It would seem that today I am using to finally clear out all of those books I started in a moment of excitement, but never finished. The fourth book finished on the day is The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics by none other than Green Lantern and Green Arrow scribe, Denny O'neil. I mainly purchased this book because of O'neil's attachment.
O'neil writes as a writer and an editor at DC, which puts him in a place to give advice. Unfortunately the advice seemed regressive and harmful for any person wanting to write creatively. He offers pragmatic advice by avoiding taking risks with stories and by following the comics formula. This was written 12 years ago, but I imagine the safe story telling is still in vogue today, and may help explain the declining comic book market. This period in mainstream media should be called the Age of Pragmatism because I am tired of art that plays it safe. I don't want the sequel or the typical comic anymore. O'neil seems content to preach the status quo. I can't fault him too much because he is working within an industry where the status is maintained, and as an editor that doesn't want to lose his job he has to play it safe and only occasionally take a calculated risk. I imagine the hardcore fans, much like the extreme teapartiers, will make themselves heard at an imagined misstep.
Reading this guide to writing has brought my frustrations to the surface with what I perceive as problems endemic in mainstream anything. Guess if I want original and experimental I will have to keep reading independent publishers.
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