Comments on: Variations on a Theme

By: Billzilla

Billzilla — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:48:06 +0000

Sim’s work starts a conversation about a lot of things that need to be talked about. Unfortunately his beliefs also start a completely different conversation that just as badly needs to happen and the more interesting of the two stories (His anti-feminist beliefs) is going to take precedence, maybe until after the guy dies.

It also keeps his name out there, which is a fortunate thing for any creator who’s about to drop not one but two new books- his first new titles in over three decades. You know what they say about publicity.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:40:24 +0000

“I wonder how Gail Simone’s feeling, having loved Cerebus years ago only to discover the kind of mind behind it”

She doesn’t seem to have any problems working for Dan Didio’s DC Comics.

By: Lisa Fortuner

Lisa Fortuner — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:28:51 +0000

Rich, I’m not sure you understand the purpose of Melissa’s column.

By: Kevin Huxford

Kevin Huxford — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:15:52 +0000

I really can’t understand a lot of the contradictory talk about separating the creator from the creation.

On Valerie’s blog, specifically, she talks about her being a blogger necessitating her purchasing work from creators she despises. I find it is impossible to separate completely one’s DESPISING of a creator from reading their work. You’re going to judge at least one facet of the work more harshly than you would if you had no opinion of the creator.

If you have to consciously work to keep yourself unbiased, the battle is already lost.

By: RMC

RMC — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:21:52 +0000

Take it or leave it.

I second Heidi McDonald’s impressive sense of critical distance.

By: Bill Peschel

Bill Peschel — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:15:01 +0000

There’s a very good reason for discussing this, and to keep discussing it.

Sim’s views on women informs and drives his work, making it fair game to discuss those views and debate those merits. The readership of comic blogs include those who are well-acquainted with Sim, but there are also those who have never heard of Cerebus or his peculiar views. Don’t they deserve a chance to be informed?

But the issue goes way beyond the question “Does Dave Sim wish to beat women to death with his pecker?” (I’m not saying that’s MY question, just that it may be of interest to some). Discussing Dave’s views allows us to discuss all kinds of gender issues and create an opportunity to test our beliefs through direct experience.

Some issues will never be resolved, and the relations between the genders is one of them, and I’d rather live in a world in which they’re discussed endlessly than one in which they’re suppressed because “it’s not nice” or “it’s boring”.

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:07:36 +0000

I think this topic has been done to death in the past month.

By: The Comics Creator

The Comics Creator — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:29:22 +0000

Based on what I’ve read on that forum, Dave Sim is using his theories to fuel his beliefs, which isn’t the wisest thing to do. Theories aren’t facts unless proven, and Sim hardly leaves his argument open with “I may be wrong, but I honestly feel that…”

I wonder how Gail Simone’s feeling, having loved Cerebus years ago only to discover the kind of mind behind it. Must have been really frustrating.