Comments on: Pull Quotes: Where for art thou, Norse dialogue? http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:36:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: David Clemons http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2828804 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:17:36 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2828804 Where most writers would use periods to end their sentences, Stan would use an exclamation mark! Now that's writing, folks!! Where most writers would use periods to end their sentences, Stan would use an exclamation mark! Now that’s writing, folks!!

]]> by: gene phillips http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2828600 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:37:07 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2828600 Stan was also a master of bouncing verbal patterns 'gainst each other: THOR: (after pinning Daredevil in a match that doesn't so much as ruffle one golden Asgardian lock): "Though I have bested thee-- verily, I say thee-- Yea!" DD: "Yea?" Stan was also a master of bouncing verbal patterns ‘gainst each other:

THOR: (after pinning Daredevil in a match that doesn’t so much as ruffle one golden Asgardian lock): “Though I have bested thee– verily, I say thee– Yea!”

DD: “Yea?”

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827983 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:37:08 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827983 I would like to see a four issue Seussian meter too). I would like to see a four issue Seussian meter too).

]]> by: Sphinx Magoo http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827928 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:54:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827928 You know what I'd pay for? An inter-company crossover with Marvel's Thor and DC's Morpheus the Sandman, written by Neil Gaiman and somehow involving a trip to Elizabethan times to meet William Shakespeare. Just to see the surprised look on Shakespeare's face as he chats with Thor. (I know, I know. A version of Thor has appeared in Sandman. But verily, that was not The Mighty Thor.) You know what I’d pay for?

An inter-company crossover with Marvel’s Thor and DC’s Morpheus the Sandman, written by Neil Gaiman and somehow involving a trip to Elizabethan times to meet William Shakespeare. Just to see the surprised look on Shakespeare’s face as he chats with Thor.

(I know, I know. A version of Thor has appeared in Sandman. But verily, that was not The Mighty Thor.)

]]> by: Pedro Bouça http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827857 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:55:35 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827857 So thanks to that Stravesty of a writer Stan Lee is now watering down his dialogs? Verily, I say thee nay! That's depressing. Seriously. Best, Hunter (Pedro Bouça) So thanks to that Stravesty of a writer Stan Lee is now watering down his dialogs? Verily, I say thee nay!

That’s depressing. Seriously.

Best,
Hunter (Pedro Bouça)

]]> by: Scott Bieser http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827612 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:24:57 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827612 Nok sagt Nok sagt

]]> by: phil http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827565 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:47:50 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827565 "Thor rocketh." Verily. “Thor rocketh.”

Verily.

]]> by: pulphope http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827135 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:03:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827135 Thor rocketh. Thor rocketh.

]]> by: Cary Coatney http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827099 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:48:26 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827099 When the heck did Thor reach a 600 issue milestone? How many times has the book been canceled and restarted?? Counting from Journey into Mystery # 85?? ~ Coat When the heck did Thor reach a 600 issue milestone?

How many times has the book been canceled and restarted??

Counting from Journey into Mystery # 85??

~

Coat

]]> by: Cary Coatney http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827097 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:48:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2827097 When the heck did Thor reach a 600 issue milestone. How many times has the book been canceled and restarted?? Counting from Journey into Mystery # 85?? ~ Coat When the heck did Thor reach a 600 issue milestone.

How many times has the book been canceled and restarted??

Counting from Journey into Mystery # 85??

~

Coat

]]> by: Anun http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826902 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:33:06 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826902 One of my favorite Thor moments is when he leaps up happily to greet a recently healed Janet and Hank Pym (*snf*) and declares, "Ye both look fit as Asgardian HE-GOATS!" Truly, a great light has gone out in the world. One of my favorite Thor moments is when he leaps up happily to greet a recently healed Janet and Hank Pym (*snf*) and declares, “Ye both look fit as Asgardian HE-GOATS!”

Truly, a great light has gone out in the world.

]]> by: Jonathan http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826776 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:40:08 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826776 "Where for" is not and doesn't sound like something Stan would write Thor saying. Nor does "where forth." For one thing, they don't make sense, any more than saying "where for are you" or "where forth are you" makes sense. They don't mean anything. For another, everyone would rightly suspect it of being a mistaken rendering of "Wherefore art thou," from Romeo and Juliet. The comma, too, should not be there. "Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" means, "Why are you, Romeo?" That's not what the question was. The question was, "Wherefore art thou Romeo?" Meaning: "Why are you Romeo?" She was asking that because if he were anyone but Romeo she would be free to love him. I strongly suspect Stan was up on his Shakespeare and, if not, at the very least, his attempts at ye olde English made sense and were grammatical. “Where for” is not and doesn’t sound like something Stan would write Thor saying. Nor does “where forth.” For one thing, they don’t make sense, any more than saying “where for are you” or “where forth are you” makes sense. They don’t mean anything. For another, everyone would rightly suspect it of being a mistaken rendering of “Wherefore art thou,” from Romeo and Juliet. The comma, too, should not be there. “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” means, “Why are you, Romeo?” That’s not what the question was. The question was, “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” Meaning: “Why are you Romeo?” She was asking that because if he were anyone but Romeo she would be free to love him. I strongly suspect Stan was up on his Shakespeare and, if not, at the very least, his attempts at ye olde English made sense and were grammatical.

]]> by: AaronH http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826729 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:25:08 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826729 Michael: I know that "wherefore" means "why," I just thought that "where for" sounded like something Stan Lee would write Thor saying. Maybe I should have used "Where forth!" I haven't read the current THOR books, but they have been well-reviewed and I think they at least use a gothic-looking font for Thor's dialogue if nothing else. Smilin' Stan was probably exaggerating his case a bit, but then -- when isn't he? Michael: I know that “wherefore” means “why,” I just thought that “where for” sounded like something Stan Lee would write Thor saying. Maybe I should have used “Where forth!”
I haven’t read the current THOR books, but they have been well-reviewed and I think they at least use a gothic-looking font for Thor’s dialogue if nothing else. Smilin’ Stan was probably exaggerating his case a bit, but then — when isn’t he?

]]> by: Solo500 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826721 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:20:29 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826721 Woe to he that watereth down the majestic voice of Lee! Woe to he that watereth down the majestic voice of Lee!

]]> by: Jim http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826615 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:54:56 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826615 I agree with Jason Green above- Thor is for my money the best Marvel book out right now. This last year, both JMS' regular Thor book, and the series of "one-shots" by Matt Fraction were terrific. And, I do like the way JMS and Fraction write the dialogue now-- not Shakespearean English, but a slightly more formal speech pattern (as Michael says above)--- sort of like the characters in the Lord of the Rings movies. Love it. I agree with Jason Green above- Thor is for my money the best Marvel book out right now. This last year, both JMS’ regular Thor book, and the series of “one-shots” by Matt Fraction were terrific. And, I do like the way JMS and Fraction write the dialogue now– not Shakespearean English, but a slightly more formal speech pattern (as Michael says above)— sort of like the characters in the Lord of the Rings movies. Love it.

]]> by: Oliver http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826502 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:21:14 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826502 So Thor still talks like that, but just in a more watered down version... oh... I can live with that:) Someone should tell Stan So Thor still talks like that, but just in a more watered down version… oh… I can live with that:)
Someone should tell Stan

]]> by: Michael http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826466 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:14:07 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826466 For example, Heidi, that would be "wherefore," and it means "why," not "where." For example, Heidi, that would be “wherefore,” and it means “why,” not “where.”

]]> by: Michael http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826459 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:13:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826459 I think writers should stick to regular English with slightly more formal speech patterns for the Asgardians. I like the Shakespearean diction, but the number of writers who can do it in a grammatically correct manner can be counted on one hand. Everyone else comes out sounding like LOLThor. I think writers should stick to regular English with slightly more formal speech patterns for the Asgardians. I like the Shakespearean diction, but the number of writers who can do it in a grammatically correct manner can be counted on one hand. Everyone else comes out sounding like LOLThor.

]]> by: Jason Green http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826372 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:51:22 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826372 Huh? JMS and Fraction still write the dialogue in Thor with that sort of regal air to it...it's definitely written as a more toned-down, modern spin on what Stan did, because writing ANY comic the way Stan did nowadays wouldn't read right. The spirit of it is still there, though, and I'd almost bet money I've read the phrase "I say thee NAY!" in a Thor comic in the last year. Incidentally, Thor is pretty much the best Marvel superhero book going right now. So there's also that. Huh? JMS and Fraction still write the dialogue in Thor with that sort of regal air to it…it’s definitely written as a more toned-down, modern spin on what Stan did, because writing ANY comic the way Stan did nowadays wouldn’t read right. The spirit of it is still there, though, and I’d almost bet money I’ve read the phrase “I say thee NAY!” in a Thor comic in the last year.

Incidentally, Thor is pretty much the best Marvel superhero book going right now. So there’s also that.

]]> by: Oliver http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826223 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:11:55 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826223 I started fairly recently reading all the Thor books from #1 on up -and man are they great: at first they read like some tongue in cheek Superman, and then they really hit their stride... it's fun and inspired. Funny story: when little no one in Norway had heard of the superhero Thor version (superheroes hadn't really got much of a foothold yet -with the exception of the Phantom), and I was asked to bring my comics for Show And Tell... the teacher was pretty horrified and started talking about how when they had John Wayne play Ghengis Khan and whatnot. (Comics and movies same difference:)) Anyway, it's like Yoda speak -you can't have him start talking normally... as a dual-citzenship-born-in-SF Norwegian I say: nay! It had a long run with that dialog, no? If it's not broke... I started fairly recently reading all the Thor books from #1 on up -and man are they great: at first they read like some tongue in cheek Superman, and then they really hit their stride… it’s fun and inspired.
Funny story: when little no one in Norway had heard of the superhero Thor version (superheroes hadn’t really got much of a foothold yet -with the exception of the Phantom), and I was asked to bring my comics for Show And Tell… the teacher was pretty horrified and started talking about how when they had John Wayne play Ghengis Khan and whatnot. (Comics and movies same difference:))
Anyway, it’s like Yoda speak -you can’t have him start talking normally… as a dual-citzenship-born-in-SF Norwegian I say: nay!
It had a long run with that dialog, no? If it’s not broke…

]]> by: Mike Everleth http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826040 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:25:34 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2826040 Since "Thor" is my absolute favorite superhero of all time, and one of the reasons is because of the crazy dialogue, this was the single most depressing thing I've read in a long, long time. I gave up on "Thor" when the first series ended and only bought some special one-shot recently and it was completely unreadable. Verily, I am horrifically depressed. Since “Thor” is my absolute favorite superhero of all time, and one of the reasons is because of the crazy dialogue, this was the single most depressing thing I’ve read in a long, long time.

I gave up on “Thor” when the first series ended and only bought some special one-shot recently and it was completely unreadable. Verily, I am horrifically depressed.

]]> by: Beau Smith http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2825962 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:07:46 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/08/pull-quotes-where-for-art-thou-norse-dialogue/#comment-2825962 Not because I was a kid when I first read Stan's THOR, but I always enjoyed the fact that he and his crew "talked funny". (That coming from me is funny enough) It set the character on he's own personal level and helped make him an icon. Did Norsemen really talk like that, no, but this is fiction. With THOR talking "current" as he does in Marvel Comics today, well, that's okay. In the world of comic book writing, that'll change many times as time marches on. Just look at The Sub-Mariner. He's gone through a lot of dialogue changes over the decades. The best, in my opinion, will always be the Bill Everett days of the 50's when Namor was a witty, rake. Nick Fury is another that has gone through some subtle changes as far as the way he speaks. He's changed a lot from his core as Sgt. Fury. Then again, we all change. Beau Not because I was a kid when I first read Stan’s THOR, but I always enjoyed the fact that he and his crew “talked funny”. (That coming from me is funny enough) It set the character on he’s own personal level and helped make him an icon.

Did Norsemen really talk like that, no, but this is fiction.

With THOR talking “current” as he does in Marvel Comics today, well, that’s okay. In the world of comic book writing, that’ll change many times as time marches on.

Just look at The Sub-Mariner. He’s gone through a lot of dialogue changes over the decades. The best, in my opinion, will always be the Bill Everett days of the 50’s when Namor was a witty, rake.

Nick Fury is another that has gone through some subtle changes as far as the way he speaks. He’s changed a lot from his core as Sgt. Fury.

Then again, we all change.

Beau

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