Drat! How unspectacular, I broke the 4th with a damned duplicate post.

[This message has been edited by Charles Reece (edited 08-30-1999).]

A CLARIFICATION

Some angry noise has erupted in this discussion over statements made regarding why some industry people may have a negative view of Fantagraphics. As I tried to point out in the original message, much of this arises from reaction to The Comics Journal. Some of the individual complaints seem to me to be both accurate and reasonable. Others are, as I indicated in that original message, not "legit" -- either due to unreasonableness or simple inaccuracy. I do not contest the claims that those who hold the specified feeling about coverage of Will Eisner are being inaccurate about the orders of occurrence and may be basing their opinions on second-hand information.

The question has arisen here and in e-mails as to whether I am a "Journal hater". I choose not to support the Journal myself, due to a deep disrespect I feel for one of the individuals intrinsically involved in the magazine. However, that does not mean that I automatically think that every TCJ motive is base or that every accusation against them is accurate (nor do I assume that their every motivationis grand and that every accusation must be false). As a person who values accuracy, I have been seen defending TCJ against attacks that were either factually erroneous or visibly ridiculous. I have at times indicated specific respect for individuals involved with the Journal and what I've seen of their work there. I do not envy their "damned if you do, damned if you don't" place in the field. ("How dare you folks criticize comics if you aren't trying to do better yourself?!" versus "How dare you folks criticize comics when you are putting comics out yourself, that's conflict of interest"; obviously, while one or the other of those attacks may have value, they can't both hold water, unless one feels that comics must be immune to criticism.)

(As for where the percentage of goodness lays, I'm not going to cast a vote, as it seems fuzzy and kind of silly. I don't agree with Kim's view of the distribution... but I don't want Kim to agree with mine. I think Kim should be passionate about the kind of comics he's putting out. I'd like everyone putting out comics to feel that way, whatever it is they're putting out.)

[This message has been edited by NatGertler (edited 08-30-1999).]