Comments on: “Comic Con: With Great Money comes Great Responsibility to fans” http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:08:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: rich http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2089291 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:17:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2089291 I saw some photos from a WISCON of a couple of years ago. There was a chubby Power Girl, but I think she got a snark-free pass. I saw some photos from a WISCON of a couple of years ago. There was a chubby Power Girl, but I think she got a snark-free pass.

]]> by: The Sunday Stroll for August 3rd,2008 | http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2080488 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:43:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2080488 [...] One of my favorite comic related blogs is The Beat, although I don’t seem to visit the site as often as I should, sorry Heidi. Anyway, when scanning through the headlines earlier today I came across an interesting Comic-Con rant written by Steve Marmel. [...] […] One of my favorite comic related blogs is The Beat, although I don’t seem to visit the site as often as I should, sorry Heidi. Anyway, when scanning through the headlines earlier today I came across an interesting Comic-Con rant written by Steve Marmel. […]

]]> by: A-Rod http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2055797 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:43:20 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2055797 John Kipling, I see now what a naive fool I have been. Please accept my apologies. I hope the 300 Lb man dressed as Flash can also accept my apology. I now recognize that he was attempting to portray the Flash from Issue #115, "The Day The Flash Weighed a Thousand Pounds." In which Flash is hit with a "Fat Ray". Bravo! Good sir! I commend you on your dedication to detail. I will not be so quick to judge next time. John Kipling,

I see now what a naive fool I have been. Please accept my apologies. I hope the 300 Lb man dressed as Flash can also accept my apology. I now recognize that he was attempting to portray the Flash from Issue #115, “The Day The Flash Weighed a Thousand Pounds.” In which Flash is hit with a “Fat Ray”. Bravo! Good sir! I commend you on your dedication to detail. I will not be so quick to judge next time.

]]> by: Steven R. Stahl http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2054471 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:27:13 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2054471 My supervisor at work loved the IRON MAN movie; he talked about the movie before and after seeing it, but I haven’t seen the movie and don’t intend to, so he’s stopped bringing up the subject. It’s not that I’d think IRON MAN would be “bad” in any sense, but the plot mostly rehashes the hero’s origin. I know his origin and don’t care to see a movie about it. A movie has to have interesting content if I’m to consider seeing it. My supervisor, meanwhile, has no interest in reading comic books. He might represent a group of people who believe that advances in special effects have enabled moviemakers to do superheroes better than comics can. I see few differences between comics fans’ enthusiasm and love for the characters, and the enthusiasm and love shown by fans of soap operas, “cult” TV shows, or pro sport teams. A fan of any of those can go overboard, for a variety of reasons, but if he doesn’t, the hobby is harmless. Such a fan who goes to conventions to celebrate his hobby would, I’d think, react negatively to seeing outsiders trying to profit from his industry without contributing to it. A comics fan would have a worse reaction to the prospect of having superhero comics rendered obsolete (in the public’s opinion) by video versions of the heroes. It’s easy to think that a fan’s enthusiasm for something is indicative of an addictive personality, and thus unhealthy, but I doubt that superhero comics as such would exist unless they had catered to that personality type. Without the superheroes, other American comic books might exist only as a sub-subgenre, less popular commercially than poetry. SRS My supervisor at work loved the IRON MAN movie; he talked about the movie before and after seeing it, but I haven’t seen the movie and don’t intend to, so he’s stopped bringing up the subject. It’s not that I’d think IRON MAN would be “bad” in any sense, but the plot mostly rehashes the hero’s origin. I know his origin and don’t care to see a movie about it. A movie has to have interesting content if I’m to consider seeing it. My supervisor, meanwhile, has no interest in reading comic books. He might represent a group of people who believe that advances in special effects have enabled moviemakers to do superheroes better than comics can.

I see few differences between comics fans’ enthusiasm and love for the characters, and the enthusiasm and love shown by fans of soap operas, “cult” TV shows, or pro sport teams. A fan of any of those can go overboard, for a variety of reasons, but if he doesn’t, the hobby is harmless. Such a fan who goes to conventions to celebrate his hobby would, I’d think, react negatively to seeing outsiders trying to profit from his industry without contributing to it. A comics fan would have a worse reaction to the prospect of having superhero comics rendered obsolete (in the public’s opinion) by video versions of the heroes.

It’s easy to think that a fan’s enthusiasm for something is indicative of an addictive personality, and thus unhealthy, but I doubt that superhero comics as such would exist unless they had catered to that personality type. Without the superheroes, other American comic books might exist only as a sub-subgenre, less popular commercially than poetry.

SRS

]]> by: John Kipling http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2054399 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:05:27 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2054399 I can't believe people are sneering at 300 lb Flashes out there. I can't be the only continuity junkie here. I just can't. Am I the only guy who remembers the back of comics and a super hero world where the only thing that would stop the Joker was a Hostess Cup Cake tossed by the boy wonder? Doesn't anyone besides me remember a universe where Golden Delicious Twinkies could distract the Red Skull long enough for Captain America to kick the crap out of the fascist a-hole? FOR YOUR INFORMATION... those wonderful fans are simply dressed up as heroes from a forgotten DC/Marvel universe where villains were foiled by the magic of a treat with a shelf life of 40 years. So all you haters, drop the attitudes, go back to comic book school and learn you some history before you start embarrassing yourself with your "fat guys can't be superheroes" talk. It just so happens that I sold a lot, and I mean A LOT, of seeds to buy this here bike. Don't make me get on it, peddle to your house, and teach you some flippin' manners. (And by that, I mean, I'll stand outside your house and throw ding dongs at your front door.) I can’t believe people are sneering at 300 lb Flashes out there.

I can’t be the only continuity junkie here. I just can’t.

Am I the only guy who remembers the back of comics and a super hero world where the only thing that would stop the Joker was a Hostess Cup Cake tossed by the boy wonder?

Doesn’t anyone besides me remember a universe where Golden Delicious Twinkies could distract the Red Skull long enough for Captain America to kick the crap out of the fascist a-hole?

FOR YOUR INFORMATION… those wonderful fans are simply dressed up as heroes from a forgotten DC/Marvel universe where villains were foiled by the magic of a treat with a shelf life of 40 years.

So all you haters, drop the attitudes, go back to comic book school and learn you some history before you start embarrassing yourself with your “fat guys can’t be superheroes” talk.

It just so happens that I sold a lot, and I mean A LOT, of seeds to buy this here bike. Don’t make me get on it, peddle to your house, and teach you some flippin’ manners.

(And by that, I mean, I’ll stand outside your house and throw ding dongs at your front door.)

]]> by: gene phillips http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2053857 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:32:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2053857 Nicely said, Ian. Although the Hollyweird world has racked up substantial points in the "travesty of original comics ideas" department, certain producers of comics (one with the initials DD) *have* been playing catch-up of late. Of course in both cases it comes down to what both sets of producers thinks will sell. If they think respectful treatments sell, they make those; if they think utter travesties sell, they make those. The creators often don't have much say in it. Nicely said, Ian. Although the Hollyweird world has racked up substantial points in the “travesty of original comics ideas” department, certain producers of comics (one with the initials DD) *have* been playing catch-up of late.

Of course in both cases it comes down to what both sets of producers thinks will sell. If they think respectful treatments sell, they make those; if they think utter travesties sell, they make those. The creators often don’t have much say in it.

]]> by: Brian Spence http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2053841 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:31:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2053841 Michael: Do you see the irony of your statements? Michael: Do you see the irony of your statements?

]]> by: Ian Boothby http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2053113 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:23:25 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2053113 With the Batman and Iron Man examples if you're really a fan of the characters you have to admit the films treat them better than the comic books. They get the characters in a way the comics seldom do any more. For all the Hollywood bashing they're showing more love for the things you care about. Spider-Man in the films isn't going to make a deal with Satan. No one's going to get raped in the JLA's clubhouse on the TV series. No group of bad guys are going to kick Kid Flash to death on the Teen Titans series. The comics may be where your love of these characters started but don't shut out where they're going. And welcome to the new folks who only know the films and tv shows, maybe they'll get turned on to comics, maybe not but be a generous guide to them and it'll only make things better. With the Batman and Iron Man examples if you’re really a fan of the characters you have to admit the films treat them better than the comic books. They get the characters in a way the comics seldom do any more. For all the Hollywood bashing they’re showing more love for the things you care about.
Spider-Man in the films isn’t going to make a deal with Satan. No one’s going to get raped in the JLA’s clubhouse on the TV series. No group of bad guys are going to kick Kid Flash to death on the Teen Titans series.
The comics may be where your love of these characters started but don’t shut out where they’re going.
And welcome to the new folks who only know the films and tv shows, maybe they’ll get turned on to comics, maybe not but be a generous guide to them and it’ll only make things better.

]]> by: Unpopular http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2051560 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:12:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2051560 "“It’s our f***ing party.” Yeah, but the football team’s crashed the party, spiked the punch, and want to cast Jack Black as Green Lantern. " Maybe so, but now would be a good time to gang up and kick their asses while we still outnumber them by a large margin. That margin will shrink every year as more comics fans stop going to bloody COMIC-con. ““It’s our f***ing party.”

Yeah, but the football team’s crashed the party, spiked the punch, and want to cast Jack Black as Green Lantern. ”

Maybe so, but now would be a good time to gang up and kick their asses while we still outnumber them by a large margin. That margin will shrink every year as more comics fans stop going to bloody COMIC-con.

]]> by: Steve Marmel http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050662 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:40:37 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050662 Tom: Ha! Michael: It was more a musing than a rant. But as long as it's open for discussion... it was a post on a facebook page. They all can't be about the 2008 election, ya know? Tom: Ha!

Michael: It was more a musing than a rant. But as long as it’s open for discussion… it was a post on a facebook page. They all can’t be about the 2008 election, ya know?

]]> by: Jackie Estrada http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050554 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:49:21 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050554 Steve-- Loved your posting, but in particular this line: "But we’re not in any big hurry because we wait all year to get there." Jackie E. Steve–
Loved your posting, but in particular this line: “But we’re not in any big hurry because we wait all year to get there.”

Jackie E.

]]> by: Kirk Boxleitner, a.k.a. K-Box http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050366 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:54:18 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050366 I'm suddenly reminded of other rants I've read, about more significant appropriations from far more oppressed cultures, but as a nerd, I empathize with this. I’m suddenly reminded of other rants I’ve read, about more significant appropriations from far more oppressed cultures, but as a nerd, I empathize with this.

]]> by: Tom Spurgeon http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050250 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:11:29 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050250 Holy ironic babooshka-style argument construction, Batman! Holy ironic babooshka-style argument construction, Batman!

]]> by: Michael http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050090 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:16:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2050090 Well, you'll be less likely to rant over unimportant bullshit like the pecking order of attendees at a comic convention. Well, you’ll be less likely to rant over unimportant bullshit like the pecking order of attendees at a comic convention.

]]> by: Steve Marmel http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049995 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:57:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049995 Michael Says: 07/30/08 at 9:49 am "Grow up, Steve." Any particular reason or hurry? - Steve Michael Says:
07/30/08 at 9:49 am

“Grow up, Steve.”

Any particular reason or hurry?

- Steve

]]> by: Mike Heffron http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049858 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:14:56 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049858 When ever I go to any convention, I always have to remind myself that “convention = celebration.” Do you think the guy walking around in the dead-on Cylon armor was comfortable? Do you think the Elvis Stormtrooper walks his dog around the neighborhood wearing that white cape with the Imperial logo bedazzled into it? It is a celebration, and everyone celebrates it their own unique way. Now, more people want in on the celebration. People know a good thing when they see it, so why should anyone be surprised by the success? No one can stop the SDCC train. Either get on it and enjoy the ride or shut it and get off If anyone feels strongly about process or program changes, they should send the great people who run the show some feedback: Not liking the lines? Suggest alternatives. Not liking the stops and starts in traffic because a costume poses with a picture? Recommend a solution. If you plan to keep going to these shows and stay on the SDCC train, offer a way of making it more enjoyable. Otherwise, park it. I guarantee someone else will take your ticket. When ever I go to any convention, I always have to remind myself that “convention = celebration.” Do you think the guy walking around in the dead-on Cylon armor was comfortable? Do you think the Elvis Stormtrooper walks his dog around the neighborhood wearing that white cape with the Imperial logo bedazzled into it?

It is a celebration, and everyone celebrates it their own unique way.

Now, more people want in on the celebration. People know a good thing when they see it, so why should anyone be surprised by the success? No one can stop the SDCC train. Either get on it and enjoy the ride or shut it and get off

If anyone feels strongly about process or program changes, they should send the great people who run the show some feedback: Not liking the lines? Suggest alternatives. Not liking the stops and starts in traffic because a costume poses with a picture? Recommend a solution.

If you plan to keep going to these shows and stay on the SDCC train, offer a way of making it more enjoyable.

Otherwise, park it. I guarantee someone else will take your ticket.

]]> by: Paul Kupperberg http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049660 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:33:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049660 "It’s our f***ing party." Yeah, but the football team's crashed the party, spiked the punch, and keep trying to cast Jack Black as Green Lantern. “It’s our f***ing party.”

Yeah, but the football team’s crashed the party, spiked the punch, and keep trying to cast Jack Black as Green Lantern.

]]> by: Paul Kupperberg http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049658 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:32:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049658 "It’s our f***ing party." Yeah, but the football team's crashed the party, spiked the punch, and want to cast Jack Black as Green Lantern. “It’s our f***ing party.”

Yeah, but the football team’s crashed the party, spiked the punch, and want to cast Jack Black as Green Lantern.

]]> by: Patrick McEvoy http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049548 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:02:58 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049548 That's a very well-written piece, and says what some of us (well, me at least) have been thinking. Thanks for reprinting. That’s a very well-written piece, and says what some of us (well, me at least) have been thinking. Thanks for reprinting.

]]> by: Joe Lawler http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049489 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:41:34 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049489 There should be a fat guy in inappropriate costume portion of Masquerade. There should be a fat guy in inappropriate costume portion of Masquerade.

]]> by: A-Rod http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049319 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:54:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049319 I myself have been that guy sneering at the 300lb man in the ill-fitting Flash suit. How can someone know that Wolverine is supposed to be short and Batman doesn't kill people but not apparently know that the Flash is NOT 300lbs and doesn't have a piece of cheese from his Subway sandwich stuck to his shirt. If Hollywood made a movie of the Flash with Jack Black in the title role Fans would throw a fit but this guy gets away with it at the nerd Super Bowl no less. When the shoe is on the other foot comic book fan boys are rarely ever respectful of Hollywood so it seems a bit incredulous to think that Hollywood would be so gracious to comics. That said, I understand exactly where Steve's coming from. I myself have been that guy sneering at the 300lb man in the ill-fitting Flash suit. How can someone know that Wolverine is supposed to be short and Batman doesn’t kill people but not apparently know that the Flash is NOT 300lbs and doesn’t have a piece of cheese from his Subway sandwich stuck to his shirt. If Hollywood made a movie of the Flash with Jack Black in the title role Fans would throw a fit but this guy gets away with it at the nerd Super Bowl no less.

When the shoe is on the other foot comic book fan boys are rarely ever respectful of Hollywood so it seems a bit incredulous to think that Hollywood would be so gracious to comics.

That said, I understand exactly where Steve’s coming from.

]]> by: Michael http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049294 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:49:51 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049294 Grow up, Steve. Grow up, Steve.

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049221 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:34:46 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/07/30/comic-con-with-great-money-comes-great-responsibility-to-fans/#comment-2049221 I like that typo... "see of gleeful comic geek[s]"... See: a group or crowd of people in motion, usually slow moving, gawking at nearby sights. The pedestrian version of automobile drivers rubbernecking at an accident, causing traffic backups on freeways. I like that typo… “see of gleeful comic geek[s]”…

See: a group or crowd of people in motion, usually slow moving, gawking at nearby sights. The pedestrian version of automobile drivers rubbernecking at an accident, causing traffic backups on freeways.

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