Swing, Baby, Swing

I haven't really commented on comic books much lately, so here's my opinion of recent events: I don't really have one.

The whole New 52 thing at DC kind of broke me. Ultimately it wasn't the quality of the books or the questionable editorial decisions or the way any race or gender or sexual orientation was portrayed, but the fact that I just didn't want to get involved in a new vast storytelling empire. I've had my universes and I like those and I'll read those. Someone else can have these not-new takes on old characters and stories. There's nothing new there, so why should I bother.

And with that I've lost interest in the whole ordeal. I've been tired of plunking down $3 to $4 to whatever dollars for these short little stories. It's like an addiction when you don't really value what you have and are only collecting to get that next book.

A big underlying reason for why I don't want to go back to being a regular collector, is the choices and decisions of the editorial staff at both DC and Marvel. I don't appreciate the common practice of putting a talented and appealing artist on a book for the first three issues to draw in readers and then moving him on to another book to sell the same way. It doesn't make me trust that they value the story and are going to tell it well. The same reason works for why I don't want to buy a new #1 every week because that's one of the only ways they can sell a comic. DC has and continues to have underhanded and/or disrespectful and/or dumb decisions on a consistent basis. They did a fair amount of backtracking on what should have been great stories for Superman before the relaunch. They've given a man known for not producing quality work the reins on three or four different books. I mean, this whole New 52 thing is starting to look like the 90's all over again and if you pick up the books, it's the same stories they've been telling for years.

I know that both Marvel and DC are struggling to stay pertinent and profitable in this world of economic difficulty and changing media, but they're sacrificing what makes comics good. At this rate, even if they manage to transition into a digital medium, the books won't be worth reading. They need solid storytelling and new ideas. I just don't want to read about Superman fighting that old-new villain again in the rehashed ... eh, whatever.

All that trash talk being said, I will say that I see good things. Batwoman is the most amazing book DC publishes and stands in the Top 10 books at least for this new century. At Marvel, Wolverin and the X-men actually looks pretty cool. And more books than that are good and fun and will be that way for a younger generation. I just wish Marvel and DC would enforce quality rather than losing those new readers down the road, like they're losing me.

So, I said I don't have an opinion of recent events, and I don't. All that's the same opinion I've had for years. DC changed their logo, this artist is doing this, etc. Even if I an state an opinion, it's only because it's the same stuff I've seen before. Maybe it would be more accurate to say I don't care the same way I used to.

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Went back to work today. Like putting on a pair of bicycle shorts: Uncomfortable, but I remember how.