Henry10What type of comic reader are you?
November 15th 2006 12:30
OK, this is assuming that you are indeed a comic reader. If you're not, then bugger off, get a copy of this, and come back here once you've read it.
OK, you're back. Some guy on Comicbrain.com has come up with classifications for types of comic readers. He's rather selfishly omitted to turn this into a poll or questionnaire, which means I have to do the work myself, but hey, it's something to fill the blog. Kudos to him.
So these are the types (and I've completely stolen that guy's words here. Sorry guy):
<QUOTE BEGINS>
The Generalist (G): The generalist loves the comic book medium. He/she reads anything he/she enjoys from super-hero to western to romance from any publisher in any format. The generalist loves discovering new titles and new genres.
The Super-Hero Only (SHO): The SHO loves super-hero stories. She/he reads comics to read super-hero stories. The SHO is more interested in the super-hero genre than the comic book medium. She/he tends towards the Big Two (Marvel and DC) but not exclusively.
The Independent Only (IO): The IO is different and proud of it. He/She doesn't read anything from the Big Two because the stories published by Marvel and DC are too mainstream. The IO only likes books that would be classified as 'alternative' by most people. The IO tends to be a bit snobbish.
The Creator Follower (CF): The CF is a fan of a creator (or possibly a creative team). The CF has her/his favorite writer or artist and he/she buys any books touched by that creator. Publisher, genre and format are irrelevant.
The Everything Is Crap But I Still Read It All Anyway (EICBISRIAA): The EICBISRIAA lives to complain. She/he is only happy when complaining about how awful a comic book character, publisher, creator, format or any other thing is. And yet, the EICBISRIAA buys and reads a large number of books every week. The EICBISRIAA respects only her/his own opinion and anyone who disagrees with her/him is a 'moron' or a 'Ricky Retardo'.
<QUOTE ENDS, Copyright 2006 Some Guy>
So how to classify myself? Definitely SHO is the biggest factor here - I read comics mostly because there is no other medium that can tell superhero stories as well as comics does. Movies can capture the spectacle, but they can't do regular ongoing serials, which is my favoured format. TV never seems to match the grandeur of, say, Fantastic Four #49. Novels fail utterly, as suoperheroes are intrinsically visual.
I'm a bit of a generalist (G). Comics are great as a medium, and I do enjoy reading non-superhero stuff. I like some manga, I like some independents, I like some strips, I like pamphlets and graphic novels and all sorts of stuff. So a bit of this.
IO can go to hell. If it wasn't for superheroes, transforming robots and silent ninjas, I wouldn't be reading comics today. Guess what independent comics don't do much of? This is definitely not me, though there are a few independent comics I love.
CF is the idealised me. I would love to follow a lot of creators, but I can't afford to much beyond Grant Morrison at this point. So a little of this.
EICBISRIAA: Not at all. I try hard not to complain about comics. In my opinion, this is the best time ever to be a fan. There is a wide range of genres, even a wide range of superhero styles from the Big Two, and even if you don't like where Marvel and DC are going today, it's never been easier to dive headlong into their back catalogues. There's more good stuff out there to read than there ever has been before.
So, now to assign those silly percentage lists that these things do.
I would say I'm 10% G, 0% IO, 5% CF, 0% EICBISRIAA and 85% SHO!
Any other takers?
OK, you're back. Some guy on Comicbrain.com has come up with classifications for types of comic readers. He's rather selfishly omitted to turn this into a poll or questionnaire, which means I have to do the work myself, but hey, it's something to fill the blog. Kudos to him.
So these are the types (and I've completely stolen that guy's words here. Sorry guy):
<QUOTE BEGINS>
The Generalist (G): The generalist loves the comic book medium. He/she reads anything he/she enjoys from super-hero to western to romance from any publisher in any format. The generalist loves discovering new titles and new genres.
The Super-Hero Only (SHO): The SHO loves super-hero stories. She/he reads comics to read super-hero stories. The SHO is more interested in the super-hero genre than the comic book medium. She/he tends towards the Big Two (Marvel and DC) but not exclusively.
The Independent Only (IO): The IO is different and proud of it. He/She doesn't read anything from the Big Two because the stories published by Marvel and DC are too mainstream. The IO only likes books that would be classified as 'alternative' by most people. The IO tends to be a bit snobbish.
The Creator Follower (CF): The CF is a fan of a creator (or possibly a creative team). The CF has her/his favorite writer or artist and he/she buys any books touched by that creator. Publisher, genre and format are irrelevant.
The Everything Is Crap But I Still Read It All Anyway (EICBISRIAA): The EICBISRIAA lives to complain. She/he is only happy when complaining about how awful a comic book character, publisher, creator, format or any other thing is. And yet, the EICBISRIAA buys and reads a large number of books every week. The EICBISRIAA respects only her/his own opinion and anyone who disagrees with her/him is a 'moron' or a 'Ricky Retardo'.
<QUOTE ENDS, Copyright 2006 Some Guy>
So how to classify myself? Definitely SHO is the biggest factor here - I read comics mostly because there is no other medium that can tell superhero stories as well as comics does. Movies can capture the spectacle, but they can't do regular ongoing serials, which is my favoured format. TV never seems to match the grandeur of, say, Fantastic Four #49. Novels fail utterly, as suoperheroes are intrinsically visual.
I'm a bit of a generalist (G). Comics are great as a medium, and I do enjoy reading non-superhero stuff. I like some manga, I like some independents, I like some strips, I like pamphlets and graphic novels and all sorts of stuff. So a bit of this.
IO can go to hell. If it wasn't for superheroes, transforming robots and silent ninjas, I wouldn't be reading comics today. Guess what independent comics don't do much of? This is definitely not me, though there are a few independent comics I love.
CF is the idealised me. I would love to follow a lot of creators, but I can't afford to much beyond Grant Morrison at this point. So a little of this.
EICBISRIAA: Not at all. I try hard not to complain about comics. In my opinion, this is the best time ever to be a fan. There is a wide range of genres, even a wide range of superhero styles from the Big Two, and even if you don't like where Marvel and DC are going today, it's never been easier to dive headlong into their back catalogues. There's more good stuff out there to read than there ever has been before.
So, now to assign those silly percentage lists that these things do.
I would say I'm 10% G, 0% IO, 5% CF, 0% EICBISRIAA and 85% SHO!
Any other takers?
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Comment by anon
Comment by Justin
Started on Spiderman then went to the X series (Factor, Men, Uncanny) then to Image with the beginnings of Wildcats and Youngblood.
My favourite comic of all-time was Morbius for the first 17 or so issues and the Maximum Carnage crossover which first introduced Carnage as a character, then second would be the Ghost Rider and X-Men vs the Brood.
So, basically all Marvel.
Comment by Nathan P. Mahney
NerdBlog
It's got a reputation as being just a bit crap, and to be honest it is, but there's definitely a good story trying to bust its way out of the thing. At six parts it could have been really good - at fourteen it collapses under the weight of repetition.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
The Attention-Deficit Completist:
I can't read comics in issues, or I'll forget the plot and mood, so I'll only read them in graphic novel format. It's a little bit like cheating, but that's how I like it.
Also, now that I'm older, I like comics that are heavy on the mature themes, like Alan Moore stuff.
But I'm still pubescent enough to want unrealistically hot women in the comics. Is that so wrong?
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Massive collection of Wonder Woman comics.
Anything that features WW.
Also collect...Green Lantern, Silver Surfer, JLA, The Phantom and (used to) The Uncanny X-Men
Anything DC (Detective Comics) and Marvel really.
Artists; Alex Ross, Frank Miller, Stan Lee but really as long (and I'm with you here Cibbuano...but for different reasons!!) they make the women look Amazonian hot!
Also like Archie comics and used to collect the 'Ripleys Believe It Or Not' comics.
Thanks Nathan.
Dusk
Comment by Joe Blogg
Joe Blogg's Blog
manchesterunited
collingwoodfootballclub
I use to publish my own comic some years back & worked on & off as a cartoonist for some time.
Too labour intensive though.
Comment by JoshZ
Loved the Sandman series and the universe X stuff. Want to go and buy a copy the Watchman and Frank Miller's 300.
Comment by Nathan P. Mahney
NerdBlog
As for Miller, grab a copy of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns if you haven't read it already. It's excellent.
Comment by JoshZ
Awesome book.
JZ
Comment by JoshZ
Just wrote a post on the literati thing that I'd like to get your thoughts on.
JZ
Comment by Stanley
Comment by Earl
Everyone interested in comics should read Scott McCloud's analytical books: Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics, and Making Comics. hE's the guy who wrote Zot! And (co)came up with the `24 hour comic' concept. Brilliantly insiteful fellow.