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Things to go away in 2014
SolitaireRose
Posts: 1,445
I started a thread like this last year, and as this year comes to a close, I figured I would do it again. This is my list of things I want to see go away in 2014:
- People saying that cosplayers and women cosplayers in particular aren't "true fans". Anyone who spends a lot of time to dress up like a character in a movie, TV show or comic book and go to a fan gathering is a "true fan". Anyone who watched Iron Man 3 and liked it is a "true fan". Anyone who read a Richie Rich comic as a kid and goes to a shop to buy a trade paperback of the character is a "true fan." Let's embrace anyone who wanders into our clubhouse and greet them as a friend. THAT is how to be a "true fan".
-Market manipulation. This year, there were quite a few times it felt like 1994 all over again, and the talk of investing in comics is popping up. Stop it. Investors don't grow a market. Buy what you like and like what you buy. Every time you buy a comic, you're voting on what they will do more of, so if you buy the ultra-shiny rare cover with the new character because it's going for $50 on eBay, it means more of that will be produced.
-"Company" fans. I like Marvel a lot. I started reading them at age 12, I know their universe best, and I can give you detail on their obscure characters...but that doesn't mean I buy the books I don't enjoy, I don't buy books from Dark Horse, Image and Oni. I don't follow universes, I follow creators, and I have a feeling that the people who buy books to "keep up with the universe" are feeling the pinch int he wallet.
-Hating on things before they come out. Yeah, I know, we're fans, so we're like that, but it is time to stop. I don't know if the Walking Dead spinoff will be good or not and neither do you. I don't know if Ben Afflec will be a good Batman and neither do you. I don't know if a comic coming out in 2015 will be any good or not. So, let's just wait until the stuff drops before we hate on it.
-Miley Cyrus's tongue. Geez, lady, whoever told you it was sexy was kidding.
-Creepy hypersexualized books about children's characters. Ew. Ew ew ew ew ew. A note to the people who do these, you ain't Alan Moore and your "Alice in Wonderland" soft-porn is more like a 70's exploitation movie than "Lost Girls."
-Speaking of Alan Moore, can we all quit getting mad when he gives an interview that he doesn't like super-hero comics? It's his opinion, and he's entitled to it. He got screwed over by both of the major super-hero publishers, so maybe he's a bit bitter...
-The phrase "And things will never be the same" and its variants. We get it, you have a story with a big event in it. I read crime novels, so there's nothing you will do in a super-hero book to the protagonist that tops the stuff I've read. Tell me a good story and I wont' care where everyone is at the end of it.
-Fans saying "I can't believe they canceled such-and-such book...why?" Mark Evanier said back int he 70's that comics get canceled for one reason and one reason alone: Sales were not high enough to generate the profit the company wanted. There are some books that sell fairly well that get canceled because the creative teams get high dollars...if Jim Lee is working on a comic that sells 40,000 a month, that book is doomed, while is Joe Bronie is drawing it, it will keep going. Simple economics.
-People who don't have FUN with their hobby. Please, if your hobby isn't fun, don't do it. Life's too short.
- People saying that cosplayers and women cosplayers in particular aren't "true fans". Anyone who spends a lot of time to dress up like a character in a movie, TV show or comic book and go to a fan gathering is a "true fan". Anyone who watched Iron Man 3 and liked it is a "true fan". Anyone who read a Richie Rich comic as a kid and goes to a shop to buy a trade paperback of the character is a "true fan." Let's embrace anyone who wanders into our clubhouse and greet them as a friend. THAT is how to be a "true fan".
-Market manipulation. This year, there were quite a few times it felt like 1994 all over again, and the talk of investing in comics is popping up. Stop it. Investors don't grow a market. Buy what you like and like what you buy. Every time you buy a comic, you're voting on what they will do more of, so if you buy the ultra-shiny rare cover with the new character because it's going for $50 on eBay, it means more of that will be produced.
-"Company" fans. I like Marvel a lot. I started reading them at age 12, I know their universe best, and I can give you detail on their obscure characters...but that doesn't mean I buy the books I don't enjoy, I don't buy books from Dark Horse, Image and Oni. I don't follow universes, I follow creators, and I have a feeling that the people who buy books to "keep up with the universe" are feeling the pinch int he wallet.
-Hating on things before they come out. Yeah, I know, we're fans, so we're like that, but it is time to stop. I don't know if the Walking Dead spinoff will be good or not and neither do you. I don't know if Ben Afflec will be a good Batman and neither do you. I don't know if a comic coming out in 2015 will be any good or not. So, let's just wait until the stuff drops before we hate on it.
-Miley Cyrus's tongue. Geez, lady, whoever told you it was sexy was kidding.
-Creepy hypersexualized books about children's characters. Ew. Ew ew ew ew ew. A note to the people who do these, you ain't Alan Moore and your "Alice in Wonderland" soft-porn is more like a 70's exploitation movie than "Lost Girls."
-Speaking of Alan Moore, can we all quit getting mad when he gives an interview that he doesn't like super-hero comics? It's his opinion, and he's entitled to it. He got screwed over by both of the major super-hero publishers, so maybe he's a bit bitter...
-The phrase "And things will never be the same" and its variants. We get it, you have a story with a big event in it. I read crime novels, so there's nothing you will do in a super-hero book to the protagonist that tops the stuff I've read. Tell me a good story and I wont' care where everyone is at the end of it.
-Fans saying "I can't believe they canceled such-and-such book...why?" Mark Evanier said back int he 70's that comics get canceled for one reason and one reason alone: Sales were not high enough to generate the profit the company wanted. There are some books that sell fairly well that get canceled because the creative teams get high dollars...if Jim Lee is working on a comic that sells 40,000 a month, that book is doomed, while is Joe Bronie is drawing it, it will keep going. Simple economics.
-People who don't have FUN with their hobby. Please, if your hobby isn't fun, don't do it. Life's too short.
Comments
- What about if you're character driven over company or writer? I like what I like, so I spend my cash on what I want to read. Right now, that's with Dynamite Entertainment. It's not because of any specific loyalty, but I enjoy reading the Shadow. Since there are several books released by DE, I'm sticking with the company.
- Deducing issues with future movies, books, etc is no different then deducing them to be 'awesome.' Same information, just different perspectives. If 'we' did not voice concerns, conversations would be very one-side (and why only the positive on that one side), stuff like political and sports shows wouldn't even exist.
Discussing how the Patriots aren't Super Bowl contenders after each game because of injuries and a weaken defensive line, despite winning games, is something I listen to each day of the week on Boston sports radio. Seeing why Obama is/isn't hurting this country is something I see daily on my twitter feed.
M
Are we talking about HATING vs having an opinion of a casting decision based on an actor's previous screen work? Because even though I am not a fan of the casting decision I am still going to see the movie but Batflec has to blow me away. But to to be fair I was going to see that Runner Runner movie of his that bombed when it comes out on DVD because that I thought that role might show a different side of him.
I just want to differentiate myself somewhat from the death-threat nuts.
Stuff I don't want to see in 2014?
Any of the bad crap I experienced in 2013.
Yes, Miley Cyrus's tongue could go back in her pie-hole.
The real fan crap could go away because the "non-fans" are what keeps Walking Dead on TV and the movies we want made into the theater.
2. Publishers not releasing things on time.
(the current king of at least one of the above is Dave Sims who solicited the 25th Anniversary Cerebus High Society in August of 2011 - still not released)
3. Relaunches/Reboots/Renumbering (in general) and especially when there is no reason to do it (see Daredevil)
4. Bemoaning the cancellation of a poor selling title - especially if you were not buying the title to begin with. Example: Superman Family Adventures got a lot of love on the forum when its cancellation was announced but not a lot of people admitted to actually buying it.
M
Also, no more mirroring the movie/TV series that are based on you. Adding a Nick Fury, Jr who looks like Jackson, altering costumes to match the live-action version, & (try) writing Stark/Iron Man to sound like RDJ cheapens the source material & makes you look foolish.
M
Stop Hating (Just Say "It's not for me") - Do we realize how stupid we sound when we actively hate on something geeky? Probably not. Even still, what a silly thing to waste such a precious commodity as hate on. Remember that hate isn't the opposite of love - indeed to hate something means you feel passionate enough about it to hate it - apathy is the true opposite of love.
Instead, this past year I've taken to saying "It's not for me." Some examples:
"Zenescope books? Gorgeous covers, and I know a few of their writers. Nice guys, but the books really aren't my cuppa tea."
"Dubstep? Not really my thing."
"I really tried to get into the new Battlestar Galactica series...it just never really clicked with me. Which is weird because I loved the original series when I was a kid."
So much more fun (and conversation inducing) than saying I hate Zenescope, dubstep and Battlestar Galactica. Again, save your hate for something that deserves it. Someone who truly wronged you, social injustice, stuff like that...certainly makes you come off better as a person.
Someone accused me hating that person. Unfortunately, I didn't care enough for the person to actually have hatred.
M
:D
But then, if we aren't interested anymore, we can always not read those interviews. And then, poof! They have gone away! ;)
(At least from your own 2014)
Its like trying to convince someone to date you. Chances are if you need the extra sell, you're really not worth the person's time.
If something sounds 1/2 way interesting, do your own research & try it.
M
:)
It is a vicious cycle: a snake god eating its own tail ;)
Of course, that would make me selectively ignorant, which also goes against my nature.
Dammit.
When it comes to Moore, I have the same obnoxious attitude that ex-smokers do around still-smokers.
Love him (or Oasis) or hate him, the press loves to talk to Noel because he's fairly outspoken, will say pretty much exactly what's on his mind, and won't apologize for it. He's great for a soundbite or a quote you're likely to remember. He's usually pretty witty about it, and you'll find yourself sometimes laughing even as you can't believe he just said it.
I think Moore's the same way - reporters are going to keep going back to the well because he's going to speak his mind, no filters, and give them what they want - a quote that'll generate hits. And you can't deny they get people talking...