The Ends of Stories

[ProjectX2]

Every good story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Most comics don't. Titles like Spider-Man and Superman just keep going on, with new writers and artists coming on to do their own story arc etc. I'm not going to have another thread about whether or not comics should end, because we've got one already. I want to talk about the ends of certain stories.

Are you ever annoyed at the end of a certain story? Do you get invested and excited in what you're reading, only to be let down by the end?

I can think of quite a few instances. The first being the first arc of Desolation Jones. I love it. Great writing, great art, and a great story. Except for the end. His sidekick gets shot in the head by the porno chick. And then it ends. It felt out of place and I didn't like it.

Another one that comes to mind is the Extremis arc of Iron Man. It's really good, except for the end, where Tony figures out Maya was behind Extremis. This does make sense, as it required two people to let it out, but felt like a cliche story move and it just felt lame compared to the rest of the otherwise superb arc.

Some people feel underwhelmed by the end of Watchmen. I did the first time I read it, but it's grown on me since.

So what do you think? Any particular examples of endings you don't like or thought were stupid? Or any you thought were quite well done? Post them.

 

[Gideon Stargrave]

Is this limited to comics only? If so, then there are countless arcs (like say, every single USM story ever) that didn't satisfy me at the end.

 

[ProjectX2]

Is this limited to comics only? If so, then there are countless arcs (like say, every single USM story ever) that didn't satisfy me at the end.

Well, try and keep it comics mainly, but you're welcome to include any other examples.

I know one. Fullmetal Alchemist. Watched the second to last episode, didn't know what the **** the show was about anymore, and haven't gone back since.

 

[Gideon Stargrave]

Well, try and keep it comics mainly, but you're welcome to include any other examples.

I know one. Fullmetal Alchemist. Watched the second to last episode, didn't know what the **** the show was about anymore, and haven't gone back since.

Whats not to get? Al dies, Ed revives him, using his own soul for the "equivalent exchange". He then ends up on the other side of the gate.

If you want a bit more closure, you should try watching the movie.

I hated the end of Ultimates v1. "Lalala we killed the aliens and cap and the wasp are making out and everyone's happy."

 

[ProjectX2]

I can't remember the exact details because it was about a year ago but it was something like their dad was a witch and was behind it all and then at the end of the episode they were in Germany 1914. I really should go back and watch it all but I can't really be bothered.

I loved all of Ultimates Volume 1.

 

[Gideon Stargrave]

I can't remember the exact details because it was about a year ago but it was something like their dad was a witch and was behind it all and then at the end of the episode they were in Germany 1914. I really should go back and watch it all but I can't really be bothered.

I loved all of Ultimates Volume 1.

Their Dad was using the Philosopher's stone to switch between bodies, and had been doing so with that one old psycho lady for a long time. He wasn't really behind anything. And Ed ended up in Germany, then died there, and was taken back to the Alchemy world, where the events of the last episode took place.

I liked Ultimates 1 too, but the end was crap.

 

[Friday]

Brad Meltzer's Zero Game. The whole novel in general pissed me off when a few chapters in the kill the POV character. Now I'd have been fine with that if he had used a rotating narration in the beginning, but to focus on everything through just one characters eyes and then kill him was too jarring. Then he reused the ending he had in The Millionaires (A desperate chase/fight in the little known tunnels under a well known area). Its the entire reason I haven't gotten The Book of Fate yet. I don't want to read the same ending for a third time.

 

[ourchair]

I've said it before, I'll say it again: The ending of Wanted was EXACTLY the ending it needed, and is smarter than most people give it credit for. It's absolutely brilliant.

I'll try to think of endings that upset me.

 

[Joe Kalicki]

Maybe this thread title should include a massive spoiler warning.

I'll try to think of some ends that sucked. Usually it's only the good ones that really stick with me. Like the end of House on Pooh Corner. Soooo sad.

 

[ourchair]

Maybe this thread title should include a massive spoiler warning.

I disagree. I think people should just use spoiler tags, as not everyone will be on the same page on which comics they finished to the end and which ones they didn't.

 

[thee great one]

Inuyasha had the worst ending in the history of ever.

 

[McCheese]

Inuyasha had the worst ending in the history of ever.

You mean that show actually ended?

Hallelujah!!!​

I thought they were gonna chase Naraku for 700 episodes. 100 of those episodes would be about Sango struggling with her brother being a killer, 50 would be about Miroku struggling with his wind tunnel and lechery, and 550 would just be Inuyasha and Kagome yelling each others names for 23 minutes.

So how did it end?

 

[thee great one]

You mean that show actually ended?

Hallelujah!!!​

I thought they were gonna chase Naraku for 700 episodes. 100 of those episodes would be about Sango struggling with her brother being a killer, 50 would be about Miroku struggling with his wind tunnel and lechery, and 550 would just be Inuyasha and Kagome yelling each others names for 23 minutes.

So how did it end?

Exactly like that.

They didn't kill Naraku...

Her brother is still with him...


The jewel isn't complete...

He still has the wind tunnel...


it was so ****in stupid.

 

[McCheese]

Exactly like that.

They didn't kill Naraku...

Her brother is still with him...


The jewel isn't complete...

He still has the wind tunnel...


it was so ****in stupid.

Nice.

How many times did Kagome yell "Inuyasha!" and Inuyasha yell "Kagome!" in the final episode?

I bet it was like 100?

200?

 

[thee great one]

Nice.

How many times did Kagome yell "Inuyasha!" and Inuyasha yell "Kagome!" in the final episode?

I bet it was like 100?

200?

Something like that. If you didn't know it was the last episode, there was no way to tell the difference from any other.

 

[McCheese]

Something like that. If you didn't know it was the last episode, there was no way to tell the difference from any other.

HA!

That show sucks.

Anywho, back to the first post...

Some people feel underwhelmed by the end of Watchmen. I did the first time I read it, but it's grown on me since.

Really? I loved the ending. I can't remember the last time I put down a comic and felt that content.

 

[Pandrio]

Really? I loved the ending. I can't remember the last time I put down a comic and felt that content.

Agreed.

The ending to the Dark Tower was unexpected to say the least.

 

[Volunteer Fire Detective]

What I hate about bad endings is that sickening feeling you get halfway through whatever the last part is when you realize they aren't going to resolve anything. For example- has anyone here ever read Everworld, by K.A. Applegate (better known as "that lady who did Animorphs")? Well, it was a brilliant series of twelve books. I absolutely loved it. Until the twelfth book. It didn't answer any questions, barely advanced the plot, and was the shortest one in the series. The length was what bothered me the most- especially when, as I've already stated, I got halfway through it and realized that Miss Applegate had given up. The kicker is, the second-to-last book was the best in the series.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the series upon which my name is based. Contrary to most, I loved THE END (the last book in "A Series of Unfortunate Events") and thought that the ending fit perfectly within the framework of the storytelling of the rest of the series. But then again, I didn't go into it with the mindset that it would answer all my questions (unfortunately, I did go into this mindset with the last book in Everworld, which is perhaps why it was so disapointing).

 

[ourchair]

What I hate about bad endings is that sickening feeling you get halfway through whatever the last part is when you realize they aren't going to resolve anything.

From what my friends tell me, this is already happening with Lost. :lol:

 

[Pandrio]

For example- has anyone here ever read Everworld, by K.A. Applegate (better known as "that lady who did Animorphs")? Well, it was a brilliant series of twelve books. I absolutely loved it. Until the twelfth book. It didn't answer any questions, barely advanced the plot, and was the shortest one in the series. The length was what bothered me the most- especially when, as I've already stated, I got halfway through it and realized that Miss Applegate had given up.

Did that with Animorphs too. (Kind of.)