Fenxy

That link was meant to go here: traditional comics on their way out?

I've moved this discussion, of whether or not traditional comics are on their way out, to my website at freakcomics.com.

For sure. I went to Japan once and all the cool kids and really poorly done dye jobs. The weird part was: all the cool people hung out in arcades, quite unlike America.

There's definitely an American lifestyle worship thing going on there... at least there was. The strange thing was that it seemed to be based around the 80's.

The only problem that I have with anime is the unoriginal looks of the characters. Characters in so many anime series look alike just with different hair colors or what not... so annoying! that being said, I'm a fan of several anime series.

Michael,
I see where you're coming from now and I agree. I like the comment about DC and Marvel treating comics as a medium rather than a genre. While I do enjoy the super hero genre, there are certainly other forms out there.

The problem with DC and Marvel is that they ARE super hero comics. The DC and Marvel universe is vast and each comic within that Universe ties in with the other comics in one way or another... thus the overload of super heroes.

I totally agree that this is not the best route to go. I really like the fact that Image keeps their comics independent of one another (which makes sense since they're creator owned, not Image owned and are not all considered part of the same Universe). Not to beat a dead horse, but Walking Dead is about Zombies, and Fear Agent is about aliens. Neither are about super heroes and that's part of what makes them great.

All that being said, DC does attempt to break out of their shell with Wildstorm and Vertigo comics. These subsidiaries are independent of the DC universe and thus you see more obscure genres represented.

I could definitely see Image and Dark Horse taking over, and I think it would be a welcome change. While I really enjoy certain super hero titles, it is certainly an overdone subject and not all that creative.

Michael,
I have to disagree with you. Although Marvel and DC (and Image) aren't quite as popular as manga comics in some circles I wouldn't say that the age of traditional comics (by which I believe you mean Western comics) is coming to a close. I believe Western comics in their traditional form could eventual take new shape by being released in graphic novels rather than single issue right from the start, but I'm not entirely convinced that will happen either.

Marvel is definitely in need of a boost, however Civil War seems to be helping them out thus far. Runaways is a really great comic too, which is interesting because it's done in "fusion" style (Western / Eastern art). It's released as an individual comic but Marvel releases the graphic novels in traditional manga size and length. That could be the answer to boosting their sales.

DC just wrapped up the Infinite Crisis series and I for one thought it was a great series. DC is really doing a great job on most of their comics right now actually and I'm very impressed by their writers and artists.

As far as Image goes: creator owned comics are the best. Walking Dead and Fear Agent (like I said above) are absolutely the best comics that the Western world has to offer.

Andrew is right.
Also, when you go to Japan you're almost treated like a celebrity because, depending on where you go, you really don't see any other Americans (or any other cultures for that matter).

Also a quick note:
most Japanese people know the alphabet and can read and write English as it is required learning for 6 years in grade school.

A couple of things:

Chan can be male as well. I have always known chan to refer to a child.

San is similar to saying Mr. or Mrs. and is a formal way to address a person, or also a group. "Mina san" means "everyone" and is a formal way of addressing the room.

An additional note about Katakana:
Katakana is not merely for writing out loan words from other languages. It is can also be used to phonetically spell words in Japanese. It's a character set that a Japanese stupid learns in first or second grade.
Since it's phonetic, it can be used to spell loan (foreign) words as well. And, contrary to myth, you can spell Japanese and loan words with the alphabet (phonetically of course)... however it's true that the Japanese do not have an alphabet... just a heck of a lot of characters.

hair cuts: gotta be kryptonite tipped scissors... I'm sure I read that somewhere.

Lain is great!

I haven't seen moving castle yet, but I'd love to. I have zero free time lately.

i'm not sure about clipping, but I do believe I remember reading an old issue in which he shaves with a mirror and his Heat Vision (aka: x-ray heat vision).

I'm will to bet the clippers are tipped with a small amount of Kryptonite.

Awesome! Unless it's rated PG-13 I'm waiting for DVD... I HATE seeing movies in a theater filled with 3 - 13 year old kids.

Black Adam is Captain Marvel's nemesis.

Admittedly I didn't know this until recent times when I started getting in to DC comics. The current version of Adam is really cool. He's dictator of Kahndaq and is trying to enact justice and become "good"... but in a really evil way. He opposes all who oppose him and kills bad guys left and right... and good guys too if they try to stop him.

I also like Titano, and in the Marvel universe it's gotta be Apocalypse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Adam

that's a really small a-bomb. That issue of superman with the genitals for a head is at my local comic shop for $10... i almost bought it because it's so hilarious.

that was fairly close (the 183 part of it).

for the record, I knew this bit of Super-trivia about Super-girl because I'm a Super-dork who actually read that issue!

Black Adam

ACTUALLY:

the answer is Superman #123 in which Jimmy Olsen acquires a magic totem from an archeologist. The totem grants Jimmy 3 wishes. His first wish is for a "Super-Girl with super-powers equal to Superman's" to appear and become his companion.

That's exactly what happens, and mayhem ensues, because well: it was 1958 and women didn't know how to control superpowers.

Tyme:
absolutely! If I can get Bill to dress up it will be even better... either way we're planning on interviewing all the hardcore fan boys :)

By the way, I think I got confused: I'm talking about Wizard World Chicago... not Comic-Con :(

Superman's Super-Suit is indestructible. The reason? I've heard two explanations:

1. His clothes are woven of an indestructible fiber
(see various Superman comics from the 40s - 60s for more information)

2. Anything within a certain distance of Superman's body takes on his indestructible aura (thus the skin tight clothes). This one makes more "sense" and I believe is the more recent explanation.

Galaxy Express 999
Serial Experiments Lain
Everything by Hayao Miyazaki

DC: Toss up between Superman and Batman.

Marvel: Spider-man.

I used to despise Superman (just like scrivs) until recently. They've taken him back to his roots.

I'll be there. Check my latest article:
http://freakcomics.com/2006/07/22/meet-bill-at-wizard-world-chicago/