Why back issues rule

[The Toyroom]

I think in a lot of ways, the deconstructionist movement in super hero comics has slowly killed the genre. Creators like Miller and Moore took the characters in interesting directions, but they inspired others to do it as well...constantly. The characters weren't actually created for such tales, and therefore, after nearly 25 years of such doom and gloom self-loathing, the DC and Marvel Universes seem to be collapsing under their own weight.

Right...when that type of story-telling becomes status quo and "mainstream" it's no longer interesting or novel

Also, DC and Marvel's abandonment of the newstand for the direct market was a fatal flaw, IMHO. They didn't seem to put up much of a fight. I can see the appeal of the direct market of course, but why abandon the outlet that best brings in new readers? Did Disney quite licensing products for general retail when they opened their Disney Stores? You can still find Mickey Mouse t-shirts at Wal-Mart even though most malls have a Disney Store in them.

I had 3 newstands I would hit frequently as a kid, plus a few drugstores, frequent trips to "Reader's Island" at the mall AND a comic shop back in the day.
Now my only outlet is the comic shop, at a 20 minute drive every Saturday.

As a result of the over-examination and deconstruction of super heroes, the storylines have become decompressed. One issue of DC Comics Presents contained as much story as a 6-part story arc you'd find nowadays. The need to "trade it" is too great. Unfortunately this makes it almost impossible to "jump on" to a title. Sure, they have issues that are designed as "jump on" points, but if they have to do that, doesn't that tell us there is a major problem there?

I'd LOVE to see some "done-in-ones" but other than DC's "Brave and the Bold" (fitting actually), I'm not finding any....Everything is arc after arc after arc.

[enyawd72]

"Also, DC and Marvel's abandonment of the newstand for the direct market was a fatal flaw, IMHO. They didn't seem to put up much of a fight. I can see the appeal of the direct market of course, but why abandon the outlet that best brings in new readers? Did Disney quite licensing products for general retail when they opened their Disney Stores? You can still find Mickey Mouse t-shirts at Wal-Mart even though most malls have a Disney Store in them."

Exactly!! I grew up in a town so small it was a blip on the map, yet, I had six stores where I could buy comics. The grocery store, the newsstand, the drug store, the convenience store, the barber shop, and the gas station.

ALL of them had a spinning rack, where I could get my latest fix, and when we actually went into the city, EVERY grocery store, newsstand, drug store, convenience store, dept. store etc. had comics. They were everywhere. Now I have to drive at least 25 miles to the closest comic shop. The town I grew up in? Not a comic to be found ANYWHERE. How the hell is little Johnny gonna see one that looks exciting to him and pick it up? He's not.
Unfortunately, even if he did, the quarters in his pocket are useless, cause the damn books cost four dollars now.

It's pretty sad really...

[B-Lister]

^ This can be applied here as well:

I'm sure.

however, it bears repeating in this instance. Am I just a product of my time?, partly, it would seem.

but at least I'm READING superhero books.....things could be worse.

[BlackKnight]

Today's Comics Are Awesome.

[bobws]

[QUOTE=Mister Blisterfists;570672]E2C, I came into comics in the late 90s. Hal was already Parallax, and I really DON'T get why people love him.

to me he is and always will be nothing more than a killer. I can't wrap my head around why people build up a villain as a hero.
/QUOTE]




BECAUSE FOR 30 YEARS BEFORE THAT HE WAS ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST AND NOBLEST HEROES DC HAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then some genius decides they need new blood and turn a great hero into a villian.

THIS MISTAKE HAS NOW BEEN RECTIFIED!!!!!!!!!!

[Mego Superboy Prime]

Greatest years ever for comics are the mid 60's until the middle of the 80's. The stuff after that just doesn't interest me.

[Bruce Banner]

What they now call the "Bronze Age" was my favourite comic book era.
Great artwork, stories, vibrant, dynamic covers. The characters were mostly still in their most recognizable, iconic incarnations.
Just the thrill of going into the drugstore to see what issues they had on the racks every month.