posted May 06, 2003 03:07 PM               

I propose that DC publish an Archives book of a new type. The book would be a hardbound, high-quality reprint of the origin stories of second-stringers. These origins would be collected from the various magazines, and assembled into one thick book.

posted May 06, 2003 03:41 PM               

------------------
Rock a little,

posted May 07, 2003 09:08 AM               

Friend.

posted May 08, 2003 01:32 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by vze2:
I'm all for a Secret Origins book, but their MIGHT be a problem. I know Roy Thomas had to create an origin for at least one character. I'm not sure how many of them actually have origin stories before the 80s. I really don't want to see them mixing things up. If they need a substantial number of the modern stories, then I'd say make it a collection of the modern stories.

Perhaps a collection with both versions might work. When the original character doesn't have an origin, reprint the first appearance. I think most of Roy Thomas's origin stories include material from the first appearances anyway, so it would still enable you to make a comparison.

---

You could probably have two volumes of origin stories just for Batman and Superman alone. I think it would be interesting to read how each of their origins have been depicted and expanded through the years.

posted May 09, 2003 12:54 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by friend:
You have a good point and it makes me ponder on another question: how far stretched can an origin be? For example would the story of the bat-suit that Thomas wore on haloween be part of batsie's origin? Would "the earthman who went to Krypton" be part of Superman's origin? Ect and many ects...
The more I think of it - if they strectch the archive too thin, it might tear...

---

Don't know about the Superman story, but I'd say, yes, "The First Batman" should be included because in this story Batman discovers that the killing of his parents wasn't some random hold up, but a case of murder-for-hire.

What I think is interesting is seeing how the details evolve and change as the times change. In the 1940 origin from [B]Batman #1[B/] both parents are shot, but in the 1948 origin published in [B]Batman #47[B/] only Thomas is shot but "that single bullet really killed two people, for Martha Wayne's weak heart stopped from the sudden shock." Much later, in [B]The Dark Knight Returns[B/] there is a close up of the gun barrel pressed against Mrs. Wayne's neck.

In the 1948 origin Bruce Wayne was merely walking with his parents. At what point was it revealed that family was returning from a showing of [I]The Mark of Zorro[I/]? Originally a bat flies into an open window to inspire Bruce. At what point did the bust of Thomas Wayne enter the picture?

What I'm starting to envision is a book that tells not just the origin of Batman, but the origins of some of the details that we've taken for granted as being part of the mythos: the pearl necklace, Joe Chill, the training, the bat, "Criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot" etc.

Anybody game?