Which is really just a clever way of ignoring his point completely as a means of supporting your position. This is why we wind up with ten page misunderstandings.
Quoted for truth.
Well hey now, let’s not just gang up on the guy.
I think I actually get what Sparky was getting at in response to Six’s response, even if it wasn’t worded super-clearly. Six’s point was that, unlike *all the other* comic book fans who complain when a superheroic identity is passed onto a new character and the title starts focusing on him, he would not complain about that aspect of a comic book, reserving his complaints for actual problems with the story and so forth, rather than just bitching about wanting Jack Boniface (or Barry Allen or Hal Jordan or…you get it) back. Sparky’s counter-argument, I think (and correct me if I’m wrong) was that plenty of comic book fans who DO complain about new titles are complaining about them for the same reason, and that the vocal minority bitching about just wanting the ‘old’ characters back is simply that: a vocal minority. Sparky was saying that complaining about wanting the old characters back isn’t as widespread as we’re making it out to be, and that the lion’s share of fans are primarily saying a given book sucks just because…it sucks.
I think.
Anyway, everyone just chill out here. Let's all be happy little Fonzies.
Screw you. That was a response more aimed towards you, since you're one of the biggest culprits of lumping fans together as noise for one reason or another despite there being legitimate reasons many of those fans have for their complaints, which doesn't even necessarily include that "it's different".
BWprowl wrote:Well hey now, let’s not just gang up on the guy.
Well thanks.
Sparky’s counter-argument, I think (and correct me if I’m wrong) was that plenty of comic book fans who DO complain about new titles are complaining about them for the same reason, and that the vocal minority bitching about just wanting the ‘old’ characters back is simply that: a vocal minority. Sparky was saying that complaining about wanting the old characters back isn’t as widespread as we’re making it out to be, and that the lion’s share of fans are primarily saying a given book sucks just because…it sucks.
I think.
Anyway, everyone just chill out here. Let's all be happy little Fonzies.
Re: the Green Lantern books. I haven't bought an issue since #0, because while I enjoyed the zero issue with the new GL, the next few issues didn't seem all that compelling and it was easy to break the buying habit. At this point, I'm holding out in the hope that Hal becomes the main character again at some point soon so I can consider whether or not to start buying the book again, because the few pages he showed up this issue talking to Tomar Re were pretty interesting. Johns seriously needs to pick up the pace though.
andersonh1 wrote:Re: the Green Lantern books. I haven't bought an issue since #0, because while I enjoyed the zero issue with the new GL, the next few issues didn't seem all that compelling and it was easy to break the buying habit. At this point, I'm holding out in the hope that Hal becomes the main character again at some point soon so I can consider whether or not to start buying the book again, because the few pages he showed up this issue talking to Tomar Re were pretty interesting. Johns seriously needs to pick up the pace though.
Yeah, like I mentioned this most recent issue of GL did seem to pick up the pace a bit with B'dg there to help Simon figure out how to use the ring and guide him along in their mission but it has been really slow since they introduced Simon Baz. Which makes sense, being a new character they want to take some time to introduce and develop him. Although I'm not sure a crossover event storyline was the right time for them to do that. Also wish Hal was in this story more than he is... After all, this is supposed to be his book. That should be changing with the Third Army story coming to a close and Hal and Sinestro will get freed to fight the First Lantern.
Red Lanterns # 16
Atrocitus takes out an Alpha Manhunter which finally gives him control over the rest of them. He gives them a blood "X" on their heads and sends a group to attack Oa. Meanwhile, Rankorr finally kills his grandfather's murderer (what happened to the cops that were guarding him in the last issue?) and faces a construct of his grandfather telling him he failed. Bleez explains that was his own guilty conscience and tries to seduce him, revealing the reason she came with him to Earth was to get his ability to create constructs. But Rankorr refuses to give her that kind of power. Back with Atrocitus, he's taken a small group of Manhunters with him to Maltus, the original home planet of the Guardians, to find a device they buried and apparently projects ghosts...
It really feels like this title was pretty much put on standby during the Third Army storyline. It barely tied into it with the Red Lanterns encountering the Third Army early on and then wasting time setting up their plan to use the Manhunters to fight back only to have that... take place in another title. And the side plot of Rankorr becoming a 'true' Red Lantern really felt empty with the outcome not really going anywhere.
Green Lantern Corps Annual #1
The conclusion of the Rise of the Third Army! The Guardians recall all Green Lanterns to Oa for "inoculation" against the Third Army. Knowing this is a trap, B'dg sends Guy to Oa where he meets up with Kilowog and some Lanterns he was able to keep from falling into the trap. B'dg and Baz decide to risk looking in the Book of Black for a clue where Hal is, and it transports them to the Chamber of Shadows with Black Hand. Meanwhile, we find out the Guardians plan on using Mogo as a power source and sends in the Third Army but John and Fatality are sucked up by the reforming Mogo to protect them and then Mogo takes out the creatures himself.
Guy attacks the Guardians using Krona's Green Lantern gauntlet (guess the Guardians fixed it up and put it back on display), but he is just the diversion as Kilowog and the others attack the Central Battery to get a message out about the Guardians and free those already captured. Kyle, Saint Walker, Carol, Arkillo, Larfleeze and Indigo-1 (not sure why the last two are here, unless the others got them on the way to Oa) arrive to back them up, along with the Manhunters Atrocitus sent. The Guardians and their Third Army are outmatched, especially with Kyle as a White Lantern. They decide they have no choice but to draw upon more power from the First Lantern despite the risks. However, Volthoom manages to break free of his prison and declares everything the Guardians created will be no more...
Nice issue, much better than the New Guardians Annual. Nice to finally see everyone fighting back against the Third Army and the Guardians themselves. But of course before the Guardians are taken down, the First Lantern breaks free to lead us into the next story line. Been looking forward to learning more about him and seeing what he can do since his powers seem different than that of any other Lantern. I'm assuming with the Guardians no longer in control of his power the Third Army is done for, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see what they do with that.
The Superior Spider-Man #2:
AKA oh noes Doc Ock’s gonna raep Mary Jane. So Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Ghost sticks around from his DRAMATIC REVEAL last issue, and he is in full-on audience surrogate mode here. I was laughing my ass off, as he has the EXACT problems with Otto’s attempts to pass as him as I’ve been mentioning, agonizing over the fact that he’s “Saying supervillain stuff!” on his date with Mary Jane and commenting on his Mad Scientist getup at the labs. Watching Peter lose his shit as his life continues to suck even after his death is amusing as all hell, and definitely worth keeping Peter around in this way, since it lets us see his own take on Otto’s Superior new interpretation of his heroic job. Even Peter has to admit that Otto’s idea of a ‘Spider-App’ that patrols the city with robots that he can monitor on his iPad is a pretty good idea, Supervillain-style that it is. He’s also justifiably infuriated when after all these years it’s OTTO as Spider-Man that finally manages to make nice with J. Jonah Jameson. But really, this is all leading up to Otto trying to use his new identity as Peter to score with Mary Jane, which naturally really pisses Peter off. But it works out in the end, since Otto proves his ‘Superiority’ once again by savvily pointing out at the last second “Wait a minute, Spider-Man hooking up with Mary Jane almost always ends HORRIBLY! We’d have to be crazy to try this again!” which once again prompts Peter to admit that Otto may have a leg up on him, as he realizes that even he couldn’t keep it in his pants at times for the purpose of protecting MJ from the dangers of the Spider-Lifestyle, and commend Otto on his commitment and willpower. The general hinting this book seems to be driving us towards is that Otto maybe, just might have what it takes to be a pretty good Spider-Man after all. It’s a story of an unusual situation forcing a big change for the better in someone, at least currently. We’ll see how it plays out, especially since the end sees Carlie (who is some new love interest that no one cares about because she’s not Mary Jane?) getting ready to investigate the possibility of a Dock Ock brain-switch and Screw Everything Up.
(Please note that when I say Otto has commendable willpower, I don’t mean to indicate that he is also ‘master of his domain’ as there’s a scene that strongly implies that he cycles through Peter’s past memories of Mary-Jane moments and jerks off to them. Peter is suitably enraged and disgusted. Spider-Ghost’s flip-outs are the best part of this issue.)
Last edited by BWprowl on Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
andersonh1 wrote:Superior Spider Man just sounds hilariously bad. Hey, if it's entertaining, the writer has done his job!
I'm really not sure *how* we're supposed to take this story. You'd think the monumental arc of a super-hero dying and his greatest enemy secretly stealing his identity would be a serious concept to be played for all the life-changing chaos that would ensue, especially the way this was hyped up. But the way Slott's been writing it has been so goofy and borderline-campy that it almost seems like we're not supposed to take it so seriously. Spider-Ghost freaking out over stuff like Otto's dialogue and mad scientist getup show that the writer is aware that these elements are ridiculous, and Peter wondering aloud why no one's noticed how different 'he' is acting just begs the question of "Well, why hasn't anyone noticed?". Which ends up making it all even more over-the-top and hilariously enjoyable.
Basically, it would appear that Slott's aware of how out-there and just plain stupid this idea is, and he's doing everything he can to make it as entertaining as possible, regardless of *how* he does so. At the very least, it's had me chuckling like an idiot for several issues now.
BWprowl wrote:and Peter wondering aloud why no one's noticed how different 'he' is acting just begs the question of "Well, why hasn't anyone noticed?".
I saw something from Avenging Spider-Man I think it was, where Otto-Spider had teamed up with the X-Men and he ended up fighting with Wolverine. Wolverine noticed how Spider-Man was acting different and told Rachael to read his mind, but Otto was able to play it off by asking if any of them had ever wanted to beat up Wolverine... Which they all agreed to.
So, someone has noticed I guess, but they're a little too quick to just dismiss it.
I would be more interested in "Superior Spiderman" if I thought that it was going to either stick or that the book would go in a wholly new direction afterwards.
It barely tied into it with the Red Lanterns encountering the Third Army early on and then wasting time setting up their plan to use the Manhunters to fight back only to have that... take place in another title. And the side plot of Rankorr becoming a 'true' Red Lantern really felt empty with the outcome not really going anywhere.
"Revenge as an empty goal" is a well used story element. Might that be what the writer is going for here?
Comics tally for the month: (comics purchased - comics disposed of) = +2
