QUOTE: Ennis - ultraviolence = kewl! Let's see how much I can get away with! Shocking is good!

Suitable for the Preacher and even the Punisher but not for Thor, for example.  Indeed, in VIKINGS, it seemed to be amped up to the point of obnoxiousness.

He's one of my absolute favorites.

But, seeing as how this is all about personal preference, what's to "defend?"

QUOTE: Surprised to see people mention Joe Casey. Have those people read any of his recent Marvel work like Earth's Mightiest Heroes which I thought was great?

This person who mentioned Casey hasn't read those, simply because, by the time they came out, I'd pretty well learned that his work and my tastes just don't intersect.

QUOTE: In my opinion - I don't think it's "suitable", ever to have the violence turned up to 11. A "long view" of a person getting shot - or some off-panel violence is plenty. Less is more and all that. Of course, it's not just comics. Movies like Saw and Hostel use the whole "more is more" philosophy, too.

I actually can't say I disagree with that.  I actually liked PREACHER but it wasn't because of guys' jaws getting shot off.  The violence (and sex, for that matter) depicted in Ennis' books is nothing short of pornographic, which perhaps suggests either a lack of imagination or a unhealthy taste for gore.  Or both.

Bendis, I think I like. I really liked his Daredevil run. The New and or Mighty Avengers...I think the Mighty Avengers is a better book. The New Avengers..not so much. (The break-up issue of Cage and Jessica...took WAY too long.)

I don't get Chris Claremont anymore. I'm totally out of care for his stuff.

Azzarello: I don't get his superhero stories. I say he should stick to the crime/noir stuff. Loveless...more questions than answers. 100 Bullets...that is a fun read even if I have to go back to previous issues....I'm ok with that on this title.

Peter David, I liked some ideas but some of his delivery got TOO preachy and I agree with the poster who said he writes for himself. Which is not a bad thing ... with your OWN character creations.

Jim Starlin: see the Peter David thoughts. What are you doing with The New Gods? OY.

Warren Ellis: I'm good with his stuff but when he shuts it down, he SHUTS IT DOWN. RED had SUCH promise and then he just said 'bah. I'm done.'

Garth Ennis: I agree with a little too OVER the TOP but on Punisher MAX that works well for me. (Punisher is a psychopath, in my eyes, even if he had rubber bullets to stop Spider-Man...and could shoot his web-shooter nozzles off...Frank Castle has problems.)

Jeph Loeb...was his writing the reason that Carlos Pacheco left the Fantastic Four? I really wanna know cause that book was cookin with nitro when he was on it.

Morrison gets the stink palm just for this idea alone:

Kirk, I agree about Azzarello. I dig his non-superhero stuff, but he should keep away from the superhero genre. I could probably add a half dozen more names that qualify for that distinction as well. Not to thread drift but I feel guys like Azzarello, Ennis and Ellis should work on their own titles and not mainstream superhero books. They can tell a good story (subjective I know) but since they can't embrace the nature of the mainstream hero they should keep away from ruining that genre.

We all wish that the industry was stronger. One main reason I wish it were is those guys could make a great living doing the books they prefer. Then writers who really want to do superheroes could make a living at doing that. Then we all could live happily every after. (Being the internet, I know that isn't true.)

Ari, what have you against the man who scripted Blood of the Demon?

QUOTE: Chad - I don't think the romance between Mallah and the Brain was Morrison's idea. I believe that was established a while ago; however - I could be misremembering.

Yes, it was a while ago.  Doom Patrol (2nd series) #34 cover dated July 1990 to be exact. 

Which was written by Grant Morrison. :-)

Loved the Mallah and the Brain romance. Loved it. What don't you like about it, just out of curiousity, Chad?

I don't get Jeph Loeb. Someone said once that its as if he writes very polished fan-fiction, and I agree with that. That said, though, I am really enjoying his Red Hulk storyline and the Fallen Son: Hawkeye and Iron Man issues were really good.

I don't get Pete Milligan. The closest I came to "getting" his work was with X-Force (X-Statix left me cold) and I think that most of my enjoyment on that book came from the lovely art.