Unprofessional Shenanigans
OK, I assume everyone (read anyone) who reads this is at least partially aware that my two hobbies are reading comic books and graphic novels and writing fiction, currently fanfiction but also original pieces. So when I see professionals, people I look up tofor not only their work, but as example setters for myself and other up and coming writers and artists, behaving badly I get disgruntled.
I am talking about two recent and specific people today.
The first is Rob Granito. This "artist" has been traveling the con circuit claiming to be a "ghost artist" for several big names including my favorite DC Comics. Lying to pad your resume isn't cool. It's not unheard of, but still unprofesional. He's also been tracing or copying other artist's work and passing it off as his own. There are so many artists with real talent trying to break into comics and this is how they get a bad name. The worst of it is that Granito started name-dropping, which seems about par for the course for him. Then he decided to claim a relationship, both profesional and freindship with the late, great Dwayne McDuffie. Needless to say the comics comunity, both profesional and fan, did not react well to this stunt. Mark Waid (An author whose work I put in the top 5% of what's out there) and Ethan Van Skiver (An artist who is putting out fantastic work for DC) actually confronted him. Waid got pretty heated with him and vowed to use all of his comic clout to get the man banned from every big con in the nation. Not only do I salute these men for standing up for thie profession, but I think this guy's days are numbered and Waid won't even need to lift a finger. The community is nothing if not loyal. We visit the comic shop weekly to plop down our hard earned money for comics and we blog about them and do podcasts about them and update wikis about them. I think Granito has hit his last con.
Now another shining example of professionalism I've come across appears on Big Al's Books and Pals Forum. No, I do not reguarly visit this forum, but I linked from FARK to find this gem.
The Greek Seaman by Jacqueline Howett
I am gonna ignore the humor of the title for now and focus on what happened with the review. It was a mediocre review, with a few compliments for plot and story but several more for spelling and gramatical errors. Now he (Big Al I assume)said that the errors were so glaring that he couldn't enjoy the story. We've all been there, haven't we? Sometimes you have a fanfic author with a great idea but the execution of said idea was a little...less then great. Well apparently The Greek Seaman was published for digital reading formats...without a beta. Now I write without a beta but I spend hours pouring over my own work editing. Still, any review is a review which means you're work is being looked at...so that's something. Even a bad or mixed review. When I get constructive critisism I try to look back over my work and see where I went wrong. Even I, an unpaid ameatur DO NOT VERBALLY ATTACK THE REVIEWER! Jesus. I will not re-post what all was said, but it was ridiculous and petty and the exact opposite of how a professional writer should act.
Why do I want to write profesionally and in comics again? Becuase the above douche bags are the exception and not the rule, that's what I keep telling myself.
I am talking about two recent and specific people today.
The first is Rob Granito. This "artist" has been traveling the con circuit claiming to be a "ghost artist" for several big names including my favorite DC Comics. Lying to pad your resume isn't cool. It's not unheard of, but still unprofesional. He's also been tracing or copying other artist's work and passing it off as his own. There are so many artists with real talent trying to break into comics and this is how they get a bad name. The worst of it is that Granito started name-dropping, which seems about par for the course for him. Then he decided to claim a relationship, both profesional and freindship with the late, great Dwayne McDuffie. Needless to say the comics comunity, both profesional and fan, did not react well to this stunt. Mark Waid (An author whose work I put in the top 5% of what's out there) and Ethan Van Skiver (An artist who is putting out fantastic work for DC) actually confronted him. Waid got pretty heated with him and vowed to use all of his comic clout to get the man banned from every big con in the nation. Not only do I salute these men for standing up for thie profession, but I think this guy's days are numbered and Waid won't even need to lift a finger. The community is nothing if not loyal. We visit the comic shop weekly to plop down our hard earned money for comics and we blog about them and do podcasts about them and update wikis about them. I think Granito has hit his last con.
Now another shining example of professionalism I've come across appears on Big Al's Books and Pals Forum. No, I do not reguarly visit this forum, but I linked from FARK to find this gem.
The Greek Seaman by Jacqueline Howett
I am gonna ignore the humor of the title for now and focus on what happened with the review. It was a mediocre review, with a few compliments for plot and story but several more for spelling and gramatical errors. Now he (Big Al I assume)said that the errors were so glaring that he couldn't enjoy the story. We've all been there, haven't we? Sometimes you have a fanfic author with a great idea but the execution of said idea was a little...less then great. Well apparently The Greek Seaman was published for digital reading formats...without a beta. Now I write without a beta but I spend hours pouring over my own work editing. Still, any review is a review which means you're work is being looked at...so that's something. Even a bad or mixed review. When I get constructive critisism I try to look back over my work and see where I went wrong. Even I, an unpaid ameatur DO NOT VERBALLY ATTACK THE REVIEWER! Jesus. I will not re-post what all was said, but it was ridiculous and petty and the exact opposite of how a professional writer should act.
Why do I want to write profesionally and in comics again? Becuase the above douche bags are the exception and not the rule, that's what I keep telling myself.