Comic geeks: answer this questionnaire

[Underseer]

Cover art can be deceptive. Here's a page sample:

I'm sure there's some legitimate arty reason that I'm too dense to understand, but what's the purpose of breaking up the image with the traditional panel divisions? I'll wager that the artist didn't paint four separate scenes which were then laid out on one page. He likely painted the one large scene, and then the artist or editor said, "Let's break this up into four parts."

In comic books, the purpose of panels is to express the passing of time. When it's done right, you don't even notice and the size and shape of the panels influences your perception of time within the context of the story.

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Is that Bill Seinkeiwicz? Damn, but no one does crazy like he does. He's the reason Elektra: Assassin was so damn good.

No, Dave McKean.

Am I the only one who noticed the similarity to Seinkeiwicz's work on Elekectra: Assassin?

 

[Underseer]

13. A book you’ve read more than five times.
See previous answer (12).


14. Current (or most recent) comic-themed wallpaper.

Download hi res here: http://www.superbwallpapers.com/anime/motoko-kusanagi-ghost-in-the-shell-stand-alone-complex-5199/

 

[Daioh]

29. A comic you thought you wouldn’t like, but ended up loving.
Power Girl: Bomb Squad
To say that my knowledge of Power Girl was limited would have been generous
I knew she was some kind of alternate Supergirl (Or something??) and that she had a silly hole in her costume (because something??)
And honestly if this wasn't dirt cheap I probably would have just passed over it and dismissed it as some sort of fanservicy Superman/Supergirl ripoff
But pick it up I did

And I found a fun and interesting character, backed up by some good drawing and a nice dollop of fun to garnish
Honestly I found myself really enjoying Power Girl and will probably search around for more of her series

Also I will also throw in some of my recent comic adventures
Watchmen. Ok I think the drawing and writing are good, but it just isn't a comic that I am interested in. So I give it a thumbs up but probably won't have any more to do with it
Batman: The Killing Joke, was interesting
Green Lantern, I can't help but feeling that I should like him more then I do, but I just can't quite click with any of the GL comics
Fantastic Four, been reading and enjoying the FF comics (Old and new)
Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, I think I prefer the other Aquaman comics
Power Girl. As above I quite like her
Irredeemable Ant-Man. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Punisher: 2099AD. Quite Enjoyable
X-Men: Forever. maybe I missed something but I just couldn't get into it all that much

 

[KeepTalking]

I haven't read Power Girl, but she was recently in several issues of Harley Quinn. In that run, she had lost her memory, and Harley was trying to seduce her, and convince her that they were a team at the same time. They made some fun of Power Girl's boob window in that one. And that leads me to the next question from the list I have not answered yet (the team up, not the boob window):

24. Dream Character Team Up.
I'm going with Batman & The Punisher. I quite enjoy the super heroes who have no super powers, when they are done well, and Batman and The Punisher are basically two sides of the same coin. Of course Batman would have issues working with the likes of Punisher, who has no qualms about killing his enemies, and of course The Punisher has problems working with just about anyone (Thunderbolts aside). It would be a very contentious, dark, and gritty team up, just the way I like it.

 

[Underseer]

15. A picture from a comic you're reading right now.

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16. Funniest comic book/comic book scene.

 

[Underseer]

17. Most useless villain

Toad. Definitely Toad. Well, Toad as he used to be. The modern incarnation has additional superpowers, but originally he could leap really well and that's about it. Mostly he existed solely to be Magneto's most faithful lackey.


18. Favorite B-list character

Stephanie "Stevie" Hunter

For all that the X-Men are fighting for a world in which humans and mutants live together in peace, there are remarkably few humans who are part of their inner circle. Stevie is the dance instructor/physical therapist at Xavier's school and is one of the few exceptions. When it comes to general life issues, she probably gives better advice to the kids than any of the mutant instructors at the school. Let's face it, most of the X-Men have poor social skills, glaring character defects, and/or terrible love lives, so they're probably not good sources of advice for that kind of stuff.

 

[Underseer]

OK, so I bought volumes one and two of the new Ms. Marvel based on stuff in this thread, and I loved it.

The prologue was confusing because it shows her with her powers, then after the prologue time winds back to before she got her powers, and that was a bit confusing. Other than that, Kamala is completely adorkable. Being Muslim is at most the second or third most interesting thing about her, which is par for the course when Marvel does this kind of "demographic first" character.

Such a dork. That's why she's adorable.

 

[Underseer]

19. Comic book city/universe you wish you lived in.

If I lived in the Marvel universe, almost anywhere but New York. All the major disasters in the Marvel universe seem to happen in New York.

 

[Underseer]

Just came across a funny bit of dialog.

Captain America radios Hawkeye to remind him of a meeting he's supposed to attend, which Hawkeye tries to weasel out of.

Barton: I might be lost.
Rogers: I don't believe you.
Barton: I might also be in a dumpster.
Rogers: I believe you.

 

[KeepTalking]

OK, so I bought volumes one and two of the new Ms. Marvel based on stuff in this thread, and I loved it.

The prologue was confusing because it shows her with her powers, then after the prologue time winds back to before she got her powers, and that was a bit confusing. Other than that, Kamala is completely adorkable. Being Muslim is at most the second or third most interesting thing about her, which is par for the course when Marvel does this kind of "demographic first" character.

Such a dork. That's why she's adorable.

I'm glad you posted this page. I was interested in the new Ms. Marvel because of this thread as well, but I have to say that the artwork shown here turns me off from the book entirely. It is so bad that I actually had to read the panels to make sure that was Wolverine he was attempting to draw. I looked up the artist who is credited with drawing it, Adrian Alphona. I have read none of the comics in his very brief portfolio, and Wikipedia even mentions that he left the comics industry entirely for an unspecified amount of time (one assumes between 2006 and 2013) after being slated to take over drawing Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane and then getting bumped in favor of Craig Rousseau. I liked Craig Rousseau's work on Harley Quinn and Batman Beyond, so I can understand Marvel's decision.

It is good that you guys are enjoying the book, by all accounts it is well written, and entertaining, but I don't think I will be picking it up unless they change artists.

 

[Underseer]

OK, so I bought volumes one and two of the new Ms. Marvel based on stuff in this thread, and I loved it.

The prologue was confusing because it shows her with her powers, then after the prologue time winds back to before she got her powers, and that was a bit confusing. Other than that, Kamala is completely adorkable. Being Muslim is at most the second or third most interesting thing about her, which is par for the course when Marvel does this kind of "demographic first" character.

Such a dork. That's why she's adorable.

I'm glad you posted this page. I was interested in the new Ms. Marvel because of this thread as well, but I have to say that the artwork shown here turns me off from the book entirely. It is so bad that I actually had to read the panels to make sure that was Wolverine he was attempting to draw. I looked up the artist who is credited with drawing it, Adrian Alphona. I have read none of the comics in his very brief portfolio, and Wikipedia even mentions that he left the comics industry entirely for an unspecified amount of time (one assumes between 2006 and 2013) after being slated to take over drawing Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane and then getting bumped in favor of Craig Rousseau. I liked Craig Rousseau's work on Harley Quinn and Batman Beyond, so I can understand Marvel's decision.

It is good that you guys are enjoying the book, by all accounts it is well written, and entertaining, but I don't think I will be picking it up unless they change artists.

I'm surprised that the art would be enough to turn you away from a book. To me what matters is not the style of the artist so much as their ability to communicate story. There are a few different artists throughout volumes one and two, and most of it doesn't look like the above.

 

[Underseer]

20. Favorite super power or skill.

OK, I don't mean favorite in the sense that I would want to have it, but favorite in the sense that I like what it does to storytelling. Actually having it sounds like a horrible curse.

I really like the way telepathy works in the Marvel universe. In most sci-fi/fantasy worlds, telepathy is an active skill: the telepath has to actively do something to read the thoughts of others. In the Marvel universe, telepathy is a passive skill, and this small change has horrible consequences for telepaths. Other people's thoughts come to them whether they want them or not. During the initial onset of such powers, it is not uncommon for new telepaths to experience an extreme identity crisis because they can't always tell which thoughts and feelings are their own. Unless they learn to make telepathic shields to block out the thoughts and feelings of others, they will go mad.

Even when shielded, if someone is extremely emotional, this is like "shouting" to telepaths, so even if they are shielded, the thoughts and feelings of highly emotional people can slip past the shields.

 

[KeepTalking]

I'm glad you posted this page. I was interested in the new Ms. Marvel because of this thread as well, but I have to say that the artwork shown here turns me off from the book entirely. It is so bad that I actually had to read the panels to make sure that was Wolverine he was attempting to draw. I looked up the artist who is credited with drawing it, Adrian Alphona. I have read none of the comics in his very brief portfolio, and Wikipedia even mentions that he left the comics industry entirely for an unspecified amount of time (one assumes between 2006 and 2013) after being slated to take over drawing Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane and then getting bumped in favor of Craig Rousseau. I liked Craig Rousseau's work on Harley Quinn and Batman Beyond, so I can understand Marvel's decision.

It is good that you guys are enjoying the book, by all accounts it is well written, and entertaining, but I don't think I will be picking it up unless they change artists.

I'm surprised that the art would be enough to turn you away from a book. To me what matters is not the style of the artist so much as their ability to communicate story. There are a few different artists throughout volumes one and two, and most of it doesn't look like the above.

Artwork is at least half the reason I pick up a new book. If the story doesn't hold my interest, I will drop the book as well, but artwork is what grabs me initially. The new page you posted is a huge improvement. If there is more of that art style, and less of the previous, I could get into it. I have read a few titles that rotate between artists, like Batman Eternal, and as long as it is only the odd issue that features bad artwork I can tolerate it. I will probably leaf through the Trade Paperback to see if it works for me.

 

[Underseer]

The second image is from Adrian Alphona, credited as one of the creators. He did most of volume 1, and I'm pretty sure he did most of volume 2, although to be honest I didn't pay very close attention.

 

[Underseer]

21. Favorite writer.

Joss Whedon.

 

[KeepTalking]

20. Favorite super power or skill.

OK, I don't mean favorite in the sense that I would want to have it, but favorite in the sense that I like what it does to storytelling. Actually having it sounds like a horrible curse.

I really like the way telepathy works in the Marvel universe. In most sci-fi/fantasy worlds, telepathy is an active skill: the telepath has to actively do something to read the thoughts of others. In the Marvel universe, telepathy is a passive skill, and this small change has horrible consequences for telepaths. Other people's thoughts come to them whether they want them or not. During the initial onset of such powers, it is not uncommon for new telepaths to experience an extreme identity crisis because they can't always tell which thoughts and feelings are their own. Unless they learn to make telepathic shields to block out the thoughts and feelings of others, they will go mad.

Even when shielded, if someone is extremely emotional, this is like "shouting" to telepaths, so even if they are shielded, the thoughts and feelings of highly emotional people can slip past the shields.

An ability like that might be cool for a day or two, but would definitely suck if you can't control it. Doubly so if you can't even tell which thoughts are your own. I would much prefer a Vulcan mind meld type of telepathy, where you have to be touching the intended target, and induce a trance like state. Then again, they would always know when you are reading their thoughts, so it wouldn't work for the most practical applications, like picking up chicks at parties.

 

[Underseer]

20. Favorite super power or skill.

OK, I don't mean favorite in the sense that I would want to have it, but favorite in the sense that I like what it does to storytelling. Actually having it sounds like a horrible curse.

I really like the way telepathy works in the Marvel universe. In most sci-fi/fantasy worlds, telepathy is an active skill: the telepath has to actively do something to read the thoughts of others. In the Marvel universe, telepathy is a passive skill, and this small change has horrible consequences for telepaths. Other people's thoughts come to them whether they want them or not. During the initial onset of such powers, it is not uncommon for new telepaths to experience an extreme identity crisis because they can't always tell which thoughts and feelings are their own. Unless they learn to make telepathic shields to block out the thoughts and feelings of others, they will go mad.

Even when shielded, if someone is extremely emotional, this is like "shouting" to telepaths, so even if they are shielded, the thoughts and feelings of highly emotional people can slip past the shields.

An ability like that might be cool for a day or two, but would definitely suck if you can't control it. Doubly so if you can't even tell which thoughts are your own. I would much prefer a Vulcan mind meld type of telepathy, where you have to be touching the intended target, and induce a trance like state. Then again, they would always know when you are reading their thoughts, so it wouldn't work for the most practical applications, like picking up chicks at parties.

I wonder if Moondragon's telepathy is active or passive? She's a more powerful telepath than even Xavier, but her telepathic abilities are learned rather than innate.

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22. A comic book second volume which disappointed you.

Back when I read comic books regularly, I bought them month by month and didn't read them as past issues wrapped up in volumes. The X-Men run in the 90s did get kinda weak, as that was around the time I stopped reading comic books altogether and most of what I read was X-Men (and related titles).

 

[Underseer]

23. Your favorite artist.

As I'm sure my previous comments made abundantly clear, Bill Seinkiewicz. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but I just adore the demented quality of his work.

 

[Underseer]

23. Dream Character Team Up.

Beast and Mockingbird are both biochemists, so why have we never seen them socializing at a science conference together?

The X-Men are notorious for having long involved storylines about what happens in between the battles with supervillains, with showing us what they do after the battle's over and they have to deal with their own personal problems. This could be an interesting story in that vein.

 

[Underseer]

Previous number should've been 24. Oops.

25. A book you plan on reading.
One of these days, I should read the source material for Ghost in the Shell, but I'm not looking forward to all the footnotes. There's something inherently bizarre about a comic book with that many footnotes.