Marvel Solicitations For June 2008

[Dread]

Given that there are about a million random Skrull covers going around, I don't think it does.

Thumbs up to the FF solicit guy for spoiling how Mighty Avengers ends.

When I met Slott at Jim Hanley's last year, he was irked about Newsarama leaking a page to his second BND issue.

And yes, I agree Marvel has officially spammed the SKRULL promo's to the point where regardless of Bendis, I want the event to be over already...and it is still in prelude mode. I've seen STAR WARS prequels with less advertisement. It gets glaring.

More on FF's solict later.

More thoughts:

- Ultimate Salem's Seven in UFF? The benefit of the FF is once you get past the A-Listers, Doom, Galactus, etc, the Four's rogues are so low rate that the writer, in this case Carey, can't help but improve upon them. Hopefully the Seven won't be different. I got to say, though, Kirkham's art is rathe stiff and lifeless to me, like Top Cow house style. It isn't bad, mind you, but it is a shame Mark Brooks couldn't stay longer on this instead of Ult. XM. Of course, Ultimate is a sinking ship, and UFF, sales wise, is in the deepest water.

- More symbiotes in USM? Glad I bailed.

- Ultimate Origins? I wonder who cares about 8 years. Especially as they will undoubtedly watch Bendis "pull a Lucas" and claim stuff was thought out that far.

- WHO is that on Ultimate X-Men? Never heard of them. And that is part of the problem; aside for USM, the creative teams are decidedly B-List.

- I still fail to see the point of AVENGERS/INVADERS, other than to do a story that once would have been a lark for a one-shot issue and turn it into a 6 part trade. Given that it is Alex Ross, the moral will probably involve claiming "things were better back in the old days". Never seen that one done before. Not from Ross. Not once. Ever. I swear. The great thing about hitting A-List, as seen from Ross and Bendis, is apparently no editor would dare say, "Dude, learn a new ****ing theme, for ****'s sakes!" because sales mean more than art.

- I commented on GHOST RIDER last post, but I reread the last issue and I will say that while Jason Aaron's inherited a shakey concept on GR with Way's smashingly annoying retcons, he seems devoted to working with it, rather than breaking the mold. Hopefully the next issue of his run, coming this week, makes me more optimistic. I seem more hopeful for GR than I do about MOON KNIGHT these days, which is almost a role reversal.

- IMMORTAL IRON FIST has what you call the "trade break" solo issue, written by Fraction solo. It probably is much needed, getting things grounded for Danny as a character every now and then. Plus, as anyone who reads PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL can attest, Fraction can bang out some killer one-shot stories, which is almost a lost art these days. Can't wait. That cover looks interesting, too.

- I read ETERNALS for Gaiman and Romita Jr., but not sure for the new guys. Will it be another crappy sequel to a Gaiman story that doesn't feature any of the past creative team? Y'know, like Jim Carrey sequels (aside for ACE VENTURA: WHEN NATURE CALLS, signed before his prime).

- Yeah, Millar spoils the carpet a bit on MIGHTY AVENGERS, but really, the idea of Doom on trial is too ******ed a concept from Bendis to not be mucked with. Besides, if there is anyone who Marvel and Bendis would allow to muck with one of His Bendness's titles, it is Millar. Speaking of FF, so we'll have a Last Defenders and a New Defenders!? WTF? Who do they think they are...the Avengers?

- Can't keep a good Groot down in GOTG. Now if only he learns another line. And I am curious about that shield. Will this mean the return of the future (or alternate reality version, technically) Vance Astro?

-That cover to HULK: RAGING THUNDER looks like Hulk is about to bite into her boobie like it was a Big Mac. Or am I just nuts?

- Just in time for a movie trailer, HULK starts to be pimped out. Personally I found the teaser rather lackluster.

- MCP #10, and I wonder if Marvel will announce it's cancellation by then, because it sure ain't selling in the top 100 now. In terms of the core stories, the idea of Blade involved in any storyline that doesn't involve vampires is amazingly refreshing. At least not yet. I still wonder why Belova is alive. If ever there was a way to undo something The Almighty Bendis decreed happen to a hapless C-List character, it would be in a bottom dwelling title like this, where no one will notice. Or one could be a Skrull (or LMD). DiVito is wasted on the Omega Flight story. So many better stories he could be doing, although his art is always cool.

- NEW WARRIORS #13, eh? Congrats on the title being the first volume in over a decade to sell past the 12th issue! Unless the sales get stable, though, it may not go much farther. I'm enjoying the run even if it isn't what many expected at the launch. I still wonder if that big bad threat with be Apocalypse-related.

- Benson's first arc seems to be similar to Huston's last in a way, as in a forgotten rogue dispatches some low key way to lure in MK to doom. Let's hope it is better for a book I am slowly losing interest in.

- NOVA #14 looks and sounds awesome. It, like NW's, will also be the first volume of that franchise to sell over 12 issues in a decade. Bravo. DnA are really forging a legacy as Marvel's space aces.

- Wow, SECRET INVASION #3's solict reveals that Nick Fury is a-comin' to save the day. Really, who didn't call this across the Internet? Yeah, no one. Heck, I once argued with PJ over how it should be handled, because it was such a given. Let's see. Heroes infighting, check. Acting out of character, check. Decompressed (EIGHT FRICKIN' ISSUES!? C'mon! No Bendis story ever has needed more than 6, and even that is a stretch!), check. Useless appearance by Norman Osborn, who is more overhashed than dangerous these days? Check. Needing a random character to explain the things to the heroes and make them seem like helpless toddlers? Check. Bendis isn't a writer, he is a program. I'll be buying this to stay current, and hating every page, most likely. Gotta love the fanboyism.

- Naturally, Bendis' Avengers books will tie into his own event, and that is fine. But wasn't the creator of the Rykers breakout Electro? Hired to free Sauron? After 42 issues Bendis will pretend he had a plan? Pfft. Right. Coming from the same guy who promised Blade at the launch. Whatever happened to THAT one!?

- Given that both have Skrull-related characters, another YA/RUNAWAYS mini seems like a good idea, especially to keep the YA fresh as YAP will be winding down by June (and could use whatever boost the Runaways audience gives). I actually don't mind Miyazawa's art, especially since Ramos will be on the ongoing. Speaking of which, think the Whedon/Ryan finale for their "6 month arc" will be in by June?

- That SECRET INVASION: WHO DO YOU TRUST? has better talent lined up writing that then SECRET INVASION the event has. Bummer.

- CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND THE MI-6 #3 may need the S.I. sales boost, so it makes sense to tie it in. What? British heroes have never sold well in the direct market. I probably will give it a try for Leonard Kirk and Black Knight & Spitfire. Plus, Skrulls worldwide would effect Britain, and so on.

- PWJ sounds wonky. "Kid Punisher"? Is that the schmuck Jigsaw is brainwashing? And is PWJ ever the wrong title for Maleev's moody covers. That's like a Picasso selling KUNG POW: ENTER THE FIST's DVD jacket. Still, good fun is expected.

- THE TWELVE #6 looks good to this good but underselling series. I may roll my eyes if Rockman is just crazy, though. That's the obvious solution.

- Fraction on Kate Bishop for YAP #6? Sold. He is quickly becoming one of my "good list" of Marvel writers.

- Did they SERIOUSLY give Bishop a giant cybernetic arm? As if he and Cable weren't already clones of each other (and neither was any character worth bragging about beforehand). Sweet lord, what useless characters. They keep getting series and defying death, and we could name so many better characters who don't. Lame, lame, LAME!

- As always, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS seems like fun. I don't think Wolverine needed the FC treatment, though. Doesn't he have enough retcon stories? Or stories period? It is like Marvel acknowledges that they've ****ed out Iron Man more than Wolverine for once, but are determined to at least make Wolverine fight to defend his title.

Huh. It just hit me that my solict thoughts are almost always super-negative. Aside for a handful of books.

 

[CaptainCanada]

- Yeah, Millar spoils the carpet a bit on MIGHTY AVENGERS, but really, the idea of Doom on trial is too ******ed a concept from Bendis to not be mucked with.

Uh, seems perfectly logical to me; he's committed plenty of crimes over the years.

But wasn't the creator of the Rykers breakout Electro? Hired to free Sauron? After 42 issues Bendis will pretend he had a plan?

No, there actually was a random mysterious figure in shadow in the opening arc whose identity was left hanging.

 

[Dread]

Uh, seems perfectly logical to me; he's committed plenty of crimes over the years.

Yeah, but it seems kind of silly, one of those things where Bendis sat in a room and went, "this has never been done before, because past writers are inferior to my skill, so I will do it and greatness will be it's writing!" and then when it hits the shelves it just is a lot of talking and a lot of retconned tedium. Bendis has a habit of taking larger than life exotic characters and making them so common that they lose all of their value. Will we see Dr. Doom in jail scrubs? Because I bet he'd think that was hilarious.

Dr. Doom used to have diplomatic immunity. And considering Ultron hacked Stark, it wouldn't take much reasonable doubt to clear Doom. It just seems silly. Again, I compare him to Darth Vader. Would you ever want to see a "Vader on trial" storyline? Because I don't.

No, there actually was a random mysterious figure in shadow in the opening arc whose identity was left hanging.

And Bendis & Marvel actually want us to believe that Bendis had someone specific in mind all along, rather than doing something random, getting sidetracked for about 4 years and then deciding about a month ago who Mr. Mystery is? My guess is that it will be someone completely stupid. Really, has any major Bendis storyline in the past few years not fallen on it's ass?

 

[Blader5489]

Wow, Dread. Maybe comics aren't for you.

 

[Egotastic]

Seriously. Both Marvel and Bendis have been saying from the get go of NA that there's a definite mystery and plan behind everything. To say otherwise is pretty ridiculous. You may not like the revelation, but it's been planned from the start.

 

[Dread]

Wow, Dread. Maybe comics aren't for you.

Oh, I love comics. Just Bendis is like one of those bad habits, like crack. It hurts you to continue. But something keeps you on.

Seriously. Both Marvel and Bendis have been saying from the get go of NA that there's a definite mystery and plan behind everything. To say otherwise is pretty ridiculous. You may not like the revelation, but it's been planned from the start.

Marvel shifts gears every 1-2 years on a line wide basis. I refuse to believe anything is planned beyond two years, much less nearly 4. If something as completely stupid as SI were planned for that long...it is just mind boggling that they would go through with it. The MU was supposed to be about building UP after CW and WWH. Even Millar wants to do so on FF right now. Bring people together, build stuff (like Sue's charity group). All Bendis does is hero infighting paranoia. That was cool for CW and his endless bleak conspiracy stories but at this point he is like Dale Gribble, seeing government spies behind soda cans or something. I am tired of Bendis retconning characters simply because HE thinks they need to be "fixed". I am tired of seeing heroes who should know better act like helpless 7 year old girls at the slightest crisis. I am TIRED of Bendis allowed unadulterated access to the entire MU on a whim, when far better talents will never be so lucky. The guy has a fine niche but always expands past it into crap-ness. And the rest of the industry chugs it down.

 

[Egotastic]

Marvel shifts gears every 1-2 years on a line wide basis. I refuse to believe anything is planned beyond two years, much less nearly 4. If something as completely stupid as SI were planned for that long...it is just mind boggling that they would go through with it. The MU was supposed to be about building UP after CW and WWH. Even Millar wants to do so on FF right now. Bring people together, build stuff (like Sue's charity group). All Bendis does is hero infighting paranoia. That was cool for CW and his endless bleak conspiracy stories but at this point he is like Dale Gribble, seeing government spies behind soda cans or something. I am tired of Bendis retconning characters simply because HE thinks they need to be "fixed". I am tired of seeing heroes who should know better act like helpless 7 year old girls at the slightest crisis. I am TIRED of Bendis allowed unadulterated access to the entire MU on a whim, when far better talents will never be so lucky. The guy has a fine niche but always expands past it into crap-ness. And the rest of the industry chugs it down.

You totally checked logic and reason at the door when you typed that, didn't you?

Here's what I got from that:

1) Because comics are cyclical, you refuse to believe that a writer could realize that and want to do something different? Even when he spells out to you exactly what he's doing? Damn, dude. Talk about sticking to your guns in the face of adversity. That's just goofy.

2) Secret Invasion is stupid. It's not going to be stupid when it comes out. It's stupid right now. When you haven't read it. Because it's NOT OUT YET. Way to reserve that judgement.

3) Secret Invasion is going to increase the hero infighting and further tear the MU apart. Have you stopped to think that SI might actually be the story that brings the MU back together? That *GASP* because comics are cyclical, this might be the event that brings everything back to the status quo? No, probably not.

But keep on keeping on, dude. You're just what the industry needs: someone who loves to ***** about the current climate of the MU and votes with his dollar--by buying every issue.

 

[Dread]

You totally checked logic and reason at the door when you typed that, didn't you?

No. Just presuming from prior experience with Bendis-written comics and Bendis-written events. There've been a few of both.

1) Because comics are cyclical, you refuse to believe that a writer could realize that and want to do something different? Even when he spells out to you exactly what he's doing? Damn, dude. Talk about sticking to your guns in the face of adversity. That's just goofy.

Dude, people deliver something called "spin" sometimes. They fudge the truth a little to make things appear as something they are not, usually in the attempt to make an action or company seem better coordinated than they are. You see it in Wall Street all the time. A week ago Bear Sterns was assuring everyone that things were on the up. Now they're sold for pennies on the dollar. People do that.

Bendis pulled this card with USM #100 and it was full of holes. I don't buy it here. The great thing about Bendis is every trick he has, he's done it before. He's like that rent-a-clown at kiddie parties who has the same few balloon animal routines over and over. You can keep renting him, and the suits may change, but it is the same routine, albeit with some mix-up sometimes.

2) Secret Invasion is stupid. It's not going to be stupid when it comes out. It's stupid right now. When you haven't read it. Because it's NOT OUT YET. Way to reserve that judgement.

They're doing preludes all over the place. I mean what is there that we don't know? It is a Skrull invasion story. Only this time, they have the retcon that they started back in the 70's. And they're successful, because Bendis is doing it. The moral will be the usual, "heroes are so busy infighting that they miss the big picture and are prime for being exploited by a bad guy or threat," and I have seen that too often. I can't count how many Bendis stories where the main protagonists don't actually beat their own threat or obstacle.

3) Secret Invasion is going to increase the hero infighting and further tear the MU apart. Have you stopped to think that SI might actually be the story that brings the MU back together? That *GASP* because comics are cyclical, this might be the event that brings everything back to the status quo? No, probably not.

If it was anyone but Bendis, I might consider that. Even if he had a co-writer, like Reed for ILLUMINATI, I might be more hopeful. But he isn't about that for his stories. He likes his heroes losing, or being wrecked worse than they started after any encounter. And while that works for some characters and some stories, it doesn't for all of them.

But keep on keeping on, dude. You're just what the industry needs: someone who loves to ***** about the current climate of the MU and votes with his dollar--by buying every issue.

You have me there. I could mention that shops overorder the big books so that even if I never bought 'em, dozens would rot on the shelf every month, but it is a cop out. I like staying current, and I like having at least one thing to complain about every month.

I actually don't buy "every" Marvel comic, and I don't get angry about all of them. I just seriously, SERIOUSLY am not seeing one positive thing that will come out of SI. I mean, how much good stuff did we get from HOUSE OF M? Yeah, thought so.

I mean, hey, I may be wrong. I just like expressing an opinion that isn't one of those wishy washy, "I'll wait and see" things sometimes, which are cop-outs that people make to avoid being wrong. If I am wrong, hey, I'll have 500 people ribbing me about it. But if it actually is a good story, I wouldn't mind. Just the betting money is on S.I. being full of retconned garbage.

 

[CaptainCanada]

Dr. Doom used to have diplomatic immunity.

That means nothing, really, if an opposing state decides to take him on; Doom is a sovereign head of state, and so if he commits an act of war he can be tried for it (we don't know what he's on trial for, but, as I said, he's accumulated quite a list of offenses over the years; he murdered someone who was presumably an American citizen in "Unthinkable", for example), especially by the World Court.

As to Bendis' plan, sure, I believe it; now I don't for a second think he had it mapped out issue-by-issue for four years; that's just not possible; but a basic outline of the story elements, particularly as he introduced them, sure. He's admitted to making changes along the line, such as those brought about by the whole division of the hero community after CW.

 

[xisaacx]

Oh, I love comics. Just Bendis is like one of those bad habits, like crack. It hurts you to continue. But something keeps you on.



Marvel shifts gears every 1-2 years on a line wide basis. I refuse to believe anything is planned beyond two years, much less nearly 4. If something as completely stupid as SI were planned for that long...it is just mind boggling that they would go through with it. The MU was supposed to be about building UP after CW and WWH. Even Millar wants to do so on FF right now. Bring people together, build stuff (like Sue's charity group). All Bendis does is hero infighting paranoia. That was cool for CW and his endless bleak conspiracy stories but at this point he is like Dale Gribble, seeing government spies behind soda cans or something. I am tired of Bendis retconning characters simply because HE thinks they need to be "fixed". I am tired of seeing heroes who should know better act like helpless 7 year old girls at the slightest crisis. I am TIRED of Bendis allowed unadulterated access to the entire MU on a whim, when far better talents will never be so lucky. The guy has a fine niche but always expands past it into crap-ness. And the rest of the industry chugs it down.

Then um break into the industry like bendis did and do a better job? You can say blah blah it wasnt planned all you want. But it HAS been planned, HENCE the marvel retreats they get together for discussing the years storylines. You can deny it all you want but im pretty sure they talk about the years events in the beginning of the year. And if you hate bendis so much.. DONT READ or buy his books. Just attacking the guy cause he isnt doing what YOU like in the marvel U is assinine. You just seem to be bashing the marvel U for no reason. Why so SERIOUS..oh wait...

 

[Dread]

That means nothing, really, if an opposing state decides to take him on; Doom is a sovereign head of state, and so if he commits an act of war he can be tried for it (we don't know what he's on trial for, but, as I said, he's accumulated quite a list of offenses over the years; he murdered someone who was presumably an American citizen in "Unthinkable", for example), especially by the World Court.

True. I just don't care for the storyline idea and have no faith in the writer involved. Everything he writes seems to have this aura of tooting his own horn, like doing something shocking to be shocking because that is all he can do.

Now Millar on Doom, that should be good. He had to salvage Ultimate Doom and did a good job.

As to Bendis' plan, sure, I believe it; now I don't for a second think he had it mapped out issue-by-issue for four years; that's just not possible; but a basic outline of the story elements, particularly as he introduced them, sure. He's admitted to making changes along the line, such as those brought about by the whole division of the hero community after CW.

Which is odd as he loves divided heroes who hate each other and screw up, and only circumstance and dumb luck saving them and beating the antagonist or threat. I can think of a half dozen stories from him off the top of my head that had this theme. I get tired of it. He will not unite the heroes and they will not triumph without someone to save them and then explain it like they were toddlers, like he did in SECRET WAR and DISASSEMBLED, and HOUSE OF M, and at least 2-4 USM arcs that I could recall...

To me it is an odds game. Why, after seeing the themes he has repeated over and over and over again, why would he suddenly pull a 180? His aim is to make every character "relateable", and the only way he knows how is to make them immature, pedestrian, and incompetant. For characters that this nature applies to, or his own, it works. But outside for pulpy noir, he is out of his element in most other superhero comics.

It seems like people are getting angry with me for saying SECRET INVASION will suck before we all read it and it turns out to suck.

Then um break into the industry like bendis did and do a better job? You can say blah blah it wasnt planned all you want. But it HAS been planned, HENCE the marvel retreats they get together for discussing the years storylines. You can deny it all you want but im pretty sure they talk about the years events in the beginning of the year. And if you hate bendis so much.. DONT READ or buy his books. Just attacking the guy cause he isnt doing what YOU like in the marvel U is assinine. You just seem to be bashing the marvel U for no reason. Why so SERIOUS..oh wait...

You have a point, I should stop reading the few books of his I do read. I just like staying current. Anything Bendis does effects the whole universe, and I like getting a head's up. Plus, you know it will be THE discussion. Can't be ignorant.

I don't have the time, money, equipment, or connections to make my own comics. It is a dream of mine, but when you grow up, you realize that dreams are for children. Reality demands paying the bills.

 

[Egotastic]

It seems like people are getting angry with me for saying SECRET INVASION will suck before we all read it and it turns out to suck.

For someone who doesn't like Bendis for his big ego, yours doesn't look so small, yourself. I can't speak for everyone, but I'm certainly not "angry" for saying SI will suck. I just think your reasoning is goofy and flawed. Really, it's hard enough to take you seriously anyway, if you're going to use that same goofy logic (see below) to justify buying SI.

You have a point, I should stop reading the few books of his I do read. I just like staying current. Anything Bendis does effects the whole universe, and I like getting a head's up. Plus, you know it will be THE discussion. Can't be ignorant.

Is that so? Huh. Last time I checked, nothing Bendis has done or is doing is affecting the Marvel books that I'm reading. Captain America, The Immortal Iron Fist, The Order, Avengers: Initiative, Wolverine, Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Force, New Warriors, Punisher War Journal, Cable, Incredible Hercules, Hulk, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, Nova, Annihilation Conquest, Thor, etc...You could make the argument that Brubaker's Daredevil was affected by Bendis, but he's long since moved past that. Even books that I'm not reading are unaffected: She-Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man, Black Panther, Wolverine: Origins, New Exiles, do I need to continue?

Flawed. Logic. Goofy. Reasoning.

 

[xisaacx]

What I dont get is people saying oh its going to suck. How do you know? Events are hit or miss. And you dont know its going to suck until its over and done with. How many times have you read comics that started off slow and had a really good payoff in the end? Isnt that what comics are about half the time? And like I said its hit or miss cause one event(house of m) etc isnt AMAZING to you how are you sure that same writers other event(secret invasion) is going to be bad? So if a writer has a crappy storyline you dont like in one series, do you just NOT EVER pick up anything the writer does again? Seriously half the arguments as to why you people dont like bendis or secret invasion are 3rd grade. Oh I dont like it cause so and so, oh its been done before...WELL WHAT THE HELL HASNT been done before? Give me a break there are original stories and there are tweaked stories. Yeah its not the first time its been done infiltrating a universe etc, however it HAS been set up for a while now and the pay off will be better then civil war in my opinion(which wasnt a bad idea, just had bad ending and to many tie ins) All events start off with a great idea and somewhere fall off. Thats the love of being a comic fan, getting so into it NOT finding reasons to hate it. Whats the point of reading comics then if your going to be so damn picky and hate everything, its not like your *****ing is going to change it. Never really was into bendis stuff but just got done with the most recent issue of new avengers and trust me Im pumped..

Now if it wasnt for the ass david mack, wed have the latest NA out but stupid swiping issues...ps the new cover HORRIBLE compared to the old one. Id love for the swipe cover to be put back on.

 

[Dread]

For someone who doesn't like Bendis for his big ego, yours doesn't look so small, yourself. I can't speak for everyone, but I'm certainly not "angry" for saying SI will suck. I just think your reasoning is goofy and flawed. Really, it's hard enough to take you seriously anyway, if you're going to use that same goofy logic (see below) to justify buying SI.

I was partly kidding in that post, hence the smilie.

Is that so? Huh. Last time I checked, nothing Bendis has done or is doing is affecting the Marvel books that I'm reading. Captain America, The Immortal Iron Fist, The Order, Avengers: Initiative, Wolverine, Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Force, New Warriors, Punisher War Journal, Cable, Incredible Hercules, Hulk, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, Nova, Annihilation Conquest, Thor, etc...You could make the argument that Brubaker's Daredevil was affected by Bendis, but he's long since moved past that. Even books that I'm not reading are unaffected: She-Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man, Black Panther, Wolverine: Origins, New Exiles, do I need to continue?

Flawed. Logic. Goofy. Reasoning.

I've heard this argument before.

The fact remains that in stories that Bendis writes, especially for big books like NA and whatever events he does, other writers usually have to adapt to it, and cannot ever undo or negate it. The X-Books are in a way all still feeling the influence of M-DAY, which came in HOM #7-8, which pretty much gutted the X-Franchise of it's main motivation. It seemingly took almost 2 years for the X-writers and editors to even begin to seriously grapple with that blow, save for PAD and X-FACTOR.

SI is already effecting A:TI, which will tie into it. CAPTAIN MARVEL is part of it. Nearly every book will have a SI tie-in. People moaned up and down about Millar bleeding into the MU when every book tied into CW, and that is the same thing. CW was flawed but I enjoyed it a lot more than HOM, DISASSEMBLED, or SECRET WAR. SECRET INVASION promises nothing but retcons, betrayals, and more hero infighting chaos. The pattern of Bendis stories and events is that his mysteries and hooks are more obvious than they seem. How many times have people on SHH predicted what schlock he was doing?

My position is, based on his past stories and past events, I have no reasonable expectation that SI will be in any way good. And just about every book you mentioned will be effected by a Skrull in the midst. I mean, SHE-HULK has a Skrull in it right now. You think PAD would do that if SI wasn't breathing down his neck?

It isn't "goofy reasoning". It is making a personal judgment call based on past experience. To use a baseball analogy, when it comes to events, Bendis is a slump batting maybe .010. Do you REALLY expect a grand slam in the clutch? Because I sure don't, and I don't mind staking out that I do.

What I dont get is people saying oh its going to suck. How do you know? Events are hit or miss. And you dont know its going to suck until its over and done with. How many times have you read comics that started off slow and had a really good payoff in the end?

Off the top of my head I can't recall any 616 Bendis story from the past 3-4 years that I could honestly say was garbage in the beginning and then had a great pay off. Least not an arc. He's had some good solo issues in that time. And some average stuff. Of course, this is all subjective.

Isnt that what comics are about half the time? And like I said its hit or miss cause one event(house of m) etc isnt AMAZING to you how are you sure that same writers other event(secret invasion) is going to be bad? So if a writer has a crappy storyline you dont like in one series, do you just NOT EVER pick up anything the writer does again? Seriously half the arguments as to why you people dont like bendis or secret invasion are 3rd grade. Oh I dont like it cause so and so, oh its been done before...WELL WHAT THE HELL HASNT been done before? Give me a break there are original stories and there are tweaked stories. Yeah its not the first time its been done infiltrating a universe etc, however it HAS been set up for a while now and the pay off will be better then civil war in my opinion(which wasnt a bad idea, just had bad ending and to many tie ins) All events start off with a great idea and somewhere fall off. Thats the love of being a comic fan, getting so into it NOT finding reasons to hate it. Whats the point of reading comics then if your going to be so damn picky and hate everything, its not like your *****ing is going to change it. Never really was into bendis stuff but just got done with the most recent issue of new avengers and trust me Im pumped..

Now if it wasnt for the ass david mack, wed have the latest NA out but stupid swiping issues...ps the new cover HORRIBLE compared to the old one. Id love for the swipe cover to be put back on.

Claiming that the debate is worthless because it will bring about no company change is not a useful counterpoint. If I feel it will be crap that is an opinion. I am not expecting Bendis to write, in SECRET INVASION, themes that he has never written, ever, in any 616 story. He thrives on division and controversy.

 

[kguillou]

You know, alot of people are hating on Bendis but no one really stops to look at the good he's done with the MU. Thanks to Bendis, Avengers are a HIT franchise. Avengers are actually interesting to read! Sure, maybe it was a little gimmicky at first to add spider-man and wolverine to the team, but look at what's happened because of that, lesser known characters like luke cage, spider-woman, and iron fist are now more popular than ever.
Or, look at what Bendis has accomplished with Daredevil, his run on Daredevil is arguably the best since Frank Miller. That series won an Eisner award for a reason.

The thing is, sure, Bendis does tend to twist characterizations (i personally hate how he writes spider-man like a 15 year old kid), but he has a knack for making characters alot more interesting to read about. Let's be honest, if Bendis hadn't revamped the avengers franchise the way he did, the MU would be a lot less interesting to read about than it is now.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Depends on your perspective. Bendis hasn't improved the Avengers in anything but sales, as far as I'm concerned. They used to be a far more interesting team with far more interesting characters than the likes of Wolverine appearance #5,302,293 each month, Echo the deaf complement to blind Daredevil, and a Hawkeye who's in denial about being Hawkeye.

 

[Dread]

You know, alot of people are hating on Bendis but no one really stops to look at the good he's done with the MU. Thanks to Bendis, Avengers are a HIT franchise. Avengers are actually interesting to read! Sure, maybe it was a little gimmicky at first to add spider-man and wolverine to the team, but look at what's happened because of that, lesser known characters like luke cage, spider-woman, and iron fist are now more popular than ever.

It was more than likely Joe Q's idea to add Wolverine & Spider-Man to the Avengers roster. He did an interview for the ULTIMATE AVENGERS DVD and the impression I got was that those two were the editorial edict. No matter who they got to write Avengers or who they wanted on the roster, Wolverine & Spider-Man had to be there, because they are Marvel's big two. They've contributed almost nothing to the stories, though.

Luke Cage and Spider-Woman I will give you; they were D-List fodder until Bendis took an interest in them. Much like Purple Man. And then, all of a sudden, every single other writer had to acknowledge them and pretend they were always "hot ****". Hey, in this case it was a good thing. But I am just saying that Bendis' impact on the line is real, and the problem is when he does something that isn't as good as dusting off forgotten 70's characters.

Iron Fist...he only started getting "hot" again when he replaced DD during CW, and that was Brubaker mostly. IF has done less on NA than Wolverine & Spider-Man and while his ongoing is great and has a small, but devoted audience, it is hardly the blockbuster that some insiders thought it would be and it has almost nothing to do with NA.

How about Scarlet Witch, a character I think even fans can admit Bendis totally ruined? She went from longtime Avengers heroine and member to a background-dwelling psycho-broad. And NO WRITER, NOT A ONE has DARED challenge Bendis on this. Not a one has tried to get her back to something closer than she was. Same with Hawkeye; no one can get him out of the Ronin suit and doing something that isn't dumb until Bendis makes a move on NA.

Frankly, the only writer who outright undid a major Bendis action was Milligan on UXM. HOM ended with Bendis SPECIFICALLY and DELIBERATELY depowering Iceman. Milligan undid that in barely 3 months, without any better motive other than, "willpower". I can't think of another writer who so pointedly knocked a peg from something Bendis wrote. Usually others tip-toe around it. Heck, all Bendis had to do is write one special where Hulk kills dozens of people and not even the MAIN WRITER ON INCREDIBLE HULK WHO IS DOING THE EVENT can seemingly undo that "fact". Half the writers are still divided on whether Hulk kills, even after the "Hulk Math" revelation (and Joe Q at least supports Bendis). Bendis introduces a massive retcon that barely makes sense in ILLUMINATI (if the Four, Avengers, & X-Men's leaders all secretly met, why the hell were they all fighting in Secret Wars? Wouldn't have telling their teams bred more harmony? But of course they had to be secret, it was a retcon!!) and everyone has to accept it.

Some will say that as a flowing continuity, all writers are equal and should respect each other's work. But if you look over the long term, it usually seems , 8 times out of 10, that anything Bendis writes is "more equal".

Or, look at what Bendis has accomplished with Daredevil, his run on Daredevil is arguably the best since Frank Miller. That series won an Eisner award for a reason.

Yeah, I won't take that away from him. He also helped launch the Ultimate line and while it is in the tank now, kept Marvel selling like hotcakes for years.

The thing is, sure, Bendis does tend to twist characterizations (i personally hate how he writes spider-man like a 15 year old kid), but he has a knack for making characters alot more interesting to read about. Let's be honest, if Bendis hadn't revamped the avengers franchise the way he did, the MU would be a lot less interesting to read about than it is now.

International politics would be a lot less interesting without the Iraq war. By that logic, Bush is a genius. Simply because other writers have made good stuff with some of his messes, should we then credit the maker of the mess? By that logic, everyone should be praising Millar for CW and the landscape he created.

 

[CaptainCanada]

And NO WRITER, NOT A ONE has DARED challenge Bendis on this. Not a one has tried to get her back to something closer than she was. Same with Hawkeye; no one can get him out of the Ronin suit and doing something that isn't dumb until Bendis makes a move on NA.

In both those cases, he's still using them; that's just a case of other writers not getting to interfere in someone else's story.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I think that's his point: even if Bendis isn't directly influencing books you're reading, he's still keeping characters you may want to read about out of anything else.

 

[kguillou]

Ok, you made an interesting point Dread. Bendis does seem to have a hold on a lot of the characters of the MU because of his all star cast in NA. Bendis single-handedly transformed New Avengers into the most "important" marvel monthly book. I guess thats both a good and a bad thing.
Honestly, i too never quite understood how bendis was able to determine the hulk's fate just like that in that Illuminati special. Plus, wasn't Bruce Banner in somewhat control of his alter ego by then?
I do agree with you that Bendis makes a lot of drastic moves, but ultimately i think ends justify the means. There's sooo much going on in the MU right now, and never before have all the marvel books felt so connected with each other. Back in the days, every marvel book more or less took place in their own little bubble while still technically a part of one continuity. But now, it seems that if something happens in Captain America or Avengers, we'll see the repercussions in other books like Spider-man, or Iron-Man. I think thats pretty cool personally, although it may lead to complications with writers, i like the feeling of "connectivity" that all the marvel books share nowadays.

 

[Doc Destruction]

It was more than likely Joe Q's idea to add Wolverine & Spider-Man to the Avengers roster.

THANK YOU. End of argument.

 

[Darthphere]

Um not really, because it's an assumption. There's no way of knowing if thats fact or not.

 

[Egotastic]

According to Bendis, it was his idea.

 

[Doc Destruction]

Of course it was.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Why is that considered suspect? Bendis knew he was brought on to boost sales, and even the most ******ed, cross-eyed, inbred monkey alive could figure out that putting Wolverine and Spider-Man in a comic are guaranteed to increase sales.