Dark Knight Oscar, Comics Industry: Comic Book Syndicate

[hcvang]

You dont know that the academy's members are actually actors, directors, producers, photographers, etc... they're not old suits sitting around sitting cigars and sipping cognac. These people work in the industry all the time, are on level with everyone else who works in hollywood, etc...

to say they know nothing of movies is ridiculous.

[buzzingkingbee]

the oscars dont mean anythig

[TuzeTea]

I think that people are too indecisive when it comes to anything which takes more than 5 seconds to get into. Character creation and background takes a backseat to action and sometimes art

and the academy is just a bunch of ass-clowns patting themselves on the back and giving praise where it isnt deserved.. Its the only possible explanation for Gweneth Paltrow ever winning anything ever

[coydog0]

Hmm, I don't actually mind Paltrow, but I do know that the Academy are given tapes with either clips or ONE SCENE of the best actor nominees, and that is what they use to make their judgement.

At the very least, the Academy needs a massive overhaul. At best, it should be disabled completely

[coydog0]

Besides a small handful of writers (Morrison, Brubaker, Ellis, Ennis, Slott) I find all of Marvel/DC output to be, A) desperate to be taken as 'serious adult entertainment', and B) so obsessed with its own 'importance', that they are no longer enjoyable as STORIES. they're lectures on how great the writer is (ie: Bendis, Johns, Loeb). Say what you will about the 'cheesy' 1960s-80s, but at their best, they offered something the above mentioned don't: imagination, spontaneity and drama.

[coydog0]

I'm surprised more people haven't responded to Sam's challenge for comics to 'grow up'! We need more diversity, there's no doubt about that. But even most superhero stuff is a tiny step above the post-Watchmen 80s fallout, when every superhero was self-conscious and brooding.

[hcvang]

Why dont you look at Top Shelf, Fantagraphics, Fahrenheit, Dark Horse...?

These are the only companies who publish comics that can be called serious or adult oriented. Men in tights dont see even one drop of ink here.

[coydog0]

I agree, the material is out there. I think what Sam is addressing is the average 30 year old + comics reader that asks for comics to be taken 'seriously', then holds up 'X-force' as an example of the medium's potential.

[coydog0]

We are guilty of it as well. Our show caters 90% to the output of Marvel & DC, but we're trying to reach a mainstream audience who is more acquainted with comics through the movies. Hence, the glut of superhero reviews.

DC and Marvel (especially) are guilty of making most of their comics not only childish, but embarrassingly mediocre. With rare exception, their superhero lines are simply too terrible to warrant publishing.

So...why are people BUYING them?? That is the true question.

[hcvang]

I didnt realise that "people" were buying them, I thought it was only fanboys who bought them. In the bookstores, the books that sell are Blankets, Persepolis, etc. Why not review them?

[coydog0]

Well, either way, "people' bought enough tickets to make Dark Knight, Iron Man, Spider-Man and X-men make a few billion dollars combined at the box office.

Also, the "people" that buy manga out number the people buying Top Shelf buy a few million or so. Just something to keep in mind.

[hcvang]

movies are one thing - i thought you were about comics?

manga outnumbers sales of everything, thanks to japan - in our part of the world it's viewed like all other comics. Unless you're a fanboy.

[coydog0]

If only 'fanboys' buy superhero COMICS, then doesn't logic follow that only fanboys see superhero movies?

The people that paid $1 billion to see Dark Knight were all 'fanboys'. They were regular 'people',

So, its not so easy to group them all under one name and dismiss them as 'the other'.

Why does Pirates of the Caribbean make more money than 'No Country for Old Men'. Why does Nickelback sell more CDs than the White Stripes?

Comics DO need to grow up. But so do films and pop music.

[coydog0]

Its the same public that pays $11.00 to see the Spider-man movie,then calls the Spider-man comics reader a geek or a child. They also pay for the Nickelback ticket.

Hmm, maybe this is getting off track. Back to comics.

[coydog0]

Of course, Jason Lutes' BERLIN should sell more than Secret Invasion, but superheroes are not an inherently inferior genre. In fact, all genres are equal. The execution of each story should be judged on its own merits. If you think superheroes are 'only' for fanboys, you've obviously made up your mind, so I have a feeling this is a waste of my typing!

[hcvang]

indeed, you are wasting your time.

my career in publishing has formed my views on what the audience wants, I'm afraid.

[TuzeTea]

from now on, I'm going to start everything I say with "you know what really puts me into berserker mode?" :)... in my best Ben Stein voice hehe