Graeme McMillan, arguably the undisputed voice of web-fandom; Fanboy Rampage founder and magnetically empowered pontificator of disputable comics community shenanigans, who recently joined Blog@Newsarama (formerly The Great Curve), Is it wrong of me to be a fan of Mike Netzer? And if it is, do I want to be right?
Answers on a postcard, please. And join me after the jump.
The reason I ask is that Michael Netzer, a man who claims to literally believe that comic books can save the world, has relaunched his website yet again - As he himself notes, this is the sixth incarnation of michaelnetzer.com, following quickly on the heels of the hilarious-but-maybe-I-was-the-only-one-who-thought-that Rabble Rouser version of events - as something called “rEvolution”. What is rEvolution, you ask? Well, Mike can answer:
As will become evident to our visitors, rEvolution aspires to break the barriers of the comics community, while brandishing this cherished art form at the forefront of its opining on the issues of sociopolitics, science, arts, culture, economy, faith and just about any other pertinent social construct… [It] is the beginning of yet another stretch on the road we travel together in this journey to raise the voice of the people unto the world stage. It is your place as much as it is mine, and it will certainly respond, and adapt, to your needs as viewers.
There are already essays available about Mark Millar’s Chosen (”It takes a great deal of courage to end the series as Mark did - and he gave a premonition of it in that first issue, in the last panels when the grown Jodie is short haired and clean shaven with a blackened face, reminding us of images of the Anti-Christ in The Omen film series. This is the eseence of the story as Mark Millar tells it - and it’s very important for the Christian world to understand the story of Jesus as such.”) , the death of Christopher Reeve, and why Neal Adams gets planetary evolution (Not to mention an, um… interesting cartoon about Gordon Lee and Taki Soma). Go, read and join me in wondering whether Mike really believes everything he says, or whether it’s all some kind of… well… rabble-rousing exercise.
I’ll say it: That dude is crazy.
Connie Chung crazy. Singing out of key on a piano in a white dress crazy.
Comment by ElCoyote — June 21, 2006 @ 2:35 pm
No more wrong than me being a fan of Grim.
Comment by Bambos — June 21, 2006 @ 6:14 pm
Yeah, but that’s horrifically wrong.
Comment by Graeme McMillan — June 21, 2006 @ 6:17 pm
Maybe it’s just that you don’t wanna be right.
Comment by Tuckenie (Chris Tucker) — June 21, 2006 @ 8:23 pm
How can you be a fan of someone who is already a fan of yours, Graeme? Please try to reconsider, even if it means being wrong about this. And also, do look into why the blog’s RSS feed isn’t functioning properly. The News Feeds section at ReVOLUTION (not yet known for the revolution it’s soon to bring to the comiics web community) anxiously awaits to add blog@newsarama to its fold. And… thank you so kindly for the big mistake you make… and one more thing: If it’s all just a rabble-rousing excercise, then I’m certain that an angry mob will eventually hunt me down and seek to “eliminate” me when it becomes known. So simply ask yourself if you believe I might have such a wish in mind and the answer should clarify everything.
Comment by Michael Netzer — June 23, 2006 @ 3:18 am
You know, I was just thinking about if Mike Netzer was crazy just the other night. I’ve even posted something to that effect more than once. Then I realized that he’s not crazy, just extremely passionate in a different way than myself. If I were to be very frank and open about the things I was most passionate about, I’m sure that people would be sure to call me crazy.
Comment by Victor Cardenas — June 23, 2006 @ 9:53 am
I certainly do hope the question of my being crazy didn’t keep you awake that fateful night, Steph. I believe you’re right about the perception of someone who is frank about what they believe. I’d think more honesty can therefore contribute to making our world a little better, because people’s disapproval with things would have a stronger voice - even at the risk of appearing crazy. Your comment, though, lowers that risk, and I thnnk you for it. BTW, I also tried to bring the Pulp Arcade feed to my Bews Feeds section but ran into the same problem I’m having with this blog, and a few others. The reader my site software uses is unable to pick it up and the page comes up empty. I believe this is a universal reading software and it doesn’t have any problems with most other feeds. It’s curious to me because there are a few such good feeds I believe should have a presence there. Maybe you can help figure out the problem?
Comment by Michael Netzer — June 24, 2006 @ 11:28 pm
Michael, what’s the name of the RSS software you’re using? Both Pulp Arcade and Blog@ have feeds set up through Word Press, so that may be the connection. Let us know what you’re using and we’ll troubleshoot it.
Comment by JK Parkin — June 25, 2006 @ 12:29 am
Thanks, JK. I’ve sent you an email.
Comment by Michael Netzer — June 25, 2006 @ 2:39 am