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It seems lately that I continue to lose my interest in comic books. I don't know if it's because my taste is changing or because something about the industry is changing. Considering there is now an "Executive Producer" credit in some titles, I know for certain elements of the industry have changed. Add to that the fact that many storylines seem to be set so that they can be collected in trades, covers of issues sometimes have nothing to do with the content, and things come out of the blue to drain money from fans (Deadpool can't keep one title going for years and suddenly he now has three?).
As I continue to put belongings into storage, I see exactly how many comics I've purchased over the years. Also, as I sort them I'm seeing how my tastes have changed. Most importantly I have noticed I'm only ordering comics every couple of weeks now. It's not so much to save on shipping, it's just that I don't think about it as much. I've even skipped weeks on accident because I just wasn't thinking about getting comics.
Recently I found myself dropping titles that I never thought I would. I have dropped Justice League of America, Justice Society of America, and I may be dropping Teen Titans, The Boys, Black Panther and the current run of The Authority. I go back and read some of the original/earlier issues of these titles and find I really enjoy them. Then I think about current issues and stories and I find that I really don't care much. I think I'm enjoying purchasing collectibles and apparel connected to the characters I'm interested in more than I actually enjoy the stories and titles those characters are a part of.
Right now the titles I truly look forward to are the Green Lantern titles, the Deadpool titles, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Booster Gold, Doctor Who, G.I. Joe, and I vary on Transformers. That may seem to be a fair number, but considering how many comics I actually buy each month it really does bring home the idea that I seem to be buying a lot of titles (or comics in general) out of habit.
I have always seen myself as someone who can enjoy a character concept in the medium in which it is delivered. As characters are making the jump to the TV screen, the movie screen and video games I find myself able to enjoy each. I don't expect the concepts or characters to carry over exactly as some changes have to happen to grad a larger audience than those who simply read comics. So, I find it sad that many characters I don't enjoy in their original medium anymore. I would sooner watch the Justice League on TV than read current issues, I'd rather watch the cartoon version of Teen Titans than deal with what I had to read for their past two issues and I definitely prefer the Iron Man movie over what I was in the title's pages the last time I read it.
I am not someone that is big on Near Year's resolutions. I've always figured that if someone is truly committed to an idea of doing something then they should start it when the time is proper, not when it is convenient or when it brings attention to the fact that you're doing it. If anything I think New Years should at best be a time to reaffirm some of the things we do in our life. A time to breathe a new breath into those things we do that are difficult or reenergize ourselves to continue with them. I think perhaps that this New Year I will reaffirm something that I started a short time ago. I think I will reaffirm the idea that I need to sit down and look at what I am buying in the world of comics, get rid of those titles that no longer excite or inspire me as they used to and look for something else that will.
I will never become a comic "snob." You know, those people who look down or talk down to others and blame them for certain factors of the industry. No, my choices about what I buy are for me to look at for my sake, nobody else's. We all go through our phases of wanting quality, preferring art, writing and fanboy obsession. The point however is to know where you're at and enjoy it fully. Right now I don't know where I am, so I am not enjoying my experience as a comic reader fully. I hope that in this next year I can find where my connection to comics lies and is strongest, because to give up on my hobby simply because I am not looking at my own interests is not fair to the industry. I hope you all know why you read as you do. If you don't, then perhaps a reaffirmation (or resolution) is something to consider.
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