Are We OUTDATED and LAME AS HELL?

American creators are in a losing race against manga. What's the reason we can't keep up? Comment sections are sure it's politics. But could it be that young people and casual readers are edgier than we give them credit? Could it be that they want provocative stories with some spice to them?
patrickkindlon...
anothersmashhit at gmail.com
Pick up ANTIOCH, a superhero prison story inspired by 90s anime by Patrick Kindlon, Marco Ferrari, and Jim Campbell: a.co/d/eafhzMz
Pick up STRINGER, a sports/crime/international travel graphic novel by Patrick Kindlon, Paul Tucker, and Wallace Ryan: a.co/d/f8TrEwz
You can order both through your local comic shop: www.comicshopl...

[@llewynfan9382]

Was feeling unsure about this, but then had a flashback to being a teenager and buying CROSSED everytime it came out, which was by all accounts, pretty much successful on the basis of the wood chipper demographic.

[@AnotherSmashHit]

100%. I know retailers who were grateful for CROSSED because it was THE book you could recommend for the guy who wanted to be shocked.

[@zachchapman4831]

Couldn't agree more. I make horror comics and I think in that realm it's a little easier to try to push boundaries. Though, I have had some of my episodes removed from Webtoons, which is super frustrating. Anyways, subbed! Also I broke my elbow and ribs stage diving at Mohawk last year when you were in Austin during Drain's last song. ☠

[@Lukewarm111]

Pat looking angelic

[@AnotherSmashHit]

Clean living. No skincare.

[@zachchapman4831]

When it comes to Big 2 and manga, I think they should test a manga line, where they forfeit ALL continuity. Create a WEEKLY black and white book that's a complete overhaul with more modern sensibilities. Something like shonen jump, but all the chapters/titles take place in the same universe. Superman or whoever should have a tournament arc. Write for tankōbon style trades. Edge up the heroes and rogues galleries. Completely ignore the current market's audience (don't need to cater to traditional western readership).

[@AnotherSmashHit]

I agree, but it would take the fortitude to take a loss up front. Maybe years worth. And I don't know if the managerial class can handle that.

[@gnielse4474]

I think the problem is that they hire people who don't understand the point of these stories is to excite. People would ignore the political aspects if the main purpose was to still excite them. The art is almost always boring. Nothing with any energy. The stories are retreads of old comic stories or retreads of tv shows that were popular at one point. Why would any kid want that? I dont even know if the gore and boobs would help cause if it was drawn by some of the people today it would still bore me to tears. I remember seeing this Kelly Sue Deconnick book called B Planet (censored cause KZbin) and that book was painfully boring to look at. It wasnt bad illustration for an instructional manual but it also didn't excitement for anything in it. So i left it there. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Chainsaw Man has some amazing visuals. The story is pretty silly and makes basically no sense but someone is gonna make a mallet out of their blood, fight a horde of zombies, grow a chainsaw from their head, etc. Steve Ditko comics still have amazing visuals. Especially his creator owned stuff like Static and Mr A. It's not impossible but there needs to be writing talent to imagine the ideas and illustrators to execute. I dont know if there is enough talent in the mainstream for that

[@differentxminds9907]

I believe Tynion recognized this with Jimenez for their Batman run and pumped out a bunch of characters with intentionally modern designs to build interest based on how cool the new characters looked (e.g., Ghost Maker, Punchline, etc.). Unfortunately those characters did not sustain interest outside of their first appearances. I think you're right on the money though. The Big Two are driven by short-term views to make profit and writers are seemingly building stories off of that paradigm. No need to offer anything challenging when the bare minimum is all that's required.

[@AnotherSmashHit]

Big Two creators who have the latitude to create new characters are incentivized to do so, but not in a way I'd consider healthy. If you create the character name and basics of their look, you are due for some money down the line should those characters appear in other media. Nothing wrong with it in theory, but the execution typically results in empty-suit characters with short shelf lives.

[@spongebobsquarepants4576]

100%

[@lg1737]

Have you heard of the comic pim and francine?

[@AnotherSmashHit]

Only by name.

[@mattd8725]

Chainsaw Man is not just profanity, it also has a lot of imagery which verges on the sacred. I would say, if anything, that it is a reminder that if people are craving something holy or pure, then being lectured by some prude who is sold to them as being inherently wise because they are x or y sort of "minority" has less impact than having some total mess of a person just sort of stumbling into something transcendent and not understanding anything.

[@lg1737]

Im reading love and rockets 🚀

[@AnotherSmashHit]

I always mess up which of the Bros does which book, but my favorite from those guys is PALOMAR.

[@RobGuilloryArt]

Could it be that Manga is killing American comics because Manga is just more FUN?

[@alastairchatters4056]

Seems the cool factor of Anime/Manga is primed to be swept away in thr coming years due to increasing mainstream attention in the west. See article titled 'Disney Plus Japan Exec Admits Anime Industry Making “A Shift Toward More Acceptable Expressions” In Order To Appeal To Wider Audiences'

[@AnotherSmashHit]

Yeah, I'll be sad when it happens but also excited to seize the opportunity.