Comic Collectors dust off ‘Tron’ comics as ‘Tron: Legacy’ opens
Disney is attempting to find the same magic that catapulted “Pirates of the Caribbean” from a theme park ride into motion picture success. The 1982 film “Tron” is a cult favorite but hardly warrants the distinction as a classic. With that said, the CGI ladened trailers, commericals and merchandise have teased frenzied fans ready to line up for new picture: “Tron: Legacy.”
There was only one comic book, a “Giant sized” collector issue, released in 1982. The film was followed with a successful video game in 2003 and then a comic book “sequel” in 2006 entitled: “Tron: The Ghost in the Machine.”
Unfortunately, sporadic releases over the course of two years squashed fan interest and only now, due to “Legacy”, do we see fans scurry to locate a trade paperwork of the “Ghost in the Machine” collection.
The “Ghost in the Machine” attempts to create and expand the “Tron” mythology”
In the early 1970s a small engineering company called ENCOM introduced a revolutionary type of software designed to direct and streamline the transfer of data between networked machines. Ed Dillinger, the lead programmer on this project, realized the enormous potential of his team’s creation and secretly encoded a secondary function to be activated upon installation: to copy the sub-routines of other programs and absorb their functions. This alteration allowed Dillinger to appropriate research and claim it as his own, and he rose quickly through ENCOM’s corporate ranks. This was the beginning of the Master Control Program. – quoted via Wikipedia
“Tron: Legacy” will probably turn out to be a turning point as the franchise will either explode into a phenomenom or disappear into oblivion. For the Tron comic collector, unless you are the proud owner of the “Giant Size” comic from 80’s, will be cheering for success, even if that’s simply to see Tron comics rise in popularity.
My first effort at “blogging” before it was called “blogging” was a Pop Culture, Comic Book column at CrazedFanboy.com.
A lot sure has changed since these days.
Due to the support/pressure from my DOB comrades, Splash Page was resurrected to publish Pop Culture topics and the “State of the Nation” will continue to deal with politics and heavy issues.
Beginning in December of 2010, I began writing on Examiner.com, check out my articles there: http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-tampa-bay/brandon-jones