Comments on: PR: What Not to Do: Reading Like a Time Capsule

By: Journalista – the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Sept. 8, 2009: Who took Robin’s virginity?

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:47:30 +0000

[...] “A manifesto? Really? Acolytes of Warren Ellis, are we?” – Johanna Draper Carlson [...]

By: Tom Humberstone

Tom Humberstone — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:23:34 +0000

Hi Johanna, thank you for the mention on your blog.

I’d like to agree with Ali that I don’t particularly see politics or manifestos as time sensitive. If having a strong political stance on anything is seen as being “90s” then I think that is rather sad.

I’d also like to respectfully disagree with your assertion that one cannot define themselves by an absence of something. Any use of the word “reject” in our manifesto is in reference to abandoning rules, restrictions and preconceived notions of what comics were, are and can be. It was written to be inspiring. Freeing.

A cursory glance at any contributor’s website should also demonstrate that we are all productive and diligent creators. Many, myself included, with a large collection of self-published works already behind us.

We will be uploading previews of work specific to the anthology over the next couple of months – leading up to our book launch in November.

Hopefully, during this time, you will give us the benefit of the doubt and decide whether our art lives up to our words. I’d like to think we may surprise you.

I’ll be happy to send you a review copy of the book when it is released should you wish.

Take care, and thanks again for the plug!
-Tom

By: Heidi M.

Heidi M. — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:09:22 +0000

Eh, they’re young and full of fire. That is how it is supposed to be. I would rather read something passionate then another bland marketing campaign.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:08:10 +0000

You’re right, Ali, to remind me not to be so jaded. And what a timely quote for this week!

By: Ali T. Kokmen

Ali T. Kokmen — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:50:18 +0000

“The 90s were about the manifesto and the tough political stance; now, that approach seems tired and naive to me.”

I don’t know that I agree that manifestos are particularly associated with the 1990s, or indeed to any particular time period. There are plenty of folks who write ‘em all the time, in every time.

I do think that manifestos are typical of youthful rebellion in any era. And, Johanna, you and I and many many others are probably now old enough to have seen many proclamations of youthful passionate intensity fizzle out. But I’m trying not to let that make me so jaded as to automatically think the next one will also fizzle. But it’s really hard sometimes…

“You want to convince me of something? Do the work and show me what you’re capable of. Anyone can spew declarations, but few can create art to live up to them.”

I agree wholeheartedly. As the Beatles said, “You say you want a revolution…we’d all love to see the plan.”