"I guess this is the sentiment that I don’t get. Why would you not want every comic to be a masterpiece? "

Because I don't want to read a yearly comic.

The fundamental fact of the matter is, when producing serial fiction, you are always working to a deadline. The goal is not to produce "masterpieces", it's to produce the best work possible under the time and budget constraints you have. Producing consistently entertaining, accessible stories, even if they are ultimately disposable entertainment, is not an achievement to be snubbed, because it's harder than it looks.

Not to mention, well...setting out to make a "masterpiece" isn't always the right way to make a masterpiece. Ed Wood was trying to make "masterpieces" too, y'know.

Sure, there are going to be exceptions that radically challenge that. That's your Watchmen or Dark Knight Returns or whatever, but by and large the ones that get held up as 'masterpieces' tend to be miniseries or one-shots. The point of an ongoing series is to entertain. When they rise above that it is a wonderful treat, but should not be requirement in order to be viewed as successful.

It's the same as the movie theater. if you go into every movie expecting a multiple Oscar winning masterpiece you are going to be continuously disappointed. If you go into a movie expecting to be entertained you are going to be happy with what you get almost all of the time (as long as you stay away from the obvious crap at least ;p ).

So if a comic is truly a cut above I am happy, but I don't think that is necessary in order for it to be counted as a good comic.

I guess this is the sentiment that I don't get. Why would you not want every comic to be a masterpiece?

I like this idea. There is something to be said for a professionally crafted story, decent art and a lack of byzantine continuity in a comic. Not every comic needs to break my mind. All I am really after is entertainment.