God Loves Man Kills & Death of Captain Marvel

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Elveen
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God Loves Man Kills & Death of Captain Marvel

Post by Elveen »

So I read both of these TPBs for the 1st time over the Christmas break.

They have both been on my want to read list for a while now. For me they were both very similar.

At the time, I can see them being very "cutting edge" very "progressive". I did enjoy both of them, but in the end I did not think they were great, more like above good.

Here is my main gripe, they were just a 1 note story. Now in both cases it is a good note, but 1 note none the less. The action part of both storied seemed forced/rushed/un-fitting. I can appreciate what both writers were trying to do, and I think both concepts are interesting (religion as a weapon and cancer), but it seems they could not weave multiple ideas, plot points, story elements, into the book.

I have found that I like books that have multiple things going on. Even a 1 shot story like these 2 books (I'm not sure how these stories were originally presented, I do not know it they were first TPBs or part of continuing ongoing books) that are clearly to tell 1 story, can have multiple themes and plot lines running through them (like I kill Giants or Pride of Baghdad). I like books like Fables, Sandman, Scalped (although overall a bit to "mature" for me), WD, BPRD, and Invincible. these books all tell the story but the author weaves in other aspects, ideas, concepts seamlessly and naturally.

I guess I can say it this way. A cheeseburger is bread, meat, cheese. Nothing wrong with that...... but give me some bacon, avocado, fried onion strings and some spicy sauce.

In the overall evaluation of these 2 books, I think they were missing the extras.

Thoughts?

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Re: God Loves Man Kills & Death of Captain Marvel

Post by Draco »

Not sure what format you read them in, but they were both original graphic novels. Actually named Marvel Graphic novel #1 & 5.

Both are dated now, so never easy to read supposed classics near on 30 years later, especially when they followed a basic Marvel formula from way back when.

Though I always loved the Wolverine bit where he says ' lets nail the *SQUEE*'.
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Re: God Loves Man Kills & Death of Captain Marvel

Post by 400yrs »

Writing has evolved so much since those days. The multiple moving elements is prominent today, but I'm not sure it was in the past at all.

I still like God Loves Man Kills. It is a bit dated, but it does hold up. It's still the best X-Men stories I've ever read. I haven't read much X-Men stuff that I like.
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Elveen
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Re: God Loves Man Kills & Death of Captain Marvel

Post by Elveen »

400yrs wrote:Writing has evolved so much since those days. The multiple moving elements is prominent today, but I'm not sure it was in the past at all.

I still like God Loves Man Kills. It is a bit dated, but it does hold up. It's still the best X-Men stories I've ever read. I haven't read much X-Men stuff that I like.

My main problem with GLMK is that all the fighting parts seemed so rushed and forced. Also, where did the dude get his own "Cerebro"?

the best part of it for me was Nightcrawler, this story made me interested in him. not sure why, but it just did.

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Re: God Loves Man Kills & Death of Captain Marvel

Post by Jersen »

One reason why I think Nightcrawler was such a strongly resonating character for you in GLMK is because Nightcrawler has always been an openly Christian character and Christianity/religious faith is one of--if not THE--main theme of the story. How can you use Christian faith against someone who shares your faith? Still a pertinent question today, I would say, and can be expanded out further from strictly Christianity to the relationship between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and even further. That's why I like Claremont, as dated as his stories may be in the details, the themes can still be relevant.


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