history

Q: Just watched the latest Here's The Thing. I'd love to hear you expound on some of the attempts at re-creating Spider-Man. -- @stophatinisbad A: In case you missed it, this week's episode of Here's The Thing was focused on the idea of legacy and how it shaped the Green Lantern franchise -- and how it ultimately failed to really take hold in the way that it did in books like Flash and -- but one of the things I mentioned was that Kyle Rayner was one of many attempts to create a character in the mold of Spider-Man. It happens like clockwork, not just at DC and Marvel but across the board, and it's one of the most important aspects of how superhero comics developed. So really, I'm glad you asked, because the reason behind this gives me a chance to dive into some of my favorite subjects, like the socioeconomic impact of the rise of the teenager as a social construct, and how that led directly to the creation of Darkhawk.

Q: Is it ever worth it to change comics canon to match the canon from other media? -- @firehawk32 A: This is a really interesting question for me, because I always think of myself as someone who doesn't really get excited about superheroes showing up in movies or TV. I mean, obviously, that's not actually true -- I mean, I cowrote what was essentially a full-length novel about The Dark Knight, Batman: The Animated Series ranks alongside oxygen and pizza as my favorite thngs in the universe, I could not have been more stoked about seeing Arnim Zola The Bio Fanatic in two major Hollywood films, and there will never be a time when I'm not still mad about Man of Steel. But at the same time, and at the risk of sounding like even more of a hipster elitist than usual, those aren't the "real" versions of those charactesr to me. I like TV and movies just fine, but when it comes to the superhero genre, I'm in it for the comics. Everything else is just a bonus. That said, what's considered "canon" in comics changes literally all the time, and often for a lot worse reasons than because there's something out there that's resonating with a mass audience.

Q: This "Connections Theory of Comics" is like *literally* all you talk about on Twitter. Can you please just explain it? -- @bigredrobot A: Hey man, I think you're exaggerating just a little. I mean, anyone who actually reads my Twitter account knows that the whole Connections thing comes in at a distant third to commentary on whatever Power Rangers shows I'm watching that week and argu

We haven't kept up with History's 'Vikings' season 2 as much as its predecessor, but are nonetheless excited to see that Ragnar Lothbrok and his brood will live to fight another day. History has officially picked up a 'Vikings' season 3 for 2015, but what can we expect from the epic period drama when it sets sail for a third time?

Q: Why do you think the X-Men didn't find their audience until two decades after they were created? -- @godofthunder851 A: I've got a minor quibble with your timing in this question -- it was more like 12 or 15 years, really -- but you've got an interesting point there. I think most comics readers are well aware of that piece of trivia about how the X-Men were about to get the axe before Giant Siz

The 'Vikings' of History's namesake will be back to raid, pillage and plunder a second season beginning February 27, but before they do, they may need to settle some differences of their own. See Ragnar Lothbrok take on his brother Rollo as opposing armies clash in the first clips from 'Vikings' season 2 premiere "Brother's War"!

The History channel's first original series, 'Vikings,' certainly caught our attention last year, but at nine episodes, Ragnar and his brood came and went far too quickly. That all changes in February 2014, as History has officially set a premiere date for the 10 episodes of 'Vikings' season 2!

The other day saw one of our first looks at History's 'Vikings' season 2, teasing the coming chaos with a surprising clash of Lorde's "Glory and Gore," but the real clash has yet to begin. The first official photos of the the season have arrived, putting Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) and his brother Rollo (Clive Standen) at odds across an epic battlefield?

From its very theme song we've known History's 'Vikings' to have surprisingly good taste in music, but pairing Lorde's "Glory and Gore" with a fire in Ragnar's eyes? That needs to be seen and heard for yourself. Get your first look at 'Vikings' season 2 with the brand-new trailer teaser right here!

An ever sensitive topic though it remains, slavery films in Hollywood have no doubt risen  the last few years in public profile, from '12 Years a Slave' to 'Django Unchained,' and now the trend has reached TV. History will reboot the iconic 'Roots' miniseries as an all-new drama, but who from the original production will have any involvement?

A few weeks ago, we learned the surprising (yet consistent) news that 'Vikings' season 2 would undergo an impressive time jump, aging the young Bjorn (Nathan O’Toole) into an older warrior portrayed by 'The Hunger Games' star Alexander Ludwig. More than a simple age-up however, what other major character dynamics will have shifted when 'Vikings' premieres its second season in 2014?

Though the discussion may have been swallowed up by last night's buzz-worthy 'Game of Thrones' and 'Mad Men' episodes, this past Sunday saw 'Vikings' airing its first season finale "All Change," setting up a turbulent season 2 that will see Viking chieftan Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) traveling to dangerous new territory, figuratively and literally. Series helmer Michael Hirst made th