Brian Michael Bendis vs. Brian K. Vaughan

[paper]

As a companion piece to the Miller vs. Moore thread, I figured I'd throw this question at you as well. Which is your favorite? Would you consider these two as the heavyweights of the modern comic writing world? Should someone else be up here instead?

[ConorKilpatrick]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

[Mikegraham6]

see now this one hurts my head to think about....
I love them both and i wouldn't be able to decide, they are also extremely different IMO. I love Bendis' superhero stuff, but not a fan of BKVs (note: i dont include Ex Machina as Superhero), but i prefer BKVs vertigo/indy work over Bendis (slightly)... for this, sir, i cannot give you an answer

[fred]

If you made this Bendis vs Brubaker my head would explode just as it did with moore vs miller.

I go with bendis. I love bkv, but come on man - it's ****ing bendis.

[paper]

I figured this was the fairest match-up because they're similar writers. Both are extremely popular and bald. They've both done original work as well as material for Marvel. They also tend to write comedy and dialogue very well without being straight up comedy writers.

[Mikegraham6]

YAY a poll!!!:D

[paper]

I'm gonna need more than "it's ****ing Bendis," Fred. Because, well, it's ****ing BKV!

The other writer combos I considered were Brubaker/Bendis, Brubaker/BKV, or BKV/Robert Kirkman. And for about seven seconds, Morrison/Randy Quaid.

[fred]

I'll give you more later. Now that I have a co-worker, I've been forced to put my pants back on and my brain is cramping.

[Luthor]

Easy Bendis for me. I've not read a lot of BKV stuff and half of my pull list is written by Bendis...so yeah. Bendis.

[Jo-RelRollins]

dude that was the hardest decision I've had to make. My god. The was difficult. I voted for Bendis but BKV is right up there.

[DarrOn]

****...I can't decide. BKV is pretty much the man responsible for KEEPING me in comics when I first started reading again. He has, in my opinion, the best end page reveals of any writer out there. He knows how to leave you stunned after reading a book.

Bendis, though, is exactly what I want in a comic writer. He knows hows to perfectly blend not just comedy and action, but emotional issues as well. I've fallen in love with more Bendis written characters than anyone else.


I really can't decide. You just melted my eyes.

[k33k3r]

I couldn't decided. These are two of my favorite current writers. Half of my pull list is Bendis but I read all of BKVs stuff in Trades. If you threw Brubaker in the mix with this it would make my head essssplode.

[Humphrey Lee]

If you made this Bendis vs Brubaker my head would explode just as it did with moore vs miller.

I go with bendis. I love bkv, but come on man - it's ****ing bendis.

Nah, it's not that simple. Seven years ago even I would have said Bendis was the best writer in the business hands down, but now his entire workload is nothing but completely average Avengers stories, and his one still true creative outlet, Powers, never comes out anymore. And quite frankly, Y: TLM, Ex Machina, The Escapists, and Pride of Baghdad are better than or are shaping up to be better than almost anything BMB has written. This coming from a man who bought Alias twice (because I had to have me the Omnibus) and has copies of several BMB trades proudly autographed in his collection.

I'm not saying that it's BKV hands down now. Obviously when you whip out their collective works they match up extremely well, but BKV's current stuff has that feel of importance that is associated with the best of the best, the Preacher's, the Transmetropolitan's, maybe even the Sandman's of the comic book industry. Meanwhile though, Bendis' writing has slowly just become a parody of itself the past handful of years. That's why BKV is pulling away with this.

[paper]

I had to give the nod to BKV for his sensational original ongoing works. Y, Ex Machina, and Runaways rank very high on my list. The Escapists remains my most anticipated trade paperbak (when oh when will you release this book, Dark Horse!?) Bendis totally wins in the superhero department (New Avengers got me back into comics), but BKV has a better hit:miss ratio in my opinion. Very, very close though.

[Mikegraham6]

Easy Bendis for me. I've not read a lot of BKV stuff and half of my pull list is written by Bendis...so yeah. Bendis.

But Y: The Last Man is so damn GOOD!!

I had to give the nod to BKV for his sensational original ongoing works. Y and Runaways rank very high on my list.

But Powers is so damn GOOD!!

I'm conflicted:confused:

[Humphrey Lee]

I had to give the nod to BKV for his sensational original ongoing works. Y, Ex Machina, and Runaways rank very high on my list. The Escapists remains my most anticipated trade paperbak (when oh when will you release this book, Dark Horse!?)

Hardcover in Sept I believe on The Escapists. I'll be double dipping for sure.

[paper]

But Y: The Last Man is so damn GOOD!!



But Powers is so damn GOOD!!

I'm conflicted:confused:

I'm extremely unusual in that I don't really dig Powers all that much. I have the first big HC, but I just can't get into it. He went way overboard with the dialogue on this one. I'll give it another shot though.

[cancelHoo]

Funny thing is my girlfriend loves Vaughan and I love Bendis. While I think Vaughan is great, and she reads all my Bendis books before I do, there seems to be something to this division. Bendis feels tougher to me, while Vaughan is more interested in drama. I just think of Bendis as a "man's man." This might be because I saw him officiate over an arm-wrestling match between Mack and Oeming at WizardWorld in Philly. I dunno. Just a thought.

[fred]

I'm gonna need more than "it's ****ing Bendis," Fred. Because, well, it's ****ing BKV!



Ok, now I'm standing. Will I deliver?

I'm going to say right off of the top that my affection for Bendis extends beyond his writing. I love the Bendis Tapes. I love his interviews. He's a really cool guy.

Disclaimers aside, I also like Bendis' writing better. I think that he's funnier. His banter is snappier. His stories wrap and twist perfectly.

He can take any shitty story and make it better. His rewriting of The Clone Saga was pretty good. It wasn't the greatest story ever, but it was good and it wasn't the monumental piece of shit that the original was.

Bendis can also take characters that I don't give a shit about at all and make them interesting. For this, I point you to the Mighty Avengers. On paper, this is a book that I should hate. It features Iron Man, Ares, Wasp, Wonder Man, do I have to keep going? It's great though. I've enjoyed the shit out of the first 3 issues.

Bendis can take a piece of something and make it great. CW had its moments and CW had it's problems. All of the highest high points of it (for me) though were written by Bendis.

Further, and again, he's hysterical. Fortune And Glory is a truly funny and poignant piece of work.

And all of this is to say nothing of most of his indie work because jesus how much time do I have?

BKV is very talented. He's on the road. He's no Bendis though. I love some of his stuff. Pride of Baghdad was magnificient. Runaways is also a home run. It's not even that he's done anything bad that I can think of. It's that he's not as good (in my opinion) as Bendis, he hasn't done as much, and he hasn't been around as long.

[paper]

Hardcover in Sept I believe on The Escapists. I'll be double dipping for sure.

Nice.

Though, in my digging, I also see November 28th (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10819). Arrrrrg!

[JAFlanagan]

They have way different careers at this point. Bendis is steering the marvel ship at this point, and BKV hasn't ever really done a long run on a mainstream character, rather just short daliances on stuff like Dr. Strange. But his long run on UXM didn't hold up to any of Bendis' runs.

You could put Powers up against YTLM, but otherwise, their careers are pretty varied. So, it's a bit apples and oranges.

As far as styles go...I would probably lean towards Bendis, because he's so damned prolific and consistent. Plus he draws too.

At any rate, I wouldn't want to live in a world without either of their comics.

[Humphrey Lee]

Nice.

Though, in my digging, I also see November 28th (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10819). Arrrrrg!

Y'know, that's probably right. I saw the solicit in the July catalog for Dark Horse, so that might have mean they were advancing it to meet demands. So yeah, order it next month, buy it in Nov. Crap.

[paper]

What's more of a fair match up for these guys then?

BKV vs. Kirkman?

[fred]

What's more of a fair match up for these guys then?

BKV vs. Kirkman?

It's probably more fair. I can definitely say that it's a matchup that BKV wins (with me).

[Mikegraham6]

I'm extremely unusual in that I don't really dig Powers all that much. I have the first big HC, but I just can't get into it. He went way overboard with the dialogue on this one. I'll give it another shot though.

it's the book that just keeps getting better and better, it's very similar to Fables in that respect.
I didn't think it was all that great in the beginning but each trade is better than the last and the direction it's taken in the last year or so has been mindblowing

[paper]

I'll give Powers another shot soon. My enjoyment of comics is highly dependent on my mood, more so than other types of media.

[k33k3r]

I'd go with BKV all the way on that one.

Maybe BKV v Brubaker but I don't know.

[fred]

for me, Brubaker beats everyone but Bendis whom he ties.

this of course is only a statement about the writers of "this generation"

they both get slapped around by moore and miller

[Mikegraham6]

for me, Brubaker beats everyone but Bendis whom he ties.

this of course is only a statement about the writers of "this generation"

they both get slapped around by moore and miller

my thoughts exactly
and DAREDEVIL is better for it
Best book out there right now, and has been for years

[Humphrey Lee]

they both get slapped around by moore and miller

And Eisner. And probably even Gaiman.

[k33k3r]

Correct. That's why you have to say current. Wiat are Miller and Moore writing anymore? Is Moore working on another long ass project like he did with Lost Girls?

[cancelHoo]

they both get slapped around by moore and miller

Oh yeah! Cage match! Moore would just call on Yog-Sothoth who would eat the crowd along with Vaughan and Bendis. Miller would be too busy oiling his chest to participate.

[esophagus]

Bendis does great superhero stuff, I love the guy. But BKV just lends so much more to the industry. Runaways, Y: TLM, Ex Machina, Pride of Baghdad, Excapists, it's all just fantastic, and exactly what the industry needs. Its fresh, and has so much depth to it. Not to mention the great stuff he has done in the superhero world, like Swamp Thing, or Ultimate X-Men. I definitely have to give it to BKV.

[k33k3r]

Oh yeah! Cage match! Moore would just call on Yog-Sothoth who would eat the crowd along with Vaughan and Bendis. Miller would be too busy oiling his chest to participate.

HAHAHAHA! Welcome to the board

[fred]

And Eisner. And probably even Gaiman.

You had me until Gaiman.

[paper]

I prefer BKV, Brubaker, and Bendis to Moore and Miller just in terms of the stories they tell. But that's just me being wet behind the ears.

I think this also has to do with my preference for the ongoing book over the self-contained graphic novel.

My favorite Moore book is probably a weird choice in that it's LoEG. My favorite Miller is the early Sin City books.

[fred]

Correct. That's why you have to say current. Wiat are Miller and Moore writing anymore? Is Moore working on another long ass project like he did with Lost Girls?

I think that I've heard that he's finishing LOEG Black Dossier and then he has another long ass project going.

[fred]

I prefer BKV, Brubaker, and Bendis to Moore and Miller just in terms of the stories they tell. But that's just me being wet behind the ears.

I think this also has to do with my preference for the ongoing book over the self-contained graphic novel.

My favorite Moore book is probably a weird choice in that it's LoEG. My favorite Miller is the early Sin City books.

I'd go with V For Vendetta for Moore (although many are close)

My favorite Miller is probably Batman Year One.

[paper]

(is Morrison vs. Ellis even worth discussing?)

[fred]

(is Morrison vs. Ellis even worth discussing?)

I think so. It's a bit of a closer match for me than this or BKV/Kirkman.

[k33k3r]

I prefer BKV, Brubaker, and Bendis to Moore and Miller just in terms of the stories they tell. But that's just me being wet behind the ears.

It's hard to think of something that stands up next to Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns though. Those are my top two of all time.

[Mikegraham6]

Y'know, that's probably right. I saw the solicit in the July catalog for Dark Horse, so that might have mean they were advancing it to meet demands. So yeah, order it next month, buy it in Nov. Crap.

I CAN'T wait for this! I've only read one issue (the last) and i loved it. It's preordered at my LCS

Bendis does great superhero stuff, I love the guy. But BKV just lends so much more to the industry. Runaways, Y: TLM, Ex Machina, Pride of Baghdad, Excapists, it's all just fantastic, and exactly what the industry needs. Its fresh, and has so much depth to it. Not to mention the great stuff he has done in the superhero world, like Swamp Thing, or Ultimate X-Men. I definitely have to give it to BKV.

When did BKV write Swamp Thing? recently? im going have to check that out too... one more for the damn list...:rolleyes:

[Humphrey Lee]

You had me until Gaiman.

Far as I'm concerned, Sandman is the as definitive a comic work as even Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and DKR. The only thing that would hold him back is just the amount of material he's put out, because he's really only done a dozen or so comic works. He's as important as any of those first three guys probably, but not as prolific I guess.

[ConorKilpatrick]

When did BKV write Swamp Thing? recently? im going have to check that out too... one more for the damn list...:rolleyes:

Swamp Thing (Vol. 3) #1-20.

Are you the same writer you were when you did Swamp Thing?
No, I mean, no. I hope not. I’d like to think I’m at least a better writer than I was back then. I think I learned a lot. Looking back at my first issue of Swamp Thing, I am definitely trying to be the retarded cousin of Alan Moore with nine-panel pages and cramming captions on top of word balloons — it was about density. I think I learned to write less and say more. And it’s interesting because people complain that it doesn’t take long enough to read a comic book but it probably takes three times as long to get through one of my Swamp Thing issues than it does than one of my comics. I think the new stuff is better because I’m not hiding. I was just hiding behind the words and now I trust myself enough to let the story speak for itself.

[esophagus]

Swamp Thing (Vol. 3) #1-20.

Are you the same writer you were when you did Swamp Thing?
No, I mean, no. I hope not. I’d like to think I’m at least a better writer than I was back then. I think I learned a lot. Looking back at my first issue of Swamp Thing, I am definitely trying to be the retarded cousin of Alan Moore with nine-panel pages and cramming captions on top of word balloons — it was about density. I think I learned to write less and say more. And it’s interesting because people complain that it doesn’t take long enough to read a comic book but it probably takes three times as long to get through one of my Swamp Thing issues than it does than one of my comics. I think the new stuff is better because I’m not hiding. I was just hiding behind the words and now I trust myself enough to let the story speak for itself.Id never read the quote, but I have to agree with him. He's come a loooong way. But they were good stories nonetheless.

[fred]

Far as I'm concerned, Sandman is the as definitive a comic work as even Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and DKR. The only thing that would hold him back is just the amount of material he's put out, because he's really only done a dozen or so comic works. He's as important as any of those first three guys probably, but not as prolific I guess.

I know how passionately the average Gaiman fan feels, so don't take this personally. I feel like there are similarities in all of Gaiman's work and that he's basically retelling the same story over and over again.

Sandman is pretty good - you're right about that. It's not amazing though. It's a little overdone and to be honest, the ending annoyed me so much that I stopped reading it around #72.

After reading Sandman, I try to read something like Eternals and it makes me go: "Oh right. Gods among us again. No point in reading it. I already have."

[paper]

I know how passionately the average Gaiman fan feels, so don't take this personally. I feel like there are similarities in all of Gaiman's work and that he's basically retelling the same story over and over again.

I'm a Gaiman fan (novels) and I agree with this. It's actually really frustrating.

Though it must be said: I feel the same about Brubaker sometimes to a lesser extent. His range is broader, and he's better at it, but he's still sort of limited in terms of genres.

[esophagus]

I know how passionately the average Gaiman fan feels, so don't take this personally. I feel like there are similarities in all of Gaiman's work and that he's basically retelling the same story over and over again.

Sandman is pretty good - you're right about that. It's not amazing though. It's a little overdone and to be honest, the ending annoyed me so much that I stopped reading it around #72.

After reading Sandman, I try to read something like Eternals and it makes me go: "Oh right. Gods among us again. No point in reading it. I already have."I agree. I'm pretty sure Gaiman should just have an entire universe to himself, based around this concept. But it is a great one, and although it is tied into a lot of comic and novels, he tells it differently each time, and never does it badly.

[fred]

I had to throw the disclaimer out. Criticizism of Gaiman or Sandman usually draws the message board equivalent of paint on your fur coat.

[fred]

I agree. I'm pretty sure Gaiman should just have an entire universe to himself, based around this concept. But it is a great one, and although it is tied into a lot of comic and novels, he tells it differently each time, and never does it badly.

I guess. I think it's the whole "gods" concept that I'm not into. I can read the same superhero/crime/slice of life concepts over and again. It comes to this though and I get all: "Alright all ready. There are gods among us. I get it. Move on."

[esophagus]

I guess. I think it's the whole "gods" concept that I'm not into. I can read the same superhero/crime/slice of life concepts over and again. It comes to this though and I get all: "Alright all ready. There are gods among us. I get it. Move on."have you read any of his novels? I think theyre what really add to his theories. American Gods escpecially. It really gets into what the "gods among us" thing is really about.

Shadow: It's going to be a white Christmas.
Jacquel: Yup. Shit. That boy was one lucky son of a virgin.
Shadow: Jesus?
Jacquel: Lucky, lucky guy. He could fall into a cesspit and come up smelling like roses.
Jacquel: So yeah, Jesus does pretty good over here. But I met a guy who said he saw him hitchhiking by the side of the road in Afghanistan and nobody was stopping to give him a ride. You know? It all depends on where you are."

[fred]

have you read any of his novels? I think theyre what really add to his theories. American Gods escpecially. It really gets into what the "gods among us" thing is really about.

I haven't. It sounds, from what I've heard, that they're not for me.

[paper]

They're really not.

Which is cool. Different strokes for different folks, and more debilitating strokes for older folks. As they say.

Gaiman has cool ideas, but he has little to no restraint. He needs to edit himself a bit better. Mirrormask is a good example of his genius gone haywire.

[esophagus]

They're really not.

Which is cool. Different strokes for different folks, and more debilitating strokes for older folks. As they say.

Gaiman has cool ideas, but he has little to no restraint. He needs to edit himself a bit better. Mirrormask is a good example of his genius gone haywire.Mirrormask was more McKean than Gaiman.

[paper]

They both wrote the story, but the teleplay is apparently all Gaiman.

Don't get me wrong. American Gods is one of my favorite novels, but even I get a bit miffed when he goes off on his opium den tangents. Sometimes it's just lazy.

[Humphrey Lee]

I guess. I think it's the whole "gods" concept that I'm not into. I can read the same superhero/crime/slice of life concepts over and again. It comes to this though and I get all: "Alright all ready. There are gods among us. I get it. Move on."

I was going to say, that has to be the case, because quite frankly Bendis, Johns, Millar, Loeb, hell, the majority of the big writers out there have been telling the same stories over and over again for five years or so now. Brubaker and BKV seem to be the main ones telling differential tales, but they still usually have the same kind of tone that transfers over to each.

If that's not your kind of storytelling though, that's fine. Only thing I would argue is that Sandman is way beyond average as far as I'm concerned. But you've already said that's not your thing so you're not going to hold it in as high a regard as I do.

[seNoj1]

Ok I CAN'T decide on between these two. I'm reading Bendis/Maleev run on Daredevil and its hurts me its so goooood. Along with Daredevil im reading Ex Machina. Machina brings something awesome to the table. This is prolly my favorite thing he has done besides Runaways. I love me some Runaways. Coincedance I know, but they are both giving me such a great time that its to hard. They do diffrent things for me. Today's forums and killing me with debates :-X

[acomicbookgirl]

I feel like i'm in the shoe or handbag department at Macy's.. I can't decide whether or not to go for the ballet flat or the sandal or even whether or not I want a big handbag or the small one..

I'm just getting into both of them.. I'm torn. :confused:

[paper]

Today's forums and killing me with debates :-X

Debates sucks. I have a friend with it. Always with the insulin and the needles.

My school had a debates "team" which I always thought was odd, but I suppose it's good to have a support system and scoring.

[fred]

My father lost his foot to debates and my grandfather his sight.

[seNoj1]

the best debate ever is by Frank the Tank in Old School.

[paper]

Thanks, seNoj1. I had absolutely no idea how to follow that.

BKV is winning if we go by golf rules!

[fred]

he's also winning if we all pretend that we're 8 again and it's opposite day

which leads me to Bizarro jokes and **** that shit

[DarrOn]

which leads me to Bizarro jokes and **** that shit

On behalf of all of us here on the board...Fred...Thank you for your restraint.