Guest Appearances.... Yay or Nay?

[darthblinx]

(I searched & couldn't find a thread for this, so sorry if this' a repeat)

So I finished readin' X-23 #11 & I was thinkin' who else just picked this arc up specifically because of Jubilee? Then as I search through my back-issues, I discover a ton of arcs I've picked up only because of a character's appearance.

This does get the word out of lesser-known characters & boosts sales (a little bit).

One issue(complaint) I've got about this is when the character's cameo dominates the comic itself. Example: The recent arc in Amazing Spider-Man with the FF. The FF already have their own title so why do they need 4 issues dedicated to them in someone else's comic? (I'm aware Spidey's part of the team, but that's not what I'm readin' his SOLO comic for)

My belief is that cameos in comics should be reserved for lesser-known characters or characters who don't have a title to appear in. If characters already have a main title themselves, then I think that their cameos should only be for 1-2 issues MAX.

Basically, I'm curious if you guys think that character cameos themselves carry some books?
And if they do, is that right? Is the book any good, if they need to depend on another character's spotlight?
(sorry if my thoughts aren't too organized)

[XPac]

I think guest appearnaces first and foremost should be story driven. The character should the right character to tell the story. If it's a D lister, then it's a D lister... if it's a cash cow, that's fine too.

That said, for a lower selling title I can totally understand the notion of trying to get a popular character (like Spider-Man or Wolverine) in the book in an attempt to get attention and boost sales. Yeah, it's the oldest cheapest trick in the book... but you do what you gotta do to try and get new readers in a tough market.

All that said... yes, it's nice when a seldom used character is pulled out from limbo. There are so many great characters that are sitting in limbo doing nothing... it's nice when the books can make some panel time for them.

[TinyJoseph]

As long as It's a good story I don't really mind cameos and usually they do make me pick a book up I wouldn't normally buy.

I read all four Avengers titles and when Rulk joined, I decided to give Jeff Parkers run a chance and ended up loving it (Had no interest in Loeb's series).

I haven't been reading Amazing Spider-Man for sometime, but the Avengers Academy two parter written by Christos Gage got me to pick those up that, and his being in the FF and their popping in from time to time has me now thinking about going back to Amazing Spider-Man.

It's great that Remender had Deathlok join X-Force. Blade and Spider-Man popping in X-Men was cool. I'm thinking about giving the new Heroes for Hire book a whirl as well because I love all those characters anyway.

[Bad Wolf]

Well, there is a difference between a cameo and a guest appearance. A cameo is brief, maybe a panel or two.

All that matters is it's a good story.

[Songbird/Diamondback]

Cameos have no impact on the plot and are like, one page appearances.
Guest characters do.
Get it together numbnuts!

[darthblinx]

Cameos have no impact on the plot and are like, one page appearances.
Guest characters do.
Get it together numbnuts!

My apologies for the misinformation.

What's your opinion on GUEST APPEARANCES then??

[Hulk_Is]

They were better when used back in the day. Today's writers don't have a clue.

[Metal Sphere]

As long as the guest character isn't tossed into the story in some contrived way, I'm fine with it. That said, guest characters should only stick around for 2 issues max. If it's a team, then just one issue is fine.

[SinisterKat]

They can do exactly what guest appearances are designed to do - introduce one character's fan base to a new book. As a Deadpool fan, there was a period recently where DP guested on a LOT of other books - books I'd never normally read. As a result, I started reading 2 new titles after the guest appearance because the storyline, even after DP, intrigued me.