Another County Heard From...

“People who like this sort of thing will find it the sort of thing they like.”

I always enjoyed that quote, attributed to Abraham Lincoln (but at this point, who can say?) Regardless, it's a nice way to recommend something regardless of how you feel about it. In today's example, however, I believe it's a sincere recommendation from one of my favorite comics critics, Ryan Carey of Four Color Apocalypse.

Ryan's another creator like me on Patreon, who I discovered through The Comics Journal, my original point of entry into comics journalism.* Like rock critics, I find that comics critics need to have a bit of an edge, some attitude, perhaps because their chosen beat is a little bit disreputable and they need to reassure their readers that they know the score. Ryan has that edge, but he applies it judiciously, particularly when he offers a commentary on the social/political scene. But when writing about comics, I never know exactly what will tickle his fancy or trigger his wrath.

I'm pleased to report that he just weighed in on When We Were Trekkies and the verdict was positive. You can read his review here, where he says nice things about my storytelling, my evident sincerity and the overall nostalgic vibe. In short, he gets me and my intentions, and that's a gift that any artist would appreciate. Thanks, man!

I was concerned during the early days of writing the series that I might be seen as too “old fashioned” or even “corny” in my approach, but as Ryan says “if this SOUNDS like the kind of thing you'd enjoy, then you'll probably enjoy it A LOT.” Which is the best paraphrase of Honest Abe I can ask for.

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*I could write a lot about TCJ, its founder Gary Groth, and their cumulative effect on me as an artist—but suffice to say they are a singular institution and their fearless reportage and reviews have left me wondering for half a century: “What Would Gary Think?”