2003 in Review: The X-Fan Version
Thanks to
Kevin
Melrose, I read
ComiX-Fan's
picks for the Top Comic Events of 2003. I love some of their
comments for their picks:
On the 80s nostalgia books:
"But is this really what comic readers want? It
seems that everyone gets excited at the announcement of a new 80s
revival project. Come release time, the #1 issue may do well, but with
the exception of a few, sales quickly decline. Freud would have a field
day with the nostalgia factor being the big decider. Perhaps the
quality doesn't match up to our expectations; perhaps it does but we
quickly realise we're not getting our childhood back. One thing's for
sure: These 80s properties are a great way to lure in the mainstream
consumer into the comic industry. So hopefully, they'll stick around
for a while."
Yeah, because if dedicated comic readers aren't even willing to buy
these series, obviously the mainstream audience will eat them up!
(Then again, look at the popularity of properties like 'Scooby
Doo.' Maybe X-Fan has a point: If the fanboys won't bite,
maybe the public-at-large will!!)
On "Hush":
"Everyone was talking about it. All the buzz in the
industry was focused on it. It was the reading event of the year."
Was anyone really reading this, as opposed to simply looking at the
pretty pictures? ("Look, now Jim Lee is drawing a completely
different Batman villain this issue! AWESOME!!") It seems
that those
who did read the series were pretty disappointed in it, so I think
it's a stretch to refer to it as the reading event of
the year.
On DC signing creators to exclusives:
"With the new millenium, Marvel has regained its #1
position in the comic book industry with the strategies of its
notorious former President Bill Jemas. So what's an underdog to do?
Why, ask Papa Time and Mama Warner to provide. Finally, it seems DC's
parent company is willing to provide for its comic properties, not just
in all the blockbuster movies, not just in statuettes and miscellaneous
memorabilia, but where it counts -- in the comic book field."
(I have no idea if "Papa Time and Mama Warner" really footed the
bill for DC to sign all these creators, but I know posting this will
get a rise out of Graeme.)
On the Princess Di X-Statix brouhaha:
"Marvel felt cornered into giving the storyarc a
makeover, and the true genius (if you will) behind it, award-winning
scribe Peter Milligan, had no choice but to make altercations
of the inclusion of Diana into something entirely different and almost
unrecognisable, that was ill-received by most X-Statix readers -- the
only ones who ever truly mattered in the whole debacle." [Emphasis
added]
Typo or meaningful malapropism? U-DECIDE!!
On the Jesus Castillo case:
"But in August, 2003, the Supreme Court denied the
appeal to hear Castillo's case. Not only was this the final blow to the
comic industry, but comic fans as a whole were discouraged more than
ever that the society they live in still cannot open its mind and move
past the stereotypes of the clique in this day and age."
Stereotypes? Which ones? You mean the same ones X-Fan
used to open discussion of the Castillo event?: "Just when you
thought it was safe to live in your parents' basement and be a comic
geek away from the rest of the world..."
