The Comics Lore Unpopular Opinion Thread 2 2

[Readcomix]

On 9/10/2023 at 4:24 PM, Ken Aldred said:

I was reading a lot of European / Heavy Metal material at the time, so the tone, art and storytelling fitted in well with that.

American mainstream, not really.  Very different.

I read other stuff too. I just didn’t like it. Hence the unpopular opinion.

[Readcomix]

On 9/10/2023 at 3:56 PM, Ken Aldred said:

Great Joe Kubert artwork, though. The stories were fairly typical DC Silver Age standard. From a modern perspective, a lot of the material appears simplistic and formulaic. Same criticism could be applied to other series, such as Justice League, or the science-fiction and mystery titles.

Agreed about Kubert. Would love a nice B&B #34 with good color strike. Beautiful cover. But even the “typical DC Silver” standard, it’s a cut below. Got the TPB of all six issues in a collection. It was awful. JLA, Flash, superboy, etc still readable and charming. It’s worse than the standard. 

[Larryw7]

I think Avengers 1 is one of the worst comics I've ever read. I recently picked up a facsimile copy because I haven't read it in a long time. I can't believe how terrible the writing and dialogue were. The poor Hulk in clown makeup? The poor character motivations, Stan's less than snappy dialogue. Kirby's art is fine, typical early Marvel. But the story was so bad that I no longer care whether I get an original copy of 1 anymore. 

[Larryw7]

On 9/10/2023 at 10:26 AM, Robot Man said:

I’ve said it before and suprisingly, didn’t get as much push back as I figured I would.

I realize the popularity and significance of IH 181. But what a stinker of a book. Poorly written and lousy art. I recently tried to read it again and just couldn’t get through it. I have read many much better Wolverine stories although he has never been one of my favorite characters.

IH 181 is a perfect book for a CGC slab.

I've always kinda liked it. Typical Marvel bronze from the period that I was buying books off the rack at 7-11. 

[RobHW]

Bringing Gwen Stacy back was the most revolting move I've ever seen.  After the bold and brilliant story that killed her, it was all undone in the cheapest possible way.

[Larryw7]

On 9/10/2023 at 6:10 PM, RobHW said:

Bringing Gwen Stacy back was the most revolting move I've ever seen.  After the bold and brilliant story that killed her, it was all undone in the cheapest possible way.

That was Stan's doing. He ordered Gerry Conway to "fix" it after reader backlash.

I really hated when they brought back Norman Osborn to fix the Clone saga. His death was perfect, but Marvel had to ruin a classic moment because they wrote themselves into a corner.

[comicginger1789]

On 9/10/2023 at 10:26 AM, Robot Man said:

I’ve said it before and suprisingly, didn’t get as much push back as I figured I would.

I realize the popularity and significance of IH 181. But what a stinker of a book. Poorly written and lousy art. I recently tried to read it again and just couldn’t get through it. I have read many much better Wolverine stories although he has never been one of my favorite characters.

IH 181 is a perfect book for a CGC slab.

I feel the same about Hulk 340. Great cover but yuck what a poor story and sloppy interior art. And I enjoy Spidey McFarlane 

[comicginger1789]

Newsstand books look ugly. Barcodes = yuck

Also 15% of 500 000 is not rare. Try books that were only distributed to a couple cities for a few months…that’s rare. But I’m not the majority of the market and thankfully, the majority will pay up for the former and only some ever gain interest in the latter which is fine with me 

[Ken Aldred]

On 9/10/2023 at 10:02 PM, Dr. Balls said:

There's a special place in Hell reserved for Joe Quesada and his not-fit-for-toilet-paper Origin mini-series and cosmic-level stupidity in giving Logan another name. Subsequent editors that continue to require Logan be called "James" will hopefully be roasting down there with him.

I didn’t like the name at all.

And the series itself was quite boring.

[ttfitz]

On 9/10/2023 at 4:39 PM, Ken Aldred said:

On 9/10/2023 at 4:33 PM, Robot Man said:

I don’t think I’ve read X-Men 94 since I bought off the rack. I don’t remember it being anything that stood out, just “different”. A good time to dig it out for a second read…

It’s basically the slow, boring start to a two-part story which gets better in issue 95, with its tragic ending.

Went to a Chris Claremont panel at Baltimore this weekend, where he talked about what was planned to be Giant-Size #2 was turned into 94 and 95 when it was decided to restart the series. Probably a story well known over the years, but it was the first time I remembered hearing it.

[ttfitz]

On 9/10/2023 at 6:10 PM, RobHW said:

Bringing Gwen Stacy back was the most revolting move I've ever seen.  After the bold and brilliant story that killed her, it was all undone in the cheapest possible way.

Isn't this supposed to be the "unpopular opinion" thread - do most people think that was a good idea?

[Ken Aldred]

On 9/11/2023 at 3:56 AM, ttfitz said:

Isn't this supposed to be the "unpopular opinion" thread - do most people think that was a good idea?

The original Clone Saga was okay, if a little short and underdeveloped when you go back and read it.

Revolting is maybe a little strong, but the use of clones as a plot device has certainly become overused in the decades since then.

At the time it was new and interesting.

[OtherEric]

On 9/10/2023 at 9:28 AM, topofthetotem said:

Watchmen is overrated.

I actually think Watchmen is pretty correctly rated, personally.

Killing Joke?  That's an Alan Moore comic that's insanely overrated.

[Flanders82]

On 9/10/2023 at 7:26 AM, Robot Man said:

I realize the popularity and significance of IH 181. But what a stinker of a book

It's absolutely awful. So is 180. I didn't read either until recently after always thinking about buying a copy for my personal collection. I'm glad I've read both and have no desire to own either one now. 

[BA773]

Oh my god, so much answer! 

I will watch all of this this evening quietly in my bed! I'm so impatient to read your posts. Thanks a lot guys!

[shadroch]

On 9/10/2023 at 1:27 PM, Ken Aldred said:

Don’t see that as an unpopular opinion.

Quite a common understanding amongst older collectors.

Mentioned, with a degree of contempt, several times during chats I’ve had at conventions.

Usually by broke people.

[JollyComics]

On 9/10/2023 at 11:28 AM, topofthetotem said:

Watchmen is overrated.

 

On 9/10/2023 at 1:57 PM, Readcomix said:

And Ronin is boring

I admitted that I never saw both movies. I don't plan to watch both movies unless you convince me to watch them.

Edited September 11, 2023 by JollyComics

[JollyComics]

On 9/11/2023 at 12:33 AM, OtherEric said:

I actually think Watchmen is pretty correctly rated, personally.

Killing Joke?  That's an Alan Moore comic that's insanely overrated.

I thought V for Vendetta was pretty good. Alan Moore did well.

[JollyComics]

On 9/10/2023 at 5:02 PM, Larryw7 said:

I think Avengers 1 is one of the worst comics I've ever read. I recently picked up a facsimile copy because I haven't read it in a long time. I can't believe how terrible the writing and dialogue were. The poor Hulk in clown makeup? The poor character motivations, Stan's less than snappy dialogue. Kirby's art is fine, typical early Marvel. But the story was so bad that I no longer care whether I get an original copy of 1 anymore. 

Speaking of writings were sloppy, how many stories did they write every month at Marvel Comics during 1970's?  I am sure it was pretty stressful.

[Ken Aldred]

On 9/11/2023 at 4:19 PM, shadroch said:

Usually by broke people.

To a degree.

Or, alternatively, by those of us with more control, intuition and common sense than money.

And, to me, at this stage, that’s a more valuable set of attributes.

Edited September 11, 2023 by Ken Aldred