I've written about how awful Comicsgate is. Comicsgate is a, "Movement," that is mostly gone, but pieces of it still kick around being hateful and awful. It basically is an attempt to make comics, "Good again," in the sense there are no politics (well, liberal politics), no inclusivity, and it imagines an era of comics that never existed. Comic books have always been political, had an agenda, and so forth. Comicsgate members often harass and insult others, doxx innocent comic creators, and otherwise are awful. Apparently, the publisher of Alterna, Peter Simeti, is close with Comicsgate and people who have done a lot with the, "Organization," such as Ethan Van Sciver. That is not good.
I basically thought Alterna was just a fun indie publisher who sometimes reached out to me so I could review their works. I didn't really follow their social media, but when Peter would email me about their stuff to review in the past I would. I followed him on Twitter a bit ago and saw odd little things that gave me pause, but nothing outright supporting Comicsgate. Then this Twitter exchange happened:
I wasn't going to argue with him on his Twitter page as that is his own little place. I just told him I couldn't support him anymore. He called me hateful, which is ironic. We're on my blog now, though, so this is my house and you know full damn well I'm going to drop some knowledge. Comicsgate is unquestionably a hate group, Ethan Van Sciver is a huge garbage person, and I will never, ever support Alterna again having seen this full-throated endorsement of Comicsgate from them. I don't know how Peter became so misled as to want to have his, "Fans," be members of a hate group, but that's his choice. My choice is to never support Alterna ever again with my dollars or ever review any of their works if they reach out to beg for some exposure for their books. I don't support hate.
"We're on my blog now, though, so this is my house and you know full damn well I'm going to drop some knowledge. "
ReplyDeleteYou haven't "dropped any knowledge" you have made accusations with no proof. Is that how you operate on your blog? You just say shit with no receipts?
You can't just say "this is a hate group" without any proof. "Unquestionable" is the language of an idiot. If you paid attention to the people who support comicsgate, you'll find all races, genders, and creeds. Pretty weird for that to be the case for a hate group. Stop spouting lies and just read comics.
There is countless evidence of how awful Comicsgate is that I have provided in other posts. I would advise you to Google all the terrible things about Comicsgate as it isn't my job to change to your mind, just encourage you to learn everything. Funny thing if Comicsgate is so great there are so many people they've hurt or who know them as a hate group.
DeleteI've been watching Comicsgate and the mainstream industry behavior for a little over 3 yrs and I've seen more "socially acceptable" comic creators who are in the mainstream industry/orbit it say and do 10x worse than what comicsgate is said to have done.
DeleteDavid, People don’t have to hold your hand and tell you that you’re perfect. Nobody has to like you or the life you live.
DeleteIf you’re not content with your life choices, you will seek out approval from others (including strangers) that your life choices are right. When you don’t get that, you’ll act out and bash those individuals as hateful.
Comicsgate is a hate group. Alterna aligned with them. There ya go.
DeleteDavid. You are Fake news.
ReplyDeleteDonald Trump, that you?
DeleteHey I never knew about Alterna Comics until now, I just went and checked out their website. It actually looks like they have some pretty cool comics on there, I'll probably buy a bunch of stuff off their website in response to your blog post. Thanks for the heads up! :)
ReplyDeleteThis snarky comment admittedly made me laugh. Reverse psychology at its best.
DeleteEnjoy your ratio, David.
ReplyDeleteAssuming you are Ethan Van Sciver I have a question as you blocked me on Twitter years ago. That Cyberfrog comic you made a bunch of money for from the Indiegogo campaign ever coming out?
DeleteIt did
DeleteDidn't realize he actually put something out. I don't really follow Comicsgate (why would I when they've been less than pleasant these past couple days) so I only knew of the delay upon delay.
DeleteThe behaviour of the mainstream comics industry is absolutely deplorable. Comicsgate is the result of that. Far more hate comes from the Twitter feeds of Marvel and DC creators than from EVS or anyone else involved in Comicsgate. This is just another shill hit piece. I've been a comics buyer for 35 years. The quality of writing and art coming out of DC and Marvel has never been lower. Combine that with their pandering, performative, corporate social activism and it's no wonder a huge a portion of customers who actually spend money are rebelling. In other words - DO BETTER, David.
ReplyDeleteI allowed your comment because it isn’t outright insulting, but I still disagree with much of it. I think mainstream comics are actually doing a lot better than in the past and think the, “Social activism,” is not pandering so much as a good thing and much needed. I’m also unsure who I’m a shill for as I’m just a dude with an opinion.
Delete"Allowing" the comment is a big step. One that many other bloggers or media outlets wouldn't do. So, I give you props for that. The pandering is more on the part of DC and Marvel, as opposed to the creators - who are a just pawns to be used and eventually thrown away. If you think for a second that the executives in charges of these companies care about what's "right" or "wrong" or "fair", then I'd say you're delusional. As far as the "shill" accusation, I stand by it. It's possible to shill for a company or companies in exchange for internet clout rather than monetary compensation. This whole blog post was just performative activism. No one in comicsgate has any effect on your daily life, or the daily lives of anyone other than the creators and their customers. As Peter said on Twitter, if you weren't aware that he was sympathetic to Comicsgate, then you haven't been his customer for a very long time, if ever. So, by coming out and making the grand statement that you can, "no longer support" Alterna, you are quite literally performing for a (very small) audience. "Look how virtuous I am! I'm not going to spend any money on a product that I've never spent any money on in the past!"
DeleteI actually do buy a lot of comics I don't write about as i lack the time, and I did privately buy some Alterna stuff. Not a ton, but some. I wasn't aiming for, "Performative activism," so much as sharing about myself and my thoughts. I made this blog to say what I like, what I don't, what pleases me, angers me, etc. I didn't follow Alterna's social media much so I was honestly ignorant of their close ties to Comicsgate until I started following them more on social media and noticed it. I'm not trying to perform for an audience so much as just be my same self I always am. I see where your opinion comes from, but I just don't agree with it.
DeleteOur civilized dialogue shows that two different sides can disagree without devolving into insults and attacks. You seem like a good guy and I don't hold anything against you. I wish more people - on both sides of any given argument - were as open to discourse as you seem to be. Keep it up, brother.
DeleteI like how the Comicsgate stans are "Anonymous" and "Unknown."
ReplyDeleteYeah, I’m gonna let through the comments that are respectful, I’m moderating them now. Lots of insult ones I’ll just delete though.
DeleteIt's an unfortunate result of the intolerance of the extreme left (note the use of "extreme") that people who hold a differing opinion have to now hide behind "Anonymous" and "Unknown". Anyone with an opinion that isn't in lockstep with the one and only "accepted" politically correct, performative, pandering viewpoint lives in fear of being "cancelled", i.e. fired from a job because of a Twitter mob deciding that they don't deserve to be able to make a living. "We" are the one's living in a certain amount of fear all because we think the comic book industry should be a meritocracy, not a Tumblr group full of culture warriors who are unknowingly being used by uncaring multi-billion dollar companies who are just out to make a buck off of the cause of the week.
DeleteIt's not being cancelled. It's being held accountable for one's actions.
DeleteDavid, you speak from a point of ignorance and bias. Read your replies to these comments for the evidence. We know that some of the people who follow Comicsgate are disgusting individuals who shouldn't have access to a keyboard, but what excuse do Marvel and DC employees have for being just as odious?
ReplyDeleteNo one from Marvel or DC or fans of them have ever sent me messages like the ones I got from proud members of Comicsgate. I don't deny speaking from a point of bias, we all have a bias. I'd just rather have a bias towards inclusion and diversity than the kind of messages I got for expressing my opinion.
Deleteso much out of context bullshit
ReplyDeleteAlterna is pro-Comicsgate. Comicsgate is a hate group. Nothing out of context there.
Delete