What Should Change in Comics?

[Jonzeartist]

What...in your opinion...should change in comics? If anything that is. If you feel that everything is great then fine but I always hear people state that a certain person should not be writing a specific comic title. That's just for example. Maybe it's an artist who does not draw a title well.

THose are just ideas to get the ball rolling. I heard that guy who wrote "Civil War" is on many people's hit lists. LOL

Jon

[Rob Norton]

this thread is what we are going to referrer to as "bitch fest"

let the anger commence...

rob

[Lovecraft13]

I think they could use more guns, chicks, or a combo of both.

[RandallFlagg]

I think they could use more guns, chicks, or a combo of both.
But the chicks need to be very scantily clad. Also, there should be more mysterious tough men with shadowy pasts.

[deathdealer]

people need to stop coming back from the grave

[Mike225]

More people that you've never heard of that know Wolverine somehow!

[mistermaxx]

No more zombies. EV-ver.

[The-Spirit]

Marvel should have a crisis and re-start the universe.

And fire Joe Q.

[N Hammer]

More graphic novels, and less mini-(or limited) series. If you have only one story to tell then tell it all at once and stop dragging it out over months.

[carriertone]

More graphic novels, and less mini-(or limited) series. If you have only one story to tell then tell it all at once and stop dragging it out over months.

While this sounds like a great idea, the truth is, graphic novels don't tend to sell well. Most people will try out a new book or concept if it's $2.99, but not so much if it's $10.99 or more. Graphic novels tend to sit on shelves for much longer than single issues, or even trades for some reason. Just thought I'd give you my retailer perspective.

- C

[carriertone]

No more zombies. EV-ver.

Zombie books sell, pure and simple. The Walking Dead is arguably Image's best seller. The Marvel Zombies hardcover is in it's third printing, which is almost unheard of in comics. As long as they are still selling, they will keep making them. I agree that the market is totally oversaturated right now, but there IS a reason. Zombies are huge right now, get used to it.

- C

[kdmelrose]

While this sounds like a great idea, the truth is, graphic novels don't tend to sell well.

Somebody is buying them. According to an ICv2 White Paper, graphic novel sales in North America passed periodicals in 2005, and held onto that lead in 2006.

[carriertone]

Somebody is buying them. According to an ICv2 White Paper, graphic novel sales in North America passed periodicals in 2005, and held onto that lead in 2006.

That's because they consider trades and manga to be the same thing as graphic novels. Even though WE know the difference, most of the mainstream public doesn't. It's rare that an original graphic novel sells well, though. Just ask anyone who's done one.

- C

[N Hammer]

While this sounds like a great idea, the truth is, graphic novels don't tend to sell well. Most people will try out a new book or concept if it's $2.99, but not so much if it's $10.99 or more. Graphic novels tend to sit on shelves for much longer than single issues, or even trades for some reason. Just thought I'd give you my retailer perspective.

- C

I see what you mean. Creators would need to put some finished preview pages on a website so people can decide if it's something they're interested in. Of course it sounds good in theory I suppose. :(

[jmassie]

The fanbase

[Moonrider]

Care to elaborate?

[onizuka43]

You know one of the biggest problems is that some of the comics aren't fun anymore. They use to be for escapism and now the worlds that they inhabit are just as bad as our worse days. I like a story like the ultimates were the world is in a bad state after a hero fight, but I don't like it each month in all of the books that I buy.
They need to get back to writing exciting stories and not stories about what one of spiderman's fight did to a neighborhood. Anymore it's the outside continity stories that I seem to like the best. Invincible is a good example of that type of comic, it's just a fun read and it give the main character the spotlight and not his actions.

[Paul Sanderson]

You know one of the biggest problems is that some of the comics aren't fun anymore. They use to be for escapism and now the worlds that they inhabit are just as bad as our worse days. I like a story like the ultimates were the world is in a bad state after a hero fight, but I don't like it each month in all of the books that I buy.
They need to get back to writing exciting stories and not stories about what one of spiderman's fight did to a neighborhood. Anymore it's the outside continity stories that I seem to like the best. Invincible is a good example of that type of comic, it's just a fun read and it give the main character the spotlight and not his actions.

Couldn't agree more, which is one reason why Manga comics do so well these days. They're actually fun and entertaining, which most mainstream US comics have forgotten how to be. Comics should be fun and entertaining to read, for the most part, which most aren't anymore these days, and that's a shame.

[onizuka43]

Yeah at the borders I go to american comics don't even take up 1/10 of the space that they have for manga. Everyone first though it was going to be just a fad but they are telling better stories then the big two so I think they are going to be around for awhile.

[jmassie]

Care to elaborate?

Maybe later.

[VOGLER/ART]

Truthly, I think Marvel and DC should start from scratch. Kill off all the classic characters and create new ones, except for the Hulk ;)

[Hob Anagarak]

Less Mega-Uber-Events-of-the-Decade-that-will-Permanently-Change-<insert Universe/Character of Choice>-FOREVER!

More of my work getting published. Or, y'know, "any" of my work getting published would be nifty. :cool:

[Moonrider]

Maybe later.

Took you long enough to answer. ;)

[ponyrl]

Couldn't agree more, which is one reason why Manga comics do so well these days. They're actually fun and entertaining, which most mainstream US comics have forgotten how to be. Comics should be fun and entertaining to read, for the most part, which most aren't anymore these days, and that's a shame.
FINALLY PEOPLE ARE IN LINE WITH ME!

I stopped when comics became too close to reality.

Ex. The New Outsiders. One moment they'd just saved the world from a jail break, the next, and I mean NEXT issue, one of their members goes searching for the people that sold her into slavery and raped her.

THE VERY NEXT ISSUE!

W-T-F!?

:man: that did it for me.

[Moonrider]

Which is why we need more Nextwave.

[JamieRoberts]

So all we've got out of this thread is 'comics should be more fun'? Not exactly a breakthrough. Besides, comics started becoming more realistic around 2001, specifically after 9/11. I think it was a reaction to the fact that suddenly the publishers and editors wondered why their characters would keep out of realistic events.

I personally prefer this kind of thing. It's not in you face exciting like older comics were, but then, the audience is older (for the companies to keep denying that is only going to hurt when it comes to hitting targets) and anything less than intelligently-written, reactive stories is kinda insulting our intelligence.

I love old stories. Love 'em. They remind me of being a kid, but they were written with kids and teens in mind, at best. If all you want is to feel like a kid again, there's a wealth of old material. There's also Marvel Adventures, The Batman Strikes (I think that's still being published, anyway), and I'm sure quite a few I don't know of. But the fact the majority don't read these? I'd say that speaks volumes.

Things I think need to change.

1 - Collector's mentality. It's a comic book, not a ming vase. If you're seriously going to put it up for auction (not eBay, you get sod all for them on there), be my guest. Otherwise, stop being such a bitch about the tiny fold in the corner, having acid-free backing boards and buying limited edition covers that cost ten times more and just read the frigging book.

2 - Michael Turner covers. At least, for comics that people might buy.

3 - Bonus content online, linked from the back of the book itself. Keeps printing costs down and means you don't quite reach the end when the book's closed.

4 - We seriously need to get over Watchmen. It's a brilliant piece of work, but you can bet your beard that moviemakers don't spank themselves watching Citizen Kane scenes every five minutes. And there should never be a sequel. It's been over 20 years! Move on!

5 - Aspiring creators should have a back-up plan. If they insist on perservering, do something original.

6 - Maybe most important... readers should make an effort to buy a larger percentage (or in some cases, a percentage) of small press or indie books, and for God's sake, try something other than superhero books. Hardcore Marvel and DC guys shouldn't worry, their favourites will stick around (the dregs of the market may not, but that could be for the best), but the Big 2 have the ability to create more than superhero tales and should be bloody well encouraged to do so. Only sales will do that.

7 - Someone should spray air freshener in comic shops once in a while.

8 - Buy Digital Webbing Presents.

9 - Instead of jumping on the manga bandwagon by having US comics looking like stills from an anime film, the pacing and structure should be studied. It's not all about the art.

10 - From now on, any comic with these words in the title should be forced to think how derivative they are being:

DARK SOUL FIRE JUSTICE SQUAD MAN MEN STORM SHADOW POWER RISING DEATH FORCE

That's not to say they will be bad books. Far from it in some cases (Joe, Ed, Mike... not you guys!), but these are words that crop up so often in comics and don't always tell you anything about the characters or kind of book it's going to be.

[Paul Sanderson]

The audience is older because comics lost generations of kids due to a variety of reasons constantly pointed out over the months/years on this board. Comics should cater for everyone like they used to, not just an ever decreasing demographic of aging fanboys. And comics have always been, and are always meant to be, entertainment. And most US comics today just aren't entertaining or fun anymore. And that's a major problem.

[JamieRoberts]

I agree that comics should be for everyone. I also agree that comics were more fun, in the traditional sense, years ago. If there was a concerted effort by the big guys to make comics appeal to kids, we'd see that fun return. But comics should also be intelligent. They should be dramatic, slow, fast, emotional, realistic, chaotic, ridiculous, funny, engaging, scary, thrilling and more besides.

Saying comics should be fun is like saying movies should be fun. I'd hardly call Schindler's List fun, nor Gandhi, nor The Exorcist. Movies manage to be varied enough that the fun is there in larger doses than anything else (usually at the expense of a decent story), but there is literally something for everyone.

A return to comics of old would be a bad thing, if only because comics today are a direct result of countless attempts to recapture the 'glory days', with nobody realising if they'd just looked sideways in the 80s, they could have avoided this superhero-fest. It would be starting the cycle all over again.

[Moonrider]

I disagree that comics need to be for everyone, because in truth nothing is. What we need is more variety for everyone. I'm not even saying that comics should all be more fun, I'm saying we need more fun comics. For example, I enjoy grim and gritty stuff like Brubaker's run on Captain America or Iron Fist but if I want more fun I can always go check out Blue Beetle or any recent Superman titles from Kurt Busiek (the first Action Comics arc with The Auctioner was tons of fun). These sort of titles are severely lacking and I find it harder and harder to find a comic book without a single drop of blood on the cover.

The manga part I agree. It has been a problem with young artists everywhere who tend to rip it off directly rather than learning anything from it.

I never understand collector's mentality. I always prefer great stories and good art over Turner covers.

[JamieRoberts]

I never understand collector's mentality. I always prefer great stories and good art over Turner covers.

A-bloody-men.

[LilGreenMan]

Truthly, I think Marvel and DC should start from scratch. Kill off all the classic characters and create new ones, except for the Hulk ;)


You sir, are a GENUIS!


We gotta remember here that this question more applies to the united states and perhaps europe. Asian countries seem to sell comics well (China, japan and Korea that I know of).


What the problem in the USA is older people buying the comics and kids not having the money or enough interest in them anymore because they're just not fun. Target the kids, destroy marvel and dc altogether for a few months (except, of course for hulk) start at ground zero and do not ever bring back superman except in memory.

[Lovecraft13]

I honestly think there should be more X-men titles and spin-offs, plus a new Ultimate universe where characters can start fresh and shake off the continunity of the original Ultimate universe.

[JamieRoberts]

Yeah, like THAT'S ever gonna happen.

[Moonrider]

More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine!

[Paul Sanderson]

Both DC and Marvel should cut most of their duplicated titles and focus their talent on fewer titles, ensuring those titles are of the very highest standard (which ain't happening at present with many mediocre titles).

[Lovecraft13]

More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine! More Wolverine!

I agree! He should be on more teams. More books!

[Mike225]

I've heard the reason for the 50 state initiative was to create more teams for Wolverine to be a part of, so you may get your wish.

[Jasen Smith]

So kill off the old guys and bring in the new kids.

Hmmm I think this has been done and failed.

Generation X for one example.

Not sure on the new avengers but I hear good and bad things.

Can't kill the old guys....or at least not yet. Not for another 10-20 years from now.

Bringing in new kids to take over is a bad idea. Get rid of all the god like things in comics...make them more real and action packed...you can still have blood and gore and still sell it to kids. As long as its not 300-like gore. (great movie)

These type of characters worked for us in the past and the changing of them has brought alot of interests in comics, Civil War and 52 have brought in alot of new readers aswell as keeping the old.

What should be changed is the marketing of the comics. They dont sell alot because you cant get them in small towns. Comic shops aren't everywhere and the ones that are sold in grocery stores arent even enough to give you a choice of what to buy.

Sell comics in wal mart in the kid section. Comics would sell, but the market is horrible right now and isn't improving. We need those vending machines with comics in them. :D

[LilGreenMan]

It hasn't been done on a wide scale basis and it hasn;t held longetivity.

Forget killing off the old characters, kill the whole company and let it lie for a few months to a year. Renew it in other words.

Only ginger kids like wolverine post ninties.

[jimmybott]

It's tough to change, also there is a lot of risk involved. I'd like to see mainstream comics diversifying. Like, I've always wondered what it would be like if the same production went into Vertigo books how well they would do? If Brian Hitch and Steve McNiven were doing those kind of books with the same kind of production values on colors, letters, design, etc as ultimates or civil war how popular they would be? I really liked Lee Bermejos issue of Global Frequency, it had that kind of feel. I'd love to see more stuff like that.

I don't think we need to kill off the old icons. They'll always have their following and when you're trying something to do something new you could do with other things that are a bit of a gaurantee just to balance the risk. I think the spider, x books etc, could be trimmed down to just a few core books though.

One way the big 2 could diversify their line for minimum risk would be to introduce creator owned lines. I know Marvel had the Epic line, but they didn't really seem to give it much of a chance and of course they have Icon. But there are only a few books and they don't seem to come out all that often. So I really think that is 1 way they could go and minimise their expenditure and risk of loss.

Someone already mentioned Marketing. I think maybe the big 2 could branch out into more mass market advertising. TV, Radio, magazines. Even developing "trailers" of sorts. But then again that is another risky venture.

Price point, I think there must be a way to print and sell cheaper comics. Though recently I have heard retailers wouldn't be happy in a price drop as they would have to sell more copies to make the same money. But from a retailer point of view $3.00-3.50 for a comic book? But I think from a reader point of view, cheaper the better.

And do we keep needing these big summer events? Oh yeah, and someone PLEASE go back and launch Jason Pearsons Red Bird book at Wildstorm, that looked so awesome and never came out, I heard because the Rip Claw book by Simon Bisley didn't do so well.

[JamieRoberts]

Summer blockbusters are getting a bit silly now, just because they tend to go on so long and encompass so many books that the majority of the year is one long storyline. Where's the variety?

I'd prefer, much prefer, to see a weekly anthology comic. Weekly should be more common. Less pages and rotating stories/characters could take care of deadline problems to a degree. Plus, who is ever offended by a varied read? Or not even varied within an issue, perhaps done like the old 'Summer Specials', with a few stories based around certain characters. Light-hearted, serious... a mix. I'm basically pining for the days of the old UK comics, I think. It was exciting when these things were about.

[Paul Sanderson]

I personally wish anthologies were more prevalent than they currently are.

[isaachawk6]

um comic book deaths

once someones dead STAY DEAD. my only problem with the comic world..oh yeah and that old villain from marvel scourge should come back

[isaachawk6]

and it wouldnt hurt to see more new writers and artist breaking into the biz

[Paul Sanderson]

I would prefer to break the shackles of ageism rife in comics, and bring back a lot of the old creators who are still viable, still capable of good stories, and able to keep to a deadline.

[Laemeur]

I'll just throw in my vote supporting anthologies as well. This would solve a few problems that have been addressed in this thread. For one, anthologies are a great proving ground for new talent, but beyond that, if there were a few major anthologies, say, a superhero book (like the old Action Comics Weekly, only better), a sci-fi book like 2000AD, and a few others (zombie/horror, romance, whatever), then the supermarkets would only have to order/stock a few titles, and have a much better chance of selling comics to a wider range of customers.

If the Safeway in my town can carry four different magazines about firearms, then they oughtta be able to carry four different comics anthologies. Am I right?

[JamieRoberts]

um comic book deaths

once someones dead STAY DEAD. my only problem with the comic world..oh yeah and that old villain from marvel scourge should come back
Isn't he dead?

[LilGreenMan]

The biggest selling comic of all time would be a cross company comic in which an icon dies. Hulk vs. Superman. Hulk kills supes for good . Only fitting that one icon takes out another and not some namby pamby made up villain. It would sell a billion issues and finally get rid of supes who, if he were real, would be begging to just die. Man he's gotta be tired.

[Mike225]

Hulk kills supes for good .Didn't we already prove that he can't? Stop pointing threads in this direction.

[jdcunard]

The basic promblem why Manga beat the US comics is because, 95% of all US comics is about Superheroes. and lets face it. the US comic industry has been playing with the super hero idea from World War 2. nearly 50 years.
its bound to get outdated.

[LilGreenMan]

Didn't we already prove that he can't? Stop pointing threads in this direction.


Whatever....He can.

Take away my favortism, the point is Supes needs to die. If he were real he'd be begging for someone to kill him. Now imagine, if you will, it was Hulk. Both companies would sell millions of copies from each title. A couple months later bring in someone from dc to kill off...hmm...someone old and well known (all I can thank of is namor and cap and cap is the only who's lived past his prime but he's just been killed soo....).

[Mike225]

You're bored tonight, yeah?

[The Scribe]

Whatever....He can.

Take away my favortism, the point is Supes needs to die. If he were real he'd be begging for someone to kill him. Now imagine, if you will, it was Hulk. Both companies would sell millions of copies from each title. A couple months later bring in someone from dc to kill off...hmm...someone old and well known (all I can thank of is namor and cap and cap is the only who's lived past his prime but he's just been killed soo....).

Sure. :rolleyes:

I doubt DC is going to permanently kill their cash cow.

Imagine you had Superman's powers.
(X-ray vision and flight. :bounce: )

[LilGreenMan]

I thought Batman was the cash cow. Last time I saw sales supes wasn't doing too well.

[LilGreenMan]

You're bored tonight, yeah?

Not really, I gotta finish a comics page.

[The Scribe]

I thought Batman was the cash cow. Last time I saw sales supes wasn't doing too well.

Okay they are both cash cows. As long as DC is in business they will publish both characters.

I always hear people want comics to change and characters to move on, die, etc. But they continue to read the same things over and over again.

Erik Larsen does this in his comic, you know the Savage Dragon. ;)

I guess people just like to argue about things they really don't want to see. :yawn:

[LilGreenMan]

Superman is only a cash cow in other realms..not comics...they can still have him everywhere else but in comics he just grows more and more lame.

[Mike225]

You've been keeping up with the Superman franchise then? Reading the comics?

[Paul Sanderson]

They already killed Superman once. Been there, done that. Next idea please.

[W. Smith]

I think one of the major problems you are missing when considering the younger generations and American comics, is the number of alternative entertainment outlets available. I love comics and I tried to bring that to my kids. All of them enjoyed them for a while, but have since moved on. Video games, kid-oriented card games (poke mon, Yu-gi-oh), just plain ole novels (especially from the birth of Harry Potter) and even TV have all been part of the distraction.

When I was a kid (70's and 80's) we only had a small black and white TV. I was only allowed to watch if my parents were watching and as a result I was a voracious reader. Comics become my medium of choice not just for the characters and stories, but because the art was cool too. It just isn't that way now.

My youngest, despite being a green lantern fan, lost interest in the comic pretty quickly (he picked it up after Hal Jordan's return).

I have to cast a positive vote for anthologies though. My son still enjoys flipping through a Shonen Jump; while it is an example of commercial development and push for TV interest, it still says something that he is interested.

[W. Smith]

I'm sure this will be a follow on question:

My kids are
boy 16- wants to be a rock star, plays guitar has a band, is actually decent. Moved fromactive school brain to skateboarding to this band thing. He likes older orineted stuff now FRank Miller and Alan Moore, but only for the single read.
Girl 14- loves to read fantasy and adventure, but likes a strong female character or lead, but finds comics for boys and overall boring. When she was young she loved Sailor Moon.
Boy 12- Liked green lantern but the writing was a little too . (whatever happened to taking over the world or robbing banks, now it's all about revenge and specific goings on to take over the world-which used to be this real abstract idea) Loves Timmy Turner and Jimmy Neutron and plays WoW evey chance he gets.

[LilGreenMan]

They already killed Superman once. Been there, done that. Next idea please.

uh keep him dead. Anyone who fell for it the first time is a fool anyway. Please, even I know you can't simply beat supes to death.

[The Scribe]

I think one of the major problems you are missing when considering the younger generations and American comics, is the number of alternative entertainment outlets available.

So, what do you think would bring your children, and others, into comics to stay?


I have to cast a positive vote for anthologies though. My son still enjoys flipping through a Shonen Jump; while it is an example of commercial development and push for TV interest, it still says something that he is interested.

I'd like to see magazine size anthologies for Marvel, DC, Image, etc.
Most people say they never sell. I see children looking through them at book stores, so I think other wise. They would work and bring in new readers. Also, comics should be for all ages. Keep the mature themes in mature comics. ;)

[Phatman]

Things I'd like to see change:

1)Comics need to give more bang for the buck-more art, more story for the price.
2)Comics need to be sold everywhere.
3)Comics need to grow their audience-women and children would be a good place to start (do 1 & 2 and this will probably happen).
4)Comic's creators (mainly artists IMO) need to get off of the Big Two farm and start making their own mark instead of making the latest revamp of Superman or Spidey thier life's work.

These are the changes I'd like to see, so go do it comics industry! :happy:

[W. Smith]

So, what do you think would bring your children, and others, into comics to stay?

I think that the kids can now get their dose of comics mainly from film so I think that has been a double edge sword. My kids don't like comics because so many of the titles, even mainstream are written for a more 'adult' fanbase. As comic book fans have aged so have the themes, ideas and characters. None of the mainstream comics are geared for a young audience. The kids don't want to read "Batman Strikes" anymore than you or I, (too kiddy!) they just don't want to read Brian Azzerello in 'Batman' either. All mykids liked the Jeph Loeb/ Jim Lee Batman, but didn't care so much for his superman run, even though they liked the art.


I'd like to see magazine size anthologies for Marvel, DC, Image, etc.
Most people say they never sell. I see children looking through them at book stores, so I think other wise. They would work and bring in new readers. Also, comics should be for all ages. Keep the mature themes in mature comics. ;)

I agree with the anthalogy thing. I've got new plans as a result. An answer to Shonen Jump maybe...

[Paul Sanderson]

I think that the kids can now get their dose of comics mainly from film so I think that has been a double edge sword. My kids don't like comics because so many of the titles, even mainstream are written for a more 'adult' fanbase. As comic book fans have aged so have the themes, ideas and characters. None of the mainstream comics are geared for a young audience. The kids don't want to read "Batman Strikes" anymore than you or I, (too kiddy!) they just don't want to read Brian Azzerello in 'Batman' either. All mykids liked the Jeph Loeb/ Jim Lee Batman, but didn't care so much for his superman run, even though they liked the art.

Yeah, it's as I've always said, mainstream comics are catering to an ever ageing, ever dwindling fanbase while forgetting to build an audience with the next generation.

[The Scribe]

I think that the kids can now get their dose of comics mainly from film so I think that has been a double edge sword. My kids don't like comics because so many of the titles, even mainstream are written for a more 'adult' fanbase. As comic book fans have aged so have the themes, ideas and characters. None of the mainstream comics are geared for a young audience. The kids don't want to read "Batman Strikes" anymore than you or I, (too kiddy!) they just don't want to read Brian Azzerello in 'Batman' either. All mykids liked the Jeph Loeb/ Jim Lee Batman, but didn't care so much for his superman run, even though they liked the art.

Comic movies don't draw me in. I like a few but I'd rather read the comic.
I've said that before. Comic companies are killing themselves only catering to older readers. They need to leave the adult themes in Vertigo and MAX lines and keep the mainstream comics all-ages.
What about Marvel Adventures? I have a few issues they aren't that bad.




I agree with the anthalogy thing. I've got new plans as a result. An answer to Shonen Jump maybe...

Marvel, DC, Image, etc, would benefit by making a monthly anthology with reprints of their comics. In a magazine size format. ;)

[W. Smith]

The problem is that most 'fan-boy' fans purchase most of the comics and since that is the audience, that's who DC and Marvel will cater too. I do not collect any more. It was a slow transition. I really liked Authority and Powers early on and I remain a fan of Powers still, but when I begin to see the whole of universe being transformed and tilted towards the Authority I begin to really lose interest. Then the Megalomaniac Super Change the World crossovers begin to take center stage. As much As I like powers and enjoyed Ultimate Spider Man for a while, Bendis has become the Beyonder. And nothing good ever happened at Marvel with the Beyonder.

Anyway about five years ago I stopped collecting for character and became a self professed coinsurer of comics, collecting for the art and writing, but even that petered out. Now all I have is what I do for myself, It was difficult at first, but I like what I do better anyway. I just wish I could draw too.

At DC I think it was a critical statement in Crisis when The Earth -2 Superman was critical of what the heroes had become. But I do not really see any change over there. It seemed to be an Acknowledgement of the truth and little more...kinda this is how it is...okay lets go on and perpetuate this further.

I haven’t purchased a comic since November at WW TX. I looked around there and realized that I was becoming just like the zombified masses. I had bought a three day ticket; I might have spent a total of four hours there on all three days.

I haven't missed it all that much. When I start Jones'n I stop by Barnes and Noble, Grab and Graphic Novel and sit for a while, then I'm good to go for another couple of months.

My writing has really improved as has my creativity. I used to think that I would write such an outstanding Marvel/DC comic that they would never let me get away. Now I know that isn't really my goals. So while I do not know all the ins and outs of Mainstream comics I am more in tune with where I am and where I want to go.

Capitalism drives comics. Until we make a stand and it hurts at the comic book store, Batman and Wolverine will still have guest appearances in every book, heroes will live forever and never age, and change will be a revolution instead of an evolution.

[The Scribe]

I just wish I could draw too.

Me too. :(


Capitalism drives comics. Until we make a stand and it hurts at the comic book store, Batman and Wolverine will still have guest appearances in every book, heroes will live forever and never age, and change will be a revolution instead of an evolution.

I just want mainstream comics to be accessible to all ages again. They have Vertigo and MAX for the other things.

Batman and Wolverine I cold do without for awhile. I don't collect either of their books on a monthly basis.

Well, with the aging process in comics, they only have so many issues a year.
But most of the characters should be much older by now. Most characters could be treated as a mantle to be passed on. Like Batman could be turned over to Nightwing. Also, some of the younger mutants could have taken over by now in the X-Men. Like Jubilee or the characters in Generation X.

The only comic I know of that has major changes is Savage Dragon. They age and die. If the character dies they stay dead or someone else takes up the mantle of the deceased character.

[carriertone]

Does Eric Larsen know you're obsessed with him? Every post has Savage Dragon in it somewhere, and it's kind of creeping me out. I'm just saying...

- Carl

[Laemeur]

Until we make a stand and it hurts at the comic book store, Batman and Wolverine will still have guest appearances in every book, heroes will live forever and never age, and change will be a revolution instead of an evolution.This point has always irked me. People always say comics should be all-ages, but then people also pick-nits about characters not ageing, and having a more realistic relationship with their world.

I've never heard anyone say, "why hasn't Mickey Mouse retired; he's like a bazillion years old!"

I have no problem at all with iconic characters such as Batman and Spider-Man continuing on in their adventures until the end of eternity. Imposing realism on what are obviously surreal stories in surreal circumstances is ridiculous.

[LilGreenMan]

Comics have definitly gotten a more adult theme going on . They just aren't fun anymore. Comics took themselves too serious and as a result kids don't want to read them.

[The Scribe]

Does Eric Larsen know you're obsessed with him? Every post has Savage Dragon in it somewhere, and it's kind of creeping me out. I'm just saying...

- Carl

Every post? :huh:

I don't believe so. What do you have against Erik or is it the Savage Dragon?

I do like that I creep you out. :)

http://justinsomnia.org/images/mission-accomplished-banner.jpg

[carriertone]

I like Erik AND Savage Dragon well enough. I was just ribbing you good sir. Alcohol and forums make for a fun evening. (Yes, I'm lonely.)

- Carl

[ampersand]

I'd like my £2.15 to be justified.

I don't care if a book is late. I don't care about anything else, I just want to be able to feel like I didn't waste my money.

Oh, and the rampant fanboyism. Doesn't apply to most of these boards, but I think we could all afford to spend less time complaining about what's wrong in comics, films or whatever and more time doing our bit to improve them.



That said, can we stop Mark Millar from writing?

[ampersand]

Until we make a stand and it hurts at the comic book store, Batman and Wolverine will still have guest appearances in every book, heroes will live forever and never age, and change will be a revolution instead of an evolution.

I like this guy.

[kdmelrose]

I really don't understand why so many fans seem to want their superheroes to age. Can anyone explain this to me?

Now, I think it's a little odd that characters like Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Roy Harper, Donna Troy, Wally West and a few others age while their mentors don't. But what's the appeal of aging characters?

[Buckyrig]

Sheesh, how old was Arthur by the time Mallory wrote about him?

[kdmelrose]

http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-04/17207338.jpg

[Paul Sanderson]

I really don't understand why so many fans seem to want their superheroes to age. Can anyone explain this to me?

Now, I think it's a little odd that characters like Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Roy Harper, Donna Troy, Wally West and a few others age while their mentors don't. But what's the appeal of aging characters?

Yeah, I agree with you. I've never seen much appeal in aging characters. It's fiction, a fantasy world, our favourite characters can, and should, never age. They're always viable, always there when we need them. I like that.