our definition of spoiler has always been "hasn't aired on TV"
Yes, you're right and that's still the simplest and simple is good. I'm just thinking we came up with that, before there were writer podcasts, creator-produced web comics and other show-sanctioned content. When we came up with it, what we were most likely to run into was
TV Guide
episode descriptions (which the creators don't control) and newspaper and magazine articles.
People who read the comics, in what ways have they spoiled you for episodes? Maybe if those of us who don't read them have some concrete examples, it will be easier to consense. What were some of the biggest spoilers?
People who read the comics, in what ways have they spoiled you for episodes?
That\'s just it -- They haven\'t. In almost all cases, they only provide additional background on characters. There was one time, right after the episode that ended with Eden blowing her brains out, that I thought the comic was spoilery. In the comic, HRG visits Eden\'s father to give him the bad news, and there\'s a flashback to HRG and the Haitian(?) immediately subduing Sylar.
I thought it was spoilery because we didn\'t know yet that Sylar had been recaptured. But after seeing the next episode, I reconsidered. In that episode, Sylar\'s recapture has already happened and it\'s not even discussed. I took from that, that the viewer is supposed to assume that
of course Sylar was recaptured -- Why would we think otherwise?
From then on, I viewed the comic differently. It\'s simply additional information. As others have said, you don\'t
need
to read them to appreciate the show, but they\'re not spoilery either.
I'd prefer the stuff in whitefont, but if the majority decides otherwise, I'm okay with that.
I'm going to read them so blackfont is good for me, but I don't mind exposing the whitefont if others prefer to watch the episodes as served without the comic hints.
The comic about DL was very spoilery.
The comic about DL was very spoilery.
I forgot that one. It showed his power before it was revealed on the show, right? Anything else?
It showed that DL was a good guy, and not coming to stalk and kill Niki and Micah.
Everything about Hana. Her first appearance in an episode was composed almost entirely of scenes/information from the comics.
Everything about Hana.
Hana seems to me a special case. She\'s barely been on TV. I\'m starting to wonder if she\'s ever going to play a bigger role on the broadcast show. Maybe she\'ll be primarily an Internet character, which is amusingly appropriate given her power.
It's simply additional information. As others have said, you don't need to read them to appreciate the show, but they're not spoilery either.
And of course, the main problem is that "Heroes" is intended to be consumed in two media at once ... which is a little different than what happens with online materials for most TV shows. You don't lose much if you don't read the comic, but it's not the complete picture of the story, either.
