JamesSeals

February 3, 2012 4:41 pm KenOchalek: I suppose the risk lies less in short term gains as it does to long term sustainability. That is, will these prequels water down the property and alienate readers? But Josh is completely right when he says that DC has taken one large risk already and needs another to shore up it's publishing line. Who knows, perhaps comics need BEFORE WATCHMEN? I can't speak to that. Now, I don't hold WATCHMEN to be sacrosanct by any stretch of the imagination. It is a story well told and, having been told, stories belong to the audience more so than the orator. That is how stories endure and last. For instance, the Superman of today is a far cry from what was created in the Great Depression because, even though legally he belongs to DC Comics, he also belongs to all of us, to any child who beliefs a man can fly. I understand that and, perhaps, to another generation of comic readers WATCHMEN has the potential to do the same. For me, however, WATCHMEN is Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. It's a 12 issue maxi-series. It is a magnum opus, complete and unto itself, that does not require further accompaniment. I suppose in that sense I am creating my own continuity, and I am happy with that. There are plenty of comics out there. -J.

February 3, 2012 2:11 pm I -- as I am sure many of us here have -- have gone back and forth on this issue. Ultimately, WATCHMEN is a narrative awash in shades of gray. It is, to a large extent, a morality play writ large on the use of power. Was Ozymandias right? Should we sacrifice millions to save billions? Or was Rorschach right? Does truth serve a higher purpose that our comforting lies? There are no rights and wrongs in that discussion to be had; merely differences of opinion. Ironically enough that is unwittingly being mirror here with BEFORE WATCHMEN. Life mirrors art just as art mirrors life. Just because we can do this thing, does it mean we must do this thing? I don't know. For me, personally, I will respectfully dissent. I wish no ill will to anyone involved or anyone who decides to read these stories. Given the talent involved, I am sure they will live up to their own standard of craft. But it's not for me. -J.

November 29, 2011 1:24 pm As per the issue at hand... GOTHAM CENTRAL and SOLO are both big keepers for me. I came back to reading comics with GC and even the worst issue of SOLO, if there is such a thing, is just damn fine comic booking. -J.

November 29, 2011 1:20 pm Heh. No, Connor. They took a lot more than the comics, mainly electronic media of all stripes, but the comics stung the most. They focused on those books that were not in my main comic room. (Yes, I'm one of those people.) So all the stuff my fiancee and I were reading through in our living room, sitting room area, the short boxes I have in my office, etc. Now I'm doing the transition to trades on most of my books. -J.

November 29, 2011 12:31 pm I'm currently going through this very same thing now. Thankfully, it was not a fire that claimed my wares but some home invaders that robbed me blind while I was at work -- making off with all my Golden, Silver Age comics (admittedly few and far between), a good portion of my Bronze Age, the new 52 #1s, and about the last two years worth of X-Men comics dating back Second Coming. Now, I'm looking at the rest with some weary eyes as to what I can keep and what can go. It's a sad state of affairs. -J.

November 23, 2011 1:56 pm RahUniQue, that was the next issue. This one had Scott and Jean talking about their relationship, showing a scene following X-Men #1 and taking stock of their checkered past in preparation for the wedding in X-MEN. And it had the X-Men tackling Xavier doing a football game. That scene still makes me laugh. His expression was priceless. -J.

November 23, 2011 1:39 pm I don't at all mind too much when creators include social commentary in their works. In its most purest of forms, art is a commentary on the human condition. Ergo, comics being art; it makes sense, to me, at least that we should allow for such commentaries in our art. After all, the original Star Trek was rife with social commentaries that people can go off and write collegiate level term papers on some 40 plus years later. Or, if you are so inclined, you could chose to ignore them, and enjoy some space adventures... in space! Now, as Ryan said in his article... I also choose what I support. If I believe I am being preached to and I do not agree with the message on a visceral level -- not merely a difference in shared opinions -- then I am exercising my freedom of speech to leave. For instance, I will not be purchasing anything new from that same certain creator referenced in the introduction. That does not mean I will devalue his old work, which I respect greatly, or demean his right to say what he believes. But nothing will compel me to personally support his work again, and that saddens me on some level, but I can live with that. That's a personal choice that I have made for myself. I will also not demean anyone that chooses differently. Those are my two cents. Feel free to ask for a refund. -J.

November 23, 2011 1:07 pm This was one of my first X-Men comics and remains today one of my favorites. Totally going to pull it from the long box and give it a read when I get home. Thanks, Ron! -J.

August 31, 2011 5:09 pm A part of me wishes this issue would have come out this week. That would have been fun. -J.

August 31, 2011 3:58 pm You sold us all out, sir. (Kidding.) -J.