On fan battles, audience interaction, what’s real, and who’s stronger, the Thing or the Hulk?
Patrick Nielsen Hayden makes a comment on Tor.com that really deserves wider dissemination:
"SF fans in general tend to be discursive sorts…"
Which is another way of saying that SF readers tend to get invested in not just the story, but the argument.
And once you care about the argument, you care about the people pursuing it.
There are dozens of ways to make this dynamic seem trivial or pathetic, but really, it’s just people caring about what’s real.
Speaking just as a reader, forget about as a professional, the plain fact is that in a world of limited time and options-that-exclude, given the choice between a new Charles Stross novel and a new Greg Egan novel, I’m going to read the Stross, because I know that if I want to talk about it afterwards, Stross is available for conversation and Egan isn’t.
There are dozens of ways to frame this as evidence of Egan being a hero of artistic independence, but you know something, I don’t care. I’m just a reader trying to have an non-boring life. Stross goes out of his way, via extra levels of interaction and availability, to make the whole business of novels and art non-boring. Egan doesn’t. Life is short.
It’s true. And in a field where the arguments are even more passionate (see above picture) the fan base can be even more intense, and it carries over to the field.
And the Internet makes it even more intense. Think about it: who constantly tops the lists of favorite comics writers? Neil Gaiman, Brain Bendis, Peter David, Mark Evanier, Warren Ellis, JMS… even if they don’t have a series running at the moment, they have a dedicated fan base because they immerse themselves in the arguments, in the culture. And yes, every one of the people listed have a blog. That’s where fans are nowadays. You’re here, aren’t you?
Mark Waid, the pre-eminent fanboy-turned-pro-turned-recent-blogger, has a great example this week where he talks about the six traits that a hero should possess, and then provokes a fight by asking people to try and convince him why Indiana Jones should be considered a hero– which makes a few readers ask him why, by his criteria, Spider-Man should be considered a hero. (And since he wrote what’s going to be the best selling issue of Spider-Man this year, if not this decade, he should probably have an answer.) The argument was compelling enough that I took an hour to formulate an argument and contribute when I should have been finishing this blog post. And that’s the point.
What about you? Do you think there’s such a thing as an anti-social comics fan, even if his social interaction is limited to arguing who’s stronger, Benjy or Bruce? And would you enjoy comics as much if you couldn’t argue them with somebody else, or is the solitary enjoyment of pleasure enough for you?
Oh, and that image reminds me of this neat Hulk vs. Thing art gallery I found. Enjoy.
"SF fans in general tend to be discursive sorts…" "Which is another way of saying that SF readers tend to get invested in not just the story, but the argument."…………………………………….No we're not.~8?)
The Thing is, in general, stronger than the Hulk. Unless Hulk MAD! Like Bill Bixby warned, you don't want to be around the Hulk when he's angry. Then I believe that very few characters are stronger than the Hulk.For me, comics are more fun when I can interact with people who share my love of them. Maybe that's one reason why I take such pleasure in commenting on ComicMix!
It's basic comic rule: the Hulk gets mad, the hulk gets stronger. The Hulk, per official marvel handbook readouts has a strength rating of 7 (which is defined as: 7 – Superhuman Class 25: able to lift in the 10 to 25 ton range) and that is under normal pretense, as well as a Fighting Skill of 6. The Thing is rated as a Strength and Fighting Skill Rating of 6 in both categories. By definition, that means the Hulk is naturally stronger than the Thing, and both are equally matched in fighting skill.I personally believe if the Hulk is savage, (not world war hulk smart) the thing with proper planning could take down the Hulk. But, if we're talking bar room brawl? Ole' Blue Eyes is taking a dirt nap.
Marc, your technical knowledge and insight obviously well exceed mine. I have to concur completely with your conclusions. Now, which Comic Book Character is most likely to catch a venereal disease? I would say Lobo or Guy Gardner. Unless a Superhuman constitution or Power Ring make them immune to such things. Obviously Guy Gardner would not be immune to Yellow Fever! But that's not a venereal disease.
Now, which Comic Book Character is most likely to catch a venereal disease?It's a tossup between Little Annie Fanny and Moonshine McJuggs.
I'm saying it's Roy "Dick "Nightwing" Grayson's Hand-Me-Downs" Harper. AKA Red Arrow. That dude's been around the block, and he did drugs.
The call "Speedy" "Red Arrow" now? Well, he wasn't really into speed. And "Smacky" is just a silly name for a Superhero!