Fear Itself

I'm getting tired of reading internet message boards where comic book fans are complaining about the upcoming release of Marvel's next event story, Fear Itself. The common complaint is that Marvel is trying to make comic book fans to spend more money by putting out event books with tie-in titles. They also claim that these event stories push people, new and old, away from comic books, intimidating them with their size and overall investment.

These arguments are nonsense for a couple of reasons. Marvel is not forcing you to buy every issue that ties into an event. I can't tell you how many interviews I've read where the editors have stated that you don't need to buy the tie in issues, you can just read the main story and get everything you need to enjoy it. In other words, you could have just purchased Civil War, and never read the X-Men tie-in's for it. You didn't need to, that was the beauty of the situation. If you cared enough to see how the X-Men reacted to that event, then you bought it. If you were me, then you didn't. It's really just that simple. To imply that Marvel, or DC for that matter, is strong arming you into purchasing the event book and all its tie-ins associated with the main book is ridiculous. In the end, you're the consumer. You have the power to say yes or no to a product. If you bought every issue because you felt like you had to, then the only person you should be mad at is yourself.

Say you don't want to read the event, but are concerned with missing possible storyline changes to your favorite titles. I understand how this could be a matter of contention, but I have a couple of easy fixes for this common complaint.

-The Internet! As it turns out, the internet is full of information, not just porn. It even has reviews and detailed analysis of major events. They give you all the information you need in a clear and concise format, and you don't even need to buy the issues! Brilliant!

-Talk to a friend! I'm sure one of your friends is buying the event, or has read something on the internet. Why not have a conversation with them and ask them what's going on. Hell, they may even let you borrow the issues they have already purchased! What an enjoyable, yet thrifty, solution to your belly-aching!

Claiming that event books drive away readers, new and old, is also a fallacy. I've never seen more people coming into our store for the first time, then when a major event was highly publicized. They want to know what's happening. Their interest is peaked and it's a good way for them to jump in and see if they like it. This is also the time when I see readers that may be strictly DC or Marvel check out what the other side is working on. It makes people curious, and excited for what may come.

Why the comic book fan on the internet has developed such a nauseating level of contempt for something that they are a fan of is beyond me. At the end of the day, comics are meant to be fun. Have fun with what you are reading and read what you like. If you don't like reading events, then don't read them. No one is forcing you to. Some people enjoy them, and will continue to buy them. To blame a company for putting out a product that some of its' fan base enjoys, is silly. It's like yelling at Coke for selling Cherry Coke, because you don't like it. It just doesn't make any sense.

That's my take on it anyways.

-Action Chad