What's the hub bub, bub?
Still trying to hammer out NINJAS as we speak. My progress on this book has slowed mainly due to my extreme discontent with comic books nowadays. It really does seem like I'm the only 1 of 2 or 3 people out there under the impression that mainstream comic books are going the wrong direction. Maybe it's because I'm so active on the internet, but a lot of people just seem to be buying stuff that makes me go "huh?" It's like when Kangaro Jack was the number one movie in America all over again.
It's all about gimmicks. Whether it be a variant cover or a super-hyped creative team, it's all about gimmicks. Who cares if so-and-so is taking over the latest issue of Generic Superhero? Why should I get excited about something like that when it means I might not see that certain creator go out and do something genuinely original and exciting? Is it too much to ask that creators and publishers try a little harder to be different? Is it too much to ask all the comics "news" groups to give the innovators, where ever they may be, a little attention? It just doesn't seem like anyone's even trying to tell a good story anymore. It's all about the "cool" factor. What would "be cool", not "what would make a damn good story that makes people go 'wow!'".
It's frustrating...especially so when I see all these people buying the hype like cotton candy. Maybe that's all comic books really are. Hype. I remember Wizard World Chicago and being so excited coming back, not realizing that I had been dunked head first into the big vat of hype that both publishers have been concocting. Is that what I want my work to be? Something that can't sell itself to it's audience, so it has to be made into something bigger than it really is, or something else just to get people to buy it? Can't people just buy my stuff because they like it? Does it have to be the next Watchmen? Do I have to be hyped by Wizard? Do I need to work for one of the big 2 in order to have "made it"?
I'm serious...if it weren't for certain books and creators that I discovered this year, I would say 2004 was the worst year for comic books ever.
I guess I'm just being more philisophical lately. I guess that's what tends to happen when you find out you're going to be a dad in 8 months...
It's all about gimmicks. Whether it be a variant cover or a super-hyped creative team, it's all about gimmicks. Who cares if so-and-so is taking over the latest issue of Generic Superhero? Why should I get excited about something like that when it means I might not see that certain creator go out and do something genuinely original and exciting? Is it too much to ask that creators and publishers try a little harder to be different? Is it too much to ask all the comics "news" groups to give the innovators, where ever they may be, a little attention? It just doesn't seem like anyone's even trying to tell a good story anymore. It's all about the "cool" factor. What would "be cool", not "what would make a damn good story that makes people go 'wow!'".
It's frustrating...especially so when I see all these people buying the hype like cotton candy. Maybe that's all comic books really are. Hype. I remember Wizard World Chicago and being so excited coming back, not realizing that I had been dunked head first into the big vat of hype that both publishers have been concocting. Is that what I want my work to be? Something that can't sell itself to it's audience, so it has to be made into something bigger than it really is, or something else just to get people to buy it? Can't people just buy my stuff because they like it? Does it have to be the next Watchmen? Do I have to be hyped by Wizard? Do I need to work for one of the big 2 in order to have "made it"?
I'm serious...if it weren't for certain books and creators that I discovered this year, I would say 2004 was the worst year for comic books ever.
I guess I'm just being more philisophical lately. I guess that's what tends to happen when you find out you're going to be a dad in 8 months...
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