Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2022 9:15:56 GMT -5
I saw the phrase “all you can eat buffet” used recently in relation to Marvel Unlimited. I think it was @mrp who used it. I think it’s an apt term.
As is be careful what you wish for…
When I was a kid, if a genie had offered me unlimited access to the majority of Marvel’s back catalogue, I’d have snapped it up. One frustrating thing, as a kid and as an adult (pre-internet), was not being able to track down the 324th issue of The Incredible Hulk, or never coming across back issues of Werewolf by Night at a jumble sale or in the back issue bins of my LCS. Now, everything is accessible.
Did I say be careful what you wish for?
I subscribed to Marvel Unlimited back in January, so in three months’ time, I’ll have been with them a year. And I have been pleased with it. I’ve been able to read the 1977-86 Star Wars comic; I’ve been able to read complete runs of the likes of Nova and The Champions; I’ve been able to read comics that may never have had a trade.
But it is a double-edged sword. I’m thinking of one word in particular: indecisiveness. At times, I feel I might spend a good several minutes - or more - thinking about what to read. I have even given up on occasions and promised myself I’d log back in later that day. And that does “paralyse” you a little bit. I mean, you’re overwhelmed with choice. Do I check out the mini-series of The Vision and The Scarlet Witch? Should I revisit John Byrne’s FF run? Or perhaps I should check out some of the 80s Hulk issues that I missed? Yes, I think I’ll do that…but hang on, Tomb of Dracula and Werewolf by Night are trending. Perhaps I should go with one of those.
And you reach a point where you realise you may have spent 10, 15 or 20 minutes *thinking* about what to read rather than making a decision.
It can be a good thing having that choice, but it can be frustrating thing, too.
We did have choice years ago. A back issue bin in an LCS might have had a lot of choice. But it wasn’t unlimited. In my case, you had a limited choice - which allowed easier decision making - but it was financially motivated, too. No, I could not buy those Planet of the Apes comics because they’re too expensive, so I’ll just pick up some issues of Action Comics Weekly instead.
When something is unlimited, and money is no barrier, you can be crippled with too much choice and the time taken to decide on something.
And you can take my post and swap Marvel Unlimited with Netflix, Prime, etc - and have the same problem.
I am certain people here will relate…
As is be careful what you wish for…
When I was a kid, if a genie had offered me unlimited access to the majority of Marvel’s back catalogue, I’d have snapped it up. One frustrating thing, as a kid and as an adult (pre-internet), was not being able to track down the 324th issue of The Incredible Hulk, or never coming across back issues of Werewolf by Night at a jumble sale or in the back issue bins of my LCS. Now, everything is accessible.
Did I say be careful what you wish for?
I subscribed to Marvel Unlimited back in January, so in three months’ time, I’ll have been with them a year. And I have been pleased with it. I’ve been able to read the 1977-86 Star Wars comic; I’ve been able to read complete runs of the likes of Nova and The Champions; I’ve been able to read comics that may never have had a trade.
But it is a double-edged sword. I’m thinking of one word in particular: indecisiveness. At times, I feel I might spend a good several minutes - or more - thinking about what to read. I have even given up on occasions and promised myself I’d log back in later that day. And that does “paralyse” you a little bit. I mean, you’re overwhelmed with choice. Do I check out the mini-series of The Vision and The Scarlet Witch? Should I revisit John Byrne’s FF run? Or perhaps I should check out some of the 80s Hulk issues that I missed? Yes, I think I’ll do that…but hang on, Tomb of Dracula and Werewolf by Night are trending. Perhaps I should go with one of those.
And you reach a point where you realise you may have spent 10, 15 or 20 minutes *thinking* about what to read rather than making a decision.
It can be a good thing having that choice, but it can be frustrating thing, too.
We did have choice years ago. A back issue bin in an LCS might have had a lot of choice. But it wasn’t unlimited. In my case, you had a limited choice - which allowed easier decision making - but it was financially motivated, too. No, I could not buy those Planet of the Apes comics because they’re too expensive, so I’ll just pick up some issues of Action Comics Weekly instead.
When something is unlimited, and money is no barrier, you can be crippled with too much choice and the time taken to decide on something.
And you can take my post and swap Marvel Unlimited with Netflix, Prime, etc - and have the same problem.
I am certain people here will relate…
.
