Maybe you can elaborate. I've never gotten into Millar, but have been a fan of Bendis' work, of course mostly from the indy slant.

So don't just give us half a thought, tell us why and what comics you find interesting in the mainstream.
Ron Phillips | Email | Homepage | 11.17.03 - 2:21 pm | #

But Mark Millar has just written "Watchmen for Super-Villains"! Of course he's entertaining! And mainstream!
Graeme McMillan | Email | Homepage | 11.17.03 - 2:44 pm | #

He's not "mainstream!" Millar's edgy-sexy-cool.
Kevin Melrose | Email | Homepage | 11.17.03 - 3:00 pm | #

Ah, c'mon -- it's no fun if I have to explain/defend my dismissive snark! ;)

Bendis just has too many writing tics that grate on my nerves whenever I try to read his superhero stuff: The inability to use contractions; the forced Tarantino-esque dialogue; the repetition -- dear lord, the repetition!

My usual disclaimer: I did enjoy Fortune and Glory and I purchased Jinx but still haven't read it yet. I do not know Bendis and have nothing against him personally. I just strongly dislike his mainstream superhero stuff.

As for mainstream stuff I do enjoy, you mean you haven't been reading my blog religiously to find that out?? ;)
John Jakala | Email | Homepage | 11.17.03 - 3:01 pm | #

Gee I thought you just liked Shonen Jump. ;)
Ron Phillips | Email | Homepage | 11.17.03 - 4:09 pm | #

...which I only buy for the free cards and CD-ROMs, anyway.

Hmm...maybe I should keep a running list of stuff I read on the side like ADD does. Ah, my end-of-year roundup will reveal my likes & dislikes in handy list form soon enough...
John Jakala | Email | Homepage | 11.17.03 - 4:29 pm | #

I love Bendis and I also enjoy Mark Millar. All his boosterism gets annoying very quickly, but that doesn't mean I didn't love Superman: Red Son or The Ultimates. I doubt I'd ever want to read one of Millar's Ultimates characters in a solo series, but in a group, they seem to embody the "lesser of two evils" state of any government force. They cover up important information(like that the Hulk was one of their own scientists), are prone to petty ideological conflicts, and house closet sadists. On the other hand, they're brave, perseverant, clever and all-too-human.
As for Superman: Red Son, it did a great job of establishing the same god-like Superman against free will argument that DC did back in the '70's, while recognizing that Superman would not let himself become a God. Even better, it made Lex Luthor into a sympathetic(if still Machiavellian) character. I didn't like him, but I understood that he was the only person that could fight for free will.
Of course, that's just me.
Robert Karol | Email | Homepage | 11.17.03 - 6:13 pm | #

Bendis rec's: _Torso_; first volume of _Alias_ if you haven't read already; if you have any affection for Daredevil a'tall, try his run on that. I really like his stuff, though must admit I have more tolerance for his tics than you do.
Best
ELT
Eve Tushnet | Email | Homepage | 11.18.03 - 10:14 pm | #

I've read some of Bendis' ALIAS and DD (a character I do like a great deal) but couldn't get into either. Maybe if I like JINX I'll give TORSO a try. Thanks for the recs, Eve.
John Jakala | Email | Homepage | 11.18.03 - 10:41 pm | #

Robert -

I'll admit: I'm curious about RED SON. I might try it out in TPB.
John Jakala | Email | Homepage | 11.18.03 - 10:42 pm | #