"Where I now see the primary weakness of Final Crisis is that the DC universe itself isn’t vital enough or interesting enough or dependable enough as a starting point or filled with enough creative energy for me to give a crap as it all slips away. It’s hard to take seriously a crisis paired with an adjective, even an alarming one. A greater sense of peril was engendered by one of Fred Sanford’s heart attacks."
-- The Comics Reporter (via The Beat, can't find the direct link)
See, I actually would follow a Sanford & Son comic book event. As long as it didn't involve those last episodes where Lamont came back and was phoning it in.
It hasn't helped that Every OTHER WEEk there's a big event or crisis or earth-shattering dealie.
ReplyDeleteMarvel is just as guilty of this, but their events seem to flow together a little better. I didn't care for Civil War at all, but the stories that came out of that added to the overall MU. All these events for DC have done is make people think they hate women and their classic characters.
Curious - what fictional universe do you or the original poster of the article think IS interesting enough to worry about?
ReplyDeleteWitchblade - never.
Powers - yes.
The Boys - the actually universe no, the characters more so.
Vertigo w/ Sandman/Lucifer - yes.
Marvel - only as much as DC. Personally less so, given there's no Batman/Superman/Wonderman from my childhood memories.
Ultimate Marvel - definitely not. By Ultimates 2 this was getting long in the tooth.
I think that perfect describes my feelings about comics in general, and DC in particular. Basically, they are all starting to leave me cold. Maybe at age 46 I'm finally growing up. I hope not. I don't want to be old.
ReplyDeleteHow about a story where Fred G. actually DOES have a heart attack and travels to the afterlife for a tear-filled reunion with Elizabeth... only to be snatched back to life by a caring, dedicated doctor. The experience leaves him depressed and sullen, so Lamont and Grady have to re-engage Fred with daily life.
ReplyDeleteIf DC's current regime got a hold of this story, Julio's goat would be possessed by evil and rip out Aunt Esther's throat, Officers Smitty and Hoppy would be corrupt drug-dealing bastards and Bubba would brutally murder Donna.
In fairness, Grant Morrison doesn't write emotionally-engaging stories (Johnathan Kent's All-Star Superman death being the exception - Geoff Johns certainly thought so), and blaming the fact that you care very little for what happens during Final Crisis on the DCU itself seems to ignore that good writing can make you care about anyone.
ReplyDeleteBut enjoy event comics while they last, folks - once the market is a series of blandstrosity minis written by the guys who make Heroes and Chuck, you'll look back on this time with fondness...
I disagree with Jack West;'s comments. I find Grant's work to be very emotionally engaging in addition to containing a lot of weirdness and speculation.
ReplyDelete