From: asoto@dacapo.urbana.mcd.mot.com (Anthony Soto)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.xbooks
Subject: Re: Am i going crazy, ruined characters, and the good ol days
Date: 1 Sep 92 15:16:47 GMT
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Urbana Design Center

In article <1992Aug31.191831.19467@gtech.com>, caw@gtech.com (Christopher A. White) writes:
|> You want character development and then complain about the developments.

Sorry, I don't consider having Storm fall apart over her claustrophobia (sp?)
character development. I call that degeneration! For the longest time she was
built upon, it was shown how strong she was: she dealt with losing her powers,
the death of her best friend, Kitty shunning her for Stevie Hunter, she beat
Cyclops (without her powers) to become the leader of the X-Men, she beat
Callisto (without using her powers) to become the leader of the Morlocks, she
came to terms with her feelings for Forge a LONG time ago. Now what do they do?
They revert her back to some mewling child not able to deal with being the
leader of the X-Men, Morlocks or her feelings with Forge. Where's the 
development?

Maybe you're talking about the development of Cyclops? OK, here's a guy that
lost the love of his life a LONG time ago. He was so in love with her that
he married someone that looked EXACTLY like her (later turns out she was her
clone). When he finds out she's alive, he leaves his wife and son to be with
her. Now all of the sudden, he's not sure he loves her??? He's falling for
Psylocke?? All I know is that she better be messing with his mind!

Or maybe you're referring to Warren. He doesn't even know WHERE he lost his
wings! :-) This complaining he's doing about his wings was done many issues
ago.

|> You complain about the danglers and then complain about how they clean
|> them up.

I don't call killing off all the characters that were associated with any
dangler that Claremont had "cleaning them up".

|> You complain about the art taking the lead and then complain when they use an
|> under-qualified artist.

Well, after Claremont left, the only thing good about the book was Jim Lee's
art. They don't even have that anymore.

|> You complain about the living characters and then complain when they die
|> and then really complain when they get resurrected.

So what you're trying to say is that you don't mind the way they brought
Jean back after she "died" as Phoenix? Maybe, we wouldn't complain about
when they die if we didn't KNOW that they would be brought back. C'mon,
Magneto "died" about 8 issues ago, and next year he's going to have his own
limited series. Don't you find anything wrong with that?

|> Does anyone notice a pattern here?

Yes, it's called BAD writing!

|> I've noticed a lot of "I don't like what has become of ...." Maybe not,
|> but something had to. 

Something did not HAVE to. When the book was going great, a lot of times
nothing REALLY happened. Sure there was puncheminaface, but not continuous
and for no reason. They are catering to the 12 year olds these days; they used
to care about ALL the readers many moons ago.

|> Things change, people change. The book won't be the same in a year,

We can only hope.

|> and in five years people will be calling these the good 'ol days.

Don't bet on it. There's nothing good about these days, not even the art.

|> 	How often do you write them and tell them what you think/want? 

I wrote once. I complained a bit, praised a bit, gave a few suggestions. I 
got nothing back. For all I know, it's still unopened somewhere.

|> 	How would you have written a particular story (specifically,
|> 		saying "I'd make it better." is a cheap cop out).

I have ideas on how I'd kill off some of the characters on the teams. No, the
reason isn't because I don't like certain characters, but because I think it
would make a decent story. I came up with this a while ago when there was 
supposed to be a "war of the mutants".

|> 	What don't you like (and justify it). To say that Louise is the
|> 		worst writer ever needs a little more justification than
|> 		"I didn't like the way she dit it."

See my first couple of paragraphs. I won't EVEN go into the New Mutants here.

|> 	Why don't you like Gambit/Bishop? Personally, I think that they're
|> 		two of the best additions in years.

Gambit's OK. I thought it would be a good idea to have him as the traitor, and
from what I hear, he was supposed to be. But no, he became an idol of the 
fanboys so they decide, "Nope can't be him." We'll probably never know who the 
traitor is now. As for Bishop, he's just another hardass from the future. This
has been done before.

|> Personally, I think Scott needs a hiatus *and here's why*. First, he's been
|> brooding too much lately. Second, he's getting preechy. Third, he's getting
|> confused about his personal relationships. The man has got a clear case of
|> Type A confusion. He's getting careful. Too careless will get you killed, 
|> but too careful will get someone else killed; and from the way he's been
|> acting, he couldn't deal with it. Scott is dangerous, get him out!

This might happen. Do you know why? It's been done BEFORE! Twice! Once after
Jean "died", and once after Storm beat him to become the leader.

|> On the other hand, Orroro needs something to _do_. She either needs to take
|> more responsibility in the team or *go find forge*. (Before she does, though,
|> she needs to give Jean a good slap in the head!) Her world is coming apart
|> and she can't just sit idle. She needs to take control.

This has been done before also. Twice! Once after she lost her powers and then
right before the Fall of the Mutants (this might actually be the same time).
There were two good stories called "Lifedeath" and "Lifedeath II".

|> If you want to find character development and good stories, they're there.

Believe me I've been looking, but I don't see them.

|> It is *all attitude*.

I guess the attitude one must have is "Wow! Look at the breasts on <female
X-Men>." Or "Wow! There's another cool fight between the X-Men and <anyone
for no particular reason>".

					Tony
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.xbooks