Why Geoff Isn't Publicly Fuming About BN6 Leak

You see, he can't control it. While he might be a bit mad about it, lashing out over it would make him seem just a bit too much like Superboy-Prime.

Which brings me to something that really bugs me. I'm not a fan of the overly angry fanboy, but the statement he makes about getting mad over something you can't control, even something you love, rings false in this example.

In the end, the angry fanboy is the consumer and a passionate one at that. The consumer will have control over DC Comics product long after Geoff's candle burns out. The amount of pull Johns has gotten at DC Comics owes more to number of fans buying the product than the quality of the work.

I'm a big fan of a lot of his work, but STARS & STRIPE went the way of the do-do, I'd imagine, more due to the lack of fans purchasing it than the skill he demonstrated on the book. There are, also, many times where issues or arcs of his books sold very well even when the finished product didn't read like he put forth his best effort.

It is all well and good if he wants to tell himself that the segment of the customer base that is most disgruntled with his work just has some control issues they need to get a handle on. But when he crafts an entire issue of a comic book around it and has the consumer pay $3.99 to read it, there would seem to be a bit of pride and arrogance on display.

In this day and age where more of the readers are migrating to downloading illegal bittorrents of the books that they feel addicted to reading but aren't so happy with that they feel guilty for stealing it, you might not want to poke some of them with a stick.

With how small the group still buying comics seems to be getting, I wonder whether a H.E.A.T.-level motivated group of readers unhappy with the direction Geoff Johns is taking the DCU would be able to put a big enough dent in the sales numbers of his books by encouraging folks to download and not buy his work? I doubt we'll ever find out, but I am definitely curious.

Dear God, Tell Me Girl Wonder Will Be All Over This?

Well...the news is out, apparently: Buffy has visited the Isle of Lesbos.

More interesting than the development on the page is how people are reacting in the real world. I mean...forget about whether it was done for titillation or not (I'd contend that it was, to some degree). Focus on how frat boy some of the average reader reactions are going to be.

The Thursday Morning Quarterback over at Wizard Universe might be a microcosm of what is going on in many comic shops this week:

RICKEY: “It was different here with Buffy; she’s just experimenting. Not being a girl myself, I don’t know what’s up with girls ‘experimenting’ with sex like this; I thought it usually happened in college when they’re drunk. But here, I’m not sure why it happened, especially after last issue, when she told Satsu to leave her alone.”

ANDY: “But isn’t that sort of right in line with Buffy’s character? She shouldn’t love Angel…but she did. She shouldn’t have slept with Spike…but she did. She claims not to be attracted to Satsu…but of course, she is! And seriously, I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s well known that women like women; some just take it further than others!”

RICKEY: “Yeah, but it’s like switching from hockey to baseball!”

[LAUGHS]

TJ: “It just seems like she’s a little old to be experimenting. Buffy’s the same age as me, 25, so it seems like she should be over this kind of stuff at this point.”

ANDY: “Yeah, but Buffy’s so lonely, and there aren’t much in the ways of guys around right now besides Xander. And c’mon—girls feel nice! Who wouldn’t want to get up next to one?”

[LAUGHS]

RICKEY: “This issue really did a good job of making me imagine things from outside the scene; the story really took me places in my own mind. Like the scene where Willow’s flying Andrew in and they see Dawn sleeping in the barn: Does Dawn sleep out the cold when it’s not raining? That must suck! And of course, what was going on with Buffy and Satsu BEFORE we see them under the sheets! I’m going to imagine that one some more right now!”


Well, that's some really good stuff right there. Nice to see Wizard unabashedly trying to attract the 40 Year Old Virgin style of fanboy.