The Old and The New

Hello everyone,

Below is my latest past for comicommand

 

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The popularity of Marvel and DC Comics almost leads to word association. Superhero comics are often tied to one of the two behemoths, since they are the oldest producers of superhero comics. However, it is this longevity that leads to one of the biggest issues of the big publishers. The plethora of comic book titles, events, authors and timelines for each character can make jumping in seem overwhelming for prospective readers. Not to mention relaunches such as the ultimate comics for Marvel, and rebirth for DC. These relaunches can serve the practical purpose of giving newcomers a fresh start, but that impact quickly fades once the new series reaches a certain point. In the case of the ultimate universe, catching up with sixteen years of comics is better than fifty, but can still be daunting. In the case of DC, I have heard great things about Rebirth, but it appears some of the most poignant moments I have heard of would not be as effective without some prior knowledge of certain story-lines. Entries on this site, such as the lists by the Commander, acknowledge this problem and are meant to provide recommendations for tackling the medium. However, the fact that lists like these are necessary attests to the issue.  Before readers get their pitchforks, I want to clarify that I am not trying to criticize the format of superhero comics or their rich history and diversity. I am only saying that, objectively, it does lead to of the strengths (in my opinion) that smaller imprints such as Vertigo and Image Comics have.

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The last comic series I read was Vertigo’s Y The Last Man, a post-apocalyptic story where all male mammals spontaneously die, except for Yorick Brown and his pet monkey. I heard about the comic, it sounded interesting, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take another series on. What convinced me was seeing that it was only sixty issues. One weekend later, I binge read the entire series. It wasn’t only sixty issues because it got cancelled, but because that was the end of the story. Yorick’s journey ended, and the series ended with it.

I am also currently reading Image Comics’, The Walking Dead. Although the series is longer, currently on issue 155, it is likely to be a more straightforward read than decades of comics from other characters.
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Marvel and DC titles do of course have graphic novels, or certain series for each character, like The Dark Knight Returns and the ongoing Injustice series. These stories can either be an alternate version of a character or simply an isolated story arc. These can provide a great introduction to characters but can also lose some impact for new readers. In the case of Injustice, the set up to the story is rooted in references to Doomsday and Scarecrow. If someone reading the series didn’t know the characters, then the story could lose its effectiveness. Some of these self-contained stories, do not really function as self-contained ones, still requiring some level of knowledge from other comics. Of course, this is typically only an issue for more popular characters like the Justice League, with (relatively) smaller titles such as Transmetropolitan being truly self-contained.

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With The Walking Dead and Y The Last Man, all of the world building is done within the series. There are no related tie-ins, background info or even general comic knowledge that needs to be consulted. The story can simply be followed with one issue after another, with no need to switch between events. I do not have a problem with burying myself in the history of DC and Marvel. I know that for many people, the sheer variety is what draws them to comics. They look forward to seeing how a new writer handles their favourite characters. They don’t dread having to catch up, they look forward to it. The success of Marvel and DC Comics makes it clear that many people may not even see the limited stories of Vertigo and Image as a strength. I do look forward to reading more DC and Marvel comics, and getting more caught up with the stable of writers and stories available. This viewpoint is very subjective, I only hope that readers may be able to understand my point of view.

Hetero-normativity in Star Wars and The Walking Dead

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Three months ago JJ Abrams announced that his new Star Wars trilogy would include gay characters.
I actually found out about this development through a friend and was reminded of it later when an Instagram user I follow commented on it. He criticized Abrams’s choice, saying it was an unnecessary addition. This user even said they don’t support gay rights. Sadly, I respected him for being able to admit that since many people choose to disguise their bigotry with more veiled language. I still unfollowed the account and I’m not giving the name of the user because I don’t want more people to check out his page.

As expected, this was met with plenty of criticism who accused Abrams of pushing an “agenda” and forcing homosexuality on audiences. This reaction is another example of the bigoted reactions I have discussed before. In this age of supposed “colourblindness” and equality for all, people realize that there is a stigma associated with expressing discriminatory ideas. Therefore, they come up with ways to change their language, without eliminating discrimination. People won’t say they have a problem with gay people, they will just say they don’t like it if it’s “forced on them” or if it’s part of an “agenda”.

Notice that this language is only present if minorities get representation. When a case of whitewashing pops up in a film, people will always argue that it is just a movie and that there is no need to bring politics or ideology into entertainment. Yet when you give a minority more representation on screen, politics and ideology are very important. As one comment on the included link says, “I mean, you can’t have ONE gay character in a blockbuster movie FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER that these guys will start saying they’re being FORCED into sucking dick, lol”.

Pretty much. The sad truth is that many people view straight as normal, as a default. That is why many people don’t complain about a heterosexual agenda in films.

If we have a new character in a film, and his sexuality is not revealed, many of us will assume he is straight. Of course, there are characters depicted as fabulous stereotypes but this example excludes those kinds of characters. For example, Paul Monroe, or Jesus, of The Walking Dead Comics is introduced in the series and is revealed to be gay several issues later. I assumed Jesus was straight. Jesus became part of a sexual minority that has been, and still is discriminated against when he was revealed to be gay. Straight people do not have to worry about their family and friends rejecting them due to their sexuality. That is a fact and no victim complex by the dominant group can change that.

Abrams never said the series will push the star wars lore aside and have their own version of Brokeback Mountain. He only said some characters will be gay. We may hear a male character say he loves another one, we may see a male character show affection for another male character. If you see that, for maybe a few minutes at a time, and let it ruin your enjoyment of the film: That’s your problem and not JJ Abrams’. Star Wars spans several planets and peoples, and you think it’s ridiculous that someone in the world might not be straight?

The Walking Dead TV show provides another example of bigotry. One of the gay characters, Aaron briefly kisses his partner after they reunite. One poster took to IMDB to complain about homosexuality being forced down his throat (no pun intended I guess?). The poster even says that he has no problem with gay people. Since this post was an older one, it has now expired and been removed to make way for newer ones. Realize that the heavy-handed homosexuality this poster was complaining about was a three second kiss between two male characters. If that is heavy-handed homosexuality, are all the kisses and implied sex in The Walking Dead heavy-handed heterosexuality? Didn’t think so.

My faith in humanity was restored a bit seeing that many others users called this one out on his thinly–veiled discrimination. I remember one user saying (Wording might be slightly off) “What’s with you modern bigots and not being able to own up to your discrimination?
That is the most important question.

Glenn’s Role in The Walking Dead

This is another post I wrote for comicommand.com–  https://comicommand.com/2016/04/07/glenns-role-in-the-walking-dead/

The Walking Dead comics are now on issue 152, and one of the comic’s most iconic moments came in issue 100. The character of Negan, the leader of the Saviours, appeared for the first time and beat Glenn to death by bashing his head in with a baseball bat. Not just any baseball bat, but a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire that is affectionately referred to as Lucille.

The season six finale of The Walking Dead is now behind us and AMC’s decision to leave the identity of Negan’s victim a mystery has already been the subject of heavy criticism from numerous fans, myself included.  The decision appears to have been motivated by a desire to maximize the ratings for the season seven premiere and is a prime example of greed trumping art. Thinking about the dissatisfaction of the premiere also got me thinking why Glenn’s death is such an iconic moment in the comics. The Walking Dead featured the deaths of numerous main characters, so it is not the death itself that shocked and saddened audiences.

A key theme of the comics is the loss of innocence. This is most salient with Carl Grimes, who is seven when the events of the comics begin. Once reunited with his father, Carl quickly learns how to shoot a gun and soon displays a level of emotional strength and callousness that frightens his father at times.

While Rick’s group is on their way to D.C, one of the children, Billy, kills his twin brother. Billy doesn’t realize the impact of what he’s done, he simply reassures Andrea that his brother will come back since Billy didn’t ‘hurt his brain’. Through Billy, we see what can happen to an impressionable child trapped in this world. This fact is further driven home when Carl executes Billy while the rest of the group is sleeping. When Carl admits to Rick that he was responsible for Billy’s death, he is quick to argue that none of the adults would have been able to do it.

In many ways Glenn was one of the most innocent of Rick’s group. Despite their post-apocalyptic circumstances Glenn was one of the few members of Rick’s group that never killed another human being. Of course, this was not due to an outspoken moral objection on his part, but circumstances simply never presented themselves for a kill. As depicted in the show, Negan ambushes the group while they are on their way to another community. While Rick planned the trip in order to recruit more muscle, Glenn and Maggie were going in order to start a life together at the community. For Rick, Maggie and Glenn’s relationship was a sign that “…something good could still come out of all this.” Rick remembers Glenn as someone who saved him from being killed in Atlanta and repeatedly risked his life to get supplies for the group. Simply put, “Glenn was just…so good.”

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The second and arguably more important aspect of Glenn’s death is the crushing realization that the group is not as powerful as they thought. After meeting another community, The Hilltop, Rick’s group learns of the protection racket that the Saviours run. In return for clearing the area of walkers, the Saviours take half of The Hilltop’s supplies. The deal is also the only thing preventing the Saviours from attacking The Hilltop. Rick is quick to offer his group’s help to get rid of the Saviours, in return for setting up a trading relationship with The Hilltop. Some fans were quick to write off the offer as poor writing in the show, since it seemed like a rushed decision on Rick’s part.  However, Rick’s offer seems like an obvious one considering their circumstances. Their community, Alexandria, is running low on supplies such as food and medicine but Rick has confidence in the manpower he can offer. By this point in the comics, the group has defeated The Governor, cannibalistic hunters and several other threats that the world threw at them. After over a year together, thwarting these threats, the group came to Alexandria: a community that was literally and figuratively sheltered from the horrors of the outside world. Surrounded by numerous people who had never killed a walker or another human being, it became too easy for the group to see themselves as nearly invincible. Rick even refers to Negan and the Saviours as “hot air” prior to meeting them, arguing that he and his group have dealt with their kind before.

Rick’s outlook on the world isn’t poor writing, it is hubris. Like Icarus, Rick’s hubris is followed by a fatal fall. Once Rick and his group are on their knees, surrounded by Negan’s men and waiting to see who Negan decides to kill, it is made painfully clear that they do not have the world figured out as well as they thought. Once Negan makes his choice, Rick can only sit and watch while Glenn’s head is reduced to a messy pile. Negan lets them know that their way of life is over: “Might have even been a long time since the last person died before we came along”.

While the group stay on their knees crying over Glenn’s death, Negan lets them know that their first supply offering is due in a week.  As Negan says “Ta Ta” we see Glenn’s body lying on the ground while the group cry a few feet away. That is how you do a cliffhanger.