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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Wednesday, August 13, 2008
As regular visitors to TOT must surely know by now, most every Tuesday, I post new Tony Polls questions for your balloting entertainment. Here's how you voted on the questions I asked you in mid-July...
Would you like to see a change in editorial direction and management at DC Comics?
Yes.....69.59%
No.....11.70%
Undecided.....18.71%
This was an unquestionably poor showing for DC's Senior VP and Executive Editor Dan DiDio, but it didn't surprise me. Under his watch, the DC Universe has become increasingly brutal and ugly with too many DCU titles being mediocre or worse. What does surprise me is how many longtime DC readers who professes hating this material continue to support it.
My own Yes vote is based on those factors, plus what I see as an arrogant unwillingness to even consider that the DCU is in need of serious course correction. DiDio is the George W. Bush of comicdom.
Would you like to see a change in editorial direction and management at Marvel Comics?
Yes.....61.90%
No.....17.26%
Undecided.....20.83%
I voted No on this because, while I feel Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada has made some terrible decisions, I also think he's done a good job where it counts. Taken as a whole, I enjoy Marvel super-hero titles more than I enjoy their DC Comics counterparts. While I expected the majority of the voters would disagree with me, I was pleasantly surprised, given online fandom's often-irrational preference for DC, that Quesada didn't do as badly as DiDio.
Which of these companies would you most like to see knock Marvel or DC out of the top two spots?
Dark Horse.....31.65%
IDW Publishing.....20.25%
Boom! Studios.....10.76%
Archie Comics.....6.96%
Fantagraphics Books.....5.70%
Image.....5.70%
Gemstone Publishing.....5.06%
Dynamite Entertainment.....3.16%
Drawn & Quarterly.....1.90%
Moonstone.....1.90%
Oni Press Inc......1.90%
Avatar Press.....1.27%
Antarctic Press.....0.63%
Bluewater Productions.....0%
Virgin Comics.....0%
Other.....3.16&
I had a tough time with this question. I consider most of the companies listed, but, after due deliberation, I case my vote for Image. My reason is simple: Image Comics made things better for comics creators and, more than any other publisher, gives those creators a chance to succeed without demanding ancillary rights to the creations of those creators.
Note. Though several voters went with "other," only one sent his write-in choice to me.
Which of these choices would you most like to see be the next job for Tony Isabella?
DC Comics Senior VP-Executive Editor.....20.81%
Lottery winner.....20.23%
Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief.....14.45%
Mary Worth's troubled new neighbor.....7.51%
Wacky next door neighbor on sitcom.....6.94%
Supreme Court Justice.....4.62%
Token male host of The View.....4.05%
Token male Victoria's Secret model.....4.05%
Daily Show correspondent.....2.89%
Riverdale High assistant principal.....2.31%
Sorcerer Supreme.....2.31%
Vengeance demon.....2.31%
Green Lantern.....1.73%
Superman's new pal.....1.73%
Batman's next sidekick.....1.16%
United States Ambassador to Japan.....1.16%
Director of S.H.I.E.L.D......0.58%
President of the United States.....0.58%
Crime scene investigator.....0%
Other.....0.58%
This was a tough call for me. I confess the prospect of being able to walk into DC Comics, line up the editors and writers, and send several of them packing is appealing to me - and, yes, I have had dreams and daydreams like that - I voted lottery winner. That would give me the ability to do everything I want to do for my family while allowing me the option of remaining in comics. But, truth be told, remaining in comics would no longer be a sure thing for me. There have been too many days, weeks, years when the joy of comics is matched by my sadness at how badly the industry treats its creators, how foolishly it lionizes mediocre talent, how whore-ishly it worships at the feet of Hollywood, and how faithlessly it shepherds the great creations with which it has been entrusted. If the day comes when the sadness overshadows the joy, then I suspect I will be gone for good.
Wow. That got gloomy.
After casting his votes, Chris Gumprich e-mailed me to explain his choices. He wrote:
To me, the first two were the same question...because both companies need a change in editorial direction, changing their focus from "events" and putting the time back into the individual series, allowing the series to stand or fall on their own merits. Both companies continue to service their ever-dwindling fan bases, and this has resulted in an unbelievable sense of fan entitlement which has chased at least one die-hard long-time reader - 30 years now - away from most discussions on comics. Both DC and Marvel need to focus on quality storytelling, without the need to tie a series into anything -- whether an event or a "continuity." Some variety would be nice, too.
On the third question, I voted "Other." It doesn't matter to me which company knocks DC/Marvel off their perch, just so long as somebody does. Maybe that would be enough to convince the Big Two to change their editorial direction.
On the last, I voted "Mary Worth's troubled new neighbor"... because you really need to get out of "Funky Winkerbean" before the next cancer spree.
My pal Tom Batiuk can't catch a break. He gives one character cancer in over 35 years of doing "Funky Winkerbean" and some folks seem to think he's "Typhoid Tom." In any case, he assures me that I face no such dire fate in his strip.
Though, come to think of it, he did invite me to Crankshaft's next backyard cookout. I should probably buy some fire-retardant summer clothing.
Moving right along...
This week's questions ask you what you did this summer. You can answer them at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Besides answering my questions, you should feel free to e-mail me if you did something this summer that's not reflected in those questions. I'd love to hear about and, with your permission, I'll share your stories with your fellow TOT readers.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 08/12/2008 | 08/13/2008 | 08/14/2008 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
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Medina, OH 44256
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