Has anyone been reading this series? What a fun book. I picked up the first three issues at the recommendation of John Ordover, who told me it reads like something I’d’ve written. Considering one of the characters has a superhero identity called “Archetype,” which was a short story of mine that appeared in F&SF several years ago, I’d agree. But that aside, it’s a fun concept: It’s about a nuclear family where the father is a costumed superhero…and the family doesn’t know…and the mother is a vampire hunter…and the family doesn’t know…and the eldest daughter spends time in another dimension as a sword and sorcery princess…and the family doesn’t know…and the youngest son is overseeing an alien invasion of the earth…and the family doesn’t know. And as of issue #3, the storylines start to intersect.
It’s a CrossGen title under the Code 6 imprint.
PAD
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I am a huge Crossgen fan, and this book has quickly worked it’s way to the top of my must read pile. Thanks for the plug, PAD, as I know a lot of fans respect your suggestions, and I hope this book (as well as Cg) does really well.
This is the second time in as many days that I’ve heard this book praised and until yesterday I hadn’t heard of it at all.
I may check it out.
Sounds like a fun book! I’ll check for it at Jim Hanley’s Universe the next time I’m in NYC.
BTW, is this an ongoing series, or a limited one? I think if this “just missing each other’s secret” went on for a few years, it could start to feel a little contrived.
And I wonder if they’ll have a story where both parents think the other is having an affair due to the numerous poorly-explained unexplained absences!
Jim
Ladies and gentlemen, you are seeing word of mouth in action. The book was originally recommended to me by a friend when we were in the comic store (I think it was Aaron Rosenberg — or it might’ve been our very own web-master, Mr. Hauman; Glenn, do you remember?). I was the one who recommended it to John O. Now he recommends it to Peter, and he recommends it to all of you.
You are witnessing A Phenomenon In Action. Watch the closing doors… *grin*
—KRAD
Is The Crossovers a comedy book? From what I saw, it certainly looked that way. Hmmm.
I’m reading it and I love it.
As amusing as the premise is though, it’s played amazingly straight. The humor is situational (mostly playing off the idea of each of these family members having archetypical secret lives), but the characters themselves don’t know they’re funny, and they take their roles quite seriously. In a way, that makes it even more funny and bizarre.
And of course, them being oblivious to each other is part of the joke… as we’ve always wondered how that sort of thing could be kept a secret in superhero books.
Actually, it was first pointed out to me last weekend at I-Con by Dr. Howard Margolin, host of Destinies.
Aaron Rosenberg had been reading it for a while and neglected to tell me, the weasel. Makes me so mad, I’m half tempted not to shill for him at the Origins Awards for his book “Gamemaster Secrets”.
Darn my speaking in hyperlinks…
How arrogant to pick up comics on a basis like, “it reads like something *I* would have written.”
Then to top it off with a comment basically trying to say “they swiped a name from a short story of mine.”
Quite arrogant.
*takes out really big f**ken gun and shoots the troll*
On another note. I kinda like the sound of that series. Maybe Wednesday I will check it out. later
I was wondering if I should try it but now I will 🙂
Been reading it since the start. Very fun series. First issue set up the genres, they started mixing in the second, and they are now getting nicely twisted as of the third.
I’ve been reading it and its great. I first picked it up based on the high concept, which is excellent. I think its one of the best new ideas to come around in comics in a while.
Another yea for “the Crossovers”. read both 1 & 2 back to back and was really frustrated that i didn’t have #3 to read yet. (using westfieldcomics.com is cheaper, just gotta wait a month for issues)
also liked Lady Death which i didn’t think i would
This is one of those CrossGen titles I’m waiting to be collected so I can enjoy it all in one chunk. Sounds like a lot of fun.
–your pal, Hoy
I picked up the first issue and really wasn’t impressed. I was kinda hoping for more comedy, but mostly it was some standard action and a few that’s-worth-a-smile moments. I liked the kid though, with the aliens. His story was the only one that caught my eye. Maybe I’ll grab it if they put it in a cheap trade.
I refuse to read any CrossGen books.
Knowing the owner, i was happy when he told me that his goal was to cater to readers. No spin-offs, no mini-series, no specials, just 4 monthly books and 1 quarterly.
The reason was that most companies do stuff like that and push some diluted low-grade material.
Well, it didn’t take too long for them to follow the leaders, right?
Troll. I am sorry, but do you know what most writers write about?
They write about what they like, what they want to see. So, if someone said to PAD that a book looks like he was writing it, there is a good chance it ll pick his interest and think that maybe he ll like it since it s reminiscent of the style he likes to write.
Also, if I was a writer and I heard about a book that mayb have been written by me, I d be interested in reading it to see if the guy that told me that is right, and to see how much influence from me it has. And a character named like one of mine might be a big influence. (although it may also be a coincidence, obviously)
So, no big ego from PAD there, methinks
I’ve been enjoying Crossovers from the start. In fact, I got 3 other people interested just from the concept and they like it, too. It’s supposed to be in TV development, too, according to Crossgen.
Reboot-
You are quite correct about writers writing what they like. But I have never heard another writer say “this reads like something I would have written” (or point out that a character’s name might have been borrowed) and have that stand as their reason to pick up the book.
Plus, I tend to think differently bout comic writers rather than writers of other venues. That is to say, if they are fans of comics they’ll read comics. Not just because it sounds like something they wrote.
Other comic writers read comics not based solely on “if it reads like something I wrote.” Comics is a different medium because you can follow a character, artist or a writer. In other words, lots of people pick up Spiderman comics but might not particularly like the way one writer does it.
Just my insane opinion, of course, but I just felt it sounded conceded to say the things he did at the top of this page. As opposed to saying something like, “I heard I might enjoy this.” It just came off bad in my opinion. Thought I’d mention it.
PS: Again, just my opinion, but I feel one needs to have a big ego to be in any form where one gets critiqued.
I gave the first issue a try but only thought it was so-so at best and didn’t inpire me to buy the second issue. I dunno, did things pick up after the first issue?
I gave the first issue a try but only thought it was so-so at best and didn’t inpire me to buy the second issue. I dunno, did things pick up after the first issue?
I take it back, it sounds just like something Peter David would write and be interested in.
It appears that I am the only one who really didn’t like the book. I read the first two issues and thought the jokes were not really funny and there was not enough room for an actual story.
The whole thing was built around an idea, granted, a fairly nice idea, but it isn’t enough in my book. The execution was lacking and I felt that all the writer was trying to do was show how witty he is and how great his idea was.
Sorry, not my cuppa. And I think PAD writes much much better.
The cover price on CG books have been the major sticking point for me. $3 for a book? It’s bad enough other comics cost as much as they do.
However, I have to wonder…even if the cover prices were down to like $1 a book, would the apathetic comicfans pick it up, or pan it like they’re doing now?
Are inflated cover prices keeping more readers out of comics?
Very fun book. Highly recommended.
I thought it got off to a slow start, but it’s getting amusing. I’m very pleased that they’re playing the various genres straight and letting the humor come from the mix rather than just turning it into a pure parody book.
Chalk me up as another fan of THE CROSSOVERS. It’s just plain fun.
I mean, c’mon, the “Weisinger Effect” gag in issue three was worth the price of admission alone…
Oh, and “Troll”? PAD didn’t say it read like something he’d write, he said someone recommended it based on the fact that HE thought it read like something PAD would write. PAD agreed with the assessment, yes, and noted a coincidental similarity in name choice. I don’t think that’s particularly egotistical.
I’m a huge CrossGen fan, but I have to say that this title left me a little wanting. I, too, gave it the first three issues, but I’m sorry to say that I think I’m going to stop there. In the ever-increasing CrossGen lineup, there are just other books I’d rather read….that, and I ain’t made o’ money…
I’m glad others are enjoying it, though.
I put my Librarian’s cap on an did a little research.
If comic books had increased in price at a rate equal to the Consumer Price Index (the figure commonly referred to as the inflation rate), they would have reached a cover price of $1.31 as of June of last year.
CrossGen’s $2.95 cover price (a price being adopted by several of the other publishers, even those who don’t have the same high production values) represents a rate of around 2 and half times the inflation rate.
Keep in mind, however, that comic books are a luxury item and the CPI is based on staples (basic food items, fuel, clothing) not luxury items, which as a whole do increase at a higher rate.
While I’d much rather be paying $1.31 for my comics, $2.95 is not unreasonable given that over the same time period (1938-2002) many other luxury items have increased at rates of 10 times (even 100 times) that of inflation.
Tried it…didn’t like it. The concept and writing are good, but I think he’s off on his timing. It read as a bit disjointed to me. Missing information, bad segues, etc. Maybe in time it’ll improve; but for now, my three bucks goes elsewhere.
Good thing CG tpb’s all its stuff…it’ll make it easier to come in later if I feel like it.
I realize this has nothing to do with the thread, but i was wondering, PAD, if you think writers might be able to submit to the new epic line WITHOUT buying Marville #7.
I had read and enjoyed the first issue, but after reading that a trade was planned for release on the CG msg boards, I haven’t been picking up the individual issues.
A NOT PAD answer – You don’t have to buy Marville 7 to submit to EPIC, but that will be the first place that the info will be found. I guarantee you that someone will leak that info online the day that Marville 7 is released.
Oh, and just FYI, Crossgen TPBs EVERYTHING, so just wait and Crossovers will be in a trade. Neat huh?
interesting book but either needs more issues or a quicker pace
This book is actually 4 stories at once. (Maybe 5, if you count the dog.) The first two issues seemed a little slow, but the third really made the series a must read with its tip-of-the-hat to the 60s Superman.
Did anyone else notice that the 4 characters all have names starting with the letter C? (Even the dog, the title of the book, and the publisher.)
I like this book; I wouldn’t call it “funny,” but would definitely call it “fun.” My non-comics fan wife gives it a thumbs up, too … though she wants to know why she has to wait a month between issues.
Say Peter, most people seem to think Crossgen is publishing some of the best comics out there at the moment. I would absolutely LOVE seeing my favorite writer work on some of those great comics… Now that Supergirl is coming to an untimely end, I suppose you have some time on your hands. Why not take over Crossgen’s Crux from Chuck Dixon (rumor has it he is going to leave that title)? I KNOW you can make that title a whole lot better than it is right now… And I’m sure Crossgen would not hesitate to publish a comic by your own designs. Just a thought!
I like the book, but honestly, folks, isn’t it a series with an expiration date? Like all standard sitcoms, it depends on the family members keeping and playing their secrets against each other. They’re starting to find out. When they all find out what each other is doing, there will be no more comedy and the series will dribble to an end.
If I were writing it, and knew this, I’d arrange for it to have a big apocalyptic ending, with the family members all dying horrible deaths at the hands of their collected foes. Making two points: the family’s villains share more in common than the family members, and mixing genres is like juggling nitroglycerine. And by turning comedy into despair very suddenly, it would be the “art” book of the decade and the last issue would be a collector’s item.