JUST STOP! Why Dok Quit Supporting New Comics

Thinking Critical contributor and X-Men historian Dok has been supporting new comics for over 35 years. That's all finished now. Dok explains why he quit supporting new comics recently. A lot of long-time Marvel and DC Comics fans are experiencing the same issues as Dok. Just stop supporting new comics from Marvel and DC Comics.
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[@boytype]

I fully support Docs decision. I agree with almost 100% of everything he said. Hes spot on. Stop supporting people who openly say they hate you and are intentionally trying to ruin our beloved hobby and characters.

[@zemox2534]

@Ryan Wilson That's the same issue I have with people who continue to watch Disney remakes. They complain but they still continue to watch more Disney remakes. They are just encouraging Disney to profit off your Nostalgia

[@nuke7138]

@Ryan Wilson Speak with your wallet.

[@harvey2906]

I've said that in other comments as well. The old stuff is better than what they "produced" now. It's just pathetic. Marvel used to be so innovative and great💪. And DC created the greatest superhero of all times. Superman. Without him there might not be any superhero comics. They threw in the trash. That's not fair. But what is fair in the life? Justice is only available in the Justice League and happy endings only in the cinema.😒

[@GundamWarrior1]

What Dok is saying is how I feel. For me to buy, see, watch, play or read something from the "current year" has to make it worth. Genre entertainment has been so tainted and burnt bridges, I can't make the investment any more. Stuff like The Northman, Wolf Walkers, My Hero Academia, and other new things are getting my attention not the old bastardized IP.

[@TMac-os1hy]

My Hero literally said if you live in a vilage, the countryside, a small town that you are a unintelligent, bigoted, racist. My Hero is a garbage series, read One Piece/JJK/Kaiju/Chainsawman don’t waste your time on Reddit tier garbage.

[@Brandon-jf2dw]

@@TMac-os1hy my hero academ. is truly cringe. Just repackaged Naruto in Tokyo

[@roboexe]

Granted, this KZbin show had huge part in me also pretty much quitting comics. Because I not only have nothing I want to read, but I also have a lot of creators i actively don’t want to give my money. 😬 It’s sad and I miss reading comics, but I use the time to dig up older stuff I had missed and read comics I always put on my „later“-reading-stack.

[@jcaceres516]

Switch to Epic Collections or omnibus. Read the good stuff from before

[@FearMonarch]

Or just start filling in gaps in back issues I started going hard at collecting and wanted to buy everything new i could get my hands on and it quickly dwindled into less and less weekly pickups and i started going for comics i wasnt around for or hadnt heard of before and its so much more rewarding of an experience

[@KO-cp9ws]

@@jcaceres516 This is the the way

[@gorillashop337]

After I read “One more day” I quit ASM the only way I would come back would be go back his own book ASM issue # 801 with Mary Jane as his wife.

[@Mr_E_Nigma]

Love that laugh @ 24:03 😂😂😂 was perfect "Heh-ha. Enjoy unemployment"😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Beautiful

[@rface0]

This is such an unfortunate problem that you'd think would be easy to avoid or prevent yet with every choice the industry keeps making the wrong decisions.

[@r33s3m2]

This 1 is for Dok. I know personally how hard it is to walk away from something I never thought I would, but the comics industry made it clear they don't want me or my money anymore. In two months check how much money you saved not paying ppl to insult you. For me the number was crazy. Congrats and good luck Dok. Wes good vid

[@DeadFool321]

Welcome to the club. We would all love to come back to reading and enjoying comics again but the big two are dead set on not letting that happen. They rather die.

[@chryztfer721]

Thank You Dok!!! My pull box has continued to diminish to only Batman and Daredvil. - Captain America has no spine always questioning America. - Spider-Man is a bipolar whiny bitch. Marry MJ or get rid of the character - Superman is a ruined character that lacks any unique powers since we have dozens of Kryptonians flying around - X-men like Dok said are a bunch of hippy drug pushers on an island. - DC turns every character bi or gay for click bait ruining continuity. Like Dok my disposable income will not fund these these terrible stories by horrible writers that ruin continuity, turn these overpriced books into rom coms, and try to manipulate me into buying events.

[@eddierussell8141]

This is so true with everything you said it sad how our beloved Comics has become in the last few years😢

[@thebatwing2347]

Zeb Wells was good in X-Men with both New Mutants and Hellions.But Spiderman was the worst decision, he destroyed everything Spencer built, although I think it was more editorial and C.B.'s decision. But still the way he did it made me angry.

[@--Sama-]

With those writers there is no future for new comics. I'm drop them some time ago, I was tired of feeling sad and mad about a situation that wasn't going to improve. Having 1% of good content that is connected to a pile of trash isn't worth of it.

[@josepholsen9831]

I’m with Dok except I bailed out earlier. I was getting all the X titles and when they ended them all to start the Jonathan Hickman reboot I thought, as a collector, that this was an opportune time to stop collecting. I was right about Hickman. He was not the messiah we were praying for.

[@deecee784]

Dok is right. Variant covers sales have decreased by well over half in the last six months or so. Store sales have plummeted. Sales at cons have tanked --- some people don't even make their table fees back. And guys doing eBay sales are tired of buying back their own books (for a fee), and are now quitting buying the variants from us. I always had one question about variants that nobody ever wanted to address ..... If they are an expensive niche product within a very small industry, who you gonna find to buy them off you ???

[@danjones6702]

the variant problem happened in the 90's as well not sure why they never learned from that time because variants lose their appeal and value and they over produced books which helped pushed marvel into bankruptcy.

[@ComicBookBob]

This is me at this point now. I just can't handle the unabashed narcissistic and venomous intent of most current day "creators". The complete lack of accountability and just God tier arrogance while they shit on the thing I've loved for literally most of my life is too much. We used to talk on Pontificators about how to save the big 2, but now I can't even discuss it, it's so disheartening.

[@MandatoryReporter2015]

Most of the sales at my local comic shop are collectors that don’t read the comic. The roughly 10 titles I read a month are non-DC/Marvel. Sad…

[@randommcranderson5155]

"we collapsed the tent so there would be room for everyone" and they all froze in the snowstorm

[@Nadafingah]

God, listening to Dok talk about Wildstorm’s glory days was depressing me. Those were damn good times. And he’s right, Wildstorm isn’t Wildstorm if you have Batman showing up. I thought for awhile that Valiant might give us an alternative. But, for people who enjoy the bits and pieces of how an interconnected universe works, good luck!

[@Slitheringpeanut]

Dok's explanation as to why he doesn't find indies appealing is exactly where I stand.

[@SGTDave]

Welcome to the club. I haven't bought a new comic in over a decade and never looked back. Put my $20-30/mo comic budget towards back issues. I've almost completed my Marvel Two-in-one run.

[@sonic31century1]

Marvel Two-in-one is a great comic. Are you also going to buy the two Marvel Feature issues that came just before Marvel Two-in-one?

[@sonic31century1]

Marvel Team-up was great too.

[@SGTDave]

@@sonic31century1 I just have the Defenders issues of Marvel Feature. I would love the Thing/Hulk issue though. I'm a sucker for team up titles. Super-Villain Team-up is another good one, Namor and Dr. Doom.

[@danjones6702]

same quick comics in over 10 years its going on 15 plus years now and never looked back its even worse now for art and writing and pushing politics into them. i did end up buying some of the 70's x-men books tho.

[@cavesofchaos123]

Always worth repeating: Superheroes aren't characters, they are products. You can still find solid work in smaller publishers, out of the superhero genre. Brubaker's Criminal series continues to impress. People get killed, stay dead, and the death means something. What a concept!

[@ZiKoN22]

I agree with the part where like, event after event, tie-in after tie-in, when do you get back to the main story of whatever book you are wanting read? Dark Web, and then soon summer of symbiotes. I'm definitely considering dropping venom.

[@UncensoredScion]

The way the comic industry is run has long since been outdated in terms of the mindset of its staff. Ask yourself this right this second comic fan who is reading this. 'New Person A has been chosen to write Comic Title B in the 4th Quarter of this year.' When that scenario comes up does it make you want to go out and read the book? Likely it doesn't and the reason is simple. You will not trust 'Person A' to not ruin something you care about. The Comics industry has treated itself as being the same as the TV and Film industry and it just doesn't work, you cannot trust that 10 years after you start it that some edgelord or political agitator is going to be there and make it about their personal stupid thing. If this were 20 years ago I'd suggest you all have an absolute solid roadmap out that is not to be shirked at all with solid guides for all stories in any particular series and nothing is meant to change it. These days it's far too late. Solo indie comics is the only way forwards for you now.

[@Burneye31]

Dock’s right ASM has been less than average at best which is a shame as I’ve been reading ASM for so long and I pick it up still out of like loyalty or routine I guess! Dok I’d recommend Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from Boom. Also Venom has been to ambitious imo, fantastic interview Wes 🤘

[@Aging_Casually_Late_Gamer]

I haven't bought a new comic in years now. I started falling off after new 52 showed that it wasn't a actual reboot. And I'm glad I never picked it back up.

[@RollingDodge]

It's crazy that *both* the X-Men and Spider-Man are terrible at the same time. I would be annoyed if I read Spider-Man (I won't cause OMD). Nobody likes or wants to watch a story where their favorite character is hated and cucked by the established love interrest, unless it's someone fetish or something.

[@midnightrider6901]

thank you! i learned my prostrate gland was swollen from the ad in the middle of this video. heres to shrunken prostrates!!

[@edwardsanko6396]

The last time I seriously read X-Men was when Grant Morrison wrote it. I would have continued reading past his story-block, but I became very annoyed when one month after Magneto had a magnificent death, he was brought back to life and the new writer threw out Morrison's work. I attempted to pick the book up a couple of times and then the last was the beginning of Hickman's run. I stopped for the same reason I have never been fully invested in X-Men. I just don't have the finances or willingness to purchase 20+ X-Men monthly related books, 20+ monthly Spider-Man related books and the same for Batman. 20 is an arbitrary number but I'm sure you will understand. I have never forgiven Marvel for destroying Peter Parker's marriage and (Norman Osborne) sent his newborn daughter to the slave trades of Europe while faking her death to the parents. Norman Osborne has to answer for that last sin. Am I the only one that remembers that travesty? I really want to roll back to the 1970's and early 1980's of storytelling in comics.

[@finalmonkey9456]

I'm with you. The Baby May storyline still stings.

[@danielsweet858]

I started reading them in the 50's & EVERY kid read comics. There was something for everyone no matter what their interests. 🙂🎃

[@darksydeiscomics1891]

I disagree wit Dok on Indies. I have read alot of indies and crowdfunding books. Saying that it is a streamlined, etc. books makes me think he hasn't read a lot of Indie's at all. There are some great comics out there

[@haltwhogoesthere47]

Saga came back, radiant black, deadly class ends on Wednesday and others that I haven’t gotten around to show me that indies are king. I read old marvel and dc but indies have been amazing

[@darksydeiscomics1891]

@@haltwhogoesthere47 Right? And that's just a handfull. I enjoyed KYRIE on indiegogo alot, GROKEN, BONDS, the Drive, Perfect 10 and Aaron Lopestri's Wraith of God is fantastic. There are really good quality comics out there. Even Image, Dark Horse, Awa Upshot, Ablaze are pumping out cool comics lately

[@chilesai1117]

@@darksydeiscomics1891 so how long do you think you can keep up reading indie comics.

[@darksydeiscomics1891]

@@chilesai1117What kind of question is that? I buy them as long as i want to

[@ScienceJesus]

the Big 2 gave me a mix of a few things that I've never been able to find in any indies: dozens or hundreds of unique superheroes (power sets run the gamut & have no single point of origin) an interconnected line of books set in the same universe that interact periodically with one another an ongoing narrative. As much as I loved Invincible, it was a steamlined series with only the occasional spin-off mini. The Spawn titles are fine but they're just variants of the same character. I can get 1 or 2 of those items in indies, but I can't get them all. I can get any of those individually from any number of other forms of media.

[@unripetheberrby6283]

Poor Doc 😔 it's good to heard his feelings on this whole thing. Thank you

[@cbamr]

Poor, doc. I know how he feels, yet I still have a little bit of hope that things will get better in the future. Touch wood. Fingers crossed. Amen.

[@evenhartwick4422]

I'm sure things well get better not only is comics going through a phase but all of society is going through a phase right now it won't be like this forever. unfortunately for me personally even if things do get better i think I'm kinda done for good. I'm not even interested in back issues. this generation really did kinda ruin my love for comics. ill always enjoy these characters and ill still tune into a movie or tv show that looks good but i think I'm pretty much done with comic books themselves

[@MrHayabusaSan]

Sadly Marvel doesn't care anymore because they get their money making from their movies and TV shows nowadays. This is why I think they allow all these terrible writers more and more work because it just doesn't matter to them because their primary source of income is no longer the actual source material itself. It's a crying shame. As an X-Men fan I truly am depressed at the state of the books and for anyone who enjoys this Krakoa era...you clearly haven't read or respected anything that came before.

[@scaldwell1982]

The characters don't even act like themselves anymore in the stories. Why waste my time?

[@Darthvegeta8000]

Dok Unfiltered. The Late Night version of 'The Dok is always right show'.

[@gabrielalarcon5462]

You hit on the head, there were so many bad eras and the good eras lasted for the briefest of time. Now I am just collecting random issues from the past but nothing from the last 8 years. I am not even seeing the movies.

[@madbug1965]

I don't blame Dok for quitting new comic books. I have cut back to buying two or three books a week because there are so few good books to read. I have given up on all event books. I just stopped caring...

[@raiderbear1]

Awesome work mate

[@noctisx1830]

Pretty much have given up with new comics, the whole Peter in Tasm thing is ridiculous since The Avengers, F4 (Richards) X-Men have done worse. The storytelling is soulless, characters constantly being regressed or changed for adding politics and most of the writers not knowing nor acknowledges the established history or backstories about the characters. Also biggest bs is mutants can return yet Gwen can only stay for a sec.

[@mattrex8599]

You guys do know there are comics outside of Marvel and DC right?

[@jerimiahwood375]

Welcome to the club. Hey at least Doc gets to choose his exit some of us were forced out when all the local shops near us shut their doors due to lack of sales.

[@randomninja]

I haven't quit buying new comics, but I'm buying less new books than ever. At this point, I only pay for things that I know will be good. Way to much trash out now to spend money sampling things.

[@ElDorado226]

I'm old enough to remember when Stan Lee wrote his Soapbox. IMHO the real problem is that it's hard to keep writing stories for the same character for over 60 years. The Ultimate Universe was a great idea because they could start with a clean slate and retell the original stories with a contemporary spin. I don't expect someone in their 20's and 30's to know about the original Green Goblin stories so why not tell those stories again? At least that way, the personalities of the characters don't have to be abused. Why ruin Peter Parker by changing his personality? Peter Parker is what made fans love Spider-Man.

[@TheUnseenFenianHand]

I can’t co-sign on this one. I agree with most of your videos. But that just felt like an unfocussed rant from Dok to me. Zeb Wells and JRJR Spider-Man for me is exactly the sort of book I enjoyed in the 80s, 90s, 00s. It’s solid superhero stuff with no ideological crap fused to it. Most of the guys I know who have fallen away from most big two comics are loving it, with the exception of the tie-ons and the upcoming event, which is very frustrating. This just feels like a personal taste thing as opposed to a commentary on modern comics. The entire rant on Batman just felt like one big long moan. I’ve not read it as the XMen line is to unwieldy, very uneven, poorly structured and there’s a lot of terrible books attached to it, but Immortal XMen and what Gillen has been doing has been well received generally. I’ll check that out on Marvel Unlimited at some point. Lumping Ben Percy and Keiron Gillen in with Vita Alya and Danny Lore doesn’t seem fair at all. Percy has done a great job on Ghost Rider and his books over at AWA are solid. Gillen has had a pretty good career, probably not a writer I’d single out when there is dozens of crappy writers out there more deserving of criticism.

[@danrend4986]

Bruh, not a good comic fan attitude. even if you only consume X men or Spider Man, blocking yourself to other stuff is kind of dumb. If i wasn't that way I would have never opened a Marvel book for decades. comics are comics and i wander where the heck this tribal mentallity of not accepting comics from other parts of the world, or other creators, came from. it's a moment of change in comics, and we need reraders, and it's rather sad just supportingt the product of publisher that have done nothing good for the industry in decades.

[@OllieByGolly]

I quit buying weekly new comics from Marvel, DC and the independents quite awhile back. The JLA/Avengers drawn by George Perez had happened (a dream crushed byJim Shooter and Dick Giordano in 1983) and Jeff Smith's Bone ended four months later. For the next several years I found myself buying approximately ten comics a week, reading them once, then giving them the bag-n-board treatment... never to be touched again. I kept looking, but, the thrill was gone. Nothing new could compare to those two events from 2004. Fables and Walking Dead came closest. I had a financial hardship in 2015 and regretfully sold my entire collection (except any comics worked on by Perez or John Byrne and the Bone hardcovers). When I got back on my feet, I decided to focus on collecting backs issues of Marvel, DC, Archie, Harvey and Gold Key starting with 1969 (the year I was born) and ending in 1989. Along the way I started adding smaller publishers like Pacific, Eclipse, Dark Horse and Comico. I only had spinner rack comics growing up, so, characters like Cerebus, Jon Sable, Grimjack, Ms. Tree, Flaming Carrot and American Flagg are all "new" to me. It's been a slow process, but, it sure has been FUN! I still read random new comics from pirate sites and keep up with news on the the 'net hoping that something... ANYTHING... new will reignite that spark. If it never happens, I am perfectly happy knowing that I have LOTS of stuff still to explore from two decades worth of comic book publishing!

[@TerryB01]

I quit supporting new comics years ago. All the woke trash isn't worth the trash paper its printed on.

[@blahblahblah6]

Bingo. you'd have to pay me big bux to read that crap.

[@davidwhitehead4985]

Agree with all Doc has said. I stopped collecting comic books in 2015. I had by that point found everything boring. I was spending way to much money on books I wasn't reading, just buying to keep the runs going. And from what I see today, I made the right decision.

[@tommieveazey7224]

Zeb wells? The one that’s a writer for robot chicken? And super mansion?

[@Avarn388]

I understand Dok. The only CB I keep up with now from the big two is Moon Knight. That’s the only decent comic from Marvel. Everything else I’ve found has been meh. And to be honest outside a few indie books I’ve just preferred manga a lot more. It’s very sad to see Marvel and DC go down how they did. And with this golden age of CB media slowly hitting its end the fallout is going to be larger. But I doubt these companies care. They don’t want folks like us. The actual fans who’ve stuck around for decades. And you know what? Cool. There are plenty of good alternatives out there.

[@ScienceJesus]

I’m just gonna put my $ into car parts. I’ll go back to my car building hobby or buying tools.

[@EvandroACruz]

Moon Knight,Daredevil and Amazing Spider-Man are my only interest in Marvel today.

[@Avarn388]

@@ScienceJesus That's perfectly fair and reasonable. Definitely a better investment than modern CBs. :)

[@verlisifiancesatire6344]

I'd recommend Dok get into Geiger, Radiant Black, and Samurai Doggy for indies.

[@brucejackstone7153]

Im starting to feel the same way as Dok too, I mean especially the fact that modern writers and artist at DC is making most of their female characters looks less sexy looking by covering up almost everything including WONDER WOMAN (my main favorite female superhero, with her original blue star Spangled short trunks which is literally part of her leotard armor being covered up by a skirt making her look like Xena a bit) now theyve gone a bit too far covering up Powergirl, Harley Quinn, and probably Zatanna and Starfire too including I mean FEMALE HEROES CAN LOOK SEXY IF THEY WANT and not as being seen as a war crime I mean MARVEL eased up on that a bit on some of their Female characters having their old outfits back She-Hulk got her old leotard back is being is one of them examples but left Captain Marvel fully clothed, but still some comics nowadays due to these bad writers

[@fernandochow2629]

I think uncanny X-Men was written by Scott lobdell in the 90's.

[@lancem6363]

i just flew through a Thor Epic Collection from the early 80's, there has not been an ongoing run in my comic-buying life that I would have kept on with like this stuff. It's rich in lore, it's not in such a damn hurry to shock me, or to get internet buzz, it's fucking great.

[@Flawdakage]

Could you recommend comic books similar to Clive Cussler or Tom Clancy?

[@kevincomstock9338]

I have too. I quit getting new comics well over a year ago and I don't regret it. Now I only buy collectable comics, silver and bronze age.

[@LightningSnake]

Well Wes, you did manage to break Dok before you. Congrats (I guess) I haven't given up entirely, I just stop and read the TPBs before stopping some stories, and combine this with back TPB when applicable

[@YTLawnGnome]

Yes, I quit ASM after the Judgement Day tie in. Not even touching Dark Web. I have dumped all Spider-Man books except Carnage at this point. I still find Ram V's take on that story very interesting.

[@d33rex64]

I loved original WildCATs, this current run by Rosenberg…I’m hoping it picks up cuz so far…

[@farrisward2211]

My steak and potatoes always depended on a good GL title from DC, and other 2nd and 3rd string books. At one point in time I was collecting around 17 monthly titles from DC. I like characters like Hawkman, Captain Atom, the JSA, the Ray, the Freedom Fighters, characters and teams like the Question, Aquaman, Young Justice, Impulse, LoSH, and I've always been a stan for Grifter. There's just not enough out there anymore to really get me excited for the broader DCU. I've never been a big Batman fan, I've read a few decent runs though. I'm occasionally a fan of Superman.

[@misternegative4918]

I feel like most people I see saying they’re quitting new comics are people that will only buy big 2 comics. I still buy them, but I buy like 3 or 4 books a month from Marvel. Indie books are a definite majority that I buy.

[@TheOchoZ]

I've probably purchased less that 100-200 new books since Marvel's Original Sin event. I was becoming wary of the editorial and creative practices at that time, and unfortunately, they got worse. I'd been actively accruing a collection of comic books since the late 80's. I just had to walk away.

[@davidallen8891]

I guess I am quiet quitting new big two stuff. Just looked at last LCS run and it was mostly reprint books from the big two and a few indies.

[@wadewilson7000]

I used to spend at least 150 euros a month on comics, nowadays that’s maybe what I spend every 8 months on old comics. And I mostly buy used trades.

[@nuke7138]

Dok, Look at Hunter Ninja Bear by Chuck Dixon. Or, Wes, tell him about it.

[@lancemartin6782]

Having dropped x-men post hox,pox did they actually verify the triangle with scott,jean, and logan ?

[@RAlanBryan2112]

i cold turkey quit new comic books in Nov of 2014. Prices were going UP UP UP. New events / Reboots drove me nuts and the New f;'ing 52 had me stop buying nearly EVERY DC title without a bat in it. Marvel was shutting down all storylines for a new modern (omg) Secret Wars and I didn't care anymore. I told my local comic shop owner I was done. Do I buy any comics today? Yes... .old stuff. This year I bought the 2 LEGION - 5 Years later Omnibus books. I have 2 Sandman omnibus books. Justice League Silver and Bronze Omnibus books. This week the Miracle Man Omnibus will arrive on Wednesday. So, yes. i am spending $80 and up on these heavy volumes, but they are stories I love and can re-read over and over. Who would read a new 52 book now? I'm 62 and I collected comic books since I was 6 years old. but at age 54.... I had enough with high prices and reboots. by the way, I didn't buy a lot of books in the 1990s because of gimmicks, pouches and EXTREME. Liefeld nearly made me quit then.

[@EvandroACruz]

I'm with Dok, Damian Wayne is one of main reasons of why I cannot stand modern Batman books.Everything that I read with Matt Rosemberg I found boring and weak stuff.I have no faith with the Wildcats in the main DC universe.These characters don't belong there.Amazing Spider-man,Daredevil and Moon Knight are the only comics that I follow today.

[@StratumPress]

I stopped buying new DC/Marvel in the early 2000s mostly for economic and logistical reasons; I was broke and comic book stores weren't anywhere near me anyways. Once the money situation cleared up around 7 years ago, I ducked back into DC/Marvel/Image and was horrified at how bad the product was compared to what I remembered just 15 years prior. I'm buying more comics now than ever, but I'm buying Manga, Bande Desinees, BOOM!, Dynamite, 80s back issues from DC/Marvel and crowdfunded stuff. I feel bad for people who still feel compelled to buy DC/Marvel new.

[@walterhoward5512]

He was a fan of X-Men and Spider-Man, not comic books. That's fair enough, but we need to be honest here and admit that this kind of fan being the focus of the industry for so long is a big part of why comics are in the shape they're in. I know people like to think that the comic companies are trying to drive the old fans away, but if they're trying to do that why are they sticking with the direct market? Why are they constantly handicapping digital? Why are they still releasing floppies? They're not trying to drive them away. DC and Marvel are taking the old fans for granted. They think, because this is what they've seen over and over again, that these old fans will buy anything as long as it has their favorite character in it. We're at the breaking point of this philosophy, but it worked for a couple of decades. I don't care about Marvel and DC, but this is the best era for indie comics that I've ever seen. If the indie publishers could find some way to market their products to places outside of the direct market they would leave the "big 2" in the dust. Probably won't happen, though.

[@canmore0001]

Also gave up a long time ago. Christ the shit's so badly written nowadays i couldn't justify the bandwidth pirating it. I use channels like this and others to check if it's still shit or of it's getting better.

[@tomcruisenukedmyaccount5388]

I agree. Stop feeding the ESG. These companies are doomed.

[@BristolianDave]

Dok speaks truth. Im one of those hanging on by a thread. I still get Spider-Man and daredevil titles. I dropped xmen a while ago. First time in over a decade I’ve not had an x title on my standing order.

[@DJ-Storynexus]

You did it !! you said you would get him to quit. !!! Sometimes getting what you want feels…. 😢. a little empty!

[@briguy_81]

I quit buying American comics in April (except for the Spawn Universe stuff, I’m still an unapologetic Mcfarlane fan boy). I will attest that I am much happier now that I’m not supporting bad comics. I hope the big two get there act together. I’m happy with my Manga and Mcfarlane comics. I get excited about what I’m reading now, which is how it should be.

[@BlerdyQuad92]

I'm still enjoying Marvel, DC, etc. Miles Morales Spider-Man, X Force, Strange Academy, Killadelphia, Magic Order, Jane Foster & The Mighty Thor, etc.

[@lo1bo2]

My new comic buying habit has been very modest for many years. Basically, I just nibble around the edges with fun stuff like DC facsimile editions, Looney Tunes, DC Horror: Sgt Rock, etc. That's fine, because I usually read a couple back issues in bed every night.

[@largefactory]

Hush isn’t very good and the animated adaptation is somehow even worse. Even Jim Lee’s art couldn’t save that thing. I only really know Snyder for his Batman run and I did like a lot of it, there’s a lot of great Batman moments and character moments imo and Black Mirror is one of my favorite Batman stories of all time, easily Snyder’s best work on Batman. End rant.

[@ScienceJesus]

Hush was great other than the changing of the ending because everyone predicted it to be Jason coming back. So they chose to change it & give us a swerve to make Hush’s identity some dude nobody ever heard of before.

[@largefactory]

@@ScienceJesus - that and the story was just Batman fighting his entire rogues gallery. The art was fantastic but how on Earth does Poison Ivy take control of Superman? Does she know he’s Clark Kent? Did she just sneak up on Superman while he’s doing Superman things? How does Hush so easily manage to manipulate life long master criminals? It just felt sloppy and way too convoluted for no reason towards the end and felt way too similar to Long Halloween without the emotional impact or tightly woven plot.

[@kamchikamchi2737]

If I learn something after purchasing a few Spiderman comics after from childhood to collegehood, is that the comics are too diluted and bait and trick. I believe i try to retry marvel comic spiderman during the avenging spiderman comic line (few months before the superior spiderman began) and I was like….. what the fuu*$?!? After few issue, I gave up after if was too much for me. I understand the situation with spiderman comic now (marvel just killed the golden goose before dc could kill there golden goose or bat goose) and wonder if this fall of marvel heroes means that that marvel is accelerating faster to pass dc into their comic getting bankrupt first. This is why I haven’t been in touch with marvel or dc because of so many shenanigans bull$&#% that they been pushing so hard that its like a horrifying mess that the entire place fill with turd and black fungus and molds with a pinch of some random worst virus that’s hard to tell where its coming from. Now I am curious the comic sales of this year now if marvel and dc claimed their sale are doing well. I going for 90% liar liar liar pants on fire. Oh dok….. I recommend One Punch Man manga to help ease the pain.

[@danjones6702]

i quit comics over 15 years ago. it has only gotten worse.

[@Eudaimonia239]

I did the same with superheroe movies and shows, they are so generic , nihilistic and/or woke now. No other option is allowed. I used to watch and dedicate my free time to comics and superheroe content, but after rebirth I was so jaded about the whole thing that decided to let it die. decided to focus on better hobbies, health and my career and I think is the best decision. dont care anymore so the news dont affect me , I just watch SOME youtube channels from time to time because I liked the people making the content.

[@jpasan]

How does Chuck Austen compare to current writers? I haven't read X-Men in 20 years or so

[@ScienceJesus]

Chuck Austen would be an improvement on every writer in that office. And that's a very sad commentary.

[@jpasan]

@@ScienceJesus it does seem like it. My condolences to you, Dok. Witnessing the death of your hobby

[@destro47]

KZbin seems to be deleting comments, not sure what the key words are, so posting again. I dropped all DC/Marvel during June/July because I got to the point where I couldn't financially support either company anymore. It'll send a much stronger message to the publishers if fans support good indie comics and drive those up in sales than dropping out completely. There are some great indie books out there once you shut off Marvel/DC and accept they're dead. Gunslinger, King Spawn, Death Dealer, Nottingham, A Town Called Terror and maybe Vanish(first issue was fantastic).

[@phoenixmight5971]

Thing is too that the vast majority of kids don't have any interest in current comics. They aren't accessible to them and the current comics are too expensive. This strategy of the big 2 is stupid.

[@billymccoy9155]

It used to be that if you didn't like a comic or run, just wait it out. The problem now is that all of them are terrible all the time.

[@maxsantiago6569]

I quit comics for the first time in 2012, the New 52 had a lot to do with it. Bad takes on characters and Marvel also not doing any better and the rising prices were my tipping point. I read everything for free at the library for at least 5 years. Then, I was made aware of the current political situation in comics by Comicsgate and this channel. And even at the worst of times I came back to the hobby just so I could help the stores. Small business are important, and this hobby has given me decades of great stories, I even met tons of lifelong friends to this day. This stores are someone's dream made reality. They also employee people that depend on those sales. And I always loved the comic book industry. But man, they make them difficult to love them at this current state. It's an expensive hobby. When just buying 2 comic books, like say, current Batman, can easily cost you $10, we have a huge problem. And the fact that not only are the stories and sometimes art are not to par, and then the creators themselves are being jackasses continually makes it even more difficult. Not as much fun. So, I'm getting to a point where Dok is. I enjoy anime, manga and reading books. I enjoy some videogames. Maybe its time to support things that bring me happiness and companies that respects their audiences. Maybe its time for comic book stores to adapt to these changes. And maybe its time for the market to truly dictate what survives instead of rewarding 2 brand companies that have sold us out.

[@incubustimelord5947]

Well, the Doktor has given up on DC and Marvel Comics. I'm already there. But I guess unlike him I will try to make the comics that I want to see in the world. Superman is dead. So I will make my own Superman. And I say to the ones who don't like it, come fight me. If anyone thinks I'm wrong, then I challenge you. Change my mind.

[@FearMonarch]

Damn i havent heard it put better "rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic" is the perfect analogy for what the big two seem to be doing with all the bad writers currently.

[@FearMonarch]

Also as absolutely vapid as modern big two comics are, theres still diamonds in the rough like Moon Knight or the limited series that still have fun like Jurassic League or Scooby Batman

[@thetruthishidden6039]

New subscriber here. Love your coverage/content so far. Totally agree. I just want to comment on something I haven't heard anyone talk about yet. It's funny that alot of the titles that are still beloved to many, and were made into movies (not necessarily high quality), were alot of times involved with or directly authored by a very very woke individual. Alan Moore. Has anyone else noticed this? I mean, just recently, he wanted all of his "proceeds" to go to a group that is almost inarguably funneling (stealing) donations to fuel a very very select few (BLM). Has anyone ever covered this?

[@deetee4403]

Dok quit because he is not a comic book fan, he is a middle aged fan with arrested development

[@SonOfEarthLtd]

This is how I feel. Only I didn’t bail on comics. I bailed on Disney animation.

[@feeWAIVER]

The last 3 issues of Xforce have been good, and I'm looking forward to the next.

[@AlejandroRamirez-rx1py]

Glad you finally come to the dark side Dok. What took you so long? I quit modern comics since All New, All Different Marvel and post New 52. All these editors and writers are atrocious. I just stick to reading old issues and anthologies of characters in their glory days. And Manga. Until these people are uprooted out of their position I will no longer support these fanfic characters.

[@EvandroACruz]

N52 ruined DC forever to me.

[@AlejandroRamirez-rx1py]

@@EvandroACruz Yea. Me too. And what they are doing to every character and making it more like a YA Novel really disgust me.

[@EvandroACruz]

@@AlejandroRamirez-rx1py Yes,DC sucks when tries to emulate the Marvel style with your more iconic super-heroes.

[@AlejandroRamirez-rx1py]

@@EvandroACruz Cause they always feel like they need to catch up to them. Never trust in their characters.

[@EvandroACruz]

@@AlejandroRamirez-rx1py Yes,DC should improve your more fantastic premise not try to be like your rival.

[@ryanmay5519]

lol Chuck Austin X-men 🤮. I dropped Marauders vol 2 after issue 3, I have 4 and 5 But blah it’s just bad. The X-men was awesome though this month! Except for Havok, pumped on the cliffhanger though! I wish more Xbooks would end with cliffhangers like that. Immoral and Red are still the best of X.

[@RyogaEchizen]

where's his channel?

[@PeterParker-ff7ub]

companies dont see the money they dont get

[@Krieg8418]

Honestly, I really start questioning people's taste when they say they're enjoying bad comics like this. I've dropped most of the X-Men series, they are just part of a boring, confusing mess. Hellions was honestly the best thing they had going on. It was genuinely great.

[@Krieg8418]

By the way, what's the name of Dok's channel? I really wanna check it out.

[@ernestposey7427]

Worst part is, these are the writers that will influence the next generation of "writers". Therefore, there's no chance of great comics making a comeback.

[@APsychicMonkey]

I hate to see someone get burned out by their favorite hobby, but sometimes the time comes to step away. The Big 2 are not gonna change any time soon, even if they get outsourced to some third party, it will still be the same handful of in-crowd doofuses in charge. I hope Dok can still stay as passionate about comics as ever.

[@Big_Corvo]

X-men Red is not that bad... Or am I biased?

[@Damackism]

Dayum Dok,tell us how you really feel 0_o? Lol. But I feel his pain and I can relate. I go to comic book stores to pick up dollar bin books, manga, back issues, and action figures.

[@stephentheshywarrior2759]

So does that mean no more Dok on the channel?