Downtown Rumbles: Sharp's Scotch Bar

[The Dog]

I just thought the image was hilarious. That is the derpiest face I've seen in comics in a while. Top kek meme/emoji/avatar material.

Strange's complete straight face is part of the sell, too, though. Not a bad mug shot of him, either. Might make a good avatar.

Anyway, here's the page I clipped it from: https://i.imgur.com/yrnLRgJ.jpg

To give my opinion on the issue itself, I don't really like it. To be fair, I haven't read the previous issues, so I'm not invested in the story, but even taking that into account:

ART - In review, I'm not really a fan of the art. On the one hand, the rough, almost painting-ish style could very well fit a Dr. Strange story, as it could be used in creative artistic fashion to give a very mystical, even dream-like feel to the scenes. However, there really isn't much of anything mystical happening in the issue. The majority of the comic is just mundane, people sitting around and talking. Strange colors, extremely minimalist backgrounds, weird silhouetting, it's too "artsy" for the scenes being presented.

There are a few stand-alone images that look nice, but mostly, it just reminds me of those cheap tie-in comics of, like, Halo or Silent Hill, where they get an artist that's clearly more artistically expressive and would fit better doing the insert images in a novel or anthology, and the style just doesn't really work in a sequential picture narrative. I mean, this comics art flowed better at it, but it still feels off to me.

WRITING - The dialogue was mostly very bland. Strange's dialogue was fine, pretty bog-standard Strange as the straight man stuff. Zelma was fine. The ghost dog had some funny lines. But Spider-Man... hoo Jebus, Spider-Man was cringey in this. I'm not sure what ditzy 14 year old valley girl stereotype he was channeling, but his dialogue was just painful to read.

The actual story being told was fine, I guess, however mediocre/bad the dialogue was. Spider-Man's parting speech was a nice sentiment. Like, I get what's going on, sure.

But man... comics, man. What happened? They used to be dramatic. Action! Adventure! Shakespearean Pathos! Soap Operatic Love Polygons! Heroic Poses! Spectacular Special Effects! SHOULDER PADS! They used to be done The Marvel Way(tm)! So many of the comics these days just feel like these boiler-plate "kids hanging out", cell phones, sitcom-esque dialogue, punch-line villains, decompression that doesn't even feel like it's for trade anymore, drab schlock.

I read some issues of 1990's New Warriors recently. Holy ****, dudes. I almost forgot they made comics that solid. So much happens in each issue! The characters are compelling! The pacing is tight! A-plots and B-plots and C-plots that all go places! The dialogue is to the point! The villains are threatening! The action is intense! The ham comes with extra cheese! This a team of D-listers and it's better than most of the current mainstream Marvel stuff I've seen.

*sigh*

Butt hey, that's just me.

It's because they're not hiring comic book writers, or even just comic book fans. Most of the time its the first time the writer has had anything to do with comic books was when they were hired.

At best... at best the writer may have done some non-superhero style web comics before getting the job. And I want to say that a large part of the problem is that the writer is putting their personal agenda in the book, but... Let's be honest, that's been a staple of comics for decades. No, the problem isn't that the writer is putting their personal agenda in the book, it's that they're not writing an entertaining and engaging story with likable characters while doing so.

[Sharkerbob]

It's because they're not hiring comic book writers, or even just comic book fans. Most of the time its the first time the writer has had anything to do with comic books was when they were hired.

At best... at best the writer may have done some non-superhero style web comics before getting the job. And I want to say that a large part of the problem is that the writer is putting their personal agenda in the book, but... Let's be honest, that's been a staple of comics for decades. No, the problem isn't that the writer is putting their personal agenda in the book, it's that they're not writing an entertaining and engaging story with likable characters while doing so.

Yeah, I've heard that's the the trend now, hiring YA authors or people more interested in writing television sitcoms, or people from the indy scene who aren't superhero focused. Setting aside the politics issue, which you're right, that stuff's been in comics for ages, it's just kind of baffling. I'm all for making way for fresh talent to come in and even put their own spin on things, but some of these hero comics are just so unheroic feeling. I hear a lot of these people are making pretty low wages off the work, too. Guess maybe this is Marvel's way of downsizing or cutting budgets. It's a real shame. :/

[Guy1]

It's because they're not hiring comic book writers, or even just comic book fans. Most of the time its the first time the writer has had anything to do with comic books was when they were hired.

At best... at best the writer may have done some non-superhero style web comics before getting the job. And I want to say that a large part of the problem is that the writer is putting their personal agenda in the book, but... Let's be honest, that's been a staple of comics for decades. No, the problem isn't that the writer is putting their personal agenda in the book, it's that they're not writing an entertaining and engaging story with likable characters while doing so.

[Dark Soul # 7]

Heh.

That's the kind of nonsense I'd do with my Power Rangers toys when I was a kid.

That's Kimberly's solo book, yes?

[Guy1]

Heh.

That's the kind of nonsense I'd do with my Power Rangers toys when I was a kid.

That's Kimberly's solo book, yes?

Corrrrect! Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink.

[Froggy]

Si I just be in the minority that likes the issue I guess :/

As a way to cap off a rough period in strange’s life (death of magic, mephisto’s casino, Loki, losing Wong, etc.) it was fun to me and while not everybody likes the goofy spidey I always take it as being how peter operates differently as Spider-Man. He lets stuff flow out and isn’t always serious. Some writers are more subdued with it and others over the top, but all in all the same expressiveness.

[bruceleegreyhulk]

[master of read]

wanna say thanks to kingofpie, arbiter and iron for popping into my stream. was really nice to see some familiar faces watch me butt stomped in mario tennis.

[Crunkula]

Called out in the sense that this slightly goofy face that is appropriate for the story and, on a technical level, perfectly fine should not be as goofy?

How in gods name is that supposed to be goofy? The artist made Peter look like he's suffering a massive stroke, and or have down syndrome. Maybe the guy should've look up what a goofy expression before putting trash art in publication.

Quality control doesn't cover "this face is a bit goofy in this one panel," quality control is making sure that the comic is done and is readable. The minutiae of "this looks a bit goofy," isn't going to be covered by any comic publishing house on Marvel's scale.

No, it covers that the comic looks like a professional did it. Not some half-assed art project from Deviant Art

Again, this is really not that bad. The 90s with their hyper-stylised ultra masculine body types were much more pervasive and much worse on a technical standpoint.

What are you even calling out here?

https://imgur.com/yrnLRgJ


I think this entire page mite give your statement a run for it's money.

Woof.

Just. Fucking. Woof.

[master of read]

i personally don't mind it. better than some of the art for the first civil war event comic.

[Froggy]

Watching a slew of Netflix flicks
The weekend, miss India America and now dismissed with Cole sprouse

[Sub-Zero MKA]

Peter's face looks so freaking stupid :/

[Iron_Twister]

wanna say thanks to kingofpie, arbiter and iron for popping into my stream. was really nice to see some familiar faces watch me butt stomped in mario tennis.

Hey, anything for a friend.

...I just wish I didn't have a shift that time though 6 hours of running a fitting room was kinda worth those hours.

[The Dog]

Pokemon ideas that never saw the light of day:

[Dark Soul # 7]

i personally don't mind it. better than some of the art for the first civil war event comic.

It really isn't.

Like I get what the artist is going for, but the execution didn't quite land and Peter just looks really warped.

Civil War on the other hand has great art for its entire run. Say what you want about the story, but Steve McNiven nailed the art.

Pokemon ideas that never saw the light of day:

Is that a fire seal?

I demand that we get that fire seal in an upcoming game.