Breathing some new life into old characters.

Corporal Clott · Post by **Corporal Clott** » 24 Sep 2006, 11:26

When I?m not using my Mac for work, I borrow my eldest son?s PC to play a few games. The truth is, I?m hooked on those Role Playing games. And that got me thinking. Why don?t they write some RPG?s using our favourite comic characters? Not just RPG?s but Adventure Games as well. What about those characters from the golden days of Fleetway? It would breathe some new life into them. Not only would it appeal to the kids, but also to the comics fans. Tell you what, give me ten minutes to find out how to program these things and I?ll knock up a few before tea time. Anyone fancy guiding Frankie Stein through the dungeon?

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 24 Sep 2006, 12:06

Put me down for a Starhawk game

I know what you mean about the role playing games though.I was hooked on World of Warcraft after completing a demo-went out and bought the whole shooting match,expansion kits an' all,but had to give it up when I started seeing Ogres and Wiizards in my sleep

But seriously though,I can't imagine why Fleetway or my own fav publishers DCT doesn't have a PC Games Dept.As you say,it certainly would breath new life into these much-loved comics characters from the past.And maybe even rekindle a passion to see these old stories republished in Graphic Novel format.

Corporal Clott · Post by **Corporal Clott** » 24 Sep 2006, 13:07

Starhawk in graphic novel format would be a great idea. As would some of the other characters. After all, GN?s seem to be the up an coming thing. If, say Titan, were interested I wouldn?t mind having a go. As for the games, I recently completed Oblivion. Now I'm thinking of doing the whold thing in God Mode and killing everyone in it!

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 24 Sep 2006, 13:18

Corporal Clott wrote:Starhawk in graphic novel format would be a great idea. As would some of the other characters. After all, GN?s seem to be the up an coming thing. If, say Titan, were interested I wouldn?t mind having a go.

I really don't think Starhawk has a cat in hell's chance of being collected as a Titan graphic novel. Although it's obviously liked by some people here it's not a strip that carries the same prestige as The Steel Claw or The Spider. And if there's not a viable market for those two UK icons surviving as a series of books I can't see the B-listers getting a look in.

Lew

Corporal Clott · Post by **Corporal Clott** » 24 Sep 2006, 14:14

Once again I?m forced to admit that Lew?s absolutely right. This guy is in danger of turning into the Oracle of Delphi! I was just dreaming, (I must find out what this white powder is called.) Publishers like Titan will only invest in a product if there?s a more than even chance of making a profit. Publishing is a cut-throat business. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when I think of Peter Parker and Alfred Chinard I get a definite sense of deja vu. Is there by chance any similarity between them? As for the Steel Claw, maybe Titan would consider him if we got some sponsorship from JCB.

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 24 Sep 2006, 15:46

Corporal Clott wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but when I think of Peter Parker and Alfred Chinard I get a definite sense of deja vu. Is there by chance any similarity between them? As for the Steel Claw, maybe Titan would consider him if we got some sponsorship from JCB.

The Steel Claw and The Spider both have hardback collections from Titan Books. Only one each though, so I'm not sure how well they sold. They're available from Amazon:

http://tinyurl.co.uk/rrg7

The Spider book is entitled King of Crooks and has no mention of the word "Spider" on the dust jacket, which suggests that perhaps Marvel felt the similatity was a bit too much too.

Lew

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 24 Sep 2006, 18:06

Lew wrote:

Starhawk...It's not a strip that carries the same prestige as The Steel Claw or The Spider.

With all respect Lew,I believe the Starhawk GN has more than a cat's chance.Primarily because it stems from the end of the 70's and well into the 80's.So it would be relatively fresh(or fresher)in the collective conciousness,as opposed to the Steel Claw or The Spider which both hark back to the 60's!!!Maybe I'm biased,but just because they are held in high esteem here,doesn't mean they will carry the same weight out in the real world.And to honest,how many people here who waxed lyrical about these two books actually bought them?By the way,I loved these two characters,and no,I didn't buy the books.
But I digress,I think the Starhawk Game with the proper promotion,would really appeal to the kids(and me

)

Corporal Clott · Post by **Corporal Clott** » 24 Sep 2006, 18:16

It might be worth a try pitching some of the games companies to see if they?d be interested. After all, think of all the pathetic characters they?ve used in the past. Star Wars Leggo warriors? Give me a break! I stopped playing with Leggo when I was a kid. What next? A version of Doom featuring Thomas the Tank Engine?

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 24 Sep 2006, 18:54

Obviously,Corp,it would be up to DCT with their mighty publishing clout and the fact that they own the copyright,to approach the Games Company with an idea for a PC game.I am after all only a humble fan.Or maybe the Games Companies could approach DCT.Hope they have better luck than I.They don't appear to answer ANY correspondence!!!Talk about NOT listening to your public!If DCT were a supermarket,the place would quickly be out of business!I'm not talking about biting the hand that feeds here;more occasionally shaking it.

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 24 Sep 2006, 19:03

And while we're on the subject!(Oh no,here he goes again!),recent posts alluded to the fact that there are x amount of Annuals on sale this year,a lot of them from DCT and of the Beano/Dandy and their various offshoots.Have DCT in their infinite wisdom ever considered the idea of releasing Hotspur,Warlord,Crunch(Really...you must be mad!),Spike,Victor Annuals onto an unsuspecting public?It could initially be made up of reprint material and if it takes off,unleashing artists and writers from the past and newer talent to inject new life into these national treasures.I could put money on it that if these were seen on the shelves around christmas time,they would sell out!DCT,prove me wrong!

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 24 Sep 2006, 19:21

Captain Storm wrote:Maybe I'm biased,but just because they are held in high esteem here,doesn't mean they will carry the same weight out in the real world.

But that exact same principle also applies to Starhawk surely?

Let's put it into perspective. There are only 237 registered users of this group and even we have differing tastes. If we can't all agree on what characters would work in a revival/ reprint collection what chance such projects attracting the thousands of people needed to make them a viable sell in the "real world"?

Lew

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 24 Sep 2006, 19:24

Captain Storm wrote:Or maybe the Games Companies could approach DCT.Hope they have better luck than I.They don't appear to answer ANY correspondence!!!Talk about NOT listening to your public!If DCT were a supermarket,the place would quickly be out of business!I'm not talking about biting the hand that feeds here;more occasionally shaking it.

Sounds like bad manners but it does suggest they don't consider Starhawk worth reviving perhaps?

Lew

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 24 Sep 2006, 19:38

Corporal Clott wrote:It might be worth a try pitching some of the games companies to see if they?d be interested. After all, think of all the pathetic characters they?ve used in the past. Star Wars Leggo warriors? Give me a break! I stopped playing with Leggo when I was a kid. What next? A version of Doom featuring Thomas the Tank Engine?

I imagine the Lego game is probably aimed at kids anyway but believe it or not, Lego does have a cult following. So combine the two cults and maybe the Star Wars Lego game will appeal to the sense of fun in Star Wars fans. (Personally I can't stand Star Wars!)

A few years back I was one of the writers of Lego Adventures, an Egmont magazine that featured CGI comic strips. Each issue would have a story based around a different Lego kit (firemen, pirates, space, etc). It ran for three years which isn't a bad run for a comic in this day and age.

Lew

NP · Post by NP » 24 Sep 2006, 19:54

Can't stand Star Wars, Lew? Although you and I are the same age, I've never even SEEN Star Wars, any of them. Don't know anything about it. Just thought I'd share that!

Steve Bright · Post by **Steve Bright** » 24 Sep 2006, 20:18

NP wrote:Can't stand Star Wars, Lew? Although you and I are the same age, I've never even SEEN Star Wars, any of them. Don't know anything about it. Just thought I'd share that!

Crivvens! And I thought I was the only one, NP. And we're only a few weeks apart in age too. Spooky!!

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