Comments on: Lightning Round: Comics Edition

By: SHough610

SHough610 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:33:34 +0000

We’ll have to agree to disagree about Brubaker (and I like Fraction, you should check out his Invincible Iron Man). I’m just not a fan of any X-book at this point, I loved Astonishing X-Men and X-Men when Morrison wrote it tho.

I agree with you 100% about Tomasi, I got caught up on GLC and think that he’s killing it on that book.

By: The Fuj

The Fuj — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:58:25 +0000

X-Men is a team book, he wrote the Vulcan story (which was good) but from there he wrote bullshit. “Extremists” Bullshit. His 3 parter to Messiah Complex? Garbage. And he was off the book. I just think that he wrote that Vulcan story to placate his ego.

His Cap is awesome. From Cap.. to Bucky, and a supporting cast Its still one MAIN character and if said character isn’t in the book, the supporting character talk about the main character ad nauseum.

Along with his bum protege Matt Fraction write UXM as a solo series Starring Cyclops.

I mean, Im thankful that it isnt the Wolverine show, but sheesh. there are at 500 X Men. Every f’n scene is Cyclops… and then Cyclops… Have you had some Cyclops lately? Try some. Its good… nom nom Cyclops… nom.

Cyclops has to be the most boring character in the X Men. And Fraction writes him as if he is this god-send. BUM.

Johns on the other hand… He was made for DC. A little too Silver Age-y for me, but he is a great writer. He got me to love Green Lantern, and Superman Secret Origin is just the shit.

I will say this. The writer who is being slept on is Pat Tomasi. Wirter of GL Corps. Its even better than GL. IMO.

By: SHough610

SHough610 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:20:36 +0000

I completely disagree with you about the one trick pony part. I didn’t read his Uncanny X-Men run, but has anyone besides Joss Whedon or Grant Morrison written a good X-Men (I mean X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, X-Treme X-men, not counting X-Force or X-Factor) since Claremont? Johns wrote a good, not great, Avengers book and that doesn’t make him a one trick pony.

You can’t hold UXM against him when he’s written: over fifty incredible issues of Cap (defining the character the same way that Frank Miller defined Daredevil, and I’m someone who’s read the Englehart, Stern/Byrne, Waid, and Gruenwald runs on Cap so that’s saying something), a great run on Daredevil, Criminal (probably the best non-superhero book on the market), Incognito, and Sleeper.

By: Darryl The Hitman

Darryl The Hitman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:00:38 +0000

The people who buy comics for art over story might be the same people who watch movies for special effects over plot. You’re right, though–without an interesting story, what’s the point?

By: Comdukakis

Comdukakis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:14:19 +0000

nothing but splash pages. All those Image guys were doing that. The anatomy was all out of proportion too. No scale. But then again I’m one of those few weirdos that read comics for the writing and the characters not the art. I never understood guys at the shop (I worked there periodically for store credit to help out with big sales or when vacations came up) picking up books just for the art. No story, no purchase from me. And if the art wasn’t hideous, I could overlook it for a great story. I come from the early 90s school where my top guys were Gerard Jones, Giffen, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Alex Ross (Marvels was too cool), Peter David, Byrne, Jurgens, etc. Of course writers for the most part.

By: The Fuj

The Fuj — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:12:20 +0000

Brubaker= One. Trick. Pony.

Can not write a team book to save his life. His UXM run outside of Rise/Fall was abysmal.

Reborn? Feh.

By: The Fuj

The Fuj — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:10:59 +0000

He did Untold tales of Spider-Man to critical praise, and got the axe. Thats what made him leave Marvel.

His FF run is second the Lee/Kirby

I can take or leave Next Men.

By: MarSolo

MarSolo — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:28:38 +0000

I’m still a huge fanboy for Spider-Man. It was my first ever comic, and unfortunately it was part of the Maximum Carnage storyline. I hated the ’90s Spider-Man so much (except for the Harry Osborn stuff). Venom, Carnage, Kaine, and Ben Reilly were some of the worst things to EVER happen to Spider-Man. And then they brought back Norman Osborn and instantly saved everything for me (as I was a huge fan of the Green Goblin).

So obviously, this Dark Reign storyline is like me being a kid in a candy store, even if it is a bit confusing. They even made Venom a great character by putting Mac Gargan (the Scorpion) in the Venom suit instead. The limited series Sinister Spider-Man was hilarious. That, and he is actually a cannibal now.

I agree with SHough; Brubaker and Johns are two of the best writers in comics today.

By: Darryl The Hitman

Darryl The Hitman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:10:53 +0000

I have to admit I was never that impressed with McFarlane’s art. I loved Amazing Spider-Man and I would take either of the Romitas or Steve Ditko over McFarlane any day.

I also recall loving John Byrne’s art as well though I’m unsure if he ever did any Spider-Man. Where would you guys say Byrne ranks on the writer/artist spectrum?

By: SHough610

SHough610 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:43:19 +0000

My hope is that he meant “writer AND artist” but even then Frank Miller beats him out (before the alien replaced Frank with a guy who can only write Sin City characters), Bendis has drawn some of his own stuff, as has Brubaker. I think when it’s all said and done Geoff Johns is going to be the greatest writer in comics all time (between his Flash run, his Green Lantern run, his JSA run he’s well on his way) assuming he doesn’t have a late-career swoon a la Chris Claremont and Alan Moore.