Comic Book Fans, Where’s the Intelligent Discussion?

My point to this article (and the aim for all subsequent ones) is to delve deeper into the world of comic books. No matter the topic, I’d like confront issues, stories, the goings-on, and the characters that comprise this universe in a manner that provokes intelligent thought.  I’ve found that as a born-again newbie I consume comic-related data at mass quantities, as I imagine many of my fellow comic book colleagues do, and though I generally stay abreast of all the happenings and the big to-dos, I’ve also found that I am generally left bored. As a community of fanboys, we are bereft of any riveting composition concerning our comic book world. We are left without any depth to the content which concerns comics and the unique characters and storylines that comprise them. And this, my friends, is one helluva problem.

What I mean is, where’s the intellectual entertainment in the discussion about all the entertainment? Entertainment being comic books in this particular instance. CBR, for example, constantly updates their site and posts Facebook announcements of reviews and stories and tidbits of comic-related news like it was going out of style, but besides the mostly excellent interviews they feature there’s usually nothing more substantial than a few paragraphs to anything, or some sort of aggregate post. Which is fine, handy, and dandy, don’t get me wrong, but what I would like to know is where the hell are the in-depth articles that climb into the psyche of a particular title or de-constructs a specific arc? Where is my critique on the current state of things? And the reviews? Subpar at best. Most comics reviewed on CBR (and most places for that matter) are either outright and unquestioningly adored or outright and unquestioningly loathed. While there may be the occasional ho-hum review somewhere in the middle of these two opposing spectrums, my point is this: where’s the real analysis? The how come? The whatsitallabout; the down and dirty? A comic can’t be god-awful nor be given a gold star without at least giving us some cogent argument for the case. I understand that many of these so-called reviews are written by ‘guests’ members of the site but I’m not seeing anything substantial from the actual people responsible for running and managing the content.

As an example, I offer up Swamp Thing and Animal Man. These are two books I had never read before, had never taken the time to even peruse the oft-encountered issue in the quarter bins. When I started reading again, which was mainly due to the DC 52 reboot, I continued to ignore the titles. That is, until I found a review or two that praised the titles in a way that made me hungry for them. That made me fill as if I was missing out on something truly exciting. I can’t remember where I encountered these, but what I do know is that clever and riveting discourse is out there. It’s just few and far between. Simply, we need more of it.

And while we’re sort of on the subject of intellectual debate, I’d also like to address the problem of spelling and grammar usage within much of any given comic-book related website’s content. Are we actively seeking to cultivate an intelligent and well- informed community that people view as intelligent and well-informed? Or would we prefer to further the stereotype that we’re all a bunch of ignorant simian-esque nerds that think in incomplete sentences while also lacking the ability to spell correctly? You can never, under any definition, be considered a truly reputable resource for comic fans, or anything at all for that matter, if you lack the ability to use spell check, to say the least. Now, if for any reason, you are writing up your stuff with a typewriter and actually DO lack any type of automated spell check, then forget what I just said and award yourself one point for hardcoreness. You earned it.
        
ComicVine is another site I often turn to. Fortunately, they actually do attempt to offer some relief in the form of thoughtful composition with their Off My Mind columns. They’re usually a fun read but they’re never more than a few brief passages and I find that I’m still yearning for that something more. There are several other sites, like IGN and iFanboy, among many others, but they all swim in the same shared pool of problems. And that’s not to say I don’t appreciate these sites, because I certainly do, and I make a habit of visiting them several times a day. But, take, say, movies, or novels. Look at the way they get reviewed in most professional-type instances. If the individual critiquing the product is taking him or herself even half-ass seriously then they should be able to answer a few fundamental questions about it (even if opinions are like assholes and also very subjective): is it good and why; is it bad and why; any particular triumphs and/or failures; and why you should be doing anything this side of slapping your momma in order to see/read said product. A review skirting these topics is only a rant in favor or in disfavor--a bloviating discourse with no true spirit or fervor behind the words is only a lazy skeleton of fleshed-out thoughts.

Though, to be fair, I would like to address the fact that unlike novels, movies, etc., comic books are a medium that releases several dozen titles (give or take) every single week of the year. I realize in order to cover so much ground on a regular basis that an abbreviation or curbing of excess explanatory critique is often necessary. I’m not asking for a 2,000 word review on the latest issue of X-Factor or All-Star Western, but it is entirely possible to discuss the merits of a title in brevity while bringing up key aspects that comprise its strengths or weaknesses, or even a mix of both. All it takes is a little practice, a little desire to looking beyond just the art and the basic plot (which is obviously important as well). Take heed from other well-said and well-written reviews in other entertainment forums. See what steams the engines of their critiques and note whether or not this particular analysis made you feel or want to see what the writer set out to do in his review.
         
And, yes, I know we’re only talking about comic books here. They’re supposed to be just a bunch of dumb fun, right? First of all, with the death knell of the atrocity that was the 90s scene - or the Garbage Age , as I’ve christened it - comics have become smarter, grittier, more mature. The writing improved at least one full jumpin’ jiggawatt. Ditto, for art production. Secondly, they are fun. Why else would we read them? But if you’re a serious collector, I bet you also think it’s pretty fun to walk into your local comic book store or engage with your friends about specific ideas and abstract philosophies concerning comic books or why a certain genre of books is so popular at the moment. Perhaps, even why everyone loves a certain penciller that makes you want to hurl your intestines. Hell, even something as old-school as who would really win in a fight between Plastic Man and Mr. Fantastic.
       
I guess what I’m saying is that I’d like to see some more action on the intelligent side from us, the purveyors of comic books. I know not everyone is looking for a deeper down looksie into their comics but, c’mon, we’re fanboys fer cryin’ out loud. If anything, we love to spout our mass quantities of knowledge like acidic fountains of liquid fire all over people. Blog it. Tweet it. Facebook it. Finding an avenue for discussion is easy. I promise that you can find a number of people who will read your thoughts and, hopefully, through the use of your incendiary words, will be consumed by the small firebomb of debate. All of which will be your doing, you nefarious and dastardly bastard you.

Hey, maybe I’m bypassing some places where I can find the sort of material I’m bitching and moaning about here. If so, feel free to let me know. If nothing else, feel free to bitch and moan with me.