Great write-up, Scott. I saw the notification for this post come in as I’m reading the final issues of American Vampire: 1976...love hearing your perspective on sequels, themes, and world building as I’m closing the loop on this series.
P.S.
Thanks for the books. American Vampire was the first indie comic that I ever purchased over 10 years ago now, and it ignited a passion for the medium that I didn’t know existed within me.
Loved this Newsletter! I was pondering these things as I write out the first arc of what I think is going to be a trilogy. As for examples, I’m going to throw out a different medium: Castlevania from MercurySteam. Long before the Netflix series, the writers from that company took the story and reinvented it! At the end of the first game, it left you with a big hanger. Then they went on to create two more sequels and tied it all together!
Another game series that has a cult following (proud member here), is the Legacy of Kain series. Fans have been screaming for a remake for over a decade now. That story expanded the universe with each game, yet still always brought us back to two main characters. TL;DR there are fan Wiki’s dedicated to it, so I won’t tell it here.
I think League of extraordinary gentlemen had a great comicbook sequel. It really espanded the scope of the whole thing.
Thank you, Scott, for that write up. I really dig it when you break it down in essential components - in the dos and don´ts. I mean when creating art, you don´t have to obey all the rules, but it is great to know the rules to intentionally break them.
For my money, Daredevil is the Big Two character that does this so well. So many runs from creators have a really solid centre of making, and so many can effectively follow up and stop it back or add layers.
In creator owned comics, I think there most impressive examples of this from arc to arc has been Casanova from Ba/Moon and Fraction. Every new storyline completely added elements and dig deeper and in new directions.
Ooooh, sequels that get it right…put me down for Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan. It’s a sequel to the episode, Space Seed, more so than the Motion Picture, so you’re having a huge expansion of both the series and movie storylines. Also, it resets the movie franchise completely, making it accessible to new and old fans. Also, real stakes are in play with the characters, granted you consider there isn’t a Star Trek 3. One of the greatest sequels ever, IMHO.
Great write-up, Scott. I saw the notification for this post come in as I’m reading the final issues of American Vampire: 1976...love hearing your perspective on sequels, themes, and world building as I’m closing the loop on this series.
P.S.
Thanks for the books. American Vampire was the first indie comic that I ever purchased over 10 years ago now, and it ignited a passion for the medium that I didn’t know existed within me.
Loved this Newsletter! I was pondering these things as I write out the first arc of what I think is going to be a trilogy. As for examples, I’m going to throw out a different medium: Castlevania from MercurySteam. Long before the Netflix series, the writers from that company took the story and reinvented it! At the end of the first game, it left you with a big hanger. Then they went on to create two more sequels and tied it all together!
Another game series that has a cult following (proud member here), is the Legacy of Kain series. Fans have been screaming for a remake for over a decade now. That story expanded the universe with each game, yet still always brought us back to two main characters. TL;DR there are fan Wiki’s dedicated to it, so I won’t tell it here.
I like it when the character growth/change is unexpected, but still makes sense in the context of the universe, a la Nocterra.
My favorite sequel is Aliens. The whole genre of the movie changed and it really worked. “They mostly come out at night ... mostly.”
Second favorite is Godfather II. It expanded the timeline in both directions and had additional growth for known characters at the same time.
Empire Strikes Back and Batman Year 2
I think League of extraordinary gentlemen had a great comicbook sequel. It really espanded the scope of the whole thing.
Thank you, Scott, for that write up. I really dig it when you break it down in essential components - in the dos and don´ts. I mean when creating art, you don´t have to obey all the rules, but it is great to know the rules to intentionally break them.
For my money, Daredevil is the Big Two character that does this so well. So many runs from creators have a really solid centre of making, and so many can effectively follow up and stop it back or add layers.
In creator owned comics, I think there most impressive examples of this from arc to arc has been Casanova from Ba/Moon and Fraction. Every new storyline completely added elements and dig deeper and in new directions.
Fascinating write up as always, really well said and great points!
Ooooh, sequels that get it right…put me down for Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan. It’s a sequel to the episode, Space Seed, more so than the Motion Picture, so you’re having a huge expansion of both the series and movie storylines. Also, it resets the movie franchise completely, making it accessible to new and old fans. Also, real stakes are in play with the characters, granted you consider there isn’t a Star Trek 3. One of the greatest sequels ever, IMHO.