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Comical Opinions

Comical Opinions
Your local comic shop is closing. And it's not Amazon's fault - it's how Marvel and DC decided to market their covers. For 60 years, comic covers were honest promises: what you saw on the front matched the story inside. Then publishers broke that contract and turned covers into speculation tools. In this episode, we expose how the broken promise at the cover level destroyed reader trust and retailer stability, and why manga, wrestling, and soap operas got it right. Watch the previous videos in this series: 🟢Episode 1: The Shared DNA -- https://youtu.be/lLQhJL5nshg 🟢Episode 2: The Broken Format -- https://youtu.be/eRaKvd_KIRU 🟢Episode 3: The Friction Engine -- https://youtu.be/gEkg6SXAl-8 🟢Episode 4: The Comic Shop Trap -- https://youtu.be/nQK2ktkc2ms 🟢Episode 5: The Illusion of Change - https://youtu.be/MuaGq537Ci8 🟢Episode 6: Broken Promise - [YOU ARE HERE] Grab your copy of The Resolution Cycle👉 https://amzn.to/3LlfAqM Read this week's Comical Opinions newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com 00:00 Hook: Why Comic Shops Are Closing 01:27 Tease: The Promise That Got Rewritten 03:08 Problem: When Covers Start Lying 05:02 Core Concept: Honest Marketing vs. Speculation 07:20 Case Study A: Wrestling – Accurate Match Promotion 08:56 Case Study B: Soap Operas – Cover Integrity 10:02 Case Study C: Manga – Spine Design & Genre Communication 11:40 Payoff: How the Broken Promise Nuked Trust 13:30 Fixes: Three Solutions from Other Mediums 15:00 Next: Episode 7 – The Complete Blueprint =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #VariantCovers #ComicIndustry #Manga #ProfessionalWrestling #Storytelling #ComicShops #DirectMarket #VariantScam #ComicBookAnalysis #IndustryAnalysis #MediaCriticism
Comic Covers Are Lying to You (And It's Destroying the Industry)
Why do Marvel and DC’s biggest stories feel like they don’t matter anymore? In this video essay, we break down “The Illusion of Change” – the storytelling trick that lets superhero comics look like they’re evolving while making sure nothing ever truly changes. We’ll show how modern Marvel and DC arcs hit big emotional climaxes, only to reset the status quo, erase consequences, and quietly train readers to stop caring. Using Gustav Freytag’s Pyramid as a framework, we explore why real resolution requires permanent change – to the hero, the world, or both – and how comics have built a system that structurally forbids that. Instead of catharsis, readers get false resolution and retcons. Watch the previous videos in this series: 🟢Episode 1: The Shared DNA -- https://youtu.be/lLQhJL5nshg 🟢Episode 2: The Broken Format -- https://youtu.be/eRaKvd_KIRU 🟢Episode 3: The Friction Engine -- https://youtu.be/gEkg6SXAl-8 🟢Episode 4: The Comic Shop Trap -- https://youtu.be/nQK2ktkc2ms 🟢Episode 5: The Illusion of Change - [YOU ARE HERE] Grab your copy of The Resolution Cycle👉 https://amzn.to/3LlfAqM Read this week's Comical Opinions newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com 0:00 – The 1863 formula that predicted Marvel & DC’s downfall 1:47 – Tension vs. false resolution 3:16 – The Illusion of Change & Comic Book Time 5:53 – Why permanent change is the core of satisfying stories 9:48 – Wrestling: Roman Reigns and change that sticks 11:51 – Soap operas: SORAS and legacy storytelling 14:28 – Manga: planned endings and why complete stories sell 17:01 – Why Marvel & DC stories don’t feel like they matter 19:03 – 3 fixes to make superhero comics worth caring about 21:50 – Next time: The Variant Cover Trap =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #fixingcomics #marvelcomics #dccomics #superheroComics #comicbookindustry #comicbookcriticism #storytelling #storystructure #freytagspyramid #illusionofchange #statusquoisgod #narrativearc #characterarcs #wrestlingstorytelling #romanreigns #bloodline #soapoperas #SORAS #mangaVsComics #mangastorytelling #superherofatigue #eventfatigue #retcons #comicbookreboots #narrativeanalysis #videoessay #youtubeessay #geekculture #popcultureanalysis
The Status Quo Prison: Why Superhero Stories Can't Change
Why Marvel & DC Are Failing: The Comic Shop Trap Marvel and DC aren’t failing because “comics are dead.” They’re failing because they built their business on a single shrinking distribution channel: comic shops. In this episode, we break down the comic shop trap and show how wrestling, soap operas, and manga escaped the same problem. ​ You’ll learn: How the Direct Market works and why non-returnable orders + variants are crushing retailers ​ Why U.S. comic unit sales are down while cover prices and variant counts keep going up ​ How WWE uses multi-year TV rights deals to fund long-term story arcs instead of quarterly panics ​ How manga turned cheap serialization + tankōbon + digital into a multi‑billion dollar global market ​ Three concrete “escape routes” Marvel & DC could use to get out of the comic shop trap without killing comic shops If you care about comics, this is not a “doom” video. It’s a business model autopsy with real fixes. Watch the previous videos in this series: 🟢Episode 1: The Shared DNA -- https://youtu.be/lLQhJL5nshg 🟢Episode 2: The Broken Format -- https://youtu.be/eRaKvd_KIRU 🟢Episode 3: The Friction Engine -- https://youtu.be/gEkg6SXAl-8 🟢Episode 4: The Comic Shop Trap -- [YOU ARE HERE] Grab your copy of The Revelation Cycle👉 https://amzn.to/3MXQezI Read this week's Newsletter for FREE 👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com 0:00 The shocking revenue gap 1:03 The comic shop trap explained 3:25 How the Direct Market broke 5:23 Wrestling: the rights‑fee model 6:35 Soaps: ad money and daily habit 7:31 Manga: multi-channel pipeline 9:28 The Direct Market death spiral 11:15 Why Marvel & DC are stuck 11:49 Escape Route #1: Streaming/rights deals 12:46 Escape Route #2: Manga-style seasons 13:35 Escape Route #3: Subscription first 14:34 What Episode 5 will cover =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #ComicsIndustry #DirectMarket #ComicShops #Manga #WWE #ProWrestling #BusinessModel #Publishing #GraphicNovels #Superheroes #SpiderMan #UltimateSpiderMan #Disney #WarnerBros #Streaming #MediaRights #Subscriptions #PopCulture #NerdCulture #GeekCulture #RetailApocalypse #Storytelling
Why Marvel & DC Are Failing: The Comic Shop Trap
In 2020, a single Japanese manga series outsold the entire American comic book industry. The reason isn't "better writing" - it’s Friction. In this episode of our "Fixing Comics" series, we break down the invisible "Continuity Wall" that stops new readers from buying Marvel and DC comics. We compare the broken user experience of superhero comics against the "Zero Friction" models of Manga, WWE Wrestling, and Soap Operas to explain why one industry is growing while the other is shrinking. From the confusion of "Legacy Numbering" to the genius of the "Manga Funnel," we analyze the structural failures of the Direct Market and propose three concrete fixes to save the superhero genre. In this video, we cover: The "82 Million Copy" secret: How Demon Slayer beat Batman & Spider-Man. The "Continuity Wall": Why reading orders are killing new readership. Friction Theory: The difference between Cognitive Friction and Transactional Friction. WWE & Soaps: How infinite stories use "Recaps" to survive. The 3 Fixes: How the "Season Model" could save Marvel and DC. Grab your copy of The Revelation Cycle👉 https://amzn.to/4aYxp9j Read this week's Comical Opinions newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com 0:00 Intro 2:30 The Continuity Wall 4:40 What is Friction? 8:21 The Models That Work 12:32 The Payoff 13:25 The Fixes 16:28 Next Time =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #Manga #DemonSlayer #MarvelComics #Wrestling #BusinessAnalysis #VideoEssay #Friction
Manga's Zero Friction Model Is Destroying Western Comics
Why is professional wrestling thriving while superhero comics struggle to maintain their audience? The answer isn't in the writing. It’s in the format. In this video essay, we investigate the structural engine that powers both industries: the "Infinite Soap Opera." We break down how the serialization models of Marvel and DC have become trapped by the "Illusion of Change," while the WWE and modern wrestling have evolved the soap opera formula to create consequences that actually stick. From the "Status Quo God" of Spider-Man to the generational storytelling of The Bloodline, we analyze why one medium feels stagnant while the other feels more alive than ever. It’s time to look beyond the scripts and examine the architecture of the stories we love. Read the Comical Opinions newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com Grab your copy of The Revelation Cycle👉 https://amzn.to/3Mt57ty 0:00 Intro 2:11 Marvel's 7-7-7- Rule 4:53 Wrestling's Weekly Format 8:13 Marvel Then and Now 10:47 Soaps Daily Format 13:45 Manga's Chapter Format 17:48 Narrative via Format =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #VideoEssay #Wrestling #MarvelComics #Storytelling #WWE #MediaAnalysis #ComicsVsWrestling #VideoEssays
How Wrestling's Format Beat Superhero Comics!
Why do superhero comics, professional wrestling, and daytime soaps tell the SAME stories yet have RADICALLY different outcomes? In this episode, we explore the shared DNA of serialized melodrama and why Marvel and DC are losing readers while WWE generates $1.3 billion annually. The answer isn't creative talent. It's business model design. 🧬 EPISODE 1 BREAKDOWN: • How comics, wrestling, and soaps share identical narrative DNA • Why this isn't a failure of Marvel and DC (it's strategic) • The 79% collapse in superhero comic unit sales (2015-2021) • How business models determine storytelling outcomes • Why the direct market created a trap—and how to escape it 📊 KEY STATISTICS: • Superhero comics: 70-80M units (2015) → 16.7M units (2021) = 79% decline • WWE revenue: $1.3 billion annually • Manga North America: $6B+ current market, projected $8.6B by 2034 • Comics as % of Marvel/DC revenue: 1-2% 🎬 SERIES OVERVIEW: This is Episode 1 of "The Shared DNA": an 8-episode investigation into serialized storytelling, format design, and why some mediums thrive while others collapse. Episode 2: Format Shapes Story Episode 3: The Creator's Dilemma Episode 4: The Perpetual Reboot Episode 5: Audience Entry Points Episode 6: The Money Problem Episode 7: The Manga Solution Episode 8: The Path Forward 💬 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: • Do you think Marvel and DC can fix the direct market system? • What would you change about how comics are distributed and published? • Should comics prioritize storytelling over speculation market appeal? • What can Western comics learn from manga's business model? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I want to hear YOUR take. 📺 SUBSCRIBE for weekly deep dives into storytelling, entertainment industry analysis, and the mechanics of why stories matter. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. See you in Episode 2. Grab your copy of The Revelation Cycle👉 https://amzn.to/4oFGSFT Read the Comical Opinions Newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com 0:00 Intro 1:42 The Heart of the Problem 2:39 Who Pays the Price? 4:38 Historical Genesis (1960s-1980s) 10:27 Case Studies and Proof 18:10 The Trap (Why Change is Impossible) 22:08 The Path Forward =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #Wrestling #SoapOperas #Storytelling #Manga #Serialization #Entertainment #MarvelDC #WWE #Narrative #ContentCreation #BusinessModel #IndieComics #Webtoons #CreatorEconomy
The Format Problem Killing Western Comics
Why is Marvel burying the Blue Marvel (Adam Brashear)? Despite being physically stronger than Thor and the Sentry, and his debut comic skyrocketing to over $2,600 in value, Disney keeps him hidden from the MCU. This video performs a financial autopsy on Marvel’s decision to ignore this "Blue Chip" asset, exposing the executive fear and editorial gatekeeping behind his obscurity. Discover the uncomfortable truth about the most powerful hero Marvel refuses to use. Grab your copy of The Revelation Cycle👉 https://amzn.to/3XnAaJs Read the Comical Opinions newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀 https://vidiq.com/ComicalOpinions 0:00 Intro 1:39 The Origin 2:39 The Disappearance 3:26 Internal Resistance Cons 4:38 Failed Solution 6:10 Financial Reality 6:55 Competitor Comparison 7:49 Visual Proof 11:34 The Feedback Loop 12:57 An Uncomfortable Observation 14:03 Disney's role 15:23 The Fix =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #BlueMarvel #AdamBrashear #MCUPhase6 #KevinGrevioux #TheSentry #ComicBookInvesting #DisneyStock #CorporateMalpractice #TheMarvels #BlackSuperman #CaptainMarvel #ComicBookSpeculation #MarvelStudios #AntiHero #ComicsExplained #DeepDive #MarvelTheory #WhoWouldWin #FinancialAnalysis
Disney's Biggest Mistake: Ignoring Blue Marvel
Why is Wonder Woman's arch-nemesis, The Cheetah (Barbara Ann Minerva), often treated like disposable C-List fodder? 🐆 She has magical claws that can cut Kryptonians, Flash-level speed, and two PhDs—yet she's constantly nerfed, defeated by street-level heroes like Green Arrow, and easily contained by a "regular cage." What is going on? In this deep-dive editorial autopsy, we expose the uncomfortable truth: Cheetah is systemically nerfed due to chronic editorial instability within DC Comics and a corporate strategy of "Crossover Nerf Mandate" that uses her as plot convenience. In this video, we reveal: The single biggest misconception about Cheetah's power level. How reducing Barbara Ann Minerva from a brilliant strategist (with TWO PHDs!) to a "feral monster" is driven by narrative laziness. The shocking examples of nerfing, from her defeat in Green Arrow #39 (2015) to her diluted threat in the WW84 film. Why the constant editorial reboots in the Wonder Woman line (The Inertia of Inconsistency) prevent her from ever becoming a consistent, high-tier threat like Joker or Lex Luthor. The Fix: The good news is that fans can make a difference. We outline the concrete steps DC needs to take and how you can VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET to support stories that treat Cheetah as the God-Tier threat she deserves to be. Hit the Like button if you think Cheetah deserves better! 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into comic book editorial failures and triumphs! Get your copy of The Revelation Cycle👉 https://amzn.to/481uWrN Get the FREE Comical Opinions Newsletter: https://comicalopinions.substack.com Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀 https://vidiq.com/ComicalOpinions 0:00 Intro 0:56 What's the Problem? 1:50 It's Not What You Think 2:46 How It Started 3:53 Internal Motivation 5:35 Creative Cost 6:52 Hard Facts 7:58 Case Studies 13:36 Vicious Cycle 15:01 External Pressure 17:06 The Fix =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #WonderWoman #Cheetah #BarbaraAnnMinerva #PowerScaling #Nerfed #WW84 #dccomicscheetah
DC's Crossover Nerf Problem Ruined Cheetah Forever
Rob Liefeld says the X-Men are failing because they aren't "macho" anymore. He's wrong. The X-Men aren't suffering from a lack of macho characters. They're suffering from a catastrophic structural failure in storytelling. In this deep-dive analysis, we expose how Marvel Comics editors have systematically abandoned one of the five universal rules of narrative, fundamentally changing the appeal of their flagship titles. We show the disastrous shift from Male-Coded Goals (external, task-oriented conquest) to Female-Coded Goals (internal, introspective discovery), and why this change is driving reader apathy and killing sales. We analyze the Claremont Mandate to prove what made the X-Men successful and reveal the shockingly simple fix: The Editorial Goal Mandate, a non-negotiable checklist that could bring structure, high-stakes, and the traditional young male audience back to Marvel Comics. Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Bell for notifications for more deep comic analysis! Get The Revelation Cycle today!👉 https://amzn.to/4pnN2LL Read my FREE Urban Fantasy Adventures👉 https://mysticstreets.substack.com Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀 https://vidiq.com/ComicalOpinions 0:00 - Intro 1:01 - Apathy & Liefeld's Rant 3:14 - Your Experience? 3:45 - The Misused Story Element 8:10 - The Claremont Run 9:53 - Today's X-Men 11:35 - Liefeld Is Right (Sort Of) 12:48 - The Fix 15:53 - Final Thoughts =========================================== Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe =========================================== Subscribe to our Podcast to listen along on your commute to work =========================================== Youtube: @comicalopinions Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comical-opinions/id1704756807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lndyl8prFAUzKZcU7BZEb Stitcher: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/comical-opinions/PC:1001078368 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Comical-Opinions-Podcast/B0CGT32QLD =========================================== Connect with Comical Opinions on your favorite social media platform =========================================== ✔️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@comicalopinions/?sub_confirmation=1 ✔️Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Facebook: https://facebook.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️Instagram: https://instagram.com/ComicalOpinions ✔️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@comicalopinions Intro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/dragon-boss-fight/993 Outro music: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/the-last-time/863 Disclaimer: This video/podcast is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means we'll receive a small commission from anything you buy. Thank you for your support. Keywords: #comicalopinions #comics #comicreview #comicbookreview #comicbooks #NCBD #Marvel #DCComics #Dynamite #ImageComics #ComicWriting #comicrecommendations #underratedcomics #XMen #RobLiefeld #MarvelComics #StoryStructure #XMenFailing #MaleCodedGoals #Claremont #Wolverine #Superhero
Why Rob Liefeld Is Wrong (But Right) About The X-Men
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