In case you need a reason to feel good about Dan Slott today, Gail Simone has you covered with this awesome tale of the Amazing Spider-Man writer dealing with an irate fan (anti-fan?):
One day at the con, a guy stood in Dan’s line, between Ethan’s line and my line, and when he got up to the front of the line, he said something really horribly rude right to Dan’s face. I don’t recall the words, but it was very strong stuff. He had stood in line just to say how much he hated Dan’s Spider-man AND that he hated Dan personally, as well, for that reason.
It turns out that he had been posting genuinely awful stuff about Dan (because he didn’t like Dan’s Spidey work) for a long time. Dan knew instantly who it was (we all have a few people like that). Now, only the weeniest of pros freaks out when someone doesn’t like their work. But when someone follows you around, trying to get others to hate you, it just gets a little weird.
Anyway, Ethan, who has zero patience with rude people, looked over at me, and we expected a bit of anger. Instead, Dan was incredibly patient and kind. He defended his work, but he did so graciously, he didn’t respond to insult with insult.
Much more in the link, including the end of Slott’s conversation with the fan, which has to be seen to be believed.
February 8th, 2012 at 11:42 am
That fan sounds like a real douche. Kudos to Dan for keeping his cool.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Yep. Gail said it, so….
No names, can’t recall the actual insults, no more than hearsay, and I can’t understand the need to repeat it.
February 8th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
I don’t hate Dan Slott. I don’t even know him. I do hate his work on AMS tho and want him off the title ASAP.
February 8th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
People like this are the reason we have the stereotype of comic book fans as obsessed, antisocial losers. Don’t like a book? Easy solution: DON’T READ IT
February 9th, 2012 at 1:52 am
Why in God’s name would I give the man’s name?
In any case, Ethan, Ethan’s brother Josh, myself and Dan all witnessed it. You could ask them, I suppose.
Oh, and it was to make a point.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:27 am
Kudos to Dan. It’s easy to ignore trolls on the Internet, but it takes a strong person to handle them correctly when confronted by one in real life.