Comic Book Resources

Ha! Very true.

The "we win" is especially on the nose (take that, Alex Ross and your smug Hal Jordan celebration!)

I hate "we win" mentality in any fan, especially sports.

We only win if Dick Grayson and Bucky remain in the costumes.

No, Bucky! Don't piss off and die in a lake!

What? An out-of-sequence strip? How will I file this in my mental short box?

It wouldn't surprise me that people did react like that...I mean, how did anyone NOT know Steve Rogers was going to come back?

I LOVE "piss off and die in a lake!" That's totally going into the rotation.

Good strip, fellas!

Wow. That... that is a portrait of my soul.

Is this a subtle commentary on the out-of-order release of the latest Wolverine issues? Eh? Eh?

Anyway, this strip was marvelous, mostly because the punchline is utterly brilliant. And utterly true. You could get a thesis out of that.

Is this a subtle commentary on the out-of-order release of the latest Wolverine issues? Eh? Eh?

That's what I thought!

I also really wish they would keep Steve Rogers dead...

I'm trying to think of something clever to say, but this strip already said everything about the subject that needed to be said. Though I do like the fact that you used the Fallen Son titles for the stages.

Also, the little things in the comic like the changing posters in the back to reflect the passage of time is another nice touch to the comic.

One of the best strips yet.

The reason for the odd numbering was some confusion about which comic goes when due to the interview comic.

The stages are named after the five stages of grieving. If those are the titles they used for Fallen Son, then that's where Fallen Son got it from.

>>The stages are named after the five stages of grieving. If those are the titles they used for Fallen Son, then that’s where Fallen Son got it from.

Jesus christ in heaven. (Not referring to this post, but the post to which it's referring.) I'm ... not quite speechless, obviously, but getting there.

Hey, Dan ... we're not all grief counselors, but we are all nerds. Cut (the hopefully joking) Joe some slack, playa. Diggity-diggity-doo!

(Sorry ... used up all my insightful commentary on strip 74. Thanks, Geekmobster, for leaving me just enough for this stupid post.)

Hah! Indeed, Chris Bloom, you have now used up all your insight in your pithy analysis of the Ultimates series and you even earn bonus points for tipping your hat to that fine book they called "X-Statix!"

But now that you have exhausted all your wit and insight, you are now perfectly primed to take over writing on Marvel's next Ultimates title!

He sure showed Marvel!

I was certain he was going to whinge about the return of Steve Rogers!

I know I rolled my eyes when he died, but have since found the Bucky stories to be sheer and utter awesomeness squared!

Hey, Dan … we’re not all grief counselors, but we are all nerds.

You don't have to be a grief counselor to have heard of the five stages.

Being a nerd doesn't mean you can't know anything outside of the comic panels.

The reason for the odd numbering was some confusion about which comic goes when due to the interview comic.

You just wanted to be like Spawn - admit it!

I know that many of us know things outside comics, FGJ ... but I figured the "diggity-doo" on the end would show I wasn't entirely serious. Dang but we're some dour nerds 'round here ...

And as far as writing and ULT book, Geekmobster, I have to decline. My Christian faith prevents me from raping dead horses. That was one thing X-STATIX got right: pulling the plug while it was still good.

Well, Chris, you apparently have restraint and self respect. So I guess your not qualified to write the Ultimates after all.

What odd numbering??? It goes 1,2,3,4,5. That's normal isn't it?

Did anyone actually react like this? The Cap death/resurrection seems like the rare comic book death that's actually well handled.

I reacted exactly like this.

I've seen several folks react just like this, yes. Comparing Bucky to Reign of the Supermen...

"I hate “we win” mentality in any fan, especially sports."

i think that mentality is fine when you invest so much time and money on your favorite team, watching every game, going to as many games as possible, and buying merchandise. and the emotional investment in following the highs and lows of a sports team. the players don't have much loyalty to a franchise, as they come and go through free agency. even ownership changes for franchises. the only people who stay true to their team, no matter what, are the fans. the fanbases are the most important aspect of any sports franchise.

i think that mentality is fine when you invest so much time and money on your favorite team, watching every game, going to as many games as possible, and buying merchandise. and the emotional investment in following the highs and lows of a sports team.

I think that mentality is even more pathetic in that situation personally. The team doesn't pay your bills or know you're alive. Cool to be a devoted fan, but the "we" mentality just highlights you have no identity of your own and are desperate to convince yourself you're part of a team of winners. Besides, most of these "we win" fans, when the team loses, are the first to say "you" or "they suck" when the team loses. The "we" only seems to apply to winning situations.

Yeah... that is a good point, knives. There is a bit of hypocrisy when publisher's tell the fans to calm down and not get too excited about every detail of continuity in their books. At the same time, they stage events that do nothing but exploit the fans' devotion to such details.

The above comic strip is really an accurate portrayal of the abusive cycle between fans and publishers.

You first create an event that ticks off the fans by changing a status quo to which they have a deep attachment.

Out of curiosity, morbid or otherwise, new people flock to comics to check out the new status quo.

Sometimes, people enjoy the new status quo! Especially if it alludes to the old status quo as being legendary in some way.

You then return to something similar to the old status quo, but "updated". This will often bring back fans that have left, assuring them that comics will be good again. (it worked for me with Heroes Return, years back) It will also attract new fans lured by their own curiosity. It may, however, alienate fans who don't remember the old status quo or prefer the "old" new status quo. If so, this will almost guarantee that the status quo will change again as competing generations of creators try to appease competing generations of readers.

Living in Alabama as I do, I'm neck-deep in the "we win" philosophy. College footbal is the universal religion here, and I'm constantly hearing people bragging about how "we" kicked "your" butts. I happened to work for a man who played on the U of Alabama's 1993 championship team, and I figured his bragging was justified. Everybody else just sounds stupid, and I tried to help as many of them see that truth as I could. 'Cause y'know, I'm a giver. And I hate football.

And while I like Bucky-Cap and would love to see him around much longer, I realize this is inevitable. All I can say is thank God Brubaker's writing it.

All I can say is thank God Brubaker’s writing it.

Oh didn't you know? They're getting Jeph Loeb to write it!

This strip is great! As far as Captain America, I don't like the character, whether it's bucky or steve. It makes no difference; get rid of them both.