Leigh Hunt wrote: There are loads of things coming out right now that I love and I am always hurt when people say that there is nothing for them in the comics world these days. It feels like people are deliberately ignoring all the good stuff and claiming that all modern comics are rubbish.

I'll never understand why one person's personal opinion about what they don't like could ever have this kind of affect on another.  Seriously.  If I said I find no enjoyment in science fiction at all and someone told me that they were personally hurt that I didn't like what they liked, what am I supposed to do with that?  Am I supposed to pretend that I like something just so you don't get your feelers hurt?  Or can we accept that my opinion and your opinion aren't the same, yet mine shouldn't have any affect on how you feel?

I echo Matt's view.  My 3 year old gets excited and yell's " 'Pier-ma' every time Spiderman is anywhere.  He plays with the same type toys I did. I'd say the only thing he does that I didn't is play on a computer, but if they'd been around, I bet I would have too.   The fact is, toys have gotten better at baby-sitting, ugly but true.  Give your kid a hand-held game and it will entrance him for 10 times as long as a comic book.   And the worst part, you have to teach them to read first, oh no! 

I learned enough about science from comics to make me want to learn more.  Comics gave me a huge advantage in reading ability, because Stan, Roy, Chris, John, Roger, or whoever was writing, NEVER assumed I was dumb, they always wrote words I might need to go look up.  The stories told of heroes I actually looked UP to, even the ones with problems. Anyone remember when Wolverine hated the fact he killed, and was ashamed of his rages?  I just don't see that now.  I don't LET my 5 year old read new comics. But I'll hand her my old Avenger's essentials in a heartbeat.  And boy, does she like them, just as much as I still do.

The comics of yesterday really were crammed with stuff. Action, drama, comedy, romance, and sub-plots galore. It takes me (on average) 15-25 minutes to read older comics, whereas most of today's comics can be consumed in 5-10 minutes and are then forgotten.

Yep...and many comic stories of yesterday were only 16 pages long!

As to the art in modern comics, there's no accounting for taste, I suppose. The only thing that looks upgraded to me is the colorization. Most of the pencillers who are competent out there are people who broke in during the 80s.

Stephen,
I enjoy your work. 
I think you have an optimistic view of comics. 
I think that JB is one of your heroes, or else you wouldn't be here. 
It's a great place to come and read snippets of wisdom from the master! 

I've read a few posts by JB in the past few years stating that he loved the Gibbons GN the Originals, a member of what may be called the "old guard", yes, HOWEVER, I do also remember a post of his where he had seen
Steve McNiven's work, and saw good habits and energy, or was it line work?
(I am definitely paraphrasing! it was awhile ago).
He, like many others I know, including myself when I am at work, 
seems to not like repeating himself too much. 
It seems to all have been said, and when he's got something to say,
he says it. Loud & clear.

Keep enjoying your JB, and your own work...
and thanks for opening this thread,
for I may never have seen that Kirby Batman!
Wow!  I am in a state of shock!  Any history on the WHY of that?

And you zealots...
jeez, behave yourselves.
JB's a big boy, and can handle himself.

I love those Kirby Captain America/Falcon stories. For all the crap critics heap on Kirby's writing, I find those books a thrill to read. Especially since this is the first time reading them!