What's Actually Good (In Comics)

What's Actually Good (In Comics) #3

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In other news, while Warner Bros. has pulled the Justice League movie due to the writer's strike, it seems Marvel is intent on destroying their movie franchises the old fashioned way if this rumor is in any way correct. Jason Statham as Namor? How is he in any way good for the role? Namor needs to be European looking - that is, sexy. Not like that ... thing. However kudos to Marvel for coming to an agreement with the Writers Guild. Just don't make that movie. Please.

Moving to videogames, it seems that Marvel and EA have jointly broken their agreement. Something about EA not going the in the direction that Marvel wanted or something. The way I see it, the less chance of another game like Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, the better.

Recently, Keith Giffen wrote an interesting little treatise on continuity. He argues that continuity and consistency are different things, and that continuity is actually more rigid and limits creativity and thusly also limits good stories. He is a great writer and his point is well made. Check it out here.

The role of women in comics was recently discussed at an American university, obviously featuring Wonder Woman as a focal point. It's definitely something that bears discussion, and you can't help but think of Gail Simone's website, Women in Refrigerators, where she outlines all the women who have died in Superhero comics in an effort to expose the "damsel in distress" trend. I hope this topic and others are brought up more often in academic circles. The analysis of comic books, specifically Superhero comics, as a literary form is something we need more of. Simone is currently writing Wonder Woman and just finished a long run on Birds of Pray.

Now excuse me while I wrestle with my shell shock and cry a little over the last issue of Y: The Last Man.

Stick around in two weeks, when I discuss the tragic tale of the doomed comic book The Order, as well get overly excited for Bendis' next big Marvel event, Secret Invasion. All that and the usual claptrap! See you then!

What's Actually Good (In Comics) appears in this space every other Thursday. Collect each issue. They will be worth more if kept in plastic.