Word that Stephen King and Joss Whedon — well, more so the latter than the former — are bringing The Dark Tower and Buffy the Vampire Slayer to comics has Ann Patterson of the Spartanburg, S.C., Herald-Journal reconsidering her view of the medium:
Not that I haven’t read my share of comics, but I considered them one step below the standard beach books, with little social-redeeming value. And I admit to all the comic fans that it’s been awhile since I’ve read one.
I’m preparing to readjust my thinking and to apologize to the comic book fans of the world.
This summer, I plan to read all the Buffy the Vampire comics by Whedon. No so the King ones.
Once I was a King fan, but his Dark Tower series finally did me in. I read the first one, liked it and waited patiently for the second one to come out. I read that one, even though it seemed disconnected to the first one, and waited for the third one. By the time it came out, I was through with King.
Now King is creating a series with Marvel Comics to bridge the gaps between the Dark Tower volumes. For some readers, that’s great news; for me, it’s too little, too late.
Lordy, that article is riddled with typos, isn’t it?
Marvel will release The Dark Tower on Feb. 7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1 is due from Dark Horse on March 7.
January 29th, 2007 at 10:42 am
[i]Lordy, that article is riddled with typos, isn’t it?[/i]
Youse guys is about 95% non-typo yourselfs.
January 29th, 2007 at 10:54 am
She kind of sounds like a snob to me. I’ve always told people that if you think comics are crap then you’ve been reading the wrong comics. It’d be like reading one bad book and instantly deciding all books are crap.
January 29th, 2007 at 11:08 am
“I’ve always told people that if you think comics are crap then you’ve been reading the wrong comics.”
That’s certainly true. However, we even see that sweeping “All ____ are crap” mentality within comics fandom, with the never-ending Manga vs. Western Comics and Indy Comics vs. Superhero Comics feuds.
January 29th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Well it’s usually a case that if you think comics are crap, you’re probably not reading any comics at all.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
That’s true Kevin. I had a friend that would instantly dismiss anything I would tell him about if it was on Marvel, DC, or even Image. It’s like he refused to think anything that wasn’t published on folded pieces of A4 paper wasn’t legit somehow.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
“Once I was a King fan, but his Dark Tower series finally did me in. I read the first one, liked it and waited patiently for the second one to come out. I read that one, even though it seemed disconnected to the first one, and waited for the third one. By the time it came out, I was through with King.”
That’s interesting. I’ve heard a lot of people say that they’re moving to comics to escape the late books and meandering stories prevalent in other media.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Its so nice to have a person like this admit that they were wrong. I can’t even lie that good.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I figure the reason people don’t read comics is roughly the same for those who don’t venture into the science-fiction/fantasy section of bookstores: imagination is considered “childish.” Therefore we have a ridiculous amount of “reality” TV programs and countless courtroom/forensics dramas. Heaven forbid that our imaginations should be nurtured. Then we might hafta start thinkin’ about stuff.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Couldn’t agree more with the analysis of Dark Tower – that’s exactly how I felt. First book, excellent, second, interesting, third one, crap. Never read another King novel after that.
I also read a couple of ASTONISHING X-MEN over the weekend, pretty good stuff. He even made Cyclops not suck. Looking forward to the Buffy comic now.
January 29th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
“Lordy, that article is riddled with typos, isn’t it?”
Par for the course for that paper. It was my local paper growing up – one of the sloppiest pieces of work I’ve ever seen.
On a positive note, they do have a guy (not this writer) who does a weekly (I think) column on comics. Pretty nice feature.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
I’m less insulted that she talked down about comics than the fact that she said they were a step below beach reading. I’ve seen what people bring to the beach to read. To imagine that someone could think that a trashy romance novel or a generic court-room thriller is better than a comic book. Ugh.
(Personally, I usually bring pulp fiction, classics or comics to the beach).
January 30th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I’m astonished that someone planning to read Buffy comics and identifying as a former King fan (i.e. presumably as an adult) considers any sort of entertainment below themselves. Still, it’s good she feels she has made a step up and dropped a stereotype.