Debate: (2) Avengers-Related Writer

[The Night Phantom]

I thought it would be nice to discuss the candidates in each Jarvis category. Since there are a lot of categories, some of which have a lot of candidates, it might make sense to discuss each category in its own thread.

2. BEST AVENGERS-RELATED WRITER of 2006
+ Ed Brubaker (Captain America)
+ Alan Heinberg (Young Avengers)
+ Fabian Nicieza (Thunderbolts)
+ Dan Slott (She-Hulk, Thing)

I won’t be voting for Brubaker, since I haven’t read his CA. (Side note: I have read some of his other work and enjoyed it, but I haven’t yet had reason to be excited about his writing. I’m open to the possibility that that will change.) I nominated Heinberg (note: his first name is spelled Allan), but I’ve also enjoyed the Nicieza and Slott series above, and I can be swayed.

How about you? What are your thoughts?

[dlw66]

I nominated Millar, but he didn't make the cut. I will be skipping this portion of the ballot.

[Engage]

I think I'll likely vote as nominated. Dan Slott turned two characters that haven't been particularly relevant for at least the last decade and turned them back into great characters that still live up their past characterization. He uses characters that haven't been in a book in years, has reinvented the Awesome Android into a great supporting character and put forward a great look at The Thing, showcasing the size of the big man's heart.

His books are funny, but also have a serious side that can bring the goods. Without him I doubt She-Hulk would a character in both FF: The End and Civil War. In fact, she's all over Civil War.

[redstatecap]

Despite the fact that Mr. Brubaker's decision to resurrect Bucky led to me dropping the title permanently, I can recognize that he has some talent. So Ed Brubaker gets my vote.

RSC

[Van Plexico]

Mark Millar really should have gotten a nomination here.

That being said, I'd still vote for Heinberg. He had a much bigger hurdle to jump, with all-new characters (and "kiddie" ones, at that), and yet somehow managed to make their story utterly engrossing and compelling.

Millar, by contrast, had an entire universe of Avengers characters not only to work with, but to pretty much reshape as he saw fit.

So-- Heinberg, with the stated limitations, working in a very confined, constricted universe, trumps Millar playing entirely in his own sandbox, I think. But both were great.

[dlw66]

Early nominee for 2007 is Joe Casey. If EMH II continues to roll along with a fresh yet reverent take on existing ideas, strong characterization and believable dialogue, all with a dead-on homage toward the past, then he will get my vote for best writer.