mikeland82

August 19, 2009 10:33 am Is it just me or does that interface look real nasty. I am not opposed to the idea of digital comics but someone needs to work on their UI that looks cluttered confusing, overly flashy and a bit tacky. Hasn't won my vote at this stage but time will tell, this is only a beta.

May 19, 2009 3:41 pm I have used Celtx at work for scripting short films and have started my first comic script on it, it is pretty good, easy to use and intuitive. (I have only tried it on Mac Os).

April 2, 2009 6:42 am

Admittedly I haven't read this yet, and I have faith that if anyone is capable of pulling this off then it is Geoff Johns, but as an editorial decision for me personally the whole bringing back Barry thing sucks. For me, and many others (check out the current Newsarma poll) Wally West IS the flash, it is a shame to see him sidelined.

But more than that the death of Barry in the original Crisis was one off, if not the defining super hero comic book  moments for me. At 13 reading that story had a massive impact on me, it showed that things could happen in superhero comics that had a real and lasting impact, that these heroes despite all,that power, really were laying it on the line, it was powerful, pure and heartbreaking, and a truly legendary comic book moment.

That Crisis and the death of Jason Todd a year or two later probably kept me interested in reading comic books at an age when I could have easily lost interest, they made the sometimes silly, untouchable heroes of the DCU into real vulnerable people.

So for me personally (I admit no everyone will feel this way) bringing Barry (and Jason) back feels editorially driven and diminishes some of the impact of those stories. Though as I said earlier, I will read this solely because I trust Geoff Johns to make a great story out of a bad decision on DC's part.

I now only await Marvel bringing out "the return of Uncle Ben and Gwen Stacy".

March 26, 2009 1:00 pm

Really great choices Sonia. I had DC 596 at the time and have since read the other two in collections.

For me one of them is Detective Comics 614 by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle, it was one of those great one off issues that worked really well as a good self contained 22 page story and really stayed with me. I lost it years ago until I picked up a copy in a £1 grab bag at Forbidden Planet in London last year! 

January 22, 2009 4:35 pm

I think people are taking Grant Morrison's work personally because it is so challenging and he has dared to do it in major titles in what is considered the primary DCU continuity. Perhaps in an indie book, or a creator owned side project people are happy to be challenged, and expect less conventional story telling, but in mainstream superhero comics the stories are so often a to b to c. People seemed happy to accept All Star Superman, despite the fact that he killed big blue off, because it is outside of 'continuity' (whatever that is). 

 Many great artistic figures have caused massive uproar when they have challenged their audiences. (I site Bob Dylan's 1966 english tour , the one where they called him Judas as an example). I hope in 10 years time people will look back on Morrisons Batman/FC and see it for the brilliant work it is.  

Personally, as I read mostly in trades and try to pick and choose what I read (i.e I don't follow any Character or continuity religiously) I really enjoy hearing and reading the 'Fanboys (and Fangirls) opinions on various books, and it helps me choose what to read and what to avoid. (Saved me wasting £22 on the Secret invasion TP last week!)  I will be reading FC batman RIP when it comes out in trade.

January 13, 2009 6:22 am

Interesting thought provoking article. Even as a non-America I do feel Superman (and other iconic super heroes) shouldn't feel ashamed about representing the "American way". However I can't help but think that Willingham's idea of the American way might be a little different than that of Siegal and Shulster's when they originally created superman. The American way of embracing people of all nationalities and creeds, of giving anybody a fair chance, of standing up to bullies without compromising integrity are the things that Superman has stood for, the early Superman spent a lot of time fighting social injustice.  

December 11, 2008 4:37 pm I saw a copy of GREEN ARROW LONGBOW HUNTERS trade paperback at a LCS a few months ago, I thought about it, didn't buy, changed my mind a week later but it had gone, DOH! KIcked myself.

December 11, 2008 3:42 pm

Fun article, however I do have an exception to

"3. Thou shalt not employ an American to write British dialogue."

Greg Rucka's Queen and Country is a fantastic, british set comic, and as a life long native of Britain I have not found any of the dialogue wrong. But you are right, when it is done badly, it is terrible (like a comic book equivalent Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins).

My own personal commandment would be "Thou shalt not ret-con, or 'magic away' away years of stories on an editorial whim". 

September 16, 2008 3:32 pm

@TheNextChampion - I couldn't agree more. If movies like The Dark Knight can draw massive crowds with serious adult drama seamlessly blended with the spectacle and excitement of fantastical characters then surely the comics can manage this. I used to think that 'superhero' movies would never catch up with the brilliance of comic books, the last 12 months has me thinking it is the comic books that are now playing catch up. Why do we have to dumb down just to keep it for the kids. In reality many kids are often growing up in a world were loved ones die, or leave or get divorced.

But I agree with Jimski, and find myself going to the other 'restaurants' (novels, tv shows, movies) more and more and my stack of comics shrinks each year. If you don't like it, just don't buy it.

April 29, 2008 6:52 pm Josh, Conor, Ok ok, I didn't mean to be all negative, and you are right you didn't go overboard in you comments, to be honest that I why ifanboy is the only comic book site i visit regularly, because there generally is a lack of the 'such a person sucks' type comments. But what I was saying was that the 'negative' is in the aspect of devoting an article to stuff you don't like, rather than why you do like the stuff you do, but hey obviously you just had to get it off you chest. I really respect and enjoy your show, and your opinions generally spot on, (and you guys have doubled my credit card bill with all the good stuff you have pointed out that I otherwise might have missed!) I suppose it is just this style of article doesn't appeal to me, i much prefer that the criticism is in context, e.g. when reviewing a particular book, because some time artists I don't rate personally do great work and surprise me, and sometimes creators I love can have an off issue, or even a poor run.