Mom’s birthday and Holy Week coincided this year, so on the day that my nephew portrayed Jesus in his school’s live-action Stations of the Cross, we took Mom out to dinner at our preferred Chinese eatery, the Golden Wok. I should say that even given that this was the “holiest week of the year”, we often discuss theology around D. So much so that it’s more than likely he’s going to be ruined for private school by sixth grade, perhaps sooner, if we keep up the way we do. He loves the Jesus stories, which is good if they’re taken in their pure form. He’s been told a healthy smattering of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, and knows the Harrowing of Hell.
He also likes the Percy Jackson series. So during a discussion of the pagan roots of Easter, D piped up with the question, “Wait. Where do the Greek gods fit in?”
I said, “Well, it depends on what you believe. There’s a word for that, though: monolatrism.”
D’s eye went wide and he asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means worshiping one god while recognizing the existence of other gods. You should totally ask your teacher about that during your next theology class,” I said, smiling.
Dominic clutched invisible pearls and keened dramatically, “What of momolatrism, Miss Stankovisch? What of other gods?!?”
“Then you can ask her about theodicy.”
But it was decided to table that discussion for another time. Our dumplings had arrived.
Dear Zan and Fraser,
Earlier this week, a review of Class Comics’ gay erotic comic The Initiation #2 went live on Prism Comics. And for his efforts, reviewer Adam Hoak was subject to ad hominem attacks by the creator and his fans, and a public admonition from you, Zan. I am deeply distraught that two highly esteemed and public gay comic book creators and publishers would allow, and indeed, encourage, such bullying of a fellow gay comics reader, anger over the review or no.
Adam’s review is not complimentary, to be sure. But did it require you, Fraser, to, in your own words, “purposefully [keep] our dismay and ire focused on the review and reviewer rather than on Prism publishing it” (emphasis mine), to the point where you assumed his his “hate-on” for Class Comics (not knowing whether this was truly the case), and then targeted him by picking and publishing out-of-context quotes from Adam’s Faacebook to show his bias, and indeed, his lack of ability to be a good reviewer because “[h]is self titled ‘expertise’ is being a smart-ass”? Further, you publicly “like” the comments that call Adam a “fat ass” and claim that he has “a small penis”, doing nothing to keep the dialogue open and the rhetoric respectful. Yes, it’s your Facebook, but is this the image you want to project, one of a thin-skinned bully, a name-caller?
Fraser, you also say, “It seems that this is about the third time that we’ve had reviews published at Prism Comics where the writer is more interested in being witty than fairly reviewing the comics.” However, you do not mention the positive reviews here, here, here, here, and here. I was unable to find three unfair reviews, but it would seem that one bad review in six is a pretty good ratio.
When you, Zan, join the conversation, you say that Fraser’s critique of the review is spot-on.
However, the only critique is that it is somehow “biased” and “not objective” (when perhaps as a newbie to erotic comics, though surely not one to porn or comic books themselves, he could actually be described as “objective” since he has no preconceived notions about the genre). The rest of the posting is an indictment against Adam Hoak as a person and what could possibly motivate him to write a critical review. Zan, you yourself say that “Prism Comics’ mission has always been one of support for LGBT comics, creators and readers.” How supportive of an LGBT reader was Prism when the unfounded and personal attacks above began to fly? And there is not just tacit approval of the mocking, but by liking an image, however playfully intended the image may have been, you actively approve of this behavior:
As the publisher of the gay-affirming, anti-bullying The Power Within, do you place an age limit on when bullying is somewhat acceptable? Or only when it’s convenient? Profitable? When you advocate for others to speak out in defense of the underdog, your silence -indeed, your participation- was deafening.
Further, you say that,”[Prism is] not a watchdog organization and [doesn't] call out homophobia or misdeeds by anti-gay creators or publishers.” However, in 2008, you took GLAAD to task on the Prism site for their nomination of Garth Ennis’ The Boys, saying that they had possibly been punk’d.
Which is neither here nor there, but does show that Prism can be inconsistent with the enforcement of its objectives, and forgiving as well.
The kerfuffle ended, essentially, when Robert said that it was time to move on.
However, there has been no public apology for fanning the flames against Adam. There was no discussion with the reviewer to ask him about his perspective on the comic and what actually motivated him to write critically about The Initiation before lambasting him in public. Is this how your company handles PR, through mocking and innuendo? What a missed opportunity to open dialogue with someone who didn’t start out a fan but could have been brought around?
I am very disappointed to see that neither of you, Zan and Robert, have yet made a public apology to Adam, though you were very public in your excoriation of him. Until such a time when an apology is made, I cannot in good conscience recommend either of your organizations to anyone, and will discontinue my association with both.
Sincerely,
Sean
…the conversation would go like this.
HR REP: Hello! I’m calling from ACME Useful Shit and Sundries. ********** put you down as a reference for a job with us. Do you have a few minutes to talk with me?
ME (staggered): Uh. Sure.
HR REP: What can you tell me about **********’s performance?
ME: …
HR REP: Are you still there?
ME: Yes! Uhm, ********** never stuck anyone in the gut with a homemade shiv.
HR REP: I see. And his work habits?
ME: He dressed smartly and never stank of body odor.
HR REP: Anything else?
ME: I only saw him pick his nose one, and I’m 95% certain he washed his hands before touching food.
HR REP: …
ME: Anything else?
HR REP: No. I think that about covers it. Thank you for your time.
ME: No, thank you.
SHANE (to RANDALL): “Less talkin’, more walkin’.”
ME: “Shane, hunney, I’ve been sayin’ that for weeks now.”
SHANE: “I though we were going further.”
RICK: “We are. 18 miles out.”
SHANE: “So why’d we stop?”
RICK: “I wanted to talk.”
ME: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”
Jesus, these people have more feelings to express than Slutty Talkhouse.
HE: “I saw your Mom last night and she was all, ‘Uh..uh… uh! Oh, yeah! More!’”
ME: “Weird, I saw your Mom last night eclipsing the moon because she’s a hideous troll.”
HE: “… That doesn’t make sense.”
ME: “Neither does your Mom. She doesn’t make change for nickles, either.”
HE (becoming a sensitive, hot-house flower): “OK, you’d better stop.”
ME: “That’s what I told your Mom cuz I didn’t want any of her diseases.”
HE: “I’m serious. This isn’t funny.”
ME: “That’s what I told your Mom when we aborted you.”
HE: “I’m 5′ tall; you’re 6’1″. Who cares if you’re 11 inches taller? come on! It’ll be fun!”
ME (thinking): “I hope we have sex tonight because there will be no second date.”
SHE: “Oh that Adele is just wonderful. Her voice! Ohhh, she sings just like a black.”
ME: “What. the actual. fuck?”
ME: I taught some co-workers “fuckery” today. They all loved it and said they were going to start using it.
BRO: How had they never hear “fuckery” before? How old are they?
ME: Our age. They’re sorta like Liz. You know, she’s on the Internet all the time IMing and playing games, but has no idea about Internet culture or how it works. It’s like going to the Apollo because they have your favorite beer on tap.
