The best combo work of Hickman and Yu was the Original Sin story in Avengers. I want that Yu back.
The best combo work of Hickman and Yu was the Original Sin story in Avengers. I want that Yu back.
"Cable was right!"
The big difference between Claremont and Hickman, though, is that one actually seems to put heart into the characters and, thus, makes them feel distinct.
Claremont is great at dialogue: he had big plans and big ideas, but he was able to properly channel them through character focussed narratives, rather than data pages. He told us what we needed to know through the mouths of the characters, had them reflect and with differing points of view between each. Kitty could often be on the opposite line of thinking to Logan, who in turn might have been that to Scott, but each had a point to make and each were allowed the time to actually lay it out for us.
And not just lay it out; it was introspective, it was challenged, it wasn't treated as 100% right or wrong either way and, as such, you developed a much more personal investment into how it all played into the overall narrative. That's why we love Magneto so much, not because he's 'evil,' but because you could understand just why he was doing what he was doing and where it was coming from exactly--you didn't always agree with how far he took it, mind! But you understood.
Hickman, in my opinion, doesn't have that approach. He has big ideas, but he doesn't treat it in the same manner; the characters are mouth-pieces for that, just the plot. There's no nuance of emotion, no actual reflection or introspection on what they're doing or what's going on. They're just like dolls being moved about the page: Scott's here and says this, Emma says this, Jean says this. Everyone's here, but there's no chemistry of any sorts between them, meaning the dialogue doesn't flow particularly naturally and, as such, the whole plot can be easily dismissed.
If the characters aren't engaged in what they're doing then why should I, as a reader be, ya know?
Last edited by Domino_Dare-Doll; 12-05-2019 at 11:21 AM.
I’ve been rereading Hickman’s Marvel stuff since he was announced to be taking over All things X and I see a lot of parallels to what he’s doing here. All of his early FF and Avengers stuff includes random world building stories early on. The pay off comes near the middle and end of the arcs he’s planned. His FF run, death of Johnny Storm and the return of Johnny Storm was beautifully set up and written. Full of great character moments and character interactions. If he’s even close to that here, I’m on board until he stops. It’s only three issues in, I think we’re in for some great things.
Fair enough, but the main problem I'm having here is that these initial adventures aren't remotely fun, engaging or...anything. (In my opinion, not out to pick a fight here.) I don't fault him if that's his preferred structure/style but like...doesn't make it immune to criticism. Nor does guarantee success just based on past work! Look at Claremont and how bad his newer stuff was compared to the old!
The same criticisms I read here are the same ones I read on this very same board during his Avengers run eg(characterization, too much decompression etc). It literally feels like I'm in 2015-2016 when I read the comments here. I agree, that the payoff comes in the middle/end of the arc. Granted I didn't read his FF run, but during Avengers, BOOM, he hits you with a left hook and your'e on canvas wondering WTF just happened.
Wow, thanks everyone. For all the opinions and insight without putting anyone else's opinions down. Personally, after reading some of the reviews for X-Men #3, I wasn't too excited to read it. My best friend, who is actually on here as well, said he hated it. But I read it and it was one of the more enjoyable issues I've read of DoX. Such a new and different concept. It's like Poison Ivy + The Golden Girls and I was all for it. Yu's art actually worked better here too.
But yes. I'm not saying Hickman's run is perfect, but I do think he deserves a lot of credit for all the good he is doing. Which definitely overshadows the negatives, at least for me. Domino, I get your post. I totally understand what you're saying and agree that Claremont has the upper hand in that sense.
I also wonder if Hickman has a disadvantage because there are SO many toys in the sandbox and he has to balance them all out. Whereas Claremont had full control over what he was doing, there was only one book back then, and, while still having a lot of characters, there were still overall a less amount of characters than there are now.
“Have courage and be kind. Where there is kindness there is goodness, and where there is goodness there is magic.” ― Cinderella
Let your wallet talk.
Never forget, Cyke fans~ https://twitter.com/i/status/1246248602768486402
Jean had more presence in death than Cyke in Hickman's entire run.
Hickman succeeded where 2010s Marvel didn't: make the X-Men villainous and irrelevant.
Hilariously, the X-Men have now fully embraced mutant supremacy and racism against humans.
For other Cyke-centered stories by a Cyclops fan: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1008144...ffle-or-Boogie
Why are some of you still trying to compare HiX-Man with Claremont?
Not the same writers.
Not the same skill-sets.
Not the same intents.
Not the same eras.
Not the same X-Editorial Office.
Lord Ewing *Praise His name! Uplift Him in song!* Your divine works will be remembered and glorified in worship for all eternity. Amen!
I can kind of understand it but i feel Hickman has the harder job and is doing a good job. Claremont had two decades to create amazing material writers used for decades going forward. I feel Hickan and co right now are trying to create potential decades of future new material for the x-men right now in just under a year. It's a big task and i think they are doing amazing so far just from the grand idea standpoint of it imo.
Don't let anyone else hold the candle that lights the way to your future because only you can sustain the flame.
Number of People on my ignore list: 0
#conceptualthinking ^_^
#ByeMarvEN
Into the breach.
https://www.instagram.com/jartist27/
I agree. Completely.
The "X-chips" are stacked pretty much against H and Co. by having to use long-pre-established characters and why I can understand and appreciate a desire change to a new game and go in a new direction.
It's been only three issues as per D0X plus the 12-issue introduction that was HoX/PoX...I'm giving HCo. kudos for not trying to re-create the "Claremont Magic" and do what the X-fans expected.
Last edited by Devaishwarya; 12-06-2019 at 08:59 AM.
Lord Ewing *Praise His name! Uplift Him in song!* Your divine works will be remembered and glorified in worship for all eternity. Amen!
It's more a comparison of quality than any of that. Claremont might have had decades to work with, but he knew how to engage the reader as far as making us feel for the characters he introduced; we were invested enough in that to stick around to watch the world build around them. not the same execution here so it's coming off a little stale for some. Opinion.
Like; Ok, nobody's reacting to anything it feels like...why do you want me to care, Hickman? Show me from their mouths, not a data page. Like, not in a broader context or meta commentary anything; from him, as an author, for this story.
In fact, it was the meta commentaries that turned me off of Claremont's later writing: X-Men forever was a complete mess because of that and he fell into much the same pitfalls as I'm criticising Hickman for, so ya know.
Last edited by Domino_Dare-Doll; 12-06-2019 at 10:15 AM.
Being very familiar with HiX-Man's previous works, I think the quality is as expected...but that's me comparing it to his previous works and not to that of other, previous X-writers.
As a reader (since the 80's) who's been enjoying the DoX books...I am fully engaged. I am fully entertained. I feel for these characters and I remain fully invested in the stories HCo. is bringing to the table...because they are NOT the same types of stories/characters I became familiar (and eventually bored) with from decades of complacent, stale and rehashed storytelling. I am being forced to see these characters in a different light and I'm very happy with that.
(Not) Taking those 'differences' I listed into account...the general arguments, against this new status-quo in general and HiX-Man specifically, I've read throughout these threads since HoX/PoX started, come down to two basics and obviously personal truths (in lieu of: "The story is crap. The writing is bad. The art is trash")
1: These are not My X-Men/the X-Men I know/The (insert single character here) I love.
2: These are not the kinds of stories involving My X-Men, I want to read.
Some readers just cannot come to terms with those truths or with the idea that they have to now alter their personal visions and expectations of these stories and characters.
And when looked at from that perspective, the fault(s) does not lie with the creatives.
Last edited by Devaishwarya; 12-06-2019 at 11:13 AM.
Lord Ewing *Praise His name! Uplift Him in song!* Your divine works will be remembered and glorified in worship for all eternity. Amen!