I’ve never been much on superhero comics. I like the movies well enough, but not the actual comics. I’ve always been put off by the convoluted universes and myriad characters that DC and Marvel churn out.
That being said, I must point out that my very first comic I ever bought was Angela, which was a Spawn offshoot that I just recently realised was created by Neil Gaiman. (I could also do a post about the whole McFarlane and Gaiman lawsuit, but I’ll just say that McFarlane is a dick and leave it at that.) Spawn is published by Image Comics which is a big company right up there with Marvel and DC. So I have read some superhero (villain?) stuff before, but rarely. My very first comic that I liked was Courtney Crumrin that I got at Free Comic Book Day years ago. Totally indie!
Anyway, the point of this post is to share a realisation I had the other day about WHY I don’t like superhero stuff very much. And it has to do with soap operas.
I used to watch the soaps with my mother and grandmother when I was a kid. I even watched General Hospital during the Luke and Laura days. But as I got older, the genre started grating on my nerves with all the convoluted stories, people dying and coming back repeatedly, changed backstories to suit the current writers…
Sound familiar? Yah, I thought so. Marvel and DC are soap operas for comic book nerds. They have convoluted stories, multiple universes, characters being killed off and then magically coming back, changed backstories to suit the writer at the time… It’s the same. Exactly the same. No wonder I don’t go for superheroes!
I watched soap operas in my early years and I’d still watch them if I didn’t mind this nonsensical writing style. Well, I do mind. I know it’s all fantasy, but when you need large books just to keep the stories and characters straight, it’s just too much work for me, man.
So I’ll keep reading my indie comics from Oni, SLG and self published artists. I do my part for the big guys by also reading from Image, Vertigo and the occasional superhero story. But I tell you, I’m just not going for the whole soap opera vibe of traditional superhero story arcs. I can barely keep track of which heroes are with which company!
I encourage all comics readers to explore self published and web based comics. There are tons of us out there who work hard to produce comics every week and could use your support! So, go clicky-click and check out some of our indie and/or web based friends! Buy something! Help us become full time comics nerds! Did I mention BUY SOMETHING!!!
Think Weasel!
Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin, Polly and the Pirates, Princess Ugg)
Little Vampires
Steam Crow
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