Superman Through the Ages! Forum

A multiverse (as i imagine it) in its entirety is a seemingly infinite collection of dimensional multiverses & temporal multiverses.  a dimensional multiverse is a seemingly infinite collection of parallel universes.  Parallel universes are separate entities from the beginning.  A temporal multiverse is a seemingly infinite collection of divergent timelines/universes.  Also a temporal multiverse starts out as one single universe.  Over time that single universe splits/branches/diverges into the nigh-infinite collection of universes that constitute a temporal multiverse.  I imagine that each universe in a dimensional multiverse is also part of a temporal multiverse & vice versa.  


  Imagine the possibilities of the multiverse our own real earth is most likely part of.  For the moment let's just think about the "dimensional multiverse" facet of our multiverse.  There could be hundreds (thousands, millions, or far more) "nearby" parallel universes that are identical to this universe, except for one minor detail.  That "detail" could be the "rate" by which time "passes".  If that rate/speed of time flow/passage is faster or slower by an infinitesmal fraction of a second, that other universe could be ahead of (or behind) us anywhere between days & millenia.  Or that "detail"  could be something like:  DC never did Crisis.  Or ended it differently. ; Publishers that went out of business here, are thriving there.  The possibilities are infinite.  Imagine that our entertainment industry (or just one company in that industry) had access to our multiverse.  Imagine the movies they could make.  The actor/actress you really want to use in your movie/tv show is deceased or simply too old/sick/disabled to play the part you want them for?  Simple, recruit their younger healthier counterpart from earth-whatever.

Well, there is a theories in Science that state that there are more than just one universe, well an infinite number of universes!

Some links to read:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/spacechat/livechat/martin_rees.shtml

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/generalscience/5mysteries_universes_020205-1.html

Yes, I am certain this would be the first application of the science of the multiverse on our earth. :D

How about the possibilities for tourism?

I mean, it's probably still Ancient Rome somewhere, right? Who wouldn't want to visit that? Or Ancient Egypt or Greece or 19th Century Paris.

And let's not forget the possibility of Thailand-style sex tourism. Consider: somewhere, there's a whole universe of oily-bodied musclemen that all secretly long for chubby housewives.

It might also create a black market in goods and services that only exist on one earth but are exported elsewhere. For example, certain types of narcotics might only have evolved and grow on certain earths, and may be exported to others. Also, just like modern stoners make pilgrimages to Amsterdam where grass is legal, there are probably dozens of earths where drugs can be purchased over the counter.

Law enforcement can become problematic. Remember how Luthor from the Crime Syndicate's earth often went to Earth-1 and Earth-2 where he was a hero instead of a villain? Joe Blow the purse snatcher, if he's in trouble with the law, might high tail it to Earth-B ruled by the evil Gruto, Gorilla Emperor of Earth.

Interesting topic.  I've been developing a fan fiction centering on a parallel Earth to the current DC Universe, but it's been in temporal stasis since 1985.  (Nearly all of Terra's major superheroes perished in the Crisis, and the stasis field generator was a desperate last-ditch attempt as the anti-matter wave swept in.)  But discovering and freeing Terra is the EASY task.

Imagine a DC Earth realizing they have a little sister world (the current DC Earth is larger due to the Crisis merging of five Earths) where Ronald Reagan is still president, the Soviet Union is still the Evil Empire (and actually a stronger threat since the Red Army didn't bleed itself away in Afghanistan), and the personal computer revolution is barely getting underway.  Would former Russian communists from Earth advise their Terran comrades so that the USSR doesn't crumble?  Maybe by even proposing a first strike against the West?  And might not terrorists on Terra be inspired after learning about 9-11?

High tech Earth corporations would vie for the right to peddle their wares on "backward" Terra, depriving Terra's infant Silicon Valley its rightful rewards.  Twenty years worth of movies, television shows, recordings and videos could flood Terra, inflicting substantial harm to the native entertainment industry.  While Terra's busy rebuilding after the Crisis, how can authorities admit needed aid and relief supplies, and keep "contraband" out?  Especially when envious Terrans see Earthlings enjoying the "good life" of the 21st Century?  

There would also be popular demands on both worlds for "family reunions".  If there is a substantial percentage of identical people (aside from age differences) on Earth and Terra, human curiousity will be overwhelming.  How will the Immigration Department cope?

And there would be others who see Terra as "The Land of Opportunity".  Earth supervillians weary of the glut of heroes would find relatively unprotected Terra ripe for the picking.  And there may be a few evil masterminds who might manipulate Terran leaders into a devastating world war, then swoop in like vultures in the nuclear aftermath to claim vast resources for Earth.  

For these reasons and more, protecting Terra during this vulnerable time will be a major challenge, especially if it results in a conflict of loyalties.  If an Earth hero objects to (for instance) Earth's one-sided trade policy towards Terra, is he merely trying to protect Terra's interests or is he a traitor to his home planet?  And what it this ultimately degenerates into "Our Worlds at War"?

Ever wonder what it would be like if some defunct publisher (like: Charlton; Fawcett; Harvey; Dell; Gold Key; Atlas/Seaboard; First; etc.) were still in business?  Just go to a "nearby" parallel earth where they never went out of business.  Also there could be an earth where Big Bang Comics is that earth's DC Comics.  Have a favorite old tv series that was cancelled years ago?  There is most likely a "nearby" earth where that program is still being produced.



    Of course there would also be earths where history is radically different from here.  Different nations & empires than in our history.  Earths where humanity never evolved.  Or where the dinosaurs continued to evolve to now.  Earths where another sentient species evolved instead of man.  The possibilities are truly infinite.  Another thought  earths without humans or any other sentient species, but with the same natural resources as here.  Like oil, coal, & natural gas deposits.  That alone would make such a venture (exploring the multiverse) worthwhile for anyone (individual, company, or government) who finds a way to do it.

I could get that Gold Key Thundarr the Barbarian comic?

A Gold Key "Thundarr the barbarian" comic is something i would have loved to read.  


    How would intellectual property rights laws (patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc.) work in a world where we have access to the entire multiverse? :?:  :shock:  Imagine this; you are an interdimensional comics distributor.  Could our earth's Marvel block you from supplying stores with Ultraverse titles from an earth where Malibu Comics is a thriving still-independant company?  Or could our DC Comics Inc. block you from supplying those stores with Fawcett, Quality, & Charlton titles from earths where those companies are still in the comics industry?

Well, yes.

But DC couldn't. You could distribute pirated DC comics to your heart's content to a parallel dimension. DC wouldn't stop you, because they would deny that parallel dimensions exist.

Gangbuster Thorul do you have an imagination?  I was not talking about pirated DC Comics.  I was talking about supplying comics from other earths to stores in our universe.  There are most likely earths where companies like Malibu, Charlton, Fawcett, & Quality remained in business up untill the present.  At the very least.  In our universe Marvel bought Malibu, & DC bought many of the characters owned by Charlton, Fawcett, & Quality.  Imagine that your company distributes comics between several parallel earths.  In this scenario the reality of the multiverse has already been proven, legally & scientifically.  To almost everyone's satisfaction.  And as far as you are aware you & your company are the only ones with the means to explore the multiverse.  As well as transport matter, energy, & information throughout the multiverse.

Heh --I can't imagine it either.  Why would our Earth's (let's call it Earth Prime, for convenience) DC admit that parallel Earth's exist?  Isn't that against their stated company policy?  The denial of quantum physics?  I guess I just don't have any imagination. :D



Now maybe the DC brass on another Earth (let's call it, oh, Earth-1) went to college and took physics, so maybe on this Earth the Bronze Age never ended.  Now, on another Earth (Earth-2), superhero comics waned in popularity after WWII, but pirate comics prospered (ie, DC comics became "pirated").  DC editor Joe Orlando even drew some of them.  Now what would happen if the Joe Orlando's of all 3 worlds got together for a jam session.  Where would they publish it?  And on what Earth would collector's pay the most for back issues?

Well if the reality of the multiverse were legally & scientifally proven (to almost everyone's satisfaction),  the "top brass" at DC could deny it all they want.  Nobody would care what DC's opinion was.  It would be funny though; everyone sees proof positive of infinite parallel universes, divergent timelines, inter-dimensional travel, & even eventually time travel;  Then DC starts screaming how there is only one universe.  The guys at DC would find themselves lumped in with "flat-earthers", "holocaust-deniers", & other fringe kooks.


     I can imagine earths where genres other than superheroes dominate american comics.  On some earths it could be pirates.  On others it could be westerns, or horror, or science fiction, or romance.  Infinite possibilities.

As a member of the Flat Earth Society, I object to that remark most strongly.  :D



I think I mentioned this in another thread, but if there are no superhero comics that achieve popularity, we would see a rise of appreciation and popularity for artists like Don Heck and Gil Kane, who, even when drawing superheroes, make their costumes look like real clothes, and while they can draw good looking women and everyday actions, they have problems with fantasy elements that supercomics emphasize, like robots and superspeed.

Of course, it might be interesting to view the geniuses of comics on our earth, on a counter-earth produce destructive schlock: namely, Steve Englehart's counterpart Stevil Engelhate, and Alan Moore's evil counterpart, Alan Less.

Hey, here's an idea: in an alternate future where the Vikings quit being such sissies and settled in the United States, would comic books be mile-long murals like that one of the Battle of Hastings?

I do, in fact, have a vivid imagination. I was just making a joke about DC's denial of a multiverse.

 :wink:

I'm not sure you can do the "multiverse" idea justice by simply using it as a wish-fulfilment device. How comforting to imagine an infinite number of "similar but different," or even wildly dissimilar worlds... If conditions and situations on this world don't quite suit you, well -- you can look for a new one. With each new world differing only slightly, and the "multiverse" offering you an infinite number of permutations, you are, in effect, designing your own environment to suit yourself.

If you had the time and the means to travel to these theoretical other worlds in order to find your own perfect conditions, what sort of person would you become? Every challenge has been removed from your path.

Being able to navigate this "multiverse" really does mean you can design your own world, your own country and town, your own friends and situations.

DC traditionally played loose and fast with the whole idea. Have a look at Superboy and the 5 Legion Traitors on this website in the online comics section. Whole "duplicate" Earths can differ from ours merely by having three Ls in SMALLVILLE (Smallvile  :D  ) rather than four. How many new Earths are there separated by a single spelling difference alone?

By the way, Klar Ken... I know you would've already had a good chuckle over Superboy's enlightened thoughts on the status of women: "There's no limit to the variations. Chief Parker may be a criminal in one world, an ape-like being in another... or even a woman!"

Earth am square! You am stoopid! Hooray!

(http://superman.nu/a/Encyclopaedia/Bizarro1.jpg)

Aldous' point is well-taken, and having just re-read the Superboy story he is talking about, its gets very obvious that if multiple realities are born of quantum effects every microsecond over 15 billion years the math knocks you out...there was an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where multiple Enterprises broke through a rift in space, some from universes where the Federation is almost destroyed etc.  The far more likely reality is that practically every other mathematical universe would have no Federation or even, necessarily be made up of more matter than anti-matter...

I love multiple universes, but talk about continuity problems...

The multiverse idea is far too big to really be done justice by anything i can post.  It's just that this concept is one of my favorite things to talk, read, & think about.  If i had the means to traverse & explore the multiverse,  my main reason (for doing it) would be to learn about as many of the earths/universes in the multiverse as i can.  I would have other reasons for exploring the multiverse.  I would have an inter-dimensional comics collection, among other things.  I would create an inter-dimensional company or conglomerate.  Anybody who would traverse the multiverse in order to find their "own perfect conditions",  would never be satisfied.  No matter how close things might be to what they are looking for, there will never be a perfect match.  A life with no challenges would be super-boring.  Of course something as infinite as the multiverse would provide more challenges than we could imagine.  Meeting one's own counterparts would be one of the more interesting possibilities.


   Btw  Gangbuster isn't it Htrae that is square? :lol:  :wink:  :lol:

I hear ya brother... 8)

I remember an old article (Atlantic Monthly, circa 1980s?) that characterized the multiverse/quantum physics as a perfect future religion because it allows all of us to imagine that somewhere, in another universe, we are better off.



And they aren't already? :D   Okay, maybe not holocaust deniers --but what would you call the wanton desctruction of untold billions of lives (albeit in fictional universes), followed by an editorial fiat not to discuss this destruction or the lives lost (ie, Supergirl; Mr and Mrs Superman)?
Reverse-Big-Bang-deniers?

If you don't mind using a RPG aid look at GURPS Infinate Worlds (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/infiniteworlds/) (a list (http://www.gurpswiki.net/default.aspx/InfiniteWorldsWiki/TimelineMap.html) of about every non-licenced alternate world mentioned in GURPS to date can be found at the GURPS Wiki site).

Imagine Superman fighting for the American way on Gernsback an Earth that thanks to Telsa in 1965 rivals the technology of his own Krypton but socially is in the 1890's or Wonder Woman in Roma Aeterna an Earth that in 1893 is dominated by the Roman Empire. How about GL Hal Jordon on Merlin-1 a 2002 Earth where magic has actually worked since 1945.

All of this assumes we choose to limit ourselves to universes that are basically like our own earth.

Some can have radically different laws - like where air is heavier, so that it is possible to construct types of vehicles that roll on air. Or perhaps one where things are lighter - space missions and other technology would require breatheable air from earths where air is very, very light to save space.

Also, it is likely that alternate earth travel facilities would be based in orbit, and if you do jump "blind," it is done with a spacesuit - who's to say that earth occupies the same space in every universe? And it is likely that exploration of alternate universes would be done by probe only. Sure, this isn't as sexy as Biff McBeefchunk, rugged temporal explorer, but doing otherwise would be downright insane. Some universes may have such high background radiation that just popping into them causes a Chrononaut to be fried like a chicken tender.

And who's to say scale is constant across all earths? You can beam yourself to an earth exactly like ours except the entire world is giant, and all the human inhabitants are, to us, 120 of our feet tall.

Here's the downside: if the technology to explore the infinite earths exists, there are already an infinite number of earths where this technology has been developed already. Which means an infinite number of hostile beings with conquest on their mind can create empires, not in space, but through universes.

Particularly evil and ambitious people can rectify their mistakes by meeting with assorted versions of themselves from related alternate realities. Remember from Roger Stern's Avengers, the "Council of Crosstime Kangs?" Of course, it would also mean that the Good Guys also can form conferences...so maybe things will even out.

For many people meeting their counterparts could be a very negative experience.  For one thing they might see themselves as others see them.  Also how many people would want to meet a counterpart who has lived a better more successful life? :twisted:  


    There are most likely many universes with laws (of physics) that are radically different from those in our universe.   The ideal method (of travelling between universe) would include some way of observing/studying your destination.  Time travel is not involved in my scenario,  so i would not call inter-dimensional travellers "chrononauts".  Also it could be that the technology needed to traverse & explore the multiverse is so hard to develope that few if any have done it yet.


   I am aware of GURPS's infinite worlds rpg.  I doubt that Gernsback in 1965 would anywhere near Krypton in technology.  The scientist/inventor you are thinking of was named Nikola Tesla not Telsa.

There would be some serious drawbacks to unrestricted multiverse-wide travel.  DNA evidence would be worthless.  In criminal & paternity cases.  Security systems that use biometrics would be ineffective.


    I imagine that there would be inter-dimensional conglomerates.  Many of which would involve a company acquiring its extra-dimensional counterparts.  Imagine a "Forbes/Fortune list" of the richest people in the multiverse.  Imagine a a super-competitive businessman like Bill Gates (for example) meeting his counterparts.  Imagine that those counterparts are all equally competitive.  Would they work together as partners, or compete as rivals?

Here are some more possibilities:


      1.)  If a species on our earth is endangered, it can be replenished by importing that species from an earth where it is thriving or even overpopulated.  Imagine the demand for truly exotic pets.  Animals long extinct on our earth.  Or even ones that never evolved here.


      2.)  Imagine an inter-dimensional comics convention involving the fans & pros of at least a few hundred (or thousand) earths.  The convention itself would probably take place on a relatively uninhabited earth.  The dealer's floor would dwarf (by far) the biggest book fair or flea market on our earth.  Two to four days would not be enough time for such an event.  It would have to be at least two weeks or a full month. :twisted: :lol: :twisted:

I think this is called the internet and ebay! :D

The dealers in my "inter-dimensional comics convention" scenario would not just be from our earth.  They would be from several hundred (or thousand) parallel earths (including our earth of course).  This would involve earths with differences (from ours) like:  DC never did crisis or the post-crisis revamps/reboots;  Marvel & DC merged in the 70s & combined their multiverses into one;  Fawcett remained in the comics business at least up to the present;  Big Bang Comics has been around since the 30s & is its earth's "DC Comics";  AC Comics did acquire the charlton characters;  Charlton remained in business;  Alan Moore rebooted Superman after zero hour; And many other possibilities.  Those dealers would be selling comics, books, magazines, fanzines, dvds, cds, action figures, and other things completely unavailable on our earth.  That would dwarf even the internet & ebay.

It still sounds like ebay... :wink:

Also in my "inter-dimensional comics convention" scenario the dealer's floor would include booths for the various comic book companies of the earths involved.  Come to think of it what would be the better way to arrange that floor?  Separate sections for each earth?  Or just lump all the dealers & company booths together?  Imagine two different DC booths.  One is from an earth where they never did crisis or the post-crisis revamps/reboots.  The other is from an earth where DC's management is even more strident in their bashing of anything pre-crisis.  And those two booths are right next to each other.  Or they could be facing each other.  Could make for interesting conversation. :twisted:  :twisted:  :lol:

Imagine an earth where sometime in the late 50s-early 60s Jack Kirby returned to DC, and was partnered with Jerry Siegel on the Superman titles.  Would be interesting to see what ideas would have resulted here.


   Imagine that in the early 70s DC bought all of Fawcett's comics properties.  Instead of licensing the Marvel Family.  Most likely the Marvel Family is placed on Earth-1.  To retain Kal's status as Earth-1's first modern superhero,  DC would have him starting his career as an 8 year old Superboy circa 1940 or 36.  DC then would come up with some "reason" why many of its characters are not aging at a "normal" rate.   Later when Roy Thomas creates the All-Star Squadron he includes among its members Captain Marvel's Earth-2 counterpart Captain Thunder.  


    Imagine that the "Superboy" tv series continueed as a "Superman" series up to the present.  At least.  Or that CBS didn't sabotage the "Flash", but instead allowed it to build an audience.


    Imagine that the sequels to the first Superman movie were done better, & formed a successful movie franchise lasting at least to the present.  And the Batman movies are also done better.


    Imagine that Superman was not rebooted after Crisis.  The post-crisis earth introduced in Crisis #11 (& used untill just before the Byrne/Wolfman reboot ) is the current DCU.


    Imagine that that DC didn't merge the earths at the end of Crisis.  The 1,000-3,000 universes destroyed in the Crisis are still destroyed, but the multiverse still exists.  Which means DC still creates new earths, when it acquires defunct comics lines.


    Imagine that DC ended zero hour by creating a new DC Multiverse.  That multiverse includes universes for: Hero Alliance; Power Facter; Ultraverse; & Impact!; among others.


    Imagine that Malibu Comics remained an independant company.  And several of the Ultraverse characters have successful movies/tv series based on them.  There is a "Nightman" tv series or movie franchise on this earth.  A good one, not the crappy one from our earth.


     Imagine that Disney gave its comics imprint the support it needed.  And Disney Comics becomes one of the top 2 or 3 in the industry.  After a while it developes its own successful super-hero line.


     Imagine that Dark Horse's "Comics Greatest World" was a comercial success, with several tv/movie franchises based on its characters.

Imagine that the Canadian comics industry didn't collapse after World War II but that Canuck kids had their own comics culture instead of an imported one.  Imagine Nelvana action figures.  Imagine that Win Mortimer stayed in Canada, working on Nelvan Comics.  Imagine that John Byrne created Alpha Flight for Bell Features in 1980.  Imagine that it kept him from screwing up Superman in 1986.

Imagine that the Australian comics industry didn't collapse after WW II.


     Btw a thriving canadian comics industry would not automatically keep John Byrne from doing the Superman reboot of 1986.  And even if it did, how do we know that we would not have gotten an even worse reboot instead?


     Imagine that DC Comics remained an independant company, or formed its own conglomerate.  Instead of ending up a minor subsidiary of TimeWarner.  The family that owned DC (into the 60s on our earth) makes some investments that pay off & make them billionaires.  On this earth when movies & tv shows are based on DC characters, DC retains creative control & gets a bigger cut of the revenue.


     Imagine that Timely/Atlas's attempted early-mid 50s relaunch of its superhero line was a commercial success, & was the start of the silver-age of comics.


     Imagine that Continuity Comics was a commercial success.  It had great characters, some pretty good stories, & Neal Adams.  A blockbuster movie/tv series (or more than one) based on its characters would have provided Continuity the revenue it needed to thrive.


      Imagine that the anti-comics witch hunt of the 50s didn't happen.  And for that matter imagine that the WW II vets continuued to read comics.

But we can always dream.  I'm sure in one universe at least it happened.  Maybe in that universe the Crisis didn't happen.  I don't know what I'd prefer: Byrne remaining a Canadian citizen (yikes!) or no Byrned Superman.  Tough call, but that's what the multiverse is for.



Jack Liebowitz would have to die in that universe --maybe an angry Jerry Siegel could pull the trigger (or, in an echo of the myth of the death of Balder, the Donenfields could direct a blind Joe Shuster to do the deed).



Neal Adams would have to be dead in this universe as well, in order for Continuity to thrive. :D

Of course we can always dream.  We should always dream.


    If the Donenfields were a billionaire family they could have bought out Jack Liebowitz.  Then they simply tell him to go away.  Nobody needs to kill anyone.


    Maybe a comics loving billionaire buys Continuity.  Neal is signed to a contact that keeps active in comics.  


     Imagine that Genesis West was still in business.


      Imagine that Pacific Comics survived.

     
      Imagine that Blackthorne was a commercial success.  And they successfully launch their Timeline Color Comics imprint.


      Imagine that TSR Comics was a commercial success.  They become one of the top 2 or 3 in the industry.  Their superhero line is also a success.


      Imagine that First Comics stayed in business.  Sable tv series is a hit in the tv ratings, gets renewed for several seasons.  Other successful movies/tv serieses based on First characters follow.  First Comics becomes one of top 3 in industry.


       Imagine that Eclipse Comics survives & thrives.  A blockbuster Airboy movie &/or tv series is made.  Cut of revenue from movie/tv series (as well as merchandising) helps Eclipse keep its product on schedule.  Thus the readers don't lose interest in Eclipse.  Eclipse becomes one of industry top 3.


        Imagine that Capital Comics stays in business.  movie/tv rights are optioned.  Fees help keep Capital in business.  Later successful movies & tv series based on Capital character are made.  Capital becomes one of industry top 4.


        Imagine that Archie Comics does launch its Spectrum imprint.


        Imagine that Archie/Red Circle Comics was a commercial success.  Superhero line active to present & beyond.


        Imagine that Tower Comics was a commercial success.


        Imagine that Marvel launches Excelsior Comics & it's a success.


        Imagine that Broadway Comics Group stayed in business.


        Imagine that Marvel's "New" Universe was a commercial success.

Most of those imagines sound like nightmare dystopias to me --those companies were awful and deserved to fail.  Of course, somewhere, somewhen, they didn't.

As to the Donenfield/Liebowitz billionaire issue, the way I understand Jones' argument in Men of Tomorrow is that Liebowitz actively maneuvered the Donenfields out of control while Harry Donnenfield's lifestyle, pseudo-criminal past, and philosophy almost guaranteed his marginalization.  Not to mention he was not as shrewd an investor as Jack.  I don't think it's as simple as "if they were a billionaire family" --but I'm sure in some universe it is.

One thing that doomed most small press publishers was sporadic output.  Ie they couldn't keep to a schedule.  sure most of the time it was time it was a cash-flow problem.  Eclipse's "Total Eclipse" mini-series had delays of a year (or more) between issues.  Most people lose interest when stuff like that happens.  Only anal-retentive weirdos (like me for one) would bother waiting that long between issues.  If stuff like that happened on a regular basis with DC & Marvel, those companies would have gone out of business.  I think it's a given that those companies are better run than their counterparts on our earth.


      H L Hunt (one of the richest people on earth.  as well as a major antisemitic crackpot.) started his oil fortune by winning a poker game.  Iow not all successful investers are smart, some are just super-lucky.  In Jack Liebowitz's possible defense: he operated as most businessmen of the time did.  Pretty much all industries fought against the unionization of their employees.  Most unions were infested (if not outright controlled) by mobsters.  Why would he want to give the mob even more influence in his business?  Also it's possible that he couldn't afford to give his employees health (among other) benefits.  Imagine that Jack liebowitz finds himself in that famous poker game, & wins.  On this earth Jack builds one of the biggest fortunes on earth.  He buys out the Donenfields.  Here he runs DC more like a hobby.  On this earth he loves comics & for him money is no object.  Here DC's employees are the best paid &  DC provides better benefits, royalties, etc. than anyone else.

Quite possible on both worlds,  given his early union experience (although I contend that he actually could have "afforded" to treat his employees well --he would just have to settle for a few million dollars less in profit for himself).

Most of those publishers would be right at home in the Image and post-Image era where books come out later and later but it doesn't natter because everyone waits for the trade paperback collection.  Most of the actual comic series I still read only come out once a year, if I'm lucky.

At the time few if any businessmen offered benefits of any kind.  


     I wonder if those companies helped make the tpb market.  How you ask?  Simple people got tired of getting burned.  Why get into a story that gets stopped halfway through?  If that.  At least with tpbs, you know you will get the "whole" story.

One of the more interesting possibilities is parallel universes where the "rate" at which time "flows" is slower (or faster) by an infinitesmal fraction of a second.  For this thread i'll concentrate on earths that are "behind" by a decade or two or three or four, etc..  Also what could happen on those earths if someone from our earth were able to travel to them & conduct business there.  the only super-science or technology involved here is the means to travel throughout the multiverse.  for want of better names i'll refer to these earths by the years they are "in".


        Earth-1995:  Lois & Clark gets salvaged.  fiasco of "Batman & Robin" movie never happens.  


        Earth-1985:  Crappy Superman IV movie prevented.  Jerry Siegel's career is restarted.  If nothing else he is one of scriptwriters for Superman movies.  Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Jack Kirby,  start getting super-royalties incomes.  This happens on certain other earths, as well.


        Earth-1975:  Salkynds have no involvement with Superman Movies.  Reeve movies still get made, but they are done better.  Jerry & Joe are consultants on movies.  Jerry is one of the main writers.


         Earth-1965:  Jerry remains at DC.  When Adam West "Batman" tv series is made it's done a lot less campy.  Ie better.


          Earth-1955:  Jerry returns to writing Superman.  Modern (from our earth) special effects are used in George Reeves tv series.  Luthor & other Supervillains used in series.

Fighting words!
 :D

The "Batman" tv series treated Batman & his villains as comedy characters, more often than not.  The series would have been better if the tone were a bit more serious.

But it was a comedy! That was the whole point!

To see a more serious version of the show, see what they were spoofing, the two old Batman serials.

Batman (when done right) is not a comedy character.

This could turn into a Monty Python skit. :D   Hello, I'd like to buy an argument please.

oh boy, some people will never get it...

but this thread will, it's closed.