PARAGON comic

[The Legendary Shark]

But when it comes to reviewing the story content rather than the way it is packaged, this guy has very little to say and says it with crude inelegance and complete disrespect for the idea that he could actually be using his writing to help make the world a better place by being at all insightful or constructive.

I must agree with this. It's the main reason why I never write reviews, because I'm not confident that my criticisms would be insightful or constructive enough to help anyone - least of all the creators.

Furthermore, my insouciant attitude towards reviews will most likely shift when I get a strip torn off me!

[CrazyFoxMachine]

I'm glad my comments seem to have shaken a tree - although it wasn't my intent to insist on "positive" reviews. Merely that if he had nothing constructive or insightful to say the stature of the blog makes a negative review more hurtful than helpful.

And yes, all you have to build on when you get savage criticism is what it can teach you. But because he wasn't specific. AT ALL. He just said he didn't like it, I'm still (clearly) struggling to come to terms with what I should take away from it apart from the fact that the guy that gets paid by Forbidden Planet to write comic reviews doesn't like it. Which isn't helpful.

[The Legendary Shark]

Maybe some form of "Review of the Review" blog is in order?

[maryanddavid]

I didnt know that was you that wrote the Flesh story either, its good stuff, I wrote to Bolt a while back asking when it was returning.

David

[Daveycandlish]

Some interesting points made here.

I sent Richard a copy asking him to review it on the FP blog, on which he gave his honest opinion - I don't intend to criticise his criticisms of it.

The comment that has really piqued my interest here is Daveks;

Found it difficult to read and follow in places - there were some nice bits but overall it did not inspire me to buy any more product.

I am not from the small press community so maybe I dont understand the culture/approach in comparison to regular publishers of comics?  Maybe your comic is more for comic creators to read/appreciate

In what way was it difficult to read or follow? Was it the fact the comic is episodic and you didn't know what had gone before? Or was it badly written or illustrated? Or something else?

(This isn't a witch-hunt - I'm genuinely interested in what didn't work for you. Any constructive criticism helps make future issues better)

I think everyone who dabbles in the small press does so because they love comics - I publish PARAGON because it's the kind of comic I want to read, and I'd love it if other people want to read it too, so any feedback from every reader is gratefully received.

[Jimmy Baker's Assistant]

Hey, I know this feeling. The FPI blog once posted a distinctly lukewarm review of Walking Wounded.

Still, Richard is an honest critic, and a great supporter of British independent comics. When he likes something, he really pushes it (I lost count of how many glowing Harker eulogies he's posted) and he definitely knows his stuff. Of course, that doesn't mean he's always right!

I do think the point he makes about Jikan reprints is worth considering though. You don't want readers accidentally buying the same content twice, they won't feel very happy about it.

[Proudhuff]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger... I don't think it too harsh a review, if he had went into detail would he be accused of ripping it apart piece by piece?
The odd thing I've written has never been reviewed and there hasn't been feedback of any kind, (except it not being mentioned when everything else was!) so if it was me I'd be happy someone gave it the time and thought to review it, I'd welcome some crit, constructive if poss!

[The Legendary Shark]

I didnt know that was you that wrote the Flesh story either, its good stuff, I wrote to Bolt a while back asking when it was returning.

David

Cool, thanks   (What did he say?)

[M.I.K.]

Ye're all a bunch o' huffy-pantses!

Seriously, though - I'd say the main point of a review is to give a potential audience an indication of whether something is worth looking at, (in a specific reviewer's opinion), with analysis of why something does or doesn't work being secondary to that.

the guy that gets paid by Forbidden Planet to write comic reviews doesn't like it.

Does he actually get paid for it?

[locustsofdeath!]

The odd thing I've written has never been reviewed and there hasn't been feedback of any kind, (except it not being mentioned when everything else was!)

Ye're all a bunch o' huffy-pantses!

That'll teach Proudhuff to open his mouth.

[M.I.K.]

Whoops.

[Davek]

The comment that has really piqued my interest here is Daveks;

Found it difficult to read and follow in places - there were some nice bits but overall it did not inspire me to buy any more product.

I am not from the small press community so maybe I dont understand the culture/approach in comparison to regular publishers of comics?  Maybe your comic is more for comic creators to read/appreciate

In what way was it difficult to read or follow? Was it the fact the comic is episodic and you didn't know what had gone before? Or was it badly written or illustrated? Or something else?

(This isn't a witch-hunt - I'm genuinely interested in what didn't work for you. Any constructive criticism helps make future issues better)

I will get back to you with a decent response either tonight or at the weekend - I owe you that as you sent me a free copy.  I cant remember the exact reasons why I didnt dig it - can just remember the overall impression I had.  I will revisit the comic to give you more detailed feedback.  Like I said above, I totally appreciate your efforts.  Its just that I felt the comic wasnt for me.

[Proudhuff]

The odd thing I've written has never been reviewed and there hasn't been feedback of any kind, (except it not being mentioned when everything else was!)

Ye're all a bunch o' huffy-pantses!

That'll teach Proudhuff to open his mouth.

[Daveycandlish]

the guy that gets paid by Forbidden Planet to write comic reviews doesn't like it.

Does he actually get paid for it?

I don't think he does get paid for posting his opinions you know. Like us, he does it because he loves comics


Just spotted over at
http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?fSearchData[author]=PARAGON+comic&fSearchData[lang_code]=all&fSort=salesRankEver_asc&showingSubPanels=advancedSearchPanel_title_creator
that it's free P&P this weekend (until the 31st) so if you want to see what all the fuss is about, pop along and get a copy for only £2.50! That's cheap! (And the PDF version only costs 99p)

[Mardroid]

the guy that gets paid by Forbidden Planet to write comic reviews doesn't like it.

Does he actually get paid for it?

I don't think he does get paid for posting his opinions you know. Like us, he does it because he loves comics


Just spotted over at
http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?fSearchData[author]=PARAGON+comic&fSearchData[lang_code]=all&fSort=salesRankEver_asc&showingSubPanels=advancedSearchPanel_title_creator

It seems this website doesn't like those long URLs as it only allows the first part before [author] to be linkable. This means you end up in LULU but not with the correct selection. I tried to fix it by putting it within a URL tag but that didn't work either.

If you manually copy the entire thing to your browsers address bar you'll get to the Paragon products though.