Older vs Recent Comics - What do you prefer?

Avatar image for lrtaylor02
lrtaylor02

32

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#1  Edited By lrtaylor02

Recently I finished reading Iron Fist Vol. 1. And one of the things I noticed is that for the majority of the comics, he's is fighting someone. At first I kept thinking of how I would also like to also see what is going on in his life. But then I also noticed that there's actually a decent amount of development in his relationships and life that is shown despite the focus on fighting. And one can see the development of who Danny is as a person and a hero with each subsequent issue, which I think shows the brilliance of the comics and the storytelling. So much story that is not shown in the panels but you can still grasp and follow it. This got me thinking of how I remember reading that someone said comics nowadays are like soap operas, because there is so much drama between characters. And from what I've seen from more recent comics, I get that perspective. Though there are a lot of more recent comics I enjoy. So I am curious about what other people think about older comics versus newer ones and what people prefer to read. I'd have to say my favorite era of comics is the Bronze Age.

Also, if anyone can recommend any recent comics that captures the spirit of bronze age comics, that would be appreciated!

Avatar image for twentyfive
Twentyfive

3057

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I love older comics because that is what I grew up on and comics should always stay the way they were in the past, and anything that deviates from such would just absolutely ruin my entire life and everything that I hold dear. New comics should just stay away. People who bring new concepts to the table should all be fire. These changes affect people in the real world. Blah blah blah. By now you can tell I was being sarcastic.

The quality of comics improves with time, and they will just keep getting better and better.

Try giving Mark Waid's Daredevil run a try.

Avatar image for marionettegeist
Marionettegeist

1936

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Every age has its shares of good and bad. That said I do find myself reading a lot of older stuff more often. If you think about it though, comics have been around for a while. When we look back we tend to pick out the good, and ignore the bad. Since more comics have existed in the past then are now currently being released (duh), there have been more good comics (and bad as well) in past ages which makes it seem like older comics in general were better.

Avatar image for princearagorn1
PrinceAragorn1

31807

Forum Posts

53

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#4  Edited By PrinceAragorn1

Recent. Better art.

Avatar image for 2chimcha3
2chimcha3

2303

Forum Posts

817

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Generally I enjoy recent comics because it has a lot less unnecessary text. They aren't so packed with words. I enjoy the actual stories from all ages though.

Avatar image for marco_kidd
Marco_Kidd

405

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Recent, i can't get past the crappy art for older books.

Avatar image for deactivated-5c901e667a76c
deactivated-5c901e667a76c

36557

Forum Posts

10681

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

#7  Edited By deactivated-5c901e667a76c  Moderator

Newer books have better art, but older books (at least from Marvel and DC) have better writing.

I value writing more than art.

Avatar image for wolverine008
Wolverine008

51027

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

I enjoy stories from all ages.

Avatar image for bruxae
Bruxae

18147

Forum Posts

11098

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Avatar image for spinningbirdcake
spinningbirdcake

1432

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I agree with the art argument, even though Jack Kirby is one of my favorite artists.

Avatar image for attatje
attatje

1384

Forum Posts

172

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

I prefer modern art but I think the writing equals each other.

Avatar image for granitesoldier
GraniteSoldier

12746

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 42

User Lists: 0

#12  Edited By GraniteSoldier

I prefer the more modern art styles (for the most part) but the stories tend to be good from both eras. Sometimes new stuff tries to hard to be "dark and gritty" to the point it feels cliché.

Avatar image for queso6p4
Queso6p4

1557

Forum Posts

3046

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 42

User Lists: 21

Good question. Personally, I find older stories more appealing as you got more story for your buck. They also seemed more creative in that they "went for it" and would try out some wacky story things. That being said, older issues had the benefit of having taken place earlier in the characters' history/canon so they were less burdened down by readers' expectations. That being said, there's obviously a lot of well-written stuff out there now too. As far as art's concerned I do prefer today's over that of older issues.

Avatar image for human_rocket
HumanRocket

11233

Forum Posts

3996

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 1

Past comcis = better stories

Recent comics = better artwork

Avatar image for silverpool
SilverPool

4562

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Recent. Better art.

This is pretty much what it comes down to for me as well.

Avatar image for blacklegraph
BlackLegRaph

5544

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

A mix of story and art. So I'd say the middle (80s-90s).

Avatar image for ace20xd6
ace20xd6

273

Forum Posts

26

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#17  Edited By ace20xd6

I prefer just good comics in general and the majority of the really old comics I like are Will Eisner's Spirit. Plus comics like Watchmen & Batman Year One are already over twenty years old.

Avatar image for the_tree
the_tree

8456

Forum Posts

28513

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 14

Recent. I feel the stories are more relevant to me and more entertaining as a result. I prefer the style of modern art over past, and when I read old comics the colors are usually faded. Older comics are also a lot more wordy, needlessly so. I don't need an inner monologue about how you're going to punch the villain in the face, just punch the villain in the face.

Avatar image for extremis
Extremis

3794

Forum Posts

145

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 19

User Lists: 55

#19  Edited By Extremis

Recent. Better art.

This... sort of.

The colors used in comics these days are infinitely better than they were so it definitely results in better overall quality. Not that I'm seeing anyone say this specifically, but it doesn't necessarily mean the artists themselves are better. I think there's plenty of bad art out there today that is seen as good or mediocre just because the coloring these days is so good and people can't tell the difference. But a polished turd is still a turd at the end of the day.

Avatar image for doom_doom_doom
DoomDoomDoom

4405

Forum Posts

33212

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 10

Can't really say I enjoy one more than the other. It just depends on the comic.

Avatar image for cap10nate
Cap10nate

3629

Forum Posts

164

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 2

I like to read a mixture of both. I like to read the classics when they are available. I also love how compact the stories are in classic stories. Imagine how many issues it would take to tell Avengers #4 in a modern story arc. The first issue would end with a teaser of who did they find in the ice. Then the second and third issue would be Cap reacting to being unfrozen. Issues 4 & 5 would be Cap solving the mystery of how they got turned into statues with Rick Jones. It would all conclude in a 7th issue. Toss in an extra issue or two if it is a writer who really likes to drag things out.

Avatar image for jedixman
JediXMan

42943

Forum Posts

35961

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 16

#22  Edited By JediXMan  Moderator

Eh... generally older. I don't like most comics that have come out in the last five years. My favorite comics are from the mid-late 80s, early 90s, and early 2000s.

Avatar image for sinestro_gl
sinestro_GL

3651

Forum Posts

6530

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 8

#24  Edited By sinestro_GL

Depends how old is 'old'.

Avatar image for yourneighborhoodcomicgeek
YourNeighborhoodComicGeek

21616

Forum Posts

23390

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 15

I enjoy stories from all ages.

This. You can't define a story by its age. That's why we have timeless tales.

Avatar image for veshark
Veshark

10499

Forum Posts

15829

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

#26  Edited By Veshark

I like a mix of both, it really depends on the mood. Sometimes I enjoy the kooky storytelling and the dynamic Kirby art of 60s Marvel. At others, I want the modern edgy summer-blockbuster battles of the 2000s Ultimates. And at other times, I might be itching for the innovative superhero books of the 80s. It all depends, and I don't think any comic fan gravitates towards one or the other specific era for comic-books. There are great comics from every generation.

In terms of art, naturally we'll gravitate towards the newer titles I think, if only from an aesthetic standpoint.

Avatar image for nintendork666
nintendork666

287

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Neither. Comics are for losers

Avatar image for lrtaylor02
lrtaylor02

32

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@twentyfive: Thanks for the suggestion! Started reading Daredevil and it's really good!

Avatar image for lykopis
lykopis

10845

Forum Posts

40100

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Don't really have a preference. I enjoy re-reading older comics and kind of smirk at the corniness of them but just like everything else in the world, things you experience as a kid are a lot different when you're older.

Both have their charm and detraction. Really couldn't pick one over the other.

Avatar image for fallschirmjager
Fallschirmjager

23432

Forum Posts

1162

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 32

User Lists: 16

#30  Edited By Fallschirmjager

@theacidskull said:

Writing-Older

Art-Modern

This. So much this.

I love comics, I really do...but today...you can read an issue in 5 minutes if you're a good reader. 15 maybe if you're slow.

Don't get me wrong, I love the double pages with epic art scenes...for example

No Caption Provided

...I mean how RIDICULOUS is that? Vertigo mind-raping ollie?

...but it only takes 5s to actually read what's being said.

In older comics, it can no-joke take 20-30 minutes to read 1 issue because the writing plentiful. And while its true the art isn't as good, it still has its charms sometimes.

Most of the older comics I've read are Spider-Man ones and for just about all of Lee's run on them, each comic its own story. And while it may not be as epic as a 6+ issue arc, its also nice to be able to pick up and issue, start and finish and story and be satisfied and not have to wait 6 months to get everything too.

The only nitpick is that old writing is usually outdated (obviously) with lingo and themes...but its a nitpick.

Avatar image for consolemaster001
consolemaster001

6896

Forum Posts

556

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 6

#32  Edited By consolemaster001

Well older comics have better stories.

Avatar image for wishiwassuperman
WIshIWasSuperman

1379

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@fallschirmjager: my issue with older comics is the unnecessary exposition in the writing. I enjoy the single story nature they tend to have, as you said you do that have to wait 6 months for the story to finish. But I struggle with the detailed description of everything that is happening on Page or one character explaining something that doesn't need explaining.

Avatar image for fallschirmjager
Fallschirmjager

23432

Forum Posts

1162

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 32

User Lists: 16

#34  Edited By Fallschirmjager

@fallschirmjager: my issue with older comics is the unnecessary exposition in the writing. I enjoy the single story nature they tend to have, as you said you do that have to wait 6 months for the story to finish. But I struggle with the detailed description of everything that is happening on Page or one character explaining something that doesn't need explaining.

Yeah its not perfect, regardless of the era.

Avatar image for hyperlight
Hyperlight

7671

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

I like old and golden age characters in new settings. like the idea of old superheroes showing the new generation a thing or two and still having there place. same reason I like pulp characters. Dynamite does that very well.

Avatar image for batmannflash
batmannflash

6299

Forum Posts

3403

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 30

#36  Edited By batmannflash

Recent.

Art is very important to me

Avatar image for comedy_brosusa
comedy_brosUSA

839

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Older. more time is spent on the story. comics today are good, but the storylines are hit and miss.