Comic book oldsters

[ctc]

So;

Here's an interesting article. It refers to video games, but I think most of the principles apply to comics as well:

5 Ways to Tell You're Getting Too Old for Video Games | Cracked.com

I think it sums up some of the problems older fans of ANY of the nerdly arts have with newer material.

Don C.

[pmwasson]

I'm feeling old...

[Figuremod73]

mmmm......i seem to agree. Who eles besides me gets more enjoyment from FF4 than most of whats made today.
As for in comics i can see the comparison.
I am starting to see some grey hairs on the head

[MIB41]

I'm definitely feeling old. Seeing change is not necessarily what gets me there. It's seeing things that I see as contrived, yet the younger generation deems them 'refreshing' and 'compelling'. That's when I know the train has left the station. And alot of it just comes from being sick with experience. When you see old tricks being tried again and again, yet the consensus doesn't see it, you know your no longer part of today's "Pepsi" generation. When I talk about yearning for stories that compelled me as a kid, I have to remind myself that was the early to mid 70's. We're now in the 10's of the 21st century. OUCH! Now THAT makes me feel old.

[ctc]

>When I talk about yearning for stories that compelled me as a kid, I have to remind myself that was the early to mid 70's

That's one of the reasons I think it's okay to let go. Too many folks keep partaking of things WAY after they stop being fun. Things change, and the biggest thing that changes is you, the reader. OF COURSE stuff that was entertaining when you were 10 won't be now.... at least not in the same way. You're not 10. There's nothing wrong with that, you, or the industry. It's the natural progression of time.

>It's seeing things that I see as contrived, yet the younger generation deems them 'refreshing' and 'compelling'.

If you haven't seen it before, it's new to you. I think it's experience more than age. I went from raving fanboy to oldster burnout on superheroes over the course of a year and a half: didn't care for them as a kid, but got into them back when I worked at the comic shop. (early to mid 90's) Read 30 years of continuity in a short time, learned all the tropes, saw the repetition, got bored, signed off.... all in my mid-20's.

Don C.

[PNGwynne]

I'm definitely feeling old. Seeing change is not necessarily what gets me there. It's seeing things that I see as contrived, yet the younger generation deems them 'refreshing' and 'compelling'. That's when I know the train has left the station. And alot of it just comes from being sick with experience. When you see old tricks being tried again and again, yet the consensus doesn't see it, you know your no longer part of today's "Pepsi" generation. When I talk about yearning for stories that compelled me as a kid, I have to remind myself that was the early to mid 70's. We're now in the 10's of the 21st century. OUCH! Now THAT makes me feel old.

Beautifully expressed. Thank goodness for reprints *sigh*

[ctc]

>Thank goodness for reprints

Sometimes I think reprints are a bad thing 'cos they make it too easy to relive the past rather than seek out the new. Sad, considering HOW MUCH is currently available comicwise nowadays.

'Course, sometimes I thnk they're great, 'cos of all the awesome old stuff I'd never get to read otherwise.

Don C.

[jds1911a1]

I'm with you MIB41

[Figuremod73]

It kind of reminds me of the Twilight Saga. Teens find it so engaging and compelling but i almost laugh when i hear one of them talk about it. Pick up a Anne Rice novel i want to yell at them!

[ctc]

>Pick up a Anne Rice novel i want to yell at them!

That's funny! I remember having a similar reaction to the Anne Rice fans back in the 80's. It's the circle of life I guess.



....that's from Normalman #2; 1984. So I guess things really DO stay the same the more they change....

Don C.

[Figuremod73]

ive told people on a number of occasions that i probably could never have enjoyed pop culture as much as i did in the 80s....
i think that may be true for MOST people....

[Figuremod73]

i meant enjoy the time period they grew up in (not just the 80s, lol)

[ctc]

>i meant enjoy the time period they grew up in (not just the 80s, lol)

I think it's effectively true, even though it doesn't HAVE to be. But for most people there comes a time where nothing new gets in. I'm not sure why, but that seems to be the way it is.

Don C.

[Andy49er]

I think the same way. I think the storylines in comics became better with time and the pinnacle was in the mid to late 80's. Sure there are some clunkers regardless of what era, but I think the best are from the late 60's through the late 80's.

I feel the same about music too. I'm a huge heavy metal fan and the best bands were around in that time frame.