Post by The Canadian Content on Jan 16, 2007 15:09:31 GMT -5
It appears JMS will be writing the new Thor series (assuming it ever comes out). I could go do some research and find some of his stuff and form an opinion on my own, but what fun would that be for you guys?
Anyway, I've heard the name, but I'm not familiar with the work (that I know of). If anyone has opinions on the guy or his work, please share.
Post by salmonjunkie on Jan 16, 2007 15:42:51 GMT -5
JMS has been writing Amazing Spider-Man for the last 6 years. I started collecting AMS again after years of not doing so as a strong suggestion by the guy who runs the store I go to when he came on board. For the most part, his run has been excellent. Highlights:
- The reunion of Peter and MJ. Not the reunion itself, but how it was written. - Aunt May's discovery of Peter being Spidey - #38 "The Conversation is one of the best comics Spidey comics I've ever read, and all it is is a conversation betweeen Peter and May - the 9-11 issue, #36 is also one of the best comics I've ever read. - Ezekiel - Peter becoming a middle school teacher - it's helped Peter's character flesh out even more. - Nearly every issue that ties with Peter being a part of the New Avengers - especially "Mr. Parker Goes To Washington". - Peter's relationship with Tony Stark.
lowlights: - gave us the backstory of Gwen cheating on Peter with Norman and having illegitamite children that fought Peter - The Book of Ezekiel. The character of Ezekiel was really interesting, but this story arc where Zeke's show his true nature and they do this whole mystical spider stuff was not to my liking.
Post by The Canadian Content on Jan 16, 2007 16:36:28 GMT -5
Ah. I thought he was responsible for the Gwen debacle. Though I haven't read it, I've read a ton of nasty comments about it. Seems to be universally hated.
On that note, JMS did an interview with Newsarama in which he states that he'll be re-imagining the Thor mythos. I'm officially worried.
I'll second Sal. JMS got me reading Spider-Man again. After reading one of the Ezikiel arcs I went back and got the Spidey hardcovers, V 1-4. The Gwen stuff is a bad story arc, but the character development is good. To put it another way - the premise is awful, but the writing for it was still better than a lot of stuff out there.
I didn't like the last Ezikiel arc. It was too rushed/forced. The rest of the stuff was top notch - the reconciliation of Pete and MJ and May learning Peter's identity were easily some of the best stories in comics in 2001-2002. "The Other: Evolve or Die" was an interesting story as well.
I can't say anything about Mr. Parker goes to Washington - I'll have to pick that up later.
I wouldn't worry about the Thor saga. What about the article is worrying you?
Post by The Canadian Content on Jan 17, 2007 9:19:43 GMT -5
Well, for starters, he's planning on rebuilding Asgard 8 feet above Oklahoma. Not only is that an idea that seems retarded right off the top, it also takes Thor out of NYC, which has been his main setting for his entire comic existence. I just don't see the villains being very compelling in Oklahoma. Pitchfork-Man? Captain Cattle-prod? Manure Man? Doctor Drought?
I'm seeing Thor in overalls, a big straw hat, and a plaid shirt. Other than that, not much worries me about the change.
I forgot to add - his "Midnight Nation" series was very well done. But his "Rising Stars" (both from Image) totally kicked ass. And his run on Supreme Power was very well written, too.
That's why I'm not worried about Thor. Look at it like this: Dan Jurgens was one of the few writers I've seen who did Thor right. His Lord of Asgard/Lord of Earth storyline was off the charts because he realized that Thor was a god and wrote the story that way. Too many times in the past Thor was portrayed as nothing more than a super powered side kick to Captain America.
Taking him out of NYC takes him away from the super hero rich environment and allows the story to focus more on character develpoment (as JMS stated he wanted to do). Like in this paragraph:
"The American Mid-West has been largely ignored or given short shrift by the comics’ universe, and this is a good chance to bring that world into play, with its values and its heart. We will see ourselves more clearly for the contrast, I think. The flip-side is that Thor et al will also be more contrasted against this background. If everything is godlike, then nothing is godlike...but put that contrast back in again, as Lee and Kirby put Loki and Thor and others into modern life, and I think it actually helps to strengthen Thor as a character...makes him more unique, more distant and godlike...while tugging at his humanity at the same time. And there's always room for a doctor in a small Oklahoma town...."
The move to the Midwest takes away the likes of the Absorbing Man, the Wrecker, Mr. Mutton Chops and whatever other villains that Thor might meet in NYC that are, basically, well below him. Plus, after the events of the last series, Thor and the Asgardians wouldn't have a prayer of fitting into a big time city.
Post by The Canadian Content on Jan 17, 2007 14:11:20 GMT -5
But in fairness to the writers, who is in his league? He's beaten Juggernaut twice that I know of, and I think Juggs is likely the strongest earth-bound villain in the MU. Take it to space, and he's beaten Celestials. I think the only character that outmatches Thor for power in the entire MU is Galactus.
So there aren't really a whole lot of existing options for him. The Wrecker (and his Crew) made sense because they had Asgardian strength. Absorbing Man made sense because he turns into what he touches (including uru). Short of creating a whole new gallery, there's not much that can be done about him outclassing the competition. And if you were to create a new gallery, what happens when they decide to turn their attention away from Thor? They could realistically fight Hulk, but who else? It'd have to be one guy vs. the X-Men, the Avengers, or some other team.
"The American Mid-West has been largely ignored or given short shrift by the comics’ universe, and this is a good chance to bring that world into play, with its values and its heart.
Like Superman! Thor is ripping off Superman!
I always HATED that 90% of Marvel's heroes appear to be based in NYC. It makes no sense. At some stage shouldn't they have spaced themselves out? At some point shouldn't the major of NY asked some of them to leave because the city is easily the most unsafe place in the world? The Avengers made sense there when they were UN associated. And I guess they make sense associated with Stark. The FF, X-Men, and Spidey were all established as NY based heroes a long time ago. But its like no writer in Marvel's history doesn't want to start a new book without the possability of Spider-Man and the FF as guest stars. I remember when I was reading Runaways that they made a big joke about how LA doesn't have any heroes and villains actually sought out LA to take advantange of that. LA!
Or don't do either. If you can't find an image you like at either than don't force it. Just give me something you like and which will look good on the board.
Well yeah but that was pretty shortlived. It made sense though. Complete sense. Why wouldn't these guys spread out a bit? And then they decided "nah, nevermind." It was a good idea, if not a terribly good book. Although I always had a soft spot for that group of guys.
The Avengers SHOULD have a West Coast team and a Great Lakes team! Makes more sense then setting up shop exclusively in the home of hundreds of other heroes.
New Warriors Annual 1 had a 2 panel short story in it about Speedball. His powers were turned on by an impact, and Speedball being irresponsible went for big impacts like jumping out the window. Only Spider-man saved him. He spends the whole day walking around Manhattan trying to have these big impacts like being hit by a truck or suffer a construction accident only to constantly be saved by everyone from the FF to the Power Pack. Of course the joke is that his powers were on the fritz and any of those impacts would have killed him, but he spent the whole time frazzled that he couldn't intentionally get in an accident because the city was too infested with heroes.
Or don't do either. If you can't find an image you like at either than don't force it. Just give me something you like and which will look good on the board.
Post by The Canadian Content on Jan 18, 2007 8:49:46 GMT -5
I remember that NW story. Good times.
I think part of Marvel's New York bias is the fact that they're based there. It's a city they're all familiar with, si it's easy for them to write about it "realistically".
Also, having all those heroes in one place makes it really easy to do crossovers and guest appearances. They don't have to come up with a reason to send Daredevil to LA, they just send Spidey or Punisher into Hell's Kitchen.
Post by The Canadian Content on Apr 5, 2007 18:36:39 GMT -5
Thanks, Loki. I read it, but I didn't get a chance to respond.
I was pretty worried about the whole thing for a while. Then I read this at Newsarama earlier this week. Looks like he knows what he's doing. I'm just going to do my best to go in with an open mind.
it seems marvel finally agrees with everyone's big "why is everyone in new york?" complaint, with this whole 50-state initiative thing. though right now it seems most of the major players will be staying in new york.
by the way, fishy, i wanna recommend you picking up the trade for a story called "thor: blood oath."
the original miniseries came out about a year ago (after thor died and the series ended), and it's basically just a cool old school style thor story starring the thunder god and the warriors three. i'm not generally not a big thor guy and don't pick up his books, but this one was written by my good friend mike oeming so i thought i'd give it a try and picked up the trade when it came out a few months ago.
i gotta say it was pretty good. there's nothing necessarily special about it, it's not a life changing event for thor or anything. it's just a well told story of a random adventure that can be placed in almost any time of thor's history. as a big thor fan, who's a bit apprehensive about the possible changes in the new thor series, i think a classic adventure like this is right up your alley.
Post by The Canadian Content on Apr 9, 2007 12:15:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the rec, Tard. I read Blood Oath as it came out. It was absolutely fantastic. Just a great story about the four friends on a crazy adventure -- much like the Tales of Asgard bits used to be.
Post by The Canadian Content on Apr 9, 2007 14:28:27 GMT -5
Yeah, you probably should. Instead of the WRTB, it could be the "I wasted my time recommending something you've already read temp ban" (or IWMTRSYARTB for short).