New Joe friday's is up

[roach]

http://www.newsarama.com/JoeFridays/JoeFridays46.html

[GNR]

MK #2,DD #87,Hulk #96 are all looking dandy.

[roach]

i disagree with his views on Namor though

[Electro UK]

http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Heroes4Hire/H4H_t.jpg (javascript:;)

This is the HFH line up? Black Cat's getting an ongoing... oh dear :(

[BrianWilly]

Why does it seem like he passes off every concept that doesn't crank his engine -- and yes I mean that in the most lascivious way imaginable -- as some sort of marketting tomfoolery of the times that they were created? I'm not saying that he's wrong, but I'm thinking it says a lot about his attitude.

"Iron Fist was a product of the kung fu craze." "Captain Marvel was a product of the cosmic craze." "Nick Fury was a product of the spy craze." "Namor was a product of the...40s something counter-something craze."

Everything to him has to be of the NOW and the IN and the EDGY, or else it's just a product of its times that has no relevance today. And yet his critical eye seems to glaze over some of the character inventions we've had in the recent past. What shall we say in twenty or even ten years about Arana and X-23 and even Gravity? What shall we say about the Ultimate universe? Those aren't trends? Those aren't products of their times? It's so easy to put on the Hindsight Vision 20/20 so long as they're not making any money today.

The bigger question is, why should it matter? Some of us hear about the mystical city of K’un L’un for an origin for a character and it sounds really interesting. It's wholly irritating how much this man underestimates iconism and history. Instead he keeps talking about revamps and bad origins and different takes and it just leads to sht like JMS's "Strange" revamp. And we all know how well stuff like that turns out.

[CaptainStacy]

Why does it seem like he passes off every concept that doesn't crank his engine -- and yes I mean that in the most lascivious way imaginable -- as some sort of marketting tomfoolery of the times that they were created? I'm not saying that he's wrong, but I'm thinking it says a lot about his attitude.

"Iron Fist was a product of the kung fu craze." "Captain Marvel was a product of the cosmic craze." "Nick Fury was a product of the spy craze." "Namor was a product of the...40s something counter-something craze."

Everything to him has to be of the NOW and the IN and the EDGY, or else it's just a product of its times that has no relevance today. And yet his critical eye seems to glaze over some of the character inventions we've had in the recent past. What shall we say in twenty or even ten years about Arana and X-23 and even Gravity? What shall we say about the Ultimate universe? Those aren't trends? Those aren't products of their times? It's so easy to put on the Hindsight Vision 20/20 so long as they're not making any money today.

The bigger question is, why should it matter? Some of us hear about the mystical city of K’un L’un for an origin for a character and it sounds really interesting. It's wholly irritating how much this man underestimates iconism and history. Instead he keeps talking about revamps and bad origins and different takes and it just leads to sht like JMS's "Strange" revamp. And we all know how well stuff like that turns out.

Bravo, Brian.

[CaptainStacy]

http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Heroes4Hire/H4H_t.jpg (javascript:;)

This is the HFH line up? Black Cat's getting an ongoing... oh dear :(

I think it's GREAT!

[CaptainStacy]

i disagree with his views on Namor though

I thought his views on The Defenders were completely ridiculous.

[deathshead2]

I thought his views on The Defenders were completely ridiculous.Most of Joe Qs views are ridiculous.

[THANOSRULES]

His views on Quasar are ridiculous...


Killer Instinct??

what are you talking about..??

He doesnt think Quasar can ever be a success becuase he is 'too nice'??

Joe Q has really lost me.

only good thing he said was about the New Warriors..when he said 70 percent chance of a new series in the next 2 years.

[Dread]

Why does it seem like he passes off every concept that doesn't crank his engine -- and yes I mean that in the most lascivious way imaginable -- as some sort of marketting tomfoolery of the times that they were created? I'm not saying that he's wrong, but I'm thinking it says a lot about his attitude.

"Iron Fist was a product of the kung fu craze." "Captain Marvel was a product of the cosmic craze." "Nick Fury was a product of the spy craze." "Namor was a product of the...40s something counter-something craze."

Everything to him has to be of the NOW and the IN and the EDGY, or else it's just a product of its times that has no relevance today. And yet his critical eye seems to glaze over some of the character inventions we've had in the recent past. What shall we say in twenty or even ten years about Arana and X-23 and even Gravity? What shall we say about the Ultimate universe? Those aren't trends? Those aren't products of their times? It's so easy to put on the Hindsight Vision 20/20 so long as they're not making any money today.

The bigger question is, why should it matter? Some of us hear about the mystical city of K’un L’un for an origin for a character and it sounds really interesting. It's wholly irritating how much this man underestimates iconism and history. Instead he keeps talking about revamps and bad origins and different takes and it just leads to sht like JMS's "Strange" revamp. And we all know how well stuff like that turns out.
Total agreement here. Joe Q seems very content with being able to use hindsight to see a lot of characters of old, who haven't been selling well lately, mostly because of Marvel's utter failure to sell them properly (for chrissakes, DBZ and NARUTO are hotter than ever, and Marvel can't sell a series about a MARTIAL ARTIST WHOSE POWERS INVOLVE CHI!? Am I missing something here?) yet naturally he can't see how a lot of his own creations since he took over could be said the same. Plus, you KNOW that if any one of these properties that he mentioned has a movie franchise, sold in the Top 25, and so on, he'd be totally pimping out the next issue.

But, Joe Q's strategies are working. Marvel's selling well, beating out DC even with DC on its A-Game. And so long as they do, we'll have more of the same.

Frankly, many characters don't need anymore "mucking" with their origins. Marvel loves retcons, but they're spineless. Do something to a character in the HERE AND NOW. Actually commit a few years to amping something, and do it proper. Retcons, Joe Q, are definately, "a product of the early 21st century where writers wanted all the punch of shock value, but lacked the patience to do it right because the company at the time only cared about the bottom line". Or can I save that for 2015?

[deemar325]

^ Brilliant as usual.

I hate you.

*joking*

[CaptainStacy]

But, Joe Q's strategies are working. Marvel's selling well, beating out DC even with DC on its A-Game.

And it boggles the mind. As an observer, and in my personal opinion, if i put the past two and a half years of product from each company side by side, DC, quite frankly, blows Marvel out of the galaxy in terms of creativity and "crowd pleasing". Marvel seems to be merely reacting to everything DC has done, instead of setting the standards.

Meanwhile; Spider-Man (im one myself) and X-men fans are some of the most un-happy fans in the industry, yet books from both franchises continually sell in the upper tier numbers.

It makes no sense.

[Dread]

And it boggles the mind. As an observer, and in my personal opinion, if i put the past two and a half years of product from each company side by side, DC, quite frankly, blows Marvel out of the galaxy in terms of creativity and "crowd pleasing". Marvel seems to be merely reacting to everything DC has done, instead of setting the standards.

Meanwhile; Spider-Man (im one myself) and X-men fans are some of the most un-happy fans in the industry, yet books from both franchises continually sell in the upper tier numbers.

It makes no sense.
It does when you remember that X-Men, at this point, is a fool-proof franchise. No matter how good, bad, or mediocre the core titles are, they sell well. Now, can Marvel successfully launch a NEW X-title and have it last more than 2 years? Aside for NEW X-MEN (which is a carry-over from NEW MUTANTS), no. All of their 2004 X-books crashed and burned. Note, that in 2001, nearly any X-book, even BROTHERHOOD, was a Top 10 seller.

Now, Spider-Man isn't quite as fool-proof, as the CLONE SAGA showed. JMS brought with him some fan-following from RISING STARS and BABYLON 5, much as Whedon brought over the Buffy/Angel crowd on ASM. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN's success likely had some carry-over effect, same as the films. I guess shocks just sell well. Although it is worth noting that USM routinely outsold the "core" Spidey titles until about the past year or so.

You also have to recall that the "silent majority" of comic book fans supposedly do not post often at message boards. And these are the ones who are buying a lot of these books. I mean, if you go by what books are "hot" in this forum, RUNAWAYS, MTU, THE THING, SHE-HULK, and so on should be selling like gangbusters. In reality, only TWO of those titles are selling in the Top 100.

I don't read a lot of DC books, but I am reading INFINITE CRISIS and even without having a lot of investment in the characters, it is a great story, really an awesome superhero opera with all the action, tragedy and otherworldness within, along with a potent metaphor. Marvel's shied away from outright "superhero operas" for a while now. They're more about relating to what is happening in reality, which is nothing new (look how much milage they got out of WW2 or the Cold War Era), but it does limit them in some ways. DC stories tend to be more timeless, but Marvel stories are usually more relevent in the PRESENT than looking back. Sales involve striking when the iron is hot, and maybe Marvel just does that better, at least within the past few years. Are they simply reacting to trends? Of course. Both companies do that rather shamelessly, and will never cop to it.

[vog]

And it boggles the mind. As an observer, and in my personal opinion, if i put the past two and a half years of product from each company side by side, DC, quite frankly, blows Marvel out of the galaxy in terms of creativity and "crowd pleasing". Marvel seems to be merely reacting to everything DC has done, instead of setting the standards.

Meanwhile; Spider-Man (im one myself) and X-men fans are some of the most un-happy fans in the industry, yet books from both franchises continually sell in the upper tier numbers.

It makes no sense.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying CaptainStacy. I guess you can sorta compare it to the 90's. The 90's is generally looked upon as one of, if not the worst, decades of all comics, yet it was also one of the highest selling decades to boot (at least for the first half of the decade).

Just as an example, March's numbers just came out today and Uncanny X-Men 470 and 471 were ranked 9th and 11th respectively for the month, yet I rarely ever hear good things coming from fans about the book. I know there are some people who enjoy the book, but typically, people talk about how bad it's been for "x" number of years. I can't fathom why a book that has been critized so badly for so long can pull in such good numbers over such a consisent time period. Uncanny X-Men has been around (if not at the top) the top 10 for well over a decade now, yet is continually slammed by fans and it's numbers have barely waivered. I guess that's why the quality of the book has remained relatively the same....as far as Marvel is concerned, it's still a "great" book.

[vog]

It does when you remember that X-Men, at this point, is a fool-proof franchise. No matter how good, bad, or mediocre the core titles are, they sell well. Now, can Marvel successfully launch a NEW X-title and have it last more than 2 years? Aside for NEW X-MEN (which is a carry-over from NEW MUTANTS), no. All of their 2004 X-books crashed and burned. Note, that in 2001, nearly any X-book, even BROTHERHOOD, was a Top 10 seller.

You also have to recall that the "silent majority" of comic book fans supposedly do not post often at message boards. And these are the ones who are buying a lot of these books. I mean, if you go by what books are "hot" in this forum, RUNAWAYS, MTU, THE THING, SHE-HULK, and so on should be selling like gangbusters. In reality, only TWO of those titles are selling in the Top 100.


I often wonder how many of the silent majority are actually enjoying all the books they are buying, or if they are simply buying some of them out of a commitment to the book and/or character. I know there are plenty of "zombies" at my comic shop who simply buy X-books out of commitment. As long as the book is somewhat mediocre, it's enough for them to buy it just because it has an "X" in the title.

[CaptainStacy]

It does when you remember that X-Men, at this point, is a fool-proof franchise. No matter how good, bad, or mediocre the core titles are, they sell well. Now, can Marvel successfully launch a NEW X-title and have it last more than 2 years? Aside for NEW X-MEN (which is a carry-over from NEW MUTANTS), no. All of their 2004 X-books crashed and burned. Note, that in 2001, nearly any X-book, even BROTHERHOOD, was a Top 10 seller.

Now, Spider-Man isn't quite as fool-proof, as the CLONE SAGA showed. JMS brought with him some fan-following from RISING STARS and BABYLON 5, much as Whedon brought over the Buffy/Angel crowd on ASM. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN's success likely had some carry-over effect, same as the films. I guess shocks just sell well. Although it is worth noting that USM routinely outsold the "core" Spidey titles until about the past year or so.

You also have to recall that the "silent majority" of comic book fans supposedly do not post often at message boards. And these are the ones who are buying a lot of these books. I mean, if you go by what books are "hot" in this forum, RUNAWAYS, MTU, THE THING, SHE-HULK, and so on should be selling like gangbusters. In reality, only TWO of those titles are selling in the Top 100.

I don't read a lot of DC books, but I am reading INFINITE CRISIS and even without having a lot of investment in the characters, it is a great story, really an awesome superhero opera with all the action, tragedy and otherworldness within, along with a potent metaphor. Marvel's shied away from outright "superhero operas" for a while now. They're more about relating to what is happening in reality, which is nothing new (look how much milage they got out of WW2 or the Cold War Era), but it does limit them in some ways. DC stories tend to be more timeless, but Marvel stories are usually more relevent in the PRESENT than looking back. Sales involve striking when the iron is hot, and maybe Marvel just does that better, at least within the past few years. Are they simply reacting to trends? Of course. Both companies do that rather shamelessly, and will never cop to it.

I agree that shock and relevance may be a factor, but honestly, i think a lot of it has to do with nostalgia.

I'll use myself as an example; I love many different characters from both DC and Marvel, but Spider-Man has always been my favorite. I wasn't even old enough to read yet when i became a fan (just oogled all the colorful pictures, and watched the original toon, first run)...my interest is the other characters i've had "love affairs" with; Batman, Captain America, Conan, Hulk, Green Lantern, Daredevil, JLA, etc., has come and gone over the decades, but Spidey has pretty much remained a constant. (with a brief break-up during the Clone Saga, but technically, the books were no longer featuring the Peter Parker version anyway)...

So yeah, that's a pretty long time. And i think i tend to associate the character with many different aspects of my life, both good and bad, and it kind of becomes hard to let go.

I think it's like that with LOTS of Spider-Man and X-Men fans.

[Dread]

Definately. And Marvel will exploit it to the end. Why not? It's working for them.

Spider-Man was my first comic character too, but I dropped reading his core titles around the CLONE SAGA and, alas, have never been given a good reason to hop on since. A real shame.

[Nasty-B]

At least he was right about the Champions. That roster never made any sense to me.

[Harlekin]

NRAMA: QUASAR
Best suited for ongoing solo, limited series, or cast member:

JQ: As a cast member.

Why it worked/didn’t work in the past:

JQ: Well, Quasar ran for about for about 5 years but it was never a huge seller. I would argue that there were always problems with this character. A cool look obviously derived from Captain Marvel, but I never felt there was much to hold onto with the character.

Arguably, his origin adheres to the Marvel formula in manner so calculated that it’s transparent. He’s a Peter Parker archetype with cosmic powers and the lack of a killer instinct is what made him compatible with his cosmic band doohickeys. I don’t know something about a hero without a killer instinct. Having a killer instinct doesn’t mean you act upon it, it just means that you want to win at all costs.

Captain America has a killer instinct, great athletes have a killer instinct, Wendell couldn’t cut it with S.H.I.E.L.D. so they make him a guy who stands by guarding a door? Sorry, I was never ever able to buy into the whole Quasar thing.

What it would need to work today?

JQ: Find someone new to be Quasar and start from scratch.

Odds of seeing a new starring project in the next 2 years:

JQ: 10%
See, these kinds of things just piss me off.

The man obviously never actually read the Quasar title, and although Wendell does kind of suffer from the Parker-syndrome, he's an amazing character that just needs a bit more of a push. If they replace him or whatever, ugh, screw you Joe.

[roach]

Hmmmm so Iron Fist was created from the Kung-fu crazy and is irrelevant...yet look at Daughter of the Dragon and the cast of H4H

[roach]

so according to Marvel......
Namor cant work..........DC's Aquaman
Quasar cant work.........Green Lantern
Magic cant work.......Shadowpact
cosmic doesnt work........Rann/Thanagarian War; Green Lantern Corp.

[iloveclones]

The first half of that interview was like pulling teeth, and even though I don't share those feelings, I can see why people are put of by JQ at times. I mean, c'mon, if you don't want to answer questions, and you can't be cute about it like Stan the Man, just move on.

The second half, though, was extremely interesting, where he goes through a list of unused concepts/characters and talks about why they do/don't work. Definately worth reading through.

Comments about two of my favorite costumes ever:

JQ: Some people think Iron Fist’s costume is goofy as hell, I have to admit, if I saw someone walking around at a convention dressed like that I would think that it was dumb too. However, on paper, on the comic’s page, I really dig the costume, something about the lines of it that work for me. Maybe I could live without the yellow slippers, but the whole big collar thing, dragon chest tattoo, and tied mask is cool as all heck. Now, aside from all of that, I think currently he works best as a cast member in a title.


JQ: I loved the look of the old Captain Marvel and bought his title when I was a kid simply because I was buying everything that had a Marvel slug on it. He still to this day has one of the coolest costumes in comics. Heck even the green and white costume rocks! With the right pitch, I could se him having his own limited series at least. With a great pitch, perhaps an ongoing someday.

I think I see me a little old school Aurora and Northstar action, and I like it!

http://www.newsarama.com/JoeFridays/JF46art/XMEN188COVER1_400.jpg

[32CAGE]

He is the only one other than perhaps Azzarello himself, who loved Azzarello's version of Luke Cage in the Cage mini.

[TheCorpulent1]

Azzarello's a big name in comics these days. Of course he's gonna say he loved his version of anything. You never know what'll burn bridges with a creator you could potentially coax over to working for you in the future.

[JewishHobbit]

JQ: Ugh, are you going to buy into all that hype? Jeesh, doesn’t Marvel say that with every big event, “Oh, look at us, we’re going to have big changes, nothing will ever be the same again, blah, blah, blah.” Duh, what is wrong with those guys? Boy, how I long for the quite refined no nonsense, hyperbole-less days of Stan Lee. Stan was so quietly behind the scenes you didn’t even know he was there. God, how I hate this “Nu” Marvel, buy Civil War, buy Annihilation, buy Planet Hulk, check out Spider-Man’s “kewl” new duds, man does that costume blow!

heh, I found this funny.

[Xofenroht]

People could do something with Namor if they wanted to, just like someone could do something with "Werewolf-by Night".

That tears it, I need to get started on my treatment.

[Darthphere]

How can a man run a comic book company, and not understand any of is characters? Lets ask Joey Q.

[TheCorpulent1]

heh, I found this funny.
It would've been funny if he were half as charismatic as Stan was. I think the main problem I have with him is that he tries to do the kind of marketing Stan did, but he fails horribly at it and comes off as an arrogant windbag.

[JewishHobbit]

It would've been funny if he were half as charismatic as Stan was. I think the main problem I have with him is that he tries to do the kind of marketing Stan did, but he fails horribly at it and comes off as an arrogant windbag.

I'll agree that he's no Stan. But the reason why I think I found it funny was because when I read comics, I just read them to enjoy them, good or bad. I try not to complain, though I have in the past, and it annoys me when I hear people do nothing BUT complain. So when he was mocking the people that annoy me, I couldn't help but to giggle.

[JewishHobbit]

By the way, who the heck is Humbug?

[Darthphere]

By the way, who the heck is Humbug?


Exactly.:up:

[TheCorpulent1]

Probably someone with a much better origin and set of powers than Namor or Quasar, considering he got past Joe Q's harsh standards.

[Darthphere]

Probably someone with a much better origin and set of powers than Namor or Quasar, considering he got past Joe Q's harsh standards.



ZING!

[roach]

How can a man run a comic book company, and not understand any of is characters? Lets ask Joey Q.


Exactly:up:

I find it funny how he mentions how boring Ninjas are yet they were the foe of the Nu Avengers

[XwolverineX]

I agree with JQ. I think IF's costume is one of th' coolest in all of Marvel.





BTW, has IF ever wore a red costume, like in his varient Marvel Legend figure? Or was that completely made up? :confused:

[Darthphere]

I agree with JQ. I think IF's costume is one of th' coolest in all of Marvel.





BTW, has IF ever wore a red costume, like in his varient Marvel Legend figure? Or was that completely made up? :confused:


I think its an evil version of Iron Fist, or im making stuff up, you decide.

[Darthphere]

Exactly:up:

I find it funny how he mentions how boring Ninjas are yet they were the foe of the Nu Avengers


And considering one of the New Avengers is a ninja.:confused:

[roach]

In the final issues of Power Man and Iron Fist, Rand was exposed to radiation and contracted cancer. He returned to K'un L'un to seek Lei Kung's help to focus his healing powers and cure himself, but discovered that the city had been destroyed as revenge by Chiantang the Black Dragon, the brother of Shou-Lao. Feeling responsible, Rand wore red instead of green for a time to reflect this dishonor.

[XwolverineX]

In the final issues of Power Man and Iron Fist, Rand was exposed to radiation and contracted cancer. He returned to K'un L'un to seek Lei Kung's help to focus his healing powers and cure himself, but discovered that the city had been destroyed as revenge by Chiantang the Black Dragon, the brother of Shou-Lao. Feeling responsible, Rand wore red instead of green for a time to reflect this dishonor.



Okay, thanks man. Got any pics of that?

[XwolverineX]

I think its an evil version of Iron Fist, or im making stuff up, you decide.


Makin' stuff up. ;)

[Dread]

I agree, Joe Q isn't nearly as clever or witty as Stan Lee or even a lot of other writers/editors etc. are. I'm sure he's not such a bad guy in real life, but whenever he gives these sorts of interviews, he usually comes off a little bit smarmy, smug, and uninformed.

Another "reason" for some of this difference between Marvel and DC can be attributed to a philosophy. By and large at Marvel, the powers that be see fans as something akin to a "lessor evil" in that they need them for book/movie/merchandise sales, but routinely become combative with them and frequently take offensive/defensive stances. Joe Q and a messload of Marvel writers/editors these days (not ALL, but a heapload) have this feeling of, "oh, well, you can never please all of those obsessed fanboys, so let's not even try. Let's treat them like a hornet's nest because whenever the Internet MB's flare up, book sell like hotcakes." They're committed to the inability to "please everyone" and rely on "stoking flames" for a lot of their stories.

In truth, some of this is understandable. Many of the "classic" stories that people site, like the Death of Gwen, Dark Pheonix, and so on, even things like Peter dating Black Cat, were controversial for their time. On the other hand, sometimes a philosophy can become a self-defeating cycle; if you set out from the get go that "there's no way we can please these obsessed fanboys", then you likely won't. But part of this is folly because, well, the very genre comes entitles with certain things that even average stories have which please most of the audience. Easy example? A story where the superhero triumphs against great odds. Every fan expects that. And by and large, they get that. So, maybe you CAN please people.

But if you listen to DC editorial style interviews, like for 52 or IC or so on, you get a different attitude. Writers and editors will, firstly, keep their mouths shut on spoilers, but number two, will mention things like "staying true to the character" or wanting to revitalize something new and exciting for someone, or devising ways to please the fanbase, to meet the expectations of the fanbase, etc. When the hell have you heard that around the Marvel Bullpen? When have you ever heard, "fans of the Avengers expect certain things, so you have craft your own story that still _____". No. It's usually, "well, this isn't working, let's change the status quo!".

Of course, the bottom line is that Marvel's still outselling DC. It's been a struggle, and DC's consistantly gotten the #1 selling book recently, but Marvel continues to dominate dollar-share and unit share. Some of this is due to "nostaligia" or "habit fans" or "fans waiting for the book to improve, year after year" or so on. But you also have to keep in mind that many fans buy from BOTH companies, and that Marvel fans tend to be younger, and their universe tends to appeal moreso to people as they reach puberty. Marvel may simply have time on their side better than DC, despite the fact that DC has remained a presence on TV for years. Plus, DC's made some mistakes, and I am sure there are plenty of DC fans who may be pissed off about some of the changes in the past year, whether it was Sue Dibney's Rape, the total bastardization of Leslie Thompkins, yet another heroine being brutally slaughtered with Spoiler, or even the death of their favorite C-Lister in INFINITE CRISIS, you don't get any of that unless you're on the DC FORUM. But a lot of the posters there read both companies books. Marvel may have more "pure Marvel zombies" than DC does. DC may have more "double dippers".

Still, if Joe Q wanted me to "explain" a lot of Marvel's recent pitches and stuff in terms of "relevent only to their time", then boy, I could have an F'ing FIELD DAY.

- Arana was "really nothing more than trying to hop onto the 'Post-BUFFY/Kim Possible' bandwagon by having a solo, snippy heroine, and grab headlines by claiming her as 'Marvel's first latina heroine', which actually was untrue (Firebird and Silverclaw are two that pre-date her, and I could probably find more if I wished)".

- The Smith/Quesada relaunch of DAREDEVIL was "simply a means of using the then-hot popularity of a cult film-maker alongside some over-the-top art to revitalize a vigilante whose book hit a skid". Hell, DD hit another skid until Bendis.

Am I full of horse crap or do I have a point? The thing is, anyone can play this game with any character they wanted. Hell, the Fantastic Four are "a product of the Cold War-era Space Race" or the Hulk "merely a figment of radioactive paranoia after WW2", but this merely simplifies great characters. Joe Q is amusing because when he feels that a title has no audience, no selling power, and no future, he'll brush it off as "silly". But if, say, in a few months, said title was selling like hotcakes, had a movie deal, and was more popular than ever, he's be shamelessly pimping out the latest issue. I've stopped taking his interviews without a grain of salt.

[TheCorpulent1]

Iron Fist wore red in a fight he had with Black Panther during Priest's run.

[Electro UK]

I also have an issue of Deadpool where he's in a place worse than hell. He mmets some fat guy in a red Iron Fist outfit there... didn't have a clue who he was though.

[jaydawg]

While I do agree with him on some points, Dread definitely put all his claims to shame. But the one thing that bothered me was the Defenders remark. What the hell is wrong with the Defenders? Personally, I find them the single coolest team in the Marvel universe. Four of the heaviest hitters in the MU on a team thats barely a team. Thunderbolts, Avengers, X-men, none of them could take on the threats these guys did on a daily basis. And if the Defenders dont make any sense, why the hell did you let them have a mini last year?

[TheCorpulent1]

Because 1) the mini was a spoof and not supposed to be taken seriously, and 2) Keith Giffen asked for it. Giffen's got a big enough name that I wouldn't be surprised if Joe Q just nodded and said "go" for any project he pitched.

[CaptainStacy]

While I do agree with him on some points, Dread definitely put all his claims to shame. But the one thing that bothered me was the Defenders remark. What the hell is wrong with the Defenders? Personally, I find them the single coolest team in the Marvel universe. Four of the heaviest hitters in the MU on a team thats barely a team. Thunderbolts, Avengers, X-men, none of them could take on the threats these guys did on a daily basis. And if the Defenders dont make any sense, why the hell did you let them have a mini last year?

I thought it was kind of idiotic how Joe basically tried to write The Defenders off as just a rip-off of The Avengers.

The Defenders book lasted 152 consecutive issues (iirc).

When was the last time a Marvel book (without an X on it) did THAT?

[Assassin]

ehh who cares, i hate fridays because of this column. Dido's old ass can take out Fat Joe any day :p

[SpideyInATree]

Well, all I can say is that Daredevil and Moon Knight are two awesome books. Read them. Cherish them. NOW!!! :mad:

[Assassin]

na, i'll stick with my Young avengers, ms marvel, and ultimates

[Dread]

I thought it was kind of idiotic how Joe basically tried to write The Defenders off as just a rip-off of The Avengers.

The Defenders book lasted 152 consecutive issues (iirc).

When was the last time a Marvel book (without an X on it) did THAT?
Heck, Marvel's had a hard time getting most new X-books to last beyond 24 issues.

Like I stated, Joe Q is very transparent because of the recent DEFENDERS mini had sold, say, in the Top 25 throughout, you KNOW he'd not have bashed the team, but would be busy shilling the next mini. That series was basically "an attempt to cash in on the cult success of the Giffen/DeMattis 'I Can't Believe it's not the Justice League' series, once again a sign of Marvel following a trend at DC rather than setting one of their own".

See, Joe? You really don't want to get into the game of attempting to simplistically "explain" away any sort of property. Because it is a game that anyone can play, because hindsight is always easy.

Plus, after the consistant underachieving of the New Avengers (#17 showed they can't even coordinate an attack properly), no one has a right to call the Defenders a "non-team" again. Dr. Strange managing to keep Namor, Surfer, and Hulk from attacking themselves or their area for longer than a few minutes is at least worth as much as Cap willing to stand back and let Luke Cage do all the talkin'. :p

[Assassin]

i would like to wish joes fat ass a happy easter

[roach]

That series was basically "an attempt to cash in on the cult success of the Giffen/DeMattis 'I Can't Believe it's not the Justice League' series, once again a sign of Marvel following a trend at DC rather than setting one of their own".


Exactly....DC is working wonders with IC and Marvel is playing catchup by throwing a bunch of crossovers at us.....House of M, Planet Hulk, Decimation, Civil War.....:down

[deathshead2]

Exactly....DC is working wonders with IC and Marvel is playing catchup by throwing a bunch of crossovers at us.....House of M, Planet Hulk, Decimation, Civil War.....:downYeah thats true DC has the better writeing in there side. Marvel not so much what really makes me sad is marvel won't use there best writers very well like BKV, Don, and Kirkman. Really let them write more Joe give new avengers to a real writer like them:mad:

[roach]

Marvel needs to stop trying to imitate DC and just get back to writing good stories. If they want to do a crossover then plant the seeds now and have it going for either this summer or next.

[gildea]

Marvel needs to stop trying to imitate DC and just get back to writing good stories. If they want to do a crossover then plant the seeds now and have it going for either this summer or next.


um aren't they doing that with civil war?

the first seed was spidey's new costume issue wasn't that out over a month before civil war itself?


I agree in principal though, SCREW CROSSOVERS just write GOOD STORIES.

[Zenien]

I might be alone in this, but I do find it sort of irking if the new "Alpha Flight" is composed of American super powered heroes who have fled the USA over the Registration act. I wouldn't mind that being an element, with a few people on the team being such, but if they comprise the team of predominantly American 'draft dodgers' and make the leader Captain America, it's sort of not really Alpha Flight anymore. Though I've always loved the AH concept, but can never quite get sold on the execution, so might as well see something new right?

Whatever the team makeup ends up being I do hope that for this go around with the title, that the writer researches Canada just a little bit. Captain America or no Captain America, I hope this book will take strides hit home the political aspect to it, but also especially the fact that the country these heroes are in IS Canada.

Although, adding Captain America to the book would insure some sales I suppose, and it would be an interesting Dynamic. Personally I wouldn't mind Wolverine on the team either, but this still has somehow be Alpha Flight...

And has it been confirmed at all if the Alpha Flight that bit in Avengers is some wacky alternate timeline version like some people were saying or was that a faint hope that has since been crushed, revealling that the ending to the Prior AF run has been retconned from existance?