HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: lsmith@deci.cs.umn.edu (Lance "Squiddie" Smith)
Subject: Re: Vertigo Bomb
Organization: The Bored Squids of the Poor
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 02:47:50 GMT

In article <1993Jan8.215422.26596@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu> pml3@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (Paul Michael Lewis) writes:
>This really pains me to see the lack of artistic talent that DC puts on their
>'mature' titles.  It's hard to judge the writing on these books with just a 2
>page preview, but I just could not believe how bad the artwork was on
>Sebastian O, Black Orchid (Jill Thompson sucks, Sandman Fanboys), and Kid
>Eternity.  This is not something new for DC.  Hellblazer and Swamp Thing has
>suffered with subpar artists for a long time.

First, the correct epithet is "drooling sandboy." I'm beginning to think
Karen Berger or Neil Gaiman ran over your dog. You certainly seem to be
going out of your way to tell us that you hate Sandman every time you post.
As far as I can tell you're five for six in your last postings.

>I predict that the above mentioned Vertigo titles will be cancelled within a
>year.

Well, seeing as how Sebastian 0 is a mini-series I doubt it can be canned.
Black Orchid starts up later, April or May?, so it may survive the year. If
I had to pick one to go quickly it might be Kid Eternity. As you say, it's
hard to judge from a two-page preview. 

----------------------------
  Lance "Cr2O3.2H2O" Smith | "The name's Earp, Wyatt Earp. And you're nothin'
    (lsmith@cs.umn.edu)    |  but a sissified goober! I don't like your
 Start your own revolution |  kind in my town. I'm countin' to three..."
 and cut out the middleman |                _Mr Peanut at the O.K. Corral_
From: leekil@bbn.com (Lee Kilpatrick)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Grendel #6 cover
Date: 11 Jan 1993 01:53:55 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com


Is the cover to Grendel #6 supposed to be in reference to anything in
particular?  I seem to think that there was a Star Wars poster with a
similar picture.  Someone I talked to said it was "a very generic
picture".  Maybe there was some work or art with a similar picture?
Maybe fountains or something?


	Lee


Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: jelmore@nyx.cs.du.edu (John Elmore)
Subject: The Big Marvel Slurp (Was Re: Marvel Implosion Imminent?)
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 93 07:32:45 GMT

[Lots of stuff about the big boom deleted]

This isn't any long-winded philosophical rambling about why Marvel seems
to be producing so many new comics, or anything like that.

I thought that Marvel's scheme of releasing a clutch of new series every
summer (The Big Guns, etc.) was going to get them in trouble way back when
they released such comparatively long-running titles as QUASAR, SHE-HULK,
and S.H.I.E.L.D. I can't see why Marvel needs to give every character in
existance a series, and the fallout is gonna come soon.

Jumping all of the titles to a minimum of $1.25 was also a bad idea. I
mean, that cut the buying power of your average young comics fan 20% (Five
bucks will only buy 4 titles instead of 5 is how I got that number) and
most of the more popular titles (GHOST RIDER, EXCALIBUR, and any
quasi-"deluxe" title) run around $1.50 or $1.75!

My plea is for some of the newer titles. I _don't_ think that all of the
new series will automatically go. I think that simple economics will
decide it; the series that aren't selling well will go.

The 2099 titles look to be more than the "New Universe" it was touted to
be; DOOM 2099 is probably the best-written to date (sorry PAD!), with
SPIDER-MAN 2099 a close second. I think RAVAGE 2099 is one of the sorriest
excuses for a comic to come out for a while (hey, Stan Lee writes it!),
and I haven't read any PUNISHER 2099 yet, but opinions aren't very high. I
think the 2099 line's existance will depend more on any new series to join
the line.

I agree that Marvel UK isn't much to look at--DEATH'S HEAD II isn't too
bad, despite the "instant cross-over", but at least DH had a mini-series
to start out.

The Midnight Sons line seems destined for failure; MORBIUS is pretty blah;
NIGHTSTALKERS isn't too bad, despite the Hydra zombies story. DARKHOLD
could do OK, if it avoids the "crossover with every Marvel title in
existance" phase it seems headed towards. SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE will
probably do OK, and I think we all know why...

I wish Marvel would take its older readers more seriously; the only series
I can think of that could truly be considered a "mature" title is
CLIVE BARKER'S HELLRAISER. I think DC's mature titles is the one definite
advantage it has over Marvel. That, and its willingness to publish things
that are outside of the DC Universe (GRIFFIN and TEMPUS FUGITIVE are
two good examples) that aren't striaght schlock--REN & STIMPY, KID-N-PLAY,
CAPTAIN PLANET, and BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT COMIC BOOK are examples of
what I call schlock, REN & STIMPY's popularity notwithstanding.

Thanks for letting be babble!

Jay (=

Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: jcowling@ophelia.UVic.CA (Scowling Jim Cowling)
Subject: Re: Futuristic Pseudocussing
Organization: University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 23:01:44 GMT

In article <1993Jan7.153827.699@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> ctatro@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (kristoff) writes:
>In article <1993Jan7.152015.336@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> dvandom@magnus.acs.o
>hio-state.edu (Dave Van Domelen) writes:
>>Actually, do you seriously expect the language of cussing to remain totally
>>unchanged for over a hundred years?  Fuck will have faded into
>>obscurity and historical dramas, and even Shock seems on its way out, judging
>>by how often it is used.  Hopefully PAD or one of the other 2099 writers will
>>come up with a new phrase that can make most of the characters blush, and use
>>it very infrequently and only in dire situations (Belgium, man!).
>
>Such as "Nass" or "Bloody Grife" - one of the better things T&M have brought to 
>LSH (it's just so much fun to shout in a crowded shopping mall!! - no one has a 
>clue what you're talking about, but they all look shocked nonetheless).

I have a friend whose name is (believe it or not) Bart Simpson.  Honest to God.
He's got a Green Lantern symbol tattoo on his shoulder, and his favourite
curse is "Bloody Nass".  He's been using it near-constantly for about three
years.  Needless to say (but I'll say it) I prefer to keep my distance from
him.

-------
Scowling Jim Cowling, Professional Evil Person
Creative Writing Department, University of Victoria (opinions disassociated)

GEnie:  J.COWLING	Internet:  jcowling@ophelia.UVic.CA
-------
From: m23364@mwunix (James Meritt)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: Question about LSH #40
Date: 6 Jan 93 19:59:53 GMT
Organization: MITRE Corporation, McLean VA

In article <1992Dec31.223855.1296@zip.eecs.umich.edu> tyg@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Tom Galloway) writes:
}In article <1992Dec31.143717.3135@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> jfurr@nyx.cs.du.edu (Joel Furr) writes:
}>Squire Burroughs has appeared before, energy powers and all.  Don't have
}>issue numbers handy.
}
}Um, Joel, if you can find an appearance other than being mentioned as
}being in the SW6 pods, I'd really like some issue numbers or at least a
}plot synopsis. So far you're the only person, including a whole batch 
}of LSH trivia whizes, to recall a previous appearance.  

Uhhhh.  How do you clone something that doesn't have DNA?
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: moriarty@tc.fluke.COM (The Napoleon of Crime)
Subject: Re: That McFarlane Lad
Reply-To: moriarty@tc.fluke.COM (The Napoleon of Crime)
Organization: The Institute for Criminal Science, Gizmonics Control
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 02:21:14 GMT

In <JJP8wB5w165w@Micor.OCUnix.on.ca> panda@Micor.OCUnix.on.ca (Elizabeth Holden) writes:
>MacFarlane, any time I have seen him, heard him, or seen an interview 
>with him, strikes me as the perennial adolescent: a sort of Peter Pan 
>character who hasn't managed intellectually to get past puberty, but who 
>is having a terrific time with his life.   I have to keep reminding 
>myself that this man is an *adult*.

Gee, sounds like Dan Quayle to me.

Say -- how come you never see them photographed together?

                           DAVE BARRY'S 1992 IN REVIEW -- August 18th
                              "As the Republican Party, facing an uphill
                               fight, gathers in Houston for a crucial
                               convention, millions of issues-conscious
                               American voters focus their full attention on
                               Woody Allen and Mia Farrow."
---
                                        Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
INTERNET:     moriarty@tc.fluke.COM
Manual UUCP:  {uunet, uw-beaver, sun, microsoft}!fluke!moriarty
CREDO:        You gotta be Cruel to be Kind...
                 **>> Keep circulating the tapes <<**
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: jsweet@irvine.com (Jerry Sweet)
Subject: Next Men Russian
Organization: Irvine Compiler Corp., Irvine, California, USA
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 01:17:31 GMT

Thought this might barely amuse some of you who follow Next Men...no
knowledge of Russian required.  Take a look at the Russian speech
balloons.  Haul out your Webster's dictionary, look up "alphabet," and
find the list of Russian letters and corresponding phonemes.  Now
phonetically decode the balloons.  Compare to the "translations."

It's hardly worth the trouble, unless you're REALLY REALLY bored, but
might provide you a microscopic smirk.
From: manga@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Peter Michael Betz)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic (was Da Big Slurp)
Date: 9 Jan 1993 00:03:24 GMT
Organization: Computing Services Division, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
  Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4

In article <4qzrx!j@lynx.unm.edu> lazlo@triton.unm.edu (Lazlo Nibble) writes:
>dan@spiff.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Dan Parmenter) writes:
>
>> I'm *really* tired of Evan Dorkin.  His new music column (I don't even 
>> know where it appears) with Kyle Baker is typical music fanboy (yes they 
>> exist there too) drivel.  I find his hipper-than-thou attitude tedious,  
>> his tastes boring, his insights shallow and his humor non-existent.
>
>"Hipper-than-thou attitude?"  Dorkin is so insecure that it's sometimes 
>hard to tell whether he even has an *ego*, let alone an ego *problem*.
>Does he owe you money or something?
>
Indeed, this man has IN PRINT refered to some of his stuff, stuff that made
him SERIOUS money as "awful"

but then again, it could be that he actually IS hipper than thou....


                            Tiger-A
                         Otaku-for-Hire


Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: mamcconnell@happy.colorado.edu (Mark (MacBear) McConnell)
Subject: Re: Best Death
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: 11 Jan 93 18:55:24 MDT

My personal favorite death was a comic early in my comics reading
period.  It took place int S/LSH #203 and involved one of my favorite
all-time characters, Invisible Kid.  His death was pointless, there
were many actions that could have been done to prevent it, and yet 
here he was in Validus' hand being crushed to death.  Very moving
for a young reader.  He died because he was in love...

mam

-- 
Mark (Sidewinder) McConnell  | 
mamcconnell@uccs.edu         | 
mamcconne@colospgs.BITnet    |
From: silbrmnd@acf3.nyu.edu (Darkmage)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: Constantine's Drinking Buddy
Date: 10 Jan 93 01:08:39 GMT
Organization: New York University

890661b@axe.acadiau.ca (MATTHEW EARL KEITH BALL) writes:

>Just a question on the blurb in the Vertigo Preview.

>Who is the man/ghost/god/whatever drinking with Constantine?
>In the DC coming attractions, they mention the Phantom Stranger, Zatanna, 
>and someone else being on hand, but this doesn't look like either of them.
>Any ideas as to who it is?

He (it?) is the Lord of the Dance, the ghost of a long-ago god.
Constantine spent last christman cheering him up, and showing him that
people still knew how to get really drunk and have a good time.  

>Matt

DM

--
"Welcome to Heisenberg Airlines.  We have no idea where we are, but
we're making damn good time."
		-Visual Mark, in Synners
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: lsmith@deci.cs.umn.edu (Lance "Squiddie" Smith)
Subject: Re: What if...
Organization: The Alternative Squids of the Poor
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 01:34:06 GMT

In article <1993Jan6.041755.14525@eskimo.com> ntprlr@eskimo.com (NightProwler) writes:
>
>What if....
>
>Sandman was a Marvel title?  
>
>Just think of the team-ups and cross-overs!  Sandman and Spider-Man, replete
>with Stan "The Man" Lee-isims...

Well, we could start by putting Dream on Silver Sable's mercenary team.

SSable: "Morpheus! You convince those guards that we can just walk into this             base!"

Dream:  "Not a problem, my lady"

Of course, Gaiman would need a clever nickname. Maybe "Notable" Neil Gaiman.
More likely, "Footnote" Neil.

>Or beter yet, a healthy dose of Mutant Angst(tm).  X-Men and Sandman team up
>to fight Death and the Beyonder!

Probably Death and Thanatos, but otherwise it would certainly fly. I can see
it now:

"Brother versus sister in a final showdown with the fate of the Universe in
 the balance!" 

Death would probably be wearing fishnet stockings, spike-heeled go-go boots
and some sort of leather leotard.  

(And I will be very cross if anyone says that they'd really like to see Death 
 dressed in this manner.)

---------------------------
 Lance "Cr2O3.2H2O" Smith | "Only as the screams and scratching slowly faded
   (lsmith@cs.umn.edu)    |  did we realize the horrible truth. The peanut had 
   If looks could kill    |  not been dead! We had accidentally vacuum-packed
   they probably will     |  him alive!"   _The Fall of the House of Planter_
From: rible@vorpal.dell.com (Max "Risque Warlocks" Rible)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: SANDMAN: Christmas with Delirium (Spoiler?)
Date: 4 Jan 93 22:00:34 GMT
Distribution: na

carlf@panix.com (Carl Fink) writes:
>>In article <1992Dec24.000729.21832@news2.cis.umn.edu>, lsmith@mega.cs.umn.edu (Lance "Squiddie" Smith) writes...
>>>- More eye references. I'm assuming that Del's eyes really, truly are 
>>>  both supposed to be green in the final page.

>  Neil just posted on GEnie that it's another coloring error.  NEXT issue,
>they'll really be the same color for two panels.....

After _Brief Lives_ ends, it'd be good to see an errata sheet stating
the general principle we should be assuming for Delirium's eyes and
word balloons, and when the changes are significant rather than
erroneous...  Just for us nuts who love hunting for significant details
(like cockroach marathons and rats wearing Mardi Gras heads).
--
/-----------------------v-----------------------------------------------------\
| Max Rible             | "Uh oh, sounds like the machine is demonically      |
| rible@vorpal.ucsb.edu | possessed again.  Better than no messages at all,   |
\-----------------------^ though!"  -- Sam & Max -----------------------------/
From: al@calsci.UUCP (Al Petterson)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: A good death
Summary: Jean Grey
Date: 13 Jan 93 00:56:47 GMT
Reply-To: al%calsci@gvgpsa.gvg.tek.com (Al Petterson)
Followup-To: rec.arts.comics.misc
Organization: California Scientific Software
News-Software: FSUUCP 1.1 Release 5

dascoser@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (david serchay):
>...which character's death did you think was best?

Jean Grey.  Back when she was Jean Grey and died as Jean Grey.  The TPB
collection of X-Men 129-137 is the story I still use to welcome friend
newbies to my comics collection.  The most powerful standard superhero story
I have ever read, bar none.

Some people have mentioned Doug Ramsey's death as a "good" death.  To my
mind there is a profound difference.

Doug's death pissed me off at the writer for wasting one of the few
remaining good characters of the New Mutants (though she never had a clue
how to characterize any of them anyway).

Jean's death left me pondering mortality.

al%calsci@gvgpsa.gvg.tek.com;  if it bounces try aamp@alumni.caltech.edu
---
Stop throwing stones --
The night has a thousand saxophones.
So get out there and rock,
And roll the bones.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: ah185@yfn.ysu.edu (Christopher L. Tumber)
Subject: Vertigo marketing
Organization: Youngstown State University/Youngstown Free-Net
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 20:09:56 GMT


If Vertigo is "a line of sophisticated comics for mature readers"
why doesn't it include Green Arrow, LSH, A Bat book (Legends?), Ms. Tree
etc... Simple, because Vertigo is a horror/occult/wierd line which
Dc seems to equate with 'mature' (Course the whole industry has a problem
with more violence=more mature). 

I'd suggest that if Dc wants to ensure the credibility and succes of
the line, they ought to add some 'mainstream' titles.

As for the WHY's of Vertigo it's pretty simple. Dc's not exactly taking
a big risk here. Dc's line is in a CONSTANT state of flux, and they
are the king of mini-series. How many titles (non Vertigo) have they
introduced in the last six months or so? Two Bat books, Thuderbolt,
Valor, Showcase, Eclipso, Guy Gardner, Timber Wolf, Black Canary, etc,
etc, etc, even if some of the new serieses don't last, it doesn't 
matter, happens all the time.

What Vertigo does do, is increase consumer awareness. A Sandman reader
might try other Vertigo titles whose exitance he might not really be 
aware of. It is also an attempt at legitamising Dc as a company
with product for adults.

Marketers are just now begining to realise the power of the twenty-something
demographic group. There are A LOT of comic fans out there who got
hooked in their teens in the '80s and are now growing out of
Mutant-Mania. Dc seems to have realised this and wants to ensure that
as its readers mature, they are not lost, and as Marvels readers also
mature and find nothing for them at Marvel, Dc hopes to also attract
them as well. 

Traditonally mature comics =have been found almost exclusively among
'alternative' publishers. Dc seems to realise that there is money to be
made in this market, and is working to exploit it. If it is to succeed,
however, it must loose it's horror mindset. True, it's most succesful
'adult' series have been in this area (Sandman, Swamp Thing) but,
what about Moore's Watchmen? Miller's Dark Knight Returns?
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: hinrichs@next.santafe.edu (bRant Hinrichs)
Subject: Re: Way to Dusty Death. Bleah.
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 93 03:13:07 GMT
Organization: Santa Fe Institute
Distribution: rec.arts.comics.misc.

In article <C0LJ90.IHu@news.ucs.mun.ca> cwelsh@morgan.ucs.mun.ca (Craig  
Welsh  ) writes:
> I have always been a closet Dr. Strange fan and I do buy some of his
> 
>                                 This only gives me further proof in my
> theory that there have only been a handful of good Dr. Strange stories
> since the demise of the original run, back when it spun off from Strange
> Tales. SIgh, maybe he is just impossible to write these days. Maybe
> Grant Morrison would like a shot at him. That could be....interesting.
> 
> Think I'll go and try and find the Marvel Masterworks volume that
> reprints his original Strange Tales appearances. Maybe that'll cheer me
> up.
> 
>  

i couldn't agree more with your assesment of Dr. Strange stories.
as far as i'm concerned the best stories ever where when Ditko
was doing them (art and plotting).  Strange in those stories used
his magic arts to be sure, but mostly he relied on his brain (in
a clever rather than unbelievable way) to outwit his opponents (especially
that all powerful guy, the Dread Dormamu (sp?).  somehow i believed
in the characters that Ditko invented in that series (the ancient one,
clea, the mindless ones - is it possible to believe in these guys?? 8^)
dormamu, etc.).  

i must admit, however, that i thoroughly enjoyed the "snuff the flame"
story line in the series before the current one (where Strange goes
to Clea's dimension disguised as a monk to help her out).

other than that and the very first issue of the latest series, i
just didn't get it.

(the other great story line of Dr. Strange that i totally loved was
when he stars in ASM annual #2 - which was also done (gee is it a
coincidence? :-| ) by Ditko and Lee.



bRant
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: dvandom@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Dave Van Domelen)
Subject: Re: Cerebus
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 05:03:58 GMT

Considering that about once every few months someone on racm gets hooked on 
Cerebus, perhaps a sort of Cerebus FAQ is in order.  Of course, although the 
person doing the annotation etal is the best suited to do this, he would 
probably run screaming from the net if asked to take on MORE "paper"work.
     I don't really have the background (or the time), but one of you Cerebi 
out there should.  Any volunteers?
     Some FAQ that should be included:
     What are "phonebooks"?
     Where can I "jump in"?
     Who is this Roach dude?
     If Cerebus isn't in violation of good taste by not wearing any pants, how 
can he have sex? (Okay, maybe this doesn't belong in the FAQ. }->)
     etc...

     Dave Van Domelen, the Great Floating Homosexuality Flamewar is resurfacing
in the lettercols of Uncanny X-Men and Quantum Leap....
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
From: jdelisle@udel.edu (J. G. Delisle)
Subject: Re: Double Trouble in X-MEN #1?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Boyz from the Dwarf
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 16:41:00 GMT

In article <1993Jan7.134532.14990@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, jelmore@nyx.cs.du.edu (John Elmore) writes...
>Speaking of X-MEN #1, I was looking at the big bonanza issue (the one that
>has all the covers and all the pinups of the other four), and I realized
>something. In the "Wish you were here" pinup (all the X-Men are lounging
>around the pool), we have what looks to be 2 appearances by 2 characters!
> 
>1) Jubilee is posing with Colossus and is on Beast's back as he is diving
>into the pool. (_That_ explains her double appearance in X-MEN:TAS! :D)

	I always thought it was Lila Cheney.

>2) Psylocke is  lounging in the front (how can you miss her?) and appears
>to be standing by Iceman. (Although that could be Opal, his then-girlfriend.)

	I'm pretty sure it's Opal. How many times on-panel has Psylocke given
Bobby the time of day, not to mention standing next to him!

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| From the terminal of Joe Delisle      |                                    |
| jdelisle@loyola.edu  (preferred)      |    "Home is where the hell is."    |
| jdelisle@cs.loyola.edu                |                                    |
|              "I was up above it, but now I'm down in it"                   |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc