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Home Commentary Andrenn Reader Question: Would you read a comic if the writer left?
Reader Question: Would you read a comic if the writer left? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Andrenn   

GLRebirthReader Question is back again. Last time was pretty successful I’d say so we’re looking to do this again on a regular basis if we can. We here at the Revolution always loved getting any feedback from the readers. So today’s question is a bit deeper then the first one, and it’s based around comics and the writers who write them.

 

This question has some layers to it, but I’ll ask it as plain and simple as I can.

 

Would you still read a comic if the long term writer where to leave it?

 

Now I’m talking in the context of someone who’s been writing this comic for years, such as with Geoff Johns and his run on Green Lantern, which has now been for over 50 issues. Certain writers like this become attached to the characters and when you think of these creators you think of these characters. So if Johns decided to leave Green Lantern, would you still read it?

 

This fits with all other comics like this, such as Captain America or Ultimate Spider-man. These comics are some of the best selling and most beloved comics out there thanks to the hard work of their writers. But if they no longer wanted to tell stories with their characters do you think you’d still support the comic regardless?

 

I know there’s a lot of reasons people will read a comic, for the characters, the artist, maybe even just a random whim because the cover looks cool. But often a writer can be a good sign if a comic will be good or not, seeing as past experiences with the writer can influence if you’ll check out the book or not.

 

So let us know what you think about the possible leavings of a creator from a comic they’ve worked a long time on. Will you drop it, support it, or chain Johns to the computer and make him write Green Lantern until he dies?

 

Comments  

 
0 #1 2010-03-10 11:52
It all depends on who comes in and how they handle the storylines. Is this person going to come in and say "You know what? We're going to take everything that you know about the series that you liked and we're going to toss it out on its ear and we're going to start fresh with a whole new origin story and we're going to spend every issue making those characters that you like be really miserable."

In other words, what DC and Marvel are doing right now.

That probably explains why I'm spending my time reading (and making) fan-made comics.
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0 #2 2010-03-10 12:05
If a writer were to leave a series such as Johns and GL or Bendis and Ultimate Spiderman, I would find it difficult to continue with the series. Now keep in mind I am willing to give the new writer a chance but to keep me interested they must not stray too far from what the predecessors have worked so hard and passionately to build-up.
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0 #3 2010-03-10 12:21
I don't know I can only think of few writers that really have a tenure that I've followed. If Johns left GL & say Tomasi picked up I'd continue reading cause I know he could still do it justice. When Adventure Comics changed direction last week with I still stayed with it, the direction & concept changed but it's still a similar world. But say if someone took over the Red Robin or Batgirl titles that didn't keep the same feel or direction I'd feel rather burned & most likely drop the title.
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0 #4 2010-03-10 12:42
Depends on who is taking over. I just dropped Green Lantern Corps because the incoming writer is not one I enjoy. However when Bendis left Daredevil, I stayed with Brubaker and now with Diggle as well.
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0 #5 2010-03-10 13:30
I usually do read the comic is the writer leaves. I've followed Diggle with DD now Brubaker is gone. I followed Swierczynski after Frubaker left, and I really want some more Swierczy, just quietly.

I'm starting to think maybe Bendis should leave Spider-Woman, give it to Zeb Wells or someone.

I don't know if I could read Incognito by anyone else, though.
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0 #6 2010-03-10 13:36
I would always give a title a chance even if a long term writer left the issue. I would read at least the first arc and make a judgement call based on that.
From experience most great runs are followed by some good runs. I really enjoyed Daredevil after Bendis, when Brubaker took over. But titles like Amazing Spider-Man actually got better when JMS left. So its hard to tell.
It also depends on where the long-term runner has taken the story. I feel like Captain America has not been as high quality lately than Brubaker's first 25-30 issues. So if someone else where to take the ranks over Captain America, I don't think I'd be as upset as I would be if it was earlier in his run.
Now Green Lantern would be more difficult. I can see Johns on that title for many more years to come, so seeing him leave would be truly upseting. That being said, someone like Tomasi would be a logical choice. Tomasi, like Johns, is reponsible for making the GLC's relevant again in DCU
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0 #7 2010-03-10 13:45
Depends if I'm following the character or the creative team.

As a life-long Hulk fan, I buy every issue. I have nearly every issue, so stopping now is a bitter pill to swallow. On the flip-side, I'm dropping Green Lantern Corps because Tomasi is leaving - just not that invested in the Corps.

I've really grown to like Green Lantern over the past few years, so I'm likely to continue with Green Lantern if Johns were to exit; however, I dropped JSA as soon as he split.

To confuse things more, I've dropped Captain America after deciding that Brubaker's run was no longer appealing to me.

The current Amazing Spider-man rotating team concept is interesting as I pick up that title when either a team interests me enough or the story itself does.

In many ways, the creative team drives the book, unless you're following the character. A stronger team can hook a reader to try the next team - see, Ironfist.
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0 #8 2010-03-10 14:37
It really depends on the incoming creative team, and also you're general liking of the character/book in general.

For a perfect example, take the Justice Society of America. I absolutely love this series and the characters - and up until awhile ago Geoff Johns was the name attached to those characters. When he left the series, the question did cross my mind - do I still want to continue reading the series. Bill Willingham, the new writer, is good - but nowhere near as good as Geoff Johns.

In this case - my love for the characters is big enough that I gave Willingham a try. I'm still yet to be wowed by him, but I'm also not dropping the book. So in this case, I suppose the characters and book mean more to be than the single creative team on it right now.

Comment to be continued...
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0 #9 2010-03-10 14:38
...Continuing my comment (The thing cut me off, saying my comment was too long. This is a big topic, right?)

...On the other hand - if Geoff Johns wasn't writing Green Lantern or the Flash, I'd drop the books right away. Not that the creative teams to replace him might not be good, but I have less vested interest in the Flash and GL if not written by a favorite writer.

So it's a balancing act. I just comes down to tastes, in the end. also it comes down to money -- my comic budget is little tighter these days, so if books I'm reading aren't written by my favorite writer, then I'm even more prone to drop the title entirely.
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0 #10 2010-03-10 15:15
This depends greatly on the new writers. Keith Giffen on Booster Gold scares me. Mark Waid replacing Grant Morisson on JLA did not. Anyone else writing Manhunter or Secret Six would probably cause me to drop the comics.

In a general sense, wild changes in direction or style will cause me to sometimes drop a title without reading that writers first issue. There are only a couple of characters I will follow regardless of writer. No comic in the last 10 years was one of them.
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0 #11 2010-03-10 16:43
it depends, ona series like hellraiser i look forward to the different writers. on something like captain america, i'll drop it after bru leaves
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0 #12 2010-03-10 17:45
I have been reading comics for almost 25 years and I only picked up Green Lantern because of the fantastic work of Geoff Johns! I actually picked up some of the old TPBs of the character before Geoff became involved and felt that Geoff's work is the only reason I'm loving the character!

Another thing is Captain America - the guy ONLY became interesting when Brubaker is handling him! THAT is the ONLY reason PERIOD!!!! But should he leave I'm sure Mark Millar could easily write a decent Cap book - he once said he would love to write this character forever!

DC and Marvel should know that if these creators should leave these books then DC/Marvel should know that they need greater or comparable talents to handle these type of books! Books that are doing strong simply because of GREAT WRITING!!!
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0 #13 2010-03-10 18:02
Andrenn, it's a good question. It depends on whether I normally pick up the title regardless of the writer, or if I got it just because I was intrigued enough to see Geoff Johns or Ed Brubaker or Brian Bendis' name on the cover. It also depends on who would be taking over the title after the long time writer left. For example, I kept reading Daredevil after Bendis stopped writing it because I liked Brubaker, who was taking it over. However, I dropped Detective Comics after Dini stopped writing it. So for me, it's a case by case basis.
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0 #14 2010-03-10 22:33
It's hard to say. Most of the books I read these days are creator-driven to start with, so if the writer leaves, they're not likely to continue. (Can you imagine Astro City without Kurt Busiek?)

Thinking about those that do fit the type of book you're talking about here, in most cases I would keep reading, at least long enough to give the new team a try, unless I was already losing interest in the character/team or there was some sort of major direction change involved.

I used to follow certain characters no matter who was writing or drawing them, but that list has gotten a lot smaller since then.
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0 #15 2010-03-11 01:22
For my Transformers comic, I'd love to have Costa leave and be replaced by someone like Nick Roche or James Roberts (Last Stand of the Wreckers). Yes, I'd still read it if Costa left.

And on any other series, if I was committed to the series, I'd read it regardless of its creative team.
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0 #16 2010-03-11 20:09
It depends on how much you like the Character. For Marvel, I'll read Thor no matter who writes it because he's my favorite character. For DC, I love JLA, so I've stuck it out through some really crappy runs (they eventually drove me away, but I stayed on for a long time). If it's just a character I'm interested in, though, I'll drop it if it turns out the new writer doesn't live up to the old one.

Personally, a change in artist will cause me to drop more quickly than a change in writer. (I can handle a poorly written Jim Lee or Steve McNiven pencilled story much better than a poorly drawn Geoff Johns or JMS written story).
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0 #17 2010-03-12 01:20
I used to follow characters and teams exclusively, particularly Batman. But as time went on, I realized that these characters will be around for years and that some creators ultimately have a better grasp or take on the concept So, I began focusing more on creators I liked, who I could trust to deliver a good story and characterizatio n. Johns is almost always an automatic buy for me and when he leaves GL, I will stop reading.
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0 #18 2010-03-13 08:37
Quoting AxlRotten:
Depends if I'm following the character or the creative team.

As a life-long Hulk fan, I buy every issue. I have nearly every issue, so stopping now is a bitter pill to swallow. On the flip-side, I'm dropping Green Lantern Corps because Tomasi is leaving - just not that invested in the Corps.

I've really grown to like Green Lantern over the past few years, so I'm likely to continue with Green Lantern if Johns were to exit; however, I dropped JSA as soon as he split.

AxlRotten said it exactly as I think it. Except I am virtually the opposite. I will collect Green Lantern (and Corps) no matter who writes it. But other titles, say Guardians of the Galaxy I will either drop like a stone if DnA leave or give the writers one or two issues to prove they can do it.
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0 #19 2010-03-13 08:38
Quoting AxlRotten:
I'm dropping Green Lantern Corps because Tomasi is leaving - just not that invested in the Corps.


Give GLC a chance after Tomasi leaves (at least an issue or two). Bedard is a great writer and I think he will pull out some interesting arcs. His (cosmic-based) Negation series is one of my all-time favorites, I must have read the entire run through (about 30 issues) 4-5 times.
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