Before there was a Blog@Newsarama, there was The Great Curve … a now-defunct blog that was scattered across the four winds of the internet when we transitioned to Newsarama. So we thought we’d dig into the archives of the old site and feature some of the more “evergreen” content every so often, in a feature I like to call “Great Curve Classics.”

This time around we’re reprinting a post that helped put The Great Curve on the map … and one that just seems very timely, given the whole Mary Jane statue controversy. It’s a post called “Hurt Comics,” written by Lea Hernandez. You can still buy the “I’m Hurting Comics” at Lea’s webstore.

Back in the old days, when the Warren Ellis Delphi Forum was open, there was an outbreak of manifestos. That’s exactly the way I mean to say it: it was like a rash. The first one was okay, but all the ones that followed were as much fun as wiping with poison ivy, and as painfully squirm-inducing.

There was a lot of “saving”, “bettering”, building a moat around, being gentle to tender little geniuses, and RAHHH COMICS-ing.

But no one ever suggested that what comics needed was a really good ass-whipping. Or maybe what comics needed was for people to stand up and say, “Hooray! I’m for the other team!”

Comics need hurting. Go on, hurt them.

When you don’t like something everyone likes, in lockstep, and you say so: you’re hurting comics.

When you’re uppity about shite accomodations at a con you flew halfway across the country for: you’re hurting comics.
When you disagree about how well a con is or was run: you’re hurting comics.
When you object to being treated like crap: you’re hurting comics.
When you don’t like something you “should”, and say so: you’re hurting comics.
When you think “by fans, for fans” is a big old RUN AWAY SCREAMING signal: you’re hurting comics.
When you object to tits, ass and crotch on “strong female characters”: you’re hurting comics.
When you don’t think someone is the shit just because their cultists say so: you’re hurting comics.
When you dare to criticize: you’re hurting comics.
When you say the direct market is a total freaking mess except for a few, proud, shops: you’re hurting comics.
When you don’t agree with the majority on what those shops are: you’re hurting comics.
When you dast point out a publisher said, “We will never…”: you’re hurting comics.
When you dast breathe hypocrisy: you’re hurting comics.
When you won’t go to a con that asks you to be a guest because they whinge about poverty and can’t/won’t cover any expenses: you’re hurting comics.
When you choose working for “the man” over losing your house, your car, food: you’re hurting comics.
When you point out there’s a difference between marketing and promises: you’re hurting comics.
When you point out hype isn’t reality: you’re hurting comics.
When you point at the Emperor or Empress and laugh like a loony: you’re hurting comics.
When you’re just plain uppity: you’re hurting comics.

And if that’s hurting comics: GO HURT THEM. BECAUSE SOMETIMES COMICS NEED HURTING.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 20th, 2007 at 12:05 pm and is filed under Creators, Great Curve Classics, News & Views. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.