Taking Comics Podcast 01/21/15

Here's the thing about the Edgar Wright Ant Man thing: By all accounts, the disagreement between Wright and Marvel was over the story of the film, and after having seen The World's End, I think I'd have to give Marvel the benefit of the doubt. If his script for Ant Man had as much WTF-bu-not-in-a-good-way as The World's End, I thing we may have dodged a bullet.

During the Secret Wars segment, people were saying the phrase "new readers" so much it was coming out as one word.

  Ok.....here's my thoughts...first, I'm kind of excited for Secret Wars, I read the X-books, I read Thor, Spiderman, Hulk (although that's really high on the chopping block), Punisher, The Ultimates, Loki, and a few other books. Why, suddenly does that make me a bad guy? I actually enjoyed Fear Itself and Original Sin, Age of Apocolypse and Civil War and Dark Reign. There's been some I havent, from Axis to Inhumanity. And I voted with my dollar, if I liked it, I bought tie-ins (if I wanted to), if I didn't like it, I didn't buy anything. I am having a little event fatigue too but if the story is good (in a personal opinion),why not buy it? Because it's Marvel and not the almighty Image, I should quit reading Marvel because it's the evil empire? Actually, I've always been contrarian, I rooted for the Undertaker over Hulk Hogan, I like Darth Vader & Thanos, so I guess I'll just have to be evil.
  This podcast has broadened my horizons, the books on the top of my pile are Nailbiter, Birthright, & Outcast, but it also has Thor and Amazing. I read what I enjoy, and I'm kind of tired of being told what I SHOULD enjoy. I don't like Manga or that style art, Im not a fan of Ben Templesmith, and I like Steve Dillion.
  I teach the kids I work with, that art & writing are personal, just because person A likes this artist and writer, and person B doesn't, that doesn't mean either is right or wrong. It's personal to them. Don't let anyone tell you what your tastes are.
  I've said it numerous times, The crews job is to give their OPINION on what they like or don't like. We listen, we agree, we disagree, we fuss, we cuss, we love, we give our opinions on the forums and Twitter. However, I would be careful on how much they poo-poo on stuff before it even comes out. I love Steph, but the snarkyness gets a little old after a while when she doesn't think something is good (specifically events). And when she leads off a discussion, and it's like that, it seems everyone else kind of follows suit, trying to avoid the argument of ougt '13 lol. Big credit to Bobby for reigning that back in and giving a counterpoint.
  Give peace a chance, and let me read what I want to read without feeling like I'm, ahem.. A "mindless follower", that I'm "ridiculous" or even "unfeeling".
  Maybe this Secret Wars thing will square everything up, we'll get the good books now to continue, they'll do even more Ms. marvels and Squirrel Girls, Jason Aaron, G. Willow, Al Ewing, and the other good writers and artists will have us on the edge of our seat. Maybe, just maybe, they'll get it right....but for God's sake, give it a chance or don't, but let me do it in peace 

I agree 100%!  I am just finishing the spider-verse event, and while I have generally enjoyed it, I was kind of exhausted by it between keeping track of which books I needed and in which order I needed to read them (I found out last night the checklist had one or two out of order) and the sheer expense of it (this has been half my pull since the fall and all the books are 4-5 bucks each!) so I'm not really looking forward to the marvel books I do enjoy (rocket, moon knight & Spiderman 2099) taking a hiatus for an event I really don't have the stamina for.  HOWEVER, that's my opinion and I hope it doesn't make the people who DO enjoy the events feel like I'm looking down on them because that's the last thing I would want to do.  I don't think anyone should be disparaged for liking events or for being willing to give them a try.  They just aren't my cup of tea these days, and this one in particular sounds too much like the event I'm just finishing to make me want to buy into it so soon.

All that said, the beginning of that conversation did sound kind of uncomfortable and I was glad everyone was able to rope it back in and get everyone talking rationally about it because it started out sounding like it would devolve into some nerd rage and nerd rage counterpoint.  Once it all settled down I thought it was a very good conversation but that first minute or two was a little tense

You shouldn't feel bad about liking what you like. That's never our intent If you guys love them that's awesome. I've loved them in the past and hope to love them in the future. Thank you guys for being so passionate and continuing to comment!

was just looking at the picture above. who is the guy in the dead center, way in the back with an "8" on his chest? also, what's Shazam doing in the lower left corner? haha! (I know that's not Shazam, but it sure looks like that costume to me )

There is nothing wrong with pre-judging based on past experience. It's simply a reaction. It's not a final judgement on anything. Nor is it wrong to simply ignore something because they aren't your bag. That bag is largely based on past experience and even if its not (I don't have to read Tarrot to know its not for me) then its based on long built up tastes that have a founding. If you like Events, good for you, you're going to be reading the biggest selling thing that quarter / year. So youre in the MAJORITY. I think the majority can take a little boo'ing from the cheaep seats without taking it so personally.

Besides EVERYONE does it (the prejudging) - even the most pro-spandex memebers of TCP make 'good grief' remarks about books they haven't read or announcements from the Big 2. Stephanie just just slightly louder and more exasperated by it all. Personally I think 'no offence but' should just be pre-assumed and the podcast could cut 20 minutes of the endless exculpations and pre-apologies that they indulge in before going on to dislike something. Just say you dislike it, no need for 'I appreciate its some peoples thing but..' before every slight criticism.