This is odd but I thought naming Peter David would get at least one person calling me a heretic. So many fans of his think (or used to think, don't run into too many fans of his anymore) that he was the best writer out there and the general comics public were philistines if they didn't support his work.

Nobody's going to defend Peter David? Or pile on?

Brian Michael Bendis is someone whose work I used to like but I thought he made one of the worst mistakes a writer can make when he did Avengers Disassembled: Making it incomprehensible. I had no idea what had happened, what was real, what wasn't, who was dead, was anybody dead, I hate it when in order to understand a comic I have to read an interview with the writer where he explains himself. Though I did like some issues of New Avengers I'm dropping the title because the last issue was everybody standing around and talking out their issues. Can't pay money for that any longer.

QUOTE: Technically I don't like him as an Avenger either.  But I've found Bendis' portrayal of SM's wisecracks to be uproariously funny.  Thus I've embraced Spidey as a team member !

If they were the best and funniest stories ever written, I'd still not accept Spider-Man as an Avenger.  It's just something I can't/won't wrap my mind around.

I hate it when in order to understand a comic I have to read an interview with the writer where he explains himself.

I agree !  It seems to me that the plot of a comic should be self-contained and self-explanatory.  Much of what happens in interviews give helpful nuances, while covering nuances that only the creator would know.  Perhaps some of the newer writers should switch to novels or go back to writing TV & movie scripts?  Wouldn't it be great to have people writing comics who can really write comics ! 

If they were the best and funniest stories ever written, I'd still not accept Spider-Man as an Avenger.  It's just something I can't/won't wrap my mind around.

Fair enough!  I am the same with a teenage (Ultimate) FF !

>I think I am the odd man out here when it comes to JMS

No, I like JMS too. I will admit though that some of his Spider-Man issues were pretty poor and his FF and so far Thor is a bit dull. Worst thing is, I've read a lot of his other work and I know he can be so much better.

I've decided to post without reading thru the thread first, so I am almost certain my thoughts have been echoed somewhere above - but here goes:

Morrison, Millar, Ennis - those who many consider the "avant garde" of comicbook writers. Morrison - nonsensical, "high concept" writing. Usually starts with a decent idea and keeps writing until it all falls apart. Millar - seems to take great glee in destroying comicbook icons; not to mention - stylistically (especially regarding dialogue) - NOT a good writer. Ennis - ultraviolence = kewl! Let's see how much I can get away with! Shocking is good!

Bendis - decompression has made current comics what Image made comics of the 1990s - but in reverse. Used to be - a comicbook was a good marriage of pictures and words. The 1990s were all pictures - current comics are mostly dialogue and floating heads.

rant over.