I don't think I can point out many individual instances that made me give up superhero comics. As a Marvel Zombie, it was a combination of the rise of interminable events (They just stank of forced consumerism, so I didn't read them - but that was the problem. There wasn't much besides.) and writers seemingly developing a tin ear. Righteous heroes became self-righteous, if that makes sense. People spoke and acted in strange, unrealistic ways. Bendis-speak was on the rise. Individual titles became less and less interesting to me, so I dropped them. My pull list didn't go out with a bang, but a whimper.
One thing did finally clinch it. Going by posts in this thread from 5 years ago, you'll think I'm nuts, but it was the depowering of the Red Hulk.
Loeb's Red Hulk? I ignored that for the most part. But Parker's Red Hulk, after the World War Hulks hoo-ha, after his capture, was excellent. Some of the best comics Marvel was putting out at the time, and something that shouldn't be ignored because of his debut. (There are no bad characters, just bad wtiters) Having figuratively lost his life, Ross has to reevaluate it and his place in the world. Jeff Parker handled it greatly.
So Red Hulk comics were the last superhero comics I bought. I knew he'd be depowered soon enough, but I thought they could have gone about it better. In Thunderbolts vol 2, Daniel Way butchered any kind of rehabilitation Parker gave Rulk. (When you have freakin' Elektra and Frank Castle whispering between themselves about what an eebil murderer Ross is... that felt like a betrayal) The Doc Green arc in The Incredible Hulk was horribly clunky anyway, but when it not only depowered Ross, but wiped away any last trace of the heel-face turn, and Steve Rogers' approval... it just added more reasons to the perfect point to quit.
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