If you don't like it, you're wrong
Comic Reviews for week ending 9/18/2022
Good morning, my friend,
I’m a lover of all things media. Everything from comics to novels to music to film. If a creator puts something out in the world that gets you to think or feel, I’m all in for the experience.
As a comic (and sometimes film) reviewer, it’s not enough to simply consume the content and come away with a positive feeling about what a creator presents. There has to be a line between the impression (positive or negative) and the execution.
Forgive the bait-and-switch, but the subject line above is a misdirect. The point of today’s newsletter will focus on the “If you don’t like it, you’re wrong” phrase for what it is - a myth. Put another way, the myth implies that when a person likes something or says “it’s good,” the object of their attention is made with good quality and technical execution.
Liking something and declaring something to be “good” are two different things. The struggle we have with modern reviewer discussion is the prevalence of reviewers who don’t know the difference. I’ll illustrate with a point that’s personal and relevant in a different medium, but the point holds true across all types of content.
I have a soft spot in my heart for schlocky 1970s horror films. Without giving away my age, those films were central in my childhood to developing my tastes for what I dislike and like. Godzilla films, Dracula films, Zombie films (I’m looking at you, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things), and more will always speak to me with as much comfort as a bowl of warm soup on a cold night.
However, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things is NOT what any reviewer would call a “good” film. Terrible lighting, terrible sound, terrible makeup, terrible acting, and more come together for a film that’s in no danger of winning an Oscar in any category. I know the film is terrible, but I love it, warts and all, because of the intangible qualities like mood and atmosphere.
If you were to ask me to review that film today, I’d rip it apart into little pieces, but I’d still love it. Why? Because liking something and declaring something to be “good” are two different and separate things.
A film, comic, book, or any creation can resonate with you on an emotional level. There’s nothing wrong with liking, or even loving, what resonates. However, always remember an emotional connection is not a reflection of technical execution.
Where does that put us in the modern comic and superhero zeitgeist? It depends on your focus.
Some people like the She-Hulk series on Disney+, but it’s not a well-crafted show. Fans who do like it connect with it on an emotional level. That doesn’t mean they’re wrong, but liking it means their view of the show prioritizes how it makes them feel above all else.
Let’s take that old mainstay of fandom division, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, from Mr. Zack Snyder. The film is a terrible mess riddled with plot holes, nonsensical meandering, and woefully misrepresented versions of Batman and Superman. However, Snyder’s vision has a very vocal, avid fanbase. Why? Because something about Snyder’s vision resonates with a select group of people. That doesn’t mean the film is “good” (it’s not), but I can respect that people like it.
Where do we go with this tidbit of clarity? At best, reinforce the idea that words mean things, so declaring something to be “good” is not the same as saying “I liked it.” Know the difference, and encourage others to do the same.
Let’s recap.
Anyone can like anything, and that’s okay
Liking something and declaring it to be “good” are two different things
Know the difference, and don’t let your ego goad you into picking a fight because someone else doesn’t feel the same
What films, TV shows, books, or comics do you love that nobody else seems to get? What of the same do you think is junk but everyone seems to love? Let us know in the Comments, and we’ll post the most surprising answers in next week’s newsletter.
Now, let’s get on with the week’s reviews.
LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #1 – Review
ROBYN HOOD: BABA YAGA – Review
SHOW’S END: THE SECOND COMING #3 – Review
COVER THE DEAD WITH LIME #2 – Review
ARMY OF DARKNESS VS. REANIMATOR: NECRONOMICON RISING #3 – Review
IMMORTAL RED SONJA #6 – Review
VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #1 – Review
BLOODBORNE: THE LADY OF THE LANTERNS #2 – Review
LAZER BRAIN COMICS #1 – Indie Review
SHERLOCK: A SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA PART 2 #2 – Review
THE ISLE OF THE DEAD – Indie Review
Bloodshot: Unleashed #1 (Valiant Entertainment)
August: Purgatory Underground #2 (Red 5 Comics)
Potions Inc. #4 (Mad Cave Studios)
The Tiger's Tongue #3 (Mad Cave Studios)
Belle: Hunt of the Centaurs (Zenescope Entertainment)
Van Helsing: Flesh of My Blood (Zenescope Entertainment)
Vampirella Strikes #5 (Dynamite Comics)
Draculina #6 (Dynamite Comics)
Samurai Sonja #4 (Dynamite Comics)
Elvira in Horrorland #4 (Dynamite Comics)
Lady Hel #2 (Dynamite Comics)
Two Gun Terror #1 (American Mythology)
Heaven's Rejects #1 (Source Point Press)
Little Red Ronin #3 (Source Point Press)
Monstrous: Book of the Dead #4 (Source Point Press)
Yuki vs. Panda #11 (Source Point Press)
That’s the shortlist for now. We’ll add more titles and adjust as time and resources allow.
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Have a great day!