Marvel has established the most successful shared cinematic universe in history, accumulating over $10 Billion with 13 films. Although the pages of a comic book is a very common place to find characters weaving their narratives, Marvel didn't invent the concept. Characters have been sharing screen-time at least since the Universal Monster films of the 30s and 40s. However, Marvel is the undisputed champion of cinematic universes, and the main reason the trend has become so popular today, as it is spreading to other studios. It's unfair to claim that other studios are copying Marvel since the comics powerhouse didn't invent the concept, but It's certainly suspicious.
Other Marvel characters, the X-Men have spun off solo films for Wolverine and Deadpool, and will continue to expand their shared universe with Gambit, New Mutants, and X-Force from 20th Century Fox. Before everything fell apart at Sony Pictures, there were plans for multiple movies without the webhead; such as the villain-centric Sinister Six film, and an alleged movie about Aunt May. Disney has big plans for the Star Wars franchise, including Rogue One in production now, along with offshoot Han Solo and Boba Fett origin stories. Universal, the studio that did have the first shared cinematic universe is following the popular trend, with a resurrection of monster films. Warner Brothers is banking on the Detective Comics Extended Universe, which had a rough start with the critically panned Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. There are several others in development, but the one I'll brain out loud about today is the Hasbro Cinematic Universe, developed by Paramount Studios.
Several months ago Paramount assembled a group of writers to reinvigorate the Transformers film franchise, to evolve ideas as a collective, and to lay the groundwork for the upcoming films. The studio has also gathered several writers from comics, TV and film to build a cinematic universe shared by GI Joe, Micronauts, ROM, Visionaries, and MASK. With two separate collections of writers, it's unclear if the Transformers will cross over with GI Joe and the others, despite the fact the Robots in Disguise have met the Real American Hero in comics multiple times, and a rendezvous has been expected by fans for years. News and rumors for Transformers 5 have just recently started to surface, and so far no mention of GI Joe or the other Hasbro properties have been mentioned. The Hasbro Cinematic Universe will seemingly build on the two GI Joe films. With the poor quality, and the bastardization of the source material in the Transformers and GI Joe films, I don't fell confident for any future films or this shared universe.
Before Hasbro's characters share the silver screen, they are coming together for a massive crossover event titled Revolution in the pages of their comics, published by IDW. Unlike the ambiguity of Hasbro's Cinematic Universe, this crossover will undoubtedly include the Transformers. In fact, they are at the center of a pursuit for something called Ore 13, a version of Energon, the fuel that powers the Transformers. The event will change everything for the Transformers and for the GI Joe team, at the same time launching new titles for Micronauts, Action Man, ROM, and MASK. This event takes place within IDW's main GI Joe comics continuity, written by GI Joe Godfather Larry Hama, considered a continuation of the Marvel series. The Joes have met the Transformers numerous times in comics, the first meeting taking place in an up-to-debate what-if type scenario outside their continuities published by Marvel in 1987. They met again in the pages of GI Joe A Real American Hero issue #138, officially becoming part of the cannon in July of 1993. Will this be remembered during Revolution, and what will the ramifications be for the GI Joe team?
Technically, some of the properties involved in IDW's Revolution event have met years ago in plastic. There have been numerous crossovers between the GI Joe and Transformers toy lines, normally exclusives sold at comic book convention and events. These combos are considered fantasy, and not part of either toy line. However, in 2004 Action Man the International Super Agent was officially included in the GI Joe Night Force set. The leader of M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Stike Kommand) Matt Trakker was released as part of 2008 line up of GI Joe action figures. So in some form or another Hasbro been blending their various characters for years. Now that Marvel has proved shared universes can be profitable, Hasbro is fully embracing the trend. This is exciting because it not only launches new properties but they are committed to reinvigorating the GI Joe line, with rumors of a new animated series and a new toy line, not based on the unsatisfying movies.
The practice of characters sharing the same universe goes back even farther than film or comic books in literature and remains popular today with licensing programs such as Amazon's Kindle Worlds. In my book Into the Clutches of Cobra-La, I was able to use all but a few of the large cast of diverse characters. I focused on the sixth wave of action figures from 1987. Through the unique licensing program I was permitted to draw inspiration from comics, cartoons or the toy line. I blended all the available media into a new version of the animated GI Joe: The Movie, also from 1987. Working in the GI Joe universe, with some of my favorite characters in fiction, was amazingly fun and I'm positive you will enjoy reading the action-packed adventure, even if you're not a die-hard fan of GI Joe.
Into the Clutches of Cobra-La is available for only $1.99. Download to your smartphone or tablet today.
Other Marvel characters, the X-Men have spun off solo films for Wolverine and Deadpool, and will continue to expand their shared universe with Gambit, New Mutants, and X-Force from 20th Century Fox. Before everything fell apart at Sony Pictures, there were plans for multiple movies without the webhead; such as the villain-centric Sinister Six film, and an alleged movie about Aunt May. Disney has big plans for the Star Wars franchise, including Rogue One in production now, along with offshoot Han Solo and Boba Fett origin stories. Universal, the studio that did have the first shared cinematic universe is following the popular trend, with a resurrection of monster films. Warner Brothers is banking on the Detective Comics Extended Universe, which had a rough start with the critically panned Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. There are several others in development, but the one I'll brain out loud about today is the Hasbro Cinematic Universe, developed by Paramount Studios.
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| GI Joe, Micronauts, ROM, Visionaries and MASK |
Several months ago Paramount assembled a group of writers to reinvigorate the Transformers film franchise, to evolve ideas as a collective, and to lay the groundwork for the upcoming films. The studio has also gathered several writers from comics, TV and film to build a cinematic universe shared by GI Joe, Micronauts, ROM, Visionaries, and MASK. With two separate collections of writers, it's unclear if the Transformers will cross over with GI Joe and the others, despite the fact the Robots in Disguise have met the Real American Hero in comics multiple times, and a rendezvous has been expected by fans for years. News and rumors for Transformers 5 have just recently started to surface, and so far no mention of GI Joe or the other Hasbro properties have been mentioned. The Hasbro Cinematic Universe will seemingly build on the two GI Joe films. With the poor quality, and the bastardization of the source material in the Transformers and GI Joe films, I don't fell confident for any future films or this shared universe.
Before Hasbro's characters share the silver screen, they are coming together for a massive crossover event titled Revolution in the pages of their comics, published by IDW. Unlike the ambiguity of Hasbro's Cinematic Universe, this crossover will undoubtedly include the Transformers. In fact, they are at the center of a pursuit for something called Ore 13, a version of Energon, the fuel that powers the Transformers. The event will change everything for the Transformers and for the GI Joe team, at the same time launching new titles for Micronauts, Action Man, ROM, and MASK. This event takes place within IDW's main GI Joe comics continuity, written by GI Joe Godfather Larry Hama, considered a continuation of the Marvel series. The Joes have met the Transformers numerous times in comics, the first meeting taking place in an up-to-debate what-if type scenario outside their continuities published by Marvel in 1987. They met again in the pages of GI Joe A Real American Hero issue #138, officially becoming part of the cannon in July of 1993. Will this be remembered during Revolution, and what will the ramifications be for the GI Joe team? Technically, some of the properties involved in IDW's Revolution event have met years ago in plastic. There have been numerous crossovers between the GI Joe and Transformers toy lines, normally exclusives sold at comic book convention and events. These combos are considered fantasy, and not part of either toy line. However, in 2004 Action Man the International Super Agent was officially included in the GI Joe Night Force set. The leader of M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Stike Kommand) Matt Trakker was released as part of 2008 line up of GI Joe action figures. So in some form or another Hasbro been blending their various characters for years. Now that Marvel has proved shared universes can be profitable, Hasbro is fully embracing the trend. This is exciting because it not only launches new properties but they are committed to reinvigorating the GI Joe line, with rumors of a new animated series and a new toy line, not based on the unsatisfying movies.
 |
| Specialist Trakker with Backpack Helicopter - from my collection |
The practice of characters sharing the same universe goes back even farther than film or comic books in literature and remains popular today with licensing programs such as Amazon's Kindle Worlds. In my book Into the Clutches of Cobra-La, I was able to use all but a few of the large cast of diverse characters. I focused on the sixth wave of action figures from 1987. Through the unique licensing program I was permitted to draw inspiration from comics, cartoons or the toy line. I blended all the available media into a new version of the animated GI Joe: The Movie, also from 1987. Working in the GI Joe universe, with some of my favorite characters in fiction, was amazingly fun and I'm positive you will enjoy reading the action-packed adventure, even if you're not a die-hard fan of GI Joe.
Into the Clutches of Cobra-La is available for only $1.99. Download to your smartphone or tablet today.
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