Comic Book Questions
 

I had kind of a lag in my posting since Christmas –Brian complains a lot about me keeping him busy with Atomic Robo, but really, you should see the outrageous stuff he puts into a script with a few casual strokes of the keyboard, which I then have to devote days of research and experimentation to. You’ll see what I mean . . .

Anyway I have some questions for the NPF crew:

1.) How many of you actually read comic books? I’m talking about physical, paper and ink comic books?

2.) If so, what titles are in your Top 5?


3.) Do you prefer manga over western comic books (WCB)? Don’t tell me why –that’s another thread for later ;P

4.) If you don’t read comics, is Atomic Robo something you will buy anyway because Brian is involved, (even if that involvement is on the microscopic level ;)?

5.) For the non-WCB readers, is there any particular reason you don’t read comics? Where you just never exposed to them, or is there something specific about them you don’t like? Will Brian and I be able to offer something different in this medium that might appeal to you?

PS: How do I add a Poll to this thread?

I ahve read many manga, and I tend to prefer it over Western. I( would buy Atomic Robo thouhg, it just looks sweet, plus if it's anyhting like 8-bit in terms of the same kind of smart humor, I know I'd love it.

My top 5 manga are (currently)
Tenjo Tenge
Getbackers
Peacemaker
Time Skip Naruto
Gun X Sword

I hardly ever read comic books. I mean it has to come highly recommended, like the Sandman series by Neil Gaimen for me to even look at it. I do however read tons of Manga, and online comics that go into paper back I tend to purchase, like Megatokyo or Penny-Arcade. The biggest problem I have with Western comics is a lack of variety. I mean there are some awesome stories out there, but there so much stereotyping and lack of variety that I sometimes I want to gouge my eyes out. And I'll buy Atomic Robo if I like it and it's good. Pretty simple.

I generally don't read comic books. It's just a matter of it not being high on my to-do list. Plus, they're short, which would make it reaaaaally expensive for me, since I'm a fast reader. But from what I have read between American and Japanese comics, they're both equally valid art forms that are simply expressed differently. Except the Japanese tend to keep their series shorter, so they're less like soap operas than the series we've had running since '55. On the other hand, Real Bout High School proves that some manga is just crap, which doesn't survive in the market over here.

As for buying the new series, while it looks cute, I'm not going to. Like I previously said, I just don't read paper comics.

I hope more folks will join in, but I wanted to drop a response or two. This really interests me so, as I said, I hope to see some more view points.

I totally agree with Bluestarultor on the "soap opera" complaint. I often refer to WCB's as "General Hospital for middle-aged male geeks". The main reason WCB tend to run in the monthly format and manga run in mini-series, is the economic models they operate on. 98% or more of manga actually see their first publishing run in anthologies printed on really cheap newsprint -they are intended to be thrown away. The ones that become popular are collected in trade paperbacks or graphic novels, and that is the stuff that reaches us here in the West. That's actually how most WCB were published back in the day, though the trade paperback thing is a relatively new idea.

When Brian first approached me about ROBO he saw it as a monthly comic, but I argued strongly for an on-going series of mini-series; basically something that was perfect for moving into TPB format later. And if you didn't like one story arc, maybe you'd see something in the next that you did like.

"Real Bout High School proves that some manga is just crap." I can tell you from 20 some-odd years of reading both WCB and manga that sadly there is a high percentage of utter junk on both sides of the equation. We just don't have to deal with most of the bad manga since it never makes it into our stores.

I definitely want to have a Manga -vs- Western Comic Books conversation, but not in this thread. I'm also not interested in Robo specific stuff (in this case). Just more of a general "What do people think," sort of thing.

Katsielyonz; I hope we can make something you like with Robo, (okay fine, that was Robo-specific). As a really picky manga/comic reader myself, I know exactly what you mean.

More more! I gots a brain what's hungry for the ka-nolage. :)

1) Damn right I do...
I spend over $40 a week on comics...

2) My current top five right now?
Astonishing X-Men of course... if I didn't have that in there I would be raped by all the Whedon fans, 52 also right now is something I constantly read even if it is leading up to the biggest letdown, DMZ cuz its fucking hot, Y - The Last Man.... Point me to a person who is not reading this so that I may shove the series down their throats, and finally I would have to go with IDW Transformers currently or the Green Lantern Corps.

3) Ooooh... hard one to answer... I would have to say no...

4) You guys had me sold on Atomic Robo from the second you announced it.... if it sucks later, THEN I shall bitch...

5) I have never known a manga reader in my life that does not read WCB, for you even to suggest that such a being exists blows my mind...

P.S. I don't think there are polls over here....
Blame Fifthfiend... its cool.

Moderators have to set up polls - you'd need to petition one of them to do it.

I don't read comic books that often. My friend owns the comic book store locally, so I usually go on his recommendations. I'm currently wrapped up in IDW's Transformers series, as well as the Knights of the Old Republic comic.

I read comic books long ago, and some of my favorites were Ghost Rider and TMNT. I never really thought about going and picking up new comics, for some reason. My young mind just liked the ones that I had and never thought twice about getting new ones, for some reason.

I prefer comics over manga, if only because I like American writers more.

And yes, the only reason I'm getting Atomic Robo is because Brian is doing it.

1.) How many of you actually read comic books? I’m talking about physical, paper and ink comic books?

I can't say how many of us read them, but I can say that I do.

2.) If so, what titles are in your Top 5?

Manga:

1. Akira/Lone Wolf &Cub (I can't pick one over the other.)
2. Devilman
3. Dragonball
4. Berserk

WCB:

1. Fables
2. Rex Mundi
3. The Killer (This is actually a French comic, but I'm listing it here anyway.)
4. Usagi Yojimbo
5. Conan (The new series from Dark Horse.)

3.) Do you prefer manga over western comic books (WCB)? Don’t tell me why –that’s another thread for later

I prefer good comics that appeal to me over those that don't, or are just shitty. I am not trying to derail the thread, but one thing that frustrates me is that so many people seem to think Japanese comics are the end all/be all of the medium, and WCB are utter garbage, or vice versa, which, in my opinion, is incredibly ignorant.

4.) If you don’t read comics, is Atomic Robo something you will buy anyway because Brian is involved, (even if that involvement is on the microscopic level?)

Yes, but I will also buy it because of the sexy, sexy linework. Also, I'll wait for the trade instead of buying individual issues.

1.) How many of you actually read comic books? I’m talking about physical, paper and ink comic books?

Totally. I love comics.

2.) If so, what titles are in your Top 5?

In no paticular order
1. Serenity: those left behind
2. Superman/Batman series
3. Kingdom Come
4. Teen Titans
5. Anything with Spiderman


3.) Do you prefer manga over western comic books (WCB)?

Not really. Manga feels empty to me, probably becuase of never being in color, or understanding why I'm holding the book this weird way. That kind of stuff.

1.) How many of you actually read comic books? I’m talking about physical, paper and ink comic books?
I have to answer this with an overly complicated answer, unfortunately: I don't buy comic books, i.e. single issues. I do, however read lots of trade paperbacks after a series or storyline has been completed. So, I do read physical, paper and ink comic books, but not monthly format, individual issue ones.

2.) If so, what titles are in your Top 5?
See, here we go again: all the titles I'm going to pick are old because I read collections:
1) The Sandman
2) Powers
3) The Crow (both the original O'Barr comic and the later, different storylines)
4) Parasyte (it's Manga, but it's a favorite of mine)
5) Garth Ennis stuff (not specific, I know, but I tend to pick up almost anything written by him)

3.) Do you prefer manga over western comic books (WCB)? Don’t tell me why –that’s another thread for later ;P
Finally, a short answer: no.

4.) If you don’t read comics, is Atomic Robo something you will buy anyway because Brian is involved, (even if that involvement is on the microscopic level ?
I'm still on the fence. It seems interesting, but I'm not yet completely sold on whether or not it's something I'd enjoy. I don't mean that as a slight on the work you guys are doing; it's more that I have really specific, picky tastes.

5.) For the non-WCB readers, is there any particular reason you don’t read comics?
Well, if you want to talk about why I don't read individual issues, it's because I hate suspense - I'd rather have the whole storyline right there, rather than drag it out over however long.

But I don't think that's what you're asking.