Enjoy it when it comes out, and best of luck on the new road.

No hard feelings. I get it. BTW, I do agree that the graphic at the top here looks like something that rolled off the high school mimeograph way back in the day. Despite that fact, I’m still going to buy this. Sim’s views may be kinda whack, but a lot of people believe some pretty bizarre stuff if they open up and you listen. Despite disagreeing with him on some things, I buy his work because he’s truly multi-talented and one of the most accomplished cartoonist/writer-artist/graphic novelist that I know of.

I read a brief article on CBR that said he was going to do some work on Fables ? That’s great news !

“You ask Evan if it is sad to stand up for Homophobia and Misogyny “If they are right.” They aren’t. There is nothing right about Misogyny and Homophobia…”

Depending on how the terms are defined, they could be.

“so again, I’ll assume you were joking.”

No joke.

“Plus the Da Vinci at the end is a good tip off.”

I don’t know that much about Da Vinci, but I am pretty certain that Sim is a greater thinker he. I put the smiley because I thought it was obvious.

In my opinion—yes.

Secondly: you are correct, Sim never said women were evil. He did say, as you pointed out, they are clinically insane, soul-sucking voids and i’m pretty sure he said they have contributed little or nothing to the Arts and Sciences.

I can’t agree with you more on the issue of misquoting Sim. Why do it? He hangs himself with his own words better then I ever could.

“It’s sad to stand up for “the things that you think are right” if said things are misogyny and homophobia.”

Even if they are right?

Unkiedev wrote:

“He ranted about women being evil,”

He has said that they are clinically insane. I can’t remember his saying they are evil. Insanity and evil are closely related, however.

“Can one man who doesn’t get along with women possibly be correct that they are all soul-sucking voids set to destroy male creativity?”

I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t get along with them, just that he is finished with them, personally. Al conscious beings seek to escape suffering.

“I guess Sim is a better thinker than Da Vinci.”

Doubtless!

–
Sim is compared to many past artists but I think the best comparison is to the 19th Century Danish Christian philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. The key points of similarity are that both spent a period of their youth in debauchery and later became deeply religious; both work within a tiny context: Sim the comics community and Kierkegaard the Danish literary scene; both write against the delusions of their day: Sim feminism and Kierkegaard Christendom and both are extraordinarily productive. There may be other similarities.

Also, you are right. Seeing where a “Guy comes from” on a subject doesn’t mean you agree with him.

Here is what YOU said : “I say The predominant buyers of comic books are males ranged from juvenile to “old, but juvenile.” One commenter here said he could “See Sim’s point” because the poster was recently divorced. To be clear poster, what you are agreeing to are Sim’s repeated statements such as:”

Here is exactly what I said : “Sim is one of the greatest talents of the comics of the last 30 years easily. He’s an accomplished writer, satirist, artist, publisher and businessman. DO I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE’S STATED ABOUT WOMEN ? NO, BUT BEING DIVORCED AND HURT VERY BADLY, I KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE HE COMES FROM. Does that discredit his work ? Not at all. I’m very glad to hear that one of the most talented creators in comics is coming back and doing something no one else is doing. More power to him, I say. Thanks for some of the best comics I’ve ever read Dave ! Cerebus stands as a monument to your single vision practically undermatched in the history of the medium. I’ll definitely be buying this and I’m currently not buying any comics at all except Alter Ego, Back Issue, and All Star Superman as I’m selling off most of my collection to pay off some bills. Sim is too good to pass up.”

You can interpret it however you want, but how it was meant is that Dave Sim’s views are a direct result of a very, very nasty divorce with Deni Loubert, who later went on to open Renegade Press. Dave felt betrayed, hurt, and very angry. Anyone who has ever been through a similar situation can relate to that kind of pain. Again, I don’t necessarily agree with his opinions, but I understand at least partially where they come from. I’ve grown and become a better person from my experience and resent being pigeonholed as a “smelly woman-hating isolationist”. I’ve since met the love of my life, have a successful professional life and am active socially. Don’t talk down to me troll, as you have no idea who you’re talking about.

Sim is still one of the most talented creators in comics despite his personal views and I for one will be picking up his latest work to access it myself on its own merits.

However, I do feel a responsibility as a concientious comic book fan and struggling self publisher/artist to speak out against hate and lazy thinking when it crops up in my favorite pass-time. As stated many times by myself and others, all are entitled to their oppinion. Sim can have his, and the soap box that is his comics and letter columns. I can post on open blogs and tell folks who might not have read Sim but hate misogynists and blow-hards to vote with their dollars and skip him.

As for comparing Sim to Da Vinci, you know HE himself compares his contributions to world literature to Kafka and Tolstoy(http://www.avclub.com/content/node/22954)

Geez. Reading that interview again has made me angry all over.

Look: Sim, while not a self confessed Misogynist has said about all he could against women without going far enough to say he hates/fears them. Why do you want to read a comic book about Super models and the fashion industry from a man who says women are destroying thought, then claims no one is smart enough to understand his work? Dave Sim, despite his claims to the contrary, is anti-intellectual.

UNKIEDEV – you obviously have friends who do appreciate the comic work of Dave Sim. As they are your friends I’m assuming that they are probably not “smelly, women-hating isolationists”, but can still appreciate the work of Dave Sim despite not agreeing (or even vehemently disagreeing) with his world-view. This is the ability to separate the opinions of the artist from the art itself. To illustrate this differentiation, I will take your example and turn it around for comparison:

“If Da Vinci DID make statements that Dave Sim had made, would that make his art any less amazing?”

I would think that it might influence your personal opinion of his work, but it doesn’t change the fact that the art he produced is outstanding. Is Dave Sim = Da Vinci? Obviously, not. But Cerebus should stand on its own merits (and criticisms) and not be judged because Dave’s opinions are controversial (unless Dave makes it the sole or primary focus of the work).

That being said, I’m sorry that Dave Sim’s opinions has influenced your opinion of his work to the point that you find that “His works are boring, kinda stupid, and your money would be better spent on other forms of entertainment.” It’s obviously not for you. For those of us who still appreciate his work, we each will decide on the merits (and criticisms) of his new work.

I wholeheartedly agree with BillRitter. “If what Sim delivers with Glamourpuss is a just a part of what he created with Cerebus, the comics medium will again (6 or so times a year) be in for a treat and high quality work.” I personally look forward to this new endevour.

I don’t think we can ever take any piece of art fully, there are always parts to disagree with, to be disturbed by. That doesn’t take away from what we can enjoy and learn from (both in a the positive and negative sense).

fwiw, I loved both Cerebus and Fun Home. They are very different types of works on many levels.

I’m glad you like Cerebus, two of my comic reading friends love it, like you. You recommend I “don’t refer to some objective standard of quality for literature that doesn’t exist.” One does. No one would argue Shakespear hasn’t contributed more to literature than say Terry Pratchet or Dante’. When you are comparing two significant pieces of creativity, such as “Fun Home” and “Cerebus,” it may simply come down to matter of oppinion, but there are still criteria in place, still a standard of quality you could use to compare them. Would this conversation be the same if I was trying to argue the merrits of “World War Hulk” over “Cerebus?”

I seriously question whether Sim or his defenders have thought hard about some of his oppinions. Logically his statements are flawed as they are too (pardon the pun) broad. And again, it is easy for someone do cry out against others they don’t understand or possibly interact with. He ranted about women being evil, about the world going to heck for listening to one half of its population demanding equal rights, until EVERY woman who worked for him quit.

I live in New York City. Big Suprise. The thing that is cool about a city is it forces you, daily, to interact with folks you might not understand or see eye to eye with. Through this interaction you learn about other view points, or you can if you see and listen, as opposed to defending pre-concieved notions.

Sim isn’t evil, but to me he’s a boring kook. You like him, great. You state ” Cerebus is the best, most challenging and funniest comic book ever created.” Yikes. I think “Sam & Max” is the funniest comic book ever created, or “The Tick.” Or early “Tank Girl,” “Milk & Cheese,” “Cromartie High” or even “Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.” Still want to stick with Cerebus? I think Will Eisner’s “Contract with God” or “Maus,” or even “Fun Home,” “Watchemen” or “The Complete League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” could give it a run for Challenging…OH WAIT, I forgot about almost everything Dave Cooper ever did, or Chester Brown…but you want to stick with that one book, eh? Suit Yourself. As for Best, that is a really hard call. I kinda think “Amazing Screw-On-Head” might be the best single comic book ever, and that was a one shot.

You critiqued me and I responded. My critique of anyone defending Sim: Challenge you own thinking. Look past his bluster and ask yourself logically: Can one man who doesn’t get along with women possibly be correct that they are all soul-sucking voids set to destroy male creativity? I don’t remember Da Vinci saying anything like that…I guess Sim is a better thinker than Da Vinci.

And a loon.

A life spent in service of diseased ideas is a life wasted.

Seems like it’ll be a vapid parody of the modern fashion/celebrity world. Nothing particularly new there.

Agreed.

Just out of curiosity, what do you, or anyone, think of Kurt Vonnegut’s quote that women are crazy, and men are mean? I mean, he called all women crazy; he must want to kill 6 million Jews. Right?

To Undiedev: I truly believe that Cerebus is the best, most challenging and funniest comic book ever created. It makes a lot of observations about relationships and death and the nature of life that really made me think, and that I connected with based on my own experiences. Fun Home is coming from a completely different place in terms of perspective: it’s about a broken family and a woman coming to terms with being a lesbian. Something in the latter comic clearly appealed to you more, and something in Cerebus appealed to me more. If you don’t like Sim then that’s fine, but don’t refer to some objective standard of quality for literature that doesn’t exist. And as far as Sim being a “sad, isolated misogynist”…well, what is so sad about standing up for the things that you think are right, and detailing why you think that? Wouldn’t it be the opposite of this that is actually sad? If people railed against Alison Bechdel for critizing the role of fathers, don’t you think people would (rightfully) complain? Here I am defending Alison Bechdel, and frankly nothing about her work appeals to me; but why does she have this right to free speech and Sim doesn’t?

I live in the same society as Sim does, and I see the same problems. I don’t necessarily know if ANYONE’S views are right or wrong in the grander scheme of things–no one truly does. I just know that there’s HUGE problems with our society and the way it’s heading, and, yes, some of them involve deteriorating ethical standards that show preference for some people over others. Am I a sad, lonely misogynist? I’d say I’m a perfectly happy cynic that sees a level of potential in our society that isn’t being met. Is it so wrong that people such as Dave Sim are talking about this subject? Apparently, and this is part of the problem I think.

LUKE- well said. As capitalism is a democracy of money I always feel I have the political responsibility to urge folks to avoid Sim’s work. This often results in me yelling about Sim loud enough for everyone to hear, get curious and go buy his stuff to see what the hub-bubs about.

In my opinion, Cerebus as a whole (including “Reads”) is an outstanding comic and one of the few I can say that my life would have been lessened if I had not read it. You think its a waste of time and money to purchase read his work? Fine. That’s your opinion. You’re free to do as you will. Just as others are free to form their own opinion on his work and do as they please.

I for one, was quite impressed with the quality of work that was Cerebus and was sad to see it end. I look forward to the art and story that he may produce in his new endevour. If the title digresses into some sort of continual platform for Dave Sim to spout anti-feminist diatribe, I will stop purchasing the title as I have no interest in such a comic.

The predominant buyers of comic books are males ranged from juvenile to “old, but juvenile.” One commenter here said he could “See Sim’s point” because the poster was recently divorced. To be clear poster, what you are agreeing to are Sim’s repeated statements such as:

Women aren’t capable of true, rational thought, that women contribute nothing to the arts and sciences and that they are a drain to male creativity, power and spirit. Yikes.

Sim sits alone in a room in Canada and proclaims he has written the longest novel in history, that he is a genius, and everyone else is wrong/weak. He alienates fellow creators, many of whom have stopped having contact with him due to his increased aggression and whack-oh rants.

Comic Book Fans, Unite: Let’s not be the type of smelly, women-hating isolationists the mainstream American zeitgeist perceives us as.

I’m not saying “Burn his works and he is evil,” I am saying “His works are boring, kinda stupid, and your money would be better spent on other forms of entertainment.” -SIM FANS: Go get a copy of “Reads,” now go read Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home.” Which was a better, more touching and artistic work?

Yeah! What on Earth were we thinking, letting them have the vote?

‘I can’t give him enough credit for speaking his mind and rationally arguing against opinions that he thinks are misinformed and ignorant. It’s more than I can say about his distractors[sic]‘

Yeah! You say what you like about that Hitler, but he had a lovely speaking voice!

I hate to break this to you, but the fact that Sim’s opinions are OBJECTIVELY WRONG makes the manner in which he expresses them totally irrelevant.

‘If you could actually defend his points, you’d actually do so instead of saying “OMG oppression!!!!”’

Bingo! Never any real defence of Sim’s actual views, just squawking about how supposedly brave he is to express them in a society so supposedly hostile to them (hollow laughter).

If you could actually defend his points, you’d actually do so instead of saying “OMG oppression!!!!” How, exactly, was all that “Female void” stuff not anti-woman?

Sim is a deeply religious person, which I never see mentioned in any articles about him. That’s not as headline-grabbing as calling him a Nazi, I guess. He doesn’t hate anyone: he disagrees with the direction our society is going in and the opinions of the people that have gotten us to where we are and that perpetuate its problems, which, yes, is a majority of people. And personally, I can’t give him enough credit for speaking his mind and rationally arguing against opinions that he thinks are misinformed and ignorant. It’s more than I can say about his distractors…a lot more.