DC's New 52 reboot is among the most significant things to happen to comics in decades. There is no doubt that DC has done well to make their comics reader-friendly by stripping away all their continuity. It was a dangerous move, but the result has put DC back on top over Marvel with earnings figures. With Marvel falling behind for the first time in years, it raises the question if it's time for them to initiate an entire reboot, an attempt to wipe their increasing convoluted continuity clean and become more accessible for new readers?
Among the biggest challenges for new readers of Marvel comics is to try and come to terms with the X-Men continuity. Spider-Man suffered a continuity crisis when an editorial decision chose to have the devil, Mephisto erase Peter's marriage, and make everybody forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. These are the kind of examples where it's easy to justify a Marvel reboot.
Where Marvel has become seriously outdated is that they lack some diversity. Sure enough, Brian Michael Bendis is doing superb work on making Miles Morales an engaging, fresh character in Ultimate Spider-Man, while Ed Brubaker maintains the Falcon as one of my favorite characters, but Ultimate Marvel aside, they're still lacking. How would a reboot help introduce characters from various minorities? Characters such as The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, and Iron Man remain incredibly popular because they are over fifty-years-old. Resetting the clock will allow Marvel to provide new characters from diverse backgrounds broader backstories and make them a core component of the Marvel Universe, as opposed to side characters. Marvel could integrate Ultimate Nick Fury into the mainstream universe, or even make some new characters, as seen with Marcus Johnson from the current Battle Scars series. It's time now for characters from diverse backgrounds to be more than just negative characters.
Іt wаs еаsіеr tо sее whу DС сhоsе thе rеbооt Тhе Јustісе League. The team had become obsolete, irrelevant and besides X-Men, had the most confusing continuity in comics. They had a new slate. Marvel is lucky to not be in that position just yet. While they have been going on a little over-board on events lately, it's becoming clearer that they understand what's working and what's not. With financial struggles, Marvel was forced to cancel titles such as Alpha Flight, Dark Wolverine, X-23 and Iron Man 2.0. With the extra weight taken оff, Маrvеl shоuld hаvе tіmе tо fосus оn mаkіng thеіr ехіstіng lіnеs bеttеr. Аn ехаmрlе shоuld bе thе wоrk оf Dаn Ѕlоtt on The excellent Spider-Man sеrіеs. Whеn Ѕlоtt tооk сhаrgе, hе hаd thе dutу оf rесоvеrіng thе sеrіеs frоm thе Оnе Моrе Dау mеss lеft bеhіnd bу ЈМЅ аnd Јое Quеsаdа. Νоw, Ѕріdеу іs оnе оf thе mоst fun соmісs аrоund. Моrе wrіtеrs nееd tо fосus оn wіріng аwау whаt dіd, not wоrk bеfоrе, аnd bringing the characteristics that made the superheroes so participating in the first location.
Another problem with a business ride reboot would be that it would undermine the journeys that Marvel's characters have taken over the past decades. Writers such as Grant Morrison, Joss Whedon, and Jason Aaron have worked hard to develop characters like Cyclops and Wolverine vigorously. Would all that be diminished if the X-Men line rebooted?
The same applies to characters like Bucky Barnes and The Scarlett Witch. Both characters have had writers spend years developing them, so it's difficult to envision a reboot wiping their action clean. DC showed how ruthless they could be when Wally West was cut from the New 52 relaunch. I'd hate to see that happen to some of my favorite Marvel characters.