Spider-Man furtive readers

[matthewaos]

I'll be honest, I'm one of those guys that read ASM without buying it. Though not every issue so far, I one read the Bachallo issues and I may read Romita's, but I was thinking, considering all those guys (me included) who don't like OMD, who reads it anyway, who reads it for "free" and who does not at all? And does not buying the book mean you don't "really" love the character?

[Jim Thompson]

I'll be honest, I'm one of those guys that read ASM without buying it. Though not every issue so far, I one read the Bachallo issues and I may read Romita's, but I was thinking, considering all those guys (me included) who don't like OMD, who reads it anyway, who reads it for "free" and who does not at all? And does not buying the book mean you don't "really" love the character?I dropped ASM as of Saturday, and I'm not one of those folks who will read the book in the shop for free. I think one ought to pay for the book if they want to read it.

But I don't think that means I don't love the character. I've plenty of back issues I can enjoy, and there is still USM and Spider-Girl out there, both of which I enjoy.

[carabas]

I do not like it.
I downloaded the first twelve issues, give or take, but so far I just read the first two arcs. They were so mediocre I just can't be bothered with the rest. They are gathering virtual dust in some file somewhere.

[matthewaos]

I dropped ASM as of Saturday, and I'm not one of those folks who will read the book in the shop for free. I think one ought to pay for the book if they want to read it.

But I don't think that means I don't love the character. I've plenty of back issues I can enjoy, and there is still USM and Spider-Girl out there, both of which I enjoy.

Me too, I don't like reading without buying, but now that I work in the comic shop, so reading something and not buying it is more accessible now.

[a-spidey]

i voted "I like BND and buy every issue"
I still like Spidey a lot and the books were not bad so far. I liked especially the arc from McNiven.

[oldschool]

I think BND has been very good from the start with one weak arc from Zeb Wells; I think the recent arc with Paper Doll has been the best and things look like they are really picking up steam and will hit on all cylinders later in the summer with "New Ways to Die".

[carabas]

Hmm.
To the person that doesn't like BND but buys every issue regardles: Marvel loves you. Also, what the frell is wrong with you?

[Cody H]

I'll be honest, I'm one of those guys that read ASM without buying it. Though not every issue so far, I one read the Bachallo issues and I may read Romita's, but I was thinking, considering all those guys (me included) who don't like OMD, who reads it anyway, who reads it for "free" and who does not at all? And does not buying the book mean you don't "really" love the character?The idea that of people not "really" loving the character seems silly to me. It seems to imply that there somehow are people who "fake" love the character, which doesn't even really make sense. I think it's more accurate to characterize fans as liking/loving the character to various degrees, witht the implication being that those who love the character more (i.e., Spider-Man in all his forms) are more tolerant of deviations in creative direction, characterization, and change in general. In that sense, I'd characterize myself as being a huge fan of Spider-Man in a majority of his incarnations. As long as they don't suck, of course.

[Matt Linton]

Like BND, buy every issue.

[The Shadow]

Like BND, buy every issue.

Same.

In fact I'm about to head out to my LCS!

[yadadaimhollaing]

ive read em all and ive bought them all. im an obsesive collector and i hate having holes so id probably buy them if i didnt like it as well. the only arc i didnt like was the freak. my favorite was the arc with the mayan god. the fight scene was awesome. the part i can enjoy the most about bnd is all the interaction with all the supporting characters. that alone is whats keeping bnd entertaining to me.

there are some series that ill read without buying. i read some of the stories because i want to know if ill like something. most of the stuff i read i go back and buy when i have the money. i read all the ultimate spiderman trades and ive subsequently gone out and bought almost the whole series. i started collecting during the carnage story arc and now i own the first hardcover and issues 28-122.

[becominAfanAgain]

I dropped ASM as of Saturday, and I'm not one of those folks who will read the book in the shop for free. I think one ought to pay for the book if they want to read it.

But I don't think that means I don't love the character. I've plenty of back issues I can enjoy, and there is still USM and Spider-Girl out there, both of which I enjoy.

I am with you Jim. Although I was a big ASM fan with the BND mess can't standed it anymore. I bought the first three months to give it a fair shake. They don't do it for me. So I had to go to USM to fill my Spidey fix.

[cpahl2000]

I don´t like BND but I´m still reading ASM. I like Spider-Man and even with this "new" direction I´m in.

[Cody H]

I am with you Jim.If I had access to photoshop right now, you'd be getting a Civil War inspired banner to go with that comment.

[Hertz]

Thus far ASM has been an occasional "I like it" surrounded mostly by "meh". So, I can't really say I care for it one way or another.

[matthewaos]

The idea that of people not "really" loving the character seems silly to me. It seems to imply that there somehow are people who "fake" love the character, which doesn't even really make sense. I think it's more accurate to characterize fans as liking/loving the character to various degrees, witht the implication being that those who love the character more (i.e., Spider-Man in all his forms) are more tolerant of deviations in creative direction, characterization, and change in general. In that sense, I'd characterize myself as being a huge fan of Spider-Man in a majority of his incarnations. As long as they don't suck, of course.

The reason I asked about the "true spider-man believers" was because I had a conversation with a guy telling me that I don't love Spider-Man eough if I'm not buying everything. So I think it was a stupid thing to say, I just had to say it so more people will support it.

[CyberHubbs]

The reason I asked about the "true spider-man believers" was because I had a conversation with a guy telling me that I don't love Spider-Man eough if I'm not buying everything. So I think it was a stupid thing to say, I just had to say it so more people will support it.

You'll get that from both "sides". You're not a "true Spider-Man believer" if you DON'T buy it, and you're not one if you DO but it.

Me, I've bought every issue of BND and love it. Just feels a lot more light-hearted than it has in years, and I dig that.

[ReggieWhiteJr]

My comic shop doesn't care if you read a book in the shop so I've read a lot of the issues there. I haven't cared for the "new" direction of ASM but I did enjoy the Wells/Bacholo arc, IMO the best that's come out of it. However, I've yet to read the last 3 issues that came out as I can no longer be bothered with ASM. Like Jim said, there are other Spidey books out there.

[Sabrinaset]

Honestly, I thought BND would suck, but you know ... I'm actually enjoying it. It's a heckuva lot more light-hearted than all the heavy drama JMS was shoving down our throats with ... well, everything, especially the Civil War and Unmasking stuff. It still irks me that Peter made a deal with the Devil to get here, though, but well, whatcanyado?

[Cody H]

The reason I asked about the "true spider-man believers" was because I had a conversation with a guy telling me that I don't love Spider-Man eough if I'm not buying everything. So I think it was a stupid thing to say, I just had to say it so more people will support it.Oh I hear you. I figured you didn't subscribe to the notion of a "true" Spider-Man fan.

[Sonicjuce]

How many different ways our we going to find out if people are reading ASM?

[ShaggyB]

How many different ways our we going to find out if people are reading ASM?

lol my thread isnt about if you are. Technically i just through in the im not buying it option so people wouldnt complain. I really only wanted to know of those buying it.... where they were getting it from. Im wondering of the CBR forum, how many people get ASM but not through Diamonds Comics numbers.

Basically its a very un-scientific way of seeing how many people are doing subscriptions. (Huge margin of error though as the data field is way too small and selective.)

[matthewaos]

Why would anyone would buy anything, if he doesn't like it?

[ShaggyB]

Why would anyone would buy anything, if he doesn't like it?

I dont know, if i had issue 1- 545 id probably pick up 546-current even if i didnt care for it. Eventually all books have a bad spot where you dislike them, but if your a collector you suffer through it for the complete set. Imagine the person who has 1-current. If he/she ever got sooo frustrated with the current direction and elected to sell, his/her complete set would go for much higher than a set with holes in it.

But again thats the only justification i can see. (i have 1- current on x-men and man where there some stinkers in that run.... like wise issue 299-current in ASM has its share of crappy runs in story and art. I even have the entire volume 2 of Ghost Rider.... let me tell you 77-89 were terrible even the final few issues were bad but the art was better.)(wasnt a fan of Noble Kale in the end)

[matthewaos]

Yes, but could anyone afford to buy a complete coolection from #1 - 545? And let's be honest, who has the complete ASM, not refering to TPBs and essentials, etc. Who has all the issues without gaps, and can't stop for something that he/she is not liking? Either way, in 3 - 5 forth he can buy those issues for a dollar.

[Will.S]

I don't like it but I would read an occasional issue for free.

I''m going to try one last attempt to get into the book with the Slott/Romita Jr. arc but if for some reason I still can't I might just give up completely on the book until it's up my alley again one day.