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What NOT to Do When Writing a Comic

As much flack as Joe Quesada has been given over his involvement with Spider-Man over the last few years (all of it deserved), those of you looking to break into the comic writing business and aspiring writers should actually be thankful. Why? Well in creating the atrocities that are One More Day and OMIT, he's show us that just because you can do something in fiction doesn't necessarily mean that you should. Through his awful writing and bad characterization, he's given us a prime example of things to avoid when looking to create a good story.

Despite knowing full well that a good chunk of the fan base loved and supported Spider-Man's marriage to Mary Jane, he went ahead and dissolved it because it bugged him that much. He thinks Peter is more interesting as a swinging solo. Or that he's more interesting with Carly Cooper, who's first name just happens to be named after his own offspring. Now again, I'll say I don't hate Carlie, but she was forced upon the reader and when just about every member of the supporting cast tells Peter that she's perfect for him, then you've got a prime case of Shilling the Wesley, and in the words of Sonic the Hedgehog, that's no good. On top of that, we're once more forced to endure the same old type of story notes we went through before Peter married MJ. Lame excuses as to why he's missed a date or was late. Why he keeps so many secrets from her ad infinite nausea.

I hate Guy Gardner, with a passion but, I know he has his fans and I wouldn't kill him off just to appease my personal disdain for the character. Likewise, Joe Q should have just learned to deal with Peter being married. But hey, the man taut us an invaluable lesson that some things just shouldn't be tampered with.

Comments

Tommy said…
Have you heard about what happened to Hobgoblin?

There's always the chance it's a fake-out, but that doesn't save another character that's also doing a 180 in characterization.

I get double irked when it's something penned by Dan Slott, since I'm a continuity aficionado myself, and I know Dan will toss aside that knowledge at a whim.
November 26, 2010 at 5:35 AM
jimmyfakename said…
See, I'm a fan of Guy Gardner, but even if I weren't, to kill off a character that acts like a matchstick would be the worst kind of writing. I mean, you can't have a story without conflict, and to remove that conflict or drama is ridiculous. Who wants to read a story without it? So I have to say I find your enlightened perspective refreshing. I mean, I hate Cosmic Boy of the Legion of Super Heroes, but I wouldn't kill him off either. In fact, a talented writer would try to find the core of the character they hate and make them interesting. There are no bad characters, only bad writers.
December 6, 2010 at 4:09 PM
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