A little rant on comic books.....

Believe it or not, I find that image over there to the left to be offensive, on several levels. First, as a long-time (since like I was 9) comic book reader, I'm offended because it seems like the artist just gave up and didn't even draw Emma Frost but instead drew some kind of hooker/stripper avatar. Nothing to do with the story. Nothing to do with the character. Brilliant.

Let me also tell you (entering second level of offended), I have an 11-year old son and I would love to get him reading comic books but I'm no about to hand him this issue of X-Men. So not only are they offending me, a current reader, they are losing out on a future potential reader.

So what does a good cover look like? How about the one over here to the right? I like this one. Tension.
Drama. Actually has something to do with the story. So please don't pander. It's not what got me reading comic books - its not what will bring the next generation to comic books. 

And another thing, adopt tighter story arcs. You know when you never end a story, you don't prevent people from jumping off; you keep people from jumping on. 

Oh and geez...enough with the one-shots - meaningless to the storyline. 

And Holy Title Confusion...wanna know a real problem? These are the X-Men related titles shipping in MARCH: X-Men Origins, X-Men Legacy, X-Men, X-Factor, Wolverine, Uncanny X-Men, Uncanny X-Force....and I'm skipping around here. But you see what I mean? I mean which one do I get? Which ones are in the same continuity? 

So yeah, Marvel & DC (w a little Dark Horse thrown in) you can continue to make Spider-Man 8 or Iron Man 5 - but don't forget where these characters came from  - they came from the pages of comic books and that audience that lines up to see those films? A lot of those people came from reading the books. So do something that shows you can actually remove your head from you collective publishing ass and do something to make this a vibrant publishing medium. 

Thanks. Excelsior!

 

 

Comments

[LearnNuggets]

Your rant is echoed among the masses. Charles and I were just talking about it earlier this week. Kudos for keeping this issue from your son, too! Stay faithful.