(Time once again for ROBOT 6 contributors Tom Bondurant and Carla Hoffman to email each other about the year in DC and Marvel superhero comics. This year’s exchange took place between DEc. 26 and Dec. 30. And be sure to check out Part 1 of the conversation.)

Tom Bondurant: One of the more pleasant surprises this year was the extent to which the Big Two started going after a different audience. New books like Ms. Marvel and Gotham Academy, and makeovers for Batgirl and Catwoman, have found success with distinctive, unconventional approaches. How long can they keep this up? Will digital distribution help these books, if it’s not doing so already? Are the Big Two really committed to branching out?

Carla Hoffman: Branching out is such a double-edged sword. It sounds weird to say that, because diversity is so championed online, but when a book can alienate old readers, you really have to draw in a lot of new readers to make up for it. Believe it or not, there were some who complained that Kamala Khan took the Ms. Marvel name rather than getting her own moniker. The good news is that Ms. Marvel is such a quality book and so important to the next generation of comic readers, not to mention Marvel Comics itself, I couldn't care less if a (pardon my use) grumpy old fan can’t change with the times. Marvel published about 40 new titles this year -- everything from Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu to Rocket Raccoon. Not all of the titles stuck (R.I.P. She-Hulk, try again later), but that’s still a lot of new stuff to try that isn’t just another variation of a Wolverine comic.

I doubt they think of it as branching out and getting more diversity of characters and stories on the shelves to attract new readers as much as just seeing what will make them enough money. I mean, I’d like a more altruistic motive when it comes to this kind of thing, but it’s always going to come down to the dollar, especially with larger companies breathing down their necks.

Digital distribution really has done a lot for comics this year, that’s for sure. While, as a retail monkey for my local comic shop, I cringe at the idea that people wouldn’t want to come into a friendly neighborhood comic shop for their books, I can’t help by be proud that a newer generation of fans is looking to comiXology to keep up with titles that might not get that much attention in a more traditional shop. Hopefully being bought up by Amazon will go a little smoother for the company in the new year than it did in 2014.

Do we want to get into the big events from this year? On the Marvel side of the fence, I can say that everything since Age of Ultron has merely felt like setup for a bigger stage. Actually, I can go back even further and say that Jonathan Hickman has been building this feeling of impending doom since he started on the Avengers. AXIS, while an interesting exercise in morality and character development, didn’t really have a distinct return to normal as they closed the toybox with a bunch of toys left outside. Whatever Secret Wars is going to be -- reboot, restructure, refresh, Riunite on Ice -- it has to pay off in a big, big way.

Tom: I’m glad you mentioned Age of Ultron, because it seems like a big buildup (“time is broken”) to ... what? Neil Gaiman’s Angela?

Carla: I know, right? What it’s really meant is that storylines are getting really far out there and dealing with more time/reality/alternate universe plots. All-New X-Men hangs out with Ultimate Spidey! The Fantastic Four are dabbling in the Heroes Reborn characters! It’s starting to become a little bit of a mess, and I’m ready for Secret Wars to be an actual payoff for this scope of storytelling.

Tom: Pay off how, though? I’m only a casual Marvel fan, and more a fan of the old stuff than the new. I understand “massaging” the timeline in order to keep everyone at particular hazily defined ages. Franklin Richards will never be a teenager, Peter Parker will never turn 40, Steve Rogers will always be a child of the Depression, etc. Even so, I can’t imagine a rebooted Marvel Universe where all the supposedly nonsensical stuff gets pruned away and everyone’s history is polished to a high gloss.

Carla: Might I again direct you to the Ultimate Universe? Mind you, that devolved into a murky, awkward mess by now and is no longer the "Marvel Universe in a Modern Style" it used to be ...

Tom: DC can do it because its own publishing history is more about acquisition and interpretation than the various products of a dedicated Bullpen. Only twice in the past 30 years -- after Crisis on Infinite Earths and at the start of the New 52 -- has DC said “We’re officially starting over,” and not even at those times did it start everything over.

Carla: One of DC’s greatest strengths, to me, is its enduring quality of “legacy.” The mantles of a superhero give added weight to fascinating characters, no matter the origin. Did readers really care that Hitman came from the Bloodlines event? Nah, they were into a new story and a new guy. Superman can Elseworlds himself into any genre he pleases and we’ll always be fascinated by the ensuing stories. So yeah, DC can “start over” because its characters are archetypes of what superhero comics represent.

Tom: Marvel’s shared universe has the advantage of clear starting points, whether they involve the original Human Torch or the Fantastic Four. In other words, Marvel has been telling its shared universe’s story at least since 1961. I can’t tell you exactly when the story of DC’s shared universe starts, because it depends on which version of the universe you want.

Carla: And that’s because Marvel falls more into the “legend” style of heroes. There was never a book called “Clark Kent, Superman,” [Actually, there was a backup series called “The Private Life of Clark Kent” -- TB] [Showoff. -- CH] but “Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man” made it clear whose book you were reading. The mask is only an extension of the hero behind it; cleaning up origins actually changes the person that hero becomes, so you can’t really “start over” without repeating yourself. Ultimate Spider-Man got away with it at first because the book was about a modern Peter Parker going through the motions of the original, just with the internet and honestly more time to develop and incorporate details of his background and history gained since 1962. We know those details and we like them enough that when you change one (say, being married to Mary Jane), you start fanbase riots.

I don’t think we’re staring down the barrel of a reboot. Marvel doesn’t need to take that risk.

Tom: See, I don’t know if Secret Wars ‘15 should be emulating Crisis on Infinite Earths as much as something like “Flash of Two Worlds.” The latter made interdimensional comparing and contrasting a standard DC trope, from the JLA/JSA team-ups to Batman and Robin having to prevent the Wayne murders on an Earth without superheroes. If SW15 is just about streamlining and housecleaning, I’m not sure Marvel needs it. Marvel gets along just fine without it from where I’m sitting.

Carla: Ah, but you’re sitting on a pile of back issues to get that view, Tom. New readers don’t get that same perspective. A few genies going back in to bottles, to borrow a Quesada line, might not be all that bad an idea.

... Why did I quote Quesada’s terrible genie idea? Still, if we can massage things enough to get the movies and comics at least in familiar ballparks, that makes the transition between “Hey, I saw a cool movie and want to read an Avengers comic!” and “I’ve been reading Avengers comics forever and fear change!” easier so they can at least sit peacefully at the dinner table together.

Tom: If it’s about exploring different storytelling styles, and somehow opening up the Marvel Universe to new storytelling possibilities, then go for it. Heck, The Multiversity will be over in March -- we’ll see what DC does with it.

Carla: Hey, the worst that could happen is Mephisto, right?

How did 2014 treat DC in event titles this year, Tom? Is Futures End still going? (Remember, I read one DC title.)

Tom: Futures End and the other two weekly books (new issues as of Dec. 31!) are still chugging along for the next few months. When Futures End isn’t wallowing in dystopian angst or predictable tropes, it can be entertaining. I don’t know what sort of payoff it could have unless it starts to reach beyond its “five years from now” timeframe into something more like “next week.” Its companion series, Earth 2: World’s End, is set in the present, but on a different Earth which DC feels free to ravage capriciously. For example, E2:WE just introduced its versions of Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon only to [SPOILERS!!!] kill them off in depressing ways; so again, a payoff’s hard to gauge. Finally, Batman Eternal has been running roughshod over the regular Batman status quo, although it’s promised to build to its own apocalyptic ending involving Bruce Wayne crucified atop a Gotham landmark. But you know, Batman’s always got a plan, so I’m sure it’ll turn out fine.

Carla: A dark and gritty fine, for sure!

Tom: Actually, DC’s been pretty muted in terms of events. This past year saw the end of Forever Evil, a big-event miniseries that spun out of Trinity War, a Justice League crossover that involved Pandora, the mysterious hooded woman who cameo’ed in all the original New 52 first issues. However, Forever Evil hasn’t done a whole lot outside of the JL books, and it looks like it’s going to lead more into the “Darkseid War,” another JL storyline. Otherwise, the New 52 events have tended to involve only a handful of titles (like “Godhead,” the New Gods throwdown in the Green Lantern books). Everything’s on hold until Convergence, I guess.

Carla: Dude, I feel ya. Original Sin was such a weird world-wide event that didn’t really account for much. OG Nick Fury is dead, along with the Watcher, so ... that’s a thing. Most of the secrets reveals just sort of resolved themselves, Angela now being part of the Asgardian mythos being the lasting impact that book had on today’s comics. Wolverine is gone, maybe. Possibly.

It’s that last one that makes me think that Secret Wars is going to undo a lot of what we saw this year and possibly further back as well ...

Tom: As we seem to have come full circle talking about reboots, I’ll just throw out one more thing: I have made the case that the New 52 reboot stopped the then-current DC Universe from expanding any further. DC’s legacy structure had produced four generations of superheroes and was working on a fifth (i.e., Damian Wayne’s generation). Everyone had his or her favorite Batgirl, Flash, Green Lantern, etc., and the older Titans were starting to age into Justice League territory. If it wasn’t starting to get unmanageable, it threatened to be. If you think Marvel’s headed that way, then Secret Wars potentially holds your answers. If not, Secret Wars may just be a lot of sound and fury.

Carla: Nah. If people remember the X-Men circa 1990, then the characters they love are still around in today’s comics, just with different costumes and a little more wear and tear. New Mutant classes are the only real sets of characters that just sort of build up every generation or so, but ... there’s a large graveyard in the back of the Jean Grey School that handles that. Yeesh.

Making my end-of-the-year guess? Secret Wars is going to be a huge collection of "What If?" universes duking it out for existence. We’ll see a Superior Iron Man fight young Tony from the Crossing or some such, and one might die and one might even move into the 616 after their universe collapses, per the events of Hickman’s Avengers plot. It’ll be big and messy and (hopefully, wishfully, prayerfully) very tidy at the end of it all.

Tom: I think the New 52 reboot contained enough missteps that some tweaks are in order, so I hope Convergence supplies them. Similarly, if it doesn’t, I think DC risks alienating a whole lot of otherwise-patient readers.

Carla: Considering how much I still recommend older DC trades over newer ones? A little adjustment couldn’t hurt.

Tom: Because we’ve talked a lot about tweaking and massaging -- and, incidentally, turning the Fantastic Four into what might sound like a DC-style legacy institution -- let’s start wrapping things up by offering a couple of suggestions. If Marvel made only one tweak, what should it be?

Carla: To continuity? Or just to the publishing line in general? Personally, I’d love it if we brought back Marvel Comics Presents so we could play around in alternate universes and solo series and new ideas more, but anthologies just don’t sell, no matter how awesome they are. I’d love for the Ultimate Universe to find a way to get back to being that bridge point between comics continuity and TV/movie continuity, but I wouldn’t sacrifice Miles Morales for that, no matter the best of intentions.

As far as continuity goes, yeah. I think bringing back the Future Foundation is a little like making Bucky Captain America for a time; a good way to get a fresh perspective on the character (or in this case, team) and a way to illustrate how hard the originals worked to be the illustrious heroes we all know and love. It wouldn’t fix everything, but it would be an easy start to getting the First Family back on track.

That and not canceling She-Hulk and putting Thor: Ages of Thunder back into print. I mean, they wouldn’t help the FF, but it’d make me happy.

Tom: And my last question goes back to one of your columns lamenting the lack of Ant-Man and Doctor Strange comics. How big of a 2015 do they need to have? Who else needs a boost in the new year?

Carla: Kamala Khan. Her year this year was huge, no doubt, with her first issue going back into print seven times (as of November) and being a huge seller on the digital market, but I want to see more of this awesome heroine all over the Marvel Universe. G. Willow Wilson brings so much heart and soul and fun to the character and is probably the most successful “youth writer” in the Big Two right now, someone who’s able to tap into a culture and generation ripe for comic reading without being buzzword-filled or patronizing. I hope Kamala gets more opportunities to shine and can remain the same noble-hearted nerd we see in her solo title in future books.

Doctor Strange not having a series or even a miniseries is just such a waste. Writers get tangled up in what he can do rather than who he is, and so there are more stories about him facilitating big events (being a spellcaster and world-walker in AXIS), or gaining/losing power, than there are of just stories that talk about who Stephen Strange is as a human being. It’s why Doctor Strange: The Oath is such a go-to book when it comes to introducing the Sorcerer Supreme to the general public, as Brian K. Vaughan was the last guy to really showcase that. And the Oath miniseries ended in 2007! Doctor Strange needs to be on the shelves now, especially considering they cast super-hot actor and possible human otter-face Benedict Cumberbatch as the lead in the upcoming movie. People will want to know about this guy and it’d be great if there was more than a eight-year-old trade to suggest to the curious.

As for Ant-Man ... I honestly would be happy just seeing him return to the pages of FF; that was a great book for Scott Lang. Maybe an all-ages book about a superhero and her father, also a superhero? A Cassie Lang-Scott Lang book would be pretty fun!

How about you, sir? Does DC publish more than Batman books? Who else should Geoff Johns cut a limb from this year? And should the success of Arrow and the Flash on TV facilitate a change in direction in their respective comics? Outside the specifically published tie-in comics on the shelves, that is.

Tom: Hey, Geoff Johns should work for Hydra! (Ha! A dismemberment joke!) Seriously, it’s kind of ironic that with all his vast powers, Johns only has time to write two books. They’re two of DC’s highest-profile books, but still. I do like what he’s been doing with Justice League, even if it’s gotten away from anything resembling a traditional JL status quo; and I think writing Superman again has reinvigorated him. For all the guff he gets from fandom, DC needs Geoff Johns, or someone a lot like him, to be an evangelist for the comics themselves. He’s making sure the books don’t get lost in all the multimedia excitement.

Carla: I tease because I care! Or don’t care enough to take his lopping off of limbs personally. Johns has done a lot for comic books as a spokesperson and as someone who honestly hasn’t left their side, considering all the opportunity he could have in a bigger medium like TV or movies.

Tom: As for the Bat-books, I like what I’ve been hearing from group editor Mark Doyle. He’s in charge of DC’s biggest franchise, both in terms of titles and popularity, but he’s using that position to cultivate new and different perspectives on the Bat-folk. Grayson is a spy series, Gotham Academy is about high-school students, Batgirl’s a hipster and Catwoman’s a mob boss. They’re not 13 different versions of grim urban avenging.

Finally, as I said a few weeks back, I think Arrow and The Flash have been moving steadily toward more fidelity with the comics -- or at least with what has appeared/could appear on the page. I don’t think the comics necessarily need to match up with the shows, although I did argue that the Flash comic could use a little more of its TV counterpart’s sunny disposition. Where I really think the comics and screen should match is with Wonder Woman. I get the feeling that throughout 2015, we’ll be learning more and more about WW’s movie debut, and the comics will want to keep up. How the movie presents Diana to the world will definitely influence how the comics treat her, for good or ill. I really hope the interpretation is one that lives up to the character’s history as well as her potential. No pressure, right?

Carla: Wonder Woman joins the Fantastic Four! You heard it here first!

Tom: Whew! After all that I am more than ready to put 2014 to bed. Any final thoughts?

Carla: 2014 felt like a placeholder year, a means to the eventual ends we both should be getting in 2015 with the big events in the pages of the funnybooks and on the small and silver screen that are all lined up. I need all the momentum to go somewhere! So happy new year, Tom. May we both meet each other on the other side, garbed in rich new continuity that fits like a glove. If not, well ...  next year’s recap can be handled by the 515-Carla and the Tom from Earth-Five.