What are you reading . . . . Now?

ChastMastr · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 2:24 am Post subject:

Some papers I've been grading.

Some incredibly depressing discussion boards in which I seem to be the only person who thinks that mainstream DC Comics super-heroes shouldn't be killing people. Sad

Need to get off the computer for a bit... Sad

Lich Mong · Joined: 31 May 2012 Posts: 475

Feiticeira · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 1791

Samsally · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 6711

ChastMastr · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 3:46 am Post subject:

And a lot of it has to do with other characters being all kill-happy in the new continuity. Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and others. It just brings me down in a big way. Sad

ChastMastr · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 3:51 am Post subject:

PS: I also did say on the other board that, yes, making the Joker the equivalent of Charles Manson ten or fifty times over makes it kind of ridiculous. It wouldn't be Batman or the Gotham cops. The relatives of all of his victims would burn Arkham to the ground and tear him limb from limb at that point...

Lich Mong · Joined: 31 May 2012 Posts: 475

I just read a comic with Kyle getting the other lanterns to save Larfleeze's life from the last survivor of a race Larfleeze himself wiped out. So, I'm not currently inclined to agree that the heros of DC need to respect the life of evil people more. But, maybe I've just read too much Punisher.

However, context is all important. I would agree in most cases it would be unseemly for heros to actively kill people. I guess I would have to see the examples that are upsetting you.

ChastMastr · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 7:14 pm Post subject:

Wonder Woman (killing a lot, lately), Hal Jordan (blasting heads off of opponents), Aquaman stabbing people with his trident, and more. The genuinely evil Amazons, gods, and Guardians (aieeeeee) are icing on the cake. I swear this is like Earth-3 or something.

However, I'm now burned out on arguing about DC. It doesn't seem to help and it hurts too much. So.

ChastMastr · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 7:17 pm Post subject:

Lasairfiona · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:12 pm Post subject:

DC is trying to be edgy. Unfortunately, just adding a higher death count doesn't make something edgy.
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Before God created Las he pondered on all the aspects a woman might have, he considered which ones would look good super-inflated and which ones to leave alone.
After much deliberation he gave her a giant comfort zone. - Michael

Lich Mong · Joined: 31 May 2012 Posts: 475

Adyon · Joined: 27 May 2012 Posts: 1169 Location: Behind my Cintiq

Yeah, the fact that they feel they need to be edgy to hook people is definitely a problem and shows a lack of writing skill. In comics like that, you want your edgy moments to be few (or they lose impact) and come in your STORY not just changing the actions of your characters. It's like SamSally said before about the Dark Knight. It actually used a situation where many are at risk and what more, did so in an edgy way. Batman wasn't edgy though. (At least more than he already was) If Batman had just been the edgy one, it would have been another simple popcorn flick. Nothing special or memorable.

I don't know for sure how to weigh in on the idea of the characters killing people specifically. I'm not opposed in certain circumstances. But the idea of them just beheading every enemy they happen to fight? That'd just get monotonous.
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Kilgore · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 2834 Location: The Marine Corps

Finished Nixonland, now reading Coming Apart.
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"Whatever afflicts thee, their asses I shall kick"

-Slick

Kilgore · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 2834 Location: The Marine Corps

Finished Comming Apart. Much food for thought there. Now reading Mad as Hell, which picks up shortly after Nixonland ended, with much the same subject matter (i.e. the formative years of modern, American right-wing populism).
_________________
"Whatever afflicts thee, their asses I shall kick"

-Slick

Lasairfiona · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:28 am Post subject:

Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey. I should really learn that when my librarian friend highly recommends a book, I should just go block out some time in my week to sit down and read it. I read the first 100 pages last night and have been aching to sit down and read some more.

BTW, that is part of the reason I don't read as much as I would like - if I am in a good book, work/food/sleep seems secondary. Confused

_________________
Before God created Las he pondered on all the aspects a woman might have, he considered which ones would look good super-inflated and which ones to leave alone.
After much deliberation he gave her a giant comfort zone. - Michael