We Don’t Need Another Hero (the exodus from the superhero genre)

“….superheroes have become pop culture royalty. Yet, like anything that becomes cool, it slowly becomes uncool. “

People are wondering why is Manga kicking comics in the butt. Is it the stories? Is it the art? Is it the pricing? What is it? I don’t know. What I do know is that whenever my mind gets to spinning and my noodle starts baking, I can come up with some pretty interesting or questionable thoughts. Take for instance tonight, why the world is Tina Turner’s song “We don’t need Another Hero” downloading into my jukebox for what I call a brain. I mean you know, I prefer a little Eddie Hazel, a little Rolling Stones, some Led Zeppelin but no. My mind has other plans. I mean this isn’t a flashback to the mid 80s. If it is, can a brother get some Men at Work, Peter Gabriel, a little Yes maybe. Now don’t get me wrong, I like Tina Turner but I’m a throwback to Nutbush City Limits if I’m messing with Tina.

Anyway, it did get me to thinking about Marvel and DC. These companies have been around a long time. For generations, the big two have dominated the comics scene. It wasn’t always like this but after war comics became passe, characters like Batman and Spiderman became the rage. Fast forward a few generations and superheroes have become pop culture royalty. Yet, like anything that becomes cool, it slowly becomes uncool. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m buying comics weekly many of which are superhero titles but I am starting to see the change in my buying. I have science fiction, horror and true crime stuff. While I am happy to see Black Superheroes getting some shine; I am currently right now considering walking away from the big two for a next calendar year. Yes. I know. That means walking away from the new Black Panther run, and whatever other Marvel and DC books that may come out. Why am I considering leaving the big two? I could tell you that I have a noble plan to support independent Black creators and independent companies and that would be correct.

… my ego is attached to this. Like Kanye I am just the first to admit it. Comic book collecting is addictive. Collecting Marvel and DC books is also very expensive. I’m at a point when I just want to not fool with them because they keep raising prices and like my fellow collectors we keep falling for it and keep buying it. I gotta stop this. This crap reminds of being at a diner 2:30 in the morning half drunk looking pathetically into eyes my buddy while he tells me “we gotta stop this Rich” but no. A day or two later we back in the same club, hitting up the same diner, sitting the same booth and saying same crap. “We gotta stop this Rich” So now I’m reaching into my bag of “we doing something different and I can show you better than I can tell you”. Will I really miss DC and Marvel? Probably for a minute but in a little time, the comics will be an after thought. That after thought being “you cant miss what you don’t have” [sure, Rich tell yourself anything] Of course that only works when the alternative is satisfying. Therein, lies the rub. After reading hugh amounts of comics from Marvel and DC, I have come to realize that hey “we dont need another hero” Sure I want original characters and Marvel and DC are always dragging their feet. So maybe I take my reading talents to Scout, or Boom! Studios, or Black Sands Entertainment, or Konkret, or Millenium Comics, even Image. Maybe Tina has a point.

Maybe we don’t need another hero. Yet, I would be crazy to think that other superheroes from independent creators are not intriguing. Maybe I will rock a Darkstorm shirt instead my faded out Black Panther night shirt. Maybe its just a passing thought. I cannot say for sure but what I do know is that the volume on my jukebox is set at mininum volume. To tell you the truth though, my hand is on the dial trying to turn it up. Could I permanently walk away from DC and Marvel? Not even sure I want to but this experiment for a year is growing legs. Why? Bad stories. Bad writing. Bad prices. All the things Manga isn’t. Yep, I’m starting get that feeling. “Shoot! Turn that Tina Up!” – Richard J Wright

NOTE: Richard J Wright’s complete blog listing can be found at blackwardslivingincomics.blogspot.com