Science Fiction Film & Television

‘What am I looking at, Mulder?’

Licensed comics and the freedoms of transmedia storytelling

Science Fiction Film & Television (2013), 6, (1), 101–117.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/sfftv.2013.9
Language
English
Pages
17

Abstract

Licensed comics are conventionally discussed as merchandise, with little regard for their status as transmedia narratives. This article compares comic tie-ins to The X-Files (US 1993-2002), charting different strategies adopted by Topps Comics (license holders 1995-8) and DC Comics (2008-) in continuing the adventures of Mulder and Scully. Using primary interviews with Frank Spotnitz and Stefan Petrucha, this article repositions licensed comics away from the discussion of mimetics toward a study of the creative freedoms open to those producing these works. Licensed comics are defined by the tension between memory of a television series and the unique textuality of the comic book form. I conclude that the materiality of a comic book lends itself especially to the perpetuation of a franchise once it has disappeared from our screens.

Access Token

FormatArticle

£25.00
READ THIS ARTICLE
References
Full Text
PDF
If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Brooker, Will. Hunting the Dark Knight: Twenty-first Century Batman. London: I. B. Tauris, 2012. Hunting the Dark Knight: Twenty-first Century Batman Google Scholar

Clarke, M. J. ‘The Strict Maze of Media Tie-In Novels’. Communication, Culture & Critique 2 (2009): 434-56. ‘The Strict Maze of Media Tie-In Novels’ Communication, Culture & Critique 2 434 56 Google Scholar

Clerc, Susan J. ‘DDEB, GATB, MPPB and Ratboy: The X-Files’ Media Fandom, Online and Off'. Deny All Knowledge: Reading the X-Files. Ed. David Lavery, Angela Hague and Marla Cartwright. London: Faber and Faber, 1996. 36-51. Deny All Knowledge: Reading the X-Files 36 51 Google Scholar

David, Peter, Tom Sutton and Gordon Purcell. Star Trek: Who Killed Captain Kirk? London: Titan Books, 1993. Star Trek: Who Killed Captain Kirk? Google Scholar

Fingeroth, Danny. The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels. London: Rough Guides, 2008. The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels Google Scholar

Gordon, Ian. Comic Strips and Consumer Culture 1890-1945. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1998. Comic Strips and Consumer Culture 1890-1945 Google Scholar

Gough, Kerry. ‘Translation Creativity and Alien Econ(c)omics: From Hollywood Blockbuster to Dark Horse Comic Book’. Film and Comic Books. Ed. Ian Gordon, Mark Jancovich and Matthew P. McAllister. Jackson: UP of Mississippi, 2007. 37-63. Film and Comic Books 37 63 Google Scholar

Gravett, Paul, and Peter Stansbury. Great British Comics. London: Aurum, 2006. Great British Comics Google Scholar

Hughes, Dave. ‘The Uncanny X-Men’. The X-Files 13 (1996). London: Manga. 28-9. ‘The Uncanny X-Men’ The X-Files 13 28 9 Google Scholar

Hutcheon, Linda. A Theory of Adaptation. New York: Routledge, 2006. A Theory of Adaptation Google Scholar

Jenkins, Henry. Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York UP, 2006. Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide Google Scholar

Jenkins, Henry. Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture. New York: Routledge, 1992. Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture Google Scholar

Jenkins, Henry. ‘Transmedia Storytelling 101’. Confessions of an Aca-Fan (22 Mar 2007). http://henryjenkins.org/2007/03. Accessed 13 Aug 2012. http://henryjenkins.org/2007/03 ‘Transmedia Storytelling 101’ Confessions of an Aca-Fan Google Scholar

Jenkins, Henry. ‘Transmedia Storytelling 202: Further Reflections’. Confessions of an Aca-Fan (1 Aug 2011). http://henryjenkins.org/2011/08. Accessed 13 Aug 2012. http://henryjenkins.org/2011/08 ‘Transmedia Storytelling 202: Further Reflections’ Confessions of an Aca-Fan Google Scholar

Jenkins, Henry. ‘"We Had So Many Stories To Tell": The Heroes Comics as Transmedia Storytelling’. Confessions of an Aca-Fan (3 Dec 2007). http://henryjenkins.org/2007/12. Accessed 20 Aug 2012. http://henryjenkins.org/2007/12 ‘"We Had So Many Stories To Tell": The Heroes Comics as Transmedia Storytelling’ Confessions of an Aca-Fan Google Scholar

Johnson, Catherine. Telefantasy. London: BFI, 2005. Telefantasy Google Scholar

Labarre, Nicolas. ‘Adapting Coppola's Dracula’. The Comics Grid (16 Apr 2012). www.comicsgrid.com/2012/04/adapting-coppolas-dracula. Accessed 3 May 2012. www.comicsgrid.com/2012/04/adapting-coppolas-dracula ‘Adapting Coppola's Dracula’ The Comics Grid Google Scholar

McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: Harper Perennial, 1994. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art Google Scholar

Morrison, Grant. Supergods: Our World in the Age of the Superhero. London: Jonathan Cape, 2011. Supergods: Our World in the Age of the Superhero Google Scholar

Niles, Steve, Adam Johns and Tom Mandrake. The X-Files/30 Days of Night. Dubuque: DC Comics/IDW, 2011. The X-Files/30 Days of Night Google Scholar

Perryman, Neil. ‘Doctor Who and the Convergence of Media: A Case Study in Transmedia Storytelling’. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies 14.1 (2008): 21-39. ‘Doctor Who and the Convergence of Media: A Case Study in Transmedia Storytelling’ Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies 14 21 39 Google Scholar

Petrucha, Stefan, and Charles Adlard. Project Aquarius and Other Stories. London: Manga, 1996. Project Aquarius and Other Stories Google Scholar

Petrucha, Stefan, and Jill Thompson. The X-Files: A Graphic Novel. AfterFlight. London: Titan, 1997. The X-Files: A Graphic Novel. AfterFlight Google Scholar

Phegley, Kiel. ‘X-Files Producer/Director Frank Spotnitz Makes the Mythology Matter in New Wildstorm Comic Series’. Splash Page. MTV.com (22 Oct 2008). http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/10/22. Accessed 26 Jun 2011. http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/10/22 ‘X-Files Producer/Director Frank Spotnitz Makes the Mythology Matter in New Wildstorm Comic Series’ Splash Page. MTV.com Google Scholar

Pillai, Nicolas. ‘The Batman Adventures: Rendering the Comic Page’. The Comics Grid (26 Sep 2011). www.comicsgrid.com/2011/09/page-batman-adventures. Accessed 3 May 2012. www.comicsgrid.com/2011/09/page-batman-adventures ‘The Batman Adventures: Rendering the Comic Page’ The Comics Grid Google Scholar

Priego, Ernesto. ‘The Walking Dead Media: The Comic Book as Technology of Transmediality’. Research paper presented at the University of Bristol, 8 Jan 2010. ‘The Walking Dead Media: The Comic Book as Technology of Transmediality’ Google Scholar

Reeves, Jimmie L., Mark C. Rodgers and Michael Epstein. ‘Rewriting Popularity: The Cult Files’. Deny All Knowledge: Reading the X-Files. Ed. David Lavery, Angela Hague and Marla Cartwright. London: Faber and Faber, 1996. 22-35. Deny All Knowledge: Reading the X-Files 22 35 Google Scholar

Spelling, Ian, Rick Handley and Barry Renshaw. Comics International: Star Trek Special 2 (2009). Colchester: Cosmic Publications. Comics International: Star Trek Special 2 Google Scholar

Spotnitz, Frank, and Brian Denham. The X-Files. La Jolla: DC Comics/Wildstorm, 2009. The X-Files Google Scholar

Thomas, Roy. The X-Files Season One: Ice. New York: Topps Comics, 1998. The X-Files Season One: Ice Google Scholar

Timmons, Stan. The Man from U. N. C. L. E. 3. Worcester: Entertainment Publishing, 1987. The Man from U. N. C. L. E 3 Google Scholar

Wiseman, Andreas. ‘The X-Files writer Frank Spotnitz talks new UK spy series Hunted, working in the UK and a feature sequel to The X-Files’. Screen Daily (5 Apr 2012). www.screendaily.com/news/production. Accessed 20 Aug 2012. www.screendaily.com/news/production ‘The X-Files writer Frank Spotnitz talks new UK spy series Hunted, working in the UK and a feature sequel to The X-Files’ Screen Daily Google Scholar

If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Details

Author details

Pillai, Nicolas