I agree wholeheartedly with the general thrust of this thread.  A hobby which I have enjoyed (and learned a great deal from) for near enough 40 years has been eroded to the point where I hardly buy any new comics at all, and certainly not in continuity titles from the 'big two'.  Why? Well on the one hand it could be argued that a 44 year old man  with a family and the inherent responsibilities therein shouldn't be reading what is supposedly childrens entertainment. Fair point, but comics were always about the fun, escapism and excitment for me, the anticipation of new issues coming out once a month and the sheer wonder of it all, and being pleased and surprised by those new issues.  No spoilers or advanced fluff, just fun.  Then I read interviews with people like Brevoot on the news websites and I really get steamed, because these boneheads just don't get it.  I'd love to read Spider-Man or the FF or the Avengers or Superman, but my versions of these heroes just don't exist anymore.  In a Crisis like levelling, they have disappeared into oblivion. I wish it were different but it seems the PTB are uninterested in hiring the kind of talent required to return to those purer days.  Preferring those 'talents' who think it appropriate that heroes swear, use unnecessary violence and even use sex to tell their stories.  Whatever happened to putting the toys back in the box the way they were found?

Pissed and Angry.  You Betcha.

Perhaps that isn't the most constructive quote, but it helps illustrate how frustrating it is to watch the SuperHeroes we love disintegrate before our eyes.

We must rely on the current regime to shepherd our heroes' lives and we're forced to watch JoeQ destroy it with his hamfists. It doesn't have to be this way and when a comic legend like John Byrne complains, he gets labelled 'bitter'. What the hell is that about?

Thanks for speaking up JB!

JB's comicbook wisdom fits PERFECTLY alongside his comicbook criticisms.
The experience that he applies to the basics are essentially part of the wisdom he's aiming at the sad state of current storytelling.

Besides HIS forum is the perfect place for him to share HIS opinions.

Jodi: "If you have a problem with those in charge of Marvel write them and give them constructive criticism. As I said before, work within Marvel to change their direction by giving us good products to buy.  But railing against them in general terms in an open forum is something that should not happen."

JB didn't mention Marvel once in his post. You are totally doing the red sweater syndrome deal here.

JB you are a public figure unfortunately what you say takes on more meanings and weight. You don't have the luxury of saying whatever you want and it go unnoticed, the negative stuff you say, gets blogs written about it. Is it unfair, yes it is, but it is the nature of the beast.

From what I infer from JB's post, I hardly think having it go "unnoticed" is a wish of his.

What BETTER place to express an honest, heartfelt opinion on the industry in which he works (or, as he put it, has devoted most of his adult life to), than his OWN FORUM? He's not hiding behind any monikers or doing a drive-by comment and run on someone else's board.

Frankly, I'm glad that we are lucky enough to get the genuine, unfiltered Byrne point of view and that he's man enough not to tone it down or censor himself out of fear that something might get taken out of context. Newsflash: ANYTHING someone posts on the Internet, no matter how innocuous they try to make it, can (and will) be taken out of context, warped and/or misrepresented by those that have an agenda to do so. And if he feels like calling out those that do that (again, ON HIS OWN FORUM), more power to him. 

JB's got the guts to to tell it like it he sees it...and frankly, given his status and tenure in the industry, he's better fit to do it than you, me and most anyone else.

Glad JB said what he said. Agree with him all the way.

At this point I don't see Marvel or DC doing this. They
will continue to pander to those that want dumbed down
monthly installments of Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns,
while the greater companies go all out with the far more
important (to them) movies, animated series, video games
and toys.* It's a lost cause, I'm afraid.

As a fan, I just want JB to continue to create quality
comics like he's been doing for IDW and obviously will be
doing with Next Men and Jurassic Park. In the past I've
missed out on quality comics, even some JB ones, because
I was too Marvel and DC minded. There are good comics out
there and there always will be. No matter how bad it gets
in the mainstream.

*I find it interesting and ironic that the heroes we love
still exist, but primarily in other media...which is
aimed at the widest possible audience! Ugh!