# Comics Fans: The one rule you would impose on the comics universe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638 "2004-10-05T14:08:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638/81 "2004-10-15T01:51:44Z")
I thought I remembered the issue of Hulk that was from, but it turns out I was just remembering the ish where Rick Jones’ friend who actually _does_ have AIDS comes to town and gets sliced up by Speedfreak. Anyway, that was a good issue, too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638/82 "2004-10-15T03:44:40Z")
Actually it was from an issue of _Omaha the Cat Dancer_ by Reed Waller and Kate Worley. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638/83 "2004-10-15T03:46:38Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > I didn’t follow Alpha Flight for long; I knew Northstar was gay but I hadn’t heard about him having AIDS. But I’m not surprised; there was a period in the late 80’s where every fictional gay character had AIDS. I remember one comic book where a gay character mentioned his lover had died. Another character asked, “AIDS?” and the first said, “No, he died in a car accident. AIDS isn’t the only thing gay people die from.” I remember that exchange, too, and it wasn’t in Hulk, because I don’t read Hulk. Or most superhero comics. Dammit, where the hell did I hear that from? ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638/84 "2004-10-15T06:49:51Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I remember that exchange, too, and it wasn’t in Hulk, because I don’t read Hulk. Or most superhero comics. > > Dammit, where the hell did I hear that from? I’m too lazy to dig out those issues of the Hulk, but that sounds like Peter David to me. No one who ever wrote Alpha Flight was witty enough to write that. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638/85 "2004-10-15T10:43:02Z")
> [@Gamaliel](#): > > I’m too lazy to dig out those issues of the Hulk, but that sounds like Peter David to me. > > No one who ever wrote Alpha Flight was witty enough to write that. Sounds like David to me too…maybe during his X-Factor run? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638/86 "2004-10-15T13:07:17Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Actually it was from an issue of _Omaha the Cat Dancer_ by Reed Waller and Kate Worley. …and the _late_ Kate Worley. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638/87 "2004-10-15T23:44:26Z")
The **Issue #1** rule: If you’re going to put #1 on the cover, it should be the beginning a new story, and the story should be accessible to people who are entirely unfamiliar with the character(s). This means that you do not start a story line in _JLA_, then have knowledge of that story be a prerequisite for understanding _Doom Patrol #1_. What you do is provide the new reader with enough information to understand what’s going on, even if the character is an established one. _Madrox_ and _Astonishing X-Men_ #1 both did this well. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638/88 "2004-10-16T11:26:18Z")
> [@Number Six](#): > > The **Issue #1** rule: > > If you’re going to put #1 on the cover, it should be the beginning a new story, and the story should be accessible to people who are entirely unfamiliar with the character(s). > > This means that you do not start a story line in _JLA_, then have knowledge of that story be a prerequisite for understanding _Doom Patrol #1_. > . And the prequel to that rule, which was either Julius Schwartz’s or Mort Weisinger’s\*: **EVERY ISSUE IS SOMEONE’S FIRST**. Yeah, it was kinda silly to read “_Due to a necessary impurity, Green Lantern’s ring cannot affect anything yellow" every single issue, but dammit, it’s better than simply assuming that the casual browser will have any idea of your backstory and maybe losing them as a regular reader. Stan Lee knew this too and he was the gawd of the expository back-story discussion… "My heavens Reed! I never thought that the Mad Thinker_ would be able to capture us using _our own powers against us!_!” “Yes Sue. If we hadn’t been distracted by the Red Ghost and his Commie Super-Apes\*\*\* trying to undermine the Infante Terrible’s outer-space Montissori School’s field trip, the Mad Thinker would _never_ have caught us by surprise!” “Oh Reed, how can we get _out_ of this deadly trap in time to see our son Franklin’s piano recital?” “Hmmm…I have a plan…” Granted, it’s awkward when reprinted in a trade paperback, but dammit, if you want new readers (of comics, not of a given book), you _have_ to get them to jump on in the issue they pick up. They’re not going to think “Hm. This looks kind of interesting. I’ll certainly remember to come back in five months when this arc ends!” Fenris \*\*A rogue scientist almost as smart as Reed, True Believers!–footnotin’ Stan \*\*\*A Commie agent (and his three apes) who got their powers from _COSMIC RAYS_ which also gave the Fantastic Four their powers–Accuracy is Everything Stan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comics-fans-the-one-rule-you-would-impose-on-the-comics-universe/267638.md?page=4)