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Post by dbutler69 on Feb 9, 2024 8:58:02 GMT -5
Golden Age comics really knew how to do the hard sell!  from DICK COLE #2 Careful editing. That's just what every kid is looking for! |
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Post by driver1980 on Feb 9, 2024 9:02:11 GMT -5
Look at Scott Gray’s reply:
He should have made it clear that it’s his opinion, not fact.
Yes, UK and US comics are different in many ways, from schedules (most UK comics were/are weekly), to he fact that we don’t have *countless* homegrown superheroes.
But he’s wrong. Brits love superheroes. Why else would Marvel UK have come into existence in 1972, running for many years? Then Panini Comics took over, and we’re still getting Marvel reprints now.
For decades, the likes of Egmont produced annuals, pocketbooks and reprint comics featuring DC superheroes; they were popular here. DC never quite seemed as successful as Marvel on these shores, though.
Newsagents and corner shops sold US comics for many, many years.
If Gray was correct, why were reprints so popular for decades? Why was Marvel UK formed in 1972? Saying British comic audiences have an appetite for anything *but* superheroes is incorrect. Yes, we liked a lot more, from sports comics and war comics to anthology humour comics, but the appetite for superhero comics did and does exist.
Also, Gray edited various UK Marvel titles for years, well over 20 years in some cases (Astonishing Spider-Man began in 1995, I think he became editor in late 1996/97, and that comic is still running today, albeit with a different editor). Does he not remember editing various superhero reprint titles? There was clearly an audience.
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Post by Batflunkie on Feb 9, 2024 9:51:21 GMT -5
Look at Scott Gray’s reply: He should have made it clear that it’s his opinion, not fact. Yes, UK and US comics are different in many ways, from schedules (most UK comics were/are weekly), to he fact that we don’t have *countless* homegrown superheroes. But he’s wrong. Brits love superheroes. Why else would Marvel UK have come into existence in 1972, running for many years? Then Panini Comics took over, and we’re still getting Marvel reprints now. For decades, the likes of Egmont produced annuals, pocketbooks and reprint comics featuring DC superheroes; they were popular here. DC never quite seemed as successful as Marvel on these shores, though. Newsagents and corner shops sold US comics for many, many years. If Gray was correct, why were reprints so popular for decades? Why was Marvel UK formed in 1972? Saying British comic audiences have an appetite for anything *but* superheroes is incorrect. Yes, we liked a lot more, from sports comics and war comics to anthology humour comics, but the appetite for superhero comics did and does exist. Also, Gray edited various UK Marvel titles for years, well over 20 years in some cases ( Astonishing Spider-Man began in 1995, I think he became editor in late 1996/97, and that comic is still running today, albeit with a different editor). Does he not remember editing various superhero reprint titles? There was clearly an audience. I think the context is more along the lines of "Patt Mills doesn't like superheroes" as he's famously outspoken on the topic |
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Post by driver1980 on Feb 9, 2024 9:54:27 GMT -5
I don’t understand, my friend (my bad). Are you stating that he’s politely agreeing with Pat Mills? It just seemed like a definitive statement from Gray.
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Post by driver1980 on Feb 9, 2024 10:06:05 GMT -5
On a general note, I hate tribalism. It drives me mad with wrestling (just enjoy wrestling, without being 100% loyal to one acronym). Hell, although I don’t drink soft drinks a lot, when I do, it’ll be a Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. I have no loyalty.
On comics, I just want good comics. DC or Marvel is fine. Independents are fine. I don’t care if the local Burger King is publishing comics - if the storyline looks intriguing, I’ll buy it. Like many, my tastes are varied. Superhero comics are fine. Biopics are fine. But whether it’s a standalone sci-fi story one-shot published by DC, an ongoing superhero comic by Marvel, or a crime book published by Dark Horse, I’ll look at them if sufficiently intrigued.
If anything, the loyalty can be to creators. I really don’t like Erik Larsen’s art, so if he got a gig writing Superman for the next 12 months, I’d give that a pass. But I like the work of Michael and Laura Allred - and if a comic was published about the beginnings of a cereal factory, I’d be looking at it if they were on it. Even then, I will be flexible. I don’t believ in being strongly for or against one genre.
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Post by kirby101 on Feb 9, 2024 13:17:28 GMT -5
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Post by MDG on Feb 9, 2024 13:46:34 GMT -5
Speaking of Don Heck (which we were on one of these threads) here are a few pages from his Torpedo Taylor in Navy Combat 1955-58. This was when he worked in his own way before someone told him he had to do everything like Kirby. As I said, I think he was ill-served do superheroes in the 60s. Yeah--Heck's stuff tended to be, I'd say, "rough but well-drawn." I think you still see this in his early Iron Man. It didn't always translate when inkers were expected to smooth things out. Things were even worse for him when DC started to use him as an inker.
But he never deserved the bad rap he got in the 70s-80s and that I, to my shame, bought into.
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Post by driver1980 on Feb 9, 2024 15:28:17 GMT -5
I wish this was a real comic:
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 9, 2024 22:40:20 GMT -5
Speaking of Don Heck (which we were on one of these threads) here are a few pages from his Torpedo Taylor in Navy Combat 1955-58. This was when he worked in his own way before someone told him he had to do everything like Kirby. As I said, I think he was ill-served do superheroes in the 60s.    Hgk..grgh-fra,(sputter)...harumph.......... (between gritted teeth) You don't wear a white combination cap with khakis.........AND WHERE THE HECK ARE THE SKIPPER'S COLLAR DEVICES? Razzafrazzin land lubbers! |
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Post by driver1980 on Feb 11, 2024 7:31:48 GMT -5
I wish this was a real comic: Just a humorous thought about the above: Superman is a thief in that scenario. I am sure Thor doesn’t appreciate having Mjolnir stolen, nor does Spidey appreciate being a mask down. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Feb 11, 2024 9:40:26 GMT -5
I wish this was a real comic: Just a humorous thought about the above: Superman is a thief in that scenario. I am sure Thor doesn’t appreciate having Mjolnir stolen, nor does Spidey appreciate being a mask down. Fake news. Superman is not worthy. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Feb 13, 2024 0:53:43 GMT -5
I don’t understand, my friend (my bad). Are you stating that he’s politely agreeing with Pat Mills? It just seemed like a definitive statement from Gray. That's interesting, because Nemesis is most definitely a superhero, even if it has a bit of a sci fi slant. How can you say otherwise? |
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Post by commond on Feb 13, 2024 6:03:50 GMT -5
If Nemesis is a superhero story it’s the most messed up superhero story ever.
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Post by tartanphantom on Feb 13, 2024 9:19:11 GMT -5
If Nemesis is a superhero story it’s the most messed up superhero story ever.
Credo!
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Post by mikelmidnight on Feb 13, 2024 11:17:04 GMT -5
Speaking of Don Heck (which we were on one of these threads) here are a few pages from his Torpedo Taylor in Navy Combat 1955-58. This was when he worked in his own way before someone told him he had to do everything like Kirby. As I said, I think he was ill-served do superheroes in the 60s. There were many artists ill-served by the pivot to superheroes. Most notably for me is Sekowsky, who made the JLA look stodgy (especially in comparison to Marvel's product) but was amazing on spy/adventure and humor comics. |
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