posted
You need that one great story that inspires you and reminds you why you love them again.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I know how you feel Lash - the pile of books I'm interested in just keeps getting smaller and smaller. Occasionally, something like an Empowered volume will come out that I'll really enjoy, but the boost doesn't last, or spread...
-------------------- My views are my own and do not reflect those of everyone else... and I wouldn't have it any other way.
posted
It seems they only get read when WALKING DEAD or WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY come out... I read my favorites last, so when those come out that is when all the others get read.
MORNING GLORIES is still new and mysterious and has my attention, as does Young Avengers when it comes out. LSH is always a sentimental fave of course.
I honestly think I could drop all the others and not be worried about it.
Maybe I just need to have a good all-day sit-down read-athon in the sun room with a big glass of iced tea.
posted
Lash, I know exactly what you mean. Over the past few years, the number of comics I buy has lessened a good deal. Most of that comes from this question: Do I really want to spend 3 or 4 dollars on something that lasts maybe 15 minutes?
The answer is, only if I really, really like it.
I was all excited about the revamping of the Legion, and also about Gail Simone returning to Birds of Prey. By the time those series came out, I found...I just didn't care. I have pretty much a complete run of Legion (except for a few very early issues) but I just can't bring myself to buy any of the new issues.
Right now, the only comic I am reading is Buffy, and it will end soon. I am wondering if I will even be visiting the CBS after issue #40. (Yes, I know they will do a Buffy - Season 9, but the resolution of the current series is so underwhelming I will finish the current series, but no more.)
I might be about done with comics, too...
From: Cincinnati | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Interesting. 'The Walking Dead' and anything LSH related are the only comics I am still reading... and the LSH stuff has come very close to being dropped several times in recent years. So, is it us that have changed or the comics? Or both?
posted
There's still plenty of really outstanding titles out there. More and more, however, I'm finding that these are creator-owned series published either by Vertigo or by any number of indie publishers (Image, in particular, has had an outstanding batting average lately). There are a good number of terrific titles published by the Big Two, as well, but it's the indies, more and more, that are really firing on all cylinders.
Read the various review threads and see some of the great books we're talking about. Off the top of my head, some of the indies/Vertigos getting well-deserved pub (other than the already-mentioned Morning Glories and Walking Dead) are Chew, Turf, The Boys, The Secret History, Mystery Society, Scalped, Irredeemable, Atomic Robo, Invincible and Time Bomb. The list goes on and on.
Honestly, if you're not looking hard enough, you probably are just looking for an excuse to get out anyway. But the fact is that there's plenty of diverse and phenomenally awesome comics out there!
-------------------- "Suck it, depressos!"--M. Lash
From: The Underbelly of Society | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I go through phases - sometimes I think there is nothing worth reading in comics and I'm just throwing my money and time away continuing with the hobby. And then others, I'm really into it and can't wait to find out what's happening next in a particular story/character's 'life'.
One system I have developed which has made my comics-buying hobby a lot more bearable is to develop a zero-tolerance approach to crap comics (except for the Legion which my continued purchasing of Adventure Comics is testament to). This means if a series has two or at most three bad issues in a row - it's dropped!
Continuing to buy an awful book in the hopes that it will get better is like a comic-book cancer IMO since the resentment you have toward the writers/editors/publisher of that book(s) can spread to the hobby as a whole.
Keeping your pull-list relatively small but varied helps too IMO. I make sure to always buy a few non-DCU/non-super hero books (mainly in TPB - Walking Dead, Scalped, Unwritten), a good Vertigo book (Madame Xanadu), one or at most two books each from the Batman and Superman families (currently the JMS and Morrison ones - the latter being really very good at the moment), one or two team books (currently just The Legion for me - the Titans, JLA and JSA franchises would need some big shake-ups to get me interested in them again), one or two solo books that I feel good work is being done on (eg. Green Lantern), one 'event' type book (only if it is well-written) to stay up to date with the 'happenings' of the DCU (Brightest Day at the moment) and then one or two quirky/out-of-left-field series' or one-shots that I feel will give me something different to latch onto (the upcoming Ragman one-shot for example).
Keep your hobby diverse and manageable like that so that it's maintaining your interest and you're not spending too much money on it will probably go some way toward keeping the hobby alive for you.
From: Australia | Registered: Dec 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Chief Taylor: There's still plenty of really outstanding titles out there. More and more, however, I'm finding that these are creator-owned series published either by Vertigo or by any number of indie publishers (Image, in particular, has had an outstanding batting average lately). There are a good number of terrific titles published by the Big Two, as well, but it's the indies, more and more, that are really firing on all cylinders.
Read the various review threads and see some of the great books we're talking about. Off the top of my head, some of the indies/Vertigos getting well-deserved pub (other than the already-mentioned Morning Glories and Walking Dead) are Chew, Turf, The Boys, The Secret History, Mystery Society, Scalped, Irredeemable, Atomic Robo, Invincible and Time Bomb. The list goes on and on.
Honestly, if you're not looking hard enough, you probably are just looking for an excuse to get out anyway. But the fact is that there's plenty of diverse and phenomenally awesome comics out there!
I think Lardy has it exactly right. There are a ton of EXCELLENT comic books out there right now, but you have to look for them in places you normally would not. Honestly, anyone depending on DC and Marvel them interested in comics is going to be dissapointed; I like to follow characters I loved my whole life too but the Big 2 have proven that they can never have more than 25% of their output be anything better than mediocre. There are good comics from the Big 2, but they're hard to find and often the best ones get canceled. I mean, sure, I like team superhero comics like everyone else, but I can't remember the last time a superhero team comics was so fantastic it made me excited like a 10 year old.
I think the independent publishers and Vertigo are where you need to go to find real quality, moving, exciting comic books right now. Lardy mentions a whole plethora of really great ones above and he only scratched the surface. For instance, if you're not reading Fables, you're doing yourself a real disservice and there is always time to catch up in trades, just like the Walking Dead. The quality of story & art being produced right now by these guys (and like Lardy says, Image in particular seems to be the real leader right now) is really impressive.
I'm someone who likes diversity of genre in my comics and I know everyone says that. I also know that there are people who read comic books for superheroes, and I can't blame them--I need a strong dosage of superheroes as well each month, it's why I started reading comics in the first place. But I can tell you, there are some pretty EXCELLENT superhero comic books out there, so do not despair! The superhero may not be one you have a nostalgic tie to, but I think if you gave it a chance you wouldn't be dissapointed. Green Hornet: Year One by Dynamite is probably the best street-level superhero comic I've seen in a long time. DC has some good comics that might not be everyone's cup of tea but I think you'll find something you like: Green Lantern, Flash, Booster Gold. And at Marvel, I'm really enjoying Fantastic Four, SHIELD and the Hulk comic books (anotther hint: if you see the names Jeff Parker or Fred Van Lente, it's probably excellent). So I think superheroes shouldn't be written off yet either.
But like Lardy says, expand your appetite to more independents and Vertigo and you'll be pleased. There is so much good right now in comics that I'm more excited now than I have been in over a decade.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I personally would not buy a comic that I didn't think was good. ZATANNA and WARLORD and SECRET 6 and BIRDS OF PREY and <insert title> are not bad comic books. They are good comic books.
So its not that I am buying comics I don't already like.
I get everyone's point about diversity. Unfortunately, my personal history with the VERTIGO line is spotty at best. I am currently reading (and enjoying) I ZOMBIE. And I never thought the day would come again when there were 2 IMAGE titles on my pull, like at present.
I am sure my vague dissatisfaction with most comics will pass.
But right now, if it weren't for WALKING DEAD and TRANQUILITY... I dunno.
cleome46
or you can do the confusion 'til your head falls off
posted
FWIW, LASH, all I'm reading at the moment besides Legion comics is The Stuff of Legend, and whatever I can snatch up at the library. (I did pick up one Marvel mini-series recently, too.) When money's tight and books aren't all that affordable, I don't think that's a bad thing at all.
Also, the library's great for looking into stuff that has a lot of hype behind it, but that you're not sure you'll really like in long form. I now have a "reserve list" of stuff I'll want to own at some point, if my fortunes ever turn around-- thanks to the library.
-------------------- Hey, Kids! My "Cranky and Kitschy" collage art is now viewable on flickr. Drop by and tell me that I sent you.
From: Vanity, OR | Registered: Dec 2008
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cleome46
or you can do the confusion 'til your head falls off
posted
Do it!
That was a big solace to me when I was out of work. I'd grab a super-cheap lunch downtown with mr_cleome at a food cart, and then wile away the day at the main branch, which is a glorious place-- and just across the street from where he works.
Sadly, I had no luck getting my hands on most of the early Legion collections. Apparently they went out but never came back. [grumble] Lots of other goodies, though.
-------------------- Hey, Kids! My "Cranky and Kitschy" collage art is now viewable on flickr. Drop by and tell me that I sent you.
From: Vanity, OR | Registered: Dec 2008
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