Marvel and D.C.'s Comic Numbering Problem

[kemcha]

I've been getting back into comics in a major way but while trying to piece together my digital comic book library I've something that seems to be a major problem with Marvel and D.C. Comics: the numbering problem.

Trying to make sense of long running comic titles is confusing with all of the crossovers, events and the constant rebooting of titles with a new #1 just to entice new comic book fans. Nowhere is this more prevalent than at Marvel Comics. Trying to piece together Iron Man, Amazing Spiderman, Incredible Hulk or Fantastic Four is like trying to run a gauntlet to find out where all of the missing issues fit in, just on the slim chance that you want to start from the beginning and go from there.

D.C Comics isn't so bad but they also have the same problem but the one thing I give them credit for is that they aren't constantly running back and forth between the numbering process in order to pat themselves on the back for reaching a milestone anniversary issue.

Marvel's problem is that they're always rebooting their titles. How many times has there been an X-Men #1, a Fantastic Four #1, Amazing Spiderman #1 or an Incredible Hulk #1. Oh, and don't get me started with Marvel's determination for creating multiple alternate universes and have them all team up for annual events (does Spider-Geddon ring any bells?) Marvel is finally deciding to call it quits on the time-displaced X-Men. Bringing the original X-Men team from the past (of an alternate universe) in an effort to change Scott Summers/Cyclops perspective on the path he's chosen. It just speaks of desperation.

Marvel is looking to confused the numbering program with X-Men again as it launches a brand new Uncanny X-Men #1 next week not to mention that they are pumping out more X-Men issues in an effort to hurry and get to Uncanny X-Men #800.

I was hoping that Marvel and D.C. had learned their lesson that almost destroyed the comic industry in the 1990's when they were releasing new #1 issues, multiple alternate covers and holographic and incentive variant covers. If I remember correctly, the 2015 series reboot of Star Wars had 50 different covers. Uncanny X-Men is said to have an $7.99 cover price with as many as 25 or more alternate covers for the new launch.

While I plan on picking up one or two of the alternate covers, it's sad that Marvel is slipping back into its old shoes.