Comments on: Point/Counterpoint in the Blogosphere… http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/ The Blog@ Team and prominent comics personalities share what’s on their minds. Sat, 25 May 2013 03:49:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Kevin Street http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/comment-page-1/#comment-116523 Kevin Street Fri, 18 May 2007 17:18:34 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/#comment-116523 Niels van Eekelen: "Decompression, in the general discussion, stands for plot elements being spread out over more pages than they were in the past. In the hands of a good writer, that means getting subtleties you couldn’t get before, getting more characters moments and more setting up of the mood, etc. In the hands of a bad writer, that means slow, boring stories." Yeah, but looking at the number of badly written decompressed stories out there, I wonder if it's just too difficult for most writers to pull off successfully, at least within the confines of a comic book story. Other formats like the novel are far more forgiving and have more space than comics. Decompression is just a tool like any other, but I wish fewer writers used it as a first resort. Niels van Eekelen:
“Decompression, in the general discussion, stands for plot elements being spread out over more pages than they were in the past.

In the hands of a good writer, that means getting subtleties you couldn’t get before, getting more characters moments and more setting up of the mood, etc. In the hands of a bad writer, that means slow, boring stories.”

Yeah, but looking at the number of badly written decompressed stories out there, I wonder if it’s just too difficult for most writers to pull off successfully, at least within the confines of a comic book story. Other formats like the novel are far more forgiving and have more space than comics.

Decompression is just a tool like any other, but I wish fewer writers used it as a first resort.

]]> By: Matt D http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/comment-page-1/#comment-116427 Matt D Fri, 18 May 2007 13:30:33 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/#comment-116427 I want serialized, soap opera comics too, sure, but not the sort that decompression gets us. Decompression is almost totally tied to the 6-issue trade, with an almost contained story within said six issues. And that kills one of the elements of great serialized comics melodrama right off the bat. The subplots go bye-bye. What I want is something where you have an endless serialization (or at least 60 issues, with a beginning middle and end of a large major arc), where stories don't fit well and neatly into 6 issue arcs, where they're often stretched unnaturally to fit the trade. I don't always want Done-in-Ones, but I definitely don't awnt One-stretched-to-sixes either. I want serialized, soap opera comics too, sure, but not the sort that decompression gets us. Decompression is almost totally tied to the 6-issue trade, with an almost contained story within said six issues.

And that kills one of the elements of great serialized comics melodrama right off the bat. The subplots go bye-bye.

What I want is something where you have an endless serialization (or at least 60 issues, with a beginning middle and end of a large major arc), where stories don’t fit well and neatly into 6 issue arcs, where they’re often stretched unnaturally to fit the trade.

I don’t always want Done-in-Ones, but I definitely don’t awnt One-stretched-to-sixes either.

]]> By: Rusty Haskell http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/comment-page-1/#comment-116414 Rusty Haskell Fri, 18 May 2007 13:02:33 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/#comment-116414 The question of whether or not decompression is a good thing is a faulty question. It's roughly akin to asking whether crosshatching is a good thing or a bad thing. Decompressed storytelling is a tool that creators can use to good effect or bad effect. The best writers know how to move a story forward even while exploring the moments in detail. The worst writers succeed only in writing six issues where nothing really happens. The question of whether or not decompression is a good thing is a faulty question. It’s roughly akin to asking whether crosshatching is a good thing or a bad thing. Decompressed storytelling is a tool that creators can use to good effect or bad effect. The best writers know how to move a story forward even while exploring the moments in detail. The worst writers succeed only in writing six issues where nothing really happens.

]]> By: Niels van Eekelen http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/comment-page-1/#comment-116412 Niels van Eekelen Fri, 18 May 2007 13:00:18 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/#comment-116412 It's a false argument, if you ask me. Decompression, in the general discussion, stands for plot elements being spread out over more pages than they were in the past. In the hands of a good writer, that means getting subtleties you couldn't get before, getting more characters moments and more setting up of the mood, etc. In the hands of a bad writer, that means slow, boring stories. It’s a false argument, if you ask me.

Decompression, in the general discussion, stands for plot elements being spread out over more pages than they were in the past.

In the hands of a good writer, that means getting subtleties you couldn’t get before, getting more characters moments and more setting up of the mood, etc. In the hands of a bad writer, that means slow, boring stories.

]]> By: Matt http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/comment-page-1/#comment-116406 Matt Fri, 18 May 2007 12:55:03 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/#comment-116406 I like both compressed and decompressed stories; it just depends. Whether or not I buy or like a comic has nothing to do with whether or not I think a new reader will understand it, though. I read them for myself; I leave the business aspect to the publishers. Besides, I think new readers may be more likely to be introduced to comics through trades nowadays, and decompression in trades just makes them paced like more familiar media. I like both compressed and decompressed stories; it just depends. Whether or not I buy or like a comic has nothing to do with whether or not I think a new reader will understand it, though. I read them for myself; I leave the business aspect to the publishers. Besides, I think new readers may be more likely to be introduced to comics through trades nowadays, and decompression in trades just makes them paced like more familiar media.

]]> By: Ubershep http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/comment-page-1/#comment-116383 Ubershep Fri, 18 May 2007 12:11:57 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/05/18/pointcounterpoint-in-the-blogosphere-41/#comment-116383 If you want a poster child on a book that spits in the eye of decompression, all you need to to read is Tad Williams' excellent Aquaman. More happened in his first issue (#50) than Busiek's whole run. Its fast, gets to the point, builds characters, builds lore, creates drama, and has plenty enough action. Its everything superhero comics should be nowadays, meaningful characters in arger than life circumstances. I mean, just check out "The Babe Squad" and their new admirer. WTF?! If you want a poster child on a book that spits in the eye of decompression, all you need to to read is Tad Williams’ excellent Aquaman. More happened in his first issue (#50) than Busiek’s whole run. Its fast, gets to the point, builds characters, builds lore, creates drama, and has plenty enough action. Its everything superhero comics should be nowadays, meaningful characters in arger than life circumstances. I mean, just check out “The Babe Squad” and their new admirer. WTF?!

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