Comments on: Into the back issue box #36 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/ Comic Book Resources Presents... Comics Should Be Good! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:18:39 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Greg Burgas http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-238760 Greg Burgas Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:52:42 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-238760 I think you're right, avengers63. It's kind of frustrating, though, because whenever I come across a comic that does both, it doesn't look that difficult. Maybe the writer is just better, but mainstream superhero comics don't have to be so arcane. I understand that some comics are specifically created to be a long-form kind of thing, but wouldn't DC and Marvel want every issue of their big guns to at least hook people into coming back? This issue does a fine job getting people involved, but at the end of the issue, there's not a lot of reason to come back, unless you're a long-time reader. It's unfortunate. I think you're right, avengers63. It's kind of frustrating, though, because whenever I come across a comic that does both, it doesn't look that difficult. Maybe the writer is just better, but mainstream superhero comics don't have to be so arcane. I understand that some comics are specifically created to be a long-form kind of thing, but wouldn't DC and Marvel want every issue of their big guns to at least hook people into coming back? This issue does a fine job getting people involved, but at the end of the issue, there's not a lot of reason to come back, unless you're a long-time reader. It's unfortunate.

]]> By: mrjayberry http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-238713 mrjayberry Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:27:55 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-238713 I kind of enjoy this feature. I don't comment much but new content is appreciated and it makes for some quick reading to kill a little bit of time. I kind of enjoy this feature. I don't comment much but new content is appreciated and it makes for some quick reading to kill a little bit of time.

]]> By: avengers63 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237988 avengers63 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:25:01 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237988 Maybe this exercise makes another point entirely. Perhaps comics individual aren't good as a whole. If you take one issue out of the blue of any random series, there's a good chance that it'll be in the middle of a storyline. That's most likely be the situation if it's been printed in the last 35 years. With that in mind, it isn't very likely that the story will be understandable as a whole. Now, I understand what you're trying to randomly determine: does this one issue give enough back story to make the story and characters understandable, and does it entice the new reader to come back next month. I believe you've discovered your answer. As a whole... no. I believe what you've discovered is that the writers & editors don't give enough expository text to accomplish the first taks, which, in turn, fails on the second as well. I suggest this is because they generally write for the steady readers, not the new ones. Any thoughts? Maybe this exercise makes another point entirely. Perhaps comics individual aren't good as a whole.

If you take one issue out of the blue of any random series, there's a good chance that it'll be in the middle of a storyline. That's most likely be the situation if it's been printed in the last 35 years. With that in mind, it isn't very likely that the story will be understandable as a whole.

Now, I understand what you're trying to randomly determine: does this one issue give enough back story to make the story and characters understandable, and does it entice the new reader to come back next month. I believe you've discovered your answer.

As a whole... no.

I believe what you've discovered is that the writers & editors don't give enough expository text to accomplish the first taks, which, in turn, fails on the second as well. I suggest this is because they generally write for the steady readers, not the new ones.

Any thoughts?

]]> By: Greg Burgas http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237979 Greg Burgas Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:10:41 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237979 That's a good point, sgt pepper, and I don't plan on doing these forever. Mostly, by now, it's just a fun way to look at older comics. I am still trying to examine whether they do a good job bringing in new readers, however. It's also quite fun to discover ideas, like Doctor Strange's in this issue, that get recycled 20 years later. I'm going to stop eventually (probably after the latest bunch of random comics I bought runs out), but it's still enjoyable to do these, so I'm going to keep at it. Crappy comics and all! That's a good point, sgt pepper, and I don't plan on doing these forever. Mostly, by now, it's just a fun way to look at older comics. I am still trying to examine whether they do a good job bringing in new readers, however. It's also quite fun to discover ideas, like Doctor Strange's in this issue, that get recycled 20 years later.

I'm going to stop eventually (probably after the latest bunch of random comics I bought runs out), but it's still enjoyable to do these, so I'm going to keep at it. Crappy comics and all!

]]> By: sgt pepper http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237969 sgt pepper Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:01:01 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237969 So Greg, I understand that this might be a fun little exercise, but I think you've done enough to draw a conclusion: the back issue boxes in the store where you shop are pretty crappy. No offense, but will more evidence really prove otherwise? It doesn't seem like it. Best case scenario for these is that you find a nice one-and-done story for a good price, or that you discover a new comic, artist or writer that you'd never given a chance before. But that never seems to happen. At best, you're finding comics (like this one) that aren't terrible. But for the most part, the ones you're finding are pretty awful. So I'm not really sure what the point of these is anymore. But if you like it, carry on sir! So Greg, I understand that this might be a fun little exercise, but I think you've done enough to draw a conclusion: the back issue boxes in the store where you shop are pretty crappy. No offense, but will more evidence really prove otherwise? It doesn't seem like it.

Best case scenario for these is that you find a nice one-and-done story for a good price, or that you discover a new comic, artist or writer that you'd never given a chance before. But that never seems to happen. At best, you're finding comics (like this one) that aren't terrible. But for the most part, the ones you're finding are pretty awful. So I'm not really sure what the point of these is anymore.

But if you like it, carry on sir!

]]> By: Jed Dougherty http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237897 Jed Dougherty Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:03:13 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237897 In reply to #7 above: Actually towards the end of the Crossroads stories, art chores were taken over by a young Mike Mignola. It was a peculiar fit, but he did some good covers, if I recall right. But I agree, Mignola's Alpha Flight art was terrible, and not helped by the awful scripts. In reply to #7 above:
Actually towards the end of the Crossroads stories, art chores were taken over by a young Mike Mignola. It was a peculiar fit, but he did some good covers, if I recall right. But I agree, Mignola's Alpha Flight art was terrible, and not helped by the awful scripts.

]]> By: Doug Atkinson http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237865 Doug Atkinson Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:34:54 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237865 But then we got Peter David's Hulk...which wouldn't have happened if Hulk hadn't been in a slump at the time, since David didn't have a long track record at that point. (And I suspect Byrne was getting tired of Alpha Flight by that point, or he wouldn't have been willing to switch books; he might have left before very long anyway.) But then we got Peter David's Hulk...which wouldn't have happened if Hulk hadn't been in a slump at the time, since David didn't have a long track record at that point. (And I suspect Byrne was getting tired of Alpha Flight by that point, or he wouldn't have been willing to switch books; he might have left before very long anyway.)

]]> By: Rusty Priske http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237558 Rusty Priske Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:01:29 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237558 Oh yeah, the big creative team switch. Before the switch we had a good Alpha Flight comics, written and drawn by John Byrne and a good Hulk comic written by Mantlo and drawn by Sal Buscema. Then they traded. We ended up with an ok Hulk comic that Byrne prompltly left which turned into a crappy AL Milgrom Hulk comic that had issue after issue of Hulk vs Avengers. And we had an abyssmal Mantlo/Buscema Alpha Flight that had noen of the saving graces of EITHER the Byrne AF or the Mantlo/Buscema Hulk runs. Bad trade all around. Oh yeah, the big creative team switch.

Before the switch we had a good Alpha Flight comics, written and drawn by John Byrne and a good Hulk comic written by Mantlo and drawn by Sal Buscema.

Then they traded.

We ended up with an ok Hulk comic that Byrne prompltly left which turned into a crappy AL Milgrom Hulk comic that had issue after issue of Hulk vs Avengers.

And we had an abyssmal Mantlo/Buscema Alpha Flight that had noen of the saving graces of EITHER the Byrne AF or the Mantlo/Buscema Hulk runs.

Bad trade all around.

]]> By: HellRazor http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237413 HellRazor Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:34:27 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237413 This story really illustrates why the whole "mindless Hulk" could never work for the long term. There just ain't much you can do with "mindless hulk". The stories become less about the hulk and more about his surroundings - he becomes a supporting character in his own book. For the most part I found all these crossroads stories to be painful and dull. This story really illustrates why the whole "mindless Hulk" could never work for the long term.

There just ain't much you can do with "mindless hulk". The stories become less about the hulk and more about his surroundings - he becomes a supporting character in his own book.

For the most part I found all these crossroads stories to be painful and dull.

]]> By: Mark http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237172 Mark Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:08:01 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237172 The only crossroad story that I remember clearly was the world where the Hulk was the weakest one there is. There wasn't much more to it than that but seeing the slapped around by kids a tenth his size was pretty cool when I was in the ninth grade. The only crossroad story that I remember clearly was the world where the Hulk was the weakest one there is. There wasn't much more to it than that but seeing the slapped around by kids a tenth his size was pretty cool when I was in the ninth grade.

]]> By: Erik http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-237009 Erik Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:21:24 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-237009 The Hulk and Alpha Flight changed creative teams with Mantlo taking over the Flight and John Byrne taking over the Hulk (for a whole 6 issues), and that's what ended the Crossroads storyline. The Hulk and Alpha Flight changed creative teams with Mantlo taking over the Flight and John Byrne taking over the Hulk (for a whole 6 issues), and that's what ended the Crossroads storyline.

]]> By: Ben Herman http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-236989 Ben Herman Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:54:13 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-236989 On the bright side, this storyline did *not* end with the Hulk returning home, bellowing that he was pissed off that his former allies had exiled him on another world, and that he was going to conquer the Earth in revenge. On the bright side, this storyline did *not* end with the Hulk returning home, bellowing that he was pissed off that his former allies had exiled him on another world, and that he was going to conquer the Earth in revenge.

]]> By: Michael http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-236984 Michael Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:49:17 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-236984 I believe the Crossroads story went on for about a year before the Hulk returned to Earth in the pages of, of all things, Alpha Flight. I believe the Crossroads story went on for about a year before the Hulk returned to Earth in the pages of, of all things, Alpha Flight.

]]> By: Stephane Savoie http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/comment-page-1/#comment-236952 Stephane Savoie Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:13:50 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/10/21/into-the-back-issue-box-36/#comment-236952 Y'know, as a bonafide hater of Mantlo comics, I still look back fondly at the Crossroads Hulk stories. They were interesting (well, maybe), self-contained, and had a slow overarching plot. Not very Hulk-y tho. (Then again, Cronin's already talked about the problem with the Hulk's engine.) Y'know, as a bonafide hater of Mantlo comics, I still look back fondly at the Crossroads Hulk stories. They were interesting (well, maybe), self-contained, and had a slow overarching plot.
Not very Hulk-y tho. (Then again, Cronin's already talked about the problem with the Hulk's engine.)

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