Fading Glory

Today I thought I'd harsh every one's mellow and add my two cents to the biggest problem affecting the comic book industry today. Namely, readership. Stroytellingwise this maybe a golden age for comics. But, according to sales this may be one of the lowest points in comics. From my own observations the main reason that comics seem unable to add new readers in any significant way are twofold. the first one is distribution because of how the direct market mainly sells comics only to comic book retails unless you know where a comic book shop is you really can't get into reading comics. Now this wouldn't be that big of a problem if there were comic book shops in most neighborhoods, however this is not the case. Personally, since Free Time Comics (in Westminster) closed down and the Mile High Comics(in Thornton) moved, it has been quite hard for me to get my weekly comic book fix and that's without adding in the money woes that have been effecting everything as of late. At school (as I know for my comic book knowledge)I have been asked on quite a few occasion from classmates who really dig the movies based on our four color heroes. These folks regularly say to my that they dig the movies but don't know where to go to find comic books. Of course, when they do I give them the locations of several good comic book shops,and as far as I can tell they rearly go, part of the reason I feel is how intimidating walking into a comic shop could be if you are not already into them.
Which brings us to the other problem of pulling in new readers. Which is mainly editorially mandated strangeness and stories based on dense continuity. Stories like; Civil War and Final Crisis. though stories like these sell big with regular readers they do nothing to bring in new readers. Herein lies the problem. How do you generate bigger sales without adding readers? The quick answer is what the big two have been doing, you play to the base. Of course, the problem with this is that this strategy only works as long as there is a base. Part of the problem is also the variation between the books and the movies. Not to say the comics and movies should have the same continuity but, I could see how it is hard to reconcile the two when someone whom wants to read Spider man comics because they really dig the movie and after finding a comic book shop they get a new issue of Amazing Spider-man and there is no MJ even worse is their expected reaction when they ask someone they know who is into comics why there's no MJ in the book and you a forced to tell them about Brand New Day and it's satanic divorce. I'm sure it hasn't helped when I've been asked about it that the first thing out of my mouth is... UGH! Just like in politics, if you want to be successful in entertainment. You can't simple play to the base. If for no other reason, a base that is not adding anybody new is that humans are mortal and as such if you never adding one new your movement or business will only decline.

The Best Marriage in comics

In honor of Valentine's Day, I figured today I'd write about the coolest, best marriage in comics. No, I don't mean Peter and MJ before their satanic divorce. I'm talking about Scott and Barda Free.



Right off there's the fact that these two met and feel in love ON APOKOLIPS. If there was ever a place least conducive to folks falling in love this would be the place. Scott first caught Barda's through his fight to escape from the control of Darksied and Granny Goodness and showing her that you didn't have to except things how they were, that you can fight and maybe even triumph over a repressive world.
After they escapes from Apoklips, Barda then searched and found Scott. Becoming one of the stars of his act. Then after they married they tried to settle into a nice suburban life style but adventure kept calling out to Mr.Miracle and Big Barda.
One of the things I've always dug about this couple is that Barda could go blow for blow, punch for punch with Superman and neither she or Scott care about this. He doesn't care that she's the stronger one of the pair (at least physically) and she doesn't care that he doesn't have the strength to pick up a tank, like she does. In all the books I've read about these to this is a complete non-issue. Plus, you gotta dig a tough girl that like her bunny slippers. These two care more about each other than life itself and it shows. Sure, Scott teases her about her awful cooking and she'd prefer Scott to just settle down into a job as an insurance agent or some other job that doesn't lend itself quite as much to globe trotting adventures. But, they except each other completely. Even their bickering seems to be done out of love for each other. So, hopefully this Valentine's Day those of you out there who have somebody have found someone like these two to sure in your triumphs and missteps and hopefully one of these days those of us out there still looking for that person will find our one Barda or Scott as the case may be.



Happy Valentine's Day everyone and I hope you enjoy your weekend =D

The many loves of Peter Parker

I thought it would be fun to analyze the love life of Peter Parker (since I dodn't have one to analyze I thougt this would be the next best thing,lol). So,first there was Gwen Stacy,the original girl nextdoor in Pete's life. Pete loved this girl and wanted to marry her. The main problem in their relationship (well,until the Green Goblin killed her) was that every time he would go to tell her he was Spider-Man she would express the anti-Spidey sentiments fueled by the Daily Bugle and then later she was led to believe that Spidey killed her father and after that Peter Parker knew he could never tell her he was Spider-Man thus he could not completely share his life with her and then finally she was killed by the Green Goblin tossing her off of the George Washington bridge. After this Peter began dating Mary Jane but after he proposed to her and she said no (for the first time) they were through. So,in stepped the Black Cat, she started out as a cat burgler whom had a thing for Spidey. After awhile she reformed and became a hero and they began dating. After awhile Pete decided to share his secret identity with her and this time his girlfriend's problem wasn't with Spider-Man but, rather with the Black Cat she was not as fond of Peter Parker as she was with Spidey. Because Pete believes under his mask and without it on he is Peter Parker thus,he could not be with a girl who liked his heroic identity more than his real one this relationship could not last and back came Mary Jane Watson. Mary Jane was the only girl Peter dated that liked him as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. She was the only one of this handful of serious girlfriends he has had that liked him for whom he was both in and out of the costume and that is why (in the context of the books,anyways) why they got married. She was the only one that thought he was just as heroic when he was going to work and paying the bills as he was when he was fighting supervillians who were trying to destroy the city and that is why it is a shame that they have lost their marriage to editorial mandate. After all isn't that what all of us want out of a partner, not just someone who likes the image we project (whether because of insecutity or whatever) but someone who likes us for who we are in those small moments when we let our guard down and show who we truly are. I know that's what I'm looking for though most of the time girls tend to act like the Black Cat with Spidey liking the image alot more than the real person. Well,I'm starting to ramble so I'd better end this before I say something really dumb,lol.