Hellblazer #228
© N/A
Creeping into the Mainstream
By: Kurt AmackerDate: Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Greetings, Comicscape faithful, and welcome to another exciting Wednesday morning. I trust you’ll all walk into your neighborhood comic shops later today – if you already haven’t – and walk out a few dollars poorer, but, I trust, a bit happier. And, many other people will follow suit. Or, perhaps they’ll stop at Barnes & Noble to pick up the new Ultimate Marvel trade, because they gave up single issues. In fact, in 2006, sales suggest that quite a few more people joined the Wednesday Parade. Our friends over at ICv2 recently reported that sales climbed 15% from 2005 to 2006. Graphic novels saw a boost of 9%, and that only includes the direct market – it’s certainly even higher when one includes bookstores. To provide basis for comparison, sales of single issues only climbed 4% from 2004 to 2005. Graphic novels were actually up 10% in that year, but that still doesn’t include Barnes & Noble and wherever else people buy them. And, the industry measures graphic novel sales based on the top 100 selling titles every month from Diamond, so those numbers only serve as a rough estimate. Aside from the slight reduction in graphic novel sales, it seems more people started reading comics – that, or you guys shelled out more cash. In fact, in the third quarter last year, Marvel’s publishing side actually profited more than its licensing. I quoted all of those boring statistics to emphasize that comics may find themselves in the mainstream again in the next few years. But, before we go on – for next week, e-mail me your thoughts on the increased acceptance of comic books at either comicscape@mania.com or kurtamacker@yahoo.com. I’ll run your letters next week.
While I doubt that we’ll ever see anything the size of the 1990s boom or the years before electronic entertainment took over, we can safely say that comics are more popular than they’ve been in a while. I think we can probably stop screaming about the death of the medium, at least until sales take a dip. And, it seems that few people want to fight this newfound acceptance. Superhero movies continue to sell tickets after suffering as a joke for most of the history of cinema. Comics have found their way into some classrooms. Remember that, at one point, parents and teachers burned them in churchyards and goaded the industry into creating the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s. Joe Quesada has emphasized Marvel’s desire to see comics accepted by the mainstream in the same vein as movies and television – not as a niche hobby, but something that almost everyone enjoys to varying degrees. Some people really love movies and pursue them as a hobby. But, most people just casually go to the movies without any grand commitment to the medium.
As usual, I harbor mixed feelings about the increased acceptance of comics by mainstream society. If I ever give you a straight answer about anything, you’ll know someone has kidnapped me and taken over Comicscape.
First of all, I must clarify my use of the word “mainstream,” instead of “pop culture.” Popular culture already accepts comic books or at least the ideas and characters therein. If it didn’t, MTV wouldn’t show a Spider-Man cartoon or run making-of specials. You wouldn’t see shirts with the Punisher skull emblazoned across them in Hot Topic. By mainstream, I mean pop culture and then some. Venture outside of the hipster fray and into the homes of almost any given person. Consider a world where your parents read comics as readily as Reader’s Digest. In all likelihood, such a drastic cultural move will never happen. It remains a question of degrees, but one with fewer degrees from the goal than ever before. Hell, Sony took video games from a “geek thing” into an “everybody thing” with the first PlayStation in 1995. Similarly, comics have become accepted enough that my mom will see Spider-Man at the theater (but, she doesn’t read comics or play video games). However, that’s a small step in a long journey – one the medium has traveled since a mother first took a funny book from her son’s hands and said “Why do you read this garbage?”
Obviously, I welcome the income such popularity will generate for mainstream publishers and the opportunities it can afford the independent guys. If Marvel and DC make money, they can hire talented writers and artists, release more movies, publisher more back issue collections, and, one hopes, further the medium and further enhance its image in the public eye. And, if comics enjoy the sort of mainstream success afforded to other mediums, independent publishers have an even greater chance of success. If comics move towards the mainstream, it means they appeal to different kinds of people – even those that may not care for superheroes. Movies like The Matrix and Pirates of the Caribbean make tons of money because they appeal even to people that normally avoid their respective genres, or mixture thereof. If it crosses over, it sells. Hooray for money and hooray for comics.
Here’s where I drop the other shoe: comics have, for the longest time, enjoyed a significant level of creative freedom as compared to mainstream television and movies. While you can certainly purchase graphic material one way or another, the film, music, and television industries experience far more censorious pressure from ratings entities, editorialists, and self-appointed watchdog groups. The comics industry doesn’t have to worry about the Federal Communications Commission fining it because someone dares to show a bare breast. No one has screamed for a recall over a sex scene, as with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. But, as we saw in Marshall, Missouri a few months ago, comics will always provide more than enough visual examples to justify the ire of so many concerned citizens. And, as Boiled Angel creator Mike Diana can tell you, some people won’t hesitate to charge a creator with obscenity over a f—king drawing. Then again, if you ask Karen Fletcher, she’ll tell you that a written story will more than do the job. Granted, most comics rarely depict the sort of distasteful, unspeakable material found in either Diana or Fletcher’s material. But, something like Hellblazer has more than enough objectionable content to fuel a moral crusade or two. Right now, most of potentially controversial comics sit largely outside of the public eye by default – they remain available, but not enough people read them to energize Mothers Against Comics or anything similar. Granted, independent comic publishers offer no shortage of porn titles. But, they remain behind the counter next to Juggs and not on the stands where children can purchase them. The more mainstream comics become, the more scrutiny and outcry they will endure. And, if you think that publishers won’t tone down material over public indignation, read a few issues of Hellblazer – maybe the one where he prevents the Second Coming by sleeping with the future mother of the coming Messiah. He taints her with the demon blood in his veins, thus repelling the angel tasked with impregnating her. Having read those issues, watch Constantine to see Hellblazer wrung out by a market-conscious movie studio. Instead of the story of a devil-may-care magician beholden to no one, you’ll see a freelance exorcist doing the Lord’s work.
Again, while I want comics to enjoy success and acceptance, another problem presents itself: most mainstream art sucks. There’s really no other way to put it. From movies to television to books to music to video games, the public proves time and again that it has largely horrible taste. For every worthy box office contender likeLord of the Rings, we get above five movies like Titanic or Forrest Gump. For every Lost or The Sopranos , we see about ten unwatchable reality shows or sitcoms. Everyone may respect Johnny Cash, but in 2003, Miss Elliot beat his cover of “Hurt” for MTV’s Video of the Year for that unlistenable song, “Work It.” I could go on until my wrists gave out from carpal tunnel syndrome. But, it should ring clearly enough – most people like crap. For every blockbuster film, book, or television series that deserves praise, we endure many more not worth anyone’s time. Thankfully, comics have a higher gold to crap ratio than other mediums. While the industry certainly publishes a fair amount of garbage, even Marvel and DC produce plenty of daring, interesting, creative material, especially when compared to their top-of-the-mountain counterparts in other media. That’s one of the reasons I love the medium.If most people read comics, it means that they’ll likely enjoy the most accessible material available. I mean more accessible and mainstream than something licensed from a popular television or film series likeStar Wars or Battlestar Galactica , or even something by a popular writer from another medium. I don’t mean this as a dig on his work at all, but everyone raved that Joss Whedon would save comics and bring non-readers into the neighborhood stores. It didn’t happen, and I don’t blame Whedon or state that in tandem with my distaste for his work. He’s a respected, well-regarded television writer, but even someone that popular couldn’t catch the attention of people that rarely give a damn about comics. For comics to become truly popular, they’ll have to sink to lowest-common-denominator depths of accessibility. ThinkAmerican Idol, Must Love Dogs , Justin Timberlake, Michael Bay, and McDonald’s hamburgers. I really don’t want Marvel or DC to end up like a punk band thoroughly stripped of everything that made it interesting just to fit it in on Total Request Live. To get even more cliché, I don’t want anyone to sell out and then die for sacrificing everything that made them worthwhile.
I want the comics industry to succeed. I’ve never screamed at some kid in the mall wearing a Batman t-shirt because “I was here first.” However, we live in a cultural climate that embraces crass and vapid works of art in mainstream culture. We also live alongside a group of people that spend time looking for instances of perceived indecency in popular culture. For years, we’ve enjoyed the likes ofPreacher and a million other titles that gleefully demolish the lines of both good taste and acceptable subject matter that govern other media. And, “acceptable subject matter” doesn’t just mean the amount of ammunition expended or the number of breasts exposed – consider a biographical story likePersepolis or even a story with a format too unconventional to film. Comics have it good. A grand embrace by mainstream culture means a restriction on creativity for both market reasons and concerns about good taste.
For those reasons, I sit on the fence. I want comics to succeed, but I don’t want them to suffer the same sort of watering-down that other popular art experiences. I suppose I just want people to have better taste. Now, what do you think?
The Spinner Rack
By Al Brown and Kurt Amacker
Al: This week: not much from DC. Kind of a slow week for those guys. Marvel, on the other hand, busts out the attack of the Inhumans, what might be the finale of the Eternals, and yet another final fight between Wolverine and Sabretooth.
Kurt: As long as there’s no selling-out involved, I’m cool.
DARK HORSE COMICS
Archenemies Sinners & Saints Vol 1 TP $12.95
Blessed Thistle GN $9.95
Chronicles Of Conan Vol 11 Dance O/t Skull TP $16.95
Al: Do they just greenlight any Conan miniseries based on what sounds like a Megadeth B-Side?
Kurt: I think they flip a coin between Megadeth and Iron Maiden, and then roll a dice to pick an album. Soon, look for Conan: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Conan: Rust in Peace.
Criminal Macabre Two Red Eyes #2 (of 4) $2.99
Al: Ben Stein has some Visine for you.
Kurt: Can I still win his money?
Dwight T Albatross The Goon Noir #3 (of 3) $2.99
Journal Gloomy Bear $9.99
Gloomy Bear: No one wanted to play two-square with me today at recess.
Kurt: That’s because you’re a bear. Bears eat people.
One Missed Call 1 Plus 2 TP $14.95
Outer Orbit #2 (of 4) $2.99
Penny Arcade Vol 3 Warsun Prophecies TP $12.95
Samurai Heaven & Earth Vol 2 #2 (of 5) $2.99
Star Wars Dark Times #2 (of 5) $2.99
Stationery Set Gloomy Bear $4.99
Gloomy Bear: But at least I have my own stationary! I bet you don't have your own stationary, do you? Punk.
Kurt: And now bears quote Dirty Harry, apparently – one more reason to avoid you like the plague. Just kidding – I love Dirty Harry. But, you’re still a damn bear.
Tanpenshu Vol 1 TP (MR) $12.95
World Below TP $12.95
DC COMICS
100 Bullets #80 (MR) $2.99
52 Week #38 $2.50
Checkmate #10 $2.99
Connor Hawke Dragons Blood #3 (of 6) $2.99
Crossing Midnight #3 (MR) $2.99
Kurt: This sounds like a television psychic show – Crossing Midnight with Kurt Amacker and Al Brown.
Deadman #6 (MR) $2.99
DMZ #15 (MR) $2.99
Fables #57 (MR) $2.99
Flash The Fastest Man Alive #8 $2.99
Hellblazer #228 (MR) $2.99
Al: Conclusion of "The Red Right Hand;" Constantine has gathered all the happy people he can find in one place, but since that place is Glasgow, it's just one old guy who's kinda drunk.
Nick Cave: Designed and directed by his red right hand?
Helmet Of Fate Ibis The Invincible #1 $2.99
JLA Cover To Cover Statue Superman $59.99
JSA Classified Honor Among Thieves TP $14.99
Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne Vol 7 $9.99
Lucifer Vol 11 Evensong TP (MR) $14.99
Mystery In Space #5 (of 8) $3.99
Ninja Scroll #5 $2.99
Red Sonja Claw Devils Hands TP $12.99
Robin #158 $2.99
Al: With Klarion the Witch Boy, vs. the rampaging Judgment Beast! Great name.
Kurt: He’s fighting Harry Knowles? Sweet!
Showcase Presents Brave & Bold Batman Teamups Vol 1 $16.99
Al: Reprinting Batman's first team-ups with all your favorite guys. That's kinda fun.
Supergirl And The Legion Of Super Heroes #26 $2.99
Teen Titans Go #39 $2.25
Wetworks #5 $2.99
Al: The secret of the "Blood Box" is revealed! Kurt, raise your hands and back away from the joke.
Kurt: But, but…aw, man.
IMAGE COMICS
Drain #2 (MR) $2.99
Invincible #38 $2.99
Al: Parasitic Martian attack!
Kurt: Have you seen your doctor about this?
Low Orbit Vol 1 GN $6.99
Al: Sci-fi/fantasy anthology. Actually has its own website! Fancy that!
Magdalena Foil ED Sgn #1 $19.99
Michael Turner Cyberforce Litho $19.99
Kurt: Well, at least we know there will be boobs.
Noble Causes #26 (note Price) $3.50
Occult Crimes Taskforce #3 (of 4) (MR) $2.99
Official Handbook O/t Invincible Universe #2 (of 2) $4.99
PVP #30 $2.99
True Story Swear To God Image ED #3 $2.99
Witchblade Linsner CVR #103 $2.99
Witchblade Turner CVR #103 $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
All New Off Hb Marvel Univ A Z Update #1 (of 4) $3.99
Al: Thank God for this, because I really needed those entries on the Circus of Crime and Death's Head 3.0.
Avengers Next #5 (of 5) $2.99
Cable Deadpool Vol 3 Human Race TP (o/a) (aug051979) $14.99
Civil War The Return $2.99
Al: Featuring the Sentry and someone else they won't tell us about. I don't care much for the Sentry, who's studiously kept in the sidelines for every major fight because he's way too powerful; also, the word "heartrending" is used in the description of this book, and I am deeply suspicious of all things heartrending. (Note: actually, now that I'm reading this more carefully, the word is "heart-rendering." I can only assume that means they're boiling somebody's heart down into soap. So...that sounds much cooler.)
Kurt: Typos rule.
Civil War The Return Mcguinness Var $2.99
Criminal #4 (MR) $2.99
Kurt: Ed Brubaker rules, too.
Doctor Strange Oath #4 (of 5) $2.99
Kurt: As does this series. Wow, Marvel’s doing okay this week.
Eternals #6 (of 7) $3.99
Al: Marvel says this is the double-sized finale, but Diamond says it's #6 of 7. So...be ready for anything, I guess. Marvel's probably right though.
Kurt: I’d heard it was going to seven issues, but they might’ve decided to double up the last one.
Eternals Romita Jr Var #6 (of 7) $3.99
Heroes For Hire #6 $2.99
Al: This book has so far failed to match up to its prologue, Daughters of the Dragon, mostly because of its involvement in the Civil War. It keeps trying to be important, instead of focusing on the lightweight comedy/adventure stuff that made Daughters fun. It's still okay enough to keep me reading, but I hope it settles down.
Marvel Adventures Flip Magazine #21 $4.99
Marvel Heroes Flip Magazine #21 $4.99
Marvel Masterworks Warlock Vol 1 HC Var ED 72 $54.99
Marvel Masterworks Warlock Vol 1 New ED HC $54.99
Marvel Romance Redux Another Kind Of Love TP $13.99
Al: Collects all those stories where guys wrote new word balloons on top of old romance comics. Honestly, I probably would've found this funny if it were done by random dudes on the Internet...but coming from Marvel it's a little weird.
Kurt: If it was done by guys on the Internet, every word balloon would just be something like “LOL111 PWNED111”
Marvel Team-up Vol 4 Freedom Ring TP $17.99
Al: Robert Kirkman's Freedom Ring arc caught a lot of flak for introducing a gay character and then...not treating him very kindly. I think it's ridiculous to try to make a rule that nothing bad can happen to gay characters. We should judge based on the story, not its summary. While the Freedom Ring arc wasn't a great story, I sensed no malice toward gay folks whatsoever.
Kurt: That’s a really dumbass complaint. If you want to show write gay characters, that means they have to endure the same kind of hardships as everyone else. Am I to understand that just because the guy’s gay that he’s immune to getting beat up in a super-villain fight? This is like when a couple of people complained about Micchone getting raped in The Walking Dead because they couldn’t believe Kirkman would show such things happening to a black woman. Would it have been better if she were white or Hispanic or some other color? A—holes.
Marvel Zombies 3rd Ptg Fantastic Four HC $19.99
Moon Knight #7 Cw $2.99
Al: Moon Knight starts to get integrated into the universe proper with guest appearances by Spidey, Punisher and Cap.
Punisher War Journal #3 Cw $2.99
Al: I think this is my favorite book on the stands right now.
Kurt: Yes, this does rule. Stop the presses – Al and I agree on something.
Silent War #1 (of 6) $2.99
Al: A while back, you may remember the Inhumans declaring war on everybody else. Here's the war. I'm a little torn about this, because I like Black Bolt and I think the Inhumans in general have been written pretty well recently, but the basic concept is one that doesn't completely fit in with the Marvel Universe. This is written by David Hine (Son of M), the guy who's been responsible for most recent Inhuman appearances.
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #14 $2.99
Ultimate Annuals Vol 2 TP $13.99
Wolverine #50 $3.99
Al: Jeph Loeb (loads of things) and wicked cool newcomer Simone Bianchi on a double-sized Wolverine / Sabretooth fight that I seriously doubt is as "final" as they'd like us to think.
Kurt: All right, whatever the big reveal is here, I’ve been waiting for it since I was 11. If Loeb writes something badass about Logan and Sabretooth’s past relationship and Marvel retcons it in a few years, I’m going to cuss a blue streak.
Wolverine & Black Cat Claws HC $17.99
Al: I thought this was a perfectly likable piece of fluff; I'm not sure it warrants the hard cover treatment.
Wolverine Black And White Var #50 $3.99
Kurt: Okay, I was taken in by this gimmick when they did it with Punisher: War Journal #1. Here’s the deal – is it actually in black and white, or is it just grayscale? I can photocopy the book on my own, guys.
X-Factor #15 $2.99
X-Factor Life And Death Matters Premiere HC $19.99
Kurt: Yes, life and death matter very much. Remember that.
Also, I'm less concerned about a rating system for comics than I am about the possibility of comics based on the Olsen Twins, Desperate Housewives, or The Secret Sexy Adventures of Justin Timberlake (The Dick in a Box Edition).