There's an interesting twist which was introduced into the Marvel Universe during John Byrne's run on Fantastic Four. Marvel Comics existed in the Marvel Universe, but they chronicled the real life adventures of the super-heroes. As such the comics we were reading existed in the comic world, but were regarded as being "biographical", and were even used as legal documents in Marvel Universe court cases!
It's always been my belief that, as the covers are available to adorn the walls of bases, the City of Heroes comic series (or at least the second one featuring the Freedon Phalanx) exists within the game world, and acts to catalogue both real and imagined actions of those heroes.
I don't think that Marvel or DC Comics would exist in the in-game world, any more than Batman comics exist in the Marvel Universe. However, you should be able to find merchandise relating to Superheroes which are known in the game world in any toy shop; so Manticore mugs, Statesman t-shirts, Ms Liberty make-up sets, etc.
Formerly @Crimson Archer, now @CA
The Militia - Protecting Paragon City through roleplaying since June 2006!
The only thing in CoX comics that shouldn't be, I feel, would be the inclusion of "real world" villains such as the Circle of Thorns, etc, or at least their inclusion to a significant degree. To the people of Paragon City, they're not fictional, larger than life threats - they're people which are murdering and hunting and oppressing their loved ones.
If any publisher within Paragon City tried to market such a comic, I think they'd have a pretty uphill struggle with it. The city itself never really struck me as the kind that would fall to the kind of exaggerated propaganda we got in a lot of our comics around World War 2, etc.
Comics themselves against made-up threats? Yeah, I can see it happening. Can see it being pretty lucrative as well; you can go and see these Heroes in the flesh after all!
well, Superman's come up in some IC conversations I've had, as has Batman, which we all know is styled after Nevermore.
My main Grav Mistress has a "Mistress of Gravity" comic still running around the shops. Which isn't a documentation, more a spoof/inspired on thing. She got the story makers to put in details that are completely wrong to Grav's own personal life.
Just to add it to the comments already made.
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
I don't see why there shouldn't be Marvel/DC etc. comic books. Just like now, they depict people and events that aren't in the real world, so the same can be said for the comics and CoH/V's 'real world'.
A secondary explanation is that perhaps in the CoH/V world, the Marvel/DC hereos do exist, with their comics being autobiographical. They just all decide to stick to their respective New Yorks/Gotham Cities, and leave Rhode Island alone, as they have their own villain groups to contend with.
Plus, I've already roleplayed a few situations in-game where real comic books came into discussion, and the world didn't suddenly implode, so I'm guessing there's not really a problem. 
If you look around there's several comic book stores, and i've IC presented a comic con off screen 
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The only thing in CoX comics that shouldn't be, I feel, would be the inclusion of "real world" villains such as the Circle of Thorns, etc, or at least their inclusion to a significant degree. To the people of Paragon City, they're not fictional, larger than life threats - they're people which are murdering and hunting and oppressing their loved ones.
If any publisher within Paragon City tried to market such a comic, I think they'd have a pretty uphill struggle with it. The city itself never really struck me as the kind that would fall to the kind of exaggerated propaganda we got in a lot of our comics around World War 2, etc.
Comics themselves against made-up threats? Yeah, I can see it happening. Can see it being pretty lucrative as well; you can go and see these Heroes in the flesh after all!
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I disagree. Modern comics are now using terrorist models as their "real world threats" when the heroes are not facing super villains. They may not refer to them as Al-Qaeda, Saddam Hussein or similar, but they are recognisable even in comic form. I don't se any reason why comics within the game-world should behave any differently.
The Circle, Hellions, Devouring Earth, The Council, all can be depicted within a Freedon Phalanx comic in Paragon City, but they may given different name while still being very recognisable.
As for propoganda within Paragon City, have you not seen the Vanguard posters everywhere?!
Formerly @Crimson Archer, now @CA
The Militia - Protecting Paragon City through roleplaying since June 2006!
Yes, posters warning against a hostile invasion force. Not comic books that are dealing with such a threat in a faintly camp manner and presenting the conflict with laughably immature Buy War Bonds Nau-esque messages.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about these groups being alluded to - I'm talking about these groups being explicitly named and used in the comic books. Oh, say, a group of mages in the comic being depicted as shadowy and hostile and living in an underground city rather than the Circle of Thorns being shown in their soul stealing, mind reaping "glory".
I just don't think many citizens would view "actual" Vahzilok, et al, in these comics as a positive thing - even less so if they've been touched by the horrors such groups can inflict.
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Yes, posters warning against a hostile invasion force. Not comic books that are dealing with such a threat in a faintly camp manner and presenting the conflict with laughably immature Buy War Bonds Nau-esque messages.
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Camp and immature to our modern sensibilities looking back at the past, certainly.
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I just don't think many citizens would view "actual" Vahzilok, et al, in these comics as a positive thing - even less so if they've been touched by the horrors such groups can inflict.
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Surely that depends on how comics are viewed in society. In our society they are throw away, but as I mentioned above, in the Marvel Universe they are legal documents and considered biographical records. Accuracy, in that case, is important! It's all a matter of perspective, and how comic books are treated.
Perhaps the bigger question is; in a world where superheroes are real, what purpose do comic books about superheroes serve?
Formerly @Crimson Archer, now @CA
The Militia - Protecting Paragon City through roleplaying since June 2006!
Well unless you're going to stalk a superhero all day, i'd say a lot of non superhero would read them. Like people who read murder mysteries, or cop dramas, or Tom Clancy books.
Plus they'll leave out all the boring bits and get to the stuff people enjoy, kicking butt.
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Perhaps the bigger question is; in a world where superheroes are real, what purpose do comic books about superheroes serve?
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See watchmen.
Are there books and TV shows in real life about well, normal people in real life?
Theres no reason why we can have the marvel/DC comics around, it's just they'd be seen as not so fantasy-ish and mabye even have the old "This is a true story only names have been changed" sort of thing to try and boost sales mabye?
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Perhaps the bigger question is; in a world where superheroes are real, what purpose do comic books about superheroes serve?
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See watchmen.
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You mean that pseudo-literary pirate story which was supposed to pass for comic book culture in The Watchmen? Interesting idea, but frankly, I doubt it.
Formerly @Crimson Archer, now @CA
The Militia - Protecting Paragon City through roleplaying since June 2006!
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Are there books and TV shows in real life about well, normal people in real life?
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Ive always assumed there was, i have used LOTS of references from things i like, from music bands to certain films, good example being my characters favorite film being Pulp fiction.
It's often the little things like that, that make me identify with my characters so well, its something to be familiar with. The main reason i found RP in WoW hard was because i couldn't link anything i like in today's RL world with my characters, i dunno, that's what makes RP here for me fun, because the setting of CoX is modern day, saying you saw Pulp Fiction last night IC, isn't immersion breaking at all (Well, atleast for me) saying it in WoW for example would be.
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Perhaps the bigger question is; in a world where superheroes are real, what purpose do comic books about superheroes serve?
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Not all comics are about super Heroes, but from what i gather, the mainstream ones are. Although, i dont know much about comics, infact i ordered my first bunch today. (v1 v2 and v3 of Hack/Slash if your nosey! Ok, so maybe my second, i did read the Civil War graphic Novel)
In Marvel and DC comics still exist.
It's just another kind of entertainment.
I mean we still have soap operas after all and they are more often than not about normal people.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
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In Marvel and DC comics still exist.
It's just another kind of entertainment.
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Absolutely, but the point was that DC Comics don't exist in the Marvel Universe, but Marvel Comics actually do! In the CoH Universe we don't dispute that comic books do exist, but in what form. Purely as fictional entertainment, or as something more truthful?
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I mean we still have soap operas after all and they are more often than not about normal people.
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But soap operas are, by their nature, meant to create a form of realism in their entertainment. So, do the soap operas in Paragon City feature some superheroic characters, after all *that* is their reality...
Formerly @Crimson Archer, now @CA
The Militia - Protecting Paragon City through roleplaying since June 2006!
Soap operas should use hero character in CoX, in our real world we have soaps based on police fire hospital rescue services , army ,navy ,airforce, intel services, CSI teams
every thing is exploted in the name of TV ratings ..
and it would be totally beliveable for superpowered people opting to be a TV hero rather than a on the street hero ..think of all the savings on effects !!
As to comic book i think in CoX they would fictionalize the heros rather than use real ones ...think Roy of the Rover , a footbsll comic hero , ..
However i can see some heroes guesting in both comics andTV shows .
What would be real fun to RP is .."What a hero did to me" .. a Jerry Springer exclusive tonite on Fox
I imagine that a soap of sorts set in a world without supers would be fairly popular, if it has the right story backing.
Other then that, I think about 30% max of the Paragon (and there for world?) are super powered? Which would leave enough room for the nonsuperpowered to have a soap, but with the super powered twists, like the neighbour acting odd, is he a hero or a villain? One of the main or support characters gaining powers to attempt at milking the series for an other season or two and such...
Personally, I think comics in CoH are like they are in Real Life. Because CoH is real life with a twist, it's what people know, what comes natural.
That doesn't mean there can't be historically correct comics.
And yeah! Hero guest stars! Acting as themselves or even someone else... like today's heroes: the actors.
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
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In Marvel and DC comics still exist.
It's just another kind of entertainment.
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Absolutely, but the point was that DC Comics don't exist in the Marvel Universe, but Marvel Comics actually do! In the CoH Universe we don't dispute that comic books do exist, but in what form. Purely as fictional entertainment, or as something more truthful?
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Actually, I'm sure I've read references to Superman in Marvel comics.
Though I'm not sure which ones they were.
[url=http://vox-doom.deviantart.com]Take A Gander At This.[/url]
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In Marvel and DC comics still exist.
It's just another kind of entertainment.
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Absolutely, but the point was that DC Comics don't exist in the Marvel Universe, but Marvel Comics actually do! In the CoH Universe we don't dispute that comic books do exist, but in what form. Purely as fictional entertainment, or as something more truthful?
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Actually, I'm sure I've read references to Superman in Marvel comics.
Though I'm not sure which ones they were.
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I think in one of the Ultimate Spiderman comics, someone holding up a bank is seen in a plastic Batman mask (alongside Captain 'Merica and Iron Man). In the Ultimates, there's also references to a paper called the 'Daily Planet', and in another panel there are three reporters who look suprisingly like Lois Lane, Supes and Jimmy.
But back to the question at hand, I can't see why Marvel/DC comics can't exist in CoX. A few nights ago, there was a discussion about using a 'Fastball Special', and Volt Master actually referenced the comic where it first appeared (Uncanny X-Men #100, if you're interested).
Aren't there a few newspaper missions where you have to save certain people because of how they were depicted in comic/novels/games/movies?
Originally I thought this was a converstaion about how the comics are now cannonically. Which also means we can take about enhancements openly yay!! Which also means that at some point if we were around we lost our powers?
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In Marvel and DC comics still exist.
It's just another kind of entertainment.
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Absolutely, but the point was that DC Comics don't exist in the Marvel Universe, but Marvel Comics actually do! In the CoH Universe we don't dispute that comic books do exist, but in what form. Purely as fictional entertainment, or as something more truthful?
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Actually, I'm sure I've read references to Superman in Marvel comics.
Though I'm not sure which ones they were.
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DC comics do exist in Marvel.
Spiderman reads them.
In addition to comics of Superheroes they make cheasy movies as well in Marvel.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
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... Do 'real' comic books exist in the City of ... World? For example, could my character go into a store ingame and buy the Civil War series, or any other comic book for that? Possibly even the City of Heroes comic books. I'm asking this because i'm planning a character plot that involves comic books.
And that's exactly what it is, planning, thus why i wish to ask the community. Are 'real' comic books in CoX cannon? Is it fudge-able? Or is it just plain impossible / A silly idea?
And think about in-game advertising before you post, as 'real' items will be advertised in a fantasy world. (Of course its your choice to allow this or not.)
Discuss! 
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"If it exists, it exists." (Simple things are true.)
If it's been RP'd as happening before, then it's become a part of RP Canon. So yes, they do exist, like most things.
It's just up to you to represent it well.
I personally wouldn't want DC or Marvel comics moving into our world, because it messes up continuity and immersion, but if you're going to do it, no one can stop you, and as soon as you do it there's another variable that does indeed exist. People can choose how to react to it (deliberately not reacting/acknowledging it in anyway is a reaction) but they can't undo it.
If you do it well and don't screw with anything (see: Forcing your RP on others) then that'll give people more incentive to embrace it as good RP, rather than throwing it out as world-altering global god-modding.
The Real Question: "How can I do this well?"
It takes Chaos to move the world to Action.
First of all... Like already stated... Any comic... marvel, DC or COX is possible to be on the shelves of the Paragon comic shops without any harm to the RP in ANY way.
In fact it will make the feeling of RP better.. Like Elky stated with Pulp Fiction as movie. The world is as close to the real world as can be with super heroes added.
Circle of Thorns in comics.. Hell ye!!! The most famous Captain America cover ever was him smashing Hitler's face in. Mussolini etc. Also came bye often. Current day Superman fights terrorsist.
The Golden age of comics where always when real life threads could be used as enemies. I guess that would not be any different with COT being beat up by a well known hero like Statesman. It helps the public feel better... so it sells... so its good business.
DC Comics are in marvel, Marvel comics are in DC. And more...
I have seen Kitty Pryde wear an Elfquest t-shirt before Elfquest was by marvel
I have seen Clark Kent looking up and see marvel's Quasar fly over during his honeymoon in New York
I have seen the Flash appear in Quasar as an amnesiac super speeder calling himself Buried Alien (Barry Allen)
I have seen Spiderman read a dc comic
The Fantastic Four stopped by at Marvel Comics several times. They are telling real life adventures.
In current She-Hulk they are used as reference in court.. as they always are retellings of stories that happened.
Stated in the in-comic marvel studios was that they sometimes made up stories.. but that the heroes often hate it when it is done.
I have both marvel and dc met in several special crossovers although those can be seen as outside continuity. As normal continuity explains Marvel and DC as seperate Multiverses... Each holding a number of dimensions and Universes. Still the influence of both are shown in comics on either side.
- The Italian Job: The Godfather Returns #1151
Beginner - Encounter a renewed age for the Mook and the Family when Emile Marcone escapes from the Zig!
- Along Came a... Bug!? #528482
Average - A new race of aliens arrives on Earth. And Vanguard has you investigate them!
- The Court of the Blood Countess: The Rise of the Blood Countess #3805
Advanced - Go back in time and witness the birth of a vampire. Follow her to key moments in her life in order to stop her! A story of intrigue, drama and horror! Blood & Violence... not recommend to solo!
I'd like to think that while comics, films, TV shows and other entertainment about heroes exist in CoX, it'd always depict the heroes and villains doing what they do best - being super. I really can't see superheroes in a soap, they're still just too ordinary, whereas heroes are still extraordinary even in a world full of superbeings.
That said, maybe a comedy like My Hero could work, that was a great show plus, I'd imagine quite a few documentaries as well...
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"Hard pressed on my right. My centre is yielding. Impossible to manoeuvre. Situation excellent. I am attacking." - General Ferdinand Foch
... Do 'real' comic books exist in the City of ... World? For example, could my character go into a store ingame and buy the Civil War series, or any other comic book for that? Possibly even the City of Heroes comic books. I'm asking this because i'm planning a character plot that involves comic books.
And that's exactly what it is, planning, thus why i wish to ask the community. Are 'real' comic books in CoX cannon? Is it fudge-able? Or is it just plain impossible / A silly idea?
And think about in-game advertising before you post, as 'real' items will be advertised in a fantasy world. (Of course its your choice to allow this or not.)
Discuss!