Ok, I really didn't think that what i posted earlier would have the reaction it did, but I'm glad it did.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone should be heard. But I HAD to disable my comments, it was just getting out of control.

Everyone had valid points to the argument about the statue. I think I was wrong to say in my previous blog that anyone who is offended is wrong. You're not. But you also have to see the other side of it that not everyone is. From what I could tell, it went all over the place. Some were offended, some weren't, others could give a rats ass either way.

My main objective in the previous post was to defend the artwork. Adam is a good man. He is a gracious man and is someone who respects women a great deal. I realize I said this in my previous post, but I'm making this point again.

The industry we're in is full of all kinds of people and you'll never find a more genuine, kinder person then he. Someone pointed out that no one was knocking Adam, but he designed it. For those wanting to see the piece in question:



There is a playfulness to the art that doesn't come across IMHO on the statue.

I can see through the previous comments why folks were offended and I hope that people can also understand why people weren't offended. If you're a comic fan and you're tired of this stuff, you don't have to buy it. If you like this kind of stuff, you shouldn't be ashamed to enjoy it.

Art is objective. People see what they want to see. For good or for bad. I personally think this piece of art is wonderful. I like the statue and I HOPE I manage to get one being I'm on the wait list.

After I closed the comments on my personal blog, I also had it posted in the Comic Creators LJ group. I received a message from devildoll, I would like to share it with you and I am directly quoting her:

Someone pointed out to me that you posted this same exact rant in your own journal, stating that "I do this because everyone who HAS posted something about how offended they are by it...blocks people who have an opposite view."

What I find funny about that statement is that you've turned the comments off on your post.

I've been over here for a week now, being subjected to increasingly hostile insults, taunts, name-calling, death threats...you name it, someone's done it. And yet the comments remain open on *this* post, for anyone who cares to have their say. Hell, even the trolls get at least one comment in before I ban them.

You, who apparently feel so strongly about giving the other side a chance to speak, have disallowed comments on *your* post.

So, if you're wondering where your balls have gone, sir, the most obvious answer is that I have them.

THIS is exactly why I closed the comments. There is absolutely NO reason for this. No excuse. I am apparently a troll with no balls because while I enjoy a healthy discussion and a heated one is fine until it resorts to name calling and insults. There is no reason for name calling. It doesn't do anything for you or your cause. And the fact is, I know exactly where my balls are, they're in my wife's purse next to the MAC compact.

While I may have overreacted a bit and seemed forceful in laying my beliefs down to everyone. At no point did I say "YOU MUST AGREE WITH ME!"  I may not like what you have to say, but I'll listen to it.

Someone also pointed out that my anger should be more directed at the media and not the bloggers. But the fact is, if it wasn't for these news outlets having 18 year old interns search the net all day for a blogger complaining about something like this, this would never have hit the news. It also likely has a lot to do with an intern being told to find anything being said about "Spider-Man" because of the box office and this popped up.

I think the news should be more concerned with a President that wipes his ass with the Constitution on a daily basis then with a piece of artwork that is clearly meant to be a funny take on MJ finding Peter's costume in the basket. We have some much other shit going on in the world and THIS is news?

I would also like to point out that some folks have posted that I do not know what supermodels look like. Well, I actually do. I've seen a few up close and I can also say that there is a big difference between say a model for Ralph Lauren or Vera Wang and a model for Victoria's Secret. MJ would be the VS model.

I also want to point out had she been portrayed as waive thin, someone would be complaining about how she's too skinny and she's promoting unhealthy stereotypes in women. At least the MJ in the statue/art is healthy. She looks like the dozens of women you see in a gym. And she's not wearing anything out of the ordinary... especially for NYC. She's wearing a Babydoll Tee and Jeans. My wife walks around the house in the same thing 80% of the time. The fact that she is Barefoot was brought up also... My wife also walks around barefoot. As for the laundry issue... this one KILLS me...

I do my wife's laundry as much as she does mine. I'm sure those of you who have a signifigant other do the same. I do 95% of the cooking in the house and a good 60% of the house cleaning. Maybe it's me but does that sound like I'm a sexist pig?

I draw comics and comic related materials, but does that mean I don't love and respect my wife? Does it mean I don't love and respect my Mom? My Sister? All of my Aunts, Cousins and my niece?  Just because I draw women the way I do, just because Adam Hughes and Jim Lee (not that I'm even in their league) draw women the way they do, does this mean they don't respect women?

Why isn't anyone upset with Olivia? She's the QUEEN of Cheesecake. Because she's a women? Kind of a double standard don't you think? It's ok cause she has the girl parts but when a man does it it's vulgar? It's not the way it is folks.

As a follow-up, devildoll has responded to me. I won't quote her, but I will say she was much nicer the second time around. I'm still upset about how my friends artwork has been interpreted in the media, but what can I do... I'm just an artist defending another artist and would do the same thing for any artist.

I think it's ok to be not ok with this art, but you don't have to look at it or buy it. But be grateful we live someplace that it's ok for those of us who do like it can buy it.


I WILL allow comments on this blog post so long as they stay civil and healthy... the second someone starts flaming I will disable them.