Positive comments vs. negative comments.

[Beyond Batman]

Here is an interesting article I read on another Batman news site.

"I’ve made no secret in the past of how I find a large percentage of the online comic book community to be repulsively negative. It amazes me how we have this wonderful technology to communicate with one another from all points on the Earth, the ability to discuss this glorious art form we love and cherish, yet so many fans would prefer to do otherwise. They would rather hide behind false identities and spark wars amongst themselves and the creators, and claim it all in the good name of “interesting and informative conversation”. Sincerely, how is a conversation about Kurt Busiek’s health “interesting”? The man is a fantastic creator, but if he is ill and it’s preventing him from cranking out comic books at his usual rate, it’s HIS business, not mine. It’s appalling that he was forced to publically answer his “fans” about something that was none of THEIR business, either. And when was the last time one of these contested debates you find on the message boards truly changed your outlook on comics? How CAN they, when so often they deteriorate into “Marvel is da bomb, cuz Joey Q is in with the guy who created Bluntman & Chronic”? “Dark Knight Strikes Back is gonna suck, because I’ve seen all of three out-of-sequence preview pages, and I can completely form my opinion based on this and this only”? And my personal favorite, “I’ll wait for the trade paperback, because I’m a mature reader who doesn’t like to keep my books in those ugly, white boxes”? To all of this, my only response is just as childish and absurd: “What-ever”.

So, if you were wondering why I needed something “else”, you only need to look above. With a few exceptions, I’ve come to find communicating via the Internet regarding comics to be fruitless and hollow. I think I will stick to my friends and the people I encounter on a weekly basis at the comic book store to “talk shop”, thank you very much. It doesn’t mean I have a negative outlook on the future of the genre or the industry. And I do believe that the majority of fans all over the world are wonderful people. It’s only the vocal minority of comic book buyers (I shouldn’t call them “readers”, because I wonder if they even do read their comics) putting forth their opinions online who disgust me. Seriously, get a life, y’all…." -J. Hill

What do you guys think about this? If you want to read the full story, click the link below:

http://www.cinescape.com/7/editorial.asp?aff_id=7&this_cat=Columns&action=page&obj_id=31761

[James Harvey]

I can see where this guy is coming from. Have you been to some of the other message boards lately? Go to any X-Men board and all you'll see is hardcore bashing of the new creative teams becuase it's not "their X-Men", and it's sicking. They don't offer any reason why they dislike it, they just bash it. I've seen "fans" tear apart creators and storylines because they simply didn't like it. They get really, really personnel and it's sickening.

I'll admit, I say negative comments about some comic issues becuase I don't like them - and I provide reasons. I don't slash into the book and degrade and humiliate all the characters, I give reasons - and that's how it should be. Comic discussion is rathar tame around here. We listen to each other's comments and discuss our points of view. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but sometimes it gets out of hand and crazy. I always read the comic before I give my opinions. That's how it should be. I don't bash a new creative team until I see the work. That's how it should be. I give new titles a good tryout before I drop of continue...asitshould be. To base all fans on this stereotype is unfair becuase there are the good fans...and the rabid, insane, crazy fans.

[joshualane]

It's the same with any EXTREMELY PASSIONATE fan-base of any type of product. They seem to think they are owed something because of their loyalty and passion, but when they are "wronged" they will turn against those who have "wronged" them. No body seems to enjoy CHANGE much anymore and here are a few examples to think about:

Fans of the original Batman animated series tore apart Batman Beyond (and still do) because it's not their "original" Batman. Let's not forget the people who started a petition because Superman's voice, of all things, is different in Justice League than in his own animated series. I won't even go into the Green Lantern issues others have.

Let's switch to another fan base, how about Transformers. When Beast Machines came on, fans were all up in arms about how this show had ruined the "essence" of Transformers. One of the story editors, Bob Skir, will probably never attend a Transformers convention because of the backlash against the show. There are still fans who believe that the original, 20 year old cartoon is the ONLY way Transformers should be enjoyed.

How about the Anime fanbase where the hardcore fans who only watch their shows & movies in the original Japanese dialogue will ridicule and shun those who watch their anime dubbed in English. And god forbid if the English subtitles aren't an EXACT translation of the Japanese into English.

I think it's sad that people get so angry and upset at something that really isn't all that significant in the span of a lifetime.

[Heehaw]

Hey, as long as the English dub is good, I'll watch it any day over the original language. Thank goodness for Cowboy Bebop's dub. I prefer it head over heels to the original Japanese. I really hate it.

As for Beast Wars/Machines. Bah, I don't really like the 3D and could care less about it. I hold TF: The Movie as the ultimate work of that whole series. You outta see the new TF PVCs from Japan. The best little pieces of plastic, in terms of quality, I've ever seen. Excellent.

[Failure]

It's just people with their inherent fears of what's different. I havent read too many criticisms that got too personal, but I dont venture on other boards too much. It's out there though and its a shame. I try to approach things with an open mind and not reject it outright initially. And when I do decide I dislike something I try to give reasons for it. I can see why the author would generalize like that, because it's so widespread, but luckily there are places (like here for one) where people are open-minded and civilized enough to constructively criticise for the most part and not get personal about it.

[Karkull]

"Worst Episode Ever."

:p

Frankly, I'm a little surprised that the creators gave a [explentive deleted] about what a bunch of had to say about their work. Sure, that's the people who pay for their material, but the majority of them still pay for the material that they bash. Like the people who phone the Howard Stern show just to say how much he sucks...but they still listen to him every day.

I've spoken to fanboys who talk like that, I've unfortunately [I]been that fanboy a few times, but I'm still on board.

[kid_flash]

Five things I will never forgive the comic book fans in general for:

1) Saying something sucks without reading it. Yeah. THAT makes sense. If ya don't care for it, say so and don't buy it! But don't go around telling people not to buy it because you think it sucks.

2) Saying something sucks without giving a reason. Okay, it sucks. But why? That could spark some interesting debate. I have no problem with negative comments, as long as they're open for debate.

3) Not excepting evolution. Comic books have been around awhile, things have to change! If things didn't change, Batman would fight the Joker every freakin' issue and everyone would get bored and leave. Heck, a big reason people didn't like Last Laugh is because NOTHING CHANGED. "We live in an era when anything different is viewed as a stunt." -Greg Rucka

4) "Crossovers suck! I don't wanna buy every *bleeping* comic book just to know what's going on in mine!" Okay, first, most people can figure out the gist of it, at least enough to understand one comic. Second, if you don't like it, don't buy it!

5) Buying comic books just for money. Okay, this one I can forgive them a tad on, but have some fun with it! Read it! THEN wrap it away in plastic or send it to be graded or whatever it is you do!

:breathe in: :breathe out: Okay, that's my little rant.

[Kaspar]

Careful... it'll be sadly ironic if a thread decrying the general negativity of the Internet becomes a thread about how much hardcore fanboys suck and why we hate them!

As Dr. Hibbert once said, "In the midst of all the killing and the skin-eating, we forgot the love!"