Talk:Superboy v1 198

I deliberately left a few holes in this shell to give you the opportunity to try playing with the issue template. Try using Adventure Comics 328 as an example for filling in the blanks. If you need to look up issue data, a couple of good websites are The Grand Comics Database or DC Indexes. If you're not inclined to fool with the non-synopsis portions for now, I'll fill in the blanks this evening or early tomorrow. -- Gopher 02:16, 3 August 2007 (PDT)

As you can see, I've added a Roll Call list and first appearance notations. I can edit the information in the box, as well (adding credits and so forth), but I don't see how to do it.

Re: Roll Calls. Is there a set preference for listing the order of the Legionnaires? I noticed in the entries for Adv. # 300 and 301 that they were listed in order of appearance. I can arrange my lists that way, if desired, but it seems to me that a more useful approach would be to list the Legionnaires in order of story importance. Granted that this approach is somewhat subjective -- i.e., there is no reason to list Projectra before Karate Kid, other than that is how they're listed on the cover -- but it would eliminate the need for counting panel appearances for each character (unless someone really wants to do that. :)) (I do think that very minor appearances should be noted, as in the case of Violet and Chem in this issue, so their fans don't get their hopes up.) He Who Wanders 17:29, 3 August 2007 (PDT)

I'll add a couple more credits to the box as an example. Basically, any information after an "=" sign in the long string of lines at the top of the page will contain information for that item. As for order of the Roll Call, I always prefer using a method that is not open to debate. Story importance is sometimes clear, but more often than not highly debatable. I'd prefer either order of appearance or alphabetical (anyone else care to chime in?). The whole panel appearances thing was a practice of someone who hasn't posted here in quite some time. It has its uses, but isn't the most critical data for an issue, although I'm sure there will be other contributors who will want to add that information. Feel free to include it or skip as you are inclined. -- Gopher 04:08, 4 August 2007 (PDT)

Thanks for the information.

I appreciate your response about Roll Call lists, and I've been giving it some more thought. The problem I've always had with alphabetical or order-of-appearance lists is that they can create a false impression of a character's significance. For example, in Adv. 328, Cosmic Boy, Sun Boy, Invisible Kid, Triplicate Girl, and the non-powered Bouncing Boy are introduced on Page 2, but have little to do in the story (CB, IK, and TG never even use their powers; Sun Boy only "thinks" about using his.) In an alphabetical listing, Chemical King would be listed third (after Brainy and Cham) for Superboy 198, even though he appears in only one panel.

One might suppose that the plot summaries will answer any questions about which character does what, but the shorter summaries I write don't always go into such detail. Also, as a reader I often skim over the plot summary and go directly to the Roll Call to see if a favorite character is featured first.

As for elminating debate, some subjectivity is always present in encyclopedia entries -- even in the writing of plot summaries and the arrangement of all of the information (e.g., plot summaries come before roll calls and other notes, whereas credits are relegated to a minor area of the box. In other words, we're telling the reader what we think is most important by putting it first). There's really no way to completely eliminate subjectivity or debate. But I've always found such qualities to be more meaningful to me as a reader: i.e., I want to know not only what happens in the story but why it would be important to me. (In other words, I would not want to pick up Sup. 198, expecting it to be a major Chemical King appearance!) Leaving room for debate also encourages the reader to be critically engaged in the entry, which is always a positive thing.

As you can see, I have strong feelings about this, too. But I do respect your views and those of anyone else who wants to add their thoughts. If there is a majority opinion, I'll alter my entries accordingly.