Your greatest comic book disappointments

[Jace]

What's happened with Ghost Rider the last few years. I'm a huge fan of the character, particularly the 70s Johnny Blaze version. The late 80s/early 90s Dan Ketch was also really good for a while (and made Mark Texeira the definitive Ghost Rider artist), then it got too complicated and wallowed in mediocrity before being cancelled. Then Garth Ennis got a hold of the character and told the same crappy unoriginal story he always tells. Then there was finally a spark of excellence when the new ongoing launched with Daniel Way writing and Mark Texeira back on art, and Johnny Blaze as the title character. For me, this was the best Ghost Rider. A lone biker, haunted by a demon, running into trouble and dealing out vengeance. I thought Daniel Way really nailed what I loved so much about the character. He understood the core biker part, which nobody else has. And Mark Texeira's art is just the absolute perfect fit for the character. Then, Jason Aaron came along and took the book right back to the same overly complicated crap from the 90's with a mix of Garth Ennis's "God is just as bad as Satan" crap thrown in. And things got worse from there.

And now, they've announced a new Ghost Rider. And he drives a car. A freaking car. Ghost Rider driving a freaking car. It's a '69 Dodge Charger, which is awesome, but still, Ghost Rider in a car?

Heath I get the feeling you are an Evil Knievil fan. Remember those bad *SQUEE* toys in the late 70's/Early 80's?

Yes! I love Evel Knievel! Was a huge fan as a kid and had a lot of merchandise. I don't have any of that original stuff, but I do have some replica toys including the stunt motorcycle and launcher.

I had that launcher with the crank, that things was awesome!!!!!

[grendeljd]

Really, the art and character design is really horrible.




Another disappointment I have is Spider-Man. Things were going pretty great until Quesada started interfering with JMS culminating in One More Day and the total continuity screw up of Brand New Day. It was enough to make me stop buying Spider-Man comics and that hurt.

Oh wow, that concept for GR looks terrible! I have to say that the Marvel Now era has been my biggest disappointment in comics overall - I stopped reading anything marvel at that point & have yet to see anything to inspire me to come back... I actually really miss following the Marvel universe too, it was once my favourite.

[obijuan]

The departure of Jim Lee from Uncanny X-Men, Todd McFarlane leaving Spider-Man, the price hikes, Peter making a deal with the devil to save an old lady but could care less about his baby, Superman not wearing his red trunks, the death of Michael Turner, "Battle of the Atom", not collecting The Walking Dead from the beginning, Sentinel, that the Illuminati being pricks and sending the Hulk into space, Legion, the New 52, Marvel Now, point issues(for example 700.1, 700.2), Jim Lee never drawing Wolverine again, Haunt, Gary Frank not drawing Superman, Peter David not writing Incredible Hulk, Marvel and DC not caring about the loyal customer base and caring more about the "new reader",and that's just from the top of my head.

[Jace]

... the death of Michael Turner ...

I'd call that the biggest tragedy, though I am certainly disappointed in the quality of Aspen books since he has been gone.

[slym2none]

The Death (and ensuing return) of Superman.



-slym

[StarBrand]

Some of this crap I didn't know about, like putting Ghost Rider in a car, albeit a 69 Charger.

[Cyberstrike]

Williams and Blackman leaving Batwoman.

The constant editoral interference at DC driving away top notch creators.

The run of Transformers comics from IDW written by Simon Furman.

Marvel cancelling and restarting every comic book.

Everything and everyone in the DCU revolves around Batman.

The Transformers: Heart of Darkness I never want to see DnA near the TFs again.

Vertigo's death sprial.

Late books by big name creators. I mean Peter David had a freaking stroke and he still made all his deadlines on X-Factor and it was a bi-weekly comic as well and yet Neil Gaiman can't write a damn 6 issue mini-series without the second issue being late. And don't get started on Mark Millar and Grant Morrison's excuses.

[lorddunlow]

Williams and Blackman leaving Batwoman.

The constant editoral interference at DC driving away top notch creators.

The run of Transformers comics from IDW written by Simon Furman.

Marvel cancelling and restarting every comic book.

Everything and everyone in the DCU revolves around Batman.

The Transformers: Heart of Darkness I never want to see DnA near the TFs again.

Vertigo's death sprial.

Late books by big name creators. I mean Peter David had a freaking stroke and he still made all his deadlines on X-Factor and it was a bi-weekly comic as well and yet Neil Gaiman can't write a damn 6 issue mini-series without the second issue being late. And don't get started on Mark Millar and Grant Morrison's excuses.

I like your list.

[MarkRoseHFX]

Never really got in to Ghost Rider, that glow in the dark cover was pretty rad. That new design is pretty lame. I'm surprised they aren't keeping him on the bike and making him join a biker gang to try to cash in on some of the Sons of Anarchy popularity.

[chriskay99]

Death of Mike Wieringo. I wasn't into his art for a long time but loved the work he did on Fantastic Four with Mark Waid. I've since come back around to enjoy everything he did. I read the What If? issue he was working on at the time of his death, which they completed with other artists through the Hero Initiative. The back cover to that book just bums me out to no end.

[StarBrand]

Death of Mike Wieringo. I wasn't into his art for a long time but loved the work he did on Fantastic Four with Mark Waid. I've since come back around to enjoy everything he did. I read the What If? issue he was working on at the time of his death, which they completed with other artists through the Hero Initiative. The back cover to that book just bums me out to no end.

Very sad, indeed. Loved his FF work, too, along with his other stuff.

[grendeljd]

Never really got in to Ghost Rider, that glow in the dark cover was pretty rad. That new design is pretty lame. I'm surprised they aren't keeping him on the bike and making him join a biker gang to try to cash in on some of the Sons of Anarchy popularity.

See, Mark Rose gets it... And he's not even a fan.

[Cyberstrike]

Never really got in to Ghost Rider, that glow in the dark cover was pretty rad. That new design is pretty lame. I'm surprised they aren't keeping him on the bike and making him join a biker gang to try to cash in on some of the Sons of Anarchy popularity.

See, Mark Rose gets it... And he's not even a fan.

My GUESS is that Marvel thinks that to attract new readers to Ghost Rider that he shouldn't be on a bike because they think shows like Sons of Anarchy is for old people (ie people who already read their comics) and that younger fans would want a Ghost Rider that rides around in a car Vin Desiel rides in the Fast and Furious films.

That's my guess anyway.

[MarkRoseHFX]

Never really got in to Ghost Rider, that glow in the dark cover was pretty rad. That new design is pretty lame. I'm surprised they aren't keeping him on the bike and making him join a biker gang to try to cash in on some of the Sons of Anarchy popularity.

See, Mark Rose gets it... And he's not even a fan.

My GUESS is that Marvel thinks that to attract new readers to Ghost Rider that he shouldn't be on a bike because they think shows like Sons of Anarchy is for old people (ie people who already read their comics) and that younger fans would want a Ghost Rider that rides around in a car Vin Desiel rides in the Fast and Furious films.

That's my guess anyway.

let's hope he's a better driver than Paul Walker

[myron]

Never really got in to Ghost Rider, that glow in the dark cover was pretty rad. That new design is pretty lame. I'm surprised they aren't keeping him on the bike and making him join a biker gang to try to cash in on some of the Sons of Anarchy popularity.

See, Mark Rose gets it... And he's not even a fan.

My GUESS is that Marvel thinks that to attract new readers to Ghost Rider that he shouldn't be on a bike because they think shows like Sons of Anarchy is for old people (ie people who already read their comics) and that younger fans would want a Ghost Rider that rides around in a car Vin Desiel rides in the Fast and Furious films.

That's my guess anyway.

let's hope he's a better driver than Paul Walker

dude...

[lorddunlow]

Never really got in to Ghost Rider, that glow in the dark cover was pretty rad. That new design is pretty lame. I'm surprised they aren't keeping him on the bike and making him join a biker gang to try to cash in on some of the Sons of Anarchy popularity.

See, Mark Rose gets it... And he's not even a fan.

My GUESS is that Marvel thinks that to attract new readers to Ghost Rider that he shouldn't be on a bike because they think shows like Sons of Anarchy is for old people (ie people who already read their comics) and that younger fans would want a Ghost Rider that rides around in a car Vin Desiel rides in the Fast and Furious films.

That's my guess anyway.

let's hope he's a better driver than Paul Walker

Man, that's almost as bad as KXXX telling the Down syndrome chromosome joke. Definitely a laugh, but I feel all dirty afterwards.

[MarkRoseHFX]

Never really got in to Ghost Rider, that glow in the dark cover was pretty rad. That new design is pretty lame. I'm surprised they aren't keeping him on the bike and making him join a biker gang to try to cash in on some of the Sons of Anarchy popularity.

See, Mark Rose gets it... And he's not even a fan.

My GUESS is that Marvel thinks that to attract new readers to Ghost Rider that he shouldn't be on a bike because they think shows like Sons of Anarchy is for old people (ie people who already read their comics) and that younger fans would want a Ghost Rider that rides around in a car Vin Desiel rides in the Fast and Furious films.

That's my guess anyway.

let's hope he's a better driver than Paul Walker

Man, that's almost as bad as KXXX telling the Down syndrome chromosome joke. Definitely a laugh, but I feel all dirty afterwards.

I do feel bad that the dude passed away...BUT.....he did die because he was an idiot speeding around in his Porsche.

[jedimarley]

Poison Elves relaunch.

[Brother Darque]

Really, the art and character design is really horrible.




Another disappointment I have is Spider-Man. Things were going pretty great until Quesada started interfering with JMS culminating in One More Day and the total continuity screw up of Brand New Day. It was enough to make me stop buying Spider-Man comics and that hurt.

regular Ghost Rider will be in the Thunderbolts.

[chriskay99]

the Poison Elves reboot

Poison Elves relaunch.

Wow, two people said this. I picked up the first issue of the reboot but still haven't bothered to read it. Guess I'm not missing out on anything. I'd kind of lost interest in the series over the years and sold all of the issues I had a few months ago.

[Heath]

Regular Ghost Rider is not a team player.

[Heath]

And am I the only one disappointed in Spider-Man and his continuity boondoggle?

[lorddunlow]

And am I the only one disappointed in Spider-Man and his continuity boondoggle?

I keep hoping they undo it all eventually.

[Chiclo]

Never really got in to Ghost Rider, that glow in the dark cover was pretty rad. That new design is pretty lame. I'm surprised they aren't keeping him on the bike and making him join a biker gang to try to cash in on some of the Sons of Anarchy popularity.

See, Mark Rose gets it... And he's not even a fan.

My GUESS is that Marvel thinks that to attract new readers to Ghost Rider that he shouldn't be on a bike because they think shows like Sons of Anarchy is for old people (ie people who already read their comics) and that younger fans would want a Ghost Rider that rides around in a car Vin Desiel rides in the Fast and Furious films.

That's my guess anyway.

let's hope he's a better driver than Paul Walker

dude...

Too soon?

[Chiclo]

Regular Ghost Rider is not a team player.

As opposed to... Diet Ghost Rider? Almost the whole Thunderbolts team is made up of not team players - Red Hulk, Punisher, Elektra, Deadpool, Flash Thompson Venom, The Leader and Mercy.