Man, Heroes is just making everyone look at comics again, isn’t it? Like in this article in Slate that discusses comics that reinvent the superhero genre. The analysis isn’t that bad actually and while some comics highlighted are obvious, it was nice to see titles like Concrete get some attention.
But Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane? Really?
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I have never read Concrete. Is it worth a read?
Spiderman Loves Mary Jane appeals to the fourteen year old girl in all of us, though. Wait, not everyone has one of those…
More attention should have been given to Watchmen over SLMJ, though.
He’s proudly declared that his series diverges from comic books by presenting character-driven stories in which superpowers merely play a supporting role.
This is a kind of shallow statement, If the is saying this, He is not very well informed in comics as a medium. At least the article makes the effort to prove the guy wrong.
Concrete is definitely worth the read…one of the finer books Dark Horse has ever published
Concrete is great and the new format DH came out with really makes it easy to follow the entire series. The first 4 volumes are especially good. Check your library under Paul Chadwick.
Very interesting. I think I’d give Love Fights a try. It sounds goofy enough to be fun. Would it be easy to jump onto Ex Machina right now? I keep hearing good things about it and Post Civil War I am looking to expand my regular reading out of Marvel and DC.
Concrete is one of those books I always pick up at the comic shop, only to put back and say “Next time…” I know I have to pick it up and I will, just money is scarce.
Would it be easy to jump onto Ex Machina right now?
Ex Machina is a book that is hard to jump into. It builds on the stuff that came before it. It is a great time to start to buy the single issues while you acquire the trades. This month’s issue is #26, which starts a new arc. #1-20 plus the two special issues are collected in trades. If I were a betting man, the fifth trade will probably collect #21-25.
It’s a very good book. Gets bogged down in the politics a little too much sometimes, but I liked the first arc a lot. It starts out somewhere you wouldn’t expect.
It’s a very good book. Gets bogged down in the politics a little too much sometimes, but I liked the first arc a lot.
But… it’s about the politics. The superhero stuff is just the trappings for the politics.
I buy my girlfriend Spider-Man loves Mary Jane. And she loves me for it.
I don’t read it or really even know anybody who reads it. Does your girlfriend know that Sean McKeever signed an exclusive at DC and he’s leaving SLMJ? Does she care?
I’d highly recommend Ex Machina. Vaughn does a great job of making the series political without really taking one side or the other. That’s what makes this series so brilliant.
Love Fights was fun, but it wasn’t Andi Watson’s best work. He’s got some other graphic novels out which are probably a bit stronger. I liked it though.
Here’s an OLD pow I did. Notice the lack of comments.
http://www.ifanboy.com/archive/pickoftheweek/08272003_love_f.html
But… it’s about the politics. The superhero stuff is just the trappings for the politics.
I never saw it like that. I see it as one guy trying his best to make a difference. Mitch tried flying around in the suit and thought that the political route would be a better vehicle for change. He’s not really a politician, he’s a man of action, for lack of a better term. Now he’s painted himself into a corner. He must work within the system, even if he doesn’t want to. Mitch constantly wants to just get stuff done, but the reality of his position prevents it a lot of the time. How many times have Wylie or Bradbury had to talk Mitch out of doing something rash? While the Great Machine affected people to a smaller scale, Mitch was totally in charge and could pretty much do what he wanted when he wanted. Now he can’t.
The beginning of the first book is what wanted to make me read it. Mitch is a broken man. I’d like to see how he got there. That’s why I tend to view the book as being about Mitch rather than being about the politics. It also helps a great deal that Mitch is an engineer. So am I. Engineers, by and large, just like to get stuff done. To fix problems. We tend to be hampered by real life constraints. Money, politics, ego, etc. Just like Mitch is. Maybe the book speaks to me on a different level than it would someone with another profession. Plus, as an engineer, I think his power is awesome.
I do realize that the book is a very thinly veiled summary of what Vaughan believes in. I just think he gets a little too caught up in it sometimes. I don’t like being preached to. It has gotten very heavy handed on occasion. Sometimes it takes me out of the book. Winick does the same thing on occasion. That’s all I meant by my original comment about the politics. Politics has it’s place in the book, without question. But I’d like to see Mitch threaten to shut off a guy’s pacemaker just a little more.
But when all is said and done, I?ll keep reading the book.
I liked I could probably write a super cat book
1 reply(and it’s from Conor). Did you guys really have that few people on the site then or was everyone just apathetic about Love Fights?
But… it’s about the politics. The superhero stuff is just the trappings for the politics.
I never saw it like that. I see it as one guy trying his best to make a difference.
Isn’t that part of the beauty of a well-written book, though? It appeals to different people for different reasons and speaks to them in different, but equally important ways. I actually enjoy it for the politics, like Conor, but I also see where Flounder is coming from. I love Ex Machina and BKV. And the art is beautiful too.
I do realize that the book is a very thinly veiled summary of what Vaughan believes in.
I don’t believe this is true. I’ve heard plenty of interviews with him where he refuses to espouse his beliefs one way or the other. I think it’s more likely that he uses this book to explore the issues of those beliefs. Maybe he doesn’t have a stand on something, so he uses Hundred to take one side, and say, Journal to take the other. I just think that by saying that, it narrows things down too much.
And no Fred, that was it. It took a long time for folks to notice the site. Except the Dude. He’s been around for years. We have no idea how.
your pow didn’t even get a comment from ron
jeez
Enjoyed the article. Gave me some good ideas for trade purchases.
Josh, you mentioned that Love Fights wasn’t some of Andi Watson’s best work. What do you suggest as an alternative?
Forgot to add this: does anyone read the web comics associated with Heros? Are they worth it?
It seems the basics of writing a serialized story is just what was mentioned above, a vieled mirror on society. Or even a type of angry metaphor, I wonder if the majority of these stories are written from an angry source. Getting something off thier chest so to speak. I think there’s a chance alot of this mediums writing stems from two ideals, the need to earn a living, and the need to have an opinion heard, the best of our medium prob. finds a nice balance to the two.
I do realize that the book is a very thinly veiled summary of what Vaughan believes in.
I don’t believe this is true. I’ve heard plenty of interviews with him where he refuses to espouse his beliefs one way or the other.
Sometimes I feel like I am being preached to. Vaughan writes the book. If it’s not his voice, then whose voice is it? But I am OK with that. It is his book. And I don’t think it’s narrowing it down too much. Conor and I obviously see it from two very different viewpoints. Everyone takes out of it what they will.
does anyone read the web comics associated with Heros? Are they worth it?
I read all of them just before Monday’s episode. All in all, they are worth it, some just more than others.
Vaughan writes the book. If it’s not his voice, then whose voice is it?
But imagine if every actor could only act like themselves? Or if every character was just a shell for the writer’s thoughts? That wouldn’t make sense. It’s normal for the writer to put some of themselves into a character, but that doesn’t mean that the character has the same POV as as the writer does on any given issue. I’m telling you that (I believe on the Fanboy Radio interview) Vaughan said specifically that this book isn’t a mouthpiece for his views. Whereas, you also mentioned Judd Winnick, who does EXACTLY what you’re saying he does. In that, I agree with you.
Vaughan, like many good writers has the ability to write characters that he doesn’t necessarily have an similarities with. If that was true, then every one of the Runaways would be BKV’s voice. He’s trying to find another voice to do different characters. Otherwise, his stories would be very similar every time.
And Andi Watson work I really liked included Slow News Day, and Breakfast Afternoon, which is my favorite.
Sometimes I feel like I am being preached to. Vaughan writes the book. If it’s not his voice, then whose voice is it?
It’s hard not to sound preachy sometimes, I’m just giving you my opinion. It’s kinda what I do.
Got misunderstood there. I feel like Vaughan is preaching to me sometimes, not you guys. Sorry about that.
I never heard the interview with Vaughan. If that’s what he said, then I’m wrong about that part. Still buying the book anyway.
Yeah, I tried to change it when I realized that’s what you meant. Whoops.
Anyway, I can’t argue with the fact that you feel preached to. I can see that.
And that’s the thing, we all like the book. Huzzah!
Concrete is the best of all the bleeding heart liberal dudes made out of stone.
I say the Thing can take him though.
Actually Vaughan has said in the past that he’s more liberal than Hundred is.
I wouldn’t call what Judd Winick does preaching.. Him using the comic book as a forum to make people aware of Aids and homosexuality is one of the reasons why he’s one of my favorite writers..
As for Spider Man Loves Mary Jane, its a breath of fresh air for me.. Sometimes you need the book that won’t make you think or say wtf?!. You just want to read something just for the fun of it. 🙂
As for Spider Man Loves Mary Jane, its a breath of fresh air for me..
are you upset about McKeever’s impending departure from the book for his exclusive with DC? I’ve been trying to get someone’s opinion on this as I’ve seen nearly no comments about it on the glorious interweb.
I say go Judd, for that very reason, but he’s totally using the comic platform to spread his particular agenda. And I say good for him, but if you don’t agree with his agenda, then I can see where you’d find fault with it.
I haven’t read Pedro & Me. It’s on my list but I’ve just never really gotten to it.
To be fair, I don’t know the specifics of what his agenda in this book are but likely I’d be all for them. But even if I weren’t into it I wouldn’t be upset by it; I’d just stop reading it. It happened to me recently with Palestine and I’m sure it will again.
Pedro and Me is a true story as it happened to Winnick, so it’s hard to find fault with it per se. His preachiness gets to me more because it always seems to be delivered in the same way-lately in Green Arrow two thugs debate some issue in some Damon Runyon-esque dialogue and then wind up getting pummeled by Green Arrow. it’s like having a PSA in the comic. If more happened in the book I might like it more. Anyway, at the end of the day, you can’t fault a writer for, well, trying to communicate something.
Anyway, at the end of the day, you can’t fault a writer for, well, trying to communicate something.
You should respect a writer for trying to communicate something. If it’s something that offends you then you can opt to not let him communicate with you anymore.
are you upset about McKeever’s impending departure from the book for his exclusive with DC? I’ve been trying to get someone’s opinion on this as I’ve seen nearly no comments about it on the glorious interweb.
I’m sad and heartbroken but a writer has got to do what a writer has got to do.. I had the same feeling I had when I found out Grant Morrisson was leaving X-men for DC but in the end it turned out for the better.. Things happen for a reason… He’s going to DC.. 🙂 One less Marvel book to collect after he leaves..