What makes you buy a comic book?

[Mike Kingston]

Just out of curiosity, what is it that makes you pick up a comic book? Is it the writer? Is it the artist? Story Concept? Or some other factor?

Would you read a character that you hated if a favored creator jumped on?

Would you read a great story with bad art? Or a bad story with gorgeous art?

Does cost of the issue make a difference?

What would it take to get you to try a new concept or an indy book?

Please provide examples if you can....

[Gritty]

Just out of curiosity, what is it that makes you pick up a comic book? Is it the writer? Is it the artist? Story Concept? Or some other factor?

Would you read a character that you hated if a favored creator jumped on?

Would you read a great story with bad art? Or a bad story with gorgeous art?

Does cost of the issue make a difference?

What would it take to get you to try a new concept or an indy book?

Please provide examples if you can....

Wow, that covers a lot of ground. I think I've picked up books for all of those reasons at one point or another. Are you interested in just getting me to pick up that 1 book or do you want to know what will keep me coming back for more?

In general , I think it all starts with the cover art. Something well drawn will always get my attention.

Once past that point, for most of my comic reading life, it didn't matter who the artist or writer was, it was the story and concept that kept me turning pages and ultimately turning on friends to the title. An example would be late 60's - early 70's 'Avengers'. I was primarily a DC fan until the one summer down at Pt. Pleasant I went into a drug store and the only comic I hadn't read yet has the issue that re-introduced the Black Panther. Once I read that story I was hooked for over 20 years. Artists and writers, good and bad, came and went and I stuck with it. Batman, same thing. The character just clicked and I've read close to 50 years worth of his run through multiple titles, 80 page Giants, reprints, hard cover books, newspaper strips, trades and graphic novels.

Later in life the artists and writers became more important. I love Neal Adams work and would pick up almost anything he did for the art. His writing - ehhh. Wouldn't give you 2 cents for most of his Continuity Comics work. Didn't like early Joe Kubert, now he's a god! John Buscema - same thing (I liked Sal's work better back then). Todays artists? Couldn't name one (except Alex Ross and he don't count, he's a painter).

Writers: Early Denny O'Neil - gold, later O'Neil - not so much. Early Roy Thomas - loved it, recent Roy - blecccch. Early Claremont X-men - great, later work - no thanks. Geoff Johns, Mark Waid, Kurt Busiak, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, Mark Millar - anything, any time.

Would you read a character that you hated if a favored creator jumped on?
Yes. New writer means a new take on the character. Never really liked the Hulk until Bryne took a stab at it. Suddenly, there's a another book in my pile. Works the other way too. Loved Exiles until Claremont took over. Dropped it that same ish. Ed Brubaker on Cap - wow what a turnaround for that character! The art helps but I would read that book if Don Heck drew it (and I think he did at one point).

Cost of issue is least important to me. Again, it depends on whether it's just a one time thing or if you want me every month. While I only have X number of dollars to spend a week, I'll find a way to get a book I really want.

Indie books - takes some buzz to get me to pick one up. Heard about Love and Rockets through some fan mag, Comics Reader or something, tried it and loved it. I'm a super hero comic reader so it will take some convincing to get me to try something new. I'm not a wrestling fan so I wouldn't normally look at your book BUT through this R&F connection I will keep an eye out for it and give it a try.

[ToLEEdo]

Writer for sure. I pay attention to writer more than the artist. But I'll pick up something if I really like the artist. (BKV) (Artist on Ex-machina doing the Spiderman Reign series)

Covers will get me to.

Yes, If someone takes the reign on a shitty character, I'll definitely check it out.

I can't read a book with shitty art. Also, I can't read something that looks like manga. (there was some X book that had art I just couldn't handle)

Cost doesn't matter.

New indy book...cool cover decent concept also peer reviews i.e. this forum (Kick-Ass)

[JustJon]

I was a character person until the 90s. The Image guys (Liefeld, MacFarlane, etc.) pushed me off superhero books and got me to discover indies, Vertigo, etc. Now, I'm predominantly a writer oriented person (Gaiman, Moore, Millar, etc.) with some variance (Jim Lee was the only 90s guy I liked, love George Perez, etc.), but bad art will kill a good story every time. I could be reading the most brilliant novel ever written, but the art could just blow it up. (Hell, a bad inker could destroy it by ruining the art)

Honestly, I just love a good story, and if a book can deliver that, then I feel my money is not only well spent, but I would consider coming back for more.

[One Dead Fred]

Being an artist myself, bad art is too distracting for me to enjoy a story. But I will wade through one if there isn't anything else.

I always liked the Dave McKean covers for Sandman, but the few times I looked on the inside pages I just couldn't get in to the art. Even though almost every friend I had was digging it. Plus I wasn't up on all my Greek mythology. Maybe I would have been able to deal with the art if the drop off from McKean to whoever wasn't so extreme.

I check out indy comics all the time, but the one with unique styles or just really good art are the ones that draw me in.

[Mike Kingston]

This wasn't necessarily a thread based on my book per se....I just always find it fascinating what people get out of comics as an art form and why people read what they read.

Me personally, I'm a story person. The only time I've bought books for art is if they're really out of the box styles. (ie: David Mack, Jay Ancelato, Ed Risso, and more recently Josh Hagler) I generally don't like cartoony art like Ed McGuiness but I do enjoy Oeming on Powers.

Most importantly for me, its story above all. I enjoy much of the Vertigo line and I'll pretty much give anything Grant Morrison writes just to see how crazy it'll get. I don't necessarily demand action but I do like to see character development in slow points.

Cost is very much an issue when you buy as many comics as I do so I am not so much a reader out of habit anymore, you have to keep me interested. It also makes it very unlikely that I'll read franchise type books again (ie: Spider-man, Superman etc)

[Mike Kingston]

Being an artist myself, bad art is too distracting for me to enjoy a story. But I will wade through one if there isn't anything else.


I was checking out your website and you have some really cool paintings. You should approach Vertigo about being a cover artist. I know they like stuff like that.

[Gvac]

Being an artist myself, bad art is too distracting for me to enjoy a story. But I will wade through one if there isn't anything else.

AMEN!!!

My comic buying days were predominantly as a kid in the 70's, and if one of my favorite comics changed artists I'd stop buying it. Carmine Infantino was the kiss of death to me.

[JustJon]

AMEN!!!

My comic buying days were predominantly as a kid in the 70's, and if one of my favorite comics changed artists I'd stop buying it. Carmine Infantino was the kiss of death to me.

I think that's interesting. Infantino is considered an icon for his books. He had a very expressive style with a little mix of cartooniness that really had a nice action feel to it.

[Thebazile78]

I usually "blame" my brother when I buy comics. He's usually responsible.

He's spot on for most of them, telling me about the art in one or the story in another, asking me if I kept up with this series or that one ... I think I am a sucker for a good story, no matter how bad the art is because my brain fills in the missing pieces of the art if I'm really into the story.

[EliSnow]

Several different things for me. Sometimes, it's the storyline that gets me. I'm a sucker for the big event.

A lot of the times, it's the writer. I'll purchase anything by Ed Brubaker, Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison, BKV, Bendis, and Geoff Johns.

Other times, it's word of mouth. I never would have bought Iron Fist until I heard how great it was.

[PhishHead]

Whatever Eli recommends me I buy.

[Bossanova]

Whatever Eli recommends me I buy.

Where can I get Notre Dame Weekly, you fucking homer?

[PhishHead]

Where can I get Notre Dame Weekly, you fucking homer?

This made me laugh alot.

[Sheeplovr]

Whatever Eli recommends me I buy.

it's true

i've seen him buy