Are most older writers/artists bitter?

[Phaedrus45]

This is just a question to those who have attended various comic cons. I went to my first one this last weekend, the Emerald City Comic Con, and had a blast! I had heard that it is a great place to get some great deals on the older Marvel comics from the 70's, and I walked away with about 400 new comics for my collection.

BUT, I noticed something while getting my comics signed: The three older writers/artists seemed like bitter old men who the comic book geeks are annoying. Now, it might be understandable somewhat, as the younger, fresher faces had big lines, and they were able to be walked up on without any problem. But, just wondering if this is kind of a standard thing. (For me, I was thrilled to get Mike Grell and Kurt Busiek's autographs on my Avengers #1 and Green Arrow #1. I was just surprised that nobody seemed that interested in them.)

 

[Themanofbat]

I would be bitter if I was any of the old school guys...

They basically created and opened the door for all these new "talents" but the industry fails to recognize them, and worst of all, the fans fail to recognize them... at least until they are dead and everybody has to post some "Blank X RIP" post in a thread dedicated to their greatness with the also needed sad smilie face.

Yeah... I'd be a bitter old %^# if I were one of yesteryear's creators...

 

[Themanofbat]

As some people are reading this, they're probably saying "Mike Grell Who?"

And let's forget about his early Green Arrow stuff, let's talk about his Jon Sable.

 

[IRON_Lad]

Jon who?

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Last year i met Stan Lee, Gene Colon, and Joe Sinnot, and all of them seemed pretty cool, and happy to chat.

 

[kguillou]

All I can say is, Frank Miller seems reeeal bitter right now. Every time i read All Star Batman& Robin, i feel like Miller just gave up on life for some reason.

 

[sandwraith]

Miller sold out to the Hollywood big wigs. He's rolling in the movie dough now. Why should he care about how comic book geeks feel?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm pretty sure All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder is some kind of satire.

With a really, really long title.

 

[fifthfiend]

All I can say is, Frank Miller seems reeeal bitter right now. Every time i read All Star Batman& Robin, i feel like Miller just gave up on life for some reason.

It's less bitterness than dementia paired with the late-life embrace of nihilism. Faced with the inevitability of his death as a ****ty impotent old man Miller has decided to **** all over everything he possibly can before he goes.

 

[DBM]

I'm pretty sure All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder is some kind of satire.

With a really, really long title.

Miller considers it to be a prequel to Dark Knight Returns, which explains why everything is over the top and more than a little ****ed up.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Well, yeah, that makes sense then. DKR Batman was a huge *****ebag.

 

[Phaedrus45]

I was most upset that the scheduled artist I wanted to see most, Herb Trimpe, was suppose to be at the show; but, didn't even see him at all on Sunday. He might have showed up later in the day, but for the 3 hours I was there, his booth remained empty. I grew up reading his Defenders and Hulk run, and while most people were excited about getting David Finch or Brubaker to sign a book, I was really hoping for him above all others.

I will say I hate how the artists all have to draw a friggin' picture for whatever fanboy comes up and asks them. The lines are only long because they spend 5-10 minutes doing a damn drawing. Sheesh, they should have a separate line for those people who just want one quick signature and nothing else. And, since I'm not patient in the least bit, I skipped getting my Moon Knight #1 signed by Finch.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

You're... upset because artists are willing to draw a quick sketch for their fans?

 

[Themanofbat]

Last year i met Stan Lee, Gene Colon, and Joe Sinnot, and all of them seemed pretty cool, and happy to chat.

That's cool....

I've read at newsarama that Gen Colan is not doing so well health-wise, and his time may be up sooner rather than later... but I will always fondly remember his Marvel & DC work from the 70's as a kid...

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

That's cool....

I've read at newsarama that Gen Colan is not doing so well health-wise, and his time may be up sooner rather than later... but I will always fondly remember his Marvel & DC work from the 70's as a kid...

Yeah. He seemed so healthy just last year. Hope he gets better.

 

[yenaled]

No, only John Byrne.

 

[venom892]

Yea doesn't Byrne get pissed if people call Batman "Bats"?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Byrne gets pissed off if other people breathe. We useless degenerates are using up all the good air.

 

[Phaedrus45]

You're... upset because artists are willing to draw a quick sketch for their fans?

Yeah, because it's friggin sketch after friggin sketch. You can have 4 people ahead of you in a line, like with David Finch, and it takes 20 minutes just to get one damn book signed.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Well, really, they're being good celebrities to their fans. Look at it this way: if you know you're gonna be waiting in line that long anyway, just get in on the action and request a sketch for yourself instead of some lame signature. Autographs are for writers; artists'll sign the sketch anyway.

 

[Blader5489]

I don't think Frank Miller is bitter, he just isn't relevant anymore. His style of storytelling has become the norm for, at least, Marvel comics so Miller's work nowadays either doesn't stand out or goes too far down the dark and gritty path (maybe as a way to overcompensate, who knows).

John Byrne, on the other hand, is definitely bitter.

 

[venom892]

About Frank miller...Was I only the only one who didnt find DKR all that good?

 

[RockSP]

Yea doesn't Byrne get pissed if people call Batman "Bats"?

And if they call the little things the characters speak out of "bubbles" instead of "balloons". Or "balloons" instead of "bubbles"...whichever one is correct.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Speech balloons, thought bubbles. GET IT RIGHT!

 

[RockSP]

^^Byrne victim #1.