Does the Internet ruin comics' stories?

[VictorETM]

Here's my issue. I've been holding off on reading Blackest Night because I've got lots of stuff to read and my video podcast co-hosts are getting the monthly issues. So when the final issue comes out at the end of the month, I'll sit down and pound through all of them at one time. But every website I go to, there are big pics of certain characters plastered on the front page. I go these sites to see the headlines and chat on the forums and etc., but like i just said, BAM! Big pic that spoils something.

So then... The question is: Should comic book websites post a "spoiler" pic on their main page (or other high traffic pages)? Should they show some courtesy to those that haven't read it yet? Or should I just suck it up since I'm letting my friends buy the monthlies?

 

[Spider-Jay420]

I think you gotta suck it up. If they're posting the pics early, like before the comic is released, then you have a legitimate beef. But if you're waiting to read the issues, i don't think you can be upset if they "spoil" something that happened a few months ago, ya know?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, comics are a periodical format. You're supposed to be reading the issues as they come out. If you prefer not to, fair enough, but you can't expect the rest of the world to stand still to suit your preferences.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I generally agree with the sentiments raised already. My general rule of thumb is that after a week (to give stragglers or international readers time to get caught up on their reading) comic spoilers are fair game. I'm all for working harder to avoid spoilers for film and TV, where you have longer gaps between international release dates and some people have to choose between piracy and avoiding spoilers until they can see stuff legally, but for comics, as Corp said, it's a periodical format.

But there is a point in here about the internet potentially spoiling comics. But it's not quite the point you raise. For me, I think a problem with internet culture is the prevalance of the three-months-in-advance solicits, which can often give away plot details of the closer upcoming issues. Wouldn't Siege have a bit more suspense if we didn't have The Heroic Age after it getting advertised so heavily? Same goes for Blackest Night and Brightest Day. And with just about every comic getting advance previews online these days, that's 5 pages of a 22 page reading experience given away prematurely.

 

[VictorETM]

Points taken. I just wish they would just put out the headline without the picture, so that you could click on it but not see the picture right away. Of course, a nice big picture up front gets your attention.

On the point that Keyser Soze made. My feelings are about 80/20. 80% of me agrees with ya. Covers can spoil so much. I don't want to see what's coming 3 months down the road. The other 20% likes to see what's coming out. Mostly for one reason. I want to see what new series will be starting.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I agree about the solicits. It's nice to build anticipation, but at the same time, knowing what's coming and being anxious to get to it tends to make me bored of whatever's going on in the comics at the moment, especially with events. I want Siege and Blackest Night to be over already because I'm so looking forward to what comes next.

 

[yenaled]

I think they announce them far too far ahead

 

[TheCorpulent1]

They're not really supposed to be for us, they're for retailers. They need the 3 week delay to place orders or something, I think.

 

[fifthfiend]

You're all morally obligated to withhold all discussion for no less than six months, so the tradewaiters can catch up.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Don't even get me started on the trade-waiters.

 

[fifthfiend]

I am totally getting you started on tradewaiters

Tradewaiters and the SELF EVIDENT CORRECTNESS of their comics purchasing choices as I am sure you will no doubt agree!

 

[TheCorpulent1]

You... you... I WILL EXPLODE!

 

[fifthfiend]

Yes Corp! Strike me down in all of your hatred, and your journey to the Trade Side will be complete!

 

[CConn]

It only ruins it when you're foolish enough to decide to hold off on a major story but still visit comic news sites and forums.

I mean, really, what did you expect to happen? Rainbows? Unicorns? Matlock?

 

[Motown Marvel]

my main problem is how early we are exposed to solicitations.

 

[Hush]

It doesnt bother me really I mean the solicits arent that bad. Just look at the covers like i do.

 

[CConn]

I like knowing what happens before it happens.

 

[CConn]

I like knowing what happens before it happens.

 

[VictorETM]

There is nothing wrong with trade-waiting. For most books, why would I want to pay for a monthly and a trade? You're probably asking, "Why WOULD you buy both?" And my retort would be "Because if I want to reread something, I don't have to pull each issue out of the bag and be bothered with Ads." Trades are so much better for people who like to READ comics, not just collect.

But anyways... I go to sites to find out other info. If there was a Link on the front page that I could click or not click WITHOUT having a picture, that would be best.

An example as compared to another medium. You go to RottenTomatoes.com to see a review of a particular movie, and right on the front page is: "Who knew Bruce Willis was dead all along in Sixth Sense."

 

[Micah12345]

^Agreed

I collect hardcovers, and grudgingly buy tpbs when there is no hardcover. I dont like being kept out of the loop as to whats currently going on, so I read each comic weekly on the internet, and I buy the hardcovers months later as they come out.

Im really hoping that comics will switch from the periodical floppy format to a periodical graphic novel format, like what theyre doing with batman and superman earth one.

 

[CLARKY]

Here's my issue. I've been holding off on reading Blackest Night because I've got lots of stuff to read and my video podcast co-hosts are getting the monthly issues. So when the final issue comes out at the end of the month, I'll sit down and pound through all of them at one time. But every website I go to, there are big pics of certain characters plastered on the front page. I go these sites to see the headlines and chat on the forums and etc., but like i just said, BAM! Big pic that spoils something.

So then... The question is: Should comic book websites post a "spoiler" pic on their main page (or other high traffic pages)? Should they show some courtesy to those that haven't read it yet? Or should I just suck it up since I'm letting my friends buy the monthlies?

haha, I find your issue hilarious. man, you are almost blaming the sites. Normally, there is a spoiler warning, on some sites DC the source, there is not, but it is the source to get the spoiler, so it is normal. If you are running through internet, you will find some spoilers. for instance, wikipedia can have some info about Sinestro, even if you did not see the last issue of BN.
Internet is like this, there are spoiler everywhere of the end of Harry Potter 6. To bad for me because I did not read it, and I was aware of the big spoiler. I should have read the book instead of looking for stuff hoping not to see any spoilers. today, everything is explained, showed, demonstrated, explicited.
Going to boards expose yourself to spoilers too. going to these specific sites too. I only check DC and the source. I only chat on these boards and I am not spoiled.
I think you should try the very old traditional approach of "I buy the comics in paper". Less internet, more comics, and you should be safer than now. That is what I do, only talk about comics here, and on these boards, what I appreciate a lot, is that, until the issue is not out, you HAVE to put "spoilers". Then it is up to you to open it or not.
It is up to everyone not to explain everything.
But come on man, it is not internet fault completely, it is just you and the way you do it.

 

[CConn]

Personally, the only problem I have with trade waiting is that, generally, by the time the trade comes out...I just don't care anymore. Being that I'm online a lot, by that point, I'm already excited about the next big arc or even or story...and not a collection of issues that came out a year ago.

On a larger scale, trade waiting can be dangerous simply because the comic book publishers don't really account for trade sales in whether or not to keep a book running. So, y'know, if everyone decided to wait on the trade of R.E.B.E.L.S., well that title would be long canceled before even the second volume would show up in stores. You buy floppies not just to collect, not just to get the story as soon as possible, but to also support the creators and stories that are in those books you love. And in a community as small as the comic book one, that's actually really important.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

That's my main problem with trade-waiting. It's fine for certain comics, but on smaller ones if you trade-wait, you're effectively contributing to the death sentence that most of those comics ultimately face these days.

There is nothing wrong with trade-waiting. For most books, why would I want to pay for a monthly and a trade? You're probably asking, "Why WOULD you buy both?" And my retort would be "Because if I want to reread something, I don't have to pull each issue out of the bag and be bothered with Ads." Trades are so much better for people who like to READ comics, not just collect.

But anyways... I go to sites to find out other info. If there was a Link on the front page that I could click or not click WITHOUT having a picture, that would be best.

An example as compared to another medium. You go to RottenTomatoes.com to see a review of a particular movie, and right on the front page is: "Who knew Bruce Willis was dead all along in Sixth Sense."

^Agreed

I collect hardcovers, and grudgingly buy tpbs when there is no hardcover. I dont like being kept out of the loop as to whats currently going on, so I read each comic weekly on the internet, and I buy the hardcovers months later as they come out.

Im really hoping that comics will switch from the periodical floppy format to a periodical graphic novel format, like what theyre doing with batman and superman earth one.

And, like I said before, that's perfectly fine for you if you want to do it that way. But comics are a periodical format, period. If you're not going to follow the stories as they unfold from month to month, you probably shouldn't visit websites devoted to building hype and/or delivering news on those stories.

Comic news websites are not comparable to Rotten Tomatoes because 1) movies are a one-time viewing, not something that is constantly updated from week to week or month to month, so it's understood that people watch them at different times, and 2) Rotten Tomatoes is primarily a review website, and some people read reviews to decide whether they want to watch a movie in the first place. It just wouldn't make sense to have spoilers on a review site like that.

Comic news sites are about providing the fans who are following along with up-to-the-minute information on what's going on, what's coming next, and the creative process involved in all of that. They're much more comparable to TV news. They're internet versions of gathering around the water cooler to talk about last night's sports game or TV shows. It's fair to assume that everyone's seen those programs or they wouldn't be trying to participate in a conversation about them, and if you haven't seen them and don't want to be spoiled, it's common sense to just avoid those conversations altogether. You could take the chance of listening and hope that someone knows you're out of the loop and warns you or that everyone just avoids spoilers altogether, but that's a big risk you're choosing to take on based on absolutely no guarantee that they'll be conscientious of your lack of knowledge.

Bottom line, if you don't keep up with the comics, comic news websites simply aren't made for you.

 

[VictorETM]

I definitely see all your points. My main goal was to get a good conversation going here and looks like I did. I started the thread because I was on a site the other day and a Blackest Night pic came up where I believe it shouldn't have been. Probably didn't spoil a lot, but I'm not sure. I'm going to read all the Blackest Night stuff in about 2 weeks since the last issue will come out on the 31st. My video podcast will HOPEFULLY be reviewing it once it comes out.

Money is always my weakness. It's tough to keep up with monthlies and buying trades. I should start another thread about "Comics should only cost $.25!" I know I know... the artists/writers/inkers/etc wouldn't be able to live off of it.

 

[Hush]

SO you basically came here to advertise your podcast? If you cant afford Monthlies than how are you going to read ALL (and by the way thats a **** ton of reading) of Blackest Night? Are you just buying them and not reading them?