Reviews Addenda

Another rambling, non-comics post that can be ignored.
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In a comment I've decided to not publish, I was asked if I would review a movie and not mention the actors. Well, actors aren't typically creators. I might mention them because they're standing in for the characters in a way, and it helps me and perhaps the reader visualize. But mostly, I discuss the characters. When I "review" movies or tv shows, I typically don't mention the writers, the directors, the producers, or even the actors. I don't mention the set designers or sfx folks. Those are very collaborative media, as is comics, though not to that extent.

Over on Cyber Chocolate, when I comment on the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica, I might mention the latest thing Adama did, but I'm not likely to mention that Edward Olmos plays him. I don't see the point in that because the show is about the characters and I'm discussing my feelings about what I see. Or read.

Some folks might not call that a review. Whatever. I'm not writing reviews professionally. Then again, I don't consider the articles in the New York Review of Books to be reviews, either. More like excuses the pontificate on the subject of the book in question.

And if someone doesn't like how I review comics, all I can say is that there are plenty of other folks reviewing comics out there. Some mention the creative team and some don't. Plenty of choice in this democratic cyberland.

A lot comes down to why a person blogs, I guess. I started this blog because I suspected I was boring folks on Cyber Chocolate by discussing comics and sports. I didn't want to do a sports blog and I knew the folks who read my book blog were not comics fans, and I thought it would be fun to do a comics blog because I was bored and wanted to do a new template. There you have it. This blog exists because of the template! And because I love comics. And wanted a place to discuss Roy Harper's butt. And since I read more comics a month than books, it's easy to fill posts here with quick commentary about what I read, off the top of my head. My goal is to sum up an issue in one sentence if I can, but as you can see from this post alone, brevity isn't my strong suit.

In a way, I'm reviewing a finished product and while giving credit is nice, especially for the creators, it's not what I look for when I read reviews (unless it's to let me know Bruce Jones is the writer so I can avoid the thing at all cost). When I read reviews I want two things: What's it about? Did the reviewer like it? And that's how I review.

To me, as a writer, of fanfic for 15 years (including a few pieces for the Titans APA) and now an aspiring sf writer, the greatest compliment I can get is for people to gush about my characters and never mention me. Because then I'll know my characters have become real to someone other than me. And, having experienced that with an original series of spy stories I write with friends and print myself, I can honestly say there's no greater feeling. For me, anyway.

Which isn't to say any fictional character is more important than real life people. But since this blog is about fictional characters foremost, and I save most of my real world blogging for elsewhere, I see no reason to change my style. Back when I was heavily into fandom, we mostly talked about Napoleon and Illya, not Vaughn and McCallum. Still do, mostly. (Now you youngsters will scurry to Google what I'm talking about! Man from UNCLE, folks.)

And I'm not mentioning the commenter who started all this because I don't sling mud. I see no point in a public squabble. For all anyone knows, there were many snarky comments I didn't publish and no one can be sure whom I mean. Because I'm polite that way.

And for the record, before everyone rushes to comment in support of me (tho much appreciated) or to condemn me, I'm not upset. Not at all. I was puzzled by the tone of the original comment. For someone so quick to point out I hadn't mentioned the creators, she didn't feel the need to fill me in. Which makes me wonder what the point of the comment was. And since writing posts like these are easier for me, as streams of consciousness (thank you, 7th grade English teacher), than reviews, I thought I'd clarify my reviewing style to help folks decide if they want to continue to read them or not. That was the complete extent, reason, and motivation behind the previous post and this one.

The only way to rile me is to try to pigeonhole me or tell me how to do something. That'll get my snark up, but I'll be smiling as I type. ;)