From: donald@dvinci.USask.Ca (David Donald)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.xbooks
Subject: Re: Am i going crazy, ruined characters, and the good ol days
Date: 1 Sep 92 22:21:08 GMT
Organization: University of Saskatchewan

caw@gtech.com (Christopher A. White) writes:

>I'd like to take a chance to vent about all the venting. It really is
>boring. I find it amazing that people can be so negative about things.
>Maybe the art does lead the story right now, so what? Does this mean that
>the whole is any less? No, only not the same. That's what it boils down to,
>it seems. "Where were the good 'ol [formula] days?" Well, to borrow a phrase,
>"the good 'ol days weren't always good and tomorrow is not as bad as it seems."

	Exactly.  I barely remember the Claremont - written New Mutants... 
I started reading after he left...  SO, having gone back and read them, I 
see SOME good plotlines, but they were not EXPONENTIALLY better as some people
seem to advocate (*my opinion, my opinion*)

>You want character development and then complain about the developments. You
>complain about the danglers and then complain about how they clean them up.
>You complain about the art taking the lead and then complain when they use an
>under-qualified artist. You complain about the living characters and then
>complain when they die and then really complain when they get resurrected.
>Does anyone notice a pattern here?

	Indeed, actually, I do.  I rarely complain about comics.  And I read a 
lot of stuff.  My habit costs me about $40/month and my little brothers is 
more like $160/month (Yes, 4 TIMES mine) and we have totally different tastes.

	I started reading comics cause they were fun.  They still are.  But 
why some people get so involved in them sometimes makes no sense to me.

>I don't like some of the things they've done. I haven't always liked the 
>characters or the developments. But I've liked the flow, like a tide, 
>shifting and changing a million ways and always something beautiful in the
>end. I've noticed a lot of "I don't like what has become of ...." Maybe
>not, but something had to. Things change, people change. The book won't
>be the same in a year, and in five years people will be calling these the
>good 'ol days. So here's a couple of questions:

	YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!  As long as things keep moving, isn't that the 
point.  In one of Ludlum's better books, a wise character says "There's no 
solution to the problem - the solution lies in the struggle."  It's the same
with characters.  They change.  Sure, continuity and character developement
are important.  Sometimes I get angry when things are left unexplained or 
"dangling".  But whining about it here won't help.  Write the people who 
publish the book... as many have pointed out, they're very market - driven.

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

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

>	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."

>	Why don't you like Gambit/Bishop? Personally, I think that they're
>		two of the best additions in years. Jubilee, though, was the
>		smartest move. With the new mutants and Kitty Pryde gone,
>		they needed the juvinile perspective. Jubilee is the most
>		accurate teenager they've done yet!

>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! 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.

>I think what I just said is a little more constructive than just saying
>"the books suck." And remember, you get out what you put in. If you want to
>find character development and good stories, they're there. It is *all
>attitude*.

>JMHO,

>Topher

Mine, too.

Dave
-- 
| donald@dvinci.usask.ca		| "Its 106 miles to Chicago, we've got|
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| University of Saskatchewan		|  cigarettes, it's dark, and we're   |
| Saskatoon, Canada			|  wearing sunglasses."  "Hit it."    |
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.xbooks