Everyone worry for Scott...

Discuss Scott McCloud's current online comic project. Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.scottmccloud.com/comics/mi/mi.html">the latest improv</a>!

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Tenzil Kem

Everyone worry for Scott...

Post by Tenzil Kem »

There are three possibilities: Scott has hit his head somehow and gotten a concussion, Scott has been abducted and an imposter has replaced him, or Scott no longer has any regard for us, his fans, and doesn't mind if our time is consumed looking at complete GARBAGE like Caution Man. What the &#@(&^?
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Re: Everyone worry for Scott...

Post by kaos_de_moria »

Tenzil Kem wrote:There are three possibilities: Scott has hit his head somehow and gotten a concussion, Scott has been abducted and an imposter has replaced him, or Scott no longer has any regard for us, his fans, and doesn't mind if our time is consumed looking at complete GARBAGE like Caution Man. What the &#@(&^?
i don't really get what you're talking about... ???

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Post by Greg Stephens »

I am making an educated guess that Tenzil's post referrs to this item which Scott posted on his blog on Friday:
Scott McCloud wrote:Caution Man. It's... kinda funny. Hard to look away at any rate.
I disagree with Tenzil that Caution Man is complete garbage (there are plenty of other webcomics that would qualify, but Miss Manners frowns on naming names). It's at least mildly amusing; the photos are generally well-composed and generally have good contrast and lighting; the word balloons are almost always correctly placed; the "actors" are into their roles enogh to convey the thoughts and emotions required in each panel. Aside from the fact that it's a silly and weird little piece of work, it's technically better done than post webcomics. As you read it, some panels are downright sublime (only makes sense in context, naturally).
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Post by William G »

Greg Stephens wrote: (there are plenty of other webcomics that would qualify, but Miss Manners frowns on naming names).
Is it me?!

It's not me is it?!

I hope it's not me!

OH GOD, WHY IS IT ME!?
Aside from the fact that it's a silly and weird little piece of work, it's technically better done than post webcomics.
Truth be told, it's grown on me. But I enjoy that which is absurd.
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Post by BuckBeaver »

I count myself a Caution Man fan...it's got a really unique vibe going. I can see how it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's a really clever - if somewhat off-beat - satire.
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Post by Ravenswood »

I agree with BuckBeaver. Caution Man is, in my opinion, hilarious, but I can see where some people would find it boring. Especially in the beginning. Going back and re-reading it today, I noticed how silly and self-involved they got. They seem to be more interested in being silly than telling a good story.

They definitely get back on track by episode three, when Technor is introduced. They actually start telling a pretty complex story at that point.

Also, like it or hate it, you've got to admit: Dr. Loud is a very unique supervillain.
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Post by Tim Mallos »

The one-panel-at-a-time presentation made it a bit tedious for me. Fun, but I got tired of click-read-click-read.

Bailed out at the end of the first episode.

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Post by Amerigo »

Well, none of us can win em' all. The criticism was a bit harsh - you can't expect EVERYTHING the man produces to be gold - Maybe simply pointing out that it's not his best would be better. After all - you like the rest of his work eh?
So Scott is human - Some of us were already aware of this and liked the majority of the work anyway.
And yes, the frame by frame thing is tedious.
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Post by Scott McCloud »

Er, Amerigo, you do know I had nothing to do with Caution Man, right?

I was just linking to it.
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Post by Amerigo »

Uh... yes... Sure I knew that... hmmm - wait...

NOW I know it... Open mouth, insert foot?

8)
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Post by William G »

Scott McCloud wrote:Er, Amerigo, you do know I had nothing to do with Caution Man, right?
Y'know Scott... A lot of the praise/ blame for the webcomics out there can be laid at you feet thanks to "Reinventing Comics"

You're sort of like the neighbourhood "Milkman" in that respect. :wink:
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Post by Rip Tanion »

Scott and Greg should use a paraphrasing the FOX NEWS slogan...

"We link. You decide."
Tim Mallos wrote:Bailed out at the end of the first episode.
I didn't even get that far. I bailed after the third panel. Life's too short to wade through crap, especially when you're stuck in the dial-up ghetto.
Amerigo wrote:NOW I know it... Open mouth, insert foot?
You should be used to the taste by now. :wink:
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Tenzil Kem

Everyone worry for Greg...

Post by Tenzil Kem »

Greg Stephens wrote:... the "actors" are into their roles enogh to convey the thoughts and emotions required in each panel.
While the qualifying quotation marks around the word "actors" is appropriate, the rest of your sentence is complete gibberish to me. I have seen grade-school students perform Thanksgiving Day plays with more sincerity and conviction than these people.

I regret starting this posting if only for the reason that I have discovered how freakish some people's tastes are.

But on a side note, I would like to thank Scott for all of the good things that he has pointed out to us (and of course I still worship you for giving us Understanding Comics and ZOT!, my favorite comic of all time).
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Re: Everyone worry for Greg...

Post by William G »

Tenzil Kem wrote:I have seen grade-school students perform Thanksgiving Day plays with more sincerity and conviction than these people.
Whaddaya fucking want? Macbeth in frames?
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Re: Everyone worry for Greg...

Post by Greg Stephens »

Tenzil Kem wrote:While the qualifying quotation marks around the word "actors" is appropriate, the rest of your sentence is complete gibberish to me. I have seen grade-school students perform Thanksgiving Day plays with more sincerity and conviction than these people.
I'm willing to believe that you've seen several grade-school Thanksgiving Day plays and that you have witnessed greater sincerity and conviction in such a performance, but the material in Caution Man is silly and bizarre and requires neither sincerity nor conviction from the participants. They may be somewhere north of William Shatner on the hamminess scale, but I think it's appropriate for the material.

I'm not actually interested in Caution Man enough to mount a more lengthy defense of it, but when I read criticisms that appear to be more hyperbole than anything else, I like to try to bring the conversation back to something a little more specific and concrete.
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Re: Everyone worry for Greg...

Post by Rip Tanion »

Greg Stephens wrote:They may be somewhere north of William Shatner on the hamminess scale
To paraphrase Larry Holmes, these guys couldn't carry the Shat Man's jock strap...or his girdle...or his toupee.
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Verm from Bwish

Post by Verm from Bwish »

Hey all. My name is Michael (or Verm) from Bwish. I was pointed to this bulletin board by somebody and discovered it was not only about Caution Man (hooray!), but bashing Caution Man (hoora--uhhh?).

For those of you who read (/like) the comic, thanks for your support! I know the Caution Crew appreciates all viewers, especially those who spread the word.

For those of you who don't read (/read and dislike) the comic, thanks for your non-support! Your constructive criticism is valuable to the Caution Man staff. Personally, they're trying to cook up a way to eliminate the click'n'read system-- a system that's a holdover to majority 56k users day, when loading 15 images at once caused boredom and occasionally cataplexy.

Thanks again, and for those of you who don't read it, I suggest giving it a chance. Having actually met Caution Man, I'll be the first to tell you that he's completely insane. But give it a chance and you may find something that tickles your fancy.

For those Caution Fans out there, keep checking for updates!

Cheers,

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Post by Greg Stephens »

Verm from Bwish wrote:... and discovered it was not only about Caution Man (hooray!), but bashing Caution Man (hoora--uhhh?).
Well, I do try to keep the level of actual bashing (or, as I like to call it, "unsubstantiated negative criticism") down to a minimum around here, but from the replies so far I'd say that there's an even split between those who enjoy Caution Man and those who don't, so please don't take it all as negativity.
Verm from Bwish wrote:Having actually met Caution Man, I'll be the first to tell you that he's completely insane.
Of that, I have very little doubt.

Thanks for dropping a note to remind us that Caution Man has feelings, too!
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Post by Rip Tanion »

Verm from Bwish wrote:Hey all. My name is Michael (or Verm) from Bwish.
Off with his head!!! :wink:
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Re: Everyone worry for Greg...

Post by Guest »

Greg Stephens wrote:...the material in Caution Man is silly and bizarre and requires neither sincerity nor conviction from the participants. They may be somewhere north of William Shatner on the hamminess scale, but I think it's appropriate for the material.

I'm not actually interested in Caution Man enough to mount a more lengthy defense of it, but when I read criticisms that appear to be more hyperbole than anything else, I like to try to bring the conversation back to something a little more specific and concrete.
I don't see how this first statement meshes with the one to which I was offering a critique. You had originally suggested that 'the "actors" are into their roles enogh to convey the thoughts and emotions required in each panel.' So does this original comment mean anything if the material (in your opinion) does not require either sincerity or conviction from the participants? Are they into it or are they not?

Plus, while I must admit that my original posting offered no thoughtful comments at all, my follow-up was offering a direct challenge to your positive review. I just wasn't aware that I needed to write an annotated thesis in order to be taken seriously. (Now that is hyperbole. My previous remark was not, for indeed I have seen better performances from grade-schoolers. These jokers have that "oh, aren't we being so funny smirk" behind every expression.)
Tenzil Kem

Post by Tenzil Kem »

Sorry, that last "Guest" reply was from me. I wasn't trying to hide my identity.
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Re: Everyone worry for Greg...

Post by Alexander D. »

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how this first statement meshes with the one to which I was offering a critique. You had originally suggested that 'the "actors" are into their roles enogh to convey the thoughts and emotions required in each panel.' So does this original comment mean anything if the material (in your opinion) does not require either sincerity or conviction from the participants? Are they into it or are they not?
I don't see where the incongruity is here. The actors are into their roles enough to give hammy, exagerated performances. That's certainly enough to convey the thoughts and emotions required for each panel, melodramatic though the performance may be. But a hammy performance hardly falls within the realm of sincerity or conviction. These require subltey, which has no place in hammy melodrama to begin with.
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Re: Everyone worry for Greg...

Post by Guest »

Alexander D. wrote:But a hammy performance hardly falls within the realm of sincerity or conviction. These require subltey, which has no place in hammy melodrama to begin with.
Okay, does no one know what "sincerity" or "conviction" mean? Since when is subtlety a requirement?
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Post by CleverUserName01 »

Greg Stephens wrote: Aside from the fact that it's a silly and weird little piece of work, it's technically better done than post webcomics. As you read it, some panels are downright sublime .
And others are equally clumsy or sloppy. How much space do you really need to devote to the grounded chili-dog, especially given the format?

Still...goofy fun, though. Dialog is funny in spots. I dig the random pedestrians and skaters in the backgrounds of some of the panels.
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