Oooh. I've been thinking about picking up the DVDs. How do you find them? What's the interface like? Tell all.
I like them. Everything on them is in PDF format, so they're nice and stable. (Unlike .cbr files, which are always crashing the viewer for me.) The interface is kind of silly: PDF pages that open other PDF pages, so if you want to flip between the issue and the index and the higher level indices, you have to use the "Window" menu. And the issues are organized chronologically, so you have the 1960's index, and then the 1961 index, and that links to the issues.
But since they're all PDFs, and the folders and files are very clearly named on the DVD, I don't use the indexes at all anymore (unless I want a quick review of all the covers in any given year; the covers are shown on each year's index page). I just open the folder for the year that I'm reading and open the issue I want directly.
The big downside to the DVDs is that when they say "The Complete Avengers" etc., what they mean is all the issues of that specific run. The DVDs include the annuals, but they DON'T include special issues, like Giant-Size issues, or extra issues that enhance certain storylines, etc. This has drive me crazy occasionally, because stories keep finishing or starting in special issues.
Still, it's hard to beat 535 issues for $50.
Also, the DVD occasionally tells me that an issues I've clicked on doesn't exist. Possibly this is my computer, or the fact that I've been using the DVD continuously for about four months now. I just eject it and put it right back into the drive and it works fine.
Also, when you get to West Coast and Force Works, you have to let me know if they're worth checking out. I've been waffling.
Will do! I suspect Force Works is going to suck, given when it was written. 1994 to 1995: right smack dab in the middle of the Era of Bad Comics. We'll see about West Coast Avengers.
I read an article recently about the limitations of the pamphlet form (ie monthly issues, 30 pages), and how they really warp the stories. I find myself getting frustrated with redundant information, cliffhanger endings and thin characterization. But what are you gonna do? ;)
Oh yeah, the redundant information is definitely my biggest pet peeve. I understand completely why they have to do it, but every time we get a repetitive flashback or panels and panels of summarizing past events via dialogue I want to yell, "You could be using this space for characterization! Or to rationalize this silly plot! Argh, wasted time!"
The constant cliffhangers don't actually bother me that much, strangely.
They always say that wrestling is a soap opera for boys - I think comics qualify too. Maybe it makes it easier for them to admit they like all the relationship drama when there's lots of punching going on in the background? ;)
*laughs* More like it's easier for them to pretend they don't like all relationship drama when there's something else they can point to as to why they watch it. *g* Must maintain that macho facade.
These kinds of powers always creep me out. I'm seriously uncomfortable with real sexual coercion (and not say, roleplay), and heavy emotional manipulation. Especially when so many writers aren't really interested in the implications - they just want to get back to moving the plot along.
So true. The majority of writers treat sexual coercion and even rape as if it's the same as the character getting punched (or punching someone) a few times. And it isn't.
no subject
I like them. Everything on them is in PDF format, so they're nice and stable. (Unlike .cbr files, which are always crashing the viewer for me.) The interface is kind of silly: PDF pages that open other PDF pages, so if you want to flip between the issue and the index and the higher level indices, you have to use the "Window" menu. And the issues are organized chronologically, so you have the 1960's index, and then the 1961 index, and that links to the issues.
But since they're all PDFs, and the folders and files are very clearly named on the DVD, I don't use the indexes at all anymore (unless I want a quick review of all the covers in any given year; the covers are shown on each year's index page). I just open the folder for the year that I'm reading and open the issue I want directly.
The big downside to the DVDs is that when they say "The Complete Avengers" etc., what they mean is all the issues of that specific run. The DVDs include the annuals, but they DON'T include special issues, like Giant-Size issues, or extra issues that enhance certain storylines, etc. This has drive me crazy occasionally, because stories keep finishing or starting in special issues.
Still, it's hard to beat 535 issues for $50.
Also, the DVD occasionally tells me that an issues I've clicked on doesn't exist. Possibly this is my computer, or the fact that I've been using the DVD continuously for about four months now. I just eject it and put it right back into the drive and it works fine.
Also, when you get to West Coast and Force Works, you have to let me know if they're worth checking out. I've been waffling.
Will do! I suspect Force Works is going to suck, given when it was written. 1994 to 1995: right smack dab in the middle of the Era of Bad Comics. We'll see about West Coast Avengers.
I read an article recently about the limitations of the pamphlet form (ie monthly issues, 30 pages), and how they really warp the stories. I find myself getting frustrated with redundant information, cliffhanger endings and thin characterization. But what are you gonna do? ;)
Oh yeah, the redundant information is definitely my biggest pet peeve. I understand completely why they have to do it, but every time we get a repetitive flashback or panels and panels of summarizing past events via dialogue I want to yell, "You could be using this space for characterization! Or to rationalize this silly plot! Argh, wasted time!"
The constant cliffhangers don't actually bother me that much, strangely.
They always say that wrestling is a soap opera for boys - I think comics qualify too. Maybe it makes it easier for them to admit they like all the relationship drama when there's lots of punching going on in the background? ;)
*laughs* More like it's easier for them to pretend they don't like all relationship drama when there's something else they can point to as to why they watch it. *g* Must maintain that macho facade.
These kinds of powers always creep me out. I'm seriously uncomfortable with real sexual coercion (and not say, roleplay), and heavy emotional manipulation. Especially when so many writers aren't really interested in the implications - they just want to get back to moving the plot along.
So true. The majority of writers treat sexual coercion and even rape as if it's the same as the character getting punched (or punching someone) a few times. And it isn't.