Saturday, February 10, 2007

Largely Uninformed Rant

Oh, dear. I got a notice from the Comic Bloggers Union, informing me that I'm too upbeat, as demonstrated by my failure to meet the annual rant quota. If I don't rant this weekend, I'll be cast out. Oh, dear. What can I rant about?

Goody! Here's something. Yes, while Devon is getting shout-outs from Entertainment Weekly, I'm getting dissed on Newsarama. All is vetch and bitter wormwood.

I think that Scipio hates everything published since the Silver Age that doesn’t have Vibe in it.

I think that Scipio’s opinion, when it comes to comics, is largely an uninformed one, since he tends to appreciate one type of approach to one genre of comics from one publisher


Honestly, now. Anyone who can think that first sentence either can't be reading this blog or simply can't read. I was largely uninformed that people had become so cripplingly literal; or has the internet merely shone a light on the benighted corners of fandom?

As for the second ... well! Frankly, I can't remember anyone ever calling me largely uninformed about anything, let alone comic books. And if I am largely uninformed about something, well, just give me 24 hours to fix that.

I'm always astonished by the presumption of people who ascribe differences in tastes from their own to ignorance. I may not like the comics you (or someone else) likes, but that's probably because I am familiar with them, not because I'm unfamiliar with them. My self-depiction here as a "Marvel innocent" is a useful device for my character as "author of the Absorbascon", but I'm not "largely uniformed" about comics other than the ones I discussed. Apparently, some people are too literal to realize that, so I must 'break character' and explain it to them.

I'll admit I'm no Devon, but, really, how many comic book stores do I have to own for someone to imagine that I might know a bit more than what happened in 52 this week? [Which reminds me; any explanation of how Steel's temporary superpower of being steel-covered managed to affect his artificial hand, as well?]

Oh, and apparently my opinion is to be discounted because my tastes are narrow. Well, I don't like everything or even most things; but, honestly, anyone who does probably isn't very discriminating. Like anyone whose opinion is of any value, I have my own aesthetic, one that's broad for me to appreciate Iranian feminist cinema, Latin poetry, Hamiltonian political theory, Chinese art, and Beavis & Butthead. I loved Beavis & Butthead. How much art is created that conforms to that aesthetic isn't really up to me, but to the world's creators.

What I find most disturbing about this dismissal is not the concept, but the context: the upcoming Wonder Woman movie. Honestly, I'm not sure why I need a subscription to Spider-Man and a copy of Blankets on my nightstand to validate my opinions on Wonder Woman. I'm one of the contributors to a forthcoming anthology about her; mightn't that do?

20 comments:

Jon Hex said...

Your dislike of Marvel makes you unqualified to comment on the Wonder Woman movie?

Not even someone who rationalizes superhero behavior like me can puzzle out that reasoning.

SallyP said...

It's ok, Scipio. I still like you.

But ONLY if you like Corto Maltese.

heh heh.

Anonymous said...

What's the upcoming anthology, out of interest? (He said, giving you a chance for a free plug.) :-)

Your Ol' Pal Rob said...

As someone who enjoys Marvel and DC characters, I recommend that you email Dave your excellent post regarding DC as Tragedy vs. Marvel as Opera. I think that essay revealed someone better informed about Marvel characters than certain writers and editors currently strip-mining the icons of the House of Ideas for a sensational splash and fast short-term return.

Based upon that post, and your entire series identifying DC characters better suited to Marvel, I got the impression that you understood Marvel quite well. That doesn't mean they are to your taste. I love Marvel's characters and you have never offended me.

Anonymous said...

Well, Scip'

There's only one thing more ludicrous than commenting on comics-and that's commenting on commenting on comics, so you're always one step above 'em.

Ludicrous, but fun, I should add.

Keep up the fine work!

Your fans

Marc Burkhardt said...

There's plenty on your blog I disagree with, but I would never call you "uninformed."

In fact, you're easily one of the more literate bloggers out there.

Anonymous said...

This Dave's postings are bizarre to say the least. However, as always, it's hysterical and gratifying to see you give him the smackdown both here and in the thread itself. It's the intellectual equivalent of watching Godzilla Vs. Bambi!

Anonymous said...

I think where you confuse these poor souls is that you tend to focus on discussing the aspects of comics you appreciate or find amusing. Having grown accustomed to believing that an "informed" opinion is invariably a negative one, they have to assume that anyone who regularly posts about what they liked in comics during any given week rather than what they hated must not know what they are talking about.

The problem I find with most fanboy critics is that they confuse opinion for universally recognized fact and cannot accept that it is possible for a person to disagree with them and not be wrong.

But then I like Brad Meltzer's writing, so I must not know something.

Anonymous said...

I'm grateful you let him know that familiarity with characters like Iron Man can breed contempt.

Anonymous said...

Ah. Did anyone ever consider that this "Daniel" might be ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY under another name? They lift with one hand, they cast down with the other, and pit brother against brother -- all so that when nothing is left but ashes, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY will stand alone, the only survivor of the Leisure Time Reading Wars.

Unknown said...

The issue here (and with much discussion on the internet) is that sarcasm is not always very easy to detect when written out. This guy is reading your blog WAY too literally. I guess most of us non-insulted readers can tell when your being straight with us and when your being hyperbolic.

You are obviously aware that this guy is one sad, lost internet peruser, so don't let him get to you. The rest of us 'get it' and love you for it. And sure, we may sometimes disagree, but disagreement is a healthy human activity that allows for new ideas to be shared and new opinions to be formed.

wrath said...

hey, anyone who likes Hamiltonian political theory is a-ok in my book, phooey on them,

anyway, how much easer is it for many fanboys to sink to the lowest possible setting of "well his opinion doesn't count because he doesn't know what happened in Uncanny x-men 233"

but then what do i know

Anonymous said...

Wow...uninformed? I can't believe anybody would call you uninformed.

kalinara said...

I feel awfully guilty. I linked you because I thought the post was a good example of one side of a discussion. Not as a forum for personal insults.

I'm sorry about that. :-(

Anonymous said...

"I think that Scipio hates everything published since the Silver Age that doesn’t have Vibe in it."

That's so unfair. Anyone can see that you hate a lot of silver age comics too. Only last week you were having a moan about how Bob Haney didn't write Batman the way you like him, and your very next article has a whinge about silver age stuff.

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to thank you for turning me on to the DC Showcases for Elongated Man and the Phantom Stranger.

Anonymous said...

Actually, one needs a copy of Blankets and a subscription to Spider-Man (preferably Friendly Neighborhood, but Amazing will do in a pinch) to have a valid opinion on anything, including Hamiltonian political theory.

Also, thank you for pushing Krypto. It may well be the pinnacle of sequential art.

Scipio said...

Ah, Kalinara.

As charming as ever, I see.

Your Obedient Serpent said...

And now, Silver Age Footnote time!

*Steel's temporary super-power caused the sebaceous glands in his skin to secrete a flexible metallic coating in liquid form that quickly hardened upon contact with the air. It covered his artificial hand because it flowed over it while still liquid -- the same reason sweat gets in your eyes on a hot day, even though your eyes don't sweat! -- Ed.

Alternately:
*Steel's amazing prosthesis includes adaptive pigmentation so its skin tone will always match his, even when his skin darkens during the summer. When his skin turned chrome, the pigmentation adapted. -- Ed.

And the least entertaining solution:
*Steel replaced his regular flesh-tone hand with a chrome-plated one, because it just looked silly otherwise. -- Ed.

Anonymous said...

Don't let it get you down.

This blog is far too funny to worry about such slights.

Keep on trucking.