One Fan's Opinion 2.02

[saiyanspider]

Mr. Larsen, I totally feel you on this topic. Especially this part:


"Bendis and Bagley are doing an impressive run on "Ultimate Spider-Man," but how often does that book make the news these days? It's monthly, consistent and entertaining, but how is that "news?" What's newsworthy about another issue of "Ultimate Spider-Man" by Bendis and Bagley? "

Dude I was reading the weekly comic reviews over at IGN. Basically they flat out said "Another great issue, what can I say, moving on".

WTF! Why not comment on how it's almost a 100 issues in and STILL F--ING GOOD! Why just gloss over.

Look I love the idea of Civil War, I liked House of M, but there is something to be said for being on a titles for a long ass time, and keeping the quality up. I mean X-men it seems has gone through more creative teams than I change underwear. I LOVE the current team on Wolverine, but I read yesterday that they are being replaced in May. While I was happy with who was moving on, at the same time I was kind of pissed that the team I liked a great deal were moving on. Couldn't that team have done a kick ass limited series? I mean I was loving Millar and Romita JR and their gone already! It sucks, Romita JR already left Black Panther, there seems to be not a shred of consistency on books now a days. Dang it all Thank you for another great column.

[Alex A Sanchez]

Remember back in the day when they used to advertise what was happening in a particular storyline at that time? When Venom returned during Larsen's run on Spider-man everyone at school was talking about how Venom was back. Cover blurbs used to tell you what was happening in the book "Spidey's lost his powers- you'll never guess who's behind it all." That stuff made you want to buy the book even if you didn't own the issue's before it. Come to think of it, book covers don't even tell you what is happening in the story anymore. Usually its just a pin-up or some fancy art of the main character looking cool.

[saiyanspider]

Remember back in the day when they used to advertise what was happening in a particular storyline at that time? When Venom returned during Larsen's run on Spider-man everyone at school was talking about how Venom was back. Cover blurbs used to tell you what was happening in the book "Spidey's lost his powers- you'll never guess who's behind it all." That stuff made you want to buy the book even if you didn't own the issue's before it. Come to think of it, book covers don't even tell you what is happening in the story anymore. Usually its just a pin-up or some fancy art of the main character looking cool.

amen, I remember those covers. I really wish we could go back to that.


sigh...

[pennywisdom]

Remember back in the day when they used to advertise what was happening in a particular storyline at that time? That stuff made you want to buy the book even if you didn't own the issue's before it.
True, a lot of those covers sparked curiosity. But many of them were fake-outs as well. Feeling that the cover lied is a disappointment.

BTW - I'm not referring to the covers you mentioned when I talk about fake-out covers. I'm just talking about the history of comics in general.

[pennywisdom]

To an extent, I agree with Erik's sentiment in this article. I think there is way too much hype going on between the Big Two right now. It's not at all inaccurate to say that editorial priority is to grab headlines. But I don't necessarily view a certain creator moving from Book A to Book B to be a hustle for reader dollars. It might just be the fact that many comic book creators feel too restless to stay in one place for years on end.

Personally, I think Ultimate Spider-Man just got extremely boring and isn't really even worth reading these days. I know I'm not alone...there are posters here at CBR who agree with me. What started out as a great premise, fantastically written and beautifully drawn, just wore on and on and on. Bendis seems to have found his niche, and the title isn't changing enough. In the classic ASM, Peter grew up and moved on with his life. Bendis seems to like writing teenage melodrama, so the main character, supporting cast, and title in general just spin their tires. To be honest, I think the single thing that would get Ultimate Spidey moving again would be..... a new creative team.

Great column, but I don't know if I agree 100%. Change just for the sake of change can lead to good things. I'm not terribly impressed by 100 consecutive issues if the last 50 are boring.

[Alex A Sanchez]

But I don't necessarily view a certain creator moving from Book A to Book B to be a hustle for reader dollars. It might just be the fact that many comic book creators feel too restless to stay in one place for years on end.


In an article I was reading elsewhere on this site about Superman, the author quoted DC editors saying that they are intentionally placing creative teams on titles for short runs. Although I am sure there are plenty of creators who simply get tired of their project. Although, creators that stay on a project for a decade become very attatched to the characters, it seems. I would imagine this produces a better comic.

[pennywisdom]

In an article I was reading elsewhere on this site about Superman, the author quoted DC editors saying that they are intentionally placing creative teams on titles for short runs.
This is probably for marketing purposes, which is a shame. I would condone the same practice if it were somehow encouraging artistic creativity and spontaneity. Sometimes it's good to mix things up just to infuse new blood. But it should never be just a sales ploy.

Although, creators that stay on a project for a decade become very attatched to the characters, it seems. I would imagine this produces a better comic.
You have a point. Knowledge of the book can lead to more involved, insightful writing. Or, it can lead to stagnation. It all depends on the writer and the book.

I'm just acknowledging the other side of the article. Forgive me for playing devil's advocate.

[Alex A Sanchez]

I'm just acknowledging the other side of the article. Forgive me for playing devil's advocate.

By all means, continue to play. :) You do an excellent job.

Another positive side to having creative team shifts is when there are characters you like, but hate the creative team. I bought X-Factor for years because I loved the characters when Peter David wrote them. After he left, I continued to get the book despite hating the new creative teams- I was waiting for someone good to come along and breath life into that team again. It wasn't until Steve Epting and John Francis Moore arrived that I was happy again.

[Schmakt]

If switching creative teams is a sales ploy, then it sucks... At first I wanted to say that, if a team comes to a book to do only 6 issues or whatever and never plans to make a long term investment in it, then I don't like that either. But I actually think that might be ok. [ArtistNameHere] and [WriterNameHere] have a great idea for a 6-issue arc on [ComicBookNameHere], then let them do it.

But if, some other guys decide to work on a book b/c it's their next project, don't saddle them with a limited timeline and say, "Whatever plans you have for this character, wrap it up in 12 issues." I'd rather a team stay until they lose intrest in the character or their stories have become, as others mentioned, "boring." Dan Jurgens on Thor was amazing, in my opinion. And we wouldn't have gotten into his really good stuff ever if he'd moved on after a year. That's one of the most recent examples I can think of, really. And least non-creator-owned. There seems to be a different vibe on this issue if you're talking about creator-owned stuff...