tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778276361957351199.post3453903656854077451..comments2024-02-29T14:12:01.955-05:00Comments on Flashback Universe Blog: Pierre Speaks: What is original?? PART 2Jim Shelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006833955333061262noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778276361957351199.post-81599680455133076652008-07-30T11:17:00.000-04:002008-07-30T11:17:00.000-04:00Originality is basically in a combination of what ...Originality is basically in a combination of what elements are mixed together with the point of view of the person doing the mixing. Even with established characters. If John Byrne is retelling Superman's origin what he mixes in and makes on his own won't be the same concoction as what Paul Dini and Bruce Timm do. Or Mark Waid. Or Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. <BR/><BR/>But there is a fine line that seperates this from sort of mashing together popular elements with no thought about what is being picked, how they gel together, or how they themselves view these elements. <BR/><BR/>Another factor is timing. If you decide to combine elements of powerful mythological heroes with the idea of a man defending the little guy from injustice and call him Superman in 1938, that's original. <BR/><BR/>Do it now, maybe not so much. BUT you can create a character that is a call back to that but at the same time stands on his own like Samaritan in Astro City. He's meant to remind one of Superman but at the same time he can stand on his own as a character so as to not be entirely dependant on making that association with Superman. Just like somebody who has never read a single issue of Nova can enjoy Saturn Knight but if they *have* then it can enhance their enjoyment of both characters.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03352969641094253335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778276361957351199.post-40967770820158315152008-07-30T10:45:00.000-04:002008-07-30T10:45:00.000-04:00Very well put. My friend and I often argue about o...Very well put. My friend and I often argue about originality. I'll list off some influences that I'm drawing from for a story and he'll claim that it's unoriginal. I tell him that it's the way I combine the elements from the different influences that creates the alchemy of the story. He'll continue to disagree.<BR/><BR/>So, whenever he is telling me an idea for a story, I like to bring up things like "Oh, so he's sort of like a Sherlock Holmes" or "That's kinda like He-Man." It drives him nuts.Kid Terrorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04447854620520746401noreply@blogger.com