For what it’s worth, I loved Full Circle. I thought it was a blast, at least in part because it ended up being insane because of where Jonathan and Chris started everyone. Plus: Fantastic art.
Tom, if you want to find one comics reviewer with as much insight as moviebob, I'd truly question where you're reading about comics because I'd argue there's plenty out there doing much better work than that. It's just not at your CBRs.
Yeah, if asked I'd have surely said yes to being part of Full Circle, Tom. I love challenge writing.
On the trigger warning thing, I can see your point, but I also don't see James Ellroy books with trigger warnings about how people talked in 1955, so I'm not sure why a comic sold only to adults needs one. Also, I'm not sure trigger warnings don't just increase the stress on the reader, as they wait for the thing they've been warned about. It's like Hitchcock said, about showing the bomb under the table. And there was this interesting article last year: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/what-if-trigger-warnings-dont-work
I'll be honest that I've never been able to stand Harley Quinn as a character so the costume isn't going to make me suddenly start reading anything she stars in. I will admit the harlequin costume as drawn by most artists skeeved me out more than the newer costumes. Now she's one of a bazillion female characters in sleazy costumes and is supposed to be hypersexualized. Before she was drawn hypersexualized in a costume that should never be sexualized and that's what bothered me.
Regarding the marketing to children... I was asked recently what my vision would be if someone gave me the keys to the DCEU media slate for the latest "10 year plan" (granted, this is much easier to answer as an abstract query than actually having skin in the game). My first comment was I would put a fence around Superman, Batman, WW — pretty much any of the core characters from the JL animated show. Creators can go wild with Peacemaker, Swamp Thing, Constantine, Harley, etc etc but there would be no "mission creep" allowed with our big guns being pulled into R-rated content.
As a small kid, my most fervent wish was for a live action Batman movie a la the first two Reeve Superman's. I would have been HEARTBROKEN had the Matt Reeves Batman come out back then, to be told "Sorry, honey, that's only for grownups." That's no knock on the movie itself, only its rating. (The Batman movie I would greenlight in my hypothetical job would be akin to a live action version of BTAS.)
In comics, for something like Black Label, knock yourself out. I just feel those core characters need to be protected for ALL AGES in the mainstream monthlies, TV & movies. Old fashioned? Maybe so. That's not always a negative label.
I'll be honest, Tom. I'm more put off by the use of "dildos" as an insult when in fact dildos are wonderful
For what it’s worth, I loved Full Circle. I thought it was a blast, at least in part because it ended up being insane because of where Jonathan and Chris started everyone. Plus: Fantastic art.
Tom, if you want to find one comics reviewer with as much insight as moviebob, I'd truly question where you're reading about comics because I'd argue there's plenty out there doing much better work than that. It's just not at your CBRs.
Yeah, if asked I'd have surely said yes to being part of Full Circle, Tom. I love challenge writing.
On the trigger warning thing, I can see your point, but I also don't see James Ellroy books with trigger warnings about how people talked in 1955, so I'm not sure why a comic sold only to adults needs one. Also, I'm not sure trigger warnings don't just increase the stress on the reader, as they wait for the thing they've been warned about. It's like Hitchcock said, about showing the bomb under the table. And there was this interesting article last year: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/what-if-trigger-warnings-dont-work
Great post as always, Tom.
I do of course understand that the comic in question is Batman-related, which is why they gave it the trigger warning.
As for the answer to my question I have to say... fair enough!! I also want to second your mention of the Variants, check that out! It's a good one!
Since your next newsletter will come out the night before Halloween, I have two Halloween-related questions.
Do you decorate your house for Halloween? and..
What is the most genuinely scary comic book?
Thanks for another great one Tom!
I'll be honest that I've never been able to stand Harley Quinn as a character so the costume isn't going to make me suddenly start reading anything she stars in. I will admit the harlequin costume as drawn by most artists skeeved me out more than the newer costumes. Now she's one of a bazillion female characters in sleazy costumes and is supposed to be hypersexualized. Before she was drawn hypersexualized in a costume that should never be sexualized and that's what bothered me.
Regarding the marketing to children... I was asked recently what my vision would be if someone gave me the keys to the DCEU media slate for the latest "10 year plan" (granted, this is much easier to answer as an abstract query than actually having skin in the game). My first comment was I would put a fence around Superman, Batman, WW — pretty much any of the core characters from the JL animated show. Creators can go wild with Peacemaker, Swamp Thing, Constantine, Harley, etc etc but there would be no "mission creep" allowed with our big guns being pulled into R-rated content.
As a small kid, my most fervent wish was for a live action Batman movie a la the first two Reeve Superman's. I would have been HEARTBROKEN had the Matt Reeves Batman come out back then, to be told "Sorry, honey, that's only for grownups." That's no knock on the movie itself, only its rating. (The Batman movie I would greenlight in my hypothetical job would be akin to a live action version of BTAS.)
In comics, for something like Black Label, knock yourself out. I just feel those core characters need to be protected for ALL AGES in the mainstream monthlies, TV & movies. Old fashioned? Maybe so. That's not always a negative label.