Comments on: Marvel: The best writing in comics http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/22/marvel-the-best-writing-in-comics/ Think - it ain't illegal yet... Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:27:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David Scholes http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/22/marvel-the-best-writing-in-comics/comment-page-1/#comment-72754 David Scholes Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:06:35 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=12271#comment-72754 As an Australian science fiction writer: www.StrategicBookPublishing.com/ScienceFictionandAlternateHistory.html and long time reader of Marvel comics, I totally agree. I've even tried my own hand at a bit of fan fiction over the years: http://www.sffworld.com/community/story/3932p0.html http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1276881/David_Scholes Cheers As an Australian science fiction writer: http://www.StrategicBookPublishing.com/ScienceFictionandAlternateHistory.html
and long time reader of Marvel comics, I totally agree.

I’ve even tried my own hand at a bit of fan fiction over the years:

http://www.sffworld.com/community/story/3932p0.html

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1276881/David_Scholes

Cheers

]]> By: Tom Shortell http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/22/marvel-the-best-writing-in-comics/comment-page-1/#comment-72752 Tom Shortell Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:08:40 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=12271#comment-72752 While what Quesada says is true, it would be nice if he really valued the lessons he preached. Quesada was at the helm for one of the most insulting decisions in comic story telling I can think of, Ultimatum. For those of you who 1) don't read comic books or 2) don't follow Wikipedia, Ultimatum was the closing chapter to Marvel's Ultimate universe. The Ultimate universe served as something of a reboot for Marvel's story tellers. It allowed them to use popular characters from Marvel, but freed them of the intricate and often asinine baggage the characters have picked up from 40 years of story telling. Writers had the freedom for modern interpretation, but the truly great stories could still be used as inspiration. The Ultimate universe became extremely popular, and it influenced many of the recent string of Marvel movies. However, the higher ups at Marvel decided they could make more money by rebooting the reboot. They decided to kill the series off. And I mean that literally. About 30 major and supporting characters were killed off in the five-book series, including most of the X-Men, many of the Ultimates (Marvel's version of the Justice League) and popular antagonists like Magneto, Juggernaut and Dr. Doom. The deaths came quickly, haphazardly and graphically -- at least four characters had their heads bitten or blown off, and another was shot in the head. A couple of deaths were the result of cannibalism. After seeing Marvel work hard to create modern versions of some of their most classic characters, it is disheartening and insulting to see them destroy it so callously. It reminded me of a bored 6-year-old breaking his toys because he has nothing better to do. I can't think of a better example of lazy writing. While what Quesada says is true, it would be nice if he really valued the lessons he preached. Quesada was at the helm for one of the most insulting decisions in comic story telling I can think of, Ultimatum.

For those of you who 1) don’t read comic books or 2) don’t follow Wikipedia, Ultimatum was the closing chapter to Marvel’s Ultimate universe. The Ultimate universe served as something of a reboot for Marvel’s story tellers. It allowed them to use popular characters from Marvel, but freed them of the intricate and often asinine baggage the characters have picked up from 40 years of story telling. Writers had the freedom for modern interpretation, but the truly great stories could still be used as inspiration.

The Ultimate universe became extremely popular, and it influenced many of the recent string of Marvel movies. However, the higher ups at Marvel decided they could make more money by rebooting the reboot. They decided to kill the series off. And I mean that literally.

About 30 major and supporting characters were killed off in the five-book series, including most of the X-Men, many of the Ultimates (Marvel’s version of the Justice League) and popular antagonists like Magneto, Juggernaut and Dr. Doom. The deaths came quickly, haphazardly and graphically — at least four characters had their heads bitten or blown off, and another was shot in the head. A couple of deaths were the result of cannibalism.

After seeing Marvel work hard to create modern versions of some of their most classic characters, it is disheartening and insulting to see them destroy it so callously. It reminded me of a bored 6-year-old breaking his toys because he has nothing better to do. I can’t think of a better example of lazy writing.

]]> By: Dr. Denny http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/22/marvel-the-best-writing-in-comics/comment-page-1/#comment-72737 Dr. Denny Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:44:00 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=12271#comment-72737 Superb, Chris. Thanks for the wonderful read. Superb, Chris. Thanks for the wonderful read.

]]> By: Dr. Slammy http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/22/marvel-the-best-writing-in-comics/comment-page-1/#comment-72719 Dr. Slammy Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:09:39 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=12271#comment-72719 As I read this, I think back a bunch of years to when the Academy gave Spielberg (I think I have this right) the Thalberg award. At that point it looked like SS was never going to win a real Oscar. The thesis of his acceptance speech was exactly what Quesada is saying - <i>it's all about great storytelling.</i> Great minds think alike, I suppose.... As I read this, I think back a bunch of years to when the Academy gave Spielberg (I think I have this right) the Thalberg award. At that point it looked like SS was never going to win a real Oscar. The thesis of his acceptance speech was exactly what Quesada is saying – it’s all about great storytelling.

Great minds think alike, I suppose….

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