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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 133317
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 1:02pm | IP Logged | 1
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The problem being, how do you fix the totem stuff, the secret identity,
the organic webs, and 9000 other things they did to ruin that character? I
can't believe I;m saying this, but Marvel made the right move. It's dumb,
no doubt, but the result is magnificent.
••
I cannot speak to magnificence, and I do think using Mephisto was a bad,
bad idea -- but I completely agree there are times when a large broom must
be taken hold of, and the cobwebs (appropriate!) must be swept away. If
some heirlooms go with them, that is a pity, but perhaps a fair price to pay.
Using Mephisto plays to the idea that events such as this must surely have
consequences down the line -- as, indeed, would the Shaper of Worlds
version Howard and I considered* -- but it could as easily have been done
with Dr. Strange or even Reed Richards' time machine. That's just the shape
of the Marvel Universe.
*And think! If Howard and I had done it, it would have been YEARS ago, and
Marvel would have had lots of time to  it up again!
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Clint Ludwick
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 April 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 1952
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 1:12pm | IP Logged | 2
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Wow, i just realized, JB's last work at Marvel was mid 2001.....over 7 years ago!
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Bruce Buchanan
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 June 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 4797
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 1:13pm | IP Logged | 3
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At this point, I'm less concerned with the process as much as the end product.
Sure, the Mephisto storyline was bad for a whole laundry list of reasons. But Amazing Spider-Man has moved on - any reader who picks up a book today doesn't have to know one thing about Spider-Man's continuity to enjoy it. And that's the way it should be.
Forget the "How we got here" part. The bottom line is that Peter Parker is once again a single, down-on-his-luck young freelance photographer who fights bad guys, does good deeds and cracks jokes as Spider-Man. The gloom 'n' doom is gone. Instead, we've had 20 issues of fun, easy-to-grasp adventures.
I don't know why Marvel can't (or perhaps won't) replicate this formula with its other books. I wish they would. But in the meantime, I'll at least appreciate having an enjoyable Amazing Spider-Man once again -- which hasn't been the case since JB and Howard Mackie were on the book.
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Bruce Buchanan
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 June 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 4797
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 1:19pm | IP Logged | 4
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Oh, and one part of Mr. Brevoort's post that I would take issue with is the notion that JB's current work is somehow less than fulfilling to him.
I don't presume to speak for JB, but I know that as a long-time fan, I have been more than happy with his recent work at IDW. It's hardly as if JB is on the outside of the comics industry looking in. Quite the opposite, really. As someone pointed out recently, he drew close to 20 new issues in 2008 - how many of today's "hot" artists have that kind of output?
If he goes back to Marvel or DC at some point, then great. If not, I'll continue to enjoy Star Trek and whatever other books JB decides to do. I bet JB is having a great time working on these books - I know I sure enjoy reading them!
Edited by Bruce Buchanan on 17 December 2008 at 1:21pm
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Mike Murray
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 September 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 530
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 1:35pm | IP Logged | 5
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Spider-Man gave the devil exactly what he wanted, without knowing why the devil wanted it. Mephisto won... unless that story isn't over. It's hard to wrap my head around the notion that Spider-Man would hand the devil exactly what he wanted, knowingly giving up not only his wife, but the memories of his stillborn daughter - the only part of Baby May that remained, after all, to let Peter Parker's world know she existed.. all that and it just ends, he allows the devil to warp reality in his name and Mephisto rides off into the sunset having acheived exactly what he wanted... I'm supposed to believe that's the end of the story? A bitter pill to swallow... that's not Stan Lee's Spider-Man.
I haven't read the title since it became clear what an ugly mess the JMS run is, so I'm hardly in a position to criticize the skills of the current writers and artists, I want to make that clear. And I generally find it a bit silly for adults to complain about super-heros that are meant for kids. But in this case, I've actually got kids in mind... I wouldn't want my nephews to read the current Spider-Man, he's an evil lie created by a deal with the devil, selfish scum who did unknown harm by giving evil exactly what it wanted. Until they reboot the entire line, or do a story in which it is revealed that Peter's deal somehow gave Mephisto the power to damn 1,000 souls to hell and he has to undo the deal to make it right... that just ain't Spider-Man.
Anyway, back on topic... while I'd love to see JB back on the Marvel characters some day, I really feel as though almost any deal he made with the today (with the current management) would be destined to end in hard feelings, betrayals, and recriminations. Besides, there's nothing I'd rather see him on than ANGEL right now.
Edited by Mike Murray on 17 December 2008 at 1:37pm
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Greg Reeves
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 06 February 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 1396
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 1:38pm | IP Logged | 6
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I have to confess, JB, that I just don't understand your way of thinking sometimes!
QUOTE:
That is not even remotely true. If you cannot back up your argument with
fact, what is the point of even making it? |
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Are you saying that you don't believe that every member here, to the man or woman, is a fan of your work? Sure, there have been the occasional trolls and flame wars started to rile you or other members up, but you do realize that the vast vast majority of JBFers are here to honor John Byrne's work! How can it not be "remotely true"? Because I don't have poll data?
Blog: person posts thoughts and comments, other people respond.
JBF: John Byrne posts thoughts and comments, other people respond!
Sounds near enough to a blog to me! (That's not meant to diminish the site; but the function of both are the same for the most part).
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Robert Kowalewski II
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4075
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 1:43pm | IP Logged | 7
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I didn't read One More Day. Brand New Day is a really good story though.
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Robert Kowalewski II
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4075
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 1:54pm | IP Logged | 8
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Of course, I dropped Amazing Spider-man after "Sins Past"....
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Paulo Pereira
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 24 April 2006
Posts: 15539
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 2:08pm | IP Logged | 9
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QUOTE:
| Oh, and one part of Mr. Brevoort's post that I would take issue with is
the notion that JB's current work is somehow less than fulfilling to
him. |
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Agreed. It's insulting to both JB and IDW. Brevoort can't not know this.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 133317
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 2:57pm | IP Logged | 10
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Oh, and one part of Mr. Brevoort's post that I would take issue with is the
notion that JB's current work is somehow less than fulfilling to him.
++
Agreed. It's insulting to both JB and IDW. Brevoort can't not know this.
••
Of course he can! I am not working for MARVEL. How can anyone not
working for MARVEL feel in any way fulfilled? After all, this is not in any way
about pride of workmanship, or the sheer joy of working with properties
that have been a major part of my life, nay, my whole identity since I
was 16!!
There is only MARVEL! MARVEL RULZ!!!!
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 133317
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 3:00pm | IP Logged | 11
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Are you saying that you don't believe that every member here, to the man
or woman, is a fan of your work?
••
You did not say that. You said 100% fans of my work. Is anyone here
really that mindless?
Don't alter your point in order to dispute me.
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Wallace Sellars
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 01 May 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 17699
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| Posted: 17 December 2008 at 3:12pm | IP Logged | 12
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This is a forum, right?
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Topic Closed)
