The whole "you're going to get out of here" didn't work out and you're actually pushing for it, right?

I think something should be done about the racism instead of it just being part of the CBRU experience.

I think something should be done about constant harassment of other users. One need only check your profile and can find several instances of you doing that in regards to me. It shouldn't be part of the CBRU experience.

Never mind that that review isn't racist, saying someone receives a job not because they're competent isn't racist. But that's just the silly games you play when you're grasping at straws.

Well, you've been a bigot, a racist and continually harassed and insulted creators in your reviews since you were warned to stop. I only want to see follow through. Dan can decide what to do with my account, I don't care.

No, I haven't but keep trying.

You both need to tone it down.

Merlyn, I agree with Psycamorean here. Your comment about Tochi Onyebuchi is a good example of what I was referring to when I said I didn't want disparaging remarks about creators posted on the site. If you don't like the book, that's fine. Leave it at that without taking personal shots at the creators.

Psycamorean, I'm sent as many complaints about your conduct on the site as I am about Merlyn's. People don't want to read user reviews about comics they're interested in and end up reading a post where one reviewer is making fun of or attacking another. Not to mention wading through long running arguments in the comments sections that, a lot of the time, you're in the center of.

Both of you are contributing to the problem here so please, both of you, knock it off.

I only make reviews like that because I don't think there's any effective pushback against this sort of thing. The reviews of mine that people complain about wouldn't exist if literally every review Merlyn puts out wasn't race baiting, disparaging creators and/or some other toxic nonsense.

These are screenshots sent to me just in the past few days: https://i.imgur.com/Mp1C3oG.png https://i.imgur.com/wn1fjj7.png https://i.imgur.com/hslJe26.png https://i.imgur.com/NmGRRWS.png

I only made that comment because I genuinely believe that there is no need for a writer to have the same skin color as the character he writes. That is literally racism and I believe it should be fought against. I just want to say that even though you told Psycamorean that he shouldn't write such reviews, there is another user here, The Brave and The Bold, who just did exactly that and Psycamorean liked this, as in he learned nothing from what you said so he probably won't ever stop.

The fact that there are users here who sent each other screenshots about my reviews I think says everything there is to say about how far some people are willing to go in their effort to harass me and other users.

I've been here much longer than Merlyn and his followers, and most of my reviews have nothing to do with them. I get wanting to be a mediator, but not on this. Almost every other place online where people share their thoughts on comics has a zero tolerance policy against the type of things Merlyn and his followers frequently say, and for good reason. It's toxic, and it drives people away. I just want this website to be a better place for discussion.

Q.E.D.

I find it genuinely ridiculous how Psycamorean is literally trying to tell the admin here how to do his job, I don't believe this. After harassing users here and obsessing about them to the point where he and his followers conspire against whomever doesn't speak like they want. After all that, to think you should decide who is and isn't allowed to speak. It's all surreal. That said, this is my last comment here, whatever Dan decides to do. At some point it is my fault too for keeping this up.

Speaking of harassment, I find it very creepy and unsettling that Merlyn, even after he blocked me for making a soccer joke, openly brags in this very thread about stalking me and making ledgers of where I comment and who likes my reviews. I'd say this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black, but the word "black" might offend Merlyn.

Thanks Dan. While it can be sometimes amusing listening to guys on CBRU bicker, it can sometimes get a bit toxic. @Merlyn - think the one thing I'd like (not trying to police you mind you) is for you to take Dan's comment on your reviews of *Leave it at that without taking personal shots at the creators.* While I guess anyone can use whatever yardstick they want to review books, I've lost credibility in your reviews because of your continued potshots at certain creators and I've found myself

reading your reviews not because I want to see how good a book is, but because I want to see "what new conspiracy is at play today". I'm being very generalistic but I'm sure/hope you get me. Anyway, hope to see more objective reviews from you going forward. **Feel the need to say this** - Please do NOT take this as an attack/pile on! Crossing fingers that the fact we've interacted a few times in the past (& your general sense of my nature) doesn't let you inteprete it as such. Cheers.

Wow, I didn't even think there could be such battles on this site... Do someone's reviews really make other people driven away from the site? That's ridiculous... I use this site to save MY statistics about comics I read and no one's review could possibly drive me away, because I don't care and I think you shouldn't to... And by the way, Merlin is right, that Black Panther review doesn't contain anything racist... Because it's just his thoughts and suggestions. He didn't say insults out loud.

And also if I find the creator unprofessional and all his works are bad (at least for me), then I can't say that he's a bad writer or artist? Okay, insults are bad, but some comics just give you awful emotions (One more day, sins past, etc) and why people can't say that the people who made this story are asses? If they wanted you to be angry after the reading, then you are certainly have a right to...

For example, this review exists: https://ibb.co/Sd9R6FQ And it even has a like. And no one really cares about it... So I think, Psycamorean makes an elephant out of a fly. I don't know if this idiom is exist in english, but you got my point.

And also my personal opinion is that arguments are fine when it's about the topic and not users personality. It helps to understand people's opinions better and sometimes you really see things, that you didn't see before.

The reason the Black Panther review is racist is because Merlyn implies that the only reason Tochi Onyebuchi was able to get hired by Marvel was due to his skin color, rather than his own merit. This is a very common racist talking point. It's absurd. Tochi Onyebuchi is an accomplished writer, with a background that is honestly perfect for a Sam Wilson Cap book. But Merlyn thinks and says that he only got hired due to his race, and that's racist.

"Merlyn implies that the only reason Tochi Onyebuchi was able to get hired by Marvel was due to his skin color, rather than his own merit". Man, he didn't say it. He said that we all understand the reason. And if you understood, that he was right lol...

And there's a fundamental difference between criticizing someone's work and insulting them personally. You could say, "Joe Quesada forced his way on OMD and made a terrible story for X, Y, Z reasons" and that's fine, but saying you want to assault him over a comic book is not okay. That review you posted shouldn't be allowed on the site, in my opinion. It offers nothing of substance, and is childish as hell. I think arguments are perfectly fine to have, as I obviously and openly argue a lot.

And yeah, in this case I agree with you, that he's a writer at the first place, so I didn't understand Merlyn's review like you did. So, the real racist is you and yourself only.

I think there's a limit though, and this site desperately needs to define that limit, otherwise all of this will keep going *and* get worse.

"but saying you want to assault him over a comic book is not okay"... I believe he said that ironically and it certainly feels like that, but if not, it's not okay to shut his mouth, because it won't change his intention to do this.

And wtf, man... https://ibb.co/YRkdKRK This user literally tried to convince him to commit suicide and you are fine with this... I dunno, you all look the same for me, but you personally are trying to look better, than others... At least it seems so for me

Green Goblin, you seem like you have a bias here, and therefore it's not worth arguing with you. You're willfully ignorant about Merlyn's review. I guess look at all the other times he's been openly racist, and eventually you'll figure it all out. You can definitely deincentivize toxic people from being toxic if you don't allow them to be toxic on your platform. And the fact that you bring up that post which is not saying what you think it does really speaks to your inability to grasp any of thi

I don't have a bias, I just saw this post and made my own conclusions. I don't stalk him and don't read his reviews like you do to judge them by anything except the text written. And you didn't have enough symbols to finish your thought, so I don't really understand it. My point is - who cares about other people reviews and if they care - why? I think, there could be an option added to hide reviews of some users if they make you feel like this...

Or some kind of a shadow banning. That would be fine. Toxic people would see their own reviews, but other people - not. But the whole strict moderation thing is a lot more work for Dan, which really isn't that important in my opinion.

https://ibb.co/1dkdg0w https://ibb.co/5LHXBWD Just wanted to add these two screenshots. This is the guy who claims he should have the right to say to anyone he's allowed to post here or not. Someone who claims to fuck someone's parent and doubles down on it, while being cheeky. Yeah, that definitely sounds like someone who should decide who should have freedom of speech. As one great man used to say... 'Nuff Said.

Lol, I just saw that he called this site trash... A guy with 6k+ reviews. And why? Because Dan doesn't want to ban everyone he want to be banned.

Maybe a guy with 6k+ comic reviews would understand the way the site is operating? Maybe they'd have friends who were turned off from using the site due to the toxicity? Maybe they'd have some experience in other comic communities to compare and contrast? I've been an admin and a moderator before myself. These aren't wacky and crazy ideas I'm putting forth.

Merlyn, you literally stalk people who follow me and tell them I'm crazy, and then on the rare times you haven't blocked me, you harass me with messages. I think I can be a little cheeky.

I brought a lot of my friends here myself and no one of them cared about other people reviews and opinions, so I think it's their problems, that they are so fragile...

And if you know other sites for comics like this (which I don't) then fine. But if there's no analogues, so I think your friends didn't really need this site at all, by the way...

I mean, it's the site's problem if the only people willing to use it are toxic kinds that support bigotry and demonize creators? And there are a few analogues to this site that don't get as much attention. And friends have moved to using those sites instead.

Then we all are happy for your non-imaginable friends. And if you still use this site, then you are toxic too? Because that's what you are saying.

I see here a very few toxic people. If you see only toxic, then it's you problem, man, you better concentreate on something more positive

I mean, I could name some but then you'd probably incessantly comment on their posts too. If the site continues to morph the way it has, I'll probably move to an alternative.

Reviews with a higher ratings are always on top. But you scroll down to the bottom just to annoy yourself and start holy wars

And well, if your friends abandoned this site, as you are saying, then how my possible comments could possibly make them something bad?

I mean, I can say, that your "satanist" nickname driven away from this site couple of my religious friends. And so what?

That review order is actually a new addition. Before it was based on how many likes a review gets, and the toxic reviews always get the same likes from the same groups, so those would show up at the top. Dan changed this, and I thought it was a good change. I don't want my friends harassed. And I guess you could say that, but this is a new name.

So you are fighting with the majority of people who don't want to read bad comics. Okay.

Yes, that's definitely what that means.

SP - just seeing this. Went over there out of curiousity to see the discussion but don't think I could access it or something. Can't remember but have sinced moved on. Yeah remove me from it if not already done. Cheers.

Huh, weird! It's all cool. Cheers.

You not understanding, AGAIN, that just because I don't like something is already a classic. Btw, how could Luigi fly? Come on, explain that one.

*that just because I don't like something doesn't mean I don't understand it. You did the same on the Hulk book.

@Merlyn - Luigi could fly because he had a Legion Ring. Read the last conversation again about "returning the ring". It's right there... Cheers.

Merlyn - As Mr White astutely points out, Luigi had the Legion ring because Chance lifted it from Booster during their conversation. The Smallwood art even points it out by zooming in on the ring on Booster hand in one panel before showing it missing in the next. That would require paying attention and comprehending what you read and that’s so much harder than throwing up a “1” score and shitting on a writer you don’t like.

The fact that you doubled down on your misunderstanding under my review, rather than attempting to see how you could be wrong is FANTASTIC.

@Mr. White: Cheers, mate, you're right about that one. @Loafy: While that's correct, it still doesn't make any ounce of sense, Guy Gardner wouldn't give up the ring to Hal, even like that. I guess you're just okay with contrived "explanations". Just as you were okay with the Hulk thing where "oh he killed some people but he was just asleep lol". Anyway, happy new year, maybe next year you'll stop being so bitter and douchy!

That’s a really impressive goalpost move there bud. No, we both know EXACTLY what you meant the first time AND second time around. Just admit you were wrong and misread the book in a rush to slander it

Also not sure how the explanation for what happened what contrived. Chance nicked the ring from Booster, gave it to Luigi and they pulled a quick on on an embarrassed Guy Gardner. It took me one sentence to explain it again to you. Keep up buddy

Holy shit my autocorrect had a stroke lol. * Also not sure how the explanation for what happened is contrived. Chance nicked the ring from Booster, gave it to Luigi and they pulled a quick one on an embarrassed Guy Gardner.

Yeah, either you don't get Guy Gardner or just have such a hard-on for King that you don't give a crap how he writes characters as long as you're in awe of his work. He's done the same to Booster Gold, Wally West, Batman and other characters, it's not even anything new. But keep pretending he gets these characters. Anyway I'm done here.

Cool, run away with your tail between your legs again. This is a Black Label series you dip shit and you don’t seem to have a clue what that means. King can play loose with the continuity here and FWIW,l this depiction of Guy is pretty damn spot on. Especially considering the first date he took Ice on (in your precious continuity) they went to a porno theater. I’d bet good fucking money you didn’t know that and just want to fling shit around like the angry Neanderthal you are.

“kiNg DoEsNt GeT tHe ChaRActErs.” You people are so fucking tiresome

Even on New Year's Eve, so full of anger and hate, it must feel so sad to be you, you truly are pitiful. :(

Pot, meet kettle. You came here to my review, doubling down on your completely incorrect read of the book and got put in your place. And then you poorly moved the goalposts to “WeLL gUy IsNt ChArCTeRiZeD RiGhT” and you didn’t even get that right for numerous reasons, that I just explained. Just take the L already little dude and run along

Actually you were the one who commented about my review because you are obsessed with me. So yeah, sorry, the whole "you started this" doesn't work. Not that logic was ever your strong suit.

I pointed out you were factually wrong on my review because it’s funny that you’re basically the “If those kids could read” meme come to life.

Mhmm. Notice how I never once "point out" anything about your reviews? It's called "not giving a shit". As in, I don't give a shit about you or your reviews. You, on the other hand, are obviously not capable of doing the same, hence your obsession. Make up another fake acccount or something, you started the whole trend, remember? Byyyye.

Here I made one just for you https://imgflip.com/i/5zmxf9

That’s because my reviews aren’t full of obviously incorrect statements about the book. You’re making a false equivalence

Yeah, Loafy, learn to not give a shit. Merlyn clearly doesn't. Only someone who cares would argue in the comments of your review and Merlyn didn't do that.

And the squabbles continue…. And as a huge Guy Gardner fan, this is the “surface level version” that only grabs one bit of Guy and exploits it. It’s his story and Black Label, but please don’t say this is “spot on”. While some say King doesn’t get characters, I say he finds the one thing that he can over exaggerate and runs with it. My issue with all of King’s stories is he rarely will show a character has evolved past their negative aspects, but instead he, and them, dwell on the negative.

Just to point out… Guy is a pig headed jerk, but that’s what is crazy about him being a hero. That’s the sort of psychological bit I think King usually misses. This portrayal of Guy is not wrong, it’s just the 100% generic portrayal that any casual fan will go with because that’s all they hear from other casuals. He did the same thing with Phantasm - instead of expanding the character in her 1st comic appearance, she is a cog in the story like Guy is here, so he goes generic

And.. there is an argument to be had on whether Tom King writes Black Label because he has more freedom, or DC makes him write Black Label because his stories, characters and continuity is whack. Remember, Strange Adventures was announced as in-continuity and was changed to Black Label after DC read the scripts.

Strange Adventures was advertised as Black Label from the beginning. Also, I don’t know how many times it has to be said before you people get it, these books are not in continuity so they don’t have to rigidly abide by continuity. It’s a simple concept. Also congrats, you figured out that Guy isn’t the main character in a book titled “Human Target.”

I’d like to see you explain what is wrong with the characterization of Guy. You’ve said not to call it “spot on” and called it “generic” and said King’s characterizations are “whack” which are clearly statements in conflict with one another. I feel that this characterization of Guy felt natural when looking at his JLI days, which this book is influenced by, and the history of his relationship with Ice.

Guy literally took Ice to a porno theatre on their first date and the entirety of their relationship in Giffen and DeMatteis’s books was super weird and a little creepy. But god forbid King tap into that in an out-of-continuity book where Guy is 3rd billing at best.

To quote myself from another Forum: “Don't really get why people are bent out of shape with King's writing here especially knowing: (1) It's King and history has proven he writes/ approaches stories in a particular manner; and (2) it's an Elseworld tale. The major issue people have is "[x] is not written in character". While I don't think it's really to be expected, I do think they are in character (the underlying base at least) albeit, an (extremely?) exagerrated version of them…

...Also, as some others have pointed out, he's just telling a specific story (D.O.A) using popular characters where everyone is playing a (stereotypical) role. As I often say to people, if you continue reading it, TRY to enjoy it for what it is as opposed to what you think/feel it "should" be."

Look it up @loafy, they changed it to black label after it was already announced https://www.comicsbeat.com/dcs-strange-adventures-rebranded-under-black-label/

I can see why these stupid arguments keep going because I don’t think you read everything people say. I said this characterization of Guy isn’t wrong, it’s just the generic version, “Guy is a jerk” that gets rehashed all the time. He uses it with a lot of his books as a shortcut with characters. I am a Damian Wayne fan, but most writers just write him as the generic “jerk” as well and I find it lazy

Maybe you could take this argument to the discord.

I am not aware of a discord

If you want to join: https://discord.gg/xJz6buvNFZ

No, I read what you said and you’re wrong. DC originally solicited Strange Adventures as a Black Label book. It was always Black Label. Just read the damn book and try to explain how it would ever have worked in main continuity. Your extrapolating too much from one quote from an editor before the book was even at the printer.

I also don’t think the characterization was lazy, I think your argument is. Guy IS an asshole. It’s baked into his character, specifically during the JLI era.. So if King characterizes him like every other writer did for a decade, you say it’s lazy, and if he tries to do something slightly different and new, then you pull out the tried and true “he doesn’t get the characters.”

Also Guy appeared in what 10-12 pages of this comic? That’s pretty quick to pass interpretation on an interpretation of a character in a BLACK LABEL book.

You accusing me of “not reading” is pretty funny when you refuse to read the Black Label stamp on the cover of the book.

Excellent review. This is Guy if I've ever seen him. If I described this character and his actions to someone with even a passing knowledge of DC, without naming the character, they'd be able to tell you it was Guy very quickly.

I tried to talk it out one-on-one. He wouldn't do it. I am pretty much indifferent to him at this point. I just think he has terrible, easily refuted views and since he constantly invokes them when criticizing comics, usually negatively, I just want to point it out how dumb his views are. Going through and refuting him takes little effort, so it's not much of a bother.

Hating a comic (or any media really) for disagreeing with you politically is one of the lowest forms of thought. And I think that's super commonplace in the comics sphere. Comics folk are easily angered and very opinionated. I think people like Merlyn make the rest of us look like shit. He gets a lot of support in this community from other shitty people with terrible views. I don't see the downside to calling them out, only the upside of showing them that they're unwanted in the community.

Typically, I'm not so hawkish with people who disagree with me. Even when they disagree with me in a way that I find reprehensible, like denying climate change or equal rights. Usually, if I do engage, it's to try to move them over. Merlyn, as I said earlier, is unwillingly to even talk about it. All this is to say that Merlyn is a specific case where I'm not concerned with changing his mind. I just want him and people at his level to go away.

I think one of the great things about comics is just how diverse they are. You get so many different perspectives, and it's what keeps the medium alive imo.

Good job dismantling the lies!

Lol...so anyone that doesnt share psychos politics and actually expresses it here is "shitty people" that he demands should go away from these boards. And Merlyn triggers him to the extent that he writes reviews about his reviews. Get help kid...seriously.

Yeah, actually, you are shitty. I've seen your comments before. Thanks for helping me remember you. Go away now.

You don't actually review anything on the site, you just comment about your crappy politics most of the time, usually in defense of Merlyn.

When a writer chooses to saturate his work with his politics he is open to criticism for it. But in psychos world view if you disagree with his politics you are a mon person and should be ostracized. Inside every lefty is a totalitarian screaming to get out isn't there psycho?

Social ostracization has nothing to do with totalitarianism. I assume you meant "non-person," and that's not something I said. Merlyn is definitely a person with feelings and passions and thoughts. He's just really stupid and I don't like how he makes the rest of us look. You keep calling me a psycho, but I think I've been very reasonable.

this site has gone nefarious with so many trolls offended at being blocked by stalkers, he blocked you, get over it!

these guys are sad, all they do is complain about POLITICS and comics being WOKE, it´s exhausting

I could understand it more if instead of there being an acknowledgement of climate change, the politics on display were like Frank Miller's Holy Terror.

Yes being triggered by Merlyn to the point of reviewing his reviews then declaring everyone that agrees with him"shitty people" who should never post here again positively screams reasinable...at least to your fellow budding totalitarians it does.

Love the parseltongue "social ostrasizatiion has nothing to do with totalitaruanis" whitewashing if your totalitarian fantasy if removing everyone you dont agree with politically. North Korea is probably taking notes right now. But of course demanding an ideological purge of these boards screams reasonable..lol

Look I want to just enjoy comics too. And if a new title starts a discussion about any aspect of it one shouldn't have to be trolled by neurotic children with totalitarian fantasies. Is this beyond you.

Climates change. Man doesn't change them. But I ll call your bluff cite for me one precedent where a "green policy" has changed a climate back to what you believe is the right climate. Good luck.

Anyway enjoy the book as long as it lasts. I'm sticking with Clark Kent.

I do think people who look at Merlyn's reviews and think he's making good points are really idiotic. And I think people who support those ideas on display are typically not great people, morally. I mean, just look at what one of Merlyn's groupies posted on his profile page. About how the gays are taking over. It's not only bigoted (and therefore shitty), it's also insane. I don't want these people representing this community or the broader comics community.

I don't know what you were getting at with your second comment because it isn't written well, but totalitarianism is a form of government that is centralized, dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state. I'm not advocating for any of that. I'm fine with political disagreements. I just don't support disinformation and misinformation, nor do I support bigotry. Those are beyond the pale of political disagreement.

The difference here is I can enjoy comics regardless of the politics in them. For instance, I'd say Dark Knight Returns is pro-fascist. Obviously, I disagree with that. But I can still recognize that it's a entertaining read and very important to the growth of Batman as a character. I think being so dogmatic that you can't enjoy things that don't subscribe 100% to your beliefs is cowardly and childish.

Climates do change over time, that's true. But man, with his fossil fuels and plastics, accelerate the process to the point where inhabitability will one day be impossible. Fossil fuels create carbon emissions that build up in the atmosphere, and absorb and radiate heat. This leads to temperatures rising which leads to the waters of the Earth rising in temperature as well. This causes a lot of things.

The rising temperatures melt the ice in the north and south poles, which rises the water levels, which leads to massive floods and coastal regions being consumed by the oceans. The heat of the oceans and the heat in the air mix to create more and more violent and dangerous weather patterns. The heat acidifies the oceans, killing off sea life, which leads to ecological collapse.

The heat creates intense droughts that cripple our food supply and lead to wildfires breaking out, either because of lightning, sparks or some asshole lighting something on fire. The heat also kills many, many animals, including bugs. If bugs go extinct, everyone else does. This is on top of deforestation and hunting, which destroys habitats and kills so many more animals. Humans are responsible for plenty of ecological ills outside of the direct cause-and-effect of climate change.

We've driven an insane amount of species to extinction. It is undeniable the effect humanity has on the environment and the climate. We are killing our planet. As for your request, I think I should disabuse you of the notion that we can just snap our fingers and fix this. We can't. The damage has been done. All we can do is enact policies now to prepare for the devastation of climate collapse and to slow the heating process down.

Therefore, there is no policy that has "changed the climate back" to something resembling a viable climate. That's such a stupid notion, and it shows how little you actually know about this subject or basic science. As for policies to enact to lessen the burden of climate change, we need to invest in green energy. Wind, solar, hydro, and even nuclear. All of those are better than fossil fuels.

I think it would be beneficial long term, not just for the climate, but economically. It is a necessity. We need to put water conservation efforts at the forefront. We are nearly out of drinkable, useable water. The water that we use, in America, to grow our crops in the Midwest is almost completely dried up. We need to move towards public transit instead of everyone having a car, with electric cars being a nice transition.

We need to actually recycle plastics and paper goods, instead of shipping them off to China. We need to stop using plastics. Microplastics are everywhere, in everything. We know it creates hormonal imbalances, causes cancer, and it will slowly sterilize men. It is no good for us or the environment. These are all policies put forth by politicians who fight for green policies. And I think they'd be helpful in saving humanity from the worst of climate change.

@Psycamorean - while I somewhat see what you're saying...I think you're giving Merlyn a bit too much of your time. Even if it's not "a bother". Confession - when I come to this site I do go hunting for his comments cos, while I never agree with them, I find them amusing & I know they're almost always going to cause a ruckus. That said I've had a brief 1-1 with him in the past & he comes across as straightforward. He knows what he likes and how he likes it. His review of comics seem to be tied to

his views (political and otherwise) and that's how he has chosen to operate. Which is at his sole discretion and within his rights. Those that agree with him are already of a similar mindset. No one would be changing their stance based on his reviews. Point is, if you don't agree with it/ have an issue with it...tough. Move on. I (and I'm sure a great number of others) certainly did. You do you, while he does him.

@Mr. White I don't think I'm giving him that much time. I review a lot of comics, and the majority of those reviews have nothing to do with Merlyn. Did you see the massive wall of text I wrote about climate change above? That's me putting forth effort. Me typing up a short paragraph about Merlyn's shitty takes is maybe a 30 second ordeal. He doesn't have nuanced or original opinions, so I don't have to think hard about my responses.

Just as it's within his rights to criticize these comics however he wants to (I kind of disagree with this wording - we're on an internet forum and therefore subject to moderation. This is a private platform, not a public one - I get what you mean), it is within my rights to use my platform at my own discretion.

@Mingthemerciless Hey so, in light of the IPCC climate report, I just want to stress that continued dismissal of anthropogenic climate change will end in deadly consequences, almost assuredly now.

Wow, Psycamorean, I think you really have some problems with other people opinions... You know, they are exist... And so be it! It just weird, that someone's reviews are bother you so badly... Just chill, man. Read comics and enjoy the best of them.

I'm super chill and I enjoy comics.

You aren't if you want to shut Merlyn no matter what... If he hates most of the comics he reads, then it's only his problem and you could just feel for him a bit, because it's him who sad and angry, not you :D

how is this bad writing?

This guy been giving every Geoff Johns comic the same score, why you so salty who hurt you?

yeah you're right @VicSav. This guy is clearly biased against Geoff Johns. But hey, he may have "bad" writing but at least its better than yours @ComickerPerson

I just read it fully, there is no way someone read this and the best outcome he got was that it was badly written. I thought the strongest point of this was the writing and the great reveals and characterization of these characters, a lot of build up for a great reveal.

@ComickerPerson - I'm curious, why is it "bland and lifeless"/ bad writing? Genuinely asking and hope you respond (articulately). I'm go'n give you the benefit ot the doubt and ignore @daspidaboy and @VicSav's claims you're biased (meaning I'm not going to check your past ratings of GJ's comics). That said, HARD disagee with your review. Think this book (and the volumes before) are well written and serve as an interesting take on the Bat-Universe/Mythos. Each instalment has been a great....

...addition and showed organic growth of the characters/ world involved. The spin on these characters are also interesting. Having read a Batman who is arguably "more than human" for way too long, it's great to have a version that is closer to the "original concept". Earth-One Batman is definitely my favorite Batman (at least for now) and would love to have more, though I do fear that more may result in an implosion. Just like the Ult. Universe.

Hey, thanks for asking! So my main problem with the book is the writer, I really dislike Taylor's writing, I find it juvenile and repetitive. I feel like lately I'm reading from him the same story over and over again, it has the same messages/tropes. Rich people are bad (I also watch his twitter, I've seen him retweeting several tweets from marxist pages, as someone from a former communist country that really, really scares me), always the same thinly-veiled attacks at politics he doesn't like

(which are basically every other politics than green). But the worst is the dialogue, is so infantile and cringe that I feel like closing the book a lot of times but I just push through just because I like Nightwing. Also, he overuses "emotional" moments and when you do that so often at some point it all becomes too cheap for the moment to move me. To his credit, he does write very good action scenes, he's good at that, unfortunately all the flaws in the book can't make up for that.

As for what I like in my comics, I'm not looking for a specific type of story, I'm open to all kinds of things. At this point I enjoy books like Eternals, Immortal Hulk, Batman/Superman, Batman Urban Legends, Hellions, The Joker, Thor or Spider-Man - The Spider's Shadow. Over the last few years I think the best comics I've had the pleasure the read were House of X/Powers of X, Doomsday Clock, Cates' first volumes of Venom, first half of King's Batman run (totally hated the second half),

Red Hood and the Outlaws until #25, Metal (the first one, the second was awful), even Secret Empire partly. Hope I've given you a satisfying answer. :)

Oh, I forgot to add, I loved his Injustice but after that it seemed like his writing was in a downward spiral.

Hahaha. Yeah you certainly gave a robust response! Thanks. As to what your general tastes (a few of which I also like), it’s so wide that It can’t be put in a box to say the current NW run “is not your type of story”. I don’t follow/read Taylor’s tweets etc so don’t “know” him outside his books. TBH I’ve enjoyed his books more times than not so guess that gives you an insight to how I feel about his writing generally. Right now, I do find his NW run enjoyable & the voices correct. Nice chat

Yeah, I didn't say it's not my type of story, it's street level crime, I'm interested in it. The way the writer chooses to tell the story is the problem and, like I said, the dialogue most of all. I get why a lot of Nightwing fans are liking this, it comes after the whole Ric thing so yeah, I understand that, but I can't get myself to like it too. It was a nice chat, I enjoyed it, thanks!

What comics do you like from those I've listed here? Or not necessarily just from these, I'm always up for new suggestions.

Not sure how i missed this! So from your list: Immortal Hulk, SM - The Spider's Shadow & Hellions. Current series I rate - X-Universe (it's more good than bad), American Vampire 1976 (huge fan of the entire series & would recommend same), Daredevil, Die! Die! Die!, Fire Power, Once & Future. There are others which you seem not to be a fan of atm e.g Black Cat, Nightwing, Strange Adventures. I've actually put together a list of MY highest rated comics...will see if I can pull it out and share.

All- Star Batman (Snyder) Batman - White Knight (Sean Murphy) Batman - Curse of the White Knight (Sean Murphy) Batman - Last Knight on Earth (Snyder) Batman - Earth One (Geoff Johns) Batman Universe (Bendis) Batman - New 52 (Snyder) Checkmate (Rucka) Deathstroke - Rebirth (Priest) Gotham Central (Rucka) Sinestro Corps War (Geoff Johns) Harleen (Stjepan Šejić) Martian Manhunter (Steve Orlando) Mister Miracle (Tom King) The Wild Storm (Warren Ellis)

100 Bullets (Azzarello) American Vampire (Snyder) Assassin Nation (Kyle Starks) Black Science (Remender) Chew (John Layman) Criminal (Brubaker) Die! Die! Die! (Kirkman) East of West (Hickman) Empress (Millar) GI Joe - Cobra (Costa) Incognito (Brubaker) Invincible (Kirkman) James Bond (Ellis, Diggle) Jupiter’s Circle (Millar) Jupiter’s Legacy (Millar) Nailbiter (Williamson) Once & Future (Gillen) Prodigy (Millar) Scalped (Aaron)

Sleeper (Brubaker) Space Bandits (Millar) Super Crooks (Millar) The Boys (Ennis) The Fix (Spencer) The Losers (Diggle) The Magic Order (Millar) The Old Guard (Rucka) The Sheriff of Babylon (King) Thief of Thieves (Kirkman, Spencer, Diggle, James Asmus) Velvet (Brubaker) Witchblade (Marz)

All-New Wolverine (Tom Taylor) Cap (Brubaker) Daredevil (Bendis, Brubaker) Daughters of the Dragon Dr. Strange (Waid) Fury Max - My War Gone By (Ennis) House of X - Powers of X (Hickman) Immortal Iron Fist (Fraction) Iron Man v4 (Extremis Era) Invincible Iron Man (Fraction) Jessica Jones -Blind Spot & Purple Daughter Killmonger (Brian Hill) King Thor (Aaron) Moon Knight (Huston, Ellis) Nick Fury - Deep Cover Capers (James Dale Robinson) Punisher - Soviet (Ennis)

Punisher Max (Ennis) Secret Warriors (Hickman) Superior Foes of Spiderman (Spencer) The Ultimates (Millar) The Vision (King) Thor - God of Thunder (Aaron) Thunderbolts (Ellis) Uncanny X-Force (Remender) Winter Soldier (Brubaker) X-Force (Kyle & Yost) X-Men - Second Coming SO I FOUND THE LIST :D WAS LONGER THAN I THOUGHT

there was no build up or clues for black cat to be bisexual, they changed the sexual orientation

Yep, they did it for the sales.

Mmmh it's sad the way a comic prostitutes itself at this level. I am bothered by the laziness of the publisher to generate fresh characters and only make changes to the characters or. make new characters with the same story as the old characters.

Thanks guys for the information, you are gold.

Black cat has been bisexual since 2002 my man. You're late.

No, she hasn't, that was just one issue from Kevin Smith that everyone else ignored after that because it didn't make sense. Just as it doesn't now.

Felicia has been bi in the MC2 -universe (Mayday Parker's universe) in 2001-02 and was teased about in Smith's The Evil That Men Do in 06. I personally don't mind it, as she is still the same character has she has been, McKay has been pretty consistant with her characterization.

You literally acknowledged that it happened in a comic 19 years ago you don't get to pick and choose what's Canon and what isn't. also McKay brought that up last year in the previous run he had on the character.

Something I'm very good at is compartmentalizing and being able to isolate such things from the story being told. So while changing a characters sexual orientation for the sake of it is jarring (amongst other stuff), right now this doesn't affect the overall story/writing so it doesn't warrant a (negative?) reaction from me. Story is still well told, let's hope it continues.

Doesn't matter what she was in what universe, she wasn't in this one. Mackay is just doing this because his book doesn't sell, it's Pride month and he's trying to ride that train. It's pretty pathetic, really. He's not able to write a good story, good enough to sell, and he's pandering in the hopes that this is how his sales will boost. That's a sign of a bad writer and to be honest, he is a bad writer.

If I could like your comment on this website @Merlyn, I would.

Wait, no, Felicia has been bisexual for over a decade. It's been brought up in this universe multiple times. You can't just decide to ignore that to justify your homophobic rage. You people are ridiculous, just come out and say you hate gay people instead of trying your turn at anti-capitalist rhetoric.

It has to be the same character from the same land, in my opinion otherwise it does not count and it becomes meaningless changes just to sell the comic. Thanks to those who responded respectfully. U'r great.

It is the same character from the same land.

Gentlemen can be educated, ideas are attacked, those who attack people are because they have no bases or are much more intolerant of the union than they think they are attacking.

The ideas being presented here are trash and indicative of the people making them.

Let it get into your hard skull, many of us disagree with changes in ethnicity, gender and sexual preference BECAUSE THE CHARACTER IS NOT RESPECTED. I think Harley's transition to homosexuality was decent, what I don't like is that he lost all charm when a heroin attempt was made, lost his essence or that now they are going to invent a phobia for me. If they change Storm, many of us would have a complete rejection of the character and I include myself because I like the character a lot.

How was this issue disrespectful to Black Cat?

This is the typical argument made by people who ultimately just dislike diversity, which is a bad look,

First, I don't like that people disrespect each other, secondly, I don't know who you mean and if it's me, let me laugh out loud, because before all this progressive thing became fashionable I already had friends and gay flesh and blood friends, years ago another transgender friend joined and we have all laughed and cried together. And we do not see homosexuals, transvestites, trans we only see people. But what can I explain to someone with such a hard head.

And you talk about disrespect, you are all confused. I'm talking about the lack of respect between you.

And by the Storm change I mean a woman of another ethnicity. And not because I scream racism, I do not have two brain fingers, but because they are not respecting the trajectory of the character. If Black Cat of that universe has been bi before all this progress I raise the rating, that's why I asked for guidance, if they converted it just for money, it stays the 6.5

Finally, my comment was directed to those who disrespect each other, who was left with the coat and put it on. Or did you see me call you Psycamorean ?

Now without attacking anyone, you can contribute your information to me. I would sincerely appreciate it.

the article that led me to doubt was this. https://screenrant.com/marvel-black-cat-bisexual-felicia-hardy-tamara-blake/ I will take it as good, thanks to all those who gave me your guidance in a polite and respectful way towards others. all of you are just great.

@fenixlasnegras: Psycamorean is a troll, you'll never get to to a conclusion with him, he just trolls until either you give up or he gives up. Or he just blocks you when you disagree with him like he's done with me, he said he doesn't want to talk with me anymore and then he blocked me. Then he started inserting himself in a lot of the conversations I was having with other users because that's his shtick, he tries to stirrshit up but when he hears points of views he doesn't like, he blocks you.

He's also an anti-Semite, just look at my Mr. Miracle: The Source of Freedom review, he's very upfront about it.

And Black Cat has been straight since her '79 debut, until this week there was only one issue from Kevin Smith that stated otherwise who no one takes seriously. That's like saying because Miller made Batman an unhinged maniac in his All-Star Batman and Robin, THAT'S the Batman that we all know and love. Nope, everyone ignores that, and rightly so, because that was just Miller ignoring 50 years of the character's history. Same thing is happening here.

I don't have anyone blocked. And it wasn't your review, it was someone else's. And I think I made it very clear that I'm not anti-semitic, and it's in fact Merlyn who is making anti-semitic claims.

It wasn't just the one issue, and unlike ASB&R, all the issues I remember are in continuity.

He unblocked me right now just so he can lie about what I said. Just goes to show what kind of person he is. Yesterday he had me blocked, now he unblocked me because I said who he is. :))

Well, I guess fenixalasnegras will have to come to his own conclusions, and I would hope that seeing you outright lie will be a good indicator.

I have no worries about that.

*The review where he's anti-Semitic is Rasiel's though he still inserted himself in a conversation he had nothing to do with AFTER he blocked me because he didn't want to hear my opinions that differed from his.

I'd recommend everyone go read that comment chain. If you think I'm anti-semitic after reading that, well... I'm not very concerned with what you think.

Nah your just a braindead spastic with a hate-boner for King. This was a great issue, stay mad.

Yeah, it was a great issue if your brain is the size of a peanut lol. I get it, you're a dumbass who lick King's boots who just tricked you into buying 9 issues for nothing and you're so retarded that you'll thank him for it. :))))

*licks

Why do you even write reviews if you hate all of them? You gave 90% of what you reviewed a 1 rating.

seriously @tallen0518, you have reviewed 11 issues and given them all perfect scores??? I don't which is worse!!!!!

and @skyrotic it is "you are or you're". Funny that you made that mistake while calling someone a "braindead spastic".

and btw, this issue and series is, as the French say, Garbage!

@tallen: I have a 5.4 overall average rating so what you said is demonstrably false.

It was 5.5 earlier but crap like this makes that rating go lower, I'm sorry but crap is crap regardless of how is packaged and who writes it.

Oh. Never mind my polite questions to you on the Mr. Miracle reviews, I can see here you truly are an asshole. Have fun hating stuff all the time, clearly.

is that a Burner Account?

Thank you, I will!

What part is the “farce”? He’s not a villain in this book. Much, much more complex than that. I respect someone not liking an issue, but perhaps you didn’t understand it? Or you didn’t like what happened so it makes it “bad”?

Yes, I know, every time someone doesn't like a King book, he "doesn't understand it", it's always big-brain time with Tom King. Except it isn't, once you've learned his tricks, it gets rather tedious. Yes, I don't like when heroes are turned into villains, there's nothing more "complex" here than a classic villain ploy playing everyone else. And "the farce" is the whole fake war, nine issues of playing out a war that actually wasn't a war, if that's not a farce I don't know what is.

Maybe you don’t understand the definition of farce? I’m being serious. There’s no fake war. The war is something different now that we understand more, but there’s no “fake war”. I’m not a huge King fan, and again, I don’t think everyone needs to like something I liked, but there’s no farce. Strange made a deal (we don’t know the deal at this time), part of it was to give them earth to safe Rann. That’s a fake war? I guess I strongly disagree with your rationale, while supporting you not liking

It's a fake war since one side deliberately loses. And for 9 issues we've studied this war as if it's genuine but nope, King pulls a "smart" move out of his ass and his fanboys are drooling all over it. So yeah, it's a farce because this "twist" comes out of nowhere and there are several past issues that would contradict this twist. Not to mention the whole idea is pretty stupid, two races engaging in a fake interplanetary war while it's clear that Earth will repel this invasion too as it always

had, the guess the Pykkts are really bad at playing 4D chess even though we're told they're really good strategists lol. :))

*I guess.

I would never go ffully on King's side on anything about a book until the end because he has a knack of giving you a last second switcheroo that makes defending him earlier bite you right in your arse! He still has 2 issues to turn this into another ambiguous ending that "makes you think"

Find it amusing people go straight to insults when someone doesn't agree with their view on a book. Don't know whether it's because of personal beef between users or 'cos you're "children", but y'all need to grow up. Anyway - finally read the issue & liked it. King still has my attention. Maybe it's because I like less "superhero'y" books. Or maybe because well over a decade ago I made a decision NOT to get emotionally attached to any (fictional) character or writer for that matter...

...And for the record, more to skip past the "you must be a King fanboy" comments - thought King's run on Batman was absolutely terrible (save for a few issues which were just slightly more than bearable) and I STILL don't get why it's highly acclaimed by a lot of people.

I didn't insult anyone unless you consider the "fanboy" being an insult, which is not because there are people who just blindly give 10 to whatever shit King writes. It's not that I'm necessarily attached to Adam Strange but King keeps doing this with every hero he gets his hand on, he vilifies them because he tries to copy Moore.. And it's getting really old. For the record, I actually really liked King's run on Batman until #50. And totally hated it after that.

Nah, I meant the first commenter (Skyrotic) and his/her "braindead spastic" response to your review. Point was I don't agree with your review at all, but I respect your opinion. While I can see YOUR intepretation of King's writing, personally, I focus on whether the story is captivating or not. King could have swapped Adam with any other (space) character, hero or villain, and I'll still read it -though technically a "villain" may not work given the narrative but I'm sure you get my point.

Yeah, you're one of the few here who agrees with people not liking something you like, you're old fashioned like that. :))

Take your meds.

Again, could you recommend me some? You seem to know so much about this stuff, be helpful please. :))

...how was it racist?

If you've read it and you ask me there's little point in me breaking it down to you, sorry.

Seek mental help.

Thanks for the advice, could you be so nice to recommend me your psychiatrist?

you must be blind or an idiot because this comic isnt racist or have race baiting at all. I understand you not liking DC Comics but stop being so biased.

Talk about being blind lol. Come at me again like this and I'll block you. Same goes for any other moron who decides it's a good idea to come at someone and insult them without even having the decency of bringing a constructive argument to the table.

I mean, I just politely asked you what about it was racist and your "constructive argument" was to not explain it to me since I've read it myself. If you don't wanna be called names, maybe don't act like that.

I was not referring to you, I said anyone who decides to insult me. You didn't but this moron did. You're just pretending everything here is okay and I don't have the energy to "enlighten" you. I'm sure if you've read the issue you've seen the blatant identity politics but you're one of those guys who likes to act dumb because he actually agrees with this type of race-baiting.

M. Read the issue and while I won't label it race-baitining, there is an aspect of race that the writer chose to include which, unfortunately, is reflective of our times. And that's OK. Is it what I expected from the comic? No. But it's "applicable" given the character. It didn't take ME out of the story. Guess it was different for you hence the rating and you know what - that's also OK. I actually wasn't a fan of the art after the first few pages. Not sure what bits were racist. Will re-read.

Since you weren't a douche like these guys, I'll actually answer to you where I though the book tilted towards a racist view. For one thing, I despise the identity politics in it which are, by default racist and tribal. I disagree about the themes being "reflective of our times" especially in the context that Easton chose to convey those themes. But what annoyed me the most was when Shilo dated that girl and he is super shocked when she says she sees him as "normal".

Now, it MAY have been because he's a superhero and he's got a weird life but given that sequence comes right after Shilo gives a whole diatribe about race I'm pretty sure it's about race, too. The thing is, the fact that only a black girl could see him as normal is stupid because two panels ago he's talking with his agent, a white guy, who doesn't give him any weird looks or anything, he actually sympathizes with him.

I may have read too much into that but it's not the first time I've read a race-baiting comic from Easton, he did it in Superman Red and Blue too. Thing is, I actually think he's not a bad writer so when he doesn't use his talent and does this sort of thing it's even more annoying. I'm just disappointed because I was hoping this comic wouldn't take this easy route.

Ok, fair enough. And I DO see your point because the "You're Normal" comment initially did have me thinking "huh?" and truth be told I DID read it in the context of his race before brushing it aside and thinking otherwise. Perhaps that may be considered "race-baiting" but I'm no expert on the subject. On Eaton's other writing that has same tropes, I can't comment on. But yeah, just seems like the issue wasn't your cuppa tea for the reasons you gave. Which is fine.

It's ironic. While I get that Logan sells (which is paramount), I was one of the more vocal people against him having yet another solo series. Chalk it up to being oversaturated pre-DoW & the multiple versions during his "absence". That said, I enjoyed this issue way more than the first 3 combined. And the art? A welcome gear shift. Indeed Logan works so much better as a solo character and more importantly, detached from the X-men/everyone. Aaron's The Adamantium Men is a prime example of this.

This kind of thing has been frustrating me for years. I followed a user called "Something" who left exclusively 1 star reviews for Batman (2016). Often it was even before the release date. With Jokerman I worry it may be his legitimate opinion, and hardly anyone on this site actually properly uses the 20 point scale. Everyone seems to have their own idea of how the scale works. I consider green to be good, yellow to be so-so, and red to be practically unreadable. Homepage guideline?

I think a guideline would be useful. I tend to rate things as though 5/10 is average, which doesn't necessarily mesh well with the colors, but I feel like it's a better overall scale.

@Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln - It's fine if it's his legit opinion. What would help add color to it is if some form of reason accompanies the rating. Without it it just comes across as unnecessary trashing of books (no pun intended).

Man. You give the same score (1/10) to everycomic. This means you don't read comics.

...

I can talk about this but you do not understand. Because you are a child

He continues to give only 1s and 10s.

First off, .5 exist, thats what he means by 20 point scale. And second, its bugging people way more than it needs to. While yes, his extreme 1-10 style of rating is dumb, those options are there for him, people look at the actual reviews and critic reviews instead of merely looking at the big green/yellow/red average.

@Liem Duong - you're right. We (myself included) are actually letting it bug us more than it needs to. While I can't speak for others, my "involvement" is a personal thing. I don't mind anyone rating a book as 1 or -50; I'd just like to know why they did save for a generic "it's bad". I see sites like these as a place people can converse on a shared interest as against solely as a rating platform (which may or may not be the original intent). True JM doesn't OWE anyone an explanation...

...but I'm of the opinion (yes MY opinion) that if one is going to talk about a comic, they should talk about it. But yeah...

I disagree. I come looking for quality reviews on what comics are good and what aren’t. When someone bases their scores on a 2 point basis, it’s not a quality review, it’s trolling. We all know everything he’s “reads” isn’t a masterpiece and isn’t trash.

My suggestion is take the 2 lowest and the 2 highest notes to do the median note. yeah going 1 or only 10 isn't relaly a review. Specially when you see the comments that the person didn't really read the comic

no you don't; putting a bunch of exclamation points after just proves how trash you are.

your "reviews" would say otherwise; you flaming pile of trash.

Dan- can we remove him yet?

Dan can you remove his account?

I love looking at the User Reviews, especially on books I've reviewed myself, and because most users, unlike "official reviewers", usually pay for their books, I do understand lower scores. You do have to explore the space a bit more Jokerman and use the whole range of scores or people will tune you out. I will give you credit for at least writing a review most of the times as the 1s and 10s without write-ups are the real problem on the user reviews IMO. Just give more reasons for each score.

"Just give more reasons for each score." this implies that they're intelligent enough to provide concise insights as to why everything is "trash": a few of his last reviews literally start with "the cover is dumb so i knew it was going to suck" this asshole needs to be banned, or i, and maybe quite a few others, will use some other site for reference.

this is an aggregate site so you want different opinions, plus, you can ignore whomever you want and use the critics score as well, Father_Gascoigne

His scores usually tank the overall score, giving a false impression of how readers responded to the issue in question. And, like it or not, critics in comics are not up to snuff. More readers depend on that user score to make a decision.

Jokerman and his reviews are gone. Let's all move on now and get back to enjoying our trash comics.

I don't know that more readers depend on it overall, but there is a certain group that seem pretty dedicated to the user reviews.