Embarassment of riches in the comics blogosphere over the last three days or so. It’s been tough to even keep up. Sometimes I feel it’s all just a big feedback loop between NeilAlien, ADD, Dirk, Johnny B., Sunny D., Eve, Bill, Forager, Franklin, Alan, Jim, and myself, with the inexplicably blogless Shawn Fumo riding shotgun–but I guess that’s not such a horrible thing, is it?
Dirk continues his hot streak, following up his best take yet on the obtuseness of the Direct Market with a quick state-of-the-manga address and an SPX-inspired middle finger to Team Comix. Responding to a thoughtful first-hand account by Ditko-phile and SPX attendee Blake Bell, Dirk argues that far from enhancing comics’ appeal to mainstream readers, Team Comix spirit of relentless positivity yields crapola that can only hurt comics’ aesthetic and financial viability.
I wasn’t present during the Ignatz keynote speech by Top Shelf honcho Chris Staros that led to this latest kerfluffle (are any transcripts available?), but I can certainly say in Staros’s defense that the man himself has no problem laying down (constructive, but) harsh criticism when young cartoonists need it; ditto for his partner Brett Warnock. At least as far as the individual personalities involved in this debate are concerned, I think perhaps “Team Comix” is just a way of saying that we should be talking about the glass as though it’s half-full, while “Fuck Team Comix” thinks we need to think of it as half-empty. I think it’s pretty easy to see from buying and critical patterns at a show like SPX that good will out regardless of the approach you take. I myself, as usual, want to have it both ways–I think the networking and socializing inherent in the Team Comix concept are good things that help folks make some headway in an artform that’s almost impossible to garner recognition or financial security in, but that we’re all big boys and girls and WANT some tough love when it’s deserved.
Forager responds to many of Dirk’s latest home runs with an in-depth piece of his own, centered on the potential for comics retailers to follow Starbucks’ brilliant “third place” business model–one that’s being done with quite a bit of success by the cafe/music store/bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble and Borders. Even a watered-down attempt at something like this seems beyond both the brains and the wallets of most retailers, but just making your store look nice and employing non-assholes would be a huge step in the right direction. Forager also argues that fanboydom will make from-within change amongst retailers or publishers almost impossible, and he’s probably right.
NeilAlien is prompted by the release of CrossGen pirate comic El Cazador to second Kim Thompson’s argument: more crap is what we need. ‘Course, Kim was calling for good, solid, entertaining crap, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been tempted to use one of those adjectives to describe a Chuck Dixon comic. His views on homosexuality make for good solid entertainment, though.
Johnny Bacardi reviews some recent comics. I too found LoEGv2#6 anticlimactic, but as was the case with the final installment of Dave Cooper’s Ripple, this might be as much a function of the long delays between issues as anything else. Also, 1602 really is a slog so far, isn’t it? I mean, the big reveal involves an Alpha Flight team member? WTF?
Big Sunny D has a comix roundup of his own, focusing on the recent discussion of Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta and Peter Bagge’s Sweatshop.
Franklin Harris gives a glowing review to the big JLA/Avengers crossover. Personally, I think Busiek has already blown it. If he’d made the conflict between the Marvel & DC superteams’ respective modus operandi into the crux of the book, saving the dereliction-of-duty vs. fascist-overlord fight between Captain American and Superman till the last issue, he could have had a damn interesting examination of super-power (spandex-wearing and otherwise) on his hands. (In this sense it’d have made an interestin companion piece to Mark Gruenwald’s recently rereleased, surprisingly good Squadron Supreme.) Instead, the Big Blues are sparring because of some sort of hinky cosmic mind control, and they’re gonna eventually make up and go around on a celestial Easter Egg hunt. Sigh. On the other hand, George Lopez has managed to turn in some great-looking stuff despite his addiction to women with Dolly Parton’s 70s haircut: the Starro the Conqueror Takes Manhattan double-splash was stunning. (I’m not nuts about Perez in general, but I should say that I think Crisis on Infinite Earths, the series he drew that serves in many ways as a prequel to this one, is just gorgeous as pop art.)
Jim Henley wets Blankets once again, this time arguing that author Craig Thompson’s pronouncements on what comics do well are little more than recounting what his comics do well (and I guess Jim would even argue about that).
Eve Tushnet briefly comments on my thoughts about V for Vendetta and Jim’s on Blankets.
He’ll always be Arthur Stewart from the ‘Erald to me.
And the Comics Journal message board’s own Yasser Arafat has been expelled. Jim Treacher, thou art avenged!
Vengeful glee aside, the absence of this individual from the board will make it a much more pleasant and intelligent place to discuss comics, which in its small way is good for comics itself. Bravo to the admins for taking action. And bravo to Steve Hogan for being as civil as civil can be.