Comics are awesome.

[Dominic]

Ya know, I do not smoke. I think it is an idiotic habit. But, I have no problems with depictions of it. Jeez. (Mind you, TV now runs soft-core porn. But, smoking after the fact, oh no siree!)

Ah, my bad. I've read a few comments from people saying "Such-and-such is irksome, done with the company", so just figured.

I admit to doing this. If a company misbehaves to a such a degree that they are insufferable, I will drop their books. DC is like the sneering Cambridge artist type. Most of their books work on multiple levels, and I am never quite sure when one of those books is intended to be a middle finger to the readers. (Johns is unusually direct in his complaints.)

Bringing back Barry Allen effectively made everything DC publishes noise, if only by proving they have no ideas. Mind you, I am still reading "Captain Atom" (a back up in "Action Comics") for train-wreck value.

I am more likely to flip through a DC book, more likely to buy a Marvel book if I do pick it up, and more likely to come back and buy another DC book if I happen to buy one.

So yeah, it was his idea, not Quesada's. I'm not sure what he means by making "the Ultimate line like what it HAD been" though. Really what he gives as examples of what is "unexpected" about the Ultimate line shows more of his lack of understanding about the Ultimate Universe. The X-Men were never rock stars, just Dazzler who was a punk rocker before joining the X-Men rather than a disco diva in 616. And Peter being 16? That's how old he was when he got his powers in both versions.

Dude, of course Loeb cannot tell the truth. Quesada will beat him if he does. Do you want Joe Quesada to beat Jeff Loeb? Do you?

Either way, it was a bad comic.

I think Loeb was saying that the "Ultimate" books had an established and expected status quo after 10 years. He wanted to get rid of that. My question is how many of the changes will stick.


Dom
-getting comics tonight.

[Shockwave]

I still vote acid trip. Scarlet Witch is one of those characters that's so powerful that they could show her wake up and say "Oh Pietro, I had the strangest dream..." and... boom. Etcha Sketch! Never happened. And actually she's so powerful that it wouldn't even have to be a dream, all of creation as we know it could be her halucination and the entire universe would implode if she ever came down. I don't really think this will happen, but I think it would be hilarious if it did.

[Sparky Prime]

Dude, of course Loeb cannot tell the truth. Quesada will beat him if he does. Do you want Joe Quesada to beat Jeff Loeb? Do you?

Why? JMS told us the the truth behind OMD and that he even wanted his name off the final 2 issues because he was pretty much being forced what to write by Quesada. Loeb on the other hand is saying Ultimatum was his idea from the start.

I think Loeb was saying that the "Ultimate" books had an established and expected status quo after 10 years. He wanted to get rid of that. My question is how many of the changes will stick.

Well Loeb clearly doesn't have a grasp on the Ultimate Universe. They never really had an established/expected status quo.

[Onslaught Six]

Man, Atomic Robo is awesome.

[Dominic]

"Ultimate" seems to have its ruts and such. Every comic develops them. Leob likely just wanted to shake the books out.

being forced what to write by Quesada

Exactly my point. And, JMS was brave for saying it. But, battered writer's syndrome effects everybody in a different way. Loeb just could not muster the courage. And, in a way, we are all victim's of battered writer's syndrome.

You really need to be more understanding Sparky. It effects us all.


Dom
-having *way* too much fun with this.

[Sparky Prime]

Exactly my point. And, JMS was brave for saying it. But, battered writer's syndrome effects everybody in a different way. Loeb just could not muster the courage. And, in a way, we are all victim's of battered writer's syndrome.

You really need to be more understanding Sparky. It effects us all.

JMS was being brave... right. He knew the story sucked and he wanted to make sure people knew he wasn't responsible for how it turned out. Loeb admits this was his idea. Just face facts Dom, sometimes writers make their own mistakes.

[Dominic]

I was making a joke about Quesada being a thug and abusing his staff.....oi.


In all seriousness, I give JMS credit for owning up to his role in the bad "Spiderman" comics of the last decade.

And, based on what you have posted, I would, (at the cost of hilarity), agree that Loeb has carked things up. Near as I can tell, modern editors generally give vague directions to their staff, and then...... They seem to tell writers what to do, but not how.

There does not seem to be the guidance of yesteryear, so much as "do this now" edicts.

Dom
-remembers hearing conversations like this as a kid.

[138 Scourge]

Carked?

In other news, I dropped Wednesday Comics. Maybe. Because I realized that in that whole mess of 'spensive newsprint, there were only two stories that I was really enjoying a whole lot. I mean, the Flash thing, Kamandi, Adam Strange, Metamorpho, Hawkman, and the Catwoman thing are all good, the Batman bit's all right, but only the Supergirl and Metal Men pages were really bringing me back, and I don't really want to spend four bucks on two pages that are really rockin' me. Furthermore, I really, really hate the Superman and Wonder Woman stories in there. Hate.

Then again, the last issue of "Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers" is out this week, and I might turn back to Wednesday Comics because the Supergirl bit has my superpowered animal fix.

Also, Incredible Hercules is out this week. Have I made it through one post in this thread without mentioning that book? Well, as this thing goes bimonthly soon, I'll likely be doing it more.

[Sparky Prime]

I actually decided to get Ultimate Comics Spider-Man and Avengers today, despite how terrible Ultimatum was. Seeing Peter ask "Do you want fries with that?" on the first page for some reason struck a cord with me and so I decided to give it a chance. Bendis is the only saving grace for Spider-Man these days to me. Seems like he's the only one that knows how to write the character anymore. Not particularly fond of how Lafuente draws Spidey, but I like this style more than Immonen's at least.

3 Blackest Night titles out this week. I flipped through Batman, but I don't really feel that tie-in is necessary for the overall story. GL Corps expands things a bit though, and Blackest Night #2 of coarse continues to overall story. I'm loving what they're doing with this story. Can't wait to see where it goes.

[138 Scourge]

but I like this style more than Immonen's at least.

Y'know, Sparky, not trying to get into it here, taste is subjective and we could go 'round and round this particular mulberry bush all day and never get anywhere, but I gotta say it. I don't so much disagree with this statement as flat-out fail to understand it.

Of course, I'm in love with Immonen's artwork from his days on Legion of Superheroes pre-Zero Hour, and was completely hooked by his NextWave. Since I've never seen his Ultimate Spider-Man work (love the guy, but there's only so far I can follow), it might be horrendous for all I know, but still. I think this is the first negative thing I've ever read about Immonen's stuff.

Anyhoo, whutevs, glad you're digging it!