Ramblings about Marvel and Being Creative (and Avoidant)
I've been reading Marvel comics for longer than I care to admit. I've always taken stories and dreamed beyond what was written on the page or shown on the screen, so expanding on the fundamental "canon" was always something I entertained. Still, I never wrote it down or looked for approval or engagement from the original authors. I just loved the story and wanted it to go on, I wanted more, and my imagination started to run.
It was only natural I thought to dream and imagine and eventually write beyond what Marvel gave me/us. I enjoyed what they produced, and wanted more, wanted my vision of those characters for myself. I never expected Marvel or any other author, whether it's Neil Gaiman or JKR or Frank Herbert, to approve, disapprove, contribute, sanction, or even know about what I dreamed up on my own. Although in some ways, my continuing the stories is a compliment to their seminal work. I may disagree with their direction, but somehow in their work (Marvel specifically for me), they gave me a spark of a thing enticing and wonderful that demanded expansion. Ultimately, they started it.
Needless to say, the direction taken by Marvel last year was big-time disappointing to me personally, but I can live with it. I don't agree, but given the number of comic versions of these characters that exist, the MCU is just another Alternate Universe. One version of many versions of Captain America, for example. So my interpretation is equally as valid as theirs, I don't get to roll out a million glossy graphic novels or a billion-dollar movie LOL. That's fine by me, I've got a day job, it pays well, and I'm blessed with health insurance.
Here is the thing that bugs me the most. It's how Marvel went out of their way to trash us/me for going in my/our own direction. How in every article and interview and promo they continue to trash our/my vision of these characters. It reminds me of being a kid: You make a thing, a sandcastle, or a snow fort or some fine work of art that you shed some sweat and poured your heart and soul into it, and some A-hole kicks it apart and mocks your creation—Cue Scot Farkus (A Christmas Story, watch it...great movie).
Marvel and those that buy into their one vision can't just leave it alone. They have theirs; I have mine, let's agree to disagree and not trash one another. I said my piece a year ago and dropped it. Their movie is JUST ONE AU out of millions. But instead of celebrating that diversity (oops, there's the word), they stomp on it. Insult it, laugh at it. It's the bully mentality that is rampant right now. Mock what you don't understand, shove and push and crush what doesn't fit your narrative. It's such a reflection of what is happening in the US (and world-wide) right now. Kill what doesn't look exactly like you. Crazy times.
I keep asking myself (not that much I have a life) Why does Marvel hate so many of their fans? Why mock them? What makes them so nervous? Fear is really at the core of all bullying behavior. What is rocking their world so hard they felt the need to crush fans of Stucky or Thorki or anyone who doesn’t flatout agree with their specific view? (Rhetorical question. I've got a pretty good guess as to what's at the heart of their disdain.)
Well, I am rambling now. Sorry.
I want to love my characters as I see them and let others do the same. Live and let live and write and dream and create.
I keep thinking about Ed Brubaker, the brain-child of Bucky Barnes' return to life in the comics (We lovers of Bucky owe him our homage.) He read the death of Bucky in the Captain America comics years ago when he was a kid (age 10 or 12?) He didn't like the ending, so he rewrote it. Repeating this in all caps. HE DIDN'T LIKE THE ENDING SO HE REWROTE IT. As a teenager. His vision eventually made it into the pages of Marvel, and Bucky came back to life. One could even say his "FANFICTION" brought us Bucky again. I take encouragement from that all the time. Not that I'd ever write for Marvel (or want to), but he had a vision and went for it. (And yes, he is from a privileged group that's another rant for sure, but he dared to see it differently.)
Okay, I've rambled enough. I am avoiding writing the next chapter of my version of Steve and Bucky. The one that makes me happy and satisfied. No offense to Marvel. I am going in another direction.
I likely will delete this since it's long and pointless except to make me put my thoughts on a page. Appreciate the space to do this.
Stay safe, wear a mask, wash your hands. Give the kindness you want to receive.
💜❤️️💜