Is this going overboard or being responsible?

[Anton Phibes]

Everyone probably knows that Joe Quesada has put the kee-bosh on characters smoking in comics while he is EIC. Including Wolverine, the Thing and Nick Fury. Bowen designs doesn't seem to give a rat's behind about this edict, as their Nick Fury full size, mini bust and Thing mini bust have huge honkin' stogies hanging outta their face. Joe says he does it because he hates smoking because its killed members of his family. So, no one smokes. Do you think this is going overboard...or being responsible as an EIC?

Now, don't get my position wrong. I hate smoking...and I know its a killer. But if he had had family die from AIDS or other STD related problems, would sex be banned? If he had someone murdered by an arm wielding maniac would guns be banned? What about eating junk that's bad for you or alcohol? Those aren't banned. I am just wondering if this is him trying to be responsible...or just knee jerk overkill. Because, as much as I admire the good decisions he has made with Marvel, I think some of the stuff he does is confusing.

 

[El Roranous]

Yeah the dude is being irrational. So a comic book character smokes. Children need to be taught by their parents that these are just little cartoon fantasies and adventures.

 

[tylerd]

i hate when personal views are incorporated into someplace it has no place being. let's put the responsibility back into the parent's hands to make sure their kids don't smoke. and adults that smoke, knowing the results of what it can do to you have a death wish.

i admire designers like bowen and sideshow that don't give in to terroristic ultimatums.

 

[tylerd]

Yeah the dude is being irrational. So a comic book character smokes. Children need to be taught by their parents that these are just little cartoon fantasies and adventures.

finally, we see eye to eye.

 

[Mesa]

I hate all forms of censorship. I believe it paints the world in an unrealistic fairlytale light, and when a sheltered child gets into the real world, they are less prepared.

I realize a line has to be drawn somewhere so we don't have toddlers watching porn, but this decision seems a little drastic. Hell, if you want to educate and protect children, have wolverine or Fury get lung cancer from his smoking

 

[the Doctor]

the characters you have mentioned are not heroes for smoking!

if anything using a smoking angle for designing a bust or statue i think would only be good for a small variant edition.

 

[insomniac]

Bowen no longer creates statues or busts with a cigarette. I think the busts and statue that you are referring to were created before the Marvel smoking ban. There was a huge discussion on statue forum awhile back when pictures of the SS Red Skull were released on how SS was able to get the Red Skull approved with a cig in his mouth. Randy mentioned he was going to look into it but I donot know if an answer was provided.

 

[abadguy]

I realize a line has to be drawn somewhere so we don't have toddlers watching porn, but this decision seems a little drastic. Hell, if you want to educate and protect children, have wolverine or Fury get lung cancer from his smoking

I agree. Making a character get diagnosed with lung cancer is better than banning all characters from smoking. It'll show kids that you have a right to smoke but there's also risks you take by doing it.

 

[the Doctor]

Really what does it matter!?!?..do you buy a super hero statue/bust because he/she is a smoker?

 

[LOTRFan]

The stoggie hanging out of Wolvie's mouth makes the LSB, the only one I have -- and I LOVE it.

 

[Bardoon]

LOL He screws up Spider-man with "One More Day" and NOW he's going overboard for not allowing characters to smoke?

I'd rather he fix up Spidey first.

 

[Anton Phibes]

LOL He screws up Spider-man with "One More Day" and NOW he's going overboard for not allowing characters to smoke?

I'd rather he fix up Spidey first.

OOOOOOHHhhhhhh, you don't want to get me started on that OMD/BND junk.

 

[Anton Phibes]

the characters you have mentioned are not heroes for smoking!

if anything using a smoking angle for designing a bust or statue i think would only be good for a small variant edition.

Didn't say they were. But they are and have been heroes who do smoke.The editions that were released weren't "small variants". I think you are missing the entire point of my question. This question is about whether or not Joe's decision was an example of his being a responsible EIC... or if he's just trying to impose his own p.o.v. on smoking onto fictional characters during his tenure.

I am relatively sure he doesnt believe in murdering people in cold blood either. yet Punisher gets published every month. It just seems like imposing this "no smoking" edict pales in comparison to some of the other things that are permitted to go on in the fictional realm of comics. Smoking is probably the least of the concerns.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Does it add to the character that they smoke?

Having a half-smoked cigar hanging from a character's mouth is a short hand way of saying they're tough. Nick, Wolvie, JJJ are all summed up this way. Having a character with a cigarette in a holder, like Red Skull, says something about the character. So just having a wholesale ban on it, he's kind of handcuffing the artists. But it also forces them to express the character in new and unexplored ways to convey the same idea.

 

[Anton Phibes]

Does it add to the character that they smoke?

Having a half-smoked cigar hanging from a character's mouth is a short hand way of saying they're tough. Nick, Wolvie, JJJ are all summed up this way. Having a character with a cigarette in a holder, like Red Skull, says something about the character. So just having a wholesale ban on it, he's kind of handcuffing the artists. But it also forces them to express the character in new and unexplored ways to convey the same idea.

Exactly. Maybe rough and a little abrasive too. I agree about the handcuffing statement as well. Like I said, in real life I am against smoking. Its about killed my father. But in comics, where its a fictional story, I can handle people smoking. It never made me want to try it, and I loved all those characters you mentioned when I was "young and impressionable". Because at the end of the day, my dad's corporal punishment with his belt made a more lasting impression than any comic book.

 

[Bonehead15]

I think it's stupid.

If he's going to get rid of smoking why not drinking, sex, swearing, excessive violence, or anything else someone might take offense to? Lung cancer is bad but sirosis of the liver is OK?? My point is where do you stop?


I will say that out of all of the idiotic things Joe Q. has done this is one of the most stupid... outsides One More Day of course.

 

[Rook]

Relax. One More Day is just a summer-long event in which Spidey is trussed up in some cave by Mephisto or Mysterio or someone like that, undergoing a long and complex hallucination. It'll all be over soon. (I hope.)

As for smoking, Chris Claremont explained back in the 80s that Wolverine is able to smoke without fear of the consequences only because of his healing factor. But that, too, is an aside.

I had more to say, but I'm tired and want sleep...

 

[Shai]

Joe Q Sux Big Time Anyway.

 

[IrishJedi]

Joe Q Sux Big Time Anyway.

True. And he's as big a wuss as anyone else who has a problem with things like Wolverine and Nick Fury smoking cigars.

 

[Khev]

Does Quesada's ban on smoking apply to the villains as well?