Wow.
Really, Wow. I am truly amazed at the overwhelming amounts of feedback we've received this week.
If you happened to miss it, you can check some of it out here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here or even here.
We've also received a ton of letters from a lot of big names in the industry voicing their support. But the ones that really get me are the ones from our readers — especially the ones I've never met. Here's a favorite:
"I'm writing to you today as a self-admitted novelty—a female comic book fan. It's an interesting cultural boundary that I straddle, encountering skepticism both from my fellow adults in the "normal" world and from my fellow comic book enthusiasts. Now I've grown accustomed to the eye rolls I receive at the finance magazine ( SFOmag.com) I edit for when I head out on Wednesdays with that extra spring in my step. I've never, however, been comfortable with the attention that I receive from the mainstream comic book fan. I've attended Wizard World in Chicago for the last four years with my brother and sister and it's not unusual for someone to assume that my sister and I are there because a boyfriend dragged us there. In fact, a representative from Wizard Magazine was profoundly surprised when my sister and I rattled off a list of comics that we regularly read. While perusing any installment of Wizard Magazine chock full of pubescent, and frankly bad, writing that merely reinforces negative stereotypes of our beloved juxtaposed sequential art form—it becomes abundantly clear that I am not apart of the preferred, or at least expected, demographic.
I love comic books. I've been to the comic strip museum in Brussels and I was fortunate enough to meet Will Eisner before he passed. We have a dynamic and active community of fans. We are lucky enough to have weekly content created by an army of original and revolutionary artists and writers. But the predominating comic book culture in America, and the institutions like Wizard Magazine that sustain it, alienate women and keep a vast potential audience at bay.
Not only does Comic Foundry inject genuine credibility into comic book journalism, but it also showcases the true face of comic book fandom. In the online edition, I found a place for authentic criticism and theory. I know at least a dozen Professors in Chicago alone that are licking their chops at the opportunity to introduce a text like this into their courses. Personally, I couldn't wait till the print version came out. Imagine reading an interview with Mike Carey or Pia Guerra that didn't contain a question regarding their favorite comic book movie or not feel embarrassed reading a comic book rag on the train because there is a "top ten bikini scenes in comics spread"? Finally, I'll feel like I'm not reading my brother's magazine (from when he was 16).
I understand Diamond's refusal to distribute Comic Foundry germinated from a seed of doubt that there would not be a sizable audience for an 80-page black and white magazine about comics. Let me assuage those fears: I would much rather 10 pages of black and white CONTENT from Comic Foundry than the however many pages of content-less bright color that Wizard Magazine offers. Please give Comic Foundry a chance. The ladies, at least, would appreciate it."
—Megan Milliken, Chicago
Doesn't it get you right there?
As far as updates go, we have options. Maybe still try with Diamond, maybe try a publisher, maybe go the distro route, maybe something else. What we'll decide, I'm not sure but the one thing I do know is this: Comic Foundry Magazine will see print.
And so, thank you. To everyone. Thanks for writing, for the support and for talking about the mag. I'm even thankful to the people who don't support us, because those disagreements always lead to some interesting discourse. But really, thanks.
If you happened to miss it, you can check some of it out here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here or even here.
We've also received a ton of letters from a lot of big names in the industry voicing their support. But the ones that really get me are the ones from our readers — especially the ones I've never met. Here's a favorite:
"I'm writing to you today as a self-admitted novelty—a female comic book fan. It's an interesting cultural boundary that I straddle, encountering skepticism both from my fellow adults in the "normal" world and from my fellow comic book enthusiasts. Now I've grown accustomed to the eye rolls I receive at the finance magazine ( SFOmag.com) I edit for when I head out on Wednesdays with that extra spring in my step. I've never, however, been comfortable with the attention that I receive from the mainstream comic book fan. I've attended Wizard World in Chicago for the last four years with my brother and sister and it's not unusual for someone to assume that my sister and I are there because a boyfriend dragged us there. In fact, a representative from Wizard Magazine was profoundly surprised when my sister and I rattled off a list of comics that we regularly read. While perusing any installment of Wizard Magazine chock full of pubescent, and frankly bad, writing that merely reinforces negative stereotypes of our beloved juxtaposed sequential art form—it becomes abundantly clear that I am not apart of the preferred, or at least expected, demographic.
I love comic books. I've been to the comic strip museum in Brussels and I was fortunate enough to meet Will Eisner before he passed. We have a dynamic and active community of fans. We are lucky enough to have weekly content created by an army of original and revolutionary artists and writers. But the predominating comic book culture in America, and the institutions like Wizard Magazine that sustain it, alienate women and keep a vast potential audience at bay.
Not only does Comic Foundry inject genuine credibility into comic book journalism, but it also showcases the true face of comic book fandom. In the online edition, I found a place for authentic criticism and theory. I know at least a dozen Professors in Chicago alone that are licking their chops at the opportunity to introduce a text like this into their courses. Personally, I couldn't wait till the print version came out. Imagine reading an interview with Mike Carey or Pia Guerra that didn't contain a question regarding their favorite comic book movie or not feel embarrassed reading a comic book rag on the train because there is a "top ten bikini scenes in comics spread"? Finally, I'll feel like I'm not reading my brother's magazine (from when he was 16).
I understand Diamond's refusal to distribute Comic Foundry germinated from a seed of doubt that there would not be a sizable audience for an 80-page black and white magazine about comics. Let me assuage those fears: I would much rather 10 pages of black and white CONTENT from Comic Foundry than the however many pages of content-less bright color that Wizard Magazine offers. Please give Comic Foundry a chance. The ladies, at least, would appreciate it."
—Megan Milliken, Chicago
Doesn't it get you right there?
As far as updates go, we have options. Maybe still try with Diamond, maybe try a publisher, maybe go the distro route, maybe something else. What we'll decide, I'm not sure but the one thing I do know is this: Comic Foundry Magazine will see print.
And so, thank you. To everyone. Thanks for writing, for the support and for talking about the mag. I'm even thankful to the people who don't support us, because those disagreements always lead to some interesting discourse. But really, thanks.
posted by Tim Leong at 10:39 AM
<< Home