"Musings on the ERB Universe: Love it or Hate it?"

The official ERB Inc. logo for the company's universe site.

I find myself unsure of the reason behind writing this post. It seems that the inspiration came more from other book titles I came across, rather than any direct influence from ERB Inc. However, these titles sparked my interest in the crossovers depicted in the Wild Adventures of... and the expanding ERB Universe books. Despite not having read any of these books, I am approaching this topic from the viewpoint of a curious reader and Burroughs fan.

As I type these thoughts, I find myself uncertain about what I truly aim to discover. It is possible that my musings may lead to nothing substantial. However, I hold onto the hope that the thoughts I express will captivate others and encourage a broader and amiable dialogue centered around the interconnected world and the fascinating idea of crossovers.

A crossover or shared universe, at its core, involves merging two or more separate fictional characters, settings, or universes into a single narrative. This concept is familiar to many in my generation through some early comic books like Marvel Two-in-One, Marvel Team-Up, and Marvel’s What If?, which brought together various characters in exciting and engaging stories. The idea of crossover themes in the comic book evolved, becoming more prevalent in the 80s, overused in the 90s, and in my opinion exploited in the 2000s, leading to a decline in interest for some readers.

At a 2024 Carolina Calots Zoom meeting, a discussion surrounding Tarzan at the Earth's Core spawned some intriguing theorizing of the shared universe concept's history. While Edgar Rice Burroughs is often associated with pioneering the idea, research reveals that authors like Jules Verne and Mark Twain had already utilized it in their works. Verne's novels, such as Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea and The Mysterious Island, featured characters from different stories converging. Similarly, Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn introduced Tom Sawyer in a significant guest appearance, marking an early example of literature's first popular crossover.

Although the exact origin of the terms remains unknown, the ERB Inc. website credits Edgar Rice Burroughs for creating the “first expansive, fully cohesive literary universe”. While some may argue that Greek and Roman scribes achieved this with their mythological tales, it is a topic that can be explored in future debates. Burroughs, in his time, stood out as one of the few authors (that I am aware of) in the pulp genre who developed multiple characters that coexisted within the same time period. (I would love to learn of others should they exist.)

A single frame grab from the animate series.

However, despite my admiration for his creations, I am uncertain about the idea of the explosive merging of these various heroes and heroines. I must admit that I hold a rather traditional viewpoint when it comes to this matter. Some of you might remember the animated series Defenders of the Earth. This show features three iconic characters from King Feature Syndicate's comic strips - The Phantom, Flash Gordon, Mandrake the Magician, and Mandrake's assistant Luthar, as they join forces to protect the world from the villain Ming the Merciless. Even though I have a great appreciation for each of these characters individually, I couldn't quite enjoy their collective universe in Defenders of the Earth. As someone who appreciates the originality and authenticity of each of these comic strip heroes, I couldn't help but feel that their union in the Defenders universe was a departure from their individual brilliance.

A crossover can be a powerful marketing tool for publishers to draw in readers from different fanbases, but is the shared universe approach becoming too predictable and lacking in creativity? Is it just a marketing gimmick? I do not want to offend anyone, but I struggle with these thoughts as I browse through various websites. Connecting these characters so closely within one universe could harm the uniqueness of each character.

Should Arthur Maxon find Victor Frankenstein's notebooks about creating artificial life? What about Billy Byrne's adventures on Venus? Then we have a potential powerhouse story where Jane Porter, Ajor, and Co-Tan fight the Wolf of Wall Street. (Humor! I hope you are smiling. :)

Despite all my rambling, I must admit that I haven't reached a definite conclusion regarding my feelings about the expanding titles and their approach to the canon. I commended the authors for their cleverness and talent in constructing these stories, and I do hope that they manage to attract new fans to Burroughs' works.

However, for the time being, I will remain loyal to the original versions. Burroughs meticulously handpicked the characters and settings that he wanted to blend together. He wrote them in his own distinctive manner and style. Although there are countless websites dedicated to rekindling the passion in a relationship, nothing can capture the original brilliance of an author when they put pen to paper. Others may write whatever they please, utilizing the same character names and settings, but they are merely using words. Burroughs' universe belonged solely to him, and he has already provided me with more than enough.

(The author's thoughts and feelings in this post, written on a rainy day without the internet, are solely their own and do not represent the views of the Carolina Calots.)