The Official DC Stupid Question Thread....

[Kraven]

So I just finished the fourth Absolute Sandman collection, fantastic series by the way, and I was wondering about a few things. I read the afterword thing, and know that Gaiman intentionally left the mystery of who hired Loki and Goodfellow to kidnap Daniel, as he put it "the mystery lives on forever, not the explanation." I was wondering if, despite that, there were any popular theories on who convinced them to do that. Secondly, are there any Sandman books outside of Endless Nights that weren't included in the Absolutes, and are they worth buying?

 

[SpideyForPrez]

Thanks Corpulent1, I was kind of asking for you to spoil it for me.

Mind telling me,

Spoiler

how he was resurrected and somehow transported through time?

Unless that hasn't been answered yet.

 

[Aristotle]

I didn't get FC7's ending. I really was confused by who that was on the last page.

Look at his pants.

Shocker, the answer to your question can be answered in two ways: first, the "how" is not really the point of Final Crisis. It's very long on miracles, deus ex machina, and deconstructing/reconstruction fiction, comics, superheroes, and pretty much everything ever. Second, if you actually do want a concrete answer, you can find it in Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle. [blackout]The Omega Sanction, which is what killed Batman, doesn't actually kill: it sentences the victim to an endless series of painful lives and deaths and rebirths. Only Mister Miracle could escape it. And now, Batman escaped it.[/blackout]

For serious, though, you should read Final Crisis. Amazing piece of art and literature. And re-read Batman RIP. It gets better every time (like anything Morrison writes.)

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Thanks Corpulent1, I was kind of asking for you to spoil it for me.

Mind telling me,

Spoiler

how he was resurrected and somehow transported through time?

Unless that hasn't been answered yet.

Like I said, I'm working on hearsay from other people because I haven't read it myself. From what I understand, though, [blackout]Superman and the other heroes build a Miracle Machine that makes wishes come true, and then Superman wishes only the best for everyone[/blackout].

 

[Aristotle]

as he put it "the mystery lives on forever, not the explanation."

Them's dangerous words around here. Grant Morrison's been crucified for leaving things open to interpretation with Final Crisis.

 

[Manic]

You know, I was actually considering reading Final Crisis until I read this...

the "how" is not really the point of Final Crisis. It's very long on miracles, deus ex machina

 

[SpideyForPrez]

For serious, though, you should read Final Crisis. Amazing piece of art and literature. And re-read Batman RIP. It gets better every time (like anything Morrison writes.)

Maybe when it comes in a hardcover. But I just don't really care for DC, not that I think it's stupid or anything. It's just never really drawn me in, but hey maybe if I read FC it will. I've just always been a dedicated marvel fan, and never saw much in DC characters other than Batman. But Batman: The Brave and The Bold cartoon, is slowly changing my mind on that thought.

Thanks for your answers guys.

Thinks to self* [BLACKOUT]"Miracle machine... sounds kinda lame."[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Aristotle]

You know, I was actually considering reading Final Crisis until I read this...

As a narrative tool, dude. You know, like the Animal Man story that everyone says is amazing? Grant Morrison can experiment and play with fiction as much as he wants...until he ****s with big-name characters, and then it's no no never never nuh-uh. Superman comics are NOT ALLOWED TO BE INTERESTING!

 

[Aristotle]

Yeah, Shocker, if the idea of a Miracle Machine sounds lame, you won't like the DCU. It's a lot happier, generally, than the MU. Heroes act like heroes and do heroic things and only fight each other every once in awhile, as opposed to fighting each other more than they fight villains.

 

[SpideyForPrez]

Yeah, Shocker, if the idea of a Miracle Machine sounds lame, you won't like the DCU. It's a lot happier, generally, than the MU. Heroes act like heroes and do heroic things and only fight each other every once in awhile, as opposed to fighting each other more than they fight villains.

When I compare DC to Marvel I try to avoid current status quo in my opinion that I think Marvel is a better universe. Currently I agree with you that Marvel's in bad shape and that perhaps DC has a better status quo (maybe it does I can't say for sure not being a reader of it) right now. But I have hard time understanding what the heck is going on in DC, which is why I avoid it. Though I am totally sick of watching heroes fight heroes, your right on about that.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I think the backdrop we've got in the Marvel universe with Dark Reign is a good idea. The Dark Avengers are a fun idea. I just don't really trust the people they've got executing those ideas.

Yeah, Shocker, if the idea of a Miracle Machine sounds lame, you won't like the DCU. It's a lot happier, generally, than the MU. Heroes act like heroes and do heroic things and only fight each other every once in awhile, as opposed to fighting each other more than they fight villains.

And occasionally teen sidekicks get eaten by various evil animals who pretended to be their buddies for a while.

 

[Manic]

As a narrative tool, dude. You know, like the Animal Man story that everyone says is amazing? Grant Morrison can experiment and play with fiction as much as he wants...until he ****s with big-name characters, and then it's no no never never nuh-uh. Superman comics are NOT ALLOWED TO BE INTERESTING!

Uh... I never read the Animal Man story. I'm not even passingly familiar with the Animal Man story. My only exposure to Animal Man was in 52 and Countdown to Adventure.

 

[Aristotle]

The Dark Avengers are a fun idea.

"The Thunderbolts...Except With Different Costumes Now, And Also Wearing Masks!" I don't know that "fun" is where I'd go with that.

And occasionally teen sidekicks get eaten by various evil animals who pretended to be their buddies for a while. [/quote]I don't give a **** what any of you hypocrites say, you all know that smarmy little f***er had it coming. God, he had it coming.

 

[Aristotle]

Uh... I never read the Animal Man story. I'm not even passingly familiar with the Animal Man story. My only exposure to Animal Man was in 52 and Countdown to Adventure.

It's one of the greatest superhero stories ever. And that's not me talking, that's the general orthodoxy talking. It's well acknowledged as a classic of superhero literature.

But if you have a problem with narrative tools that interfere with a comfortable, easy, simplistic, linear story, then by all means do not read it. It might make your head hurt.

 

[Aristotle]

But I have hard time understanding what the heck is going on in DC, which is why I avoid it.

I've always been confused by that. When I finally started reading superhero comics, it was Batman Begins that got me reading. I read exclusively Batman comics for a few months, and then I read Green Lantern Rebirth because it had a Batman cameo, and then I read Geoff Johns' Flash run because he wrote Rebirth, and then I read the OMAC Project because it was about Batman, and then Infinite Crisis was upon us and I was fully immersed in the DCU.

Sure, I had questions occasionally. But they're pretty easy to answer with some back issues, or God forbid, a Wikipedia surf.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

"The Thunderbolts...Except With Different Costumes Now, And Also Wearing Masks!" I don't know that "fun" is where I'd go with that.

Well, I meant that they're the establishment now. Before we had two camps of heroes on opposite sides of the establishment divide; now the heroes are on the ropes and basically need to watch what they do because villains essentially control everything. It's been done before and I'm sure it'll all come crashing down on Norman's head, but for the moment, it's fun to see all of the heroes becoming more united against the villains again while the ******ed Marvel populace buys into the blatant lie that these villains are the true heroes. Some interesting stories are bound to come out of that status quo in the right hands. Unfortunately, Bendis' aren't the right hands, so most of that potential will probably be squandered.

 

[Aristotle]

Well, I meant that they're the establishment now. Before we had two camps of heroes on opposite sides of the establishment divide; now the heroes are on the ropes and basically need to watch what they do because villains essentially control everything. It's been done before and I'm sure it'll all come crashing down on Norman's head, but for the moment, it's fun to see all of the heroes becoming more united against the villains again while the ******ed Marvel populace buys into the blatant lie that these villains are the true heroes. Some interesting stories are bound to come out of that status quo in the right hands. Unfortunately, Bendis' aren't the right hands, so most of that potential will probably be squandered.

You know it's just gonna turn into more divisions. Half the heroes will side with the Thundavengerbolts, and the other half will jerk off to their own thoughts of how Captain America-y they're being. And there will be another Goddamned event about it. What will they call it? I'll bet it will just be called "Dark War" or something.

 

[SpideyForPrez]

I still need to read Dark Avengers I've got it sitting at home just waiting for me. I like Dark Reign and I have hopes that it'll go somewhere good. But I am just sick to death of heroes fighting heroes, especially comic covers with one line-up on one side and another line-up on the other as they're about to clash. But hopefully Dark Reign will change that seeing as how it's about... Villains.

As far as people saying that Dark Avengers is just Thunderbolts with different costumes... I'm OK with that cause Thunderbolts has been my favorite book for awhile now. I can't wait to get hom today and read Dark Avengers and Thunderbolts, I've been thinking about them since I picked up my stack at the store Wednesday.

 

[Manic]

It's one of the greatest superhero stories ever. And that's not me talking, that's the general orthodoxy talking. It's well acknowledged as a classic of superhero literature.

But if you have a problem with narrative tools that interfere with a comfortable, easy, simplistic, linear story, then by all means do not read it. It might make your head hurt.

God damn, Tot. Did I crap in your cornflakes this morning? What's with hurling all the insults at my intelligence? I'm uncomfortable with stories that forgo explaining how a story progresses in favor of deux ex machinas. You make it sound like a cheaply written story in which stuff happens just because it needs to without rhyme or reason. If that's not what it is, then by all means, phrase it differently.

But if you're just gonna sit there and insult me, then go to hell.

 

[CBG]

So I just finished the fourth Absolute Sandman collection, fantastic series by the way, and I was wondering about a few things. I read the afterword thing, and know that Gaiman intentionally left the mystery of who hired Loki and Goodfellow to kidnap Daniel, as he put it "the mystery lives on forever, not the explanation." I was wondering if, despite that, there were any popular theories on who convinced them to do that. Secondly, are there any Sandman books outside of Endless Nights that weren't included in the Absolutes, and are they worth buying?

- Death: The High Cost of Living
- The Sandman: Dream Hunters (both the original graphic novel prose and the graphic novel adaption)

I also recommend looking into the Lucifer spin-off, which is a good series in its own right.

As for Animal Man, it should be given the Absolute treatment. It's THAT. DAMN. GOOD.

Plus, Vol. 1 has been out of print for years now.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

You know it's just gonna turn into more divisions. Half the heroes will side with the Thundavengerbolts, and the other half will jerk off to their own thoughts of how Captain America-y they're being. And there will be another Goddamned event about it. What will they call it? I'll bet it will just be called "Dark War" or something.

Yeah, that's probably all true. But for the moment, it makes a good backdrop. Remember how you jumped on my case and the cases of people in general for saying Batman's obviously gonna be back? Same thing. I think good writers will get some good stories out of the concept, which is enough for me in the short term.

 

[Aristotle]

God damn, Tot. Did I crap in your cornflakes this morning? What's with hurling all the insults at my intelligence? I'm uncomfortable with stories that forgo explaining how a story progresses in favor of deux ex machinas. You make it sound like a cheaply written story in which stuff happens just because it needs to without rhyme or reason. If that's not what it is, then by all means, phrase it differently.

But if you're just gonna sit there and insult me, then go to hell.

Sorry, it's not you, I'm just getting reflexively *****y at people who make an anti-FC argument that's similar to the ones I've been hearing since Wednesday. There's so much mindless, ill-thought-out, wrong-thinking Final Crisis hate, and I had one hour of sleep last night.

 

[Manic]

It's alright. Just so you know, I haven't been keeping up with Final Crisis at all. I just know what happened to Batman, and that Darkseid has been doing something.

I try not to keep up on crossover events unless they spill into the books already on my pull list. DC is a lot more courteous than Marvel, so I had no clue what was going on in Final Crisis.

 

[Aristotle]

It's alright. Just so you know, I haven't been keeping up with Final Crisis at all. I just know what happened to Batman, and that Darkseid has been doing something.

I try not to keep up on crossover events unless they spill into the books already on my pull list. DC is a lot more courteous than Marvel, so I had no clue what was going on in Final Crisis.

You should read it though, really.

 

[Hush]

He is right on the DC being more Courteous than Marvel point though.