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3 reasons why Comics have lost their shine (for me)

  
 
Chubby P
08:34 / 21.08.03
I'm in the (somewhat envious) position of being able to afford all the comics I want to buy and more. But this has led to less enjoyment of my comics and not reading them properly because I have so many to read! When I was a student I could only afford a few titles a month and used to get Invisibles, Transmet, Books of Magic, and a couple of other miniseries that I can't remember right now. I used to devour them and read them repeatedly. Case in point "The Filth". I read each issue when they came out and thought it was Grant slowly crawling up his own arse so far that he could see out of his own mouth. With the last couple of issues imminent I decide to go back and read them all again from the start and discovered a story that was far better than I had though that had a plot, strong characters and great ideas! Had I had the time to read them a couple of times when I first had them I'm sure I would have enjoyed them more. Therefore I intened to cut down the number of titles I read. Its a hard task but has to be done. Luckily a lot of titles are ending so this will help. I want more emotional investment in a series. Hopefully this will help.

Next the internet. I have access at work. I surf the comic sites everyday. I'm reading previews, getting involved in which creator has been shafted this week, which has been promoted, and despairing at irrational fanboy rantings (yet can't resist passing over a "creator sucks" thread just to lurk and disaprove). All of this has led to less enjoyment. I enjoy a comic. I see a thread about the latest issue. I go to talk to fellow fans and just find rantings about how shit it is that leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I come away thinking "Am I the strange one in the minority for enjoying the comic?" when really someone elses opinion shouldn't matter. Now I know the answer to this. Stay away! And I have been. I've been avoiding story threads and concentrating on more general discussions. This has helped.

Thirdly, I have now read a lot of comics. Nothing surprises me anymore. Nothing is giving me the "WOW!" factor. League of Gentlemen hasn't stunned me like Watchmen. 1602 won't grab me like Sandman. The Filth hasn't wooed me like Animal Man or The Invisbles. The new stuff is good. Don't get me wrong. Is it over exposure and familiarity to authors that is causing the problem? I'm really enjoying "Y The Last Man". I have never read Brian K Vaughan before and its fresh and new. Or is it that when I read those other stories I was in my teens and a lot more impressionable? Its hard to know. Can I get back those feelings of excitement or am I just too old? This is a problem that is harder to solve than the others. Looking at new writers is one thing but sooner or later I will have the same problem with them.

So too conclude I'm trying to rediscover my love for comics! They've been with me all my life and I know I will never let go of them. I know I will keep buying. I just want that enjoyment back.
 
 
some guy
11:02 / 21.08.03
is it that when I read those other stories I was in my teens and a lot more impressionable?

I think so. This is why everyone's favorite period of X-Men is whatever was happening when they first got into comics, why music was better before we approached 30, why your favorite Dr Who is the guy who had the role when you were a kid.

The other factor you didn't mention might be density - today's 22-page comic is a lot emptier than books 5 or 10 years ago thanks to "writing for the trade..."
 
 
Krug
11:17 / 21.08.03
Perhaps you're bringing greater expectations to the comics more than necessary for enthusiasm/enjoyment.
I've experienced something similar in films when early on you can watch all the most highly regarded films you want, you don't enjoy them as much as you expected to. Same should apply to comics. I've decided to take everything on it's own merit and expect that the artist's best work and their best moment (IMO) may have been in the past and try not to be disappointed if they're offering very good work now rather than hoping it might be another "best work yet."
 
 
sleazenation
11:34 / 21.08.03
What I've done when in a similar situation is to try completely different comics - take a few chances, try a few things that aren't monthly - as your comic shop guy whjat he recommends.
 
 
sleazenation
11:36 / 21.08.03
assuming of course that you local comic shop guy stocks/reads other comics...
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
13:38 / 21.08.03
Maybe you're reading the wrong comics, man. Maybe the fact that you're getting bored with a certain type of comics means that you've maybe outgrown it and need to move on to something else. I have no clue what those comics may be, but experimentation may be a good thing for you right now - you may find something that will seem fresh and new to you, that will speak to you in ways that other comics haven't. Because, after all, as we get older, our needs change.
 
 
eeoam
13:53 / 21.08.03
I agree with Flux. I've become absolutely sick to death of comics and find that novels provide me with more entertainment value. I'll probably keep an eye out in the bookstore for GM trades but otherwise comics just don't do it for me anymore.
 
 
Chubby P
14:17 / 21.08.03
Okay. Heres my pull list:

New X-Men - until Grant Leaves, think its been okay

Filth - 2 issues to go.

Fables - Enjoying this

Y - The Last Man - Enjoyin this lots!

1602 - Haven't got the first issue yet.

Battle of the Planets - Bought for Nostalga value. Thought it was so so. 2 issues left then I'll drop anything Battle of the Planets ish.

Hunter: Age of magic - cancelled! Very disappointed in this. Loved BOM 1-25, 51-75.

Sleeper - Enjoying but don't think its as amazing as some people claim. Will stick with till end.

The Crew - Strangely enjoyable but may drop.

Rising Stars - Never comes out. No longer care.

I recentlly bought a couple of Spider-Girls which I found really enjoyable! I think it was because its in the style of comics from my youth.

I've also been collecting Ultimate Graphic Novels and X-Statix GNs. I plan on getting the last Millar Ultimate X-Men then stopping. Probably continue with Spider-man.

I have the first two 100 bullets trades which were good but haven't given me the assentive to get more.

Recent GN purchases have included Whiteout (felt a bit let down - overhyped), Daredevil (Frank Millar and Brian Bendis - all very enjoyable), Death (the new manga one - disappointed).

I also bought the first Lone Wolf and Cub which left me cold.

I have a couple of Halo and Sprockets which are highly enjoyable and Love Fights which was good fun.

I read all of Automatic Kafka which I thought was a bit crap but liked the art.

So..... any recomendations to broaden my horizons?
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
14:37 / 21.08.03
Well, it sounds like your tastes are pretty mainstream DC/Marvel for the most part. Maybe you should try looking for things that are the total opposite of that, just to see how you respond to it. Being numb to one thing may make you hypersenstive to something else.

I don't think we should really recommend things, honestly. I think you're far better off figuring things out on yr own through trial and error. As always, I rate most of the folks at Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, and Top Shelf highly. Maybe just checking around their sites and looking at what they put out may get you interested in reading some of their books.
 
 
moriarty
14:37 / 21.08.03
My love for comics is stronger now than it has ever been. This is largely due to being re-introduced to different forms of the medium, like comic strips and political cartoons. These days I can enjoy a wide range of material for different reasons than pure enjoyment, such as through their historical value or the fine craftmanship of older work-for-hire comics.

I'm not necessarily saying that you should follow this path, just that it's one of many ways to go, including downsizing or quitting comics altogether.
 
 
sleazenation
14:54 / 21.08.03
I'd probably suggest stepping away from the mainstream to try other stuff.

Flux will, i'm sure mention Dan Clowes, I'd also mention comics such as Berlin by Jason Lutes, Stray Bullets By David Lapham and Kane by Paul Grist as comics, but the best thing is prolly to go to a comic mart or some such if you have one in your area and look in the indie bins and try whatever looks interesting.
 
 
sleazenation
14:57 / 21.08.03
Yeah, as flux says - just try stuff - leaf through in the comic or book shop and see if there is anything that catches your eye.
 
 
Chubby P
15:22 / 21.08.03
I have The Ghost World graphic novel and it really doesn't do anything for me. I've seen the film as well and didn't like that either.

I bought Stray Bullets 1 when it first came out which I enjoyed but due to being a tad lazy I never picked up anything else because my comic shop only has Stray Bullet hardback GNs.

I've never heard of Berlin or Kane so I'll have to do some research into them.
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
15:37 / 21.08.03
See. This is exactly why I think it's better for us to not recommend things to you.

It makes my soul cry when people don't like the Ghost World film, though, because it means that in no uncertain terms, that they are not like me at all, even a little bit.

But hey. It's okay.
 
 
sleazenation
16:00 / 21.08.03
Actually a visit to a book shop to browse the graphic novel section might yield some good stuff and give you a chance to flick through - but then again I am spoiled by being in a major metropolis with a bevvy of bookkshops with quite eclectic graphic novel sections - it might not be the same outside a large urban conurbation.
 
 
Krug
17:00 / 21.08.03
Get Berlin.
Now.

And while you're at it, check out Lutes' other book Jar of Fools.
 
 
Krug
17:03 / 21.08.03
I often wonder if I saw the same film (Ghost World) because I thought it was shite and since people who read the book loved it, I stupidly ignored the book because of a silly adaptation. I think seeing how much it is loved here, I'll give it another try.
Why is it different btw. I mean Clowes is listed as a co-screenwriter but why the hell did they put in Steve Buscemi for most of the film and make it a boy meets girl lovestory?
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
17:25 / 21.08.03
Agh. You totally miss the point of Seymour, don't you?

It's not a boy meets girl love story at all. A boy meets girl friend story, yes. Seymour is there to elaborate on the theme of cultural alienation which is the main thrust of the film, but not so much the comic. If you think of the film and comics as being separate stories, it really helps a lot - I usually think of the film as being a sequel to the comic. Seymour is a wonderful character, and I'm sorry that you can't enjoy him. Maybe if he had a sword...
 
 
dlotemp
21:35 / 21.08.03
Chubby P.

I've felt many feelings similiar to those you have raised. In addition, I think my tastes have matured and I no longer have patience for the nth-iteration of superheroics, the major comics entity. As someone else mentioned, current individual issues have less plot because the writers are looking to have everything collected. Consequently, it is no surprise to me that I'm buying more collections than individual issues.

But allow me to posit that you've already identified the problem and identified the solution: you're over-exposed to the medium. Your interest in comics has overgrown into too many aspects of your life, for instance, work.

STOP IT.

find a new hobby or interest. Move away from comics a little. I've found that sometimes the internet spoils the comic experience for me so cut out or cut down on the sites and rants.

This can be a big beautiful medium and you've over indulged yourself.

good luck with the diet.
 
 
ONLY NICE THINGS
21:53 / 21.08.03
Well, it's a fair bet that Chubby P lives in or near Brighton. Therefore, a first stop might be Borders - for the price of a filthy Starbucks coffee, you can browse to your heart's desire - the graphic novels are even next to the café. For example, still in the superhero vein you could try James Robinson's Starman, or JSA, which didn't do a lot for me but has its admirers.

I think in a sense beiing dissatisfied by people's work when their early work got you into comics is natural and normal; the thrill of Watchmen is not going to be replicated by LOEG, partly because it's not as good, but also because you're probably not in a position to be so impressed. And, without wishing to be cruel, comics creators tend to rely on familiarity - mainstream Gaiman stuff is going to be like other mainstream Gaiman stuff, Grant Morrison comics are going to draw from the same stylistic bag and probably look increasingly tired. A bit of novelty may be in order - if you are enjoying Y- The Last Man, why not have a look at (if you haven't already, of course) something like Black Hole, for a some-sympathies-but-different vibe? Although recommending Black Hole is a bit like recommending Armageddon - it's bound to happen someday...

(Incidentally, my respect for Grant Morrison has gone up so much since his mention that he took the advice of his editor that LeSexy was going to replicate his earlier work to the extemt that there was no need to create it. This is exactly the sort of self-awareness a lot of comics desperately need)
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
21:59 / 21.08.03
I'll echo what dlotemp has said - I barely looked at comics except for occasional issues of the X-Men at newsstands for the majority of my college career, and it was a great thing for me. I really needed to get away from comics to enjoy them again.
 
 
sleazenation
22:12 / 21.08.03
I don't agree with Dlotemp, even though in retrospect i probably have looked at stuff besides comics when a lot of the current output wasn't doing it for me.

point being - there are always great comics out there waiting to be discovered and read, but there are also so many other things too - i can't believe i'm typing this but all comics and no play makes jack a dull boy.
 
 
The Falcon
02:10 / 22.08.03
It makes my soul cry when people don't like the Ghost World film, though, because it means that in no uncertain terms, that they are not like me at all, even a little bit.

Unfortunately, I do actually like that film.

*sigh*
 
 
The Natural Way
09:59 / 22.08.03
Why's it a fair bet Chubby lives in or near Brighton. Says "Bristol" on his profile.
 
 
Tryphena Absent
10:22 / 22.08.03
Well there's a Borders in Clifton so pretty much the same thing goes.
 
 
Chubby P
10:23 / 22.08.03
Thankyou 'Bobbu's Pig'. I was biting my tongue to resist ranting about how there is more to the UK than London and the South East. A pet peeve of mine! I've known Londoners who don't have a clue where anywhere is outside of London apart from reading and Brighton. "Bristol? Thats in the North isn't it", "No", "So its in the South then". What about West you idiots! And theres a lot of places North of London that don't regard themselves as northen! Sorry. Must suppress rant!

Although I have been to Brighton a couple of times and enjoyed it each time.
 
 
Chubby P
10:24 / 22.08.03
I didn't know theres a borders in Clifton. I'll have to check that out. I'd love to live in Clifton! If only I had the money.
 
 
blackbeltjones
10:29 / 22.08.03
Comic I'm enjoying most at the moment is online.
Patrick Farley's "Spiders": http://www.e-sheep.com/spiders
 
 
The Natural Way
10:55 / 22.08.03
Well there's a Borders in Clifton so pretty much the same thing goes.

That wasn't the point. I didn't understand why Haus assumed Chubby was from Bristol. Seems a funny assumption to make.
 
 
The Natural Way
11:42 / 22.08.03
I meant "Brighton".
 
 
ONLY NICE THINGS
07:44 / 23.08.03
Well, because I thought he was one of your chums, Runcepig, who generally live in or near Brighton, as evinced by conversations between you about Brighton, clubs in Brighton, our mates in Brighton and what we did in Brighton last weekend surfacing in the middle of other threads. Rather like this one, in fact. No pro-Brightonian basis was assumed.
 
 
The Natural Way
10:12 / 23.08.03
Yeah, I thought so, but I was just wondering why you assumed we knew him.

Ouch. Yr responses can be so spikey. I think people assume I'm being passive-aggressive when I'm not.
 
 
NezZ the 2nd
10:25 / 23.08.03
I feel the same sometimes but I recently bought Jimmy Corrigan, and for the first time, I actually had a sad emotional response to a comic. Don't get me wrong, I love comics but, they are normally exciting or funny. I actually felt sad when reading Jimmy Corrigan towards the end, so I suggest you have a look at that.
 
 
ONLY NICE THINGS
10:46 / 23.08.03
Ouch. Yr responses can be so spikey. I think people assume I'm being passive-aggressive when I'm not.

Not passive-aggressive; it's just that we find once again a thread that is meant to be about something else entirely being rotted by discussions of Brighton and Runce's chums, or in this case a metadiscussion about a metadiscussion about the discussion of Brighton and Runce's chums.

I'm afraid I have no idea why I thought Chubby P was a friend of yours. I regret not checking his location in his profile. None of this is in any way relevant to the discussion of "overexposure to comics, internet and authors makes everything less shiny and bright".

So, Borders - I was thinking them just because, although they have a limited stock compared to comic shops, they are open late and they do not make browsing feel like a crime. I remember when I was doing some work in Tottenham Court Road, stopping off if I had some free time before meeting people and having a coffee and reading a totlally random graphic novel - just something pulled from the shelves in the knowledge that it would cost nothing to read. It was fun, and occasionally enlightening.

On the "Pull List" - cutting it down might not be a bad idea. I'm a terrible one for buying comics I no longer enjoy that much, just because I like the medium, or it used to be good, or it is ending soon, or the characters have some residual pull for me, and this may indeed dilute general enjoyment. Why not, for example, ditch one of the ones you are not loving and get something you've heard good things about but would never normally buy? I dropped Powers and got the Jack Staff GN instead, and am very glad of it... if you wouldn't have enjoyed the comic anyway, then you're not losing anything much...
 
 
The Natural Way
11:27 / 23.08.03
Now this is interesting because, thinking about it, somewhere along the way I've managed to streamline my comics consumption by adopting an amalgamation of both Haus and Flux's approaches. Seek new shit out and drop stuff you think is *aaaaalright*. "Alright" always equals "crap" in my experience (Okay, okay - I'm still guilty of buying the Ultimates, but that's it!).

And as Mori points out: there's so much more to comics than you might think there is. If yr only reading mainstream superhero/Vertigo stuff, then yr only scratching the surface, really.
 
  
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