Ladies, Gentlemen and extra-dimensional beings because today we are talking about a two year period in Marvel's history and how it led to the creation of Image Comics

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What Were They Thinking: In Memorium- Scott Summers

Ladies and Gentlemen, usually on What Were They Thinking, we look at the stupidest, most ill-advised things that have ever taken place in the history of the comic book industry. But today, we are gathered here for a funeral. We are here to mourn the loss of Scott Summers, also known as the hero Cyclops, long serving leader of the X-Men, who has been so cruelly taken from us. I mean, he's not dead, well as far as I'm aware, but he might as well be. There is such a thing as "character assassination", which is the malicious and unjustified harming of a persons good reputation, and of all characters in comics history, no-one has been through a more rigorous and thorough one than Scott Summers. And the culprit? That'd be Marvel.

So, how did they do it, and what was their motive. Well in the great tradition of murder mysteries, I'm going to gather all the suspects in a room and explain to you whodunit.

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What Were They Thinking: Out of the frying pan and into the (Star)fire

So, DC. They've been very kind to me over the last few weeks, giving me plenty to talk about on this series, where we take a look at all of the stupidest, most misguided things in the history of the comic book industry, thanks to their New 52 relaunch. And this week is no different. I promise I'll go back to slagging off Marvel next week, hell I might even have a go at Image if I can find something of theirs that's worth the time. But DC have done a lot wrong over the last half a decade and they're an easy target. Don't worry, they're big boys, they can take it. Anyway, this week, sexism, because that's always fun.

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What Were They Thinking: Now that is insane

So last week on What Were They Thinking (the series were we take a look at the stupidest most ill-advised events in comic book history), we talked a lot about DC comics. And we're going to again this week, because whilst doing my research for last weeks post, I came across the utter gem that was the "Harley Quinn Art Contest". Enjoy.

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What Were/ Are They Thinking: It appears we’ve DC-ed

So, usually here on What Were They Thinking (the series where we take a look at the stupidest and most ill-advised things to happen in comics history) we tend to look at storylines, what actually happens on the page. We might blame the people behind the scenes for their terribleness, but we've never actually called out the guys behind the scenes for being terrible. But today, we're going to be taking a look at Detective Comics Comics Inc. (yes, that it actually the full name of DC Comics) and the... lets just say interesting time they've had in recent years.

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