Post by Roquefort Raider on Aug 21, 2014 17:07:16 GMT -5
The name of this forum suggests that none of us started reading comics thinking that Nova's real name is Sam Alexander, although there are young people who just happen to have a great interest in older comics. Our own Sir Tim Drake, for example, was quite a bit younger than the average poster on CBR's old classic board (which he moderated), but you'd never have known it due to his vast knowledge of the field.
Classic Comics readers do come from different generations, and as one gets older one can get surprised by how quickly time flies: is it really possible, for example, for adults to be young enough not to have seen Star Wars (the real one, without a number) in the movie theatre? Is it possible for X-Men readers to think that "classic" X-Men stories mean the Scott Lobdell run? Or that Wolverine being able to regrow body parts in a few minutes is anything but a very recent retcon???
I don't mean to imply that newer readers aren't as respectable as the old farts who still think comics should cost 12 cents; nor that their opinions aren't as interesting. But I am nevertheless surprised (not upset, just surprised) to have situations like the following one: in the video below, the Walker brothers review the Guardians of the galaxy movie (and do a fine job of it). The younger brother seems to be something of a Marvel fan, but... he'd never heard of Ronan the accuser. I'll admit it: when he said that, my first curmudgeonly thought was "oh, I see: a young reader who probably enjoyed Infinity War as a kid". And sure enough, that seems to be a high point of his Marvel reading. He had been stigmatized, in my judgemental mind, as a part of the Infinity War generation.
Now once again, I'm not saying this is shameful or anything. Ronan was indeed a fairly minor character (albeit a part of the classic Kirby-Lee Fantastic Four run) and he's been used rather sparsely since, with a few big roles in recent cosmic crossovers. As for Infinity War, while it occurred after my most active period of comic-book reading, (and while I think it stank to high heaven), I know that it was a defining moment for many, many readers. The same would hold true a bit later for that Age of Apocalypse thing that apparently warrants a movie but (personal tastes and all that) that makes me want to tear out my brain so I'll never have to remember it again. (I allow myself these deprecating comments because I'm sure that older fans would look at John Carter, Warlord of Mars (which I loved at the time) and declare it utter tripe; each generation gets its own batch of series to enjoy and declare a true classic.
Now, what would you say are comics series or events that marked succeeding generations?
Classic Comics readers do come from different generations, and as one gets older one can get surprised by how quickly time flies: is it really possible, for example, for adults to be young enough not to have seen Star Wars (the real one, without a number) in the movie theatre? Is it possible for X-Men readers to think that "classic" X-Men stories mean the Scott Lobdell run? Or that Wolverine being able to regrow body parts in a few minutes is anything but a very recent retcon???
I don't mean to imply that newer readers aren't as respectable as the old farts who still think comics should cost 12 cents; nor that their opinions aren't as interesting. But I am nevertheless surprised (not upset, just surprised) to have situations like the following one: in the video below, the Walker brothers review the Guardians of the galaxy movie (and do a fine job of it). The younger brother seems to be something of a Marvel fan, but... he'd never heard of Ronan the accuser. I'll admit it: when he said that, my first curmudgeonly thought was "oh, I see: a young reader who probably enjoyed Infinity War as a kid". And sure enough, that seems to be a high point of his Marvel reading. He had been stigmatized, in my judgemental mind, as a part of the Infinity War generation.
Now once again, I'm not saying this is shameful or anything. Ronan was indeed a fairly minor character (albeit a part of the classic Kirby-Lee Fantastic Four run) and he's been used rather sparsely since, with a few big roles in recent cosmic crossovers. As for Infinity War, while it occurred after my most active period of comic-book reading, (and while I think it stank to high heaven), I know that it was a defining moment for many, many readers. The same would hold true a bit later for that Age of Apocalypse thing that apparently warrants a movie but (personal tastes and all that) that makes me want to tear out my brain so I'll never have to remember it again. (I allow myself these deprecating comments because I'm sure that older fans would look at John Carter, Warlord of Mars (which I loved at the time) and declare it utter tripe; each generation gets its own batch of series to enjoy and declare a true classic.
Now, what would you say are comics series or events that marked succeeding generations?
