Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination is a limited comic book series written by Josh Elder and illustrated by Adam Archer and Ben Bates. The limited series is based on the fifth installment in 5th Cell's Scribblenauts video game series, Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[1] Starting in December 2013 and ending in September 2014, 9 issues of the series were released.[2][3]

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination
Cover art of Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, a collection featuring all 9 issues from A Crisis of Imagination
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatLimited series
GenreAdventure
Publication dateDecember 2013 – September 2014
No. of issues9[lower-alpha 1]
Creative team
Written byJosh Elder
Artist(s)Adam Archer
Ben Bates
Letterer(s)Saida Temofonte
Colorist(s)Ian Herring

A one-shot comic was also bundled with Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, titled Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Battle Most Bizarre. The one-shot was also written by Elder and illustrated by Archer.[4]

Plot summary

The series takes place in the DC Universe and follows Scribblenauts characters Maxwell and Lily, and features numerous DC Comics characters.[5] The series' main antagonist is Madame Xanadu, who's plotted a plan to "demise" the Justice League.[2] Throughout the series, Maxwell and Lily travel to multiple locations in the DC Universe, including Metropolis,[6] Watchtower,[7] and the Phantom Zone.[8]

History
Writer Josh Elder at the Cusp Conference in 2010

After Elder sold the script of the Adventures of Superman anthology to script editor Alex Antone, Antone told Elder to pitch a one-shot comic that was to be bundled with Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, titled Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Battle Most Bizarre.[5][9] Prior to the one-shot's pitch, Elder had never played a Scribblenauts game. After installing and playing Scribblenauts Remix on his iPad, Elder "fell in love [with the game] pretty much immediately".[5] Following A Battle Most Bizarre's release, some of DC Comics' other comic titles received alternate cover art featuring Scribblenauts characters.[10] Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure first released on September 23, 2013, and, as planned, was bundled with A Battle Most Bizarre.[11]

After the one-shot's pitch, Antone told Elder to pitch a limited comic series also based on Scribblenauts, which became A Crisis of Imagination.[5] Elder told American news website IGN that due to his prior work on StarCraft: Frontline and Mail Order Ninja, A Crisis of Imagination was in his "comfort zone". Elder also stated that the biggest issue with writing the comic was trying to "balanc[e] the different tones and 'reality rules'" of Scribblenauts and DC Comics.[5] In 2013, Elder told the Canadian comic book-focused website Comic Book Resources that he actively plays Remix and Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure to keep himself "immersed in the unique feel of [the game's] world".[12]

Release timeline
2013
  • A Battle Most Bizarre (September)
  • Issue #1 (December)
2014
  • Issue #2 (February)
  • Issue #3 (March)
  • Issue #4 (April)
  • Issue #5 (May)
  • Issue #6 (June)
  • Issue #7 (July)
  • Issue #8 (August)
  • Issue #9 (September)
2015Collection (February)

The first issue of A Crisis of Imagination released in early December 2013[2] and the last was released in mid-September 2014.[3] A collection featuring all 9 issues was released in February 2015.[13]

Reception

Doug Zawisza of Comic Book Resources described A Crisis of Imagination's art style as being "akin to Fisher Price Little People and Art Baltazar drawings, but with a little bit more fluidity to their movements and gestures." Zawisza also noted that the series' first issue was a "nice addition to [that] week's comic book offerings".[2] Brigid Alverson, also writing for Comic Book Resources, compared the Scribblenauts series to comic books and, as such, thought it was logical, although "circular", for a comic book spinoff of the series to be launched.[12] Jesse Schedeen, writing for IGN, described the series' world as "cutesy".[14]

Jay Yaws of Batman-News gave the comic's 9th issue a score of 5/10. Yaws described the issue's comedy as being "corny, cliche," and, at times, "almost lazy". Yaws was happy that the comic ended on a "note of finality", as it did not "leave any threads open" for a potential sequel. Yaws, although not a fan of Elder's writing, commended and respected him for "containing [the] miniseries to itself." Yaws found the art style "serviceable", but not amazing; however, he stated that the easter eggs hidden in the comics could make him occasionally "chuckle". Ultimately, Yaws described the 9th issue as a "cash-in" with a "definitive ending."[15]

Notes
  1. 10, if counting the Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure collection. 11, if also counting Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Battle Most Bizarre

References
  1. Perry, Isaac (December 4, 2013). "Return To Scribblenauts Unmasked With Crisis Of Imagination". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  2. Zawisza, Doug (December 5, 2013). "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination #1". Comic Book Resources. Valnet. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  3. CBR Staff (September 15, 2014). "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination #9". Comic Book Resources. Valnet. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  4. Langshaw, Mark (August 30, 2013). "'Scribblenauts Unmasked' gets free companion comic". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  5. Carle, Chris (August 9, 2018). "DC Comics to Launch Scribblenauts Unmasked Digital-First Comic". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. CBR Staff (February 18, 2014). "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination #2". Comic Book Resources. Valnet. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  7. CBR Staff (March 18, 2014). "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination #3". Comic Book Resources. Valnet. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. CBR Staff (May 20, 2014). "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination #5". Comic Book Resources. Valnet. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  9. Burlingame, Russ (September 6, 2017). "Scribblenauts Unmasked Comic Coming From DC Comics, Josh Elder and Adam Archer". Comic Book. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  10. Langshaw, Mark (October 10, 2013). "DC Comics titles get 'Scribblenauts' variant covers". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  11. Campbell, Colin (August 29, 2013). "DC digital comic offer for Scribblenauts Unmasked". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  12. Alverson, Brigid (December 4, 2013). "Elder on "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination"". Comic Book Resources. Valnet. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  13. "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure". DC Comics. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  14. Schedeen, Jesse (August 9, 2018). "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination #7 Preview". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  15. Yaws, Jay (September 18, 2014). "Scribblenauts Unmasked: A Crisis of Imagination #9 review". Batman-News. Fun Jug Media. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
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