"Why do you buy that comic?"

spektorfive

I been into comics for a while. When I was about 18 a friend of mine got briefly into comics. The question he ask most was "why did I buy this comic instead of this one?" The question annoyed me as could not tell him why. I would just pick randomly and more often then not I be rewarded. I had more money at the time and wasn't really on the internet and had no real guide. I really would judge a book by it's cover.

Ten years later, I never really had anyone to talk to about comics. There is a guy in work who is in too them. His a collector type. He has hundred's of trade paper back books, but hasn't read most of them. He hates single issue's. Where always on a different time loop. Most of time I forgotten the story by time his read them and wants to talk about it.

Since I meet him, his always ask me for books to read. When I give him my picks he always as the same question "Why did you buy that one?". Again I don't really have an answer. His only read books from the big two and I gotten him onto indie books and Marvel/DC books that slip under the radar.

I guess what I'm asking is what's guides you when your buying a book?

I tend to follow the writer. If something is getting great reviews I will check it out. But I do tend to disagree a lot with reviews. I find Saga mixes two types of genre of I Don't like Space Sc-Fi & Fantasy. Plus it annoys me that the child is telling us this story from some point in the future which means she lives till at least she a teenager.
Sandman bored me to tears and Preacher had some high points but felt it lost the run of itself along the way. I find Gheoff Johns is someone I want to like more as a writer. His run on Teen Titans was one of the first run's in comics that I fell in love with, his follow up with Superboy own story in Adventure Comics was very special. But then I read his event books (Crisis, Blackest Night) there just rubbish. Benids is kinda same thing. His work on Daredevil/ U Spiderman are outstanding. Then his avengers stuff has been more hit/miss. I been reading Uncanny X-Men but it's not wowing me or anything.

blatantrereg

Writers, artists, recommendations from people, appealling concept, reviews - in that order. I also sometimes read stories that continue from stories I have liked - for example The Ultimates Volume 3 (which was a let-down) because I liked the Ultimates 1 & 2. Joss Whedon's X Men run because I enjoyed Grant Morrison's run which preceded it.

Currently very much enjoying Sandman, which I had looked at before and put down. Preludes & Nocturnes was only moderately good, but The Doll's House is excellent.