Yup, this. I agree with the guy's frustration, but I think he worded it badly. It's not that it's unrealistic, it's... inconsistent. Contrived. Obvious. Cheap. So many wonderful adjectives to apply.
'Course, these days, everyone and their Aunt May in comics has died and come back again*; so in a twisted way you could say Superman's as consistent as all get out. He was just ahead of the curve.
Still cheap and contrived, though.
*Stamford Squad #1. Within five years. Calling it now.
It's more about removing consequence than being unrealistic. One of the problems with ongoing comic titles is that their longevity depends on maintaining a sort of status-quo in the story. Either the hero gains impenetrable plot armor or death becomes consistently reversible. Even their lives become stagnant.
I mean, when's the last time you stayed at the same job as long as Clark's been writing for the Daily Planet or Peter Parker's been freelancing for the Daily Bugle.... Speaking of which, how long does a dude have to freelance consistently for one paper before he gets offered a staff position? Honestly!
No, it's silly when people reject any critiscism of art, especially when they insist it doesn't have to be realistic. If I wanted to listen to people who only want to honor the rules they personally find convenient, I'd visit a tea party forum.
Too be fair, more important than whether it is "realistic" or not is how it affects the story. Turning death into a revolving door tends to remove a lot of impact and tension from things where death is supposed to be a consequence.
Superman is my favorite hero of all time and realism isn't what I'd focus on here, but yeah, that sucked. A "healing coma" was a pretty bad cop-out.
ReplyDeleteYup, this. I agree with the guy's frustration, but I think he worded it badly. It's not that it's unrealistic, it's... inconsistent. Contrived. Obvious. Cheap. So many wonderful adjectives to apply.
Delete'Course, these days, everyone and their Aunt May in comics has died and come back again*; so in a twisted way you could say Superman's as consistent as all get out. He was just ahead of the curve.
Still cheap and contrived, though.
*Stamford Squad #1. Within five years. Calling it now.
It's more about removing consequence than being unrealistic. One of the problems with ongoing comic titles is that their longevity depends on maintaining a sort of status-quo in the story. Either the hero gains impenetrable plot armor or death becomes consistently reversible. Even their lives become stagnant.
DeleteI mean, when's the last time you stayed at the same job as long as Clark's been writing for the Daily Planet or Peter Parker's been freelancing for the Daily Bugle.... Speaking of which, how long does a dude have to freelance consistently for one paper before he gets offered a staff position? Honestly!
I thought it was something akin to the mammalian dive reflex (viewers of the movie "Abyss" saw a somewhat realistic depiction of this...)...
ReplyDeleteIts always silly when I hear anyone going on about "realism" in comics, especially the superhero genre. If I wanted reality, I'd be watching the news.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's silly when people reject any critiscism of art, especially when they insist it doesn't have to be realistic. If I wanted to listen to people who only want to honor the rules they personally find convenient, I'd visit a tea party forum.
DeleteToo be fair, more important than whether it is "realistic" or not is how it affects the story. Turning death into a revolving door tends to remove a lot of impact and tension from things where death is supposed to be a consequence.
Delete