Editor Tom Brevoort comments on whether Marvel’s Red Band books are in canon. Titans introduces a Zur-En-Arrh for Nightwing. Duck & Cover heads to Dark Horse. All on Comic Book Club News for May 21, 2024.
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Episode Transcript:
Are Marvel’s Red Band books in canon?
The Nightwing of Zur-en-Arrh?
Duck & Cover heads to Dark Horse.
This is Comic Book Club News for May 21, 2024.
Tom Brevoort On Whether Marvel’s Red Band Books Are In Canon:
As we’ve previously reported on this podcast, Marvel is publishing Red Band versions of their book Blood Hunt, adults-only versions of the issues that are meant to be gorier and add extra material. But one bit has been a head-scratcher, as the regular issue of Blood Hunt #1 — and spoilers past this point — ended with Doctor Strange getting stabbed by Blade; while the Red Band version ended with him getting sliced in half.
A reader of Tom Brevoort’s weekly newsletter expressed confusion, asking whether the Red Band books are in canon. To which Brevoort said: “Forgive me, Iioo, but I think you and a few other people online are making things much too complicated on yourselves. Possibly that’s the result of the last few years of multiverses popping up everywhere. We’re doing something fun here, and I really couldn’t care less about the question of ‘how can they both be canonical’? They are. Trust me, they are. As you’ll see if/when you read the Red Band version of BLOOD HUNT #2. This is one of those areas where I think comic book fans get in their own heads too much. If you watch the director’s cut of a film, are you worrying about how it fits into canon? Relax! This is all entertainment, and if Red Band is your thing, feel free to enjoy it without the hand-wringing of being concerned that it isn’t real. None of this stuff is real—we make it up issue after issue.”
While in essence, Brevoort is correct, none of this is real, there is the problem that the cliffhanger of Blood Hunt #1 was already resolved in the next week’s issues, including Doctor Strange #15. And the action continued from there in Strange Academy: Blood Hunt #1, as well.
With Blood Hunt #2 hitting stands this week in all its versions, we’ll have to stay tuned and see whether fans agree it all makes sense; or if there will be a split decision. Because Doctor Strange was cut in ha– you got it.
Titans Introduces A Nightwing Of Zur-En-Arrh:
In the latest issue of Titans, we get a surprising twist about Nightwing that ties directly into current events over in the main Batman title. Spoilers past this point.
In the ongoing series, Raven has been taken over by a dark version of herself, unbeknownst to the team. However, it turns out it is extremely beknownst to Nightwing… He’s just keeping the info hidden. After being woken by a mysterious alarm, he sees a prompt on a screen to say the words “Circ-En-Arrh,” reminiscent of the Zur-En-Arrh prompt that Batman used to create a separate, more extreme personality inside his own brain.
…And that’s sort of what Dick Grayson has done as well, though in a more balanced way. He’s partitioned a part of his brain so he can keep secrets from himself; in this case, not let on to the magical Raven that he’s investigating her.
Fans online have been less than pleased about this development, if a glance at social posts without context are to be believed, calling out that Batman, Joker, and now Nightwing all have their own separate personalities running around their brains. However in this case, writer Tom Taylor is careful to say that Dick is able to control his, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
…Until some writer decides that it is, of course.
Duck & Cover Heads To Dark Horse:
Scott Snyder has been on a tear creating new books for Comixology. And inevitably, those books head to Dark Horse. Here’s another book that’s doing that: Duck and Cover, a collabo with artist Rafael Albuquerque.
In case you missed it digitally, the book is about a nuclear attack in 1955 that leads to all adults dying, and only teens left alive. The book is described as perfect for fans of Fallout, and as usual each printed issue will include two digital issues. Duck and Cover #1 hits stores this September.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. Zal-en-Arrh, that is!
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