Comic Book Stuffs: Supervillains, Newsarama Fucktardery, and TITUS

[thehefner]

Anatomy of a Supervillain: an excellent essay that explores the questions, "Why do we see so many rehashings of old villains and why do we rarely see any new bad guys? And why are the new ones so often shunted aside and forgotten?"

All mainstream superhero writers should pay heed to this essay. It brings up excellent and timeless points throughout.



I really should know better than to read Newsarama's message boards, but when the subject is the upcoming Harvey Dent origin mini-series TWO-FACE YEAR ONE, of course I had to. What really took my notice is how the majority of comments seem to be "Ugh, we don't need another Two-Face origin! We have THE LONG HALLOWEEN!"

There are so many reasons why this makes me want to *headdesk* and rage*, it's like they all come rushing up at once and get jammed--Three Stooges style--in the doorway of my brain. I can go into them all in the comments, if anyone actually cares and wants to discus.

For now, it's certainly clear that a large contingent of comic fans are closed-minded and adverse to new ideas (in the form of reinterpretations, in this case). But then, maybe I shouldn't read too much into this, as Newsarama's boards are truly the internet's vilest hive of scum and fucktardery.



And finally, Itchy and Scratchy do TITUS ANDRONICUS: the only truly worthwhile example of the whole "Simpsons do Shakespeare" comic. Are there still Shakespeare snobs out there who look down on TITUS?



*ENTIRELY besides the fact that I'm writing one. Honestly, I swear, I have more reasons!

Comments

[mirthical.livejournal.com]

INTELLIGENT NAZI BEES!!

I almost choked laughing.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Swarm never, never, NEVER stops being awesome. What a rare example where just the fact that he exists is enough. Nothing else is needed. I almost don't want any more character depth. The Venture Bros. couldn't have thought up such a character!

By the way: is this Riddler pimptastic, or is he pimpfuckingtastic? The green tones are dark and varied, plus the black shirt is an inspired touch! I don't know if I could top this.

[nymphgalatea.livejournal.com]

That Titus Andronicus is rather funny. I'm a sucker for ultraviolence in both Shakespeare and Itchy and Scratchy.

You know what would have made it funnier? Calling it Titus Andronipuss. (oh god, I'm sorry, that was terrible)

About halfway through the essay mentioned, I started feeling really sorry for Spiderman and Superman. They had to fight so many crappy Liefeld-esque villians in the Nineties that it's almost embarrassing. Very glad I didn't read comics during that decade.

Mind you, the 2000-2008 period has had its' fair share of duffers too. (Hello Hush) The comment about Jeff Loeb made me giggle, because it's so true.

Why do you visit Newsarama, poppet? It just upsets you.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Andronipuss. It was truly awful, and yet, I'm giggling. Therefore I am awful. And now I am sad. Way to go.

The 90's are a huge reason why Superman is such an underappreciated character. He had to endure an entire decade of shit writing, with his only stand-out (in terms of being memorable or notable in terms of sales) being the "Death of" trilogy which was riddled with flaws from the very start.

Seriously, even he went, "Oh shit, I forgot Hush! Damn it!"

Between that and the Newsarama commenters, I find myself once again seriously tempted to write an insightful, reasoned essay as to why LONG HALLOWEEN is overrated, flaw-ridden mediocrity. It would include my drinking game: every time Loeb uses an ellipsis, take a shot! You'll be wasted by page three.

Why? Because I am frantically searching for anything to distract me from finally going back to work, and there was another interview with Mark Sable, and... and I'm a masochist.

[nymphgalatea.livejournal.com]

Aw. This is why I don't tell jokes. Well, that, and my truly remarkable lack of comic timing.

I can't blame you for reading Newsarama boards, I've been doing the same today, waiting patiently in the house for the delivery of a new 'fridge. I now feel a bit naffed off with the average comicbook reader. Though I have to say, spending more than an hour on any comicbook forum tends to make me feel all misanthropic and stabby.

I'm pleased to have only really started reading Superman/Action/All Star comics after Infinite Crisis. Sure, the delays on issues have been awful, but Busiek, Johns and Morrison can all tell damn good stories in their own different ways. And the art has been consistently pretty too, which helps.

MR James -a Victorian academic- wrote something about ellipses in a critical review that I think you might like.

"Dots are believed by many writers of our day to be a good substitute for effective writing. They are certainly an easy one. Let us have a few more..."

I believe he would have skewered Loeb on the tip of his fountain pen within about thirty seconds.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Aw, you're like the Colossus of my social group!

Misanthropic and stabby, yes, that about sums it up. We would probably be happier people if we just avoided certain corners of the internet altogether.

Aye, you absolutely are fortunate to be reading those Superman comics. Busiek's been great, but Johns and Morrison especially are just telling THE Superman stories of the decade. In my ever so humble opinion, of course.

Yes, I... believe he... would...

Bruce...

Harvey...

Selina...

[nymphgalatea.livejournal.com]

Aw, you're like the Colossus of my social group!

Wow, you sure know how to charm a girl with compliments, don't you? I've always wanted to be compared to a seven foot tall, 300 pound metallic Russian bloke.

:p

choose the form of your response!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

A.) I'm a gentleman like that, don't you know?

B.) In Soviet Russia, mutant hits YOU!

C.) You Scots sure are a contentious people.

Re: choose the form of your response!

[nymphgalatea.livejournal.com]

Option B appeals, as I quite like the idea of hitting people and having it hurt. As opposed to my current method of flailing at potential opponents like a rabid hamster and having them laugh and pick me up in a bearhug. (Being short sucks.)

Option C always applies. Contentiousness is the natural state of all Scots, Welsh, Irish and Northern English folks.