The Cipher 04/06/11: “Imagine if this was the last rhyme I ever wrote”
April 6th, 2011 by david brothers | Tags: cipher, flex mentallo, joe casey, michael kupperman, sean witzkecreated: I read a Wiki article the other day about Impostor syndrome. It’s an interesting read, and I’m pretty sure I waffle between that and a sense of absolutely delusional entitlement regularly.
–Ten panels you should’ve seen at Wondercon
–A really obvious April Fools’ Day post
consumed: I went to Wondercon and got sick. I was wrecked yesterday and am only slightly better today, but I should be good to go tomorrow. I hardly ever get sick, so each time is like the end of the world. (What a crybaby.)
–Jay Potts got his book funded! I’m really happy that this happened. Black comics, baby! Congrats to Jay. Looking forward to seeing the book.
–How Slavery Really Ended In America is an interesting read. I’m only a couple pages in, so maybe it goes south at some point, but thus far? Super interesting.
–Zom of the Mindless Ones takes a swing at Frank Miller, Lynn Varley, and Klaus Janson’s Joker, with an eye toward David Bowie. I liked this read. It’s a pretty interesting examination.
-I got the new Fantagraphics catalog in the mail, and guess what’s in it! Michael Kupperman’s Mark Twain’s Autobiography 1910-2010! Kupperman is one of the funniest dudes in comics (it’s him, Kyle Baker, Sergio Aragones, and ???), and his Mark Twain post was super funny. Here’s an excerpt from Tales Designed to Thrizzle
So, yes: I’m buying this one as soon as it drops.
–The Daily Crosshatch had a good interview with Stan Sakai of Usagi Yojimbo fame.
-Coming via Cheryl Lynn is this bit of dopeness:
SOUL MAN™ Teaser Guillaume Ivernel (Blacklight Movies) from Blacklight Movies on Vimeo.
-Sean Witzke is back to writing about comics, and wow, he’s making my days. On Dan Slott, Marcos Martin, and violence in cape comics:
You want to do the story where Spider-Man saves everyone, makes sure that no one dies, gets some new armor with some cool magnetic webbing, outsmarts the bad guy and rubs it in J Jonah Jameson’s face? Do it without talking about it. Calling all this attention to death, it makes the entire endeavor feel awkward, it consistently points out that this is a problem with reading a superhero comic with real world consequences. If you want to do something old school and tell classic Spidey stories, WHY NOT JUST DO IT? This is caught in the middle and satisfies neither side.
On Rick Remender, Jerome Opeña, and action in comics:
This isn’t nostalgia comics, it’s a job for these guys – almost in the mode of the shittiest Batman comics that come out – it has Wolverine and Deadpool in it, and it comes out in 6 weeks, do whatever you want. And Remender and Opena, they want to do a comic with some great fight scenes, and for me that’s always been something undervalued as a reason to make a comic. Especially in a place where comics are now, where real action is now much more of an idea you play to (which I think happens in all kinds of comics, from the Fort Thunder indie stuff to huge Marvel/DC crossovers, action is a pose more than anything). Giving a shit about things like fights and chases always makes me feel a bit silly, but it’s what I care about and I enjoy seeing it done right and hate when it’s paid lip service to. Uncanny X-Force is a comic that understands what it is, and then goes about being the best dumb fight comic it can be.
So I bought it, I thought the idea of Tintin traveling through Interzone sounded far enough away from coming of age and the 70s and Baby’s First Body Horror Reader. I bought it, because I am an idiot who actually listens to people, and the preview art looked great. I paid $20 for this. Those Tintin books that have 3 reprints in one are only $18.
-Some scrub on Twitter (retweeted here) called Sean’s work “Not the type of criticism the world needs.” Hahaha. Get real, homey.
-I can’t think of anyone who writes about comics like Sean does. The way he blends cinema theory (is that a word? “the way movies work”) and comics theory is endlessly fascinating to me, because I like movies, but I don’t know them. Sean can spot directors swiping other directors, which is basically magic, as far as I’m concerned. That’s a voice that I need to be reading, and that’s just the most obvious touchstone for his work.
-It’s cool to not like people, but to pitch it as “Oh, this guy is hurting the form,” like there’s some objective way to grade criticism? You need a dummy smack for that one. If somebody sucks, say they suck. Don’t get all bougie about it and try to justify your dislike.
-I always find discussions of what criticism is or should be to be pointless, but hey, I’m home sick from work and doped up, so let’s get it in.
-People are gonna believe what they want to believe about your work, according to their own interests. I’ve had people tell me that I’m too negative online. That’s funny, because I posted about 25 times in February for Black History Month, and one post about a dumb Gorilla Grodd comic came close to getting more comments than everything I wrote in February combined.
-I’m negative? C’mon, b. I spent the latter third of last year depressed out of my head and still managed to give sloppy kisses to dozens of comics I loved. Check the rhime if you don’t believe me. Do your homework.
-The internet’s backwards. People pay attention when you savage (or lightly insult or even ignore, at this point) something, because 1) controversy (intended or otherwise) brings in hits and 2) everybody likes a chance to tell you you’re wrong. Post about something you like more than most people you’ve met? Deafening silence. It should be the other way around.
-That’s the secret of why every site does top ten lists. They invite hits and angry comments.
-I could post tomorrow on that dumb looking American Panther thing, with some very well thought out and reasonable points, but I’d rather do what I’m doing right after I finish this point: write about Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo and figure out some way to explain Moebius to a general audience.
-The more I think about it, the dumber I think “not the type of criticism the world needs” is an incredibly stupid thing to say. It’s just–there’s this layer of elitism in there, an implicit statement that criticism needs to be a certain way to be valid, that valid criticism exists, and all of this other garbage that I hate.
-It reeks of stuffy academia, where knowledge is only kept by those who have been properly trained or let into a special criticism club. It’s rockism for comics, and I hate it. Maybe that’s my lack of education and public school upbringing, I dunno.
-But I do know that me and mine could eat people who think like that for lunch.
-There’s no right way to do criticism. It’s anything goes martial arts. You can savage books all day long, talk around them, new games journalism them, dissect them, or recap them. If it’s good, it’s good. No one “needs” any type of criticism, either.
-We’re all nobodies, baby. “I just wanted to talk about the comics, see? All those shitty, amazing comics…”
-It’s a good time to be a comics fan. Heroes for Hire went a little soft in the art department this week, but, man, was that a good issue or what? Misty Knight uber alles, dang.
-I need to figure out what I should write about Joe Casey and Mike Huddleston’s Butcher Baker. I’m feeling it, though.
David: Heroes for Hire 5
Esther: Esther’s comics purchases for today have been called on account of bad plots and crossovers
Gavin: Axe Cop Bad Guy Earth 2, Secret Six 32, Irredeemable 24, Deadpool Family 1, Herc 1, Heroes For Hire 5, Marvel Zombies Supreme 3, Ozma Of Oz 5, Ultimate Comics Captain America 4, (Maybe) Fear Itself 1
Similar Posts:
- Comics & Criticism, Part II: Comic & Critic Harder
- Thought-provoking Linkblogging
- Frank Miller Owns Batman: “he’s a rube.”
- All I wanted to talk about was the comics…
- A interesting Joker. Who would have thought it?
I share your frustration with comics criticism snobbery. When folks start invoking Judith Butler and Derrida and Marcuse, I get itchy; those kind of essays frequently tell me more about the author’s academic training than about the book itself. There’s certainly room for scholarly writing about comics, but why must that be the gold standard for serious criticism? I’ll take smart and funny over pedantic any day of the week.
Hey David, I appreciate the links to critics like Witzke and Abhay (and yourself). Not enough reviewers I read seem to have any nerve to really critique. Certain comics by certain creators always seem to be regarded in the same manner over and over again. So please, share more real critiques!
It’s bizarre and I’m wondering if it’s because comic book readers are so defensive about comics in the first place. At my store, I seem to have garnered a reputation for being rather negative about most comics. When I mentioned how I didn’t like Brubaker’s Captain America (I had recently read through the first omnibus), my opinion was regarded as too harsh. The retailer (who’s an awesome guy otherwise) defended it by saying how much better it was over other Captain America stuff. I guess I know not to ever read Captain America then.
I talked to the creators of a couple of the Image #1’s out today at Wondercon and they asked me to post what I thought of it on their sites. Well, I’m actually going to do that, not just give a handjob in text form like I suspect most will.
I’d say Sean’s writing is exactly the kind of thing the world “Needs”. It’s harsh, yeah, but Sean actually has things to say, and doesn’t bog it down in inaccessible academia or trite surface-level platitude/pandering.
And besides, when it comes down to it, Sean (and you too, David) talking about stuff he loves is lightyears more enjoyable and enlightening than any sort of “Brutally Honest!” snarky slam review out there. It’s born out of a real love for art, not being “a fan” or “an expert”. If that’s the kind of writing the world “Doesn’t Need”? well, shit.
I’ll just chime in with these other dudes.
The writing you and Mr Witzke are doing is what helps me not feel like im taking crazy pills when I walk out of a comic store- intelligent dudes really digging into the artform and even calling bullshit when the need arises.
I understand the idea of only wanting to focus on the positive aspscts of comics but we don’t need blind hype men. I like the idea of respect having to be earned and not just handed out like halloween candy.
so yeah, slow clap. Keep up the good work.
-The internet’s backwards. People pay attention when you savage (or lightly insult or even ignore, at this point) something, because 1) controversy (intended or otherwise) brings in hits and 2) everybody likes a chance to tell you you’re wrong. Post about something you like more than most people you’ve met? Deafening silence. It should be the other way around.
You speak many true words today.
I didn’t even agree with Sean Witzke on X’ed Out (or Black Hole for that matter) but if I stand that at odds with someone’s opinion it’s not even worth it to discuss it. It’s not like I’m going to bring him around to my point of view. But regardless, I’m not calling him out on twitter or commenting about it on his blog. It’s weak sauce. Besides I like the stuff he does and even if I don’t agree with him, it’s well written.
My 2nd more important point (and I’d like to leave this on a high note)
I read your columns all the time, David having found you through your amazing columns on Digital comics. It’s sad to say that I haven’t commented more than a few times. I know how it feels to put time and effort into something creatively (be it writing, art, whatever) and not seeing anyone discuss it or heap praise on it or at least giving me a smidgeon of a pat on the back. But speaking from the other side of the mirror, I can say I do appreciate your work. I don’t comment on the site to say it’s awesome every column because that’s pretty much how I feel every time I read your stuff. It feels sort of redundant to say it over and over again?
I hope this reads a little more like an apology to you than “Go to hell Brothers, I’m lazy!” I can never seem to catch how people are going to understand what I write them, myself.
I didn’t even agree with Sean Witzke on X’ed Out (or Black Hole for that matter) but if I stand that at odds with someone’s opinion it’s not even worth it to discuss it. It’s not like I’m going to bring him around to my point of view. But regardless, I’m not calling him out on twitter or commenting about it on his blog. It’s weak sauce. Besides I like the stuff he does and even if I don’t agree with him, it’s well written.
My 2nd more important point (and I’d like to leave this on a high note)
I read your columns all the time, David having found you through your amazing columns on Digital comics. It’s sad to say that I haven’t commented more than a few times. I know how it feels to put time and effort into something creatively (be it writing, art, whatever) and not seeing anyone discuss it or heap praise on it or at least giving me a smidgeon of a pat on the back. But speaking from the other side of the mirror, I can say I do appreciate your work. I don’t comment on the site to say it’s awesome every column because that’s pretty much how I feel every time I read your stuff. It feels sort of redundant to say it over and over again?
I hope this reads a little more like an apology to you than “Go to hell Brothers, I’m lazy!” I can never seem to catch how people are going to understand what I write them, myself.
I try to post comments to the positive articles as much as I can.
I first came to 4th Letter during David’s “7 Artists” series and have followed this site ever since. You and Sean do good work on your respective sites and I have gotten so much out of you guy’s enthusiasm. That goes for
Esther, Gavok, Seneca as well.
But it does get awkward, leaving the only comment on a perfectly good article like “cool!” and “really makes me think!”
Anyway, I’m a negative person. More negative about comics than I have any right to be. My love of comics turns to hate when I read one that falls short of my impossible criteria. Setting really high standards for enjoyment leads to a wide gulf of imperfection which I find fascinating to discuss. Besides, what sport is it without a little blood?
Of course, I wish that the blood being spillt today was over COMICS and not so much the circumstances surrounding them but that’s how it goes. Me, I like both Seans so I’m Switzerland.
Thanks for this post as I do read much of the, I guess, “elite” comics criticism online. While I like the extra thought and honesty to it, I do sometimes feel that some of these writers really hold a high view of themselves. Confidence is fine, but there is a difference between that and a super-ego. These are comics critics, not Michael Jordan. Keep your (not you David or Sean as you guys act fine) head on the ground.
As someone who has recently started a blog just as a way to materialize some thoughts, I do feel that some of these “elite” writers would gladly like to see me shut my mouth just so that I do not crowd them. Or that in some way my writing about comics sours what they do. I just want to write, though. I want to write about the comics that put thoughts, whether postive or negative, into my head. I do not think there is just some objective take on criticism or a correct way to speak your opinion. It’s just writing, and there is certainly a correct way to write, but there is not a correct way to make an opinion or criticise. It’s all a personal stance.
Anyway, you guys keep doing what you do. The internet needs David Brothers and Sean Witzke.
I’m impressed; critcising the critics of a comic critique and the post isn’t bursting with irate comments. Progress?
Was watching an NHK documentary on Takehiko Inoue the other day (6 parts, here’s the first ), and it reminded me of one of your last posts on Vagabond looking at Musashi cutting down 70 men. It was interesting to see him talk about how he struggled through creating that book (part 5 or 6, I think?), and how deeply visualising it all through Musashi’s eyes then putting it on paper affected him. Which, I guess, is how he came to where he’s at now, sadly.
Of particular interest to me were the brief glimpses they showed of his debut work and his style at the time; then flipping through the first volume of Slam Dunk and seeing how great an influence Inoue’s time as an assistant under Tsukasa Hojo (of City Hunter) had on his work. Cool stuff.
Hell, has Inoue been nominated at least for an Eisner yet, and if not: What the Hell?
Also: I have no horse in the digital comics race until customers OWN what they pay for, so I personally found your April Fool’s post bloody hilarious. Well done.
I admit that I honestly DO think that much of the most popular criticism online trades in snark as a default setting. Etc, etc. But you know what? If I don’t like it, I can always click that big red X in the corner. Just because it doesn’t appeal to me doesn’t mean it shouldn’t exist. And even though I don’t always agree with them, my taste is different, and my preferred style of critique is somewhere in the middle, I’m glad that dudes like Abhay Khosla and Tucker Stone are out there, providing a tonic to the “5/5 for everything” IGNs of the world.
And another thing: People gotta stop acting like their entire world is gonna fall apart because negative criticism of something they like exists. It holds you back.
When Witzke gets down to the nitty gritty of what he’s actually looking at, he’s brilliant, but I can’t stand the “Man, things sure do SUUUUUUUUCK now, don’t they? I don’t even know why I’m reading this book” qualifiers he puts up, as if he’s afraid the Warren Ellis Forum is still watching him . I mean, yeah, you don’t like cape books, I get it. There are other ways to spend your money, Tucker- I mean, Sean. Martin’s art may be great but contributing your $3.99 is only going to make it worse, not better.
But then, he got into why that ASM issue did and didn’t work, and while I think he’s monumentally unfair to Slott at the expense of blowing Martin, and I disagree with him on a lot of points, the ideas are reasonable and well thought out, almost as if, you know, they guy really DOES like cape comics and wants them to be better. But that’s just silly.