"Noobs" don't ruin things. I am all for new readers, and I hope that whenever my wife and I have kids, they will enjoy comics like I do. It's the companies thinking they have to reboot/relaunch things every year with a new #1 because they think high numbers scare new readers that ruin my day.
Add a poorly-corralled pack of flavor-of-the-month talents who butcher each others' favorite characters in a continuous battle to see whose vision or preferred era will become "permanent" continuity; start to put in a dash of "We're going to fix _____, in the DCU/616" then throw it over your shoulder and forget about it; stir and leave out in the sun for three hours. Voila! A nice fresh Same Old Crap Souffle! "Mmmm! I really like the piping!"
It's funny you should mention that. When I started reading comics, I thought it was cool that Action Comics was in the middle 300's. It seemed to me that that meant it was worth reading. Most of the comics I saw with low numbers kind of sucked, actually. I never really bought DC's rationale for the "Crisis on Infinite Earths", but from what you're saying they apparently apply it every few years now. Pity...
"By showing up and asking stupid questions! Like 'Why is Batman surprised he lost another Robin? The kid was dressed like a rainbow!' That question stopped being intelligent after I asked it! Stupid noobs! I was never a noob! Me! Me! Me me me me me me me me!!"
Yeah! How dare they ruin comics by trying to entice new readers!! Selfish bastards!
ReplyDeletemeeleeart.com
...said the noob.
ReplyDeleteWith an attitude like that a career as an exec at DC is in his future.
ReplyDeleteBURN!
Delete"Noobs" don't ruin things. I am all for new readers, and I hope that whenever my wife and I have kids, they will enjoy comics like I do. It's the companies thinking they have to reboot/relaunch things every year with a new #1 because they think high numbers scare new readers that ruin my day.
ReplyDeleteAdd a poorly-corralled pack of flavor-of-the-month talents who butcher each others' favorite characters in a continuous battle to see whose vision or preferred era will become "permanent" continuity; start to put in a dash of "We're going to fix _____, in the DCU/616" then throw it over your shoulder and forget about it; stir and leave out in the sun for three hours. Voila! A nice fresh Same Old Crap Souffle! "Mmmm! I really like the piping!"
DeleteIt's funny you should mention that. When I started reading comics, I thought it was cool that Action Comics was in the middle 300's. It seemed to me that that meant it was worth reading. Most of the comics I saw with low numbers kind of sucked, actually. I never really bought DC's rationale for the "Crisis on Infinite Earths", but from what you're saying they apparently apply it every few years now. Pity...
DeleteUm...how exactly do new readers ruin things?
ReplyDelete"By showing up and asking stupid questions! Like 'Why is Batman surprised he lost another Robin? The kid was dressed like a rainbow!' That question stopped being intelligent after I asked it! Stupid noobs! I was never a noob! Me! Me! Me me me me me me me me!!"
DeleteI think it's us old guys continuing to expect to be catered to that wrecks things. ;)
ReplyDeleteMarvel and DC are waaayy ahead of you, pal.
ReplyDeleteWhat you do is, you kick everyone who buys a new comic straight in the balls and/or ovaries.
ReplyDeleteThat'll get you a lot of repeat customers.