"Casual fans" it is, John.
It's funny just how different our experiences are. The very first comic I ever bought, I bought for the art and immediately wanted to know WHO drew it. It was an instantaneous artistic attraction. The story kept me coming back for more, but it was the art that hooked me. I can STILL remember later showing a coverless DC with a Frank Frazetta reprint in it to a comics friend of mine and being ASTONISHED that he didn't know who drew it. I honestly thought he was pulling my leg. I'm COMPLETELY on the visual side. Always have been.
And I have a deep and abiding interest in the history, too. Which is, as you point out, unusual. Still, one hopes that some few others will care, too. And, as you also point out, I AM discouraged by what passes for comics history in most cases - to the point that don't even read most of it. It just elevates my blood pressure. I should stay off that subject...
I think a better baseball analogy would be for a "fan" not to have heard of Babe Ruth or Ty Cobb or Willie Mays or Reggie Jackson. It's not a "huge failure" but it lessens their claim to being a fan.
I'm in perfect agreement with the "no favorites", narf,
I like way too many artists (both comic and musical) to ever limit myself in any way. You know how many comics I have - well think an equally diverse and extensive selection of music on my computer - nearly 38,000 songs in iTunes.
On the other hand, I can't get too much of any particular one. Unfortunately (or very fortunately - depending on how you look at it), I think I've seen almost all of Williamson's and Manning's comic work (though not their strip stuff, which I find somehow constrained and less-interesting). The new series of AW Sketchbooks from Flesk is a real and unexpected joy.
Personally, I hate to admit it, but I find most comic book stories to be exceedingly jejune and silly. It's the exceptions, when I find them, that are so very informative of the medium. I was looking at some Russ Manning Dale Evans from Dell the other day, and his artwork just MADE me read the story - which turned out to be decent. That's not a common experience for me, which is one reason why I much prefer just looking at the art.
Everyone here, I believe, is a comic reader, like you and John. I just don't fit into that category. I read them assiduously for about ten or fifteen years and then eventually out-grew them, I guess. I find it nearly impossible to approach a modern comic book as they are mostly visually repulsive to me. GAC and DCM are the perfect vehicles for both points of view. You guys get to read the old books that we can't afford and I don't have to look at the new stuff.
It Works out well for all of us.
Peace, Jim (|:{>
