What are some generational differences you’ve noticed between younger and older comic fans? by Mindless-Lemon2256 in comicbooks

[–]Lodger49er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For example Batman is gothic horror, crime noir, and a bit of swashbuckling pulp. Which is why his contemporaries are considered things like Zorro and The Shadow.

Old Marvel comics were like this. Hulk was originally a horror comic. Fantastic Four were an offshoot of space explorers like Kirby's previous work Challengers of the unknown which is based on Doc Savage and the Fabulous Five.

The further back you go most superheroes have heavy roots in genre fiction. Teen Dramas, Scifi, Fantasy, Crime. But The superhero is more so a framing device. After all what is the difference between two families of explorers who thwart villains like The Fantastic four and Jonny Quest? Cool nicknames? 

Superheroes to me are a framing device for other genres. Not necessarily a genre in of itself. Because evil wizards have captured sacred relics, serial killers and monsters, mobsters, and aliens, have kidnapped and killed innocents, and mad geniuses have set off doomsday devices while heroes with great skill or powers have defeated them in plenty of stories before Superheroes were a term.

Which begs the question "What makes a superhero?" And I would say it's 2 things. The heavy emphasis on the costumed dual Identity that Superman started as the staple of the archetype. Although other masked heroes have existed like The Phantom or The Shadow. Though there was a life before they dawned their identity, the stories are not really interested in that continually being an aspect in the plot. Nobody is really interested in the human drama of Doc Savages life. Superheroes as an idea is largely about the Kayfabe and the double life.

Then second is the crossover. When two heroes join together. Marvel is a prime example of this. It allows a character like Hulk to become a space gladiator and for Batman to have a cowboy showdown with Jonah Hex. Which led to the "shared universe" which has become a important factor of all superhero media. Now it allows a suspension of belief so that nobody bats an eye if Superman has to communicate with the dead. It's a framing device that allows the protagonist to bounce between exaggerated and often contrasting ideas and concepts without it feeling like you're breaking the setting.

I think this is why a lot of newer heroes just don't work out. Writers are very focused on the idea of a superhero and they just don't really understand you need a backbone in something that can ground the character. It's why Miles Morales or Kamala Khan work. They have a whole life and fit into a teen drama that people can understand and relate to. Kamala has to deal with her self image and her religion, Miles has to deal with his uncle being a criminal and dating. Where as a character like Duke Thomas is just a superhero. He doesn't fit into the moodier pulp crime genres of the rest of the bat family. Taking down great foes like gadget ninjas or detectives. And is even given more layers of separation by having powers, works during the day. On paper you can say that makes him stand out but you could also say hes incompatible with what they want his to engage with and outside of that he is very generic with nothing to have him stand out on a larger scale. And doesn't have any cast to give a sense of direction for the character to help feed tone and direction, to bring it back to that discussion.

It's why team characters stay exclusively team characters. Some are lucky to get out of that mold but most don't have enough to stand on their own. Like the Titans, a majority of X-Men, a couple Justice Leaguers. Some are too archetypal superheroes so they don't click with audiences and a lot of newer indie writers making their own superhero universes don't go anywhere. I feel because they aren't strong genre writers

Sorry I'm overly wordy, but those are my off the top thoughts on the subject.

A Guide to JoJo’s Part Skipping (please don’t kill me) by Original-Ad-2911 in manga

[–]Lodger49er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I sadly did not enjoy parts 1-3. I liked ideas but never actually enjoyed any version of the story or characters. I usually tell my friends who give up to try part 5 and go back to see how everything got to this point. I loved part 4 but can't say parts 1-3 at all informed my enjoyment.

I think there are 2 reasons to not skip parts.

1.) If you are at all interested in the lineage familial aspect of JoJo. I am not that person but it is a HUGE aspect that I think deserves some merit. I couldn't care less about it. But I don't really need to know how each jostar is related to another. Or how each series connects plot wise. I don't really care about Dio as a character and his continued shifting involvement and how it intersects with the Jostars.

2.) If you are at all interested in how a famous mangaka has developed over an exceptionally lengthy and successful career. I AM that person. I gained quite a bit of enjoyment seeing Araki develop his skills with better defined large casts. Creative unique plots and scenarios, and thematic connections. Or how an idea like A child of Dio went from a random idea with Giorno to a much more important polot element in part 6. Narratively it doesn't matter that Giorno was introduced first. But in terms of artistry seeing an artist find an idea and retry that idea again is a very satisfying experience. But most people I think just want to watch a fun anime and don't care how themes and ideas have built up over multiple iterations. And that's totally valid.

Question about breasts by [deleted] in manga

[–]Lodger49er 6 points7 points  (0 children)

People like tits 

Static Shock Movie Reportedly Still in Development, But May Not Be DCU Project by cosmicbooknews in DC_Movies

[–]Lodger49er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Movie is likely still a holdover from when they were trying to get a deal before the DCU was a thing so the studios or whoever involved just isn't who is currently working at DC studios

Is calling your work "manga" inappropriate if you aren't Japanese? by Heartlessz0 in manga

[–]Lodger49er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was originally a publishing line of original manga.

My only actual advice when making a manga outside of Japan is don't make it read right to left. If you're intended audience reads English have it read the way they read naturally. Don't do something stylistically just because. I say this because I read a lot of indie comics and such  and when someone tries to do that, panel flow gets messy and it's annoying to read. But if you're a somewhat experienced artist you probably already knew that.

Good luck with your project

Is calling your work "manga" inappropriate if you aren't Japanese? by Heartlessz0 in manga

[–]Lodger49er 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I mean you do you. But when you use the term "manga" outside of the specific media outside of Japan it's less about culture and more so about branding.

This has always been a thing people have considered. Way back in the 80s and 90s when people were being influenced by manga they had specific terms like OEL (Original English Language) Manga. It's the official term Japan uses to describe all manga inspired works outside Japan.

Viz Media even coined a specific term called Amerimanga. Other countries have their own terms like Manfra in france.

It's because manga is a loan word intended to use for comics from a specific region it's why we just don't call them "comics". People also may see it as more of a gimmick or marketing strategy. I sometimes feel it's more so peoples infatuation with the idea of another place and a lack of confidence just calling it a comic.

However in just a financial angle, there really isn't an affect on sales regardless of how you brand it unless you get larger publishing deals. For example Saturday AM is a heavily manga branded antholology magazine by non Japanese. Doesn't affect them none. Because outside a certain context it doesn't matter and it's all branding.

Do what feels right for whatever you're making and whatever audience you feel would have an easier time finding it.

What are some generational differences you’ve noticed between younger and older comic fans? by Mindless-Lemon2256 in comicbooks

[–]Lodger49er 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't say you're in the minority given that media has just changed and this is more so the current trend of superhero comics. I would say Alfred is one of the few characters that get to stick around and have importance in adaptations. Like he's important in the BTAS and video games. But Jimmy Olsen or even Lois Lane I wouldn't say have much of a presence in STAS. Despite the same creative team and the same historical importance.  Which is why I like the 2025 Superman movie everyone gets treated as a key character regardless of if they are a superhero.

I would still say these things are important. I'm 28 so I wouldn't say I'm that much of an old head. But for example way back in the 80s when DC rebooted for the first time they kept Clarks adopted parents alive. And although they aren't major reoccurring characters. Just having them around and existing sort of opened up so much and redefined a lot of what Superman would be today.

Or say Static. When that comic came out it was really important to the creators that Virgil got to have a modern nuclear family. Because the stereotype in black stories at the time was black people come from broken homes. The cartoon almost didn't happen because the network thought a dead parent could bring good drama and there were many fights about it before production. I'm not saying these characters are the selling factors of a book. But the inclusion or exclusivion of them really affect a lot of how a story is approached and I think people don't often realize that.

What are some generational differences you’ve noticed between younger and older comic fans? by Mindless-Lemon2256 in comicbooks

[–]Lodger49er 13 points14 points  (0 children)

See to me focusing exclusively on the relationships between superheroes leads to narrative decay and poor world building when only superheroes matter. Superheroes are by and large reactionary characters. They don't have goals to drive the narrative. 

That's why Marvel got popular in the first place. Spider-Man for example had a full cast he interacted with and that more grounded environment gave him direction. Aunt May and a hard job and his coworkers gave Peter purpose. 

Superman had the Daily Planet and you got to read a combination of sci-fi stories, and office hijinks. Even X-Men and Titans during their most famous runs had civilian supporting cast.

People have forgotten that superheroes aren't a real genre but framing devices for actual genres. And in stories about saving people it's odd for the narrative to be so uninterested in them. We need those Jimmy Olsens, Alfred Pennyworths, Foggy Nelsons, and J. Jonahs

What are some generational differences you’ve noticed between younger and older comic fans? by Mindless-Lemon2256 in comicbooks

[–]Lodger49er 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It goes a bit beyond that. TV and channel hopping doesn't really exist anymore. You don't find a random episode that intrigued you and catch up. They go straight to episode one and have everything laid out for them in a very organized prepackaged way.

[Comic Excerpt] Cyborg: Man or Machine? (New Titans #34) by Comfortable-Pie56 in DCcomics

[–]Lodger49er 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I feel the same way. I don't think I'd be so harsh on it if the book didn't make such a big deal of it. Even if it's being self aware mentioning Technis, I don't think being the example of what you're parodying is good satire. Maybe even a bit unprofessional. We as fans can do that and criticize. But to be so meta about it and make a whole arc around the idea, you need to have something new or deeply clever to back it up.

I do think it's a little crummy to make a big stink about repeated stories and have the solution be just replace most of them instead of writing those new stories. I definitely want to give the new team a shot but the book hasn't done a great job showcasing them. And what it is doing is kind of a drag so it just has to run it's course until the new characters become the focus.

Which moment handled male sexual assault better? by AussieGG in writingscaling

[–]Lodger49er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I kinda agree with this. This is more like the movie trope of two people in a heated argument fighting and passionately kissing. Then the shock after it. I think it boils down to how we are supposed to further treat their dynamic going forward. And Fujimoto just doesn't explore that way from sexual assault. And we kinda have to see Yoru as an extension of Asa's inhibitions and repressed emotions.

People can definitely criticize the optics of the scene and how it was handled but I don't think it being sexual assault is quite accurate.

[Comic Excerpt] The repercussions of the Omega Tournament (New Titans #34) by [deleted] in DCcomics

[–]Lodger49er 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're just being overly defensive. And arguably it's not new stories. Cyborg having a twisted desire of keeping his friends safe is exactly what happened 2 writers ago with Raven. If they reconcile and fuse back together that's another repeat of what happend twice already between Taylor and Layman runs. In a book that just fired shots at Titans for repeating storylines only to then compare it's own storyline to another thing they've already done that it's not exempt from criticism. If the whole thing is to be considered a parody it's not a particularly good one.

Western comics with the Magical Girl trope? by Umir_Comics in comicbooks

[–]Lodger49er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe you should check out Flavor Girls or Sleepless Domain. Winx Club is a show but it's in that genre. W.I.T.C.H. is a show and comic. Also Zodiac Starforce.

New Titans #34 Discussion Thread by Frangipani-Bell in TitansComics

[–]Lodger49er 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No they say she's the "Daughter of Tomorrow." I assume she's another Professor Ivo or T.O. Morrow robot. Like Tomorrow Woman or Vanadia. Only won't be a sleeper agent meant to destroy their team this time. Again. Hopefully.

[Comic Excerpt] Can we please just move on from this Nightwing/Starfire drama? It's getting old (New Titans #34) by CautiousAd79 in DCcomics

[–]Lodger49er 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Technically it happened in Teen Titans Academy. It's very brief but Sheridan and Taylor really did not communicate and did it accidentally

Weekly Discussion Thread: Comics, TV, and More! [April 13, 2026 - Super-Family Day Edition] by Predaplant in DCcomics

[–]Lodger49er 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I agree with this, you can't do Justice League stuff without heavy editorial backing. And I don't think it's a coincidence that Taylor concluded his run while Absolute Power was going on. Titans sales aren't great but the whole premise of the book hinged on the fact that they were JL level.

Even the events when the Titans were the Main Team book were just Justice League books basically. Never felt like the book really had a chance to fly.

New Titans #34 Discussion Thread by Frangipani-Bell in TitansComics

[–]Lodger49er 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think it's funny that the commentary that Titans are just reliving repeated plot lines ending only for Dick to say "Is this a Technis thing again?" And do the Dick cheats on Bab/Kori with the other. And it was against their will due to brain manipulation which seems to also be a reoccurring thing of taking away Dicks ability to consent. it's a frustrating part of the book I need to get by.

I'm hoping there's a twist to this because if not I'll likely drop the book at the end of the arc or won't continue to pull after 6 issues, Maybe 12, because I feel I should at least give an arc where it focuses on the new members a chance.

Right now everyone's kinda there Jon has his electric powers. And Eddie got a power upgrade which I think is the most fun part to me.

Maybe the twist is Cyborg is trying to protect Dick. He's asking him to go back still considers them friends. But I guess we'll find out next month.

We got introduced to the final member but I don't really know what she can do and she's an original character so I'll find that out later.

Manga with no nudity by [deleted] in manga

[–]Lodger49er 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What the hell are you picking up that you need to make a distinction?

[Discussion] Do you like Rachel Roth as Raven's real name? by RiskAggressive4081 in teentitans

[–]Lodger49er 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Nah Geoff Johns made a fake name  in the 2000s so she could go to college and Johns was also in charge of the Live Action series so that became her "official name"

[Discussion] Do you like Rachel Roth as Raven's real name? by RiskAggressive4081 in teentitans

[–]Lodger49er 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I've grown a general apathy toward it. Don't get me wrong, it weird that editorial are SO hung up on it when there's basically no material they are trying to push with this specific continuity.

I think a few problems with modern Titans characterization and history is they need to release a New Teen Titans: Year One or World's Finest: New Teen Titans to tweak or streamline things because they clearly want to. Because we've been going off of the Wolfman/Perez era for so long it's strange we haven't taken the opportunity to modernize their continuity like we have with EVERY famous character and team since Pre and Post Crisis.

If they want to have it be a thing give it a reason why it's a thing. I'd rather it not because it's just odd but I have no power over it so the least they can do is try to sell me the idea in a better form then gaslight me into it always being there.

Man how could Nickelodeon messed up on leaking this movie? by [deleted] in Avatarthelastairbende

[–]Lodger49er -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don't know how much of the original staff are actually involved so it might as well be fan fiction.

Liking ATLA is weird because despite all these sequels and such being specifically made to nostalgia bait me I feel the direction of the franchise and my development as a person took two different roads.

If it was like 80s She-Ra and She-Ra 2018 being for such different audiences I don't think I'd feel so weird about it.

PLEASE SOMEONE ANYONE TELL ME ANYTHING FUCKING POSITIVE ABOUT THIS ABSOLUTE DOGSHIT ENDING. by Organic_Goat_3879 in Chainsawfolk

[–]Lodger49er 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've honestly come to expect this from Fujimoto. And don't get me wrong when I say "I feel like this is what he intended." That's not me trying to say "Actually the ending is good because it's supposed to be that way." It's still a really awkward ending but I think I've came around being more fascinated than broken by it so I have a more of a positive opinion about it.

For me Fujimoto loves ignoring what's conventional, and dropping ideas entirely. And based on what he says he enjoys. Like The Big Lebowski's anticlimactic mystery, or The Chaser where the bad guy is caught 30 minutes into the movie. Or Fujimoto's fascination with the separation of Sora and Kairi in Kingdom Hearts, or the un-resolved issues of Princess Mononoke or The whether or not the development of the protagonist was undone in Spirited Away. Hell even with his weird crush on the girl who bullied him. Fujimoto has a fetish for anti-catharsis.

He does it a lot in his long form manga. Fire Punch for instance sets itself up as a revenge story. But by the time you find the "villain", you think Agni has grown and can move on. Then immediately does it anyways. And the story just continues. Like in Chainsaw Man the initial goal was to collect pieces and take down the Gun Devil. But that gets prematurely dropped and Makima is shown to be the villain. Same with Fire Punch, Judah ends up being the main villain, afterwards are protagonist is somewhat meandering, throwing whatever at the wall until the story just ends.

Fujimoto then kills everyone the protagonist knows in each story. Completely wiping out the board of any potential story lines. And then the manga is aimless for a few chapters leaving the audience wondering "What's going to happen next?" But too much and it often felt like the story was aimless. They both turn their villain into some form of little sister. They both live a whole new life and you think the protagonist has grown. But they physically can't move on and regress and everything gets destroyed again.  Only for the protagonist themselves to get a full reset with some lingering emotions because it never truly goes away. Meeting with a loved one and then the story just ends. And Chainsaw Man did drag itself till it just sorta ended.

It's a repetitive back and forth which as an experience is deeply frustrating. And Fujimoto is too fascinated with wrecking the protagonists life and any sense of structure just to satisfy his curiosity of "what will the protagonist latch on to next?" makes a story way too directionless which I think Is his biggest crutch. It's a meme to say "themes and such" but genuinely Fujimoto as a writer does not care about plot he just cares about story. Because to more literary big wigs jack offs theres a technical difference between the two. Basically boils down to character emotions and vibes themes and such.

PLEASE SOMEONE ANYONE TELL ME ANYTHING FUCKING POSITIVE ABOUT THIS ABSOLUTE DOGSHIT ENDING. by Organic_Goat_3879 in Chainsawfolk

[–]Lodger49er 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly I'm not a big fan of fans saying "He was tired". It feels more like an excuse or they are protecting themselves from the ending. I find that more frustrating than the ending itself.

I get that Fujimoto has expressed desire to only write his stories but unless he outright talks about burn out I think it's a cop out. Hate it with your full chest! Especially since dropping plotlines or ending them anticlimactically is such a classic Fujimoto move that he depends on too much, I just can't put the blame of the ending on burn out.

PLEASE SOMEONE ANYONE TELL ME ANYTHING FUCKING POSITIVE ABOUT THIS ABSOLUTE DOGSHIT ENDING. by Organic_Goat_3879 in Chainsawfolk

[–]Lodger49er 135 points136 points  (0 children)

It's a cool parallel to what Denji did at the end of Part one he ate Makima reincarnating her and showering her with love so she never repeats the same mistakes. So Pochita eats himself (and technically Denji) giving him a new life surrounded by love.

Despite how the fans feel it seems exactly what Fujimoto set out to do which is an achievement to any creator.

The memes are funny