Weekly/monthly Columns by Creators

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 10:24 am

I recently discovered that Jason Aaron has been doing weekly columns for Comic Book Resources titled: Where the Hell Am I? The columns focus on Aaron's, very frank, experience within the comic book industry and he occasionally offers tips on how to help aspiring writers break into the industry.

It's a pretty good column. I haven't read all his columns yet so when I'm on the train or waiting in line, I'll usually read one on my phone.

Another monthly column I'm enjoying is Write or Wrong by Dirk Manning on Newsarama. Manning, not quite as well known as Aaron still provides a well written article on a variety of comic book related issues and doesn't overindulge, brag, bash or come off as a douche bag.

Below are an archive list of Aaron & Mannings Columns, should you be inclined to read them.

Aaron's:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page ... =col&id=38

Mannings:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/write-o ... 10308.html

Those are mine, does anyone else read any columns that they'd like to reccomend?

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:04 pm

Did you read the one from Aaron about Alan Moore? Very controversial.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:33 am

Yes, I read that article just yesterday; it was somewhat shocking and surprising. I understand that Moore has been screwed over by DC, but at a certain point I stop paying attention to his whining about how his stories are being bastardized and this and that and just move on.

I certainley don't hold it against Aaron for standing up for his friends whom Moore is bashing so I guess in the end, it doesn't make much difference to me. I'll continue not buying Moore's books (haven't purchased any Moore books since Swamp Thing Years ago) and I'll continue picking up Scalped & PunisherMAX.

Stocky Boy · Post by **Stocky Boy** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:33 pm

There's a Bleeding Cool response article, which raises good points as well as collating a bunch of creators' twitter reaction to the CBR article from Aaron. Nice and mixed reactions.
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/01/06/ ... ghts-back/
If it were possible, itwould be nice to see if the reactions collated in the above link is propertionately representative of comic creators' opinions. But, I reckon it's more likely that the reactions chosen were the most catching rather than proportionally weighted.

I think Aaron's article comes across as rather reactionary.
Perhaps I missed the particular bit where Moore literally says, 'all the current comic creators are crap'. But, it doesn't look like he did that to me. It looks more like he was saying, "why not leave my old crap alone and get everyone to create new appealing stuff? Surely you have the talent?"

In Moore's Bleeding Cool interview, he made a rather sweeping generalisation about current comic book writers - naming no one in particular - after responding to a question that involves past frustrations and DC/Marvel's future endeavours that remind him of said past frustrations. Whether Moore truly holds the position that the current talent are all hacks, is not actually clear when his comment about a lack of originality from current creators comes directly after ranting his frustrations.
To be certain whether Moore thinks the current crop lack originality, it would be best to ask him to clarify his response or simply ask him the question directly. Considering his comment was a massive generalisation, I think it's save to say his comment on modern creators was a tag-on piece of punctuation to his rant. He names no one in particular, and states he doesn't read any modern comics it's probably save to say the old geezer was talking fllippantly. Assuming my assumptions are corrent, I'm not suggesting these comments are easy to let go, I'm just saying they probably deserve less of a emotionally charged response than Aaron provided.

Upsetting though it must be to hear an admired peer make statements like Moore did, it would seem to me that the statement was actually a tiny whine and an attempt to suggest to publishers/creators to just do new things.

Basically, it comes down to this: was Moore really bashing current creators or just moaning a bit too much? And, given the answer - bashing or moaning - what would be an appropriate level of redress - respond with frustration yourself or simply state your own greivances?

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:02 pm

Let's just be blunt. I'm not reading that much philosophical debate about comics.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:35 pm

Yeah, christ.

Alan Moore said a shitty thing, if you don't like it don't read his comics. His era was 30 years ago, his an old, severely fucked up individual who has a huge drug problem.

Stocky Boy · Post by **Stocky Boy** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:44 pm

The observations made in my posts provide killer insight Arn. Much enjoyment can be found in them too!
Out of interest, since you mentioned the Aaron article, I'm curious whether you read the entire thing?

And actually, if you did read it all, how did you find it? It reads like article space taken up by a diary entry on how someone's idol's comment hurt their feelings.

Cam, the thing is, he didn't actually say too shitty a thing. In the twitter comments, you can see this observation wasn't lost on some creators:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/01/...n-rights-back/
e.g.

Ivan Brandon -
“alan moore said i suck!” well, first of all, no, he didn’t. second of all: alan moore likely has no opinion at all about you or your work.

B. Clay Moore -
Alan Moore seems to be issuing a call to arms rather than insulting anyone specifically.

Rich Johnston finishes his article of collecting twitter responses with an observation that's quite key for someone like Aaron, who deserves the credit that Johnston gives to him in the following ending sentence.

Rich Johnston -
Moore’s entire point is this. If DC have the top flight talent they boast, why not get them to create new work than rehash his old work? Jason is doing that with Scalped now.

So, if Moore did read Scalped, I think it would be quite likely that Moore would agree that it meets his request for creators to create new books.

Also, would you not read a Watchmen simply on the basis of one comment? One disagreable comment doesn't change the quality of existing or future work. Or as Johnston puts it: "Getting caught up in creator’s opinions can deny you from enjoying some truly excellent work."

Why's he severely fucked up?
Are you sure you're not mistaking his soft spoken Brummie accent for the voice of a messed up drughead? It's just people from Birmingham. (Ha! Shame Shermy isn't here to appreciate my jibe at Brummies).
Or do you mean his odd god of serpents worshipping? I've gotta say, worshipping Glycon, in my opinion, and the concept of his 'Idea Space', sounds less dubious than what can be found in the books of the three monotheisms.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:44 pm

Stocky Boy wrote: Or do you mean his odd god of serpents worshipping? I've gotta say, worshipping Glycon, in my opinion, and the concept of his 'Idea Space', sounds less dubious than what can be found in the books of the three monotheisms.

I was more thinking of his massive pot addiction. Snake god, too though.

Stocky Boy · Post by **Stocky Boy** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:38 am

Well, the snake god thing and his 'Idea Space' are quite nicely explained on Wikipedia at the moment. Glycon worship is just tongue-in-cheek.

Drug addiction amounts to nothing if it doesn't negatively affect the lifestyle you choose to life. Judging by his comic output in recent years, his work is still competent - even more so than individuals who presumably use less drugs than him - and his interviews indicate nothing out of the ordinary other than his embiterness. Otherwise, he appears very much capable of communicating his thoughts very well.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:49 pm

Aaron's response to Moore does *seem* reactionary and I'd hazard to say its probably towards Moore saying that there are "no top, medium or low level creators out there" which is what Aaron probably took personally.

I don't really think Moore is a crazy old man, and true he has been screwed over by DC and I'm sure he's justified over his anger (to a degree) but I've just grown tired of listening to Moore rant and rave. Moore isn't saying anything new so I don't bother with it and again. I personally have nothing personal against Moore or Aaron and will continue to support one or both of them if they continue (or once again start to) put out interesting books.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:39 am

Do you feel Aaron is no longer putting out interesting work?

I personally think Moore has gone off the deep end from too many years of too heavy marjauna use, but I am also starting to think the same thing of Morrison and psychedelics.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:38 am

Aaron is constantly putting out very enjoyable books. Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine, Punisher, Scalped are some of the best books out there.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:34 pm

XIII wrote:Aaron is constantly putting out very enjoyable books. Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine, Punisher, Scalped are some of the best books out there.

He is also consistently putting out some craps books, too.

Wolverine, for example.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:46 pm

That's one out of 4. There's much worse ratio than that.
Also, Wolverine is not crappy. Not his best stuff but not crappy.

Stocky Boy · Post by **Stocky Boy** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:59 pm

I'm finding his Punisher a bit poo, but that's probably got something to do with me constantly comparing all Punisher stories to Ennis's work.

Scalped is awesome. Can't wait for the next trade.
The Astonishing Spiderman and Wolverine mini is very entertaining.
Wolverine - has been a bit poo. This posession storyline is running on far too long. The next arc looks promising though.

I'm noticing this annoying tendancy of Aaron's to throw in a little religion into his Wolverine. There's been a couple of Wolverine minis, the latest storyline and a post Nightcrawler's death storyline where it's been implied Wolverine's a bit of a deist, when I'm sure it's been suggested before that he's more of an atheist.
I was hoping all this 'ism' would have died with Nightcrawler.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:02 pm

Hoo, yeah, that religion stuff is Wolvie is starting to be annoying I'll give you that one.
And I don't see it going away since he is the one who introduced it in Weapon X #16.

Stocky Boy · Post by **Stocky Boy** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:50 pm

I'm worried this will get tagged on to Wolverine's personality and other/later writers will pick up on it.

Take for example how quickly the James Howlet origin has been fully absorbed into the Wolverine ethos. I didn't think it was a bad story, but it wasn't screamingly good nor necessary. But, it got woven into a Wolverine film like it's an essential point about the character - well to be fair they didn't concentrate too long on it, but damn! It's now recognised by significantly more people than just comic readers as part of Wolverine lore.

Hopefully none of the bullshit Way has written on Wolverine Origin will stick. All the Romulus turd needlessly complicating the character. Hopefully no one will make Loeb's crap stick either.

Is Aaron writting anything else at the moment?

Anyone reading Moore's Neocomromancer (spelling all wrong!) comic, published by Avatar? If you're not reading it, but you are familiar with what else Avatar put out, then you'll have no doubt guessed there's a bit of front panel 'hello readers' bit of rape inside. Works well enough for the freakish story being told and generally quite intriguing. Might be more appealing to those who are familiar with HP Lovecraft's books. Jacen Burrow's art's looking better and better.