Marvel vs DC (idiocy I have hear at my shop 1)

" I like Marvel better because it is more realistic." "I like DC better because the heroes are more heroic." " I like Marvel better because the attitude is more modern."

Hardly a week goes by that I do not hear these kinds of comments. Most people know that I despise a lot of what Marvel has done recently(Scarlet Witch, Sentry, Mary Jane), but I can honestly say I love both universes. If I didn't love Marvel's world, there would be no reason for me to hate Joe Quesada. Also, I don't care if someone prefers one or the other.  But it drives me crazy when people tell me these whacked out reasons why they prefer one company over another. "I like Coke better than Pepsi because Coke has water in it."

I think the main problem is a lot of comics fans know just enough to be dangerous. During most of the Silver Age, there was a substantial difference in the two publishers. Marvel was all about misunderstood youth and the dangers of The Man. DC was all about eat plenty of vegetables and go to bed early. But even this is just a generalization. But the college kids and hippies decided marvel was more "hip."

The problem is that I hear this from customers that I am certain are not reading 60's material. Ever since I have been reading, both publishers seem thematically the same. Both universes' heroes have flaws. Both contain grisly villains. Girlfriends stuck in refrigerators, sidekicks beaten to death, heroes on drugs, cops vs heroes, street level heroes, the power of a billion exploding sons, misunderstood youth, moral ambiguity....they are in both.

Also, I am sorry but Marvel is in no way less powerful than DC. Thor, Invisible Woman, Dr. Strange, Magneto, Phoenix, Doom, and others too numerous to mention could probably give Superman a run for his money, if not win the battle. Richards, Pym, or Stark are constantly whipping up very powerful gadgets. Remember, we are not comparing titles we are comparing the whole universes.

So when the Marvel snobs come in prattling on about realism, then I have to wonder the last time a teenager burst into flames or when a giant tried to eat the planet. Also, who the hell wants realism? Put those unrealistic comics down! Realism is the FF land and die of cancer. Realism is Banner is blown to bits. Yay realism! 

A lot of creators have done a lot of work for both publishers, their style and themes can be found in both universes.

Like I said, I really don't care if people like one and not the other. They are depriving themselves of some good stories, though. What is good is all subjective. But just don't tell me any bullshit.  Pepsi has water in it too!

-Roy

Giving Back Report

So as many of you know we here at Tribe are big at giving back to the community both local and at large.  It was one of our earliest business decisions.  The goal was to give a portion of our over all profits to help causes we believed in.  As many of you know we have not had much in the way of pay for Roy and I.  However that has not stopped us from trying to raise awareness and money for the causes we love.  So we have asked our customers for help from time to time.  Many of you contributed to Team Tribe when my wife Joansandy was trying to raise money for the Heart Association last year.  Many of you have put spare change in our Comic Book Legal Defense Fund jar we have at the registrar.  Cans of food were brought in last year for the Give to Game.  Comics and games were donated for our Christmas drive whose name I forgot both this past year and the year before.  And Roy and I have followed suit and tried to give product here and there for silent Auctions, raffles, door prizes etc.  Where that was not feasible we gave money.    Anyways this long rambling is a thank you to all who have helped us help others.  Because of Tribe's efforts both Customers and Owners in 2009 we were able to donate (in one form or another) almost $5000.00.  In 2010 we were able to triple that number and give 15,000.00! 

Thanks to all of our customers who have helped for the last 2 years.  I am glad that so many wanted to help us help others.  Here is hoping that 2011 is even better.

That about covers it.

Eric

Why Tribe?

We have been asked why we are named Tribe.  Well that is a many layered answer.  At the most basic it is because that is what are group of friends call themselves.  We also tried a few creative business ventures in our youth and Tribe Productions was the name we were going to use.  So when Roy and I got the store it seemed very obvious to me what the name should be.  Roy was less convinced and tried for a while to find other names that might work.

The more layered answer is one we have been working on for a while.  Well... working on in a way that it can be explained.   As many of you may have figured out by now Roy and I are die hard liberals.  While there are a few liberal causes each of us separately do not support, by and large the RIGHT would hate us if we ever had any kind of power or pulpit.  In that vein Tribe made perfect sense.  It is a word that captures many of our core philosophy.  At it's heart it is we are our brother's keeper.  We are all of the same tribe and we have a moral obligation to help others and to bring them up.  Both of us would love to live comfortable lives with no want or need.  However neither of us want to bleed anyone else dry to do it.  This is the main reason we have been so active at giving money and goods to local and national charities.  It is also why we only charge retail price on everything even variant covers.

That about covers it.

Eric

Eric's List

Eric's Top 11 for 2010 (Or the Year of the Tiger Roughly Feb10-Jan 11)  also in no particular order:


1. Secret Six: Like Roy this book makes me laugh out loud.  It is dark, funny and twisted in all the good ways.

2. Brightest Day: This book is a worthy successor to 52.   I can't wait each month for the next issue.

3. Morning Glories: This booked grabbed me from the first few pages and still has not let go.

4. Gi Joe/Gi Joe Cobra: Unlike Roy I think both should be read together.  You don't need to to understand the other book but you miss the whole picture.  That said I never thought I would be recommending a GI Joe book.

5. X-Men Second Coming: I thought this was a great story.  X-men the way it should be.  Plus poor Kurt.

6. Avengers Children's Crusade: I loved Young Avengers and this everything and more. Plus a possbile redemption of Scarlet Witch!  Take that Bendis!

7. Hulk: Jeff Parker's run on Hulk may have just started but he has already done the impossible, got me to like the Red Hulk.

8. Green Lantern Emerald Warriors: This book is so good.  I love regular GL but the art is not always great.  This book has great story, great characters, great art.

9. Infinite Vacation: Only #1 of this is out so far, so this might end up sucking.  That said the first issue had such a great fresh idea I was shocked.  Nick Spencer could be the next big writer in the industry is Morning Glories and this are evidence of his talent.

10. Fables: I love loved this book from issue 1 and it just gets better.  The confrontation in issue 100 was great and sets the tone for what is coming. 

11. Captain America: Brubaker makes me love Bucky Cap more than Steve.  His run has been great.  I was not a solo Cap Story fan before this book.  Now I can not get enough.

So there you go, our top 11 for the Year of the Tiger.  We were tempted to do a Kindling of the Year list but thought some of you might stone us for our choices.  We hope to be adding new blogs in the coming weeks.  We welcome your comments and we appreciate your business.

Our Top Eleven Comics of the Year of the Tiger 2010

In honor of Eric's wife's heritage and how many time zones were in the former Soviet Union, we present our top eleven comics of 2010. Eric and I will be doing an individual list, it will be interesting to see how they match up.

Roy's top 11 for 2010 (in no particular order)

1. Secret Six (DC) This title always makes me laugh out loud. This crew is not evil enough to fit in with the villains, but they sure as hell are not heroes.

2. The Thanos Imperative (Marvel) Spinning out of the events of the War of Kings, this series delivers over the top cosmic action. A great roller coaster ride.

3. Green Lantern (DC) I am sure all of you have heard for years how good this series is. They ain't lying.

4. Brightest Day (DC) A great follow up for Blackest Night. The storytelling is similar to 52, with how it jumps around between characters.

5. Uncanny X-Force (Marvel) This book has excellent rhythm. Great dialogue and great action.

6. The Stuff of Legend ((Th3rd World Studios) It comes out infrequently, but this story of toys going into the Dark to save their boy is fantastic.

7. Chew (Image) This book is just plain damn funny. Just read it.

8. Morning Glories (Image) I was hooked from the first issue. Just what is going on at this sinister school?

9. Secret Avengers (Marvel) This is the only consistently good Avengers title. Brubaker always writes good cloak and dagger stuff.

10. G.I. Joe (IDW) The relaunch of G.I. Joe has been fantastic. If you like military action, you should be reading this.

11. G.I. Joe: Cobra (IDW) The darker, more psychological "sister-book" of G.I. Joe. Explore the inner workings of Cobra.