Please Don't Use Me As Your Excuse

So I've gotten a pretty good range of responses to my review of Green Lantern #20. Some folks agreed with me, other folks disagreed, but everyone seemed willing to actually have a conversation about it instead of just raging out... which is always really nice.

However, I've noticed a sort of alarming trend of people saying "See? That's why I don't read comics anymore!" whenever I write a negative review of something. It makes me feel kind of upset!

I feel like 95% of this blog is me talking about how great comics are, and urging others to buy my favorite books. I write the occasional long, rant-y review because I find them funny and fun to write, but they are by no means an indication that I hate comics. I love comics! I want EVERYONE to read comics, and then talk about them with me! COMICS ARE AWESOME YOU GUYS!

I think Marvel and Image are turning out some of the greatest books they've ever done, right now. I think DC has slipped in quality as a whole lately, but I still think they've put out some fantastic things in the past few years. I try to focus on the positive far more than the negative, though I am willing to go on the occasional tirade when the negative is present. At the end of the day, superhero comics are my Favorite Thing.

I get that there are lots of reasons for people to give up on comics: They are a very expensive hobby. Sometimes your favorite book will be unceremoniously cancelled by the corporate bigwigs in charge and you'll feel betrayed. Things like Brand New Day or the Nü52 come along and completely alter the history you've come to love. I understand, and I have felt all of those things too.

But please keep in mind that I have a passion for these things, even when they rub me the wrong way, and even when they make me downright grumpy. I love reading superhero comics, I love reviewing superhero comics, I love buying superhero action figures, I love playing superhero games.

When people use something that I've written as justification for disliking superhero comics as a medium, I feel like I'm somehow failing to convey all the happiness I derive from the good ones.

From now on I'm going to have to try and give equal time to comics that I love. There are quite a lot of them. But in the meantime... Please don't make me the reason you give up on comics.

I can't handle that sort of responsibility.