Do I Like Sequals?
Just a stray thought I had back in October, but didn't get around to finishing until now. Do I like sequals? And I don't just mean game sequals, but sequals to anything: books, movies, comics? Let's look at each individually.
Comics
Well, the "episodic" nature of comics guarantees there will be a sequal, so it almost isn't a fair question, however, there is the habbit of revisiting a particular story arc or series again and again. For example: in the DC universe there was a series back in the 80's called Crisis on Infinite Earth's. Lots of people like it, so the made a follow up later on called Infinite Crisis. Again, popular to the point where they brought it to the table again with Final Crisis, which is wrapping up in the next few months.
Now, I don't know all the details of the stories, not having read them completely, nor the stories that led up to each of them, so I really don't know if the sequals were necessary to explain more of what was going on, but since these... events involved almost every character in that universe at the time, it would seem simple enough to just follow up in the respective individual series and make explanation. I'm not saying this wasn't a good story line, but it just feels like they should leave it as is, or find a different series spanning idea.
Movies
Movies I'm a little more leniant on. I like a lot of the sequals for movies that come out as they give us another look into the world established in the first movie, but also expanding on that as well. Then again, I'm not very picky when it comes to movies.
I think it might have to do with the length. As it is, a movie only gives you a 1.5-3 hour window into a world. My favourite movie, Wings of Honneamise, is a 2 hour peek into a world that is very similar to our own, and is just taking it's first steps into space. For me, 2 hours isn't enough. I would love to see a manga, or a tv show, or anything that continues the store of what happens to those characters, or what happens elsewhere in their world as a result of their effors.
On the other hand, what already exists is excellent on it's own and adding to it runs the risk of cheapening what's already there, making it less special or seem not as good. I think a spin off tv series would fit in good with any stand alone movie.
Books
Yes. I don't like reading stand alone books very much at all. Most of what I read is at least a trilogy. Epic stories that span decades, or the entire world in which they are based. Don't really have a counter arguement that hasn't been covered previously.
Comics
Well, the "episodic" nature of comics guarantees there will be a sequal, so it almost isn't a fair question, however, there is the habbit of revisiting a particular story arc or series again and again. For example: in the DC universe there was a series back in the 80's called Crisis on Infinite Earth's. Lots of people like it, so the made a follow up later on called Infinite Crisis. Again, popular to the point where they brought it to the table again with Final Crisis, which is wrapping up in the next few months.
Now, I don't know all the details of the stories, not having read them completely, nor the stories that led up to each of them, so I really don't know if the sequals were necessary to explain more of what was going on, but since these... events involved almost every character in that universe at the time, it would seem simple enough to just follow up in the respective individual series and make explanation. I'm not saying this wasn't a good story line, but it just feels like they should leave it as is, or find a different series spanning idea.
Movies
Movies I'm a little more leniant on. I like a lot of the sequals for movies that come out as they give us another look into the world established in the first movie, but also expanding on that as well. Then again, I'm not very picky when it comes to movies.
I think it might have to do with the length. As it is, a movie only gives you a 1.5-3 hour window into a world. My favourite movie, Wings of Honneamise, is a 2 hour peek into a world that is very similar to our own, and is just taking it's first steps into space. For me, 2 hours isn't enough. I would love to see a manga, or a tv show, or anything that continues the store of what happens to those characters, or what happens elsewhere in their world as a result of their effors.
On the other hand, what already exists is excellent on it's own and adding to it runs the risk of cheapening what's already there, making it less special or seem not as good. I think a spin off tv series would fit in good with any stand alone movie.
Books
Yes. I don't like reading stand alone books very much at all. Most of what I read is at least a trilogy. Epic stories that span decades, or the entire world in which they are based. Don't really have a counter arguement that hasn't been covered previously.
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