EXCLUSIVE: Rosemann Declares "Game On" for "Avengers Arena"

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

Relevant to this, another interview from Marvel.com:

Hopeless on 'Game On'

[Atom_basher]

have the people who are knocking this book even READ it yet? imp its one of the best books out of marvel now

[MrStytch]

I was quite 'bleurgh' when I read the premise for Avengers Arena. Didn't buy the first issue, didn't bother with the reviews. First book I've ever done that with. Anyways, today my local comics shop had a problem with their courier service so didn't get a full stock of comics in. Long story short, I picked up the first three issues of Avengers Arena and I really like the book. It's not 'violence for violence's sake', Hopeless clearly has a story to tell and the first three issues show he's telling it very well. I'll be sticking around for the long haul and will definitely try not to judge a book by its premise in future.

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

have the people who are knocking this book even READ it yet? imp its one of the best books out of marvel now

Some of them have actually. Others just skim the pages instead of actually reading the book based on their accounts of the content, and then I'm sure there are some who don't read the book but pretend like they do.

[Pedro Silva]

stop whining because different people have different taste from your own, if you don't like it don't buy it, its not like you're paying us to have any say on what we spend $3 on

It's a bit oversimplistic isn't it?
I mean, I like AA, but even if I didn't I would buy it because I like Nico and Chase, independently of whatever story they're in

[SayOcean]

Oh! I like the Braddock Kids, they should focus on killing Juston, before going after each other

[Jakerose]

Fuck yeah Bloodstone !

Love the preview.

Either Nara is the only one that wants to kill or the only one that does not want to kill.

I dislike that we know that everybody is save until 6.

I was quite 'bleurgh' when I read the premise for Avengers Arena. Didn't buy the first issue, didn't bother with the reviews. First book I've ever done that with. Anyways, today my local comics shop had a problem with their courier service so didn't get a full stock of comics in. Long story short, I picked up the first three issues of Avengers Arena and I really like the book. It's not 'violence for violence's sake', Hopeless clearly has a story to tell and the first three issues show he's telling it very well. I'll be sticking around for the long haul and will definitely try not to judge a book by its premise in future.

[Majin Gojira]

Man, I do not get how people describe this title as "Fun". I can describe it a lot of ways, but "Fun" is not one of them. Blows my mind.

So many readers are writing in that we've expanded the letters page section to two pages in most issues -- and we even ran a double-page letters section in issue #1 filled with reader reaction to the series announcement. The bottom line: Whether you love it or loathe it (there seems to be little middle ground), we appreciate every single person who is reaching out to us.

I find this fascinating. Makes me want to write in again to express an opinion of not-quite-negative-but-not-positive-either. Just to see if it throws them bit

I also have to laugh heartily that there are actual rules to this 'game' beyond "Kill or be killed" or "Ya know that movie/book thing? It's like that!" in story so far. That it's already 10 days in and rules beyond that haven't really been shore up means that the initial talk in the interview regarding "Grappling with the rules" is an exaggeration to say the least.

Then, in issue #8 (on sale April 24) we zoom back to the kids and see how they respond to the jaw-dropping last page of issue #6.

Glad to see that the issues I had with pacing and focus in this series are going to continue unabated. Delays in reactions between major plot points only serves to lessen their impact. It gives the audience time to cope with it. If you want the big impact, you follow it up with the proper venom immediately.

Like I said earlier, people either love this series or hate it, which -- as crazy as this sounds -- is a phenomenal reaction to have for your comic book.

Can't argue with that part.

Art is supposed to push buttons and inspire an emotional response. If we're not striving to create true art each month, then why are we doing this?

It would work a whole lot better if it was not just doing so for the sake of doing so, but had actual symbolism and metaphoric content to support it. Perhaps it is too early to call, but I severely doubt that we'll get something as nuanced as it's two main sources or Deathrace 2000.

I'd LOVE above all things to be wrong about that one, but I just don't see it as likely.

From the other interview

The strongest relationship that Hazmat had was taken away right off the bat. I think she understands better than anyone exactly how real the game is. She also tends to run a little hot and that is even intensified by what happened to Mettle in issue #1. She hasn’t necessarily bought in to killing everyone, but she’s going to do everything she can to protect her friends. That’s her primary thing now. She’ll do anything to keep the people that she has left safe.

Not sure if that's fuel on the fire for "Hazmat goes evil", but I honestly barely trust Hopeless' interviews since "I want them all to be Katniss". Hopefully he's gotten better.

[IAMFeAR7]

Avengers Arena is awesome!
And if series I think are crap -like for example Secret Warriors, and yes I did read it in trade- can get to 30 issues, then so should Arena.

[IAMFeAR7]

And as a bonus, it's always fun -and a little bit pathetic- to see people squirming in pure hate and disgust over things happening in silly comics like Arena or Superior Spider-Man, when there are a lot worse problems in the real world that no one seems to give a care about.

[Alch]

Badass book. Great characters! Keep it coming Mavel

[Rafa]

Loving what they are doing here. Glad that Darkwak is still alive and hope the Vertigo artist is Albuquerque since AmVamp is on hiatus.

[graffiX]

Some of them have actually. Others just skim the pages instead of actually reading the book based on their accounts of the content, and then I'm sure there are some who don't read the book but pretend like they do.

And then you have those who do read the book, secretly like it but continue to bash it. Because admitting they were wrong is too hard to do. Even on a comic book message board. Hell I was wrong on All New X-Men. It's been great.

Man, I do not get how people describe this title as "Fun". I can describe it a lot of ways, but "Fun" is not one of them. Blows my mind.

How does something being "fun" blow your mind? Fun is subjective.

One thing that is pretty consistent on these boards is that everyone thinks their opinion is right. Do they even know the meaning of the word?

[Venom Melendez]

People like what they like.

Also, looks like Nara may be willing to play Arcade's little game.

To be fair, they attacked her first and they are fighting over food supply.

[Lady_Alternate]

Ugh. This series made it to issue 8?? That's sad.

Shame on all of you who are buying this tripe. And thus perpetuating it.

It's great. Shame on you for whining without reading it, and thus perpetuating the background noise of meaningless waffle.