The online behavior of Comic Book Professionals

[Jim Thompson]

It's selling good, but so are other books, without the controversy...

Which top books do you think don't have any controversy associated with them?

[Lars C]

Which top books do you think don't have any controversy associated with them?

Right now? Batman? Justice League? Aquaman? Avengers? Saga? The Walking Dead? If we talk controversy as in the writer being in arguments with fans, I don't see many more than just this comic?

[ShaggyB]

Right now? Batman? Justice League? Aquaman? Avengers? Saga? The Walking Dead? If we talk controversy as in the writer being in arguments with fans, I don't see many more than just this comic?

Before Watchmen holds several spots in the top 50 and has more writer/moral controversy than Spider-man could ever have... it also deals with the sexual topics graphically on the page, in contrast to the ones you say can be read into Superior.

[Jim Thompson]

Right now? Batman? Justice League? Aquaman? Avengers? Saga? The Walking Dead? If we talk controversy as in the writer being in arguments with fans, I don't see many more than just this comic?

Well, on the Batman threads I see people saying they think they are being treated "disrespectfully" by DC creators because they don't agree with some of the changes being made; I see some Justice League fans saying Johns has no idea what he's doing and the book is terrible, too.

There will always be such people, I think.

[Lars C]

Well, on the Batman threads I see people saying they think they are being treated "disrespectfully" by DC creators because they don't agree with some of the changes being made; I see some Justice League fans saying Johns has no idea what he's doing and the book is terrible, too.

There will always be such people, I think.

That might be true, but nowhere do I see these creators openly trolling, mocking and laughing about it.

[ShaggyB]

That might be true, but nowhere do I see these creators openly trolling, mocking and laughing about it.

Do you see fans acting the way/at the level spider-man fans act towards creators and the character when something doesnt go the way they want?

If not, then its an apples to oranges comparison.

[charlesthehammer]

Do you see fans acting the way/at the level spider-man fans act towards creators and the character when something doesnt go the way they want?

If not, then its an apples to oranges comparison.

There are a hell of a lot worse, I can tell you that. Though really for all the teeth nashing I don't see much problematic behavior out of SM fans. At least on this board.

[Lars C]

There are a hell of a lot worse, I can tell you that. Though really for all the teeth nashing I don't see much problematic behavior out of SM fans. At least on this board.

The X-Men boards would be an example. But I don't see the fans there arguing with someone...

[Mister Mets]

When he went home, relived Peters moments with Mary Jane and Peter pleaded not to touch him?

Spock was taking a shower in that panel.

There are several ways to read that scene.

Right now? Batman? Justice League? Aquaman? Avengers? Saga? The Walking Dead? If we talk controversy as in the writer being in arguments with fans, I don't see many more than just this comic?

The whole New Avengers concept, which made the current team possible, is controversial.

Kirkman pissed off a lot of people with his call for more creator-owned comics.

Saga sells pretty well, but it's not on the level of the other titles. We're currently ten issues into an R-rated science fiction series. Since readers pick up the title knowing that, it diminishes much of the controversy. Readers also haven't formed attachments to the characters to the extent that a death/ decision by characters would be controversial.

In Justice League, there are plenty of people pissed off at Superman and Wonder Woman's romance, as well as the invalidation of previous continuity.

Aquaman's a B-level character, so Johns has more freedom. If anyone at CBR is pissed off about the treatment of the character, he won't find many who feel passionately one way or the other.

Batman is universally acclaimed, although it may not be a good idea to say that a book is uncontroversial the issue before a major crossover comes to an end.

[Red Lotus]

Do you see fans acting the way/at the level spider-man fans act towards creators and the character when something doesnt go the way they want?

If not, then its an apples to oranges comparison.

Its the same level.


I remember when Bru came to the X board to defend his first arc. He even added a line in another issue that i can swear was because of what happen there.

[Majinoaw]

Spock was taking a shower in that panel.

There are several ways to read that scene.


The whole New Avengers concept, which made the current team possible, is controversial.

Kirkman pissed off a lot of people with his call for more creator-owned comics.

Saga sells pretty well, but it's not on the level of the other titles. We're currently ten issues into an R-rated science fiction series. Since readers pick up the title knowing that, it diminishes much of the controversy. Readers also haven't formed attachments to the characters to the extent that a death/ decision by characters would be controversial.

In Justice League, there are plenty of people pissed off at Superman and Wonder Woman's romance, as well as the invalidation of previous continuity.

Aquaman's a B-level character, so Johns has more freedom. If anyone at CBR is pissed off about the treatment of the character, he won't find many who feel passionately one way or the other.

Batman is universally acclaimed, although it may not be a good idea to say that a book is uncontroversial the issue before a major crossover comes to an end.

Superman and WW's romance has destroyed the Clark/Lois dynamic. She's not even needed for the book now... Lois that is.

[CyberHubbs]

The X-Men boards would be an example. But I don't see the fans there arguing with someone...

I can think of at least one fight between a X-board member and Peter David.

And then there was the guy that pretty much stalked Kurt Busiek for years because of the thing with Thor being bulletproof. I mean, trust me, it's out there.

[14k_london]

That might be true, but nowhere do I see these creators openly trolling, mocking and laughing about it.

I can well understand the overblown fan reaction to some of the recent controversies, even if death threats and the like are unwarranted. Comic book fans are seen as an obsessive lot sometimes, but i think its more to do with the nature of the medium than the reader. The medium elicits it; in the sense that unlike any other, people follow the exploits of a character for years to the point where they feel real. The reader has something invested in it more than other forms of entertainment and so it really hurts when writers mess around with characters too much. Of course writers play to this because inflaming passions sells. You can understand that when we're talking about a medium that doesn't make alot of money in itself and the writers are as concerned about it dying out as the readers. So publishers out of desperation to ensure the survival of comics do and say what the can to sell more and readers out of desperation spew on internet forums and make death threats.

I think some of the mocking is a defence mechanism against the sheer volume of vitriol their stories can attract these days with the internet, but i would prefer to be trolled and then relieved to find peter parker didn't really die, and otto didn't really get it on with mj, then to be screwed by surprise and for real like with OMD (ok not such a surprise).

[XxSnakeProxX]

I don't know as there's much of a relationship there to begin with; strikes me as more of two distinct groups sometimes talking more to themselves than anything else.

Well, since we have writers replying directly with consumers through forums and social media, I'd say theres some form of relationship and communication between the two.

[ShaggyB]

The X-Men boards would be an example. But I don't see the fans there arguing with someone...

i dont see too many death threats being handed out to the x-men writers. Again, Spider-man seems to be a special scenario. Similar.... but not the exact same as what youve given as examples.

Marvel knows its fans are over the top when it comes to spidey, so they market to that.