Burned out on comics

[Robin3]

I went into my comics shop and cancelled my subscription of 4 years, which included about 10 books.

I've burned out on comics lately. I think DC has taken the fun out of their line recently by focusing too much on internal continuity issues, and both Marvel AND DC are guilty of hijacking their stories for Mega-Crossovers.

Well now I'm voting with my wallet. I just don't look forward to reading them anymore.

Comics should be good. But in the end, they fall prey to the same problem that TV does--when a series gets popular, the creators misunderstand what made it popular and focus on the wrong things.

Ultimately though, the fundamentals: character and plot are what make any story successful, no matter the medium. Series that focus on these have long-lasting, loyal audiences, even if there are mild fluctuations in sales. Case in point: B5, DS9, X-Men Movies 1&2, Spiderman movie 1&2. The original Ender's game novel, or the original Dune novel. When they jump the shark, it's because they forget those fundamentals.

I don't know. Maybe the 3-D issue of Action Comics is what broke the camel's back.

*sigh*

[BillR]

Yes, there's a ton of shit out there, but there's also a lot of good stuff that goes unnoticed or isn't hyped to death or hangs out on the peripheral. Those books are all I buy from the Big Two.

And then, of course, there are the indies. I'm sure you can find a bunch of awesome comics you've never heard of before.

[zuludelta]

You should try branching out of the DC and Marvel superhero stuff and see if it revives your interest in comics, unless you're reading comics strictly for the superheroes (and if you are in it strictly for the superheroes, you'll just have wait it out, since I think you'll find that at least in terms of level of craft and production values, Marvel, DC, and to some extent Image and Dark Horse are probably as good as it gets for now).

Sometimes, when people complain about having had enough of comics, what they're really having a problem with is the direction publishers/editors/creators are taking a book, and not so much the medium of comics itself. Try reading some self-contained mini-series, TPBs, and graphic novels from other publishers (or older and/or out-of-the-way DC and Marvel stuff) and don't limit yourself to superheroes... you can test the waters by going to your local library and see if anything grabs you (books, I mean, not creepy old men who hang out in the Harry Potter section). Try asking for recommendations regarding European/UK stuff and manga.

You have to disengage yourself from a lot of the artificial baggage that gets in the way of good storytelling that we've come to expect from years of reading mostly DC and Marvel comics: the ridiculous obsession with continuity minutiae and shared universes, the misplaced sense of proprietorship we readers sometimes have with regards to our favourite characters (which in turn leads readers to ignore certain works despite their artistic merit). Hopefully, you'll find something that will rekindle your interest in the medium.

[Jack Zodiac]

I don't know. Maybe the 3-D issue of Action Comics is what broke the camel's back.

You didn't like the last Action Comics? You're a sick, sick man.

Nah, but seriously, there's plenty of stuff out there (even from Marvel and DC) that are worth reading. Do you mind trades? If not, check out Nextwave: Agents of HATE from Marvel, totally unlike anything else they've printed in the last year. And if you want good, traditional superhero comics, check out Morrison's All-Star Superman, which I believe should have a trade paperback of the first six issues out by now. Or for an ongoing, try Darwyn Cooke's The Spirit. No continuity, no connection to the rest of the DCU, just plain old good-fashioned comic book fun.

Or, get away from superhero comics, and the Big Two, altogether. Try Mouse Guard sometime. Beautiful art, plenty of characterization and dramatic plots, and a fun book for anyone of any age to read.

Comics are good, you just need to know which ones to look for.

[Nitz the Bloody]

My general view of the major comic companies is that they're never going to be absolutely good or bad. They produce a lot of different products by different creators, and inevitably there's going to be something you like, and something you don't. The proportion of good comics vs. bad comics may vary, but there's always going to be at least one genuinely good series produced.

You may be burned out on the current directions of Marvel and DC, but I wouldn't drop the entire medium over a few ill-conceived marketing trends.

[DubipR]

Robin3,

You aren't alone. In the past 5 years or so, I've dropped the majority of the superhero genre down to 2 hero books. Overall I'm reading about 7 books a month, and 4 of them are Vertigo. You talk about character and plot, which is why I enjoy Vertigo's book. You can see the writer care for their projects a little more.

For me getting burned out on comics, the superhero genre, is due to all the grim and grittiness of their universes. The editors say its because their world, like ours is full of grim and grittiness. I thought the reason of reading comics was for escapism, not mirroring our world a little closeness. But I digress.... what I'm coming at is that all this bleakness is tiring me out. Constant and needless changes on lots of characters is one factor; the others being a various reason I won't get into.

But as I grow older, I read more and more independent comics as I leave the hero genre behind, back with my childhood. For every sh!tty comic, like an Outsiders, there's a brilliant one like Love and Rockets. Unfortunately, the market's flooded with such sh!t, its hard to sift through the detritus to find the gold amongst the crap.

Have you tried looking into the smaller press books or going back and reading the classics, like going through the Fantagraphics line and getting the Peanuts hardcovers or picking up a Herge Tintin book? There's limitless possibilities out there, its just finding what you might be interested in.

As Nitz says, don't drop the medium all together. Its already a small pool, losing readers to gaming systems and other electronics. We need the loyal readers, in any capacity; whether its reading an Uncle Scrooge or getting that putrid 3-D Action Comic. Just support the genre....just use your wallet in other capacities by trying something new.

[Aaron Kashtan]

Here's a list of 100 European comics that are worth reading. Not all of these have been translated into English, but many of the best ones have been:

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=5083868

And here's a list of the 100 best American comics, published by a magazine with a strong bias in favor of non-superhero comics:

http://www.marsimport.com/listtcj.php

Have fun!

[Robin3]

I'm hoping that taking a break might revitalize my interest.

By the way, I have read Nextwave and All-Star Superman, and I think they're great. Since those don't come in regularly, I may have to pick them out when trades get put out. But the generic super-hero comic--it's not doing it anymore.

P.S. I think grown men should be able to read Harry Potter. I don't hang out in a bookstore for it per se, but I order my copy online when it comes out; I don't think anything's creepy about that. Maybe I'm not getting the reference.

[Mutate]

I don't think he meant it as a personal insult to Potter fans Robin, just a humorous reference to the fact that some big city libraries have a problem with pedophiles trying to hang around in the kid's section.

[zuludelta]

I don't think he meant it as a personal insult to Potter fans Robin, just a humorous reference to the fact that some big city libraries have a problem with pedophiles trying to hang around in the kid's section.

We have a winnah!

I thought the "pedophiles-in-the-kids-section" thing was common enough knowledge that the (somewhat off-colour) humour in my post would be evident. Apologies all around for anyone inadvertently offended by it (unless, of course, you're actually there to stalk children, in which case take all the offence you want... I keeeed, I keeeed :p ).

[Ryan Day]

There are tons and tons of great comics out there. You've just got to accept a certain amount of suckiness with the "mainstream" stuff, and look a little bit harder for the good stuff. It's well worth the effort.

[Hulkamaniac]

If your having DC and MArvel issues you should really try some non-mainstream comics like Image,DArkhorse, Dynamite and a slew of other companies and brands. I really like some Wildstorm as well. If it's a money issue then ok, but if you just can't stand mainstream DC and Marvel you should really try some other stuff, great stuff out there, just check the boards for other material. please :( :D

[Jack Zodiac]

By the way, I have read Nextwave and All-Star Superman, and I think they're great. Since those don't come in regularly, I may have to pick them out when trades get put out. But the generic super-hero comic--it's not doing it anymore.

Well, I highly recommend The Spirit, too. Hopefully a trade will be out soon collecting the first six issues.

And really, do yourself a favor and check out Mouse Guard.

[Babylon23]

I can understand being burned out on superhero comics. However, I think overall the comics scene is the best it's been in a long time variety-wise. While superheroes still dominate the market, there are comics out there to suit just about anybody's tastes. I can't think of a single genre that isn't covered by at least 1 title, and there are so many different writing and art styles that everybody should be able to find something they like.

[brundlefly]

You may be burned out on the current directions of Marvel and DC, but I wouldn't drop the entire medium over a few ill-conceived marketing trends.

I got the same way in the mid-to-late 90s with both DC & Marvel and subsequently got into the Vertigo titles of the time (PREACHER, TRANSMETROPOLITAN, HELLBLAZER, INVISIBLES, plus collected trades of SANDMAN and SWAMP THING) and Wildstorm books like Warren Ellis' STORMWATCH revamp along with THE AUTHORITY, DV8, and Kurt Busiek's ASTRO CITY. Come to think of it, just about the only Marvel stuff I remember liking around then was from Ellis, as well (HELLSTORM, EXCALIBUR, the DRUID mini, THOR: WORLD ENGINE). Anyway, my point is that I'm glad I kept an open mind and tried something new when DC & MArvel were stagnant instead of just quitting comics altogether (I had been a strictly Marve & DC man up to that point). There's no reason to limit yourself to just mainstream superhero comics; to this day I still enjoy the Vertigo/Wildstorm books that I follow more than most of the what DC and Marvel are putting out (although both those lines have improved a lot since the mid-to-late 90s). I'd certainly recommend going non-mainstream and checking out some new books from the lines other people have mentioned (Vertigo, Wildstorm, Dark Horse, Dynamite, etc) and see if there's anything there that appeals to you.

[Dan Apodaca]

If your having DC and MArvel issues you should really try some non-mainstream comics like Image,DArkhorse, Dynamite and a slew of other companies and brands. I really like some Wildstorm as well.

I'd have to say that Image and Darkhorse definitely count as mainstream. And DC owns Wildstorm, you know?

[BizarroBeachHead]

I'd have to say that Image and Darkhorse definitely count as mainstream. And DC owns Wildstorm, you know?

I agree they are mainstream, but I think they are close enough to indie because they produce creator owned work, which more often than not is the main attraction to indie books.

And there is just such a gross amount of people who don't read anything other than DC. To them something from even Wildstorm or Vertigo is indie to the extreme.

[Aaron King]

Here's my pull list. It's mostly from the Big Two, but, other than Nova, nothing is really tied into the big crossovers as far as I know. There are twenty books on this list, but many of them come out as bi-monthlies or regular minis, so I figure I'm buying about ten books a month. There are always the random things I buy off the shelves (including the upcoming Bizarro arc in Action and the JH Williams arc in Batman) and things I get in trade (Hellboy/BPRD, Y the Last Man, random Essentials and Showcases). I suggest all of the comics below:

All-Star Superman
Authority
Blue Beetle
Casanova
Checkmate
Criminal
Fell
Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius
Kabuki
Manhunter
Mouse Guard
Nexus
Nova
Northlanders
Shazam: Monster Society of Evil
Spirit
Stormwatch PHD
Suicide Squad
Testament
Usagi Yojimbo

[Dan Apodaca]

I agree they are mainstream, but I think they are close enough to indie because they produce creator owned work, which more often than not is the main attraction to indie books.

I don't know if I'd agree with that. That may be the main attraction for creators, but I think for readers, the main attraction of independent books is variety. The fact that I can pick out any 10 Drawn + Quarterly books and be guaranteed to get a slew of different genres automatically makes it more appealing than picking out 10 superhero books from Marvel.

[stealthwise]

I don't know if I'd agree with that. That may be the main attraction for creators, but I think for readers, the main attraction of independent books is variety. The fact that I can pick out any 10 Drawn + Quarterly books and be guaranteed to get a slew of different genres automatically makes it more appealing than picking out 10 superhero books from Marvel.

Or Fantagraphics!

Or Oni!

[Dan Apodaca]

Or Fantagraphics!

Or Oni!

Exactly.

On a sort of related note, that's my theory as to why Crossgen didn't work out. They only published adventure books. Lots of fantasy, some sci-fi, some superhero, and Ruse. But in the end, they were all the same type of book.

[stealthwise]

Exactly.

On a sort of related note, that's my theory as to why Crossgen didn't work out. They only published adventure books. Lots of fantasy, some sci-fi, some superhero, and Ruse. But in the end, they were all the same type of book.

To be honest, from the early solicits and ad art, I thought that they were all superhero books that had their characters dressed up as other stuff. Good point though, it's hard to compete against the "big boys" if you're not offering much else, especially if you end up relying on a shared universe to do so.

[the goddamn batman]

Here's a list of 100 European comics that are worth reading. Not all of these have been translated into English, but many of the best ones have been:

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=5083868



All that link does is open a reply window.:confused:

[Reed Richards]

to speak about myself and the comic-burnouts i had, in my bad english wich i hope you can understand. :)

i started collecting us-comics at the age off 11 in 1977, what was not very easy at that time overseas in germany.

the first burnout i had came in late 1996 - all those "reborn"-stuff at marvel got me bored and the rest was not my kind of comicsbooks either anymore. to much alien-heroes, dark-and-gritty-stuff and lots of big guns at even guys like spawn.

i started reading again in late 1998 and had the second burnout in mid 2000, because i felt the same way like i did in 1996.

after 7 years of leave i came across a little city-comic-shop nearby the village that i live (where is no comicshop at all) and found some nice fantastic-four-books, that i bought. that refreshed my interrest in comics and i started a lot of research of what has happend in the last 7 years on the comic-book-market. and boy am i amazed. i missed some real good changes an some mayor titels.

i got myself an (somewhat, have not counted) 30 titles-subscription at this comic-store and running through a lot off backissues that i found there. the last break was long enough to get the "magic" of comics back to me. i´m looking forward to see those "all star batman", "superman", "mighty avengers" and lots of other titels.

maybe this time, my interrest will last a bit longer that 2 years. and i think that some "time out" is never a wrong one. :)

[Aaron Kashtan]

All that link does is open a reply
window.:confused:

Sorry. Try this one instead:

http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000095;p=1

[MartinRedmond]

I think it's funny that it takes 3 years of continuity clean up to make a product accessible.