Controversial Opinions (For Everything Other Than DC Comics)

[ed2962]

He also really, really likes putting rape into stories. Whether it's anally raping Apollo with a steam shovel or bringing back Alec Holland's long lost wife Linda as an undead snuff porn hooker.

Oh yeah, that's part of him trying to sell his "edginess". In Wanted the main character mentions casually raping and killing a model. In Kick Ass 2 the main bad guy rapes the hero's girlfriend. in Nemesis no one is raped per se, but the main character kidnaps his foe's daughter and gay son and uses the son's uh...material to impregnate the daughter. I don't know if anyone here has read Unfunnies (it's basically a vulgar obscene parody of Saturday Mourning Cartoons), it's heavily implied that one of the characters is a child molester.

Now the comics he does these days are way less shocking than those, probably cuz he's trying to sell them as movie and TV pitches, but yeah...Millar has been know to go to some seedy areas.

[A Small Talent For War]

While the final bit is an interesting premise, the case for the bolded isn't so much about what those people do when in charge, but about how the heroes react to the villain suddenly having the power of legitimacy and testing the hero now that the embodiment of what they oppose runs the society they protect. I don't think those stories work when done to an anti-hero or a group that is always on the outside looking in. The Punisher would operate exactly the same, and the X-Men wouldn't overly notice the difference if Rev. Stryker was suddenly president considering what they have been going through for the last couple of decades.

Yeah, but I think you can imagine what sort of stories would be told if the secret identities of these already powerful villains became even more powerful and popular leaders as presidents. Luthor was president and Osborne was a highly placed government official in Thunderbolts. It's actually something I think DC and Marvel could use in their books as often the characters are too popular in the world of their stories when you know it would be more dramatic if the heroes had to contend with a lot of public fear and distrust. Spider-Man is about the only one who has had to deal with that, but even he's become about as popular in the world of the Marvel heroes as he is a popular character in general.

However, I can't imagine how a story where Bruce Banner became president would play out. Especially a "What If" where he's just known as a brilliant scientist who works for the government and the fact he's The Hulk is still secret. I mean, I can imagine what sort of story would put Deadpool in the White House better than I can Bruce Banner.

[A Small Talent For War]

Oh yeah, that's part of him trying to sell his "edginess". In Wanted the main character mentions casually raping and killing a model. In Kick Ass 2 the main bad guy rapes the hero's girlfriend. in Nemesis no one is raped per se, but the main character kidnaps his foe's daughter and gay son and uses the son's uh...material to impregnate the daughter. I don't know if anyone here has read Unfunnies (it's basically a vulgar obscene parody of Saturday Mourning Cartoons), it's heavily implied that one of the characters is a child molester.

Now the comics he does these days are way less shocking than those, probably cuz he's trying to sell them as movie and TV pitches, but yeah...Millar has been know to go to some seedy areas.

Yeah, it's not quite a Millar book unless there is rape, child abuse and murder. Often all three at the same time.

[Gray Lensman]

Yeah, but I think you can imagine what sort of stories would be told if the secret identities of these already powerful villains became even more powerful and popular leaders as presidents. Luthor was president and Osborne was a highly placed government official in Thunderbolts. It's actually something I think DC and Marvel could use in their books as often the characters are too popular in the world of their stories when you know it would be more dramatic if the heroes had to contend with a lot of public fear and distrust. Spider-Man is about the only one who has had to deal with that, but even he's become about as popular in the world of the Marvel heroes as he is a popular character in general.

However, I can't imagine how a story where Bruce Banner became president would play out. Especially a "What If" where he's just known as a brilliant scientist who works for the government and the fact he's The Hulk is still secret. I mean, I can imagine what sort of story would put Deadpool in the White House better than I can Bruce Banner.

There is a one-shot with Cyclops becoming president but they don't really explore much besides a single incident and an ending of Phoenix Retconus.

And while not a major character, your scenario is the point of the entire comic Ex Machina - although I can't tell you how good it is.

[numberthirty]

My former LCS owners swore by Jenny Sparks - I still pop in there when I go back to visit the area.

I have read Superman: Red Son and can confirm it is very good, although an obviously different take on the character. While not by Millar I also recommend Superman: The Dark Side for a similar premise (what if the spacecraft landed somewhere else - in this case Apokolips) yet still a different take for yet another Elseworlds story.

Straight Talk...

While it was way better than Millar's usual bit, it is worth noting that Secret History Of The Authority: Hawksmoor(Writing Mike Dacosta/Art Fiona Staples) was a whole lot better than the Millar series.

Even better when you try to just put the "Jack Hawksmoor..." component of : Jenny Sparks up against what is largely a solo story in : Hawksmoor.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

The recorder is a great instrument.

Well, this fellow sure enjoyed it!

[WillieMorgan]

I can't stand the snottiness and faux-superiority that can come from the different 'indie' scenes.

'Oh, you like the cape stuff do you? That's nice I guess. I, of course, moved on from that years ago'. GTFO, you're still a nerd for the picture books, however you like to dress it up. Indie comics aren't some sort of 'nobler' pastime.

Similarly, I once decked an indie music fan for trying to lecture me on how 'preposterous' Metal was. I'm not usually violent, and of course doing so gave him the moral high ground, but it sure as hell shut him up. From a certain standpoint he wasn't wrong, Metal CAN be preposterous. I'm just not hearing it from a stuck up wet blanket like him. Basically, anyone that's trying to convince me that the Velvet Underground are a more influential band than, say, Black Sabbath? Don't bother.

[Gray Lensman]

I can't stand the snottiness and faux-superiority that can come from the different 'indie' scenes.

'Oh, you like the cape stuff do you? That's nice I guess. I, of course, moved on from that years ago'. GTFO, you're still a nerd for the picture books, however you like to dress it up. Indie comics aren't some sort of 'nobler' pastime.

Similarly, I once decked an indie music fan for trying to lecture me on how 'preposterous' Metal was. I'm not usually violent, and of course doing so gave him the moral high ground, but it sure as hell shut him up. From a certain standpoint he wasn't wrong, Metal CAN be preposterous. I'm just not hearing it from a stuck up wet blanket like him. Basically, anyone that's trying to convince me that the Velvet Underground are a more influential band than, say, Black Sabbath? Don't bother.

There's a lot of crap in mainstream music (or mainstream ANYTHING, really), but that doesn't mean everything with widespread popularity is crap.

[WillieMorgan]

The recorder is a great instrument.

Quite a few generations of British schoolchildren were forced to learn how to play the instrument at a rudimental level in Music lessons, thereby earning it the hatred and lifelong enmity of many a schoolkid, including myself. When I left school in 1991 I took my recorder out into the back yard and smashed it to pieces, to great personal satisfaction I might add.

For too many English men and women the recorder stirs up vile memories of standing in front of the class in school and humiliating yourself by reciting your homework assignment and sounding like a strangled cat. I'm sure that the recorder can sound wonderful when played professionally and well. As long as it's at least five miles from where I am at any given time.

[WillieMorgan]

There's a lot of crap in mainstream music (or mainstream ANYTHING, really), but that doesn't mean everything with widespread popularity is crap.

That's true certainly but, individual quality of different elements of pop culture aside, there is an almost unbearable superiority complex that comes from indie kids sometimes. Another example of this is the movie 'buff' that despairs at the popularity of the MCU as opposed to his or her favourite 'art house' project and wants the world to know, at length, just how wrong and badly informed they are. Cheers chuck but guess what? Nobody asked you and your opinions aren't even remotely more valid or important than anyone else's.

I don't know about the rest of the world but the UK indie-rock media has been almost insufferably arrogant and pretentious down the decades. It's been great to see the likes of the NME and Melody Maker bite the dust whilst Kerrang! magazine (a long running Metal weekly here in the UK) and the Classic Rock magazines continue to thrive. I haven't personally read Kerrang! in over 25 years but it's still hugely pleasing to see.

[Gray Lensman]

That's true certainly but, individual quality of different elements of pop culture aside, there is an almost unbearable superiority complex that comes from indie kids sometimes. Another example of this is the movie 'buff' that despairs at the popularity of the MCU as opposed to his or her favourite 'art house' project and wants the world to know, at length, just how wrong and badly informed they are. Cheers chuck but guess what? Nobody asked you and your opinions aren't even remotely more valid or important than anyone else's.

I don't know about the rest of the world but the UK indie-rock media has been almost insufferably arrogant and pretentious down the decades. It's been great to see the likes of the NME and Melody Maker bite the dust whilst Kerrang! magazine (a long running Metal weekly here in the UK) and the Classic Rock magazines continue to thrive. I haven't personally read Kerrang! in over 25 years but it's still hugely pleasing to see.

Media can be even more insufferable. One film critic said it is partly because after watching so many that they can often see where things are going before they happen, can point out camera stunts, and dozens more things that normally aren't noticed by the general public who typically see a fraction of the films they do - and then says that they have to guard against the biases it can impart in them. A critic will often like a film that surprises them even if the general public will see it as incomprehensible, or dislike a film that is reasonably well made and entertaining because they have seen something similar too many times before. I imagine music critics have similar traps they can fall into - often resulting in someone who divides everything into 3 categories: Indy, Icons, or Crap.

[DrNewGod]

Media can be even more insufferable. One film critic said it is partly because after watching so many that they can often see where things are going before they happen, can point out camera stunts, and dozens more things that normally aren't noticed by the general public who typically see a fraction of the films they do - and then says that they have to guard against the biases it can impart in them. A critic will often like a film that surprises them even if the general public will see it as incomprehensible, or dislike a film that is reasonably well made and entertaining because they have seen something similar too many times before. I imagine music critics have similar traps they can fall into - often resulting in someone who divides everything into 3 categories: Indy, Icons, or Crap.

I suspect that's true of anyone with deep expertise in a field. Gourmets for example, seem to love foods that I find revolting.

[Jim Kelly]

In elementary school, we had to learn to play the recorder--if we were dunces like me. I recall that from grade 4 to grade 7 we had Music class, yet for all that I learned nothing. I know that the teacher talked about whole notes and half notes and there was one year where we learned the ta-ti-ta method. And I remember blowing on a recorder in an attempt to make something come out of it. But I never could ever play a note of music or read music. Other students could and they didn't have to play the recorder--they could play guitars, pianos, clarinets.

I do like the Second Doctor and I do like the sound of a recorder--but it's wasted on me.

[Obeythemoderators]

The controversy centering on Teen Titans #1 (2014) was completely overblown.

Excuse me sir but this thread is for controversial opinions aside from the ones regarding DC comics.

[Jim Kelly]

I'm thinking about going back to using dots in all my abbreviations--as I learned to do in school. Like, instead of DC, it would be D.C. And instead of USA, it would be U.S.A. I find that abbreviations can get confusing without the dots. For example, IT--absent of context, it's hard to know if that's the title of a movie--IT--or just an abbreviation for information technology.

I really hate the abbreviation OK. To me it should either be O.K. or okay. Even worse is when it's lower case, ok--that looks like it should be pronounced "awk."