The Virgin Read Is SORT OF NO MORE

Each week, the non-comics reading Nina Stone picks out one random comic book based off her own made up criteria, reads it, and then writes about that experience. While she's been doing these columns for awhile, she's only successfully managed to enjoy, remember, and keep up with one series. This week, she picked Dark Wolverine.

Dark Wolverine # 80
Written by Daniel Way & Marjorie Liu
Art by Stephen Segovia, Paco Diaz Luque, Sandu Florea, Guillermo Ortego, Jay Leisten, Marte Gracia & Antonia Fabela
Published by Marvel Comics

Hey everybody! As I finished reading the last few frames of this comic and began contemplating what I could write about it, it occurred to me that I don't really have anything new to say. Once again, as our little experiment has always been, I've picked out a comic that I've never read before, thus challenging it to grab me, entertain me, engage me and/or at best, get me to come back for more. I picked this one because it had a baby on the cover, and because it featured a character who was in two movies that I liked.

In more depth, my idea behind the Virgin Read came out of a discussion - an ongoing discussion -- regarding the question who are these comic books being written for? Do these companies want a new or expanded audience? One assumes so, yet as this one-time-Virgin-Reader learned when I went to a DC panel at ComicCon, DC is fully aware that they're coddling and catering to an audience that they already have, one that's made up of mostly mid-to-late thirty year old men. (That's what was in the room, and I know that it's a stereotype, but in this case, this personal individual case, that stereotype was what I sat with in that room. A couple of teenagers, a smattering of twenty-somethings, a few rows of post-40's, and a few--maybe five--children.) Am I assuming that Marvel is the same? Yes, and I'm aware that's unfair, but I reserve the right to be a bit unfair. All I wanted to figure out was whether somebody like me--somebody new to comics, who didn't grow up with them in any real capacity beyond the newspaper kind--could pick up a comic the same way my husband had picked them up when he was a boy, based off a pretty picture or a cool sounding name, and find myself so enthusiastic about it that I'd want to follow it along as more issues came out.

And this was the week I came to the conclusion that the answer is NO.

In the case of Dark Wolverine, I was, as always, happy to read the recap page. (A very LONG recap page, maybe the longest one ever, but it was useful.) It was nice to be familiar with some characters, like Norman Osborn and, of course, Wolverine. The story had moments of suspense, and although I could follow it, there was still a part of my brain that was desperately struggling to remember who was who and what they were associated with. And then it all went to hell. I got totally distracted by that baby's head! It totally reminded me of some of the Renaissance artists. I can't remember what class or museum tour I first heard it at, but I remember learning that a lot of those folks could seriously paint people but were always completely inept at rendering babies. The scale was off, they didn't like babies, they were lazy--I can't remember the cause, just the effect. They painted them as small humans rather than with the measurements and traits of, well, babies. That's exactly what kept happening in this comic--the baby was cute and cuddly in one panel, and then it had the head of a teenage boy in another.

But you know what? Who am I to critique this art? I haven't followed these people. Generally, I like to give praise where praise is due before I go dishing out judgment. But I have no real grasp on any one writer or artist's background. I don't know what the point of this was, whether it was supposed to entertain me or make me care, or be cool, if I was supposed to finish reading this and start wondering what had happened in the other 79 issues that came before this. I don't know if this is the kind of art that people really like for these kinds of stories. I don't know, and even thinking about it, anymore, again--I just can't. What can I say? This wasn't for me, and I thought it was dumb, and I'm sorry. That's all I can say about it. It wasn't "horrible", it wasn't "offensive", and I wish I knew a way to make that sound funny or ridiculous, but I don't. I'm not my husband, and I didn't have any fun.

After I read (and on some pages, reread) Dark Wolverine and was trying to compose this article in my head I just suddenly felt bored. I'm bored with answering the same question over and over again. I'm bored with this sort of surface-y review. If I'm so unfamiliar with a comic book, how could I possibly give an in depth review aside from my personal, visceral feelings about it? And honestly, this has been going on for nearly two years and I have yet to really, really latch onto any one comic book series. There's been some that I've really enjoyed--Acme Novelty Library was one, but no new issues of that have come out. I liked Powers a lot, but this week's new issue was the first one I'd seen in a long time, and I've had a copy of the first collection sitting unread on my desk since last summer. (I tried, I did, but I only made it through a couple of chapters before deciding that I wasn't in the mood anymore.) I read Nana every time a new one comes out, sure--but it's ten bucks every two months. That can't be the only thing out there, I refuse to believe that I can't find something else. (I watch True Blood! I'm not a snob!) I've taken recommendations, and while those have usually turned out to be incredibly rewarding, it can also be a tiny bit insulting. After all--why is it that I can't choose something I'd love just as much on my own? Why can't I walk into the comic shop the same as the other people do, finding the things I love without some kind of crutch? I don't want to seem ungrateful--so many people have been so helpful, so kind, and yet I have to wonder if sometimes, it's just assumed that because I'm a girl, I can't make up her own mind. That I can't be trusted to find what's worthwhile with my own two eyes, and I need help.

So, people, I'm making a change. The original question of the Virgin Read column has been answered. But I'm not done. I think it's just time to ask a new question, to do a new experiment. No more dating. Me and comics are going to get serious. I'm committing. To a series.  

I'm not sure which one yet. But my plan is to follow my pleasure. Find one that I dig, as far as I know, and get on board. Delve deeper. See what comes out. Are you with me?  

*And then of course, an all important question...is this still the Virgin Read? Should I get a new name?   I'm all ears...lemme hear what you got.

-Nina Stone, 2009

Comments

[seth hurley]

When you commit, make sure the series you choose has the same STD as you.

it makes things easier.

[Sean Witzke]

Knife party with Nina.

[Dan]

Sturgeon's Law says 90% of everything is crap. It's just that in the case of comics it's more like 99%, so finding worthwhile stuff is hard (unless you're already some sort of wretched addict and don't care what you're reading as long as it showed up in shabby little store on a Wednesday). Which is to say, I don't think you should feel insulted by recommendations... but, just in case, I won't make any. ;-)

[Jacob]

I thought you were quitting the blog altogether or something. That would have sucked.

I thought you were into that Fables miniseries? Is it because it was a miniseries and not an ongoing?

Anyway, I'm glad you'll still be writing about comics.

[Chris Jones]

It's not 'cause "you're a girl", it's 'cause you're new! Music people give recommendations out to new listeners of a genre all the time-it's not because the person they're recommending things to is presumed to be stupid or inept, it's just that the people giving the recommendations want the other person to be as into the thing as they are.

[LurkerWithout]

Is "Dark Wolverine" about Wolverine? I thought it was about his evil son...

As for what series you should try to follow all I can say is look for something that matches your tastes outside of comics. Ask around for what ongoing books might fit...

[plok]

They really call it Dark Wolverine?

What makes him so goddamn dark?

Send him over to my place, and I'll show him some dark.

These sonsabitches never been anywhere, never seen anything.

Can't wait for your next step, Nina; wish I had a good suggestion for a non-"Virgin Read" title...

"Dark Virgin"?

[Matthew J. Brady]

Well, shit, that's a relief. When I saw the title, my blood ran cold, and I prepared to rend my clothes and emit horrible lamentations. So now I'm curious as to what you're going to be following. Is it one that you've written about and liked before? Fables? BPRD? Hellboy? I still like the title, but "Ex-Virgin Read" might be appropriate? Or dumb? Do I use too many question marks? Should I shut up now?

[Lugh]

It's not that you're a girl, and I'm sure most people aren't patronizing you. I can understand feeling like that, because there are a lot of dicks who happen to read comics. You're not doing anything wrong. Don't feel bad, don't even feel pretend-internet bad. People want you reading comics, and well...

The problem with comics is not that there are niche titles for fans, but that these dominate the scene, and the most iconic characters in the medium are locked up in them. They're not going away, and they shouldn't go away. There's nothing inherently wrong with them, it's their level of visibility.

The problem is actually that all too often, people new to the medium gravitate towards the most visible comics, and these are usually the most incomprehensible and new user unfriendly. Understandably, a lot of people come away with the idea that EVERYTHING is like that.

In comics, the people worth listening to recommend so much not to lord their taste over you, but because it's very easy to get turned off, the way things are these days. I can only speak for myself, but I don't want anybody scared off, I want them reading things that they would like. The easiest way for them to get scared off is by reading Green Shitto Komix 1000, finding it to be garbage and then throwing up their arms with a resounding "Fuck comics!"

It's sad, but you might need a high tolerance for bullshit to allow the love for comics to click. Reading your column, I think you've probably realized this.

I drifted into comics on my own, I never knew anyone growing up who liked them. I started out in libraries, and I just liked the idea of telling stories with both words and pictures so much that even when I encountered garbage, I just tried something else. Eventually I found stuff like Cerebus, Elfquest and the Books of Magic, and I was hooked for life.

The book that got me into regularly reading superhero comics was the relatively continuity-heavy Marvel title Captain Marvel, during Peter David's tenure on the title.

The main character was the son of an obscure character who's most notable accomplishment was dying (in a novel way for superheroes) so Jim Starlin could write a story about his Dad's death from cancer. The status quo of the book was created in a completely seperate miniseries about how Kurt Busiek knows much more about the Avengers than everyone else.

Despite knowning almost nothing about what was going on, even with the handy late 90s Marvel recaps, and despite being a kid, I ate that shit up with a spoon. It was funny, the characters were distinct, it was illustrated well, things actually happened, and most importantly, what was happening always fit well and made sense. The fact that I hadn't read Avengers Forever and didn't know who the hell Rick Jones was didn't make a bit of difference.

I think because there's so much continuity in superhero comics, people are afraid that they will never understand what is going on. All too often, this is completely true, especially with guys like Geoff Johns, who write for a secret insiders club. However, the best writers of serial fiction will always explain, usually in a natural way, who that obscure character they've decided to use is, or whatever.

My suggestion to you is to just keep trying new things. True, sometimes you'll get burned, but sometimes you'll find something new to love. It's nerdy, but one of the things I love about comics is the treasure hunt aspect. Finding some weird, obscure miniseries from the 80s is just so cool.

[Kenny Cather]

Nina,

Like Chris and Lugh said, it's absolutely not because you're a girl. It's because I think most of us view you as a sort of friend. We want to help you enjoy yourself while you continue to do this. (It's like friends don't let friends read Dark Wolverine, you know?) It's just damn hard to find good comics to read until you get a feel for the scene and develop a filter for what you think would appeal to you and what you think you'd be wasting your time experimenting with.

For me, when I drifted back into comics again, I began with the dumb, stupid superhero stuff because in my own way, I was doing what you've been doing. I was trying to find my way into the scene again. It wasn't until my old friend from childhood, Jason, came back into my life and we started discussing the various comic blogs did I really start looking into the alternative scene again and begin finding new stuff I liked.

I'm a life-long comic reader, yet most of the comics I keep up with come out either quarterly or annually. I don't think there's any series I keep up with on a monthly basis. Even the monthly series I *love* (Invincible), I only read the annual collections of.

Please don't read. Your column, your approach, it's made me enjoy comics soooooo much more. I've adapted your approach and every week I pick one comic to read, and that has really made me appreciate everything more. I take more time with the comic and ask myself why I enjoy it and what about me as a person makes me enjoy it. (I know much more about the scene than you do, so usually I pick something I'm pretty certain I'll love.)

[Kenny Cather]

I was just thinking - you live in Brooklyn, right? You should go to Rocketship! It's in Park Slope. (I think, I'm still new to Brooklyn and learning my way around.) It's really nice inside and practically invites you to look around and find something engaging. I always end up being really happy when I'm there, anyway....

[TimCallahan]

I imagine the conversation went something like this:

Nina: "I'm bored by reading and having to write about comics that are boring and I have no personal investment it."

Tucker: "I like comics!"

Nina: "I think I'll commit to one series, and that will give me a deeper understanding of the medium."

Tucker: "I like comics! Also, trying to come up with something new to say about a new issue of the same series over and over and over -- yeah, that's totally fun!"

[TimCallahan]

In my Stone Family drama re-enactment, Tucker Stone is played by Geoff Johns.

[Tucker Stone]

I like comics!

[Mithel]

In my Stone Family drama re-enactment, Tucker Stone is played by Geoff Johns.

Hopefully not, unless you want your family drama interspersed with brutal decapitations.

[Justin]

Glad to see you'll still be writing... something.

I view recommendations sort of like traning wheels. You use them for a while, but eventually (maybe now) you have the skills needed to ride and explore on your own. Sorry if that analogy sucks, but it's nice to see you "grow" in this manner and still have some small bit of interest in the medium.

Maybe you can be young Madonna, *Like* A Virgin, but not really.

[Lugh]

Madonna was like a virgin in that she was all stretched out but then met a dude so hung that it actually hurt again.

I think I learned that from David Brothers.

[Duncan]

I think you should read Detective Comics, Nina, because it is - for the nonce - about LADIES who detect. I could sort of stand to read you do that for a year? So glad you're not quittin'.

Or - I don't know? Had another idea, forgot. I'd quite like you to read the Empowered comic this week coming, also. I think.

A list of other things you should totally do follows shortly.

[Guy Smiley]

I agree with everyone who expresses relief that you're still going to be writing something, even if you've, um, lost your virginity. Whew. I would not like having you retire from the Factual.

Here's a thought for getting past the superficiality, and for asking a different question: There are a lot of long series out there, well-regarded and with a lot of numbered collected editions, both in manga and American comics. What if you picked up volume one of a few of those (perhaps eschewing the mainstream superhero stuff) until you found a series, like Nana, you wanted to keep up with. Review the whole thing at whatever speed you do.

You can read it from the general perspective of, "Is this really good, in the long term, as a coherent whole (or as a still-continuing story, but with a lot of pages already logged)," or "Does it use its length to truly explore its characters and world, or does it work the same gimmick forever, with diminishing returns?"

Probably a lot of such series have been suggested to you already. The usual suspects include: Fables, Love & Rockets, Sandman ('cause we need more people writing about that!), um, Powers, of course. Pluto. Crime stuff like 100 Bullets or the still-ongoing Scalped. Some of these Volume Ones might already be sitting on Tucker's shelves.

Or pose similar questions of completely standalone works, such as Asterios Polyp, any of Will Eisner's later work, Ode to Kirihito, whatever. Oni Press does a lot of standalone little graphic novels, often centered around contemporary relationship dramas rather than spaceships and spandex.

Whatever you come up with, there seems to be a long list of us looking forward to it. Thanks for the Virgin Era ...

[Eric B.]

Babies are, in fact, little humans.

[Jacob]

They don't like to be called "little humans." It's politically incorrect.

[Spitfire]

you don't need a new title, you need a sub title. THE VIRGIN READ: BECAUSE EVERY TIME IS LIKE THE FIRST.

[Gort]

Somewhere in here there's a good joke about Dark Wolverine popping more than his claws.

[afdumin]

Well, there's always the remaining issues of "Beasts of Burden" and "Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love".

[John Pontoon]

"Once you ain't a virgin no more, you're a whore..." - Paul Sorvino as "Hips" in "The Gambler" (d. Karel Reisz, 1974)

Whatever series you pick, your new column should be called "Whored On Comix."

Has a nice "Joy Division" / "New Order" connectedness, right?

You are very welcome.

[Mory Buckman]

"I have to wonder if sometimes, it's just assumed that because I'm a girl, I can't make up her own mind."

No, it's assumed that you can't find what you'll enjoy because the comics market isn't the most welcoming place for newcomers. Take this comic, for instance. You had no idea that even though it says "Wolverine" on the cover, it's actually not about Wolverine at all. The character being called "Wolverine" is actually Wolverine's son, who's an evil manipulator.