Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harvey
From: harvey@decvax.UUCP (Miriam Harvey)
Newsgroups: net.comics
Subject: Marvel/DC thoughts
Message-ID: <225@decvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Sep-83 14:07:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: decvax.225
Posted: Fri Sep 30 14:07:04 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Oct-83 20:28:05 EDT
Organization: DEC UNIX Engineering Group, Merrimack, NH
Lines: 55

Just some background info:
	As a kid I read only DC comics, but I tried of them and
stopped collecting comics.  Four years ago I started collecting
comics again, but only Marvel and Elfquest.  Marvel because it
had some women superheroes (granted they are handled poorly but
still a far cry from what was available when I was young) and
Elquest needs no justification.  Two years ago I started adding
some DC titles.

Rambles and such:
	It would appear that over the last few years Marvel has
become lazy.  It has become "fannish" and relays on its established
audience.  There are titles I collect now in hopes that it will
some how improve.  Until three issues ago Thor was in this
category.  Some of the older titles have become stale and creativity
is becoming scarce.  It still comes out with some outstanding
material as shown in the Cloak and Dagger Mini-Series and the
most recent changes in Thor, but on the whole the quality appears
to be slipping.  Half of the new titles are spawn outside of Marvel,
eg. Indiana Jones.  Marvel Fanfare which had an excellent start
has gotten mediocre - right not its not worth the paper its printed
on.
	DC however, has taken striving steps forward in the
quality of material published.  It seems to be willing to gamble
as shown by the use of high quality paper (yes Marvel does this
too, but not for as many titles) and adult material, eg. Camelot 3000,
and Ronin.  DC seems interested in competing, something Marvel appears
to have forgotten how to do.  Even with these changes at DC and Marvel,
I still collect more Marvel titles than DC.  I just group DC with the
alternative comics, ie. very special.  If I collect a comic that is
not Marvel it is because I feel it is very good - the writing is of
good quality and the art is at least that if not better.  The Teen
Titans, Camelot 3000, and Ronin meet my definition.
	Questions:
	How do people feel about stories started in one title
and finished in another?  I find this most annoying.  I don't
collect all titles and don't have easy access to a comic outlet.  I
currently have a subscription at a store in Cambridge, Massachusetts
while living in Nashua, New Hampshire.  This is the closest store I
have found.  I pick up my sub every couple of weeks, so if the
"cross-finish" is done I may not find this out until I'm back up in
New Hampshire some 50 miles away.
	When you buy a comic are you more interested in the art or
the story?  Why?
	How do you feel about the increasing price of comics?
	Is the attention given to popular writers and/or artist by
fans dangerous to their creativity?  Ie. do you think it goes to
their head and restrict their future productivity?


I'm new to Usenet so if some of this is redundant, sorry, but I'd
like to see some active in net.comics.

					Miriam Amos Harvey