Comments on: My Adventures with Marvel's All-Ages Comics (part one of a series of self contained posts) http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/ Comic Book Resources Presents... Comics Should Be Good! Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:18:10 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: km http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-199632 km Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:46:41 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-199632 <blockquote>For me, the question isn’t whether or not comics should be challenging, but whether or not they’re fun.</blockquote> Yep. I've nothing against being challenged, mind. But the argument that every single smitch of throwaway entertainment I pick up <i>should</i> be challenging me - up to and including characters who used to routinely star in Hostess ads - is frankly getting a little tiresome in and of itself. Apologies for being repetitive, but if I want a literary challenge, I <i>can</i> always read Shakespeare, y'know? Art-wise, there are entire galleries I can tour. If the Marvel Adventures line is well-done lighthearted fun, it's none the less well-done for that.

For me, the question isn’t whether or not comics should be challenging, but whether or not they’re fun.

Yep.

I've nothing against being challenged, mind. But the argument that every single smitch of throwaway entertainment I pick up should be challenging me - up to and including characters who used to routinely star in Hostess ads - is frankly getting a little tiresome in and of itself.

Apologies for being repetitive, but if I want a literary challenge, I can always read Shakespeare, y'know? Art-wise, there are entire galleries I can tour. If the Marvel Adventures line is well-done lighthearted fun, it's none the less well-done for that.

]]> By: Anthony Strand http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-199439 Anthony Strand Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:42:00 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-199439 For me, the question isn't whether or not comics should be challenging, but whether or not they're fun. The best comics, even the challenging ones, are fun. So much of modern-day continuity at the big two is not. It's so concerned with telling an "important" narrative that it forgets to be entertaining in any way. Bone and Moore's Swamp Thing and Morrison's Doom Patrol (to stay within the realm of fantasy, as opposed to something like Fun Home or Blankets that are so far removed from superheroes) never had that problem. They handled serious themes and developed characters and moved forward, sure, but they were always a blast to read. The same cannot be said for Countdown or One More Day or whatever other nonsense the big two are trying to pretend is important. For me, the question isn't whether or not comics should be challenging, but whether or not they're fun. The best comics, even the challenging ones, are fun. So much of modern-day continuity at the big two is not. It's so concerned with telling an "important" narrative that it forgets to be entertaining in any way.

Bone and Moore's Swamp Thing and Morrison's Doom Patrol (to stay within the realm of fantasy, as opposed to something like Fun Home or Blankets that are so far removed from superheroes) never had that problem. They handled serious themes and developed characters and moved forward, sure, but they were always a blast to read. The same cannot be said for Countdown or One More Day or whatever other nonsense the big two are trying to pretend is important.

]]> By: Nitz the Bloody http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-198401 Nitz the Bloody Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:34:24 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-198401 I've tried several times to get into the Marvel Adventures comics, and have been unable to over the long-term. They serve an important niche and are very well done but don't have the story progression and character development that make series worth following over the long term. And while the intended audience probably doesn't care at all about continuing narratives ( though with the success of manga like Dragon Ball and Naruto, you'd be surprised ), I personally do. But what bothers me is when the Marvel Adventures comics are used by adult fans as a model for how the main line should be. Believe you me, I get dissatisfaction with the current state of superhero comics, but it confirms my belief that too many fans want intellectual comfort food and nothing else. In other words, the stuff they used to like as kids, as opposed to something that might actually challenge them ( and before anyone gives the tired " It's not Shakespeare " defense, I should say that the best Marvel comics aren't exactly Archie, either. ) I've tried several times to get into the Marvel Adventures comics, and have been unable to over the long-term. They serve an important niche and are very well done but don't have the story progression and character development that make series worth following over the long term. And while the intended audience probably doesn't care at all about continuing narratives ( though with the success of manga like Dragon Ball and Naruto, you'd be surprised ), I personally do.

But what bothers me is when the Marvel Adventures comics are used by adult fans as a model for how the main line should be. Believe you me, I get dissatisfaction with the current state of superhero comics, but it confirms my belief that too many fans want intellectual comfort food and nothing else. In other words, the stuff they used to like as kids, as opposed to something that might actually challenge them ( and before anyone gives the tired " It's not Shakespeare " defense, I should say that the best Marvel comics aren't exactly Archie, either. )

]]> By: Matthew http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-197898 Matthew Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:52:07 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-197898 Levantine: that's a ping-back from a blog linking to this post. Levantine: that's a ping-back from a blog linking to this post.

]]> By: John Seavey http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-197707 John Seavey Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:38:24 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-197707 Actually, "effect" can be a verb as well, meaning "to bring about". So you can "effect" a change, meaning to bring the change into existence, but you can also "affect" the change, meaning to alter its...well, eventual effect. Actually, "effect" can be a verb as well, meaning "to bring about". So you can "effect" a change, meaning to bring the change into existence, but you can also "affect" the change, meaning to alter its...well, eventual effect.

]]> By: Levantine http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-197410 Levantine Mon, 17 Sep 2007 03:51:51 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-197410 What the heck is up with that last comment? What the heck is up with that last comment?

]]> By: Great Expectations Dating » Blog Archive » My Adventures with Marvel’s All-Ages Comics (part one of a series of self contained posts) http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-197407 Great Expectations Dating » Blog Archive » My Adventures with Marvel’s All-Ages Comics (part one of a series of self contained posts) Mon, 17 Sep 2007 03:48:02 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-197407 [...] Original post by Comics Should Be Good! [...] [...] Original post by Comics Should Be Good! [...]

]]> By: Cory http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-197390 Cory Mon, 17 Sep 2007 03:23:36 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-197390 "Affect" is a verb. "Effect" is a noun. "Affect" is a verb. "Effect" is a noun.

]]> By: Harpo http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-197291 Harpo Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:41:46 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-197291 I have the same reaction to "Justice League Unlimited" - it's been the best Justice League comic out there for the last 2 or 3 years for most of the same reasons you just mentioned. In my opinion, it's a heck of a lot harder to write a complete, well-told story in one issue than it is to spread it out over six by adding a lot of junk that doesn't need to be in there. I have the same reaction to "Justice League Unlimited" - it's been the best Justice League comic out there for the last 2 or 3 years for most of the same reasons you just mentioned. In my opinion, it's a heck of a lot harder to write a complete, well-told story in one issue than it is to spread it out over six by adding a lot of junk that doesn't need to be in there.

]]> By: Anthony Strand http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-197210 Anthony Strand Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:30:23 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-197210 Great post, and I agree that story was a great deal of fun, but that's actually Marvel Adventures Avengers #15 you're writing about. Great post, and I agree that story was a great deal of fun, but that's actually Marvel Adventures Avengers #15 you're writing about.

]]> By: Cei-U! http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-197196 Cei-U! Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:16:32 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/16/my-adventures-with-marvels-all-ages-comics-part-one-of-a-series-of-self-contained-posts/#comment-197196 I've also run across some Marvel Adventures titles--Spidey and FF--and had the same reaction to them I had to DC's animated Batman titles of the '90s: if their regular comics were written this well, I'd still be buying them. I've also run across some Marvel Adventures titles--Spidey and FF--and had the same reaction to them I had to DC's animated Batman titles of the '90s: if their regular comics were written this well, I'd still be buying them.

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