"I'm just waiting on a trade"

I hope everyone's having a pleasant Friday so far, TGIF right?

I just wanted to briefly talk about something that's recently interested me, and that's the now commonplace practice of waiting for the trade paperbacks to come out when following a favorite title or so.
I don't know why, but this sort of thing is happening more and more, and I'm wondering if it's eventually going to hurt comic sales in the long run. In a somewhat similar practice to trade-waiting, people can DVR their favorite TV shows. Now if ratings on a particular show are slightly or more slightly going down, is this due to a lack of viewership or the fact that people are just recording these shows to watch them at a later time, thus negatively affecting the ratings. It doesn't mean people aren't watching, just that they're DVR'ing the shows to watching them when they have the time. But is this practice even being considered come ratings time?

Like-wise this most also happen when a small number of comic readers simply skip buying single issues in favor of buying a trade that collects the whole story. I'm not saying theirs nothing anything wrong with this; the style of writing by today's writers seem to favor being collected altogether in one viewing for the TPB. It's what helps sell these things right? Hasn't rising sales of these TPB's proven that?

My complaint is when this practice is done too much. This gives companies like DC and Marvel the wrong impression. They see falling sales on a certain title and assume that's due to a growing lack of readers, when the truth is that title is still being read, just in TPB form. This has to hurt comic book sales overall.
How can this look to Marvel or DC, when single issues don't sell as well a they used to, but the sales in trades are growing. It presents an illusion of growth, when it all just looks like a ponzi scheme; take from one source to give to another creating the illusion of prosperity.

I'm not saying you shouldn't buy trades; they serve a vital purpose in the comic book industry. Just make sure your not just buying trades, and leaving out the single issues. If stuff like that keeps happening, there may not be a trade of favorite title to come out later. Think about that for awhile.

Alright enough of the soapbox stuff, next week, fun, funny, and just plain wrong humor!

"Who do you think you are?"

What's up guys, it's your 'ol buddy Mr.Morbid here with another exciting blog to tantalize you all. Well, it probably won't. Most likely won't, but you get the idea.
I figured I'd talk briefly about what I think is a major problem facing comics and their creators nowadays. No it's not just slumping sales, the current bad economy, or even Anthony Weiner. Well definitely not the last one, but I digress. Nope, one of, if not a major problem comics and creators face right now is the internet, or rather the section of internet viewers that constantly criticize, but almost never offer viable solutions.

Now, I like to read reviews of comics, especially by credible comic news sites like Comicbookresources.com or Multiversitycomics.com, and even those on DCcomics.com. They tend to offer a generally good review or overview of whatever comic is chosen for review. They usually offer insightful criticism on what the issue should do story-telling wise, but didn't for whatever reason, or how the writer and/or artist got off track or did well in what they set out to do. I enjoy these reviews, and generally feel they have actual merit.

Now I do have to keep in mind, that while these people are being paid to write these reviews, they are mostly their opinions, and that at the end of the day, its the readers that determine whether or not a certain comic or graphic novel, or even a TPB is worth buying. These reviewers can only help, or attempt to help inform/persuade you on what's worth spending your hard-earned money on, and what should be skipped. And that's basically the kind of thing that's used for any medium or product.

My main problem, is the increasing number and over abundance in straight-out negative responses or criticism to a creator/creators' work. Sure everybody has a right to voice their opinion on whatever they feel works/doesn't work for them; that's why we as Americans are privileged to have the right of free speech. My issue is with those that choose to just spew hate and basic negative criticism at certain works without either offering credible and helpful solutions or not giving the creator time to let the story unfold in an organic manner. It's everywhere folks! Just visit any message board and you find these types of people. People who love to complain or rip on a piece of work just to do it. Now don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with criticizing someone's work. I think it's needed, especially if it can convince the creator or the creator's boss, that they might have gotten off track with what they were attempting to do. But you can do so with positive constructive criticism, instead of just being an ass and saying "oh this guy sucks!" or "Worst issue ever! what the hell's this guys' problem?" Can we get back to being adults when it comes to dolling out criticism or that too much?

Hey, there's nothing wrong with a healthy debate about a comic. That's the sort of thing that makes reading and discussing comics fun. But can we get back doing this sort of thing responsibly please? I myself have leveled criticism myself at certain individuals or story-lines, but I'll at least try to so with frame of mind that it took the person/persons that come up with that idea time and effort. True that can't always be said about some works sometimes, but usually the rule is a lot of time and thought went into making those comics.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I have difficult time being too hard on writers and artists, even if the work doesn't come off too well. No, I don't have a hard time in criticizing work that looks and reads real sloppy and insults the reader's intelligence, but to me that's in rare and extreme cases. I don't most writers and artists set off to make horrible and unreadable works of fiction. I highly respect these creators, because they're doing not only what I wish I could do, but also because they're living their dream. And they have to have some talent to do this for a living right or else how are they even getting hired? I feel for alot of these creators because I'd hate to read the things that get said about them if they were said about me. You really have to love your work and believe enough in your abilities to even consider putting yourself out there to be so scrutinized. And trust me it's not easy. To even those that are considered "bad" or the "worst", they all have my respect and admiration for having the balls to put yourself out there to be judged. I think all of those internet "trolls" out there need to be reminded of that. It's easier to judge someone else's work when your own work or abilities aren't also being judged. Yes Bendis or Johns might not always hit it out the park, or they even might fall prey to stretching themselves too thin or falling into the same repetitive traps story-wise, but at least they're putting themselves out there and you're not. You can think they're hacks, but still try to show them some respect huh? They're regular people just like you and me, except they're living our dream. Don't hate, just appreciate!

Now of course that doesn't mean editors or higher-ups shouldn't be chastised for not doing their jobs, or if so, doing them poorly(I'm looking at you Dan Dido)but it should be done intelligently and with solid facts, not just loosely-based opinions. Let's all critique more responsibly okay?

"O alcohol I still drink to your health"

Alcohol, my permanent accessory
Alcohol, a party-time necessity
Alcohol, alternative to feeling like yourself
O Alcohol, I still drink to your health

I love you more than I did the week before
I discovered alcohol

Forget the cafe latte, screw the raspberry iced tea
A Malibu and Coke for you, a G&T for me
Alcohol, Your songs resolve like
my life never will
When someone else is picking up the bill

I love you more than I did the week before
I discovered alcohol
O Alcohol, would you please forgive me?
For while I cannot love myself
I'll use something else

I thought that Alcohol was just for those with
nothing else to do
I thought that drinking just to get drunk
was a waste of precious booze
But now I know that there's a time
and there's a place where I can choose
To walk the fine line between
self-control and self-abuse

I love you more than I did the week before
I discovered alcohol
Would you please ignore that you
found me on the floor
Trying on your camisole?
O Alcohol, would you please forgive me?
For while I cannot love myself
I'll use something else.

Would you please forgive me (x2)

The above lyrics are from the band Barenaked Ladies's song Alcohol. It's actually pretty good if I do say so myself.


Hey folks,
I figured I'd write a blog about one of the things we all love to have when the work week ends and the weekend begins: Alcohol!

You know who else likes a cold one after a long hard day of fighting crooks, putting out fires, and basically saving the universe(s) every week? Cops? nope, but them too. Firefighters? no. I'm talking about your neighborhood-friendly superhero that's who. And today, I figured I show off some images I found on the internet showcasing your favorite hero or heroine indulging in that time-honored tradition of getting their drunk on.

Enjoy.