So there have been zombies, monkeys, probably some other things I’m not thinking of…and now Santa Claus. Marvel is circulating a press release showing off the art for The Hulk #9’s variant cover wherein Ed McGuinness draws the titular goliath as Santa.
I guess this shouldn’t be surprising. From about five minutes after the Red Hulk/Green Hulk thing started, people were making “Christmas colors” jokes.
Anyway, check it out:
…and bear in mind this is not a wraparound. It’s two covers.
December 1st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Cool. I dig it. Hopefully I get the Green Hulk cover.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:17 pm
2 separate (although, absolutely lovely) covers, what a joke! Marvel are a bunch of Scrooges these days.
December 1st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Rarh! Just posted a reply and the site ate it. I’ll try again.
This posting provides a good example of what’s wrong with Newsarama since Imaginova took it over and made it “modern”.
We’re presented with an image and told to “check it out” - how 1994! Our reward for clicking isn’t a larger image as a jpeg in a new window, but rather, the exact same image, same size (500 x 385 pixels) in some kind of animated blue frame. All we gain from clicking on the er, “thumbnail” is a delay.
This is exactly the kind of thing that happens throughout this site - it runs slower and everything’s more complicated. Add those together and you’ve got a site that’s less fun to use.
I went into such detail not because this error I’m describing bothered me greatly or because I have no life (those are beside the point) because this example, while small, is so so typical.
If you really want to improve this site (and its traffic) - I don’t think firing the popular writers will do it. Make things simpler to use, make them intelligent, make them fun, make them fast, and you’ll be all set.
This site is kind of like Word 2007 for Windows - lots of boxes nested in other boxes, and shaded gradients, and it might look pretty for a second… but it’s a great pain to use.
December 1st, 2008 at 3:53 pm
… OK, as if to underline my point, I had to
a) write my original reply to the item
b) have it eaten by a message asking if I had cookies on and Javascript enabled - both of which I do
c) rewrite it - remembering to copy and paste it into notepad first in case it got eaten again …
d) repeat step b
e) follow the link that came up about reporting a problem … only to be led to something about anti-spam software for your blogging site (something like hybrid6 in the URL) instead of an email address or form to contact the site
f) write this message I’m writing now
g) copy and paste it in case it crashes again
here goes nothin’ - if you feel like it, please pass both of my comments along to the technicians and/or site proprietors.
December 1st, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Matches, the previous Blog@ crew were not fired; they chose to leave, and we wish them luck. Thanks!
December 1st, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Matches, I was coming in to say “the bosses are watching and will certainly look at your concerns about the tech side of things,” but Troy (the boss) posted before me. At any rate, the comments will be seen by the appropriate people, trust me. All eyes are on Blog@ right now.
December 1st, 2008 at 4:20 pm
“All eyes are on Blog@ right now.”
That’s ominous.
For what it’s worth, content wise you guys are doing a great job so far.
December 1st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Thanks for the clarification re the writers. I hope my comments are helpful in refining the site.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
I think people need to re-read the press release for yesterday’s Hulk # 9 covers. There are 2 variant covers but they are not the Santa Hulk cover. The Santa Hulk cover by Ed McGuinness is a wrap around and is Ultra Rare. Check Marvel.com and you will see one of the Hulk #9 covers and it is not Santa Hulk. So everyone who likes this cover, myself included, good luck actually getting one without paying a premium.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:40 pm
To follow up the press release reads;
“with art by superstars Frank Cho and Art Adams, including 50/50 variant covers from each artist.”
So that says the variants covers are not the McGuinness Santa Hulk wrap.