A change in wrting styles?

[chiefdog]

i was reading some old 90's marvel back issues the other day and noticed a fair amount of thought balloons in the comics. i can't think of one comic i collect today that has the characters using thought balloons. is this just me noticing something that it's really there or is it an actual trend in comics writing? (same with dc as well) just wondered is all.

[darkerthanscarlet]

You're right - I think there has been some ediotiral mandate (not for the best either).

New Marvel comics seem to have overstretched arcs with little or no characterisation which is a shame.

If you look at the Marvel Masterworks reprinting the orginal Stan Lee X-men issues, you can see how much story and characterisation he managed to cram into a single issue.

In days past Claremont was also the king of characterisation (and thought balloons)

[The Fury]

The lack of 'thought balloons' is a shame, as said above it can give for great characterisation. And can express more then what just an image can about a given situation.

I have noticed that there are many comis which do feature, 'innermonolog dialect' that is contained within caption boxes that act like more Naration then thoughts.

[Arrjay]

Yeah, it's definitely a trend that seems to have disappeared (thought balloons that is) but I'm not entirely sure if I prefer the thought balloons to the 'intermonolog dialect' or vice versa. The latter definitely seems more widespread in today's titles.

[Dan_Slott]

We JUST started using them again at the end of SHE-HULK (#12)...

And are using 'em full force in the pages of SPIDER-MAN/HUMAN TORCH.

And Waid started using them at the end of his FANTASTIC FOUR run.

That said, most everybody's using narrative captions to ACT as modern day thought balloons. So they're around for the most part-- just hidden away, or mutated into a different form.

:)

ttyl
Dan

[zeppelined]

I can't wait for She-Hulk to start up again, thought balloons or not!

[Arrjay]

I can't wait for She-Hulk to start up again, thought balloons or not!

Me too.
This will be most grand indeed.

[Gaz]

We JUST started using them again at the end of SHE-HULK (#12)...

And are using 'em full force in the pages of SPIDER-MAN/HUMAN TORCH.

And Waid started using them at the end of his FANTASTIC FOUR run.

That said, most everybody's using narrative captions to ACT as modern day thought balloons. So they're around for the most part-- just hidden away, or mutated into a different form.

:)

ttyl
Dan
Exactly what I was gonna say! Bendis and DeFalco do that a lot, Alias and Spider-Girl have numerous "thought captions" which also aid narration.

[PanzerMega]

I actually prefer the caption boxes.

[Gaz]

I actually prefer the caption boxes.
Me too, it's less "why's there a cloud coming out of his head?" and "oh, that's what he's thinking".
In other words, less obtrusive.

[Michael P]

You're right - I think there has been some ediotiral mandate (not for the best either).
More likely, it's just a natural trend in the writing.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

If you look at the Marvel Masterworks reprinting the orginal Stan Lee X-men issues, you can see how much story and characterisation he managed to cram into a single issue.



Albeit that all dialogue then became exceptionly clunky exposition rather than visually showing an event, and was riddle with physical impossibilities, and implausible plot conventions...

I can barely read the early X-Men stuff without wanting to tear out my eyes in frustration.

I do agree though, that the inner monologue has kind of disappeared, unless it's being directly spoken.

Psychic and Telepathic caracters now tend to use "psychic" bubbles rather than thought bubbles, instead...

[Gaz]

More likely, it's just a natural trend in the writing.
Yeah, thought bubbles were used a lot for exposition in the past. Look at some old Claremont Uncanny, "Oh, my. Jean's power is increasing, soon she may be unable to control herself!" :rolleyes:

[Harold of the Rocks]

...we just don't think anymore. I know I didn't before submitting this post... ;)

[tricksterpup]

We JUST started using them again at the end of SHE-HULK (#12)...

And are using 'em full force in the pages of SPIDER-MAN/HUMAN TORCH.

And Waid started using them at the end of his FANTASTIC FOUR run.

That said, most everybody's using narrative captions to ACT as modern day thought balloons. So they're around for the most part-- just hidden away, or mutated into a different form.

:)

ttyl
Dan


Dan, Thanks for the heads up on this. This is why I do not mind supporting your books, and not because they are a fun read. You Support and post at CBR. :D
And Dan, yes, these books are cream of the crop and some of the better books out in the Marv U.
The writing styles have changed in the last few years. The one main current trend are the extended story lines that stretch out to about 6 issues story arcs. I miss the old days of one shots. I do not mind a mini being connected and one big story, that is expected. But I do miss the occassional one shot comic. With these larger story arcs, I find it that some writers are better suited than others at this task or atleast are craftier in telling their tales.
Take example John Ostrandler's Grimjack, if you are not reading it, for shame. This book is a connected piece but filled with non stop action and characterzation but minus the talking heads. Its a great read.
I also Believe that Dan Jolley did a wonderful job at this as well on his recently Canceled Bloodhound. By far one of DC's better books of last year. It was a hidden Gem that did not get out to the public.
Another Book that Marvel has that has the feel of a one shot but has connected story arc is Robert Kirkman's Marvel Team Up. Damn, is this an amazing read, if you have not picked this up, do it. For all marvel fans, this book reads like it was crafted in the 80's. It is a fun read and one of the few books besides those I listed that I really get excited about reading. This book is hot. But his style is a one shot book but he has skill in crafting it in a larger story arc but giving us a one book read.

[zeppelined]

Another Book that Marvel has that has the feel of a one shot but has connected story arc is Robert Kirkman's Marvel Team Up. Damn, is this an amazing read, if you have not picked this up, do it. For all marvel fans, this book reads like it was crafted in the 80's. It is a fun read and one of the few books besides those I listed that I really get excited about reading. This book is hot. But his style is a one shot book but he has skill in crafting it in a larger story arc but giving us a one book read.


This and Thunderbolts (and, ok, Astonishing X-Men) are the best books Marvel is putting out right now, by a longshot. At least, if you like silver age/bronze age style comics, like I do. I only wish the sales numbers were better for the books I love. If either of these titles gets cancelled, that could very well tear up the shred of respect and love I have for Marvel anymore.

[JTLauder]

Actually, this shift has happened quite a long time ago in terms of literature, and is perhaps just had its influence on the comics scene in recent years.

It's what they call the "omnipotent" viewpoint or narration where you get to "hear" everyone's thoughts, perspectives and actions. At some point probably around the middle of the last century writers decided that this distanced the reader too far from the story--no one can know everyone's thoughts, so the trend shifted into a more personal perspective where a story focuses on only a single protagonist to try to draw the reader more into a single viewpoint, so at most you only hear that protagonist's thoughts, and observes everyone and everything else around him from his perspective.

Unfortunately, this doesn't work well in a story where there is large cast of characters of all equal importance, like all the team comic books. So I guess instead of singling out one character in a group, they put the reader as an outside observer looking at everyone and everything the same way you would at a movie and not be privy to any one character's thoughts.

[jade_nova]

When did stories start taking up six issues? It seems like nowadays a person can be on a comic for three years and only do a few stories. I don't know how long Mark Waid was on Fantastic Four but I think he only wrote nine stories. Another thing what is the deal with realistic dialog in books. If I want that I will read a novel. Comics are supposed to be like a modern day myth.

[Alan2099]

I'd personally rather see some less realistic dialog if it meant stories could finish up in an issue or two.

I also miss thought balloons. The exception is in the various Deadpool series. Those work better with captions.

[Knightmare]

I prefer the captions, which really are just a newer version of the thought ballon. For me it actually feels alot more like I'm in the characters head.

[The Xenos]

Well, for me it depends on the book. For Daredevil? Thought boxes are fine. For Spider-Man / Human Torch? Thought bubbles are great.

-Xenos

[Tobias March]

This was an aspect of Livewires that I really enjoyed - the thought captions we were reading as part of the first person narration were revealed to be broadcasts to the rest of Stemcell's team! It was a neat idea, as the writer allowed his audience to get comfortable with this world through the POV of a main character and then moved on from that to get stuck into the story without a jarring break.


.....not seeing any threads for Livewires here either, peoples should be reading it :cool:

[jade_nova]

This was an aspect of Livewires that I really enjoyed - the thought captions we were reading as part of the first person narration were revealed to be broadcasts to the rest of Stemcell's team! It was a neat idea, as the writer allowed his audience to get comfortable with this world through the POV of a main character and then moved on from that to get stuck into the story without a jarring break.


.....not seeing any threads for Livewires here either, peoples should be reading it :cool:

Is Livewires the series with the robots that is drawn in the magna style? Has issue two of it even come out yet?