Comments on: On the responsibility of reviewers and critics. http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/ Never Safe For Work Mon, 14 May 2012 23:56:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Oliver Townshend http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-53321 Oliver Townshend Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:42:31 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-53321 So does your opening paragraph mean that you don't care what happens to Bob Gale? A hint maybe? Personally I enjoyed the Daredevil storyline right up to the resolution when I went WTF? So does your opening paragraph mean that you don’t care what happens to Bob Gale? A hint maybe?

Personally I enjoyed the Daredevil storyline right up to the resolution when I went WTF?

]]> By: Greg McElhatton http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-53021 Greg McElhatton Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:09:51 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-53021 I'd thought Bob Gale's two contributions to the Batbooks during NO MAN'S LAND were pretty solid, but that DAREDEVIL storyline... yeah, not so good. (Can't say I'll bother with his newest one.) Needs to work with a strong editor? Still resting on his laurels? The mystery continues. I’d thought Bob Gale’s two contributions to the Batbooks during NO MAN’S LAND were pretty solid, but that DAREDEVIL storyline… yeah, not so good. (Can’t say I’ll bother with his newest one.)

Needs to work with a strong editor? Still resting on his laurels? The mystery continues.

]]> By: Simon Jones http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52791 Simon Jones Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:23:40 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52791 To reiterate what Katherine wrote... this is purely an unsettling rumor. And no one is saying that any one review of the (apparently) many bad reviews directed at the deceased artist was the sole cause. (None of the original posts could even be vetted, since they're all gone.) Doing so would be taking a callously simplistic view of a very complex, tragic subject. It is an unusually pathetic twist to an already unfortunate story, but no more than that; a strange occurance one hopes is not repeated again. To reiterate what Katherine wrote… this is purely an unsettling rumor. And no one is saying that any one review of the (apparently) many bad reviews directed at the deceased artist was the sole cause. (None of the original posts could even be vetted, since they’re all gone.) Doing so would be taking a callously simplistic view of a very complex, tragic subject.

It is an unusually pathetic twist to an already unfortunate story, but no more than that; a strange occurance one hopes is not repeated again.

]]> By: Chris http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52790 Chris Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:11:09 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52790 I can't speak for anyone else's opinions, but I read it, it's awful. Countdown is worse, of course, but I can't imagine how the standards got so low that that mess could be considered good comics... I have customers at the store that liked it, they're welcome to their opinions of course but I can't share them. Even on a technical level DC couldn't fulfill the basic premise of the series: 52 weekly issues to tell a year long story--they needed to kick in an extra 10 issues! Add to that creative inconsistentcy, the lack of resolution to many of the plot threads, the dull and plodding nature of the middle-sections... Awful. - Chris I can’t speak for anyone else’s opinions, but I read it, it’s awful. Countdown is worse, of course, but I can’t imagine how the standards got so low that that mess could be considered good comics…

I have customers at the store that liked it, they’re welcome to their opinions of course but I can’t share them. Even on a technical level DC couldn’t fulfill the basic premise of the series: 52 weekly issues to tell a year long story–they needed to kick in an extra 10 issues! Add to that creative inconsistentcy, the lack of resolution to many of the plot threads, the dull and plodding nature of the middle-sections… Awful.

- Chris

]]> By: Leigh Walton http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52780 Leigh Walton Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:20:48 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52780 Got it! That's fair. It's interesting to see you heap scorn on <i>52</i>, which is generally held in pretty high regard by the interblag. Is that just <i>nostalgie de la boue d'hier</i>? Is it that <i>Countdown</i> just so bad that it makes anything look good? Got it! That’s fair.
It’s interesting to see you heap scorn on 52, which is generally held in pretty high regard by the interblag. Is that just nostalgie de la boue d’hier? Is it that Countdown just so bad that it makes anything look good?

]]> By: Chris http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52768 Chris Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:38:11 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52768 Leigh- Sorry, it was very late at night for me when I wrote this, I guess my line of thinking wasn't as clearly presented as it could've been. --> Simon posts about possible connection between bad review and creator suicide. --> I think about bad reviews I've written. --> I think about the previous post I just made, where I didn't actually name anyone whilst giving the industry a bad review, and did reading simon's post subconsciously affect me? --> [Missing step] I think that's nonsense and the only obligation I've got is to be honest and accurate when I write things, and everything else is besides the point. --> For example, I just read this awful Spider-Man comic. Re-reading it, it's clearly missing a sentence ... Urgh. - Christopher Leigh- Sorry, it was very late at night for me when I wrote this, I guess my line of thinking wasn’t as clearly presented as it could’ve been.

–> Simon posts about possible connection between bad review and creator suicide.
–> I think about bad reviews I’ve written.
–> I think about the previous post I just made, where I didn’t actually name anyone whilst giving the industry a bad review, and did reading simon’s post subconsciously affect me?
–> [Missing step] I think that’s nonsense and the only obligation I’ve got is to be honest and accurate when I write things, and everything else is besides the point.
–> For example, I just read this awful Spider-Man comic.

Re-reading it, it’s clearly missing a sentence … Urgh.

- Christopher

]]> By: Leigh Walton http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52763 Leigh Walton Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:29:01 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52763 I don't quite get the connection here. The Icarus blog post got you thinking about the (deadly?) potential consequences of negative reviews... which prompted you to write a really negative review? I believe you that this is a bad comic book, and I don't think Bob Gale's going to kill himself, but I don't see what you're getting at here. I don’t quite get the connection here. The Icarus blog post got you thinking about the (deadly?) potential consequences of negative reviews… which prompted you to write a really negative review?

I believe you that this is a bad comic book, and I don’t think Bob Gale’s going to kill himself, but I don’t see what you’re getting at here.

]]> By: Derek Halliday http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52724 Derek Halliday Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:54:32 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52724 This never would have happened if Mary Jane was still married to Spider-Man. >:| This never would have happened if Mary Jane was still married to Spider-Man. >:|

]]> By: Chip Zdarsky http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52680 Chip Zdarsky Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:36:52 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52680 But, also, you're my favourite meanie. But, also, you’re my favourite meanie.

]]> By: Chris http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52679 Chris Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:33:13 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52679 Katherine- Fair enough. Chip- Agreed. Katherine- Fair enough.

Chip- Agreed.

]]> By: Chip Zdarsky http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52676 Chip Zdarsky Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:20:13 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52676 You're a meanie. You’re a meanie.

]]> By: Katherine F. http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/comment-page-1/#comment-52670 Katherine F. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:54:58 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/03/10/on-the-responsibility-of-reviewers-and-critics/#comment-52670 Having followed the link, it's overstating the case to call it "news" -- it's not even 100% clear that his death was a suicide, much less that the bad reviews contributed. And nobody's going to commit suicide on foot of a bad review (or even a cluster of bad reviews) unless they have serious psychological problems. In which case, there's no knowing what could trigger a breakdown. Which is not to say reviewers can do whatever they like, but let's not overestimate the power of the review. I wouldn't want the power to make an artist commit suicide, but if I thought I could stop him or her from making shitty comics with a bad review... man, that'd be awesome. Shame it's never going to happen. Having followed the link, it’s overstating the case to call it “news” — it’s not even 100% clear that his death was a suicide, much less that the bad reviews contributed.

And nobody’s going to commit suicide on foot of a bad review (or even a cluster of bad reviews) unless they have serious psychological problems. In which case, there’s no knowing what could trigger a breakdown.

Which is not to say reviewers can do whatever they like, but let’s not overestimate the power of the review. I wouldn’t want the power to make an artist commit suicide, but if I thought I could stop him or her from making shitty comics with a bad review… man, that’d be awesome. Shame it’s never going to happen.

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