This is the place to discuss the episodes of the Comic Book Page podcast, the Comic Book Page website or pretty much anything else of interest to the Comic Book Page community...
after reading this thread it makes me glad I'm not currently reading either title.
To be fair, a lot of people are liking the new direction. In general, it seems DC was successful, most people I have heard of liking it fell into "I never liked the character before" camp, so appealing to new readers.
Unfortunately, in the process they lost some (not all) of the readers who liked the characters already.
I would disagree with it all being new people who like Superman. I have read every issue of Action and Superman since 1973 and I am loving it. Also my co-host and about 75% of our vocal listenership is liking it who have followed JMS Superman. Here is why I like it (everyone seems to have different reasons). I think I am entering a mid-life crisis where I am questioning things in my life and I think Superman is to. We just came off off a War of Supermen event which was the big battles and action that we love to see and it is now in a different phase that is refreshing. Over the years some of my favorite issues are the holiday issues where he reads letters and helps the everyman. However after saying all that in order for JMS to be successful I think he is going to have to inject Luthor, Prankster, Parasite, etc... into these stories at some point or a lot of people might be dropping off. Although the general feel we have received from our listeners is quite different than those of yours (it appears).
Wonder Woman is a very nice looking book that is confusing me so far but the confusion has my interest as to find out what the hell has happened to the character we are used to.
comicm wrote:
I would disagree with it all being new people who like Superman. I have read every issue of Action and Superman since 1973 and I am loving it. Also my co-host and about 75% of our vocal listenership is liking it who have followed JMS Superman. <snip>
Although the general feel we have received from our listeners is quite different than those of yours (it appears).
Fair enough. I only know that I DON'T like it.
I'm sure sales will tell the final story on the success of the JMS run.
I agree with Ryan from Chronic Insomnia; that we're being 'treated' to a pseudo ideological treatise that comes off thick and heavy handed. I feel as if I'm being preached to, and the 'slice of life' scenarios are not interesting.
The initial catalyst for his pilgrimage, the 'slap heard 'round the world' (cringe) is, in my mind, ridiculous. I have a very hard time believing that Superman would have a crisis of faith based on this situation. I have 2 more issues already selected, so I'll give it a little more time to see of JMS can pull this out of the nose dive.
I will say that the final few panels in 701 with the suicidal woman felt 'real.' If the rest of the story contained moments as rich as that, I'd be singing a different tune.
However, having said ALL OF THAT, I'm glad to hear that such a large percentage of comicm's audience is digging it. As long as a significant contingent of fans are enjoying the book, then a few dissenting voices like mine can be easily dismissed.
mikemclarty wrote:
However, having said ALL OF THAT, I'm glad to hear that such a large percentage of comicm's audience is digging it. As long as a significant contingent of fans are enjoying the book, then a few dissenting voices like mine can be easily dismissed.
Well I always consider the people that reply to forums and via the internet the vocal minority so only time will tell what the numbers will look like. Personally I don't think the numbers will be worse than the numbers during the New Krypton storyline but we will see. I think in order to be successful DC is going to have to mix in some Superman action along the way but I am not sure they are going to do that. Also with Luthor in Action Comics there really are not any alternatives for the Superman fan to turn to unless they want Supergirl, Superman/Batman, or some Cary Bates Elseworld's Superman. With Batman there are all kinds of different books that a fan can turn to for example if they don't like the direction of Grant Morrison.
mikemclarty wrote:
However, having said ALL OF THAT, I'm glad to hear that such a large percentage of comicm's audience is digging it. As long as a significant contingent of fans are enjoying the book, then a few dissenting voices like mine can be easily dismissed.
What the hell kind of attitude is THAT for a comic book fan to have?
You're supposed to be screaming for JMS's head on a platter! Threatening never to buy an issue of Superman again and posting a Youtube video where you're burning all your old issues (PLUS your Superman underoos!). Demanding that he change everything back the way YOU want it to be, and the rest of the world be damned!
Honestly...this whole rational, compassionate and understanding vibe is really wreaking havoc on the fanboy nation...
mikemclarty wrote:
However, having said ALL OF THAT, I'm glad to hear that such a large percentage of comicm's audience is digging it. As long as a significant contingent of fans are enjoying the book, then a few dissenting voices like mine can be easily dismissed.
What the hell kind of attitude is THAT for a comic book fan to have?
You're supposed to be screaming for JMS's head on a platter! Threatening never to buy an issue of Superman again and posting a Youtube video where you're burning all your old issues (PLUS your Superman underoos!). Demanding that he change everything back the way YOU want it to be, and the rest of the world be damned!
Honestly...this whole rational, compassionate and understanding vibe is really wreaking havoc on the fanboy nation...
comicm wrote: Also with Luthor in Action Comics there really are not any alternatives for the Superman fan to turn to unless they want Supergirl, Superman/Batman, or some Cary Bates Elseworld's Superman.
I like Superman, but for now, I'll make do with Supergirl. I'm not a big fan of Superman/Batman either, I've tried it a number of times, it's pretty inconsistent in me liking it. Not worth the $, to me.
BUT, there are plenty of Superman stories out there besides JMS to get a "fix" off of, I've not read every story over the past 75 years.
mikemclarty wrote:
The initial catalyst for his pilgrimage, the 'slap heard 'round the world' (cringe) is, in my mind, ridiculous. I have a very hard time believing that Superman would have a crisis of faith based on this situation.
I felt the same way. Plus, I just don't like preachy "socially aware" comics. That's just my personal taste.
I went into my LCS today and asked the owner how Superman and Wonder Woman were selling. He told me that the first JMS issues of Wonder Woman and Superman both sold out. The second issue was another story, Wonder Woman sold really well but Superman tanked.
Superman and Wonder Woman are going to sell like the #x00 issue were #1 issues. Sales will be high on them, drop on the next issue and the one after that and *then* start to settle into whatever level they are going to sell at. Odds are that the new sales levels of Wonder Woman will be higher than it was, at least for a while, just because it is a new take on the character. I suspect that the sales of Superman will drop to the same as before or lower within four or five issues.
yensid4disney wrote:Now my take is that DC missed a golden opportunity hear. If they had decided to us this version of Wonder Woman as the Earth One Wonder Woman I think a lot more people not only would have bought this, but would be greatly enjoying this. They could have then kept the "regular" Wonder Woman and all of those fans happy.
I agree wholeheartedly.
As a life-long Wonder Woman fan, it pains me to see what is being done to the character. I'm giving JMS through the first arc to convince me to stay with this book, but he has his work cut out for him.
