QUOTE: If you didn't enjoy Ultimate Spider-Man, I'll respect that. The sales are fine without you, and I'm sure there are books on the market that you will enjoy more.

There sure are.  Unfortunately, though, I haven't found a readable Spider-Man book on the market since Untold Tales of Spider-Man.  I do have hopes for Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, but I'll be waiting until #5 to pick it up, as I have no interest in reading JMS's or Hudlin's Spider-Man work, nor in reading only 1/3 of a story (particularly when the 2/3 I'd miss would include the conclusion).

Regarding point B, given what I see as the level of quality of the "Ultimate" books, that's either a pretty backhanded compliment to the "Ultimate" writers or a stinging condemnation of the "mainstream" Marvel writers.  Those you name may certainly qualify as "popular" writers, but we all know that popularity and quality are directly proportional, right?  I mean, your average popular "boy band" or "pop tart" certainly has the quality to back up those sales, right?  ;-)

Personally, I think there's a fifth reason why the continuity baggage may be a non-issue for the "Ultimate" line--within 5 years or less, the line will be defunct.

Regarding point B, given what I see as the level of quality of the "Ultimate" books, that's either a pretty backhanded compliment to the "Ultimate" writers or a stinging condemnation of the "mainstream" Marvel writers.  Those you name may certainly qualify as "popular" writers, but we all know that popularity and quality are directly proportional, right?  I mean, your average popular "boy band" or "pop tart" certainly has the quality to back up those sales, right?  ;-)

Personally, I think there's a fifth reason why the continuity baggage may be a non-issue for the "Ultimate" line--within 5 years or less, the line will be defunct.
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5 years after is inception, the Ultimate line is selling well,  with 2 books in the December 2005 Top Ten. After 87 issues with the same creative team, Ultimate Spider-Man is still in the Top 15. While, I don't believe the Ulimate line will last forever, I don't see the Ultimate line going away in five years.

I have a higher opinion than you of the Ultimate books (I've enjoyed most of them), so Comment B is not meant as a stinging attack on current Marvel books, anymore than saying that the creative teams on DC's "All-Star books" are above-average is an attack on the industry. And I'm willing to say that most popular creators are better than average (I do have a very low opinion of "average.") It's also worth noting that most of the Ultimate creators have been working for the industry for a number of years, a combination of popularity & longevity (which correlates with quality), and those that were new to the industry were critically acclaimed for their earlier work (such as Vaughan.)

I've heard some argue "Well, if you don't like the married adult avatar of the Spider-Totem, read Ultimate Spider-Man!"  The problem with that argument is that I don't want to read about a smug, smirky Peter Parker, Hulk knock-off Green Goblin, Flash Thompson's cronies, etc.  Despite what some apologists try to paint it as, reading USM is hardly like stepping in a time machine and reading some Stan Lee, or even Roger Stern or David Michelinie.
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Should it be? I really don't see books that read like that offering something to distinguish themselves from works by better creators (I loved Lee & Stern's Amazing Spider-Man, Micheline's not so much). There's also the question of how the books by Lee/ Stern/ Michelineaffected you when they first read them, and whether with similar works you'd enjoy the quality of the new work, or the feeling of nostalgia you get from reading what it essentially "more of the same."

QUOTE: 5 years after is inception, the Ultimate line is selling well,  with 2 books in the December 2005 Top Ten. After 87 issues with the same creative team, Ultimate Spider-Man is still in the Top 15. While, I don't believe the Ulimate line will last forever, I don't see the Ultimate line going away in five years.

I say five years because that'll give them a solid decade, at which point it's all but inevitable that, despite any "mandates" or attempt to not reference what's gone before, the issue of continuity "baggage" that the line was ostensibly created to avoid will be irrevocably attached.

QUOTE: I have a higher opinion than you of the Ultimate books

It'd be nearly impossible not to.  ;-)

QUOTE: And I'm willing to say that most popular creators are better than average (I do have a very low opinion of "average.")

Some?  Certainly.

Many?  OK.

Most?  Not so sure.  Possible...not entirely sure about probable.

Without a doubt, popularity and quality can go hand-in-hand, but (sadly) it's entirely possible - and far more common - when they don't.

Of course, when speaking in terms of "quality," we introduce a heaping helping of subjectivity.  And that's a whole 'nother discussion.

QUOTE: It's also worth noting that most of the Ultimate creators have been working for the industry for a number of years, a combination of popularity & longevity (which correlates with quality)

Rob Liefeld's "been working for the industry for a number of years," as well.  Once upon a time, he was one of the most popular contributors (personally, I hesitate to call him a "creator") out there, and, apparently still is popular in some circles.  Does that popularity and longevity also correlate with quality?

QUOTE: Of course Liefeld's a creator, same as JM Straczynski's a creator and Peter David and Erik Larsen and...sorry, it's just one of my pet peeves. You can dislike someone's output, but denying that a particular person has even produced anything always seems really pissy to me and makes me less inclined to take the poster's criticisms of that creator seriously.

My hesitation to refer to him as a "creator" is due to his established and proven track record of plagiarism.  I have a hard time referring to someone who is so clearly and publicly bankrupt creatively as a "creator."

I may dislike the output of someone like Bendis, Erik Larsen or Kevin Smith as strongly as I dislike the output of Liefeld, but I've yet to see them establish such a history as he has, and as such, would still refer to them as "creators."

And no, reading Bendis & Bagley's version of Spider-Man isn't like Lee & Ditko's, Lee and Romita's or Stern and Romita Jr's, but why would it be? Why should it be?

I'm not saying it should be.  I'm just sick of people saying "You want your classic Spider-Man?  That's why they publish Ultimate Spider-Man!" when, in fact, the two are very different beasts.