Soap Box Rant Over Anything Comics

[Prognosticator]

Okay, so i've totally listened to all of the bendis-hating raves on SHH and taken them in objectively, for sometimes there are some great points!

...well, i went out to the "local" comicbook store and as much as i tried i absolutely couldn't walk out w/o purchasing every "House of M" and HofM "tie-in" issue throughout the Marvel U....

I get home and totally demolish the stack of books (I mean I read them), and guess what...to my surprise, I'm totally digging them! In fact, i'm loving the heck out of it! And of all the tie-ins, the actual New Avenger/Astonishing House of M is the best written! So far, I'm not thinking that Bendis has sucked it up too bad! Others have been way worse!!!

In fact, superfans never fall short of praising Chris Claremont's work on X-Men. I'll be the first to say he definately deserves his accollations as the best X-writer ever!...but his "Season of the Witch Art"??? What the crap is going on there?!?! Now i know why i've continued to stay away from the convoluted x-titles for so long? So far, it seems to be the weakest of the tie-ins.

Anyway, while i'm not the biggest fan of the "four issues of talk, one issue of action, one issue of epilogue" arc style that Bendis is known for, I am getting a thorough kick out of HofM...

Truth be told, i wouldn't have even bought them in the first place if so many people weren't criticizing it so blatantly. I guess it just goes to show that you have to read it and decide for yourself.

[Dwarf lord]

Wow... Another newbie telling us what to like.

[Prognosticator]

Give me a friggin' break w/the newbie crap. Just b/c I've only been petering around this place a few months doesn't make me any less book savvvvy. Plus, i'm not coming down on the haters or sturring the pot...or saying "what to like". I'm sure you know that though....with your 6,072 posts and all, that makes you way more classified to speak your mind. thanks for putting me in my place, DB

[Elijya]

Wow... Another newbie telling us what to like.

come on, DL, cool it with that. He is not, he's just saying he liked it, he disagrees with some of us, and doing it in a relatively polite way

I've read some of House of M, it's mildly entertaining, but nothing that will be remembered two years from now

[DBM]

I've read some of House of M, it's mildly entertaining, but nothing that will be remembered two years from now

I think this is an excellent point.

Very few of the "big events" in Marvel ever have any lasting impact. And House of M is just another mediocre story in a long line of mediocre stories (in my opinion) that are built up to a point they can never live up too.

The most impactful stories ever told by Marvel are the ones that didn't need hype, the ones that were able to stand on their own as great stories without hyperbole. The real classics.

Dark Phoenix Saga, Death of Jean Dewolfe, This Man This Monster, etc.

[Doc Destruction]

People really need to read AoA. House of M is pretty close to the EXACT same story, including the one-who-remembers-everything storyline.

[DBM]

People really need to read AoA. House of M is pretty close to the EXACT same story, including the one-who-remembers-everything storyline.

And I'd bet my collection that people will still be remembering AoA long after House of M is gone.

[Prognosticator]

It's true about the "big events". it's pretty introspective about the media today in general though. it's very representative of movies today, and award show, and some books and music. they can't last or make as big of an impact b/c the pressure to deliver doesn't hit as hard as the hype machine that preceeds it. Plus, so many ideas continue to get recycled that the newness of some events feels like a softer recreation of something old!! This much has been evident from my observation...but DC still throws me a bone every once in a while. A pretty darn tasty one at that!

[Dwarf lord]

come on, DL, cool it with that. He is not, he's just saying he liked it, he disagrees with some of us, and doing it in a relatively polite way

I've read some of House of M, it's mildly entertaining, but nothing that will be remembered two years from now

I guess I'm just getting annoyed. It seems that everywhere I look there's a person asking us why we hate Bendis. I really think there should just be a Bendis Fan Thread. It cuts the clutter. And I do admit Prognosticator is certainly one of the better ones unlike some others who I would rather not name. I suppose I should be nicer, I get the same crap on other boards for liking Loeb. Welcome to the hype, Pro.

[Prognosticator]

thanks a lot. I really can't stand a lot of his (bendis) work to be fair! I'm pretty half and half on loeb too. And that's not to say i'm mediocre b/c i'm very maticulous and picky. Thanks for giving me a break! i'll definately respect what you have to say.

[Dwarf lord]

thanks a lot. I really can't stand a lot of his (bendis) work to be fair! I'm pretty half and half on loeb too. And that's not to say i'm mediocre b/c i'm very maticulous and picky. Thanks for giving me a break! i'll definately respect what you have to say.

BTW, do you like JSA? If you haven't read it, get the first couple trades.

[Doc Destruction]

BTW, do you like JSA? If you haven't read it, get the first couple trades.

Oh God, yes...good advice.

[Prognosticator]

No, i've never got into JSA. i've never been sure if or where i'd want to start. Which trades are the first couple?

[Dwarf lord]

No, i've never got into JSA. i've never been sure if or where i'd want to start. Which trades are the first couple?

JSA Vol. 1: Justice Be Done
JSA Vol. 2: Darkness Falls
JSA Vol. 3: The Return of Hawkman

[iloveclones]

I'm going to agree with Pro, and disagree with you guys a little. I actually think HoM is holding up rather well. I've read all of these "events" over the years, starting with Secret Wars, through the "stories that ran through the Annuals", and Infinity fill-in-the-blank. And I think HoM will rank among or better than them. I liked AoA, so I don't know if I'll like it(or remember it) as much as that 10 years from now. But I like it better than most of those aforementioned.

Oh, and I liked those JSA TPBs too.

[Prognosticator]

So which is the preferible then, and this may be a matter of corn flakes or bran flakes but which TPB's are more satisfying: JSA or JLA?

[Dwarf lord]

Deffinantly JSA. Morrison's JLA was great and all, but it seemed to lack depth. JSA, while it may not have the big guns, you get to know the characters a bit better.

[Prognosticator]

Makes sense then. Well aren't the JSA or members being used in the "Vengence" mini, involving spectre? if i'm showing ignorance here it's b/c i haven't picked up any issues to read yet, and i can't remember for sure. I know shazam in it...

[Dwarf lord]

Shazam is a reserve member. It's unsure weather he'll stay after the current JSA arc.

[Prognosticator]

How far back in the DCU does the first three TPB's take place time/event wise?

[Dwarf lord]

I'm not sure. I know that the first couple take place a bit before Green Arrow comes back and before OWAW. I'm really not sure.

[Doc Destruction]

I'm going to agree with Pro, and disagree with you guys a little. I actually think HoM is holding up rather well. I've read all of these "events" over the years, starting with Secret Wars, through the "stories that ran through the Annuals", and Infinity fill-in-the-blank. And I think HoM will rank among or better than them. I liked AoA, so I don't know if I'll like it(or remember it) as much as that 10 years from now. But I like it better than most of those aforementioned.

Oh, and I liked those JSA TPBs too.

Well, for me, I keep forgetting HoM is even going on, to be honest. I remember pacing in front of my comic book store to get my hands on AoA stuff. I feel that way with Crisis tie-ins now, so I don't think it's that I'm jaded.

Secret wars was meh by the way.

[Prognosticator]

That's me completely. I passed over the House of M and jumped straight into the OMAC and Rann/Thang....Eventually i picked up HofM out of pure curiosity, but i am on the very edge of suspense with what DC is doing right now!

[Ben Urich]

I dropped around 5 or 6 Marvel titles to make room for the DC stuff that's going on right now.
Because in a few years, this **** at DC is actually going to matter.
The only thing from House of M that anyone's going to give a **** about in a few years is going to be the stupid variant covers and the ******* scalpers that buy them.

[Symbiotica]

Anyway, while i'm not the biggest fan of the "four issues of talk, one issue of action, one issue of epilogue" arc style that Bendis is known for, I am getting a thorough kick out of HofM...
Truth be told, i wouldn't have even bought them in the first place if so many people weren't criticizing it so blatantly. I guess it just goes to show that you have to read it and decide for yourself.

Nice attempt at reverse-psychology; unfortunately... I mean.... unfortunately.... what?... OH GOD!.... no, I mean really.... I'm serious, really.... NO!.... what? what did you say...? look!...over there...! ....where?!....

....seriously, the reverse-psychology angle has been tried before, and has never yet been known to work.

[Prognosticator]

I've got a new rant...

I can't stand it when writers use comics to voice their liberal views about the U.S. government or current politics...BLAH!

But what's even WORSE is when the create "villains" in the books that share the same governmental outlook at say, the far right Republicans!!!

Writers are now suffering from symptoms of "Aaron Sorkin Disease". It's a sign of weak writing in my mind. It's worse than rewriting old stories.

I'm not a Right-wing nut by any stretch of the word, but I'm no where close to a liberal pansy either. Word to the writers: Knock it off, and get back to entertaining me with good stories!

[Varient]

Okay, so i've totally listened to all of the bendis-hating raves on SHH and taken them in objectively, for sometimes there are some great points!

...well, i went out to the "local" comicbook store and as much as i tried i absolutely couldn't walk out w/o purchasing every "House of M" and HofM "tie-in" issue throughout the Marvel U....

I get home and totally demolish the stack of books (I mean I read them), and guess what...to my surprise, I'm totally digging them! In fact, i'm loving the heck out of it! And of all the tie-ins, the actual New Avenger/Astonishing House of M is the best written! So far, I'm not thinking that Bendis has sucked it up too bad! Others have been way worse!!!

In fact, superfans never fall short of praising Chris Claremont's work on X-Men. I'll be the first to say he definately deserves his accollations as the best X-writer ever!...but his "Season of the Witch Art"??? What the crap is going on there?!?! Now i know why i've continued to stay away from the convoluted x-titles for so long? So far, it seems to be the weakest of the tie-ins.

Anyway, while i'm not the biggest fan of the "four issues of talk, one issue of action, one issue of epilogue" arc style that Bendis is known for, I am getting a thorough kick out of HofM...

Truth be told, i wouldn't have even bought them in the first place if so many people weren't criticizing it so blatantly. I guess it just goes to show that you have to read it and decide for yourself.
(Smile)

Happy for you.

(Me personal,.. had "personal" issues with bits of the storyline throughout, but I can appreciate someone else liking the entire package.)

Peace.

[Prognosticator]

No, that's old as dirt. I barely remember HoM myself now... I just wanted to update the 'rant box'.

[Elijya]

I've got a new rant...

I can't stand it when writers use comics to voice their liberal views about the U.S. government or current politics...BLAH!

But what's even WORSE is when the create "villains" in the books that share the same governmental outlook at say, the far right Republicans!!!

Writers are now suffering from symptoms of "Aaron Sorkin Disease". It's a sign of weak writing in my mind. It's worse than rewriting old stories.

I'm not a Right-wing nut by any stretch of the word, but I'm no where close to a liberal pansy either. Word to the writers: Knock it off, and get back to entertaining me with good stories!
eh, it depends how they do it. Winnick is too heavy handed and has thoroughly pissed me off, so I stopped enjoying his bhooks

what books are you speaking about specificly?

[Prognosticator]

^ Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, Iron Man's "villainisation" (or close to it) in Civil War, and yeah, there are some eye rolling similarities in Green Arrow since OYL began.

[Galact-Gal]

Don't forget what they've done to Reed Richards. Presumably he helped Tony clone Thor. They actually created a person to use as an essentially mindless weapon against their former friends!! This is ABSOLUTE VILLAIN BEHAVIOR!!!!

[Arkady Rossovich]

Its not a rant,but i think its sad that most of the internet group who visit forums have something bad to say about Marvel today.I personally dont like what Bendis is doing with New Avengers,and the Sentry,Marvel`s mock up of Superman when Hyperion was the cloest to that fact.

I just dont know anymore...

[kytrigger]

I've got a new rant...

I can't stand it when writers use comics to voice their liberal views about the U.S. government or current politics...BLAH!

But what's even WORSE is when the create "villains" in the books that share the same governmental outlook at say, the far right Republicans!!!

Writers are now suffering from symptoms of "Aaron Sorkin Disease". It's a sign of weak writing in my mind. It's worse than rewriting old stories.

I'm not a Right-wing nut by any stretch of the word, but I'm no where close to a liberal pansy either. Word to the writers: Knock it off, and get back to entertaining me with good stories!

While I can see how it can be annoying, I can't really agree with you on it being "bad writing". Most writers draw from their own experiences, and that is sometimes political. Some of the best and most influential writers of all time have had underlying political themes intheir work. And it isn't just heavy handed writing I'm talking about either. it can be in simple "children's stories" like Aesop's work.

[hippie_hunter]

eh, it depends how they do it. Winnick is too heavy handed and has thoroughly pissed me off, so I stopped enjoying his bhooks
Winick's views are perfect for Green Arrow, and he avoided political issues on his awesome run on Batman. However when I was reading Outsiders and seeing Thunder and Grace go lesbo I was automatically thinking "God dammit Winnick, you did it again!"

It's like every one of his books has gay people or AIDS.

Green Arrow - AIDS
Green Lantern - gay people
Outsiders - gay people
Pedro and Me - gay people and AIDS
Exiles - gay people

I'm not bashing people who are gay or people who have AIDS, but there are other social issues asides from homosexuality and the AIDS epidemic.

[yenaled]

^ Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters

I didn't realise that wanting to nuke cities, setting up fake suicide bombings and having a team of genetically altered villains from another dimention trying to take over America was all Republican policy.

[BrianWilly]

I do get the impression that it's meant to depict a rightist sort of aggression, though. IMO it's clear just exactly what the story is meant to portray; still, it's enough of a crazy evil supervillain tie-you-to-the-traintracks let's-clone-some-presidents soon-my-destructo-ray-will-eat-you-all sort of plotline that I don't take it too seriously as political allegory.

I don't mind politics in comics. I don't even really mind blatant overly-villainized caricatures of the right wing 'cause, hey, funny. I do, however, think that the general lack of balance and bias in the medium as it relates to politics hurts it in the long run. If there's one thing that politics isn't, it's one-sided; and too often, that's the only way writers can portray it no matter what side they're portraying.

As for my rants...well, I think I'll reserve those for the rest of these forums; I'm sure you'll run into one or two soon enough:p.

[Prognosticator]

^ Right Willy, I'm saying you could write a heck of a lot more intrique into politically-influenced books if you represent BOTH sides of the political hypocrasy! If I want to see outright bias for the 'left' or 'right', I'll turn to CNN or FOXNEWS... I don't want the "one-sided war" pouring into comics:(

[SouLeSS]

I didn't realise that wanting to nuke cities, setting up fake suicide bombings and having a team of genetically altered villains from another dimention trying to take over America was all Republican policy.

Classic.

[iloveclones]

I didn't realise that wanting to nuke cities, setting up fake suicide bombings and having a team of genetically altered villains from another dimention trying to take over America was all Republican policy.

I wouldn't say it's policy, as much as one of their platforms.

[Mr. Green]

People really need to read AoA. House of M is pretty close to the EXACT same story, including the one-who-remembers-everything storyline.
What does AoA stand for?

[Prognosticator]

Age of Apocalypse

[Darthphere]

I didn't realise that wanting to nuke cities, setting up fake suicide bombings and having a team of genetically altered villains from another dimention trying to take over America was all Republican policy.


Beautiful.