Welcome back, everyone! Just a quick reminder of what our goal for each and every Saturday is: Stirring the pot is the act of causing trouble for the sake of your own amusement. So we here at Comic Booked would like to formally invite you to discuss, debate, and start some shit talkin’ about the characters, the creators, and the storylines given to us from the industry we all know and love, hate, and love to hate. So let’s quit wasting time and start the mud (or web) slinging!
This Saturday’s question: Which creator (or creators) will cause you to drop a book?
Does Rob Liefeld’s art cause you to put back even your favorite titles? Could you never understand why John Romita Jr. got to work in comics? Has the fact that Brian Michael Bendis writes every single character like a prepubescent girl turn you off the major Marvel books of the last decade? Will you ever forgive Andy Diggle’s treatment of the character Daredevil? Does Gail Simone’s snark and inability to leave her own personal politics and agendas out of her characters’ lives irritate you enough to abandon your favorite heroes? And what about all of those other love-or-hate creators out there, like Chuck Austen, Paul Jenkins, Grant Morrison, Dan Slott, and Geoff Johns? Or do you think that every creator serves a purpose and it’s up to the editors to keep them focused, on-task, and off the collective fans’ shit list?
So go forth and debate! But be sure to back up your responses. Don’t be scared. And don’t give up. After all, no one likes a quitter. And you’re not a quitter, are you?
Rob: Hey my name is Rob Liefeld and I cant draw feet.
Crowd: Hi Rob!
Rob: I having been drawing bad feet for 20 years and I hope to turn a new leaf.
Crowd: We will help you Rob.
Yeah, Liefeld will chase me away for certain. I'm also not fond of writers who shove their political views into their stories. I have no interest in the politics of a writer, just give me a good story.
There aren't as many artists that chase me away…
Liefeld is number 1. I thought as a young artist on New Mutants back in the 90s he could grow as an artist. If anything, he's forgotten even what little he knew on how to draw hands back then. And with his rants online to ANYONE who disagrees with him he's not worthy of my money on any book he works on. (Note that every book he was on in the New 52 has been cancelled…) Chuck Austen is another. Although I loved his U.S. War Machine title, what he did during his tenure on Avengers and X-Men… The only reason I kept getting them was, well, it was Avengers and X-Men. His runs on the titles, though, I won't go back and read.
Rob: I'll distract you from my ability to draw feet and hands by putting extra lines on everyone's face to distract you!
Crowd: Yay!
Rob: And to ensure we have a plot device for anytime anyone needs anything, I'll give every character a bazillion pouches!
Crowd: Pouches! Pouches! Pouches!
The problem with Liefeld is he never earned his spot. He was tossed straight into a series that had some attention on it and he was made the top talent. He didn't earn it and he didn't grow with experience.
His recent outbursts prove this to me. He didn't earn his spot which means he has no respect.
That Liefeld picture cracks me up! I would say I have less people who make me wanna drop a book compared to the books I buy solely for an artist or writer.
Rob: Never mind. I hate you all. You gave me money for crap and now I feel entitled to more money but you've since gotten wise to my tricks.
(Silence)
Crowd: But… What about the pouches?
Agreed. Politics in comics are fine if they're thinly-veiled or hinted. Overt political stories turn me off and will even cause me to drop a book completely.
I agree completely. He's bad and doesn't even really have the credibility to defend himself when he throws internet hissy fits.
I am with you on that, Tony. As much as I make fun of Liefeld, if it's a good writer, I'll usually begrudgingly purchase the book anyways.
The only two writers in modern comics who make me drop a book are Gail Simone and Dan Slott. Which is really too bad, because Batgirl and Spider-Man are two of my favorite superheroes. There are a lot of artists that I like to poke fun at and grumble about, but even the likes of Rob Liefeld, Leinil Francis Yu, and John Romita Jr. can't keep me away from a well-written book every now and then.