• … project an image of being in all ways superior to the material

I couldn't agree more. I can't think of another entertainment genre quite as self-loathing as the comic book industry. It's like the folks creating these stories are saying, "We are ashamed to write/draw these stories and you should be ashamed to read them."

I think it all boils down to appreciating comics for what they are, rather than what you think they should be.

Good question, Joe. Here's my theory - and it's nothing more than that:

I think too many of the people working in comics weren't fans as kids. They got into comics because 1. They developed a reputation in some other field (movies/TV/novels) or 2. They see comics as a way to get into those fields. So they don't have the same respect for the genre that we long-time fans do. In fact, they see working in comics as "slumming.

That's not to say comics creators shouldn't be professional writers and artists first and foremost. However, I do believe that people who grew up reading and loving comics both understand the genre and want to protect it.

I think some creators and fans are applying too much of reality to the genre.  The more they do this, the more uncomfortable they become with superheroes.  They try and imagine a superhero in our reality and arrive at conclusions like "nobody would do this in real life" or "nobody talks like this" or whatever, instead of accepting the genre for what it is.  Thus, all the aspects that made superhero comics fun for all these generations tend to get dumbed down, become subject to mockery or disappear altogether.

I think a lot, not all, of the younger writers that are currently doing super-hero comics, grew up reading indy comics or stuff like Vertigo. They weren't influenced by a Kirby or a Byrne, but rather a Crumb or a Moore. Some, not all, would prefer writing those types of comics rather than super-heroes. However, since the market's top sellers are superhero titles, in order to make a career out of comics they work on superheroes and cram the indy style of writing into those stories.

Let me be clear. I'm not saying Vertigo or indy style stories are bad, they just are a different animal compared to super-heroes. Some writers understand the difference and balance the differnet genres well. Others show their contempt of making a living off of these titles by doing some of the tricks JB mentioned above.

I really wish the comic market was stronger. Then the indy guys could make a living off of the kinds of comics they prefer doing. Not what they have to do to make a living. Then those wanting to do superheroes (current writers or older out of work ones) would be allowed to do so without following the style of the indy guys.