I've always been of the opinion that there was nothing wrong with Chuck Austen's writing that working with a good co-writer could have fixed. He would also have benefitted from an edito willing to tell him, "no," which was a bad thing, because at this point in time it seemed like all Marvel editors were kept around for was to check your spelling.
Incidently, since you brought up good comics the man wrote, I feel the need to mention, "Manga Ghost Rider," which also provded the art for. It's a surprisingly tender and genuinely laugh-out-loud comic, easily the best book brought out during that whole "Manga" thing Marvel attempted.
The thing that bothers me is HOW did the killers crucify the mutants without anyone noticeing? I mean, they could have killed them elseswhere, but transporting the bodies and crosses, digging holes, nailing the bodies to said crosses, setting up the crosses, ect. No one SAW this? And as you pointed out, no one thought to look at the security footage?
Wait...the bible quotes were good writing? I mean, he was already inaccurate once, and I'm more than of the idea that this comic was already down the crapper.
Also, Cyclops always seems to do this "strict leader" crap every time I see him; First with the animated series, then a couple of the Exile comics I read of my friends, a little of the movies..And the only compassionate or caring scene I've seen him in is just before he dies in X3. Does he have a heart in there?
I died a little inside watching this. Being a humanities major with an emphasis in theology, there were just so many problems with this issue. Mislabeling the scriptures (we all make mistakessssss- oops, there's not supposed to be 6 "s"-es there?) didn't bother me as much as misquoting. Half of his quotes weren't even relevant as the stories behind them were usually trying to prove a point opposite what the author wanted Nightcrawler to make.
Poor Nightcrawler- he deserves a better writer- at the very least, one who is willing to check his sources. Or at least get bored enough in one star hotel to open the drawer of his bed-side table.
I was especally annouyed how they wrecked Nightcrawler as well. He's had leadership experience before (read the Alan Davis run on Excalibur for a good example).
Aurabolt: Good question on Cyclops. I haven't quite forgiven his character for how he treated Madeline (his first wife).
Adam Smith, the father of capitalism, actually claimed that all actions of humans are selfish, and he's completely right. Think about it. If you're helping an old lady cross the street, you're doing it for a badge, or because it makes you feel better, or something else. And there's nothing wrong with that. The fact is that we don't do something if there's no benefit (not to say that we're completely rational, but we don't do something unless we see some advantage to it, at least at the time). So, the comment about kindness being a softer form of selfishness was rather deep, if only unintentionally.
Man, the costumes comment hurt, but i still laughed at it. I loved those costumes. I liked seeing them wear something that looked more practical than the rainbow of spandex.
I really think that the shoddy writing in Uncanny is what drove Morrison away from Marvel permanently. They just threw writers at books and said, "Go Nuts!" without consulting the other writers working with the same characters. You had Morrison doing the best run of X-men in ages, and next to him was this hack that just was... unleashed on Nightcrawler. I just can't get over how awful this stuff is. Just the meanness of the characters alone infuriates me.
He has the characters remotely right, but they are all these weird ass-hole caricatures of them. Morrison wrote Cyclops to make sense. He's the best at what he does, he's an asshole and a jerk, but he's usually right when it comes to combat. He's just screw up in his personal life. But Austin is just driving home the "asshole asshole asshole" stuff. It drives me nuts. It has less depth than a bowel of fruit loops. Gahh!
Keep up the good work man. You're hilarious. Hopefully I'll run into you at a convention someday.
Adam Smith, the father of capitalism, actually claimed that all actions of humans are selfish, and he's completely right. Think about it. If you're helping an old lady cross the street, you're doing it for a badge, or because it makes you feel better, or something else.
And if the "something else" is *concern for her welfare*, then clearly it is *not* selfish.
Can you prove that no human being ever, in the history of the world, has acted out of concern for another? Really? Because I don't see how you could, even in theory.
Yes, we are to some extent "programmed" to *want* to help one another, and to get pleasure from doing so– but I find using this as sign of universal *selfishness* to be very twisted logic.
"I don't think Chuck Austen (in the opening) was implying that the side-effects of religious extremism can be cured like cancer...
I think he's saying we need to cure religion."
Which was Linkara's point: that is not only a categorical error, that is also offensive (suggesting that religion is a disease that needs to be cured).
Given the fact that there are billions of religious people in the world who have not harmed anyone and in fact have done great good for the human race in multiple areas (such as the sciences, social activism, and the arts, just to name a few) and given the fact that even the fraction who are dicks are more driven by political or personal factors, then Linkara has a point and Austen's statement is completely asinine.
Sadly, I think I know exactly what Chuck Austen did with picking out Bible quotes.
He went to Bible gateway or another online Bible, put in a few keywords, and wrote down whatever came up without bothering to expand the chapter to get the context or, in at least half of them, even writing down the chapter/verse number. The online Bibles are a great tool, but unfortunately they also make it easier for religious and irreligious folk alike to misuse verses with no context.
Ladies and gentlemen, behold: the increasing insanity and poor writing of Charles Austen. He worked well on Exiles, but Lord does he ever stink up the joint on everything else!
I know this video is almost 2 years old, but I felt like making a quick comment :p
(I don't know if you did this on purpose of not.) I abolustely LOVE that the image for all the religions you chose was covered in ecstasy tabs. Cracks me up every single time!
I think Cyclops is acting the way he is BECAUSE his friends have been crucified. He's worried, so he's trying to focus on something else. And honestly, Nightcrawler is being so annoyingly incompetent I can't really blame him. (Please tell me if this would be too out of character; I don't know all that much about the X-men.)
Great stuff!!!
ReplyDeleteYou should realy turn all your text reviews into movies! When you are telling the jokes its a lot funnier!
I've always been of the opinion that there was nothing wrong with Chuck Austen's writing that working with a good co-writer could have fixed. He would also have benefitted from an edito willing to tell him, "no," which was a bad thing, because at this point in time it seemed like all Marvel editors were kept around for was to check your spelling.
ReplyDeleteIncidently, since you brought up good comics the man wrote, I feel the need to mention, "Manga Ghost Rider," which also provded the art for. It's a surprisingly tender and genuinely laugh-out-loud comic, easily the best book brought out during that whole "Manga" thing Marvel attempted.
Wait, 100-inch claws?! Wolverine's claws are no where near 8 feet long!
ReplyDeleteIt's not showing up.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that bothers me is HOW did the killers crucify the mutants without anyone noticeing? I mean, they could have killed them elseswhere, but transporting the bodies and crosses, digging holes, nailing the bodies to said crosses, setting up the crosses, ect.
ReplyDeleteNo one SAW this? And as you pointed out, no one thought to look at the security footage?
I cannot wait till you get to the reason for Nightcrawler being a priest (CATHOLICS DO NOT BELIVE IN THAT).
ReplyDeleteYeah, my apologies, I reuploaded it at the proper resolution and it still hasn't been converted to flash yet.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what I'd pay to give that continuity alarm to G. Morrison?
ReplyDeleteHey, linkara, I cannot get the video to load. I tried your blip channel also...
ReplyDeleteThey're apparently upgrading their server right now. Like I said, I re-uploaded it and so it hasn't gotten around to converting to flash.
ReplyDeletethat was funny! Great video there! Just keeps getting better!
ReplyDeleteWait...the bible quotes were good writing? I mean, he was already inaccurate once, and I'm more than of the idea that this comic was already down the crapper.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Cyclops always seems to do this "strict leader" crap every time I see him; First with the animated series, then a couple of the Exile comics I read of my friends, a little of the movies..And the only compassionate or caring scene I've seen him in is just before he dies in X3. Does he have a heart in there?
I died a little inside watching this. Being a humanities major with an emphasis in theology, there were just so many problems with this issue. Mislabeling the scriptures (we all make mistakessssss- oops, there's not supposed to be 6 "s"-es there?) didn't bother me as much as misquoting. Half of his quotes weren't even relevant as the stories behind them were usually trying to prove a point opposite what the author wanted Nightcrawler to make.
ReplyDeletePoor Nightcrawler- he deserves a better writer- at the very least, one who is willing to check his sources. Or at least get bored enough in one star hotel to open the drawer of his bed-side table.
BTW - no links to the old text recaps on this post? Just for some who want to travel down memory lane?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for part 2.
ReplyDeleteI was especally annouyed how they wrecked Nightcrawler as well. He's had leadership experience before (read the Alan Davis run on Excalibur for a good example).
ReplyDeleteAurabolt: Good question on Cyclops. I haven't quite forgiven his character for how he treated Madeline (his first wife).
Adam Smith, the father of capitalism, actually claimed that all actions of humans are selfish, and he's completely right. Think about it. If you're helping an old lady cross the street, you're doing it for a badge, or because it makes you feel better, or something else. And there's nothing wrong with that. The fact is that we don't do something if there's no benefit (not to say that we're completely rational, but we don't do something unless we see some advantage to it, at least at the time). So, the comment about kindness being a softer form of selfishness was rather deep, if only unintentionally.
ReplyDeleteGreat job so far! Here's an idea - can you review the first story arc of Ultimate X-Men? I don't know about the others, but I think it really sucks!
ReplyDeleteMan, the costumes comment hurt, but i still laughed at it. I loved those costumes. I liked seeing them wear something that looked more practical than the rainbow of spandex.
ReplyDeleteI really think that the shoddy writing in Uncanny is what drove Morrison away from Marvel permanently. They just threw writers at books and said, "Go Nuts!" without consulting the other writers working with the same characters. You had Morrison doing the best run of X-men in ages, and next to him was this hack that just was... unleashed on Nightcrawler. I just can't get over how awful this stuff is. Just the meanness of the characters alone infuriates me.
He has the characters remotely right, but they are all these weird ass-hole caricatures of them. Morrison wrote Cyclops to make sense. He's the best at what he does, he's an asshole and a jerk, but he's usually right when it comes to combat. He's just screw up in his personal life. But Austin is just driving home the "asshole asshole asshole" stuff. It drives me nuts. It has less depth than a bowel of fruit loops. Gahh!
Keep up the good work man. You're hilarious. Hopefully I'll run into you at a convention someday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkhCpx9AxAo
ReplyDeleteLOL check it out
Adam Smith, the father of capitalism, actually claimed that all actions of humans are selfish, and he's completely right. Think about it. If you're helping an old lady cross the street, you're doing it for a badge, or because it makes you feel better, or something else.
ReplyDeleteAnd if the "something else" is *concern for her welfare*, then clearly it is *not* selfish.
Can you prove that no human being ever, in the history of the world, has acted out of concern for another? Really? Because I don't see how you could, even in theory.
Yes, we are to some extent "programmed" to *want* to help one another, and to get pleasure from doing so– but I find using this as sign of universal *selfishness* to be very twisted logic.
So no, I wouldn't call it "deep".
I don't think Chuck Austen (in the opening) was implying that the side-effects of religious extremism can be cured like cancer...
ReplyDeleteI think he's saying we need to cure religion.
"I don't think Chuck Austen (in the opening) was implying that the side-effects of religious extremism can be cured like cancer...
ReplyDeleteI think he's saying we need to cure religion."
Which was Linkara's point: that is not only a categorical error, that is also offensive (suggesting that religion is a disease that needs to be cured).
Given the fact that there are billions of religious people in the world who have not harmed anyone and in fact have done great good for the human race in multiple areas (such as the sciences, social activism, and the arts, just to name a few) and given the fact that even the fraction who are dicks are more driven by political or personal factors, then Linkara has a point and Austen's statement is completely asinine.
@Wanvob, months later...
ReplyDelete""I think he's saying we need to cure religion."
Which was Linkara's point..."
Sorry, I had honestly got the impression from the review that Linkara hadn't understood that as Austen's point.
- Mik
Sadly, I think I know exactly what Chuck Austen did with picking out Bible quotes.
ReplyDeleteHe went to Bible gateway or another online Bible, put in a few keywords, and wrote down whatever came up without bothering to expand the chapter to get the context or, in at least half of them, even writing down the chapter/verse number. The online Bibles are a great tool, but unfortunately they also make it easier for religious and irreligious folk alike to misuse verses with no context.
Jessica, you force me to agree with you. Force me, I tells you!
ReplyDeleteLadies and gentlemen, behold: the increasing insanity and poor writing of Charles Austen. He worked well on Exiles, but Lord does he ever stink up the joint on everything else!
ReplyDeleteI know this video is almost 2 years old, but I felt like making a quick comment :p
ReplyDelete(I don't know if you did this on purpose of not.) I abolustely LOVE that the image for all the religions you chose was covered in ecstasy tabs. Cracks me up every single time!
I think Cyclops is acting the way he is BECAUSE his friends have been crucified. He's worried, so he's trying to focus on something else. And honestly, Nightcrawler is being so annoyingly incompetent I can't really blame him.
ReplyDelete(Please tell me if this would be too out of character; I don't know all that much about the X-men.)
This should've been called "The Uncannon X-Men". And about Cyclops' uniform:
ReplyDeletehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6GoHf-dWrQ/TkFLpT5YmjI/AAAAAAAABFA/UFBX0gyMDa8/s1600/TomThumb.jpg
Why did you pick a chart of mdma pills for all the different religious icons?
ReplyDelete