Comments on: Good Superhero Comics: Week of May 9 http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/ Independent Opinions on Comics of All Kinds Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:59:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/comment-page-1/#comment-66418 Johanna Mon, 14 May 2007 23:26:47 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/#comment-66418 Thank you very much for coming back to that. It's thought-provoking. Thank you very much for coming back to that. It’s thought-provoking.

]]> By: Jim Perreault http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/comment-page-1/#comment-66417 Jim Perreault Mon, 14 May 2007 22:42:12 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/#comment-66417 I had to think about it for a bit, but here is why I think Spider-man is a great character: They way he combines the larger-than-life superhero adventure with the down-to-earth day to day troubles that real people face. On the superhero side, he has fun and unique powers; a colorful, visually distinct costume; and a good dose of humor and adventure. But he is not so powerful that he is hard to relate to. On the human side, he has a believable life and a geeky awkwardness that I identify with. I think balancing all these aspects is tricky. At times, I do find the whining and angst is overbearing. Maybe that is inherent to the character. But there are plenty of good Spiderman stories that do strike a better balance. The bigger problem I have is the retreading of old plotlines. And that is certainly an artifact of the serial, never ending nature of comics. I had to think about it for a bit, but here is why I think Spider-man is a great character:

They way he combines the larger-than-life superhero adventure with the down-to-earth day to day troubles that real people face.

On the superhero side, he has fun and unique powers; a colorful, visually distinct costume; and a good dose of humor and adventure.

But he is not so powerful that he is hard to relate to. On the human side, he has a believable life and a geeky awkwardness that I identify with.

I think balancing all these aspects is tricky. At times, I do find the whining and angst is overbearing. Maybe that is inherent to the character. But there are plenty of good Spiderman stories that do strike a better balance.

The bigger problem I have is the retreading of old plotlines. And that is certainly an artifact of the serial, never ending nature of comics.

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/comment-page-1/#comment-66262 Johanna Sat, 12 May 2007 16:38:30 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/#comment-66262 That's an excellent question. In general, I think if one doesn't like a character, one tends not to like their typical stories either; it's easier to like a character but dislike the stories often chosen to be told about them. In this case, I don't think I like the character. Whenever he's whining about how hard his life is (a key part of the concept as I understand it), I just want to shake him and yell "snap out of it! you've got it pretty good!" I can certainly see why others would love the character, so I don't think he should have been created some other way. I think it's just a mismatch between him and my taste. I'd love to hear you say more about why he's a great character. That’s an excellent question. In general, I think if one doesn’t like a character, one tends not to like their typical stories either; it’s easier to like a character but dislike the stories often chosen to be told about them.

In this case, I don’t think I like the character. Whenever he’s whining about how hard his life is (a key part of the concept as I understand it), I just want to shake him and yell “snap out of it! you’ve got it pretty good!”

I can certainly see why others would love the character, so I don’t think he should have been created some other way. I think it’s just a mismatch between him and my taste. I’d love to hear you say more about why he’s a great character.

]]> By: Jim Perreault http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/comment-page-1/#comment-66261 Jim Perreault Sat, 12 May 2007 16:13:04 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/#comment-66261 <blockquote> Also enjoyed this week: two Spider-Man comics, which is odd, because I normally don't care for the character. </blockquote> I find that quite an odd statement, because I think the character is one of the greatest created in comics ( at least, western comics). On the other hand, while I love the character I very rarely pick up a book starring him. This is partly due to the heavy angst the tends to prevade his books, and partly due to the fact that the same stories are told over and over again. So my question: is there something inherent about the character you don't like? Or do you just don't like the typical stories that feature him?

Also enjoyed this week: two Spider-Man comics, which is odd, because I normally don’t care for the character.

I find that quite an odd statement, because I think the character is one of the greatest created in comics ( at least, western comics).

On the other hand, while I love the character I very rarely pick up a book starring him. This is partly due to the heavy angst the tends to prevade his books, and partly due to the fact that the same stories are told over and over again.

So my question: is there something inherent about the character you don’t like? Or do you just don’t like the typical stories that feature him?

]]> By: Tim O'Shea http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/comment-page-1/#comment-66179 Tim O'Shea Fri, 11 May 2007 00:51:15 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2007/05/10/good-superhero-comics-week-of-may-9/#comment-66179 Fraction and Parker in one week!?! Ooh, I can't wait until the weekend (first chance I'll get to the store). Fraction and Parker in one week!?! Ooh, I can’t wait until the weekend (first chance I’ll get to the store).

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