PART FIVE OF UK 'TROLLS': KICKING THE BUTTS (OF BUTT-'EADS)...

I'll address the subject of digital comics in detail later, but

for the moment, lets examine his fatuous claims about Annuals.

I'll just note that, as far as I'm aware, nobody has ever claimed

that 'comics aimed solely at kids are the only ones that count',

so we can dismiss that bit of misdirection from the off.

   

Aren't Annuals comics, he facetiously asks.  Well, no, they're

comic Annuals.  A comic Annual is a book which contains comic

strips and/or comic pictures.  If just containing comic strips made

something a comic, then a newspaper with comic strips would be a

comic, wouldn't it?  But it isn't, is it?  It's a newspaper.  Some news-

papers contain comic sections.  Unless it's a pull-out section which,

when pulled out, becomes a self-contained comic unit, it remains

a comic section within a newspaper.  (Which is not a comic,

remember.)

The SUNDAY POST once had something called The

FUN SECTION.  (Don't think it's called that now.)  It was

printed on both sides of one page and, when cut out and folded

over, it was a comic of a sort, but not what would be considered

an actual comic in the same way that The BEANO and DANDY

were.  Americans sometimes referred to comic strips within news-

papers as 'the comics'  "Pop, can I read the comics?" they'd ask.

However, even Americans knew the difference between a comic

mag (or comicbook if you prefer), and their use of the word in

this context was as a shorthand description of what were

 technically, 'comic strips'.

I think it's a bit greedy for the 'other side' to want it all

ways.  In their view, it seems that the word 'comic' is multi-

applicable.  Not only is it a periodical containing comic strips,

it's the comic strips themselves in whatever volume or container

they're presented in.  So, according to them, while The Beano is

a comic, so also is a single page from The Beano.   An Annual is

a comic (even if it contains nothing but text stories?), as is any

periodical for children in a newsagents.  A one tier comic strip

or single gag panel in a newspaper is a comic, as would be,

by implication, a chalked line-drawing on a pavement.

So a book (in their view), whether it prints previously

published comics or completely new material - or a DVD con-

taining scans of comic strips or complete issues, is a comic.  See

the difficulties inherent in not recognizing the distinction between

carton' and 'content'?  In a previous post, I referred to the word 

comic' being used in more than one sense in people's minds (i.e.:  a

specific way and in a looser, broader way), but recognizing the fact

is not necessarily to endorse its validity.  The Beano is a comic due

to its content and carton, and any periodical for kids that bears

even a superficial resemblance to it is now regarded and

referred to as a comic - but does this make it so?

It depends, I'd say.  Certainly, there's a case for saying

that if something comes to be regarded as belonging to a par-

ticular category over time, then that's what it becomes.  'Though

equally (if not more so) there's a strong case against it, otherwise

a tomato would now be classed as a vegetable as opposed to a fruit.

Popular perception can only go so far, after all.  So all those kids'

magazines in newsagents might be described as 'comics' for the

sake of convenience (or as a result of ignorance), but does this

supersede or negate the more specific idea and application

of the word?  Not necessarily so.  

      

Another excellent example (above) of how he tries to

second guess what his perceived opponents would say and

then argues against his own straw man constructions.  The only

thing I'd say about the San Diego Comic Con is that although it

might reflect the state of the comics 'industry' in America, this is

Britain we're talking about.  Note that I'm not saying quite the

same thing as he's suggesting.  I'm certain there'd be plenty of

things there for U.K. comic fans to see.  His assumptions

are consequently presumptuous.

Another thing to remember is that people go to these

things to meet creators and buy back issues from their youth.

That's hardly an indication of the current state of the 'industry'.

And his oh-so casual dismissal of the importance of the TV and

movie presence is fatuous, as they draw a large part of the crowd.

If they didn't increase the attendance, what would be the point

in combining the events into one?  Doesn't suit his purpose

'though, so it gets brushed quickly under the carpet.

   

There's a reason why a lot of comics and periodicals

came with bagged toys.  It's because the publishers believed

that the product sold better that way.  If true, that means quite

a large proportion of those buying them weren't buying them for

the comics so much as the toys.  However, I note that the brand-

new THUNDERBIRDS comic has a bagged toy with every issue, 

and (contrary to his claim) there's still loads of periodicals with

bagged toys attached.  H'mm, little bit of a flaw in his argument

there, eh?  If so many 'comics' need such a boost, can the

'industry' be as healthy as he claims?

As for small press comics, someone who claims to be the

U.K.'s largest independent comics publisher has enormous

difficulty selling his products.  If someone who's as devoted to

comics as he is struggles to shift his stuff, what does that say

about the state of the 'industry'?  

Are there loads of goods on offer as he claims?  I'm

quite prepared to accept his word on the matter, but I'd

bet they're a mere drop in the ocean compared to previous

decades.  A lot of the small press stuff doesn't make much, if

any, money for its creators, and is done for the love of it more

than anything.  So even 'though it might add to what's available

to potential consumers, unless it's making pots of money and

paying page rates that its creators can live on, while it may

prove there's still an interest, that doesn't necessarily

demonstrate a healthy industry.  Sad, but true.

But now, at last,  it's time to look at what constitutes -

in real terms - an industry.  Unfortunately, however, and in

contrast to my stated hope, it'll have to wait until next time as 

I have a responsibility to go out and mingle with my public and

share a little of my greatness with them.  (I'm such a caring indi-

vidual, I really am.)  Hopefully, I'll tie up all the loose ends  and

dispel any perception of seeming contradictions in my reason-

ing or assertions in the next post.  Of course, there's always

the chance that you've all long since p*ssed off over to

'Steve Does Comics',  but I'll allow you to come

back just the same.

See you next time, discerning Criv-ites.

Posted in: Cartoons