Reason Writers Around Town: Brian Doherty at The Comics Journal on Best American Comics Criticism

Brian Doherty | August 24, 2010

Realizing a dream I've had since I was 11 years old, I get published today in The Comics Journal--or at least its web site. It's a contribution to a roundtable of commentary on Ben Schwartz's new book Best American Comics Criticism (a book containing an essay by me, one that originally appeared right here at Reason magazine) in which I argue that the exigencies of late 20th century comics fandom created a unified scene of all-comics obsessives the likes of which the newer, more respectable world of comics and graphic novels seems to be killing off--a scene I'm going to miss.

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Wise Ass|8.24.10 @ 4:25PM|#

I argue that the exigencies of late 20th century comics fandom created a unified scene of all-comics obsessives the likes of which the newer, more respectable world of comics and graphic novels seems to be killing off

Umm...congratulations?

DG|8.24.10 @ 4:32PM|#

newer, more respectable world of comics and graphic novels

It's still a comic, and changing the name doesn't make the reader look any more intelligent or likely to have physical contact with a member of the opposite sex.

Citizen Nothing|8.24.10 @ 4:45PM|#

I just ordered The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier today from Amazon because I heard Jeeves and Bertie Wooster are in it.
And no, I won't get laid tonight. But that's 'cause I'm married.
True story.

BakedPenguin|8.24.10 @ 5:26PM|#

I got the A&E Jeeves and Wooster (Fry & Laurie) series through Netflix. It's not bad, but almost all of the supporting characters change every season. I think the Madeline Bassett character was played by three different actresses in three seasons. It makes suspension of disbelief a bit tricky, especially if you watch more than one season in a week's time.

Citizen Nothing|8.24.10 @ 5:28PM|#

I'm thinking about trying that out. But still working my way through the actual Wodehouse Jeeves canon, which I discovered shamefully late in life.

BakedPenguin|8.24.10 @ 5:47PM|#

Moi aussi. But I say it's not our fault - they don't recommend Wodehouse in high school, and he's not "important" enough to read in college.

BakedPenguin|8.24.10 @ 5:22PM|#

...the exigencies of late 20th century comics fandom created a unified scene of all-comics obsessives the likes of which the newer, more respectable world of comics and graphic novels seems to be killing off--a scene I'm going to miss.

This seems to me to be a version of the "now that everyone's into it, it's not cool anymore" idea. Less whiny, and more eloquently stated, to be sure, but a similar idea at heart.

Alan Vanneman|8.24.10 @ 5:33PM|#

"a unified scene of all-comics obsessives the likes of which the newer, more respectable world of comics and graphic novels seems to be killing off"--but, obviously, not quickly enough.

|8.24.10 @ 6:28PM|#

Doherty, you are the man

|8.24.10 @ 8:14PM|#

I know a couple people who work on/for TCJ, but I am above name-dropping. ;)

bags|8.24.10 @ 8:59PM|#

J sub D: You preach it, brother! :-)

fendibags|8.24.10 @ 9:02PM|#

I won't get laid tonight. But that's 'cause I'm married.

scarf|8.24.10 @ 9:05PM|#

And no, I won't get laid tonight. But that's 'cause I'm married.

Citizen Nothing|8.24.10 @ 10:03PM|#

Bags, fendibags and scarf: the Three Stooges of bots.

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