Comments on: Fan Service http://www.aleemartinez.com/fan-service/comic-books/24072009/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:12:34 +0000 hourly 1 By: Gabe http://www.aleemartinez.com/fan-service/comic-books/24072009/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Gabe Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:39:17 +0000 http://www.aleemartinez.com/?p=90#comment-46 I think with series novels you don't have to write all the in-references that abound. There's the 87th precinct novels by Ed McBain, the Marlowe novels, Continental Op, Martin Beck, etc. Granted, while these are all crime novels and probably don't follow fantasy/comic book formulas, there stuff to be learned about how these writers write series novels whose books can be read in any order. I think even Steven Brust can be read in any order. Comic books have the stigma of being comic books. I don't know what kind of non-fan you have in mind, but the average joe probably won't walk into a comic book shop and buy a comic simply because it's a comic. They may love all the superhero movies and watch all the shows, but to walk into a completely different sub-culture--whose adherents, for the most part, tend to be pretty elitist--will take a miracle. I think there' more to it than just continuity issues, though that is a big factor. I don't read ginormous fantasy novels for that reason. I think with series novels you don’t have to write all the in-references that abound. There’s the 87th precinct novels by Ed McBain, the Marlowe novels, Continental Op, Martin Beck, etc. Granted, while these are all crime novels and probably don’t follow fantasy/comic book formulas, there stuff to be learned about how these writers write series novels whose books can be read in any order. I think even Steven Brust can be read in any order.

Comic books have the stigma of being comic books. I don’t know what kind of non-fan you have in mind, but the average joe probably won’t walk into a comic book shop and buy a comic simply because it’s a comic. They may love all the superhero movies and watch all the shows, but to walk into a completely different sub-culture–whose adherents, for the most part, tend to be pretty elitist–will take a miracle. I think there’ more to it than just continuity issues, though that is a big factor. I don’t read ginormous fantasy novels for that reason.

]]>