On the other hand, for sheer variety and weirdness, Vartox's costume and "patch" are unique, and are not emblematic of a culture obsessed with morbidity and violence like the fashions I described. They are both in bad taste, but Curt Swan's Vartox displays a bad taste culled from a culture of libidinal freedom and self-expression (or at least a middle-aged corporate cartoonist's version of same).
What was that quote in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK?
"Take this watch - worthless. But bury it for a thousand years...ah!" There really is a problem with an audience that can't appreciate quality science fiction, fantasy, adventure, or crime comics (to name only a few genres) unless the characters are wearing some version of a superhero costume and the stories take place in a shared universe inhabited by similarly-clad characters. This is the state of the traditional comic book marketplace today and for the last 30 years.
Yes, this is true. But the fact superheroes are so popular can't be held against them (or their fans).
It bothers me that a lot of creators (Warren Ellis, Keno Don Rosa and Scott MacLeod come to mind) have a passive-aggressive distaste for superguys because of how big the superhero genre is.
Related: Thanks to film, the interweb, the early-90s comic glut, and a general culture of nerdiness, there are probably more potential superhero-literate readers in existence right now than there have been in 50 years.
I disagree, because of how widespread so-called fan interest things like movie monsters and science fiction have become in the greater culture, comics are no longer that unique: they have to compete with X-Box and the Sci-Fi cable channel.
Compare that to the situation in the past where, if you were a science fiction fan, the only place you could get your fix for movie monsters was on late late night local shows.
In the past, the only place you could really get superheroes was in comics. Some of the superhero shows were on television (Wonder Woman, Superman) but let's face it, those shows were pretty LAME. Comics on the other hand, had an infinite special effects budget: if you wanted to get the "true" super-experience, you pick up comic books because they're the only medium that gives you "proper" superheroism.
Nowadays, however, big-budget movies can give you an experience as great as any of the comics.
That doesn't mean that the superhero comics industry should cater almost exclusively to a fan culture.
I both agree and disagree. Yes, I agree in theory with the statement that there should be a comic out there for everybody.
HOWEVER, there is nothing whatsoever wrong with comics that appeal to the strengths of the fan audience. Just ask LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, TEEN TITANS, X-MEN, ALL-STAR SQUADRON, or AVENGERS.
Also, you talk about "appeal to a fan culture" as if it and widespread popularity are mutually exclusive characteristics...and they're not. Isn't there a comic that can be both for the diehards and average people? The answer is yes, and they have been: Kurt Busiek's AVENGERS was just about the top-selling comic of its day yet it was beloved by both Average Joe Comics Reader and hardcore Avengers diehards like Yours Truly.