Daniel Clowes, Art Spiegelman, and Alan Moore on the Simpsons
© Fox
Comicscape: Five Successes in Mainstream Comics
By: Kurt AmackerDate: Wednesday, June 04, 2008
In last week’s Comicscape, we administered a sound thrashing to the American comic industry—more specifically, Marvel and DC—for five significant problems in dire need of correction. This week, dear Maniacs, in the spirit of fairness and ecumenicalism, we examine five achievements for which Marvel, DC, and the rest of American comicdom should hold its collective head high. One can’t have darkness without light, and some things rightfully deserve praise. As such, this week’s Comicscape presents a series of congratulations for jobs well done.
1. Genre Expansion
Undoubtedly, superheroes rule both sales charts and the hearts and minds of fans. In some eras, horror, science fiction, and fantasy, haven’t fared so well. In the years immediately following the implementation of the Comics Code Authority, most genres outside of superheroes died a quick death due to both the Code and a new distribution model for magazines. The 1990s were undoubtedly ruled by capes and tights, unless one counts Dark Horse’s many licensed titles. But now, bigger independents such as Image, IDW, Virgin, Dynamite, and Top Shelf offer fans comics from any genre imaginable. A fan could add nothing but science fiction titles to his or her pull list and still have plenty to read. Superheroes themselves have experienced something of a positive metamorphosis away from pure vigilante save-the-day stories. Daredevil is nothing less than a noir crime comic. The Immortal Iron Fist returned martial arts to the Marvel Universe. The entire Annihilation saga brought science fiction back to Marvel on a grand scale. DC’s Vertigo line has introduced successful stories from every genre imaginable. Anyone that complains that comics are nothing but children’s stories about men in tights hasn’t paid attention in a longtime.
2. Emphasis on Writing
For much of the life of American comics, titles have sold on the basis of characters, collectibility, or art. Granted, a few superstar writers made names for themselves in the 1970s and ‘80s. But, the ‘90s were all about selling extra copies because it was the first issue of a new Jim Lee series; or picking up the new X-Men series because of the team itself. Now, writers rule the roost. Marvel and DC proudly advertise comics by Garth Ennis, Grant Morrison, Brian Michael Bendis, and Joss Whedon on the basis of their names. Joe Quesada withholds the name of a new series’s writer like a dog owner waving a biscuit at a hungry pup. A good writer can redeem a B-list character like the Punisher or Iron Fist, or draw fans that would never even consider a particular character. Whereas big breasts, big guns, and big name artists once moved comics, this era has seen a reemphasis on character-based storytelling. Superhero comics still have plenty of stuff getting blown up real good, but more often than not, there’s a heart at the center of the action.
Trade paperbacks and reprints used to be a relatively rare occurrence. Granted, Marvel and DC kept their really classic stuff in print, but it was a safe bet that once it left the shelf, it would be relatively hard to find. A missed issue meant digging in back issue bins, hitting comic conventions, or finding a mail order service. In some cases, it also meant dealing with mercenary prices. Now, virtually everything ends up in a trade paperback or hardcover collection, with many popular single issues seeing reprint only a couple of months later. Some fans go so far as to read only trades or hardcovers. Though that does something of an initial disservice to the single issue market, it proves that fans are more concerned with simply reading a good story than ensuring future resale value. And, those that want single issues and first printings can almost always find a bargain on E-Bay or at Mile High Comics. Cover prices have risen, but in many ways, reading comics has become a lot easier.
4. Suggested for Mature Readers
Adults have read comics—superhero and otherwise—for as long as the medium has been around. Though constantly dismissed as children’s literature, adults have always formed a significant portion of the readership. But, following the creation of the Comics Code Authority, comics essentially were children’s literature. However, in the Bronze Age, the Code Authority lifted the ban on horror comics. Marvel also expanded its line to include Conan, Shang-Chi, and a number of titles that, though by no means “adult” by today’s standards, were clearly aiming for an audience older than 10. Moving into the 1980s with the “grim and gritty” phase, comics have grown progressively more mature. DC’s Vertigo imprint pretty much sealed the deal with an unapologetic line of comics for adults. Marvel followed several years later with its MAX imprint. Image and Dark Horse have consistently delivered mature content with no qualms. Even Marvel upped the stakes in its main continuity by rejecting the Comics Code and just rating content as needed. Look at the incredibly bloody X-Force, which makes its 1990s counterpart look like a G-rated family film by comparison. The Code itself has significantly relaxed its standards. Even approved comics, such as DC’s Batman,allow for exploration of mature themes and violence heretofore unseen. Check out the most recent issue of Grant Morrison’s run, #676, and see what the Joker can do with a razor blade. With some caveats, Marvel and DC have largely realized that adults read comics and content needn’t be aimed solely at children.
When Entertainment Weekly reviews trade paperback collections, it’s safe to say you’ve reached the mainstream. Comic book movies do phenomenally well at the box office, both superhero and otherwise. Consider the success of last year’s 300, adapted from Frank Miller’s Dark Horse miniseries about the Battle of Thermopylae. Alan Moore was interviewed on every mainstream media outlet imaginable in anticipation of Lost Girls. Television writers, screenwriters, novelists, actors, and musicians often jump at the chance to work in the medium. Comics are taught in some English classes at the high school and collegiate level. Watchmen made the Time list of 100 greatest novels from 1923 to the present. The age of amused condescension towards sequential art is slowly passing away. The parents that destroyed their children’s comic collections are en route to nursing homes, as a generation that read the grim and gritty comics of the 1980s comes of age. Just as video games make the slow perceptual transition from children’s entertainment to a medium unto itself, so do comics come into their own. The days of simple morality plays for children have come to an end. A combination of strong writing, successful licensed media, increased availability, and adult content has brought comics out of the nerd closet and into mainstream consciousness. Your grandmother may not read Avengers, but she probably didn’t buy the new 3 Doors Down album, either. Comics have arrived, so hold the door open and tell everyone you know. Let’s make sure they stay.
By Ben Johnson and Kurt Amacker
Abe Sapien The Drowning #5 (Of 5) $2.99
Ben: Five issues is all it took.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer #15 $2.99
Conan Born On The Battlefield HC $24.95
Indiana Jones Omnibus TP Vol 02 $24.95
Lobster Johnson TP Vol 01 Iron Prometheus $17.95
MPD Psycho TP Vol 05 (MR) $10.95
Ben: Male Period Day takes a lot out of us.
Path Of The Assassin TP Vol 11 (MR) $9.95
Predator Omnibus TP Vol 03 $24.95
Star Wars Omnibus Droids TP Vol 01 $24.95
Ben: That’s three Omnibi(buses? I have no idea) in one week. How many trees have perished at the hands of Dark Horse?
All New Atom #24 $2.99
American Splendor Season Two #3 (Of 4) (MR) $2.99
Batman Death Mask #3 (Of 4) $2.99
Batman The Killing Joke Collectors Set $34.99
Ben: Wasn’t this a Monty Python skit?
Kurt: You’ve lost me, and we’re only on the DC books.
DC Special Raven #4 (Of 5) $2.99
Ben: She prefers handicapable.
Kurt: Must…not…mock…short…bus…too…easy…GAH!
Detective Comics #845 $2.99
Fables TP Vol 10 The Good Prince (MR) $17.99
House Of Mystery #2 (MR) $2.99
Infinity Inc #10 $2.99
Infinity Inc TP Vol 01 Luthors Monsters $14.99
Jonah Hex #32 $2.99
Justice League Unlimited #46 $2.25
Justice Society Of America #16 $2.99
Ben: The prelude to Kingdom Come has kicked ass.
Key To The Kingdom Vol 04 $9.99
Legion Of Super Heroes 1050 Years In The Future TP $19.99
Looney Tunes #163 $2.25
Manhunter #31 $2.99
Midnighter #20 $2.99
Nightwing #145 $2.99
Orfina Vol 03 (MR) $12.99
Rann Thanagar Holy War #2 (Of 8) $3.50
Robin Spoiler Special #1 $3.99
Ben: He’s so pissed about being left out of all the good movies he’s giving away the plot to the Dark Knight.
Kurt: What a brilliant way to commit suicide by fanboy.
Showcase Presents Haunted Tank TP Vol 02 $16.99
Supergirl #30 $2.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Raising Cain #2 (Of 3) (MR) $3.50
Tom Strong TP Book 06 $17.99
Ben: Now with no annoying breakthroughs.
Kurt: You make me think of things that I usually just block out.
Tor #2 (Of 6) $2.99
Trinity #1 $2.99
Ben: I was going to make an inappropriate religious joke, but suddenly feared for my other job.
Kurt: Dude, I’m the godless heathen with a future in Hell. You’re the religious guy. Leave it to me.
Vinyl Underground #9 (MR) $2.99
War That Time Forgot #2 (Of 12) $2.99
Kurt: The last drunken fight I got into.
Amory Wars Ii #1 (Of 5) $2.99
Brit #6 $2.99
Crawl Space TP Vol 01 Xxxombies (Oct078619) (MR) $12.99
Dogwitch TP Vol 03 Mood Swings (MR) $14.99
Ben: I like mine with cheddar on rye.
Invincible TP Vol 09 Out Of This World $14.99
Monster Zoo Gn $14.99
Noble Causes #34 $3.50
Pilot Season 2007 TP $14.99
Proof TP Vol 01 Goatsucker $9.99
Spawn #179 $2.95
Tales From The Starlight Drive In GN $19.99
Tellos Colossal TP Vol 01 $17.99
Witchblade #118 $2.99
Witchblade TP Vol 04 $17.99
Amazing Spider-Man #561 $2.99
American Dream #3 (Of 5) $2.99
Ben: My God! I just had a dream that I said Amazing Spider-Man was the best book ever and got killed by rampaging fanboys.
Astonishing X-Men Sketchbook $2.99
Avengers Invaders #2 (Of 12) $2.99
Cable #4 DWS $2.99
Criminal 2 #3 (MR) $3.50
Kurt: Now that gay marriage is legal in California, Ed Brubaker and I can finally be together.
Dark Tower Long Road Home #4 (Of 5) $3.99
Essential Captain Marvel TP Vol 01 $16.99
Essential Fantastic Four TP Vol 01 New Ed $16.99
Haunt Of Horror Lovecraft #1 (Of 3) (MR) $3.99
Ben: On it like Blue Bonnet.
Kurt: Damn right, dude. It’s on like Red Dawn.
Hedge Knight Ii Sworn Sword Prem HC $19.99
Hedge Knight Ii Sworn Sword Prem HC Dm Ed $19.99
Hulk Vs The Marvel Universe TP $24.99
Invincible Iron Man #2 $2.99
Kurt: The first issue was actually really good. Get this.
Kick Ass #3 (MR) $2.99
Lords Of Avalon Sod #5 (Of 6) $2.99
Ben: It may not sound like much to be a Lord of, but burnable dirt has a big market.
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #40 $2.99
Marvel Spotlight Secret Invasion $2.99
Kurt: Oh jeez. Look, if you were thinking of buying this, just e-mail me and I’ll send you my address. Send me the $2.99 and I’ll buy something worth reading.
Marvel Two-In-One #12 $4.99
New Avengers TP Vol 07 Trust $19.99
Nova #14 $2.99
Kurt: Is this based on that show that used to be on PBS?
Omega Unknown #9 (Of 10) $2.99
Ben: This got lost on its way to Image.
Penance Relentless TP $13.99
Punisher War Journal #20 $2.99
Kurt: This is awesome, and it’s by Matt Fraction, who also writes Invincible Iron Man. So, buy it.
Secret Invasion #3 (Of 8) SI $3.99
Ben: Love it or hate it, this is a comic book produced by Marvel Comics.
Kurt: This is coming out alarmingly on-schedule.
Secret Invasion #3 (Of 8) Yu Var (Pp #811) SI $3.99
Spider-Man Family #9 $4.99
Thor Search For Odin (Pp #816) $3.99
Ben: Norse Gods are always in the last place you look.
Kurt: And yet, whenever one goes missing, you always want to check my pants first. What gives?
Ultimate Origins #1 (Of 5) (Res) $2.99
Ben: Bendis has been planting seeds for this one since the beginning. He does that a lot.
Kurt: Brian Michael Bendis: Continuity Gardner.
Ultimate Origins #1 (Of 5) Turner Sketch Var (Pp #816) $2.99
Ultimate Spider-Man TP Vol 10 Hollywood New Ptg $12.99
Wolverine Dangerous Game $3.99
X-Factor Visionaries Peter David TP Vol 04 $15.99
Young X-Men #3 DWS $2.99
Kurt: This issue: the fight for the jungle gym! The playground at Marvel Elementary will never be the same again!
Zombie Simon Garth TP (MR) $13.99
Kurt: All right, let’s just get it out of the way: BRAAAAAAAINS!!! There, are we satisfied?
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I have come to realize comics are like crack to me lol..