That Makes As Much Sense As A Tutu Wearing Rat Interpreting The Bible

Yeah, that lines not going to cause any trouble. But I don't care. It describes what I'm feeling after reading some of the "history" on certain characters in the latest Marvel comics universe handbook. (Same could probably be said about DC Comics, but they don't come out with handbooks as often. Probably because they know how bad a compilation of one character will read after said character has been written and re-written over and over again by multiple writers--that is if they got another writer to go through said characters history and compiled something without said writer going bonkers).

I'd say that Marvel comes out with these books sporadically, but who am I kidding. At least once a month (more likely more than once a month) Marvel sends out "handbooks" for certain characters, groups, events, or whatever to supposedly keep the fans updated on what is happening with said character, group, event or whatever.

These books are not cheap. They usually costs around $4.99. Nope, not cheap--but it is a lot cheaper than buying the 'updated' encyclopedia of the Marvel (or D.C.) Universe (which has been updated at the least twice in the last ten years with a cost of around $35-$50 (depending on when and where you buy it)).

Recently Marvel has had a number of events concerning the character of "Phoenix" and they came out with the "The X-Men: Phoenix Force Handbook". Don't buy it. That is unless: (a) you are a true fan of this character (and, by the way, this handbook will not help you understand anything about these characters); or (b) you enjoy having your brain screwed around with. It just proves how bad some writers really are.

My main complaint with comic books (for the past 10 years, at least) is that they are never consistent thereby ruining my favorite characters. Aquaman comes to mind. He's a guy who lives underwater and he can control fish. Peter David got a hold of him and made his story a lot like the King Arthur legend (Peter David is a favorite writer of mine). They got rid of Peter David and brought someone else in who took him in another direction wherein they made San Diego, California a town underwater and Aquaman became that city's protector. Then I think Mark Wade got a hold of him and took him back towards the King Arthur direction. Then Wade left and they brought someone else in who made him a squid faced loner who was helping his clone unite all of the underwater cities. Then Aquaman was killed (as the squid faced loner). Then he was a zombie. Now he's back from the dead, looking like he did pre-Peter David and he controls dead sea creatures. Tada!

The comic book companies always have too many different writers come in and say "have I got a great idea for this character!". And then they let them run with it. Then the characters get so discombobulated that it's not worth it to keep up with them, thereby the comic company looses money. It's their own fault.

Getting back to the Phoenix Handbook fiasco. I'm a little more than halfway through this particular handbook and my head is aching. It seems that the writers of most of the characters really don't give a crap about the character themselves. The writers don't bother to go back and throughly read-up on the characters history to catch-up on what that character did or didn't do. So when you read the entry for the character it makes no sense. (I had to go back and read an entry for a character three times because they mentioned that the character's husband was killed, but they didn't mention anything earlier in the entry about her being married.)

Oh, and if the character is a 'time travelling' character you can completely forget about consistency at all.

But, I'm putting up with it--for now. I am not at a point where I'm ready to give up on comics…yet. Soon…but not yet.

And getting back to the rat: I do believe the rat's interpretation dance would be a lot more entertaining.

Oh well. More later….Booboo