Lets do a comparison of how things are going between DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
So last year DC Comics launched the New 52 group of books. I think it's been average so far. No matter what the advertising says the majority of those books are average at best. It was supposedly a clean slate for new readers to come on board and not get lost in years worth of back story. Everyone had to follow that mandate, except Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison of course. Those guys books were already making money, so don't screw them up. Reading Green Lantern number 1 was really reading number 61 because thats where the story picks up from. And Batman Incorporated should have just not existed anymore and Damien should be gone as well. But nope Damiens still around and Batman Inc. returned. So what changed for the better? Lets find out.
This whole 52 thing was not meant to reestablish the upper echelon books of DC as more dominate books. Superman and Batman are always going to sell well. It was the middle of the road books that were supposed to get a boost from the relaunch. Some time in mid 2011 Dan Didio and Jim Lee stated that they wanted to broaden the line of less than high profile titles. So looking at the 52 line now, titles like Nightwing, Supergirl, Batgirl, Aquaman, the Flash, Red Lanterns and All Star Western get more attention from readers who may have passed on those titles had they come out within the old numbering system. So that helps the readers who have heard of these title and characters from before the relaunch. Has it helped new readers, we'll know that answer when we get to the 1 year mark for the new 52.
Aquaman is not a punchline. That's the subtle idea that Geoff Johns is trying to ingrain into that comic. I think its working but Ivan Reis has to get a lot of credit for making this work. I don't care for Azzarellos Wonder Woman. It's not cliche or boring, I just don't think that book works. Wonder Woman is not Kratos from God of War so she doesn't need to constantly be slaying monsters every issue. She's even stranger in Justice League. I like Geoff Johns work a lot but really she has ice cream for the first time and acts like its the greatest creation since the wheel. Next you'll have her staring at a DVR while holding a sword in her hand threatening it if it doesn't record the Jersey Shore for her. All while yelling that Siri is a demon spawn of Hades since it talks to her like she's a commoner and not a princess. Hawkman, I know better than to lose my sanity over that insanity so no more about that.
These and other titles have a take it or leave it kind of feel to me. I'll take Red Lanterns but I'll leave Firestorm. Sometimes a title might surprise you like Swamp Thing or StormWatch. Than you get Static Shock or Men at War and realize that you should expect a dud once in a while. Overall though the line is good. Just good not great and doesn't seem to be pushing for great but it's still kind of new so the new car smell is still there, sort of. Whatever else comes out of this at least most of the books are reasonably priced under $3 which is more than I can say for Marvel.
Now here's where I piss on Marvel.
Out of all the books that Marvel prints I only read three monthly. Captain America by Ed Brubaker, Winter Soldier also by Mr. Brubaker and the Mighty Thor by Matt Fraction. And I buy the Invincible Iron Man only in trade paperback form. I'll be stopping my reading of one of those titles when Mr. Brubaker leaves in the next few months. Why only these titles, simple they stick out because they don't suck and are easy to follow.
The majority of Marvel books are priced at $3.99 and above. That is too much. If you have $20 to spend on comics and have all those books come out on the same week you'll have a dilemma. Do you buy 4 books for about $16 or do you look at what DC has to offer? With most of the DC books you can probably go home with 5 to 6 comics and maybe have some money left. And since the relaunch are easier to follow while most Marvel books have no sense of direction. And with that make their books not worth the money.
When I started reading comics I started with Marvel because they seemed easier to get into. DC seemed too complicated except for Batman but even that was hard to follow. X-Men was the end all be all. As long as you read that you were fine. Avengers was an exclusive club of comic historians. The Fantastic Four was slowly losing its steam with John Byrne leaving but still had an ease to it. Spider-Man I don't care for but Venom was badass and Carnage was Venom if he was the Joker.
It took the Death of Superman to get me into DC. It was another 7 years before I before I become more of a DC fan than a Marvel fan. And than 1 year of Brian Bendis on Avengers and Joss Whedons Astonishing X-Men before I walked away from the House of Bad Ideas. I only stick with Captain America because of Ed Brubaker and because Cap is awesome. If Matt Fraction wasn't on Thor I wouldn't be reading that. And it all goes back to quality. Most Marvel books are poor quality stories with half decent art. And if you can't make both of those two elements come together in a decent manner than you can't have my money.
And now coming after Avengers versus X-Men finishes we'll get another reboot. This time new mixed up creative teams. And more books that will probably go nowhere. And of course with a higher price for the books with the more well known creative teams. I can't support this. So for me make mine DC, flaws and all. It has it's problems Teen Titans isn't that good. Batwoman has great covers but average story telling. And the Superman books aren't good. Even with those and other problems DC is winning 2012, so far. But it's not about how you start but how you finish but I don't think Marvel will finish strong.
So last year DC Comics launched the New 52 group of books. I think it's been average so far. No matter what the advertising says the majority of those books are average at best. It was supposedly a clean slate for new readers to come on board and not get lost in years worth of back story. Everyone had to follow that mandate, except Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison of course. Those guys books were already making money, so don't screw them up. Reading Green Lantern number 1 was really reading number 61 because thats where the story picks up from. And Batman Incorporated should have just not existed anymore and Damien should be gone as well. But nope Damiens still around and Batman Inc. returned. So what changed for the better? Lets find out.
This whole 52 thing was not meant to reestablish the upper echelon books of DC as more dominate books. Superman and Batman are always going to sell well. It was the middle of the road books that were supposed to get a boost from the relaunch. Some time in mid 2011 Dan Didio and Jim Lee stated that they wanted to broaden the line of less than high profile titles. So looking at the 52 line now, titles like Nightwing, Supergirl, Batgirl, Aquaman, the Flash, Red Lanterns and All Star Western get more attention from readers who may have passed on those titles had they come out within the old numbering system. So that helps the readers who have heard of these title and characters from before the relaunch. Has it helped new readers, we'll know that answer when we get to the 1 year mark for the new 52.
Aquaman is not a punchline. That's the subtle idea that Geoff Johns is trying to ingrain into that comic. I think its working but Ivan Reis has to get a lot of credit for making this work. I don't care for Azzarellos Wonder Woman. It's not cliche or boring, I just don't think that book works. Wonder Woman is not Kratos from God of War so she doesn't need to constantly be slaying monsters every issue. She's even stranger in Justice League. I like Geoff Johns work a lot but really she has ice cream for the first time and acts like its the greatest creation since the wheel. Next you'll have her staring at a DVR while holding a sword in her hand threatening it if it doesn't record the Jersey Shore for her. All while yelling that Siri is a demon spawn of Hades since it talks to her like she's a commoner and not a princess. Hawkman, I know better than to lose my sanity over that insanity so no more about that.
These and other titles have a take it or leave it kind of feel to me. I'll take Red Lanterns but I'll leave Firestorm. Sometimes a title might surprise you like Swamp Thing or StormWatch. Than you get Static Shock or Men at War and realize that you should expect a dud once in a while. Overall though the line is good. Just good not great and doesn't seem to be pushing for great but it's still kind of new so the new car smell is still there, sort of. Whatever else comes out of this at least most of the books are reasonably priced under $3 which is more than I can say for Marvel.
Now here's where I piss on Marvel.
Out of all the books that Marvel prints I only read three monthly. Captain America by Ed Brubaker, Winter Soldier also by Mr. Brubaker and the Mighty Thor by Matt Fraction. And I buy the Invincible Iron Man only in trade paperback form. I'll be stopping my reading of one of those titles when Mr. Brubaker leaves in the next few months. Why only these titles, simple they stick out because they don't suck and are easy to follow.
The majority of Marvel books are priced at $3.99 and above. That is too much. If you have $20 to spend on comics and have all those books come out on the same week you'll have a dilemma. Do you buy 4 books for about $16 or do you look at what DC has to offer? With most of the DC books you can probably go home with 5 to 6 comics and maybe have some money left. And since the relaunch are easier to follow while most Marvel books have no sense of direction. And with that make their books not worth the money.
When I started reading comics I started with Marvel because they seemed easier to get into. DC seemed too complicated except for Batman but even that was hard to follow. X-Men was the end all be all. As long as you read that you were fine. Avengers was an exclusive club of comic historians. The Fantastic Four was slowly losing its steam with John Byrne leaving but still had an ease to it. Spider-Man I don't care for but Venom was badass and Carnage was Venom if he was the Joker.
It took the Death of Superman to get me into DC. It was another 7 years before I before I become more of a DC fan than a Marvel fan. And than 1 year of Brian Bendis on Avengers and Joss Whedons Astonishing X-Men before I walked away from the House of Bad Ideas. I only stick with Captain America because of Ed Brubaker and because Cap is awesome. If Matt Fraction wasn't on Thor I wouldn't be reading that. And it all goes back to quality. Most Marvel books are poor quality stories with half decent art. And if you can't make both of those two elements come together in a decent manner than you can't have my money.
And now coming after Avengers versus X-Men finishes we'll get another reboot. This time new mixed up creative teams. And more books that will probably go nowhere. And of course with a higher price for the books with the more well known creative teams. I can't support this. So for me make mine DC, flaws and all. It has it's problems Teen Titans isn't that good. Batwoman has great covers but average story telling. And the Superman books aren't good. Even with those and other problems DC is winning 2012, so far. But it's not about how you start but how you finish but I don't think Marvel will finish strong.
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