[Scarlet Speedster]

So I've asked people in the past about their comic reading habits, but this time I'm more interested in what it takes for you to pick up something new. So...

What attracts you to a comic?

Do you follow writers or artists?

Are there formats you prefer? (ie: ongoing monthly titles, mini series, original graphic novels, trade collections, finite ongoing series, single issue one and done stories, etc.)

Are you more inclined to pick up a new series starring an established character from another book? (ie, when Wolverine got a solo title branching out from Uncanny X-Men, or Gambit, etc.)

Do you need preview pages? Do you even read preview pages?

When you're looking for something new to try, where do you turn to for recommendations or reviews or news?

Are there genres that you gravitate towards? What are they? Why? Are there genres you're not interested in or simply dislike? What are they and why? What would it take for you to give one of those genres a chance?

Basically, what does it take to sell you on actually purchasing and reading a new comic book?

I know there are some current readers, some who were readers in the past, but it always seems when the topic of comics comes up the discussion is fairly brief. Just something I find a little odd for a webcomic forum.

[Toreshi]

What attracts you to a comic?

It can vary. Usually it's the art; I'll see something that looks pretty (keeping in mind that 'pretty' to me means 'kick-ass gorgeously drawn') and pick it up to see what it is.

Do you follow writers or artists?

Neither in particular, to be honest. If you asked me who the write or the artist of some of my favorite comics are (aside, of course, from Ryan and Lar ), I'd have no idea. I know who Stan Lee is. That's about it.

But if you say it as 'do you follow writing or art' I would lean more towards art. Of course the story is important, but I'll give a comic a chance based on whether or not I like the art. If I don't like the art at all, it could be the best-written comic in the world and I probably still wouldn't read it.

Are there formats you prefer? (ie: ongoing monthly titles, mini series, original graphic novels, trade collections, finite ongoing series, single issue one and done stories, etc.)

I like mini series (J and I have a bunch of 'Friday the 13th' and 'Nightmare on Elm Street' minis, as well as a couple 'Freddy VS Jason VS Ash', and I've got a few different 'Transformers' and 'Slayers' ones), but mostly right now I read original graphic novels. Before Watchmen became a big deal, people seemed to automatically equate 'graphic novel' with 'anime manga', but I've got some of both types.

(And, of course, webcomics. )

Are you more inclined to pick up a new series starring an established character from another book? (ie, when Wolverine got a solo title branching out from Uncanny X-Men, or Gambit, etc.)


Yes. Next to pretty art, a familiar character is what will cause me to pick up something new. If I see Transformers (lord, help me) or a horror slasher on the front, I'll gravitate towards it.

Do you need preview pages? Do you even read preview pages?

If I'm, for some reason, coming into a comic in the middle of a storyline, I'd probably appreciate a preview page, but otherwise I don't even read them.

When you're looking for something new to try, where do you turn to for recommendations or reviews or news?

Most of the time I don't look for something new; it just shows up. My best friend, who reads a lot of graphic novels, will mention one that sounds interesting so I'll take a glance and possibly end up picking it up, or I'll just be wandering through a comic shop and see something that piques my interest.

Are there genres that you gravitate towards? What are they? Why? Are there genres you're not interested in or simply dislike? What are they and why? What would it take for you to give one of those genres a chance?

I enjoy horror (could you tell?), action, and superhero stuff; I look at comics the same way I look at movies, really. I do NOT like girly romance stuff, unless there's something special/amusing about it....I LOVE 'Fruits Basket', for example. I'm in it for the interesting characters and crazy curse, rather than the romance aspect.

Basically, what does it take to sell you on actually purchasing and reading a new comic book?

It's gotta:
1. Have attractive art
2. Have an interesting-looking plot or concept
3. Hook me with the first issue; I won't waste money hoping it gets better if I'm not wowed with the first one

[Scarlet Speedster]

Thanks for answering Toreshi. Just a few followups to some things that interested me:

Do you follow writers or artists?

Neither in particular, to be honest. If you asked me who the write or the artist of some of my favorite comics are (aside, of course, from Ryan and Lar ), I'd have no idea. I know who Stan Lee is. That's about it.

But if you say it as 'do you follow writing or art' I would lean more towards art. Of course the story is important, but I'll give a comic a chance based on whether or not I like the art. If I don't like the art at all, it could be the best-written comic in the world and I probably still wouldn't read it.

If you read something you liked, would you be compelled to look at who wrote or drew it? I'm going to assume that you would do so when you read a novel, or see a movie and note who the director or screenwriter or performers were. Why not do the same with comics?

Do you need preview pages? Do you even read preview pages?

If I'm, for some reason, coming into a comic in the middle of a storyline, I'd probably appreciate a preview page, but otherwise I don't even read them.

I think you're referring more to recap pages. When I say preview pages, I mean more like when publishers will put out a 5 page preview of an upcoming comic on comic news sites.

When you're looking for something new to try, where do you turn to for recommendations or reviews or news?

Most of the time I don't look for something new; it just shows up. My best friend, who reads a lot of graphic novels, will mention one that sounds interesting so I'll take a glance and possibly end up picking it up, or I'll just be wandering through a comic shop and see something that piques my interest.

Do you actively seek out new novels to read or movies or tv shows to watch?

[Toreshi]

Following up on your additional questions SS:

- You've got me there; while I really don't actively seek out something by a particular artist or writer, if I enjoy something a lot I will tend to take note of the name. I won't usually then go out and LOOK for that name, but if I'm browsing through a store and see the name I'll hover over towards it to see if it's something else I might like.

- Ah, I see; I can honestly say I've never seen a preview like what you describe, so I guess I'll say no.

- Honestly (and I know it sounds weird, but) no. I'll see a trailer for a movie and want to see it, or I'll hear good things about a book and want to read it, but very rarely if ever do I actually go out looking for such things. And I don't know if that's the cause of disinterest, or lack of spare time, or what really. I just tend to find such things without actually looking for them.

[hansc70]

Do you follow writers or artists?

All in all, it's hard for me to say. Some writers stand out to me. I love almost anything Loeb(that batman-superman teamup thing was great..til they left), Weedon (loved the astonishing xmen story arc) write. Can't think of the present green lantern writer (when hal came back) but he/they are on my little short list now..or going to be as soon as I get home. But I would give almost anyone a try. I don't treat them very differently then my choices for webcomics. Which I am pleased to say that most of the webcomics I read were on that full page intro to the crossover.

Jim Lee and jae Lee are some of my fav artists but I would try to preview them book before buying

Are there formats you prefer? (ie: ongoing monthly titles, mini series, original graphic novels, trade collections, finite ongoing series, single issue one and done stories, etc.)

I love trade collections. No freakin ads that breaks my stride when I read the comic for the first time. Specially the ones that are not comic related. Didn't mind them much as a kid but now they irritate the crap out of me. Nowadays I have a hardtime seeing a major difference between the different styles of comic (graphic, monthly etc) The art and writing are a huge step above what they were in the late 70's and 80's.

Are you more inclined to pick up a new series starring an established character from another book? (ie, when Wolverine got a solo title branching out from Uncanny X-Men, or Gambit, etc.)

hard to say. Depends on the character i suppose. I jumped on the Wolverine and gambit bandwagon even if they were not my fav Xmen (swashbukling nightcrawler and collosus were my personal fav) but I also had no problem picking up the Deadpool and even Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob (and I only say Mallrats back then)

Do you need preview pages? Do you even read preview pages?

No. make a webpage. internet is good for that

When you're looking for something new to try, where do you turn to for recommendations or reviews or news?

Friends mostly sometimes the comicbook store owner. Comics to me are like movies. I want to be entertained. I don't go much deeper then that.