We've got Hall of Fame voting going on up there

[Onslaught Six]

I guess I'm wondering why you would care about who to credit/blame? Now, I happen to know that you tend to be very political and I could see assessing such things in that kind of a setting, but, like, if I read a comic and it's good, I'm not thinking "Wow, who wrote this, this is awesome!" At most, I might think "Wow, this is awesome. I hope IDW doesn't go belly up like DW did". On the reverse side, I also don't wonder who to blame for bad comics. Besides, there are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes of comics that go into what's in the comic itself. A character showing up might be the work of editorial fiat rather than the writer telling a particular story. The problem is that we, the audience, are seldom privy to who dictated what. So trying to figure out who to blame for bad comics winds up being an exercise in futility. It could be the editor, it could be the writer and unless you were the one sitting in that meeting, you'll never know which.

Let me step in and answer your question with another question: When you read the forum posts here, do you pay attention to who's posting them? Or do you go, "I like the Hall of Fame so a thread about that is sure to be awesome!"

With most forums, I will simply only read threads with titles that seem like they'll appeal to me. But with certain forums, I know that the discussion is going to be good 'regardless' of whatever is being discussed, simply by virtue of who's posting in it. I have read reviews of toys and comics that I have no interest whatsoever in because of who's written them (Dom, DVD, Zobovor, etc.) because I know those guys can be counted on for quality.

The thing of it is, most fiction isn't actually franchises. Comedy films, for example, rarely have sequels, and if they do they rarely get more than one. That's why you follow the actor, or writers/directors/etc. I will watch any film that Judd Apatow wrote or directed, for example, because he's got a great track record (Superbad, Walk Hard, Pineapple Express, etc.) and I know that most things he's involved in will be Good. Similarly, Neil Gaiman's proven himself a very good writer beyond comics, so anything new he'll come out with I'll at least read a summary and see if I'm interested in that. (This is probably a bad example because I find reading novels kind of tedious, but whatever.) Similarly for musicians--Devin Townsend's a great singer, guitarist, writer, and all-around musician, so I'll listen to anything he's ever done, simply on his name alone. If I listen to something he collaborated on with someone else (like those Frontline Assembly albums I haven't listened to yet) and it sucks, it's probably the fact that it's the guys who Aren't Devin who are sucking.

[Dominic]

have read reviews of toys and comics that I have no interest whatsoever in because of who's written them (Dom, DVD, Zobovor, etc.) because I know those guys can be counted on for quality.

Thank you sir.

And, ego (self) stroking aside, that is basically the logic that I use.

That's the sort of thing that makes me wish there was a TF Hall of Shame, just so I could nominate Razorbeast for it. Every single year.

We could also nominate Pat Lee, Glenn Hallit and Simon Furman!

Dom

[Gomess]

That's the sort of thing that makes me wish there was a TF Hall of Shame, just so I could nominate Razorbeast for it. Every single year.

We could also nominate Pat Lee, Glenn Hallit and Simon Furman!

Now that's an idea I like. If only to counteract the halfassed nature of the Hall of Fame. Is there REALLY no official record of it anywhere? Guido Guidi doesn't even draw a commemorative piece of each winner? I mean, if not, what's the point? Opium for the masses?

[Shockwave]

I guess I'm wondering why you would care about who to credit/blame? Now, I happen to know that you tend to be very political and I could see assessing such things in that kind of a setting, but, like, if I read a comic and it's good, I'm not thinking "Wow, who wrote this, this is awesome!" At most, I might think "Wow, this is awesome. I hope IDW doesn't go belly up like DW did". On the reverse side, I also don't wonder who to blame for bad comics. Besides, there are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes of comics that go into what's in the comic itself. A character showing up might be the work of editorial fiat rather than the writer telling a particular story. The problem is that we, the audience, are seldom privy to who dictated what. So trying to figure out who to blame for bad comics winds up being an exercise in futility. It could be the editor, it could be the writer and unless you were the one sitting in that meeting, you'll never know which.

Let me step in and answer your question with another question: When you read the forum posts here, do you pay attention to who's posting them? Or do you go, "I like the Hall of Fame so a thread about that is sure to be awesome!"

With most forums, I will simply only read threads with titles that seem like they'll appeal to me. But with certain forums, I know that the discussion is going to be good 'regardless' of whatever is being discussed, simply by virtue of who's posting in it. I have read reviews of toys and comics that I have no interest whatsoever in because of who's written them (Dom, DVD, Zobovor, etc.) because I know those guys can be counted on for quality.

The thing of it is, most fiction isn't actually franchises. Comedy films, for example, rarely have sequels, and if they do they rarely get more than one. That's why you follow the actor, or writers/directors/etc. I will watch any film that Judd Apatow wrote or directed, for example, because he's got a great track record (Superbad, Walk Hard, Pineapple Express, etc.) and I know that most things he's involved in will be Good. Similarly, Neil Gaiman's proven himself a very good writer beyond comics, so anything new he'll come out with I'll at least read a summary and see if I'm interested in that. (This is probably a bad example because I find reading novels kind of tedious, but whatever.) Similarly for musicians--Devin Townsend's a great singer, guitarist, writer, and all-around musician, so I'll listen to anything he's ever done, simply on his name alone. If I listen to something he collaborated on with someone else (like those Frontline Assembly albums I haven't listened to yet) and it sucks, it's probably the fact that it's the guys who Aren't Devin who are sucking.

I tend to look at the subject. If it's something I'm interested in, I'll post. Sometimes I look at who started the thread, but that's mostly to get an idea of who's "talking" at any given time.

I get what you mean about fiction not being franchised, but I tend towards being a fan of various franchises and as such, interested in the fiction associated with them. Not to say that I don't like fiction that isn't, but I tend to find that a lot of my time is spent on fiction for the various ones that I am a fan of. Case in point: War and Peace. No, not the Dreamwave TF comic, the actual book by Leo Tolstoy. I occasionally spend time reading it, but it does take a lot of time. And I often find that I set it aside for other stuff that comes out, like new issues of the TF Ongoing.

[Dominic]

Sometimes I look at who started the thread, but that's mostly to get an idea of who's "talking" at any given time.

This is the business model I use with comics or books that I am buying and spending time reading. "Wow, Morrison is saying stuff. Let's go check it out!" I am less interested in, "Wow, somebody is playing with "GI Joe"/"Transformers"/whatever.

[Shockwave]

Sometimes I look at who started the thread, but that's mostly to get an idea of who's "talking" at any given time.

This is the business model I use with comics or books that I am buying and spending time reading. "Wow, Morrison is saying stuff. Let's go check it out!" I am less interested in, "Wow, somebody is playing with "GI Joe"/"Transformers"/whatever.

That must get enormously expensive. I couldn't possibly imagine trying to follow that much fiction. I have a hard enough time following the fiction that I do and even that's costly enough as it is. I guess part of it for me is that I tend towards more "fan items" than actual fiction. For example, I like GI Joe. I have several GI Joe figures, stickers what have you. But I do not have any GI Joe comics (save for what crossed over with Transformers) nor did I actually watch the show that much when I was a kid (or even now on the HUB). Another problem I face is that I have a "life". By that I just mean that I have other things beyond work and recreation (my Masonic activities tend to eat up a lot of time as does maintaining my house). And those things also eat up money that could be allocated for other fiction. As such I have to be a lot more selective about what I follow. I don't have the income to follow people I don't know just to hear them pontificate about stuff I likely don't care about.

[Gomess]

Another problem I face is that I have a "life".

When I post, I do occasionally realise that the majority of my real-life friends have NO idea I'm doing it, much less that you guys even exist. That's so weird to me. You're my SECRET FRIENDS ahahahaha

[Dominic]

I do not necessarily follow everything though.

For example, Bendis writes far more than I read. I have read maybe one compilation worth of "Powers". I dropped "Avengers" outright. But, Bendis writing something gets my attention. (I would not have picked up "Moon Knight" #1 if I did not recognize the writer's name.)

I skip nearly all of Ralph Peters' fiction, partly to save time/money, but also because it is not that good. (His non-fiction is still on my "should read" list.)

I am so far behind on my reading list that I try not to think about it. As I have said before, I could acquire (through purchase, barter or gifts) no reading material at all, and not run out until sometime next year.


Dom
-and, most writers have a maximum productive capacity, which also helps. A publisher can keep assigning writers to a property, allowing for a theoretically infinite number of comics.

[Onslaught Six]

Another problem I face is that I have a "life".

When I post, I do occasionally realise that the majority of my real-life friends have NO idea I'm doing it, much less that you guys even exist. That's so weird to me. You're my SECRET FRIENDS ahahahaha

All my friends are nerds.

[Gomess]

Oh, I have a friend who collects more TFs than I do, but they'd never dream of discussing them online. Diff'rent strokes.