quote:
Originally posted by Animalman:
quote:
Originally posted by Pig Iron:
I noticed you didn't say much else? [wink]
Aye. Just about everything else we disagree on, it would seem. I especially don't see how Millar making idiotic pop culture references like "Hulk smash Freddie Prinze, Jr!" makes this a good book.

Millar's been a twit ever since he bought into his own hype years ago, and I assume he'll be a twit from now until eternity. I've told this to him personally, I've told it to his friends, I've told it to his fans. I can't stop telling it. He's a twit.
I looked for the "Hulk smash Freddie Prinze Jr" reference, but at no stage does the Hulk actually say that. Which is a shame, as its quite a funny line.

Pop culture references put the book in its place, as being contemporary. It stands out from the seemingless timeless/ageless irrelevance of the regular Avengers book. Its very "now", and relevant.

Millar is presenting a challenge to DC. The JLA continue to pretend to exist with 1950s moral strictures living in the 1980s or some unspecified decade so the material will not date. The Ultimates exist in a real universe, with famous people from that real universe, dealing with real issues.

I'm not judging Millar on his hype: I'm judging Millar on his work. There is a big difference, and I am of the opinion that his skill as an entertaining writer is underestimated or perhaps discounted because of the hype.