Comics are Awesome II

[BWprowl]

I don't buy that. Even if you didn't know the first thing about Green Lantern, at the very least you could tell from the name alone he'd have something to do with a green lantern. Just as with Spider-Man you can infer from his name alone he's got something to do with spiders. If you're asked about a specific character, why would you think of some totally unrelated character, that the only thing they've got in common is being super heroes? That's not normal. That'd be like confusing Bugs Bunny with Donald Duck.

But it does happen. I think the fact that Shockwave just came back with multiple anecdotes about it happening should be evidence enough that it happens. I know, we've tried to explain this before, and I understand that with where you come from, where Green Lantern rings are accepted attire and everyone knows the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek, it may be hard to understand that this is how the rest of the world operates, but you've just got to believe us when we say it does. That your average person doesn't know who Green Lantern is, thinks that thanks to Avengers sticking a few guys in one movie that all superheroes share movies and content, can't tell Bugs Bunny from Donald Duck, doesn't know that Alien (capital A) was a movie franchise before Prometheus (or worse, Alien vs. Predator), and doesn't know that The Hobbit was an actual book that was written before Lord of the Rings, and wasn't just some new prequel dreamed up by Hollywood executives.

And these same people would view you withe the same incredulity you're viewing these anecdotes with if you struggled to list some characters from Jersey Shore, or name what team Peyton Manning used to play for before he switched teams this season. We have different priorities, and these are the ones of 'normal' people. They can't be assed to tell you who Green Lantern is at all, the same way I had no idea who Lil' John was when one of my co-workers brought him up. I would've randomly guess he showed up in a Snoop Dogg song or something, kinda the same way these people Shockwave asked just assumed Green Lantern hung out with Spider-Man.

[Shockwave]

Because this is how 'normal' people operate. They don't even differentiate between most superheroes, let alone companies like Marvel and DC. Ask any person on the street to name some X-Men, and they're going to stumble and list stuff like Batman and Mr. Incredible. Good luck with something as b-list as Green Lantern. People like those that Shockwave asked probably saw trailers for the movie, noticed it was a superhero flick, and just naturally associated it with the more well-known superhero flicks, like Spider-Man. It's a thin association to people like us, I know, but this is how most people operate.

I don't buy that. Even if you didn't know the first thing about Green Lantern, at the very least you could tell from the name alone he'd have something to do with a green lantern. Just as with Spider-Man you can infer from his name alone he's got something to do with spiders. If you're asked about a specific character, why would you think of some totally unrelated character, that the only thing they've got in common is being super heroes? That's not normal. That'd be like confusing Bugs Bunny with Donald Duck.

You know how we sometimes accuse you of living in a 'nerd mecca'? This is the perfect illustration of that: That you can wear a Green Lantern ring in public (to a job interview, no less!), and not only not get your ass kicked for it, but actually be hired at that same interview. This is nuts!

I don't think most people usually notice it is a Green Lantern ring. It's a sterling silver ring with a Green Lantern symbol insert, so I think most people think it's just a silver ring with some design on it. Unless they get a good look at the symbol. Why would I get beat up for wearing it in public? It's just a ring.

What O6 and Prowl said. You may not buy it, but that doesn't make it any less of a reality. Seriously, go back and read my posts on it, it's word for word verbatim what they said (since I was posting the responses from work, essentially while I was asking the question). I made no mention of Spiderman nor directed the conversation that way, they got there on their own.

Also, since I apparently forgot this in my last post, congratulations on getting the job! Hope it's doing something you like. I think "new job" wins the hauls thread for this month.

[Onslaught Six]

Just asked a coworker who Green Lantern was! No idea. Asked her who Superman was. "Clark Kent." Who's his girlfriend? "Lois Lane." Where's he work? "Newspaper?" (Good enough.) That makes Green Lantern b-list!

On the same note, this morning I heard my coworkers discussing the new season of Teen Mom. When I talk about superheroes or comic book crap, I probably sound exactly like they do to me.

[Sparky Prime]

I understand that with where you come from, where Green Lantern rings are accepted attire and everyone knows the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek, it may be hard to understand that this is how the rest of the world operates, but you've just got to believe us when we say it does.

I still don't see what the big deal is with the ring. One of the guys at this office I noticed had a Hulk statue sitting on his computer. You're sure this isn't how the rest of the world operates? It seems fairly common to me.

and doesn't know that The Hobbit was an actual book that was written before Lord of the Rings, and wasn't just some new prequel dreamed up by Hollywood executives.

But... Frodo actually talks about Bilbo's book and adventures in the Lord of the Rings films... I'm seriously starting to think where ever you guys live/work, people just don't pay that much attention to details.

Just asked a coworker who Green Lantern was! No idea. Asked her who Superman was. "Clark Kent." Who's his girlfriend? "Lois Lane." Where's he work? "Newspaper?" (Good enough.) That makes Green Lantern b-list!

If I can randomly find people who recognize the symbol on my ring with out even needing to say anything about, I think he's a more well known character than you're giving him credit.

Also, since I apparently forgot this in my last post, congratulations on getting the job! Hope it's doing something you like. I think "new job" wins the hauls thread for this month.

Thanks! It'll be interesting at least, and soooo much better than my last job.

[BWprowl]

But... Frodo actually talks about Bilbo's book and adventures in the Lord of the Rings films... I'm seriously starting to think where ever you guys live/work, people just don't pay that much attention to details

This is...the point we're trying to make, yeah. And Six, Shock, and I live in different regions (okay, Shock and I are both in CA, but still), we're spread out. What we're trying to show with this is that this isn't a minority, confined to one place, it's the standard mindset/operating procedure for the rest of the world (or the country, at least). I believe you when you say where you live you encounter people who know who Green Lantern is and know there was a book before Lord of the Rings, but given that you're the only one with those examples while the rest of us extol examples of the opposite, it should be clear that your experiences are the exception, not the rule.

[andersonh1]

Green Lantern #10
Sparky and I disagree on this, but Hal Jordan isn't quite the man he was before the reboot. Still, I'm enjoying the main Green Lantern series, which is continuing to explore plots that were begun a few years ago. Hal is asserting himself a lot more in this story arc than he was in the first arc, when Sinestro seemed to have top billing and Hal was the sidekick. The revelation that Abin Sur set up the tribe as a way to either reform or contain violent criminals at least makes sense of why they mimic the Green Lantern Corps, with rings and a main battery. I've thought that having so many different corps dilutes the whole GL concept and universe, but at least on a certain level most of them are connected to or grow out of GLC, so some thematic similarities are not unreasonable.

I was suprised by Iroque's seeming genuine contrition, and interested to see that Black Hand will apparently be a Black Lantern again. This series almost allows me to pretend the reboot never happened since it picked up where the old one left off and references recent GL history, and that's no bad thing.

Captain America #13
I appreciate the plot summary at the beginning of every issue. It's something DC might do well to adopt, though apparently they prefer doing something less drastic like rebooting their entire universe. In any case, I'm guessing all of this backstabbing and mind control would be more meaningful if I knew just who all of these characters are. The narration indicates they're former friends or colleagues of Steve Rogers, so the conflict is apparently somewhat personal to him. I'm struck by how the book feels more like a espionage storyline than a super-hero comic, even with guys in costumes. That wasn't necessarily the case with the first story arc, but it certainly is now. And things are being wrapped up faster than I thought, since next issue is the last of this particular storyline. I prefer the less gritty, more fantasy-based approach, and I hope we get back to something like that at some point. Spies are not my favorite genre.

[Sparky Prime]

but given that you're the only one with those examples while the rest of us extol examples of the opposite, it should be clear that your experiences are the exception, not the rule.

I don't believe that. I mean, girlfriends and co-workers aren't exactly the most wide or varied of a sample group. It's not a reliable or accurate way of testing. And I still think some of them were confused by the question since it really wasn't about who the character is.

Should I also mention I often see cars with an Autobot or Decepticon logo on them?

Anyway... Time to talk about some actual comics.

Spider-Men #1
The event that Joe Quesada once said would only happen when Marvel ran out of ideas. A cross over between 616 and Ultimate. I have to admit I have a morbid curiosity of how this story will play out. Not much really happens in this issue. Peter Parker is out doing his Spider-Man thing when he sees a mysterious light which turns out to be a device Ultimate Mysterio built. One thing leads to another and Peter ends up in the Ultimate Universe. So yeah, not the most creative beginning. I would have liked if they progressed the story a little bit more being only a 5 part mini-series.

Blue Beetle #9 and GL: New Guardians #9
Since these stories cross over I figured I'd talk about them together. I'm kinda surprised how little Blue Beetle story is in this issue of Blue Beetle actually. The focus is all about him helping Kyle and Bleez fight against a bounty hunter the Guardians hired to go after Kyle, with only about a page or two that actually deals with events of Blue Beetle's own story. At any rate, Kyle finds out The Reach is attacking Odym while talking to Jamie and takes off to help the Blue Lanterns.
In New Guardians, we see several new Blue Lanterns have been recruited since last we saw them and learn a bit more about their capabilities. Even with out a Green Lantern around, Saint Walker uses his protective aura to augment his strength. He even seems to be capable of healing the victims inside the Scarab armor. And if a Blue Lantern looses hope, they loose their ring. Meanwhile, the Star Sapphire's are piecing together that someone must be behind all of the attacks on all of the Corps given recent events. Pretty good issue, nice to see a focus on the Blue Lantern Corps.

Red Lanterns #10
Another cross over issue. Atrocitus detects a Red Lantern signal which he thinks is Abysmus that was his failed Red Lante... We get it already! I swear, every issue since Abysmus was introduced they've explained who is again and again. Anyway, Atrocitus ends up attacking Stormwatch who have captured Skallox. Really don't care for the new artist on this book. The Stormwatch characters look fine but he has an odd way of drawing the Red Lanterns. And this issue kinda feels like a waste of time. All we get is Atrocitus inadvertently requesting Skallox, and Jack learns to fight back against his fellow Red Lanterns but no real story progression.

Green Lantern #10
Hal's really taken charge in the last few issues in-particular, which I'd say goes to show he's the same guy he was before the reboot. Anyway, I found it interesting the only one with enough sense to take off the Indigo ring was Black Hand so when the Indigo Corps is back online he's the only one not instantly back under it's control. Not that it would have mattered seeing how the ring chased him down until he killed himself, but still, you'd think that would have been the first thing they all did. I really enjoyed this issue. Wasn't expecting a Black Lantern ring to show up.

[Shockwave]

but given that you're the only one with those examples while the rest of us extol examples of the opposite, it should be clear that your experiences are the exception, not the rule.

I don't believe that. I mean, girlfriends and co-workers aren't exactly the most wide or varied of a sample group. It's not a reliable or accurate way of testing. And I still think some of them were confused by the question since it really wasn't about who the character is.

Should I also mention I often see cars with an Autobot or Decepticon logo on them?

For the purposes of an internet debate it is. I'm not going to go out and spend money and get permits and set up a table somewhere just to ask 1000 people who the Green Lantern is, especially for the purpose of bs ing over the internet. That's ridiculous. And who the hell else are we supposed to ask? We asked the people in our lives who are non comic fans, and you now have at least 3 different people in 3 different regions telling you the same thing. You're just ignoring imperical evidence at this point. And girlfriends and coworkers aren't a varied group? Different people of different ages and different backgrounds isn't a varied group?! Seriously? Sparky, we've had some epic debates but this has got to be far and away the most ridonkulous thing you have ever said.

Shockwave
-Also sees cars with TF logos on them. In fact, drives one. Or will when I get it back.

[Sparky Prime]

For the purposes of an internet debate it is. I'm not going to go out and spend money and get permits and set up a table somewhere just to ask 1000 people who the Green Lantern is, especially for the purpose of bs ing over the internet. That's ridiculous. And who the hell else are we supposed to ask? We asked the people in our lives who are non comic fans, and you now have at least 3 different people in 3 different regions telling you the same thing. You're just ignoring imperical evidence at this point. And girlfriends and coworkers aren't a varied group? Different people of different ages and different backgrounds isn't a varied group?! Seriously? Sparky, we've had some epic debates but this has got to be far and away the most ridonkulous thing you have ever said.

I'm not saying you should go out and poll people or anything like that. But a small handful of people at one company and two people O6 talked to is not an accurate assessment of the general population, and I seriously doubt I live in a "nerd mecca" as BWprowl puts it. Not only that, but you said you were asking people how many human Green Lanterns there have been, not if they knew who the character Green Lantern is. Big. Difference. And I'm convinced they were confused by the question given the responses you said they gave you. That's not ignoring empirical evidence, because this is flawed data in the first place due to the question being inconsistent with the case study (if you could even call it that). Green Lantern I would say is within the top 5 of DC's most popular characters at this point. And that doesn't make him an A-list character? He's also gained a lot more recognition in the public due to the recent film and cartoons. How much recognition is obviously debatable, but that is the true empirical evidence we've got. What's ridiculous is how this has dragged out based on little more than assumptions and inconsistencies.

[Onslaught Six]

I don't believe that. I mean, girlfriends and co-workers aren't exactly the most wide or varied of a sample group. It's not a reliable or accurate way of testing. And I still think some of them were confused by the question since it really wasn't about who the character is.

I asked my coworker, "Who's Green Lantern?" "I have no idea." "Name doesn't ring any bells, at all?" "I think he's a...comic book guy? Right? You like that stuff, right?"

I'm this close to stopping by the mall after work and asking complete strangers if they know who Green Lantern is.

Should I also mention I often see cars with an Autobot or Decepticon logo on them?

My cousin owns a 2009 Camaro with an Autobot license plate, but I guarantee you that if I ask him to name 5 Autobots, he'll get past Bumblebee and Optimus Prime and have to start pulling names out of his ass.

Spider-Men #1
The event that Joe Quesada once said would only happen when Marvel ran out of ideas. A cross over between 616 and Ultimate. I have to admit I have a morbid curiosity of how this story will play out. Not much really happens in this issue. Peter Parker is out doing his Spider-Man thing when he sees a mysterious light which turns out to be a device Ultimate Mysterio built. One thing leads to another and Peter ends up in the Ultimate Universe. So yeah, not the most creative beginning. I would have liked if they progressed the story a little bit more being only a 5 part mini-series.

Has he even met Miles yet?

How did Ultimate Mysterio get to 616? Is that just...not explained?

How does Peter react to being in a different universe? Is he going to find out that, in this universe, his father built Venom and he was Carnage? That his alternate self is dead and Miles is just some other guy?

Red Lanterns #10
Another cross over issue. Atrocitus detects a Red Lantern signal which he thinks is Abysmus that was his failed Red Lante... We get it already! I swear, every issue since Abysmus was introduced they've explained who is again and again. Anyway, Atrocitus ends up attacking Stormwatch who have captured Skallox. Really don't care for the new artist on this book. The Stormwatch characters look fine but he has an odd way of drawing the Red Lanterns. And this issue kinda feels like a waste of time. All we get is Atrocitus inadvertently requesting Skallox, and Jack learns to fight back against his fellow Red Lanterns but no real story progression.

I prefer explaining who characters are repeatedly--especially if it's in narration boxes (What? I like narration boxes!)--because then I don't have to look at a comic panel of a guy I don't recognize and have to go to Wikipedia to figure it out. Because, back in the day, there 'was' no Wikipedia, so if a comic did that, you just didn't know who the guy was.