Geoff Johns vs. Mark Waid

[JackDaw]

These guys are both so meta my brain would explode.

Alan Moore would “win” it for me easily, not least because I think he can write in a much wider range of styles.

[exile001]

Waid. Of course Waid.

While Johns (at DC) has a greater volume of work Waid by far shows better quality.

I think Johns has enormous potential but burned our REALLY quickly. You can see the complete change in attitude, too.

He started as a writer influenced by the past while working to modernise. He'd take the Rogues and recontextualise them as more complex villains that had a code, which covered their previous ineffectiveness and lack of body count.

Then Infinite Crisis happened and almost everything he has written since has been drafted like an unending series of 'event' comics, darker, more violent with shocks and deaths but no clear/satisfying ending to any story because he's already onto the next thing. He'll just drop entire characters and storylines because it doesn't fit the next thing he's doing.

I find his work tedious, poorly plotted and lacking any character or depth. His books remind me of worst aspects of 90's X-Men and he's been doing it for over 15 years.

Mark Waid, on the other hand, has in the last decade proven to be better than ever* at crafting a comic book. He's still writing superheroes in the style of (his) 90's comics, where they are a thing of wonder, good people doing good things because it's the right thing to do, but his plots, ideas and pacing have been updated. I love a lot of his 90's stuff but every run has some really dubious moments (remember when Flash worked for the IRS?).

I don't think the Mark Waid of today is going to set the world on fire with some radical new concept, but he managed to write 3 odd years of a Daredevil book that wasn't misery porn (that's not a knock, I love DD) and is pretty much beloved by all, so that's a testament to his talent if nothing else.

*we'll ignore the Captain America run. That was poorly judged by all involved.

Finally, Waid wrote "The Return of Barry Allen," the single greatest Flash story of all time, and one that explains how Barry Allen was the greatest Flash for his time while also showing why it is now Wally's time.

Johns wrote "Flash Rebirth" a nonsensical pile of shock moments that couldn't even convey why Barry Allen needed to be back from the dead at all. The guy couldn't even save him Mum.

[Johnny Thunders!]

I feel like Geoff John's best work was on the JSA early on, back then I thought he was like Roy Thomas or Gerry Conway. A really skilled, almost nostalgic Superhero creator. I think he lacks something as monumental as Kingdom Come. Granted, Alex Ross is a defining part of that book, even without words that one would be worth reading.

[caj]

I feel like Geoff John's best work was on the JSA early on, back then I thought he was like Roy Thomas or Gerry Conway. A really skilled, almost nostalgic Superhero creator. I think he lacks something as monumental as Kingdom Come. Granted, Alex Ross is a defining part of that book, even without words that one would be worth reading.

And from what I read, the first 15 issues of JSA were actually plotted by James Robinson with help from David Goyer. Johns just wrote the dialogue from Robinson's story.

I don't think Johns took over the book until #16 (again with help from Goyer).

[KC]

Johns. I like a lot of Waid's work but John's Green Lantern and Aquaman runs are still some of my all-time favorites. And his Action Comics stories and Superman origin are great.

Johns' approach of using things from the past is what I want from DC.

[Stick Figure]

I’ve read a few things by Johns & enjoyed them. Waid, I read a some of this Batman & Superman books that’s currently out. It was inoffensive but pretty bland. I guess he’s going for a simpler time where the characters have no layers to their personality. I won’t be buying that again. His DD wasn’t bad though.

[married guy]

Waid. Of course Waid.

While Johns (at DC) has a greater volume of work Waid by far shows better quality.

I think Johns has enormous potential but burned our REALLY quickly. You can see the complete change in attitude, too.

He started as a writer influenced by the past while working to modernise. He'd take the Rogues and recontextualise them as more complex villains that had a code, which covered their previous ineffectiveness and lack of body count.

Then Infinite Crisis happened and almost everything he has written since has been drafted like an unending series of 'event' comics, darker, more violent with shocks and deaths but no clear/satisfying ending to any story because he's already onto the next thing. He'll just drop entire characters and storylines because it doesn't fit the next thing he's doing.

I find his work tedious, poorly plotted and lacking any character or depth. His books remind me of worst aspects of 90's X-Men and he's been doing it for over 15 years.

Mark Waid, on the other hand, has in the last decade proven to be better than ever* at crafting a comic book. He's still writing superheroes in the style of (his) 90's comics, where they are a thing of wonder, good people doing good things because it's the right thing to do, but his plots, ideas and pacing have been updated. I love a lot of his 90's stuff but every run has some really dubious moments (remember when Flash worked for the IRS?).

I don't think the Mark Waid of today is going to set the world on fire with some radical new concept, but he managed to write 3 odd years of a Daredevil book that wasn't misery porn (that's not a knock, I love DD) and is pretty much beloved by all, so that's a testament to his talent if nothing else.

*we'll ignore the Captain America run. That was poorly judged by all involved.

Finally, Waid wrote "The Return of Barry Allen," the single greatest Flash story of all time, and one that explains how Barry Allen was the greatest Flash for his time while also showing why it is now Wally's time.

Johns wrote "Flash Rebirth" a nonsensical pile of shock moments that couldn't even convey why Barry Allen needed to be back from the dead at all. The guy couldn't even save him Mum.

Well said!
100% agree with you.
Flash Rebirth was when Johns lost me as a reader. I really didn't enjoy that book at all.
(And Wally working for the IRS was Messner-Loebs not Waid! Mark Waid relocated Wally to Santa Marta until Major Disaster flooded the place.)