Sunday, November 30, 2014

The only problem with American comic books...ok I lied, it's more than one problem really.

The only problem with American comic books is that they are too cheesy.
Men who say women watch too many soap operas and dramas need to take a step back.
If a man reads comics, he is reading male-centered soap operas.
American comics are too much. Too much cheesy dialogue, overly-complicated plot lines, over the top dramatics and to be honest, there are so many superheroes that I can't be bothered with most of them. And they all have a massive list of abilities and skills and so on, not even necessarily super ones, eg; martial artist, high IQ, master strategist, millionaire, high stamina or whatever and so on.

I like to dip in now and again but I tell you, after reading about three or four issues, I get bored.
Add to that the fact that only about half the artists are any good at making each character look different to the next (let alone recognisable), and the sometimes glaringly bad block colours, and let's not go into ridiculously unrealistic anatomy. I think the main reason they invented costumes for superheroes is so that you can tell who is whom. It's actually easier to recognise most of the characters in costume than out of it.
They make everyone so strong that they have to make up elaborate back stories to provide weaknesses for them all.
They're all basically demi-gods of one type or another.
And the dramatic relationship issues.
Not even talking about marriages and hook ups. I mean, guys making alliances, they falling out over weak plot contrived disagreements that half the time don't actually make sense if you think about the characters, what they have in common and what they have already been through. And the whole, 'He dies, then gets brought back to life by ..... or for this or that reason.' And don't forget 'Loses his powers and then..... basically later on gets his powers back.'
Stereotypical characters. 'Minorities'. Exploitation. ESP women. I need not say more, surely.

Oh also one last problem; EXPOSITION.
Stop telling me in long-winded comments to yourself in your head what's going on unless it's difficult to figure it out. I'm not an idiot. I can tell a lot by context and by what other characters do and say around you. Idiot hero. Or in this case, idiot writers.

Things they do right?
Good usually (but not always) wins, which is nice and not at all like real life.
Who doesn't wish they were one of the many superheroes? Everyone in the world could identify with at least one out of the hundreds must be by now.
Fantasy is great for a while. In moderation.
Awesome new ideas for new superpowers or weapons etc.
Great original costume ideas.
So many ideas for cosplay.
Jokes. So bad they are good. I love you for that, Spiderman. You're one of the funniest.
Predicting the future is what sci fi does well.
Dick Tracy's wristwatch thingy is becoming a reality isn't it?
Also apparently men on the moon was done in sci fi before it became a reality.
Although that all depends on whether or not you actually believe that men have landed on the moon or was it a hoax?
I sum it up like this:
I don't care.

Right.
Have a great day!

No comments: