An Open Letter to Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
On a side note, here is the tumblr version.
Dear DnA,
I appreciate you taking the time to answer several questions about the latest developments and what’s upcoming for the New Mutants series you’ve recently taken over writing. The New Mutants is an X-book I have adored and supported for a long time and it was exciting to see and know that it plays a role in the new X-Universe that will open up in the fall.
However plotlines and teasers aside, I am writing to express my deep and sincerest disappointment and sadness about your glib and seemingly uneducated understanding and portrayal of the mental health and social work professions. Maybe I am mistaken, you could have testimonials and references of research to support your ideas of therapy and mental health, especially as it pertains to military service persons, military workers and their families or even marginalized peoples. But it is a sore point with me to have you feel that a therapist-supposedly with the experience and background of working with underserved and underrepresented populations-act as if a “heavy-handed” approach is the best way to evaluate and treat a number of individuals who have been through what are traumatic, albeit imaginary, experiences. You’ve reduced the complex, nuanced science and philosophy of people and their behaviors into a context of blame and punishment rather than the literal meaning of psychology-“the study of the soul”. And I thought art was something that helped reflect that.
Yes I read the entire interview, you promise depth to this therapist (which I was looking forward to as one of the coolest new aspects of this series until I finished issue #28) but please recognize that asking us to adore a “rough-and-ready” approach doesn’t actually persuade us to agree with your character development, it only perpetuates the misrepresentation of mental health and illness and in fact, ALIENATES those who would think that therapy is a valid treatment for deep psychological issues. There is no end to how frustrated and heartbroken this alone makes me feel. And maybe I’m the only one who thinks or feels this way, but I couldn’t ignore what I thought was still an insensitive and unmindful response to a good question. It doesn’t make me look forward to the new issues and I know it’s already caused some to stop subscribing to the series.
To be brief, the character Gus Grim at this point is not a therapist or a social worker. He shows no insight or knowledge into psychology or the training required to treat or counsel anyone who has experienced trauma or is facing mental health issues. He’s a feigned team coach, a poor one at that. It’s dismaying and sad. I can only hope that your creativity and art-rather than your interviews-prove me wrong.
I’m not holding my breath.
Sincerely,
Sophoslight
Dear DnA,
I appreciate you taking the time to answer several questions about the latest developments and what’s upcoming for the New Mutants series you’ve recently taken over writing. The New Mutants is an X-book I have adored and supported for a long time and it was exciting to see and know that it plays a role in the new X-Universe that will open up in the fall.
However plotlines and teasers aside, I am writing to express my deep and sincerest disappointment and sadness about your glib and seemingly uneducated understanding and portrayal of the mental health and social work professions. Maybe I am mistaken, you could have testimonials and references of research to support your ideas of therapy and mental health, especially as it pertains to military service persons, military workers and their families or even marginalized peoples. But it is a sore point with me to have you feel that a therapist-supposedly with the experience and background of working with underserved and underrepresented populations-act as if a “heavy-handed” approach is the best way to evaluate and treat a number of individuals who have been through what are traumatic, albeit imaginary, experiences. You’ve reduced the complex, nuanced science and philosophy of people and their behaviors into a context of blame and punishment rather than the literal meaning of psychology-“the study of the soul”. And I thought art was something that helped reflect that.
Yes I read the entire interview, you promise depth to this therapist (which I was looking forward to as one of the coolest new aspects of this series until I finished issue #28) but please recognize that asking us to adore a “rough-and-ready” approach doesn’t actually persuade us to agree with your character development, it only perpetuates the misrepresentation of mental health and illness and in fact, ALIENATES those who would think that therapy is a valid treatment for deep psychological issues. There is no end to how frustrated and heartbroken this alone makes me feel. And maybe I’m the only one who thinks or feels this way, but I couldn’t ignore what I thought was still an insensitive and unmindful response to a good question. It doesn’t make me look forward to the new issues and I know it’s already caused some to stop subscribing to the series.
To be brief, the character Gus Grim at this point is not a therapist or a social worker. He shows no insight or knowledge into psychology or the training required to treat or counsel anyone who has experienced trauma or is facing mental health issues. He’s a feigned team coach, a poor one at that. It’s dismaying and sad. I can only hope that your creativity and art-rather than your interviews-prove me wrong.
I’m not holding my breath.
Sincerely,
Sophoslight