Marvel - Guiding Light Cross-over?

Fri, 10/27/2006 - 08:01 — xerexes

A soap opera on tv with a superhero? I just got this joint press release from Marvel and CBS:

Television's longest running show, GUIDING LIGHT, is teaming up with Marvel Comics to produce a very special "Inside the Light" episode unveiling a new super powered character, to be broadcast Wednesday, Nov. 1 on the CBS Television Network.

GUIDING LIGHT'S episode, titled "She's a Marvel," written by headwriter David Kreizman, focuses on mild mannered and harried cop, mother and wife Harley Davidson Cooper, played by Beth Ehlers. Zapped by an electrical current, Cooper finds herself infused with the energy, and is able to channel it, giving her the powers of a superhero -- levitation and electricity conduction.

For a special GUIDING LIGHT "She's A Marvel" trailer, visit www.cbs.com/daytime/gl/.

Additionally, in a first for daytime television, Marvel Comics will release a "comic back-up" featuring some of Marvel's mightiest heroes (and villains) who will descend on GUIDING LIGHT'S city of Springfield to determine if this new super powered being is friend or foe. The "back-up" is an eight-page addition to the following Marvel Comic books: (Oct. 25) "Civil War: Choosing Sides," "Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane 11," "Marvel Select Flip Magazine 18," "Marvel Tales Flip Magazine 17"; (Nov. 1) "Marvel Adventures Spider-Man 21," "Spider-Man And Power Pack 1," "Marvel Adventures Flip Magazine 18," "Marvel Heroes Flip Magazine 18"; (Nov. 8) "Amazing Spider-Girl 2," "Franklin Richards: Happy Franksgiving!," "Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four 18"; (Nov. 15) "Ultimate Marvel Flip Magazine 19," "Ultimate Tales Flip Magazine 19."

"Joining forces with Marvel is such a natural fit for us because comic books and soap operas have so much in common," says Kreizman. "Both feature long-running characters and larger-than-life stories that appeal to a loyal and passionate fan base. We hope that our viewers will be excited to see their favorites in the pages of a comic book and that Marvel fans will tune in to see how we put our twist on a classic superhero story. What working mom hasn't wished for superpowers every now and then?"

GUIDING LIGHT'S innovative Wednesday "Inside the Light" episodes debuted in January 2006, giving audiences a unique, in-depth perspective on the lives of their favorite characters. Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler conceived the idea, and each "Inside the Light" episode focuses on a particular character, couple or storyline and often features bold or unique storytelling techniques not usually seen on daytime television.

GUIDING LIGHT, the longest-running show in broadcast history, has always stayed ahead of the times debuting on radio in 1937, transitioning to television in 1952 and recently becoming the first television show to podcast audio-only episodes in 2006. The show, which tapes in New York City, will celebrate its 70th anniversary on the air in January 2007 and can be seen weekdays on the CBS Television Network (check local listings).

Call 1-888-COMICBOOK to find a comic shop near you or visit www.marvel.com for more information on the eight-page GUIDING LIGHT "back-up."

Marvel, and all related character names and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. and are used with permission. Copyright Ó 2006 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. www.marvel.com.

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Comments

Fri, 10/27/2006 - 14:00 — timdemeter

The Uncanny and the Beautiful

I heard about this a little while ago and stand by my response, which goes a little something like this:

Much like the would be teen drama turned WTF Spider-Man story, Trouble, I appreciate what Marvel is trying to do here, but guys... c'mon. You think you're going to get soap opera watchers in the comic shop? I wish everyone would read comics too, but let's keep the bar at a reasonable height. How about trying to reach the tween to college age ladies whose buying habits are still a bit more malleable than the target demographic of the soap opera. At this rate, it's only a matter of time until we hear:

Marvel Announces Bold New Marketing Initiative

Marvel Comics, in an unprecedented new partnership with mother nature, is poised to capture the elusive bear market. "By putting Marvel comics in bee hives rich with honey, we hope to reach a whole new generation of godless killing machines," says Marvel. The eight page Spider-Man tale found in the swarming hives will be continued in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and focuses on such bear-friendly issues as pic-in-ic baskets and driving hilariously undersized cars. "We really think we can get those bears into comic shops," added Marvel. A local comic retailer, seen purchasing a hunting rifle at an area Wal-Mart, declined comment.

In fairness, I reckon this is a no harm done marriage of convenience as said writer likes him the funny books, but for serious, way to take two insular audiences and subject them to each other. Also, I used to work for Harely Davidson and they are cruising for a legal brusing with that character name

Tim Demeter
does a buch of neato stuff.
GraphicSmash
Clickwheel
Reckless Life

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Tim Demeter does a bunch of neato stuff. Clickwheel GraphicSmash Bustout Odds

Fri, 10/27/2006 - 14:03 — Iain

Wow

What does one say about such a thing? I feel like I should say something, but... is there a level of snark even available in the English language for this?

Fri, 10/27/2006 - 21:18 — The William G

While I do think it's good

While I do think it's good that they're willing to try and reach a market that doesn't fall into a swoon with the name "Whedon" this does seem a bit left field. So I figure they were approached first about the tie-in.

Now, if they started marketing something other than decades-of-continuity superhero comics, they may be able to get them housewives in to the shops on a regular basis.

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Fri, 10/27/2006 - 22:46 — djcoffman

What shops? They're aren't

What shops? They're aren't all that many for them to go to anymore.

DJ Coffmanyirmumah.net

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DJ Coffman
yirmumah.net

Sat, 10/28/2006 - 01:18 — toddandpenguin

Awesome, a marriage of bad

Awesome, a marriage of bad dialogue, bad acting and bad ideas! Nothing should go wrong here.

I wonder if this was spurred by the buzz surrounding "Heroes", which in my opinion, derivative as it may be, so far, it gets the comic genre better than most of the Marvel movies made to date.(Daredevil, Elektra, much of the X-Men trilogy)

Given the supernatural occurences which occur in daytime TV on a daily basis - evil dopplegangers, back from the dead like Lazarus heroes and villians, the ability for the older actresses to hide their wrinkles beneath a constant cloud of soft focus lighting, - super powers are not really a stretch.

http://www.toddandpenguin.com

http://www.takingupspacecomic.com

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Sat, 10/28/2006 - 13:13 — Myari

It happens

Hold on a minute, guys. Maybe you don't know this demographic as well as you think you do.

I am an older woman who watches soap operas, though I don't take them seriously. I like Whedon's work a lot; Serenity, I'm convinced, is one of the best movies of all time. I buy comics, though not superhero comics, because I'm pretty tired of their old-fashioned attitude toward women. And I even write my own webcomic, Myariland. Doing a webcomic has taught me a lot about art and those danged new-fangled computers, and it's way more entertaining than knitting or gardening or doing the daily crossword.

So this marriage of comic book and soap opera does appeal to some of us soap opera watchers. I don't watch that particular soap, but I'll watch the episode in question before I decide whether it's an entirely wasted effort.

Actually, I'm pleased as punch that someone out there recognizes that my demographic really does have varied interests. More power to whoever thought this one up.