I think it may be more, and less, complex than that. Just to recap, all memorable fiction, no matter the time or culture, is composed of two basic elements: love & journeys. How the characters feel about each other motivates their actions which generates the plot, which in turn affects their continuing interactions, etc. Anything else is a plot device.
Mainstream comics have a strong tendency to epitomize journeys to the point of denigrating love. Romance is something to avoid, to tack on arbitrarily, and it appears spastic, without rhyme or reason. Recall the classic fan who says (and I always imagine this said in a condescending, sneering tone of voice), "Oh, I read comics for the stories, not the 'ships." Er... *checks paragraph one*
My only real point is that mainstream comics have a massive structural flaw. Extensive - and rather aimless - plots developed as the expense of long-term emotional relationships. When I say emotional, I mean sexual/romantic. There's plenty of platonic friendship. At least, among characters of the same gender. Since friendship is the root of love (and it's the reason why male/female relationships are often stifled from this path in comics, but potential m/m or f/f pairings are not because no one in comics could possibly be gay), we fill in the gaps.
Compared to a romance novel, we already have the beginning, the initial meetings and trust. We already know that their (probably well established) friendship (+ adventures) will continue, so that covers the end. All that's missing is the middle, where they overcome the artificially imposed (by the source material) boundaries, symbolized by fic-created plot devices, acknowledge their love and have lots of sex (because love = sex, in our culture). The excessive sex is therefore a response to the abnormal lack in the source material.
Mainstream comics have a strong tendency to epitomize journeys to the point of denigrating love. Romance is something to avoid, to tack on arbitrarily, and it appears spastic, without rhyme or reason. Recall the classic fan who says (and I always imagine this said in a condescending, sneering tone of voice), "Oh, I read comics for the stories, not the 'ships." Er... *checks paragraph one*
My only real point is that mainstream comics have a massive structural flaw. Extensive - and rather aimless - plots developed as the expense of long-term emotional relationships. When I say emotional, I mean sexual/romantic. There's plenty of platonic friendship. At least, among characters of the same gender. Since friendship is the root of love (and it's the reason why male/female relationships are often stifled from this path in comics, but potential m/m or f/f pairings are not because no one in comics could possibly be gay), we fill in the gaps.
Compared to a romance novel, we already have the beginning, the initial meetings and trust. We already know that their (probably well established) friendship (+ adventures) will continue, so that covers the end. All that's missing is the middle, where they overcome the artificially imposed (by the source material) boundaries, symbolized by fic-created plot devices, acknowledge their love and have lots of sex (because love = sex, in our culture). The excessive sex is therefore a response to the abnormal lack in the source material.
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