Is it just me or is Identity Crisis is a BLATANT Watchmen ripoff?

[IKnowSomeJudo]

The similarities are uncanny.

-the story starts out with one of the heroes being murdered (Comedian - Ralph Dibny's wife)

-soon after that, there's a flashback to a rape scene (Dr. Light-Sue Dibny/Comedian-Silk Spectre)

-the killer (Ozymandias/Jean Loring) is in fact a member/associate of the superhero team, therefore an unlikely suspect, but still fakes an attempt on his/her own life just in case to avoid any suspicion

-the killer also hires hitmen through a third party (Pyramid deliveries/Calculator) to kill off other less important characters (a mix of Moloch's and Hollis Mason's murder/Jack Drake's murder) in order to maintain the illusion of a "mask killer"

-there's a scene where heroes get their asses handed to them by a villain with super-human reflexes (Justice League vs. Deathstroke/Rorschach & Nite Owl vs. Ozymandias)

etc. etc. etc.

EDIT: please, pardon the typo in the thread title

 

[Babs Gordon]

sure maybe. either way i don't think anyone cares if it is. it was an interesting arc for DC.

and sometimes these things are done unconsciously, especially when you're a writer/editor completely neck deep in comics every day of your life.

 

[Harlekin]

It's just you. Beyond a few common scenes the two have absolutely nothing in common, not even thematically.

 

[Dwarf lord]

Yeah, when you get down to the elements, those are pretty common elements in lots of superhero comics and fiction in general. Especially someone close to the heroes dying, the heroes losing a battle and a supposed hero becoming the villian. Is this just a new creative way of hating Identity Crisis?

 

[IKnowSomeJudo]

Is this just a new creative way of hating Identity Crisis?

Not really. I enjoyed it for what it was, I just couldn't help but to notice the obvious similarities in plot points and even some visual aesthetics. I admit, calling it blatant rip-off was a bit harsh, but I think it has a lot more in common with Watchmen than, say, Kingdom Come, which usually gets slagged off as Watchmen-lite.

 

[Darthphere]

Simply put, no. Its just you.

 

[yenaled]

Agreed with everyone else. You are really pushing it.

 

[SpideyInATree]

If Identity Crisis seemed somewhat similar to anything it was Mark Gruenwald's Squadron Supreme maxi-series. A. considering Gruenwald based most of the characters from the JLA B. both had mindwiping involved with the villains of the story

 

[droogiedroogie2]

Yeah, when you get down to the elements, those are pretty common elements in lots of superhero comics and fiction in general. Especially someone close to the heroes dying, the heroes losing a battle and a supposed hero becoming the villian. Is this just a new creative way of hating Identity Crisis?

Well, not very creative. Reminds me of most hating-on-a-given-story threads. Hey, I've got a new idea for a thread!

Is it just me or is This Thread is a BLATANT "What A Ripoff" ripoff?

The similarities are uncanny.

-the thread starts out with a coincidence that is actually interesting to note (the Comedian-Sue Dibny comparison)

-soon after that, there's another coincidence pointed out, this one even more similar. (The rape coincidence.)

-the poster, however, soon loses real ammunition for his argument. This is, in part, because the ammunition isn't really there, and in part because the real motivation for the thread is to hate on DC, the DCU, and DC writers, particularly Meltzer. When you don't really even believe in your argument, it's hard to find support for it, especially when that support is pretty sparse in the first place.

-the supposed coincidences become even more ridiculous and uninteresting. Hiring a hitman through a third party only happened in two stories, ever, anywhere, at all? This must explain why I always thought that Identity Crisis was a blatant ripoff of most mafia movies.

-finally, the entire argument breaks down with one of the most piss-pathetic justifications for a copy-cat accusations, ever. As if there was only one other time when superheroes got their asses kicked by a metahuman, before beating him with a sneaky *****-move? Boy, that Superboy fight in Infinite Crisis sure was a ripoff of the Deathstroke fight in Identity Crisis, and the Ozymandias fight in Watchmen!

etc. etc. etc.

EDIT: please, pardon the typo in the thread title

 

[droogiedroogie2]

Not really. I enjoyed it for what it was, I just couldn't help but to notice the obvious similarities in plot points and even some visual aesthetics. I admit, calling it blatant rip-off was a bit harsh, but I think it has a lot more in common with Watchmen than, say, Kingdom Come, which usually gets slagged off as Watchmen-lite.

You're just as wrong as those people. They seem to think that anything involving somewhat less-than-heroic heroes is a Watchmen ripoff. They're also almost always Marvel zombies who don't recognize that if this blanket accusation was true, Ultimates would be the worst offender, and is indeed probably the most obvious ripoff of one of Watchmen's central themes ever to be created. By anyone.

 

[XwolverineX]

Yep, just you.

 

[IKnowSomeJudo]

Ouch, that is I meant: LOL.

Is it just me or is This Thread is a BLATANT "What A Ripoff" ripoff?

The similarities are uncanny. <Judo roast snip>

First of all, mad props for the parody, some of that stuff made me laugh out loud, seriously. I always appreciate a good roast, even if it's at my expense. Now:

the thread starts out with a coincidence that is actually interesting to note (the Comedian-Sue Dibny comparison)

And this coincidence wouldn't be even worth mentioning had it not been followed with:

-soon after that, there's another coincidence pointed out, this one even more similar. (The rape coincidence.)

Strike two. Of course I also pointed out Sue Dibny's fake attempt on her life.

-the poster, however, soon loses real ammunition for his argument. This is, in part, because the ammunition isn't really there, and in part because the real motivation for the thread is to hate on DC, the DCU, and DC writers, particularly Meltzer. When you don't really even believe in your argument, it's hard to find support for it, especially when that support is pretty sparse in the first place.

But that couldn't have been my motivation, I said enjoyed IC and even admitted that I went too far by calling it a blatant rip-off. Nor do I have a beef with Meltzer, in particular. Frankly, I know nothing of the guy personally, except that he may be of German descent. Hmm, that must be it. I always hated those goddamn Krauts.

-the supposed coincidences become even more ridiculous and uninteresting. Hiring a hitman through a third party only happened in two stories, ever, anywhere, at all? This must explain why I always thought that Identity Crisis was a blatant ripoff of most mafia movies.

Ah, but that's why the work needs to be put into the proper context of its genre. Had IC been a Mafia movie, I would have shrugged it off as a not too original plot point for a mafia movie, but since it's a Superhero comic, a DC one, at that, I had to look for comparisons elsewhere.

-finally, the entire argument breaks down with one of the most piss-pathetic justifications for a copy-cat accusations, ever. As if there was only one other time when superheroes got their asses kicked by a metahuman, before beating him with a sneaky *****-move? Boy, that Superboy fight in Infinite Crisis sure was a ripoff of the Deathstroke fight in Identity Crisis, and the Ozymandias fight in Watchmen!

On its own, it can be considered merely a coincidence, but when paired with other similarities it becomes more than just that.

 

[IKnowSomeJudo]

You're just as wrong as those people. They seem to think that anything involving somewhat less-than-heroic heroes is a Watchmen ripoff. They're also almost always Marvel zombies who don't recognize that if this blanket accusation was true, Ultimates would be the worst offender, and is indeed probably the most obvious ripoff of one of Watchmen's central themes ever to be created. By anyone.

For the most part, I don't give a rat's ass about Marvel universe. Hopefully the above post above will attest to that I didn't base my rather bold accusation merely on the fact that both comics feature a deconstructionalist grim 'n' gritty (tm) depictions of well-known superheroes.

 

[Assassin]

Its just you

 

[Arach Knight]

If Identity Crisis is ripping off Watchmen (which was a poitical satire in some ways) then Civil War is ripping off JSA and the Public Enemies arc of Superman/Batman, which both dealt with super heroes revealing their identities to the government/turning themselves in. They are just glancing similarities sir. It is bound to happen. Comic books have been written for over 60 years. Nothing is new under the sun.

 

[fifthfiend]

From now on I am linking to this thread every time someone tries and tells me that because Authority and Ultimates are similar, that means the latter is a BLATANT RIPOFF of the former.

...Oh what this axe here don't mind that at all, I'm just keepin' busy grinding it a bit.

 

[droogiedroogie2]

From now on I am linking to this thread every time someone tries and tells me that because Authority and Ultimates are similar, that means the latter is a BLATANT RIPOFF of the former.

...Oh what this axe here don't mind that at all, I'm just keepin' busy grinding it a bit.

Ultimates is a blatant ripoff of Authority.

This presents an interesting conundrum. Will he link back to this thread, even though he would have to do so IN THIS THREAD ITSELF? Will he break his promise? Check back in a few.

 

[Andy C.]

...but I think it has a lot more in common with Watchmen than, say, Kingdom Come, which usually gets slagged off as Watchmen-lite.

How on Earth is Kingdom Come anything like Watchmen?

 

[Tropico]

I'd like to know the answer to that also.

And, I'm also on the "No, it's just you." camp.up:

 

[Vic Von Doom]

Actually, even though I loved the movie, when I was watching The Incredibles I was noticing quite a few story similarites to Watchmen. I'm sure it wasn't a ripoff, though, just an affirmation of how influential and classic that story was.

 

[Purple Man]

Let me end all these stupid little arguments.

Everything is a rip off of Action Comics #1

It begins here and ends here. There are no other comics worth reading because they are blatant rip offs. Even the word super hero is a rip off! Comic books stopped being original in July 1938

Grr! Feel my fanboy rage!

 

[Darthphere]

Let me end all these stupid little arguments.

Everything is a rip off of Superman.

It begins here and ends here. There are no other comics worth reading because they are blatant rip offs. Even the word super hero is a rip off! Comic books stopped being original in July 1938

Grr! Feel my fanboy rage!

 

[Purple Man]

What does that thing say?

"Time is broken"

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

"IKnowSomeJudo is a lamer and should put down the comic books and step away slowly"

That I understand.

There's also something on there about the meaning of life, but why waste my time deciphering all that jargan?