Rose makes a compelling commentary on Manga Life’s review of From Eroica, With Love (originally noted by Johanna) and the non-controversey about Hulkling and Asgardian in Young Avengers.

I think there’s an important distinction to note with Manga Life, it’s a professional site, one that claims its "aim is to guide you through the masses of manga appearing on the shelves of your book store, to pick out THE essential books to own." In my mind, that requires a different critera for judging the reviews than reviews found at a personal blog or a site where fans can post their reviews. A professional review site should give its readers a good idea of what to expect in a title and help them make a preliminary judgement and Michael Deeley’s review of Eroica does little to accomplish Manga Life’s stated goal. I think the review can be characterized by the following tidbit:

Let me make this clear: This is a very gay book. Not only is Dorian gay, not only is his accountant jealous of his love for Caesar, not only is the “Eroica gang” made up of men who adore Dorian, not only does the only prominent female character disappear after the first story, but every young man looks like a woman! I’m serious! If a man doesn’t have a mustache or is over 30 years old, he has long hair, long lashes, eyeliner, and a tall, thin body. They look like women in drag! It’s a bit disconcerting. It’s also unusual, when you consider how Japanese society strictly defines the male and female gender roles. I think this was made for a young female audience. Young girls would like pretty, non-threatening men. But do they like gay men?

The answer is "Yes, some Japanese girls do, or at least they like the sort of gay men in series like From Eroica, With Love (which is a special type)." and to even ask the question throroughly undermines the review. Clearly, the Deeley is unfamiliar with the shounen-ai genre and the audience that is expected to enjoy Eroica; the result is a review that seems to be more about the reviewer’s reaction to an unfamilar genre than about the title under review. It doesn’t seem much more helpful than if an indie snob who only purchases titles from Fantagraphics were to review "Avengers Disassembled".

I’m not saying the review shouldn’t exist, it’s fine for Deeley to express his opinion. However its inclusion does question if Manga Life can fulfill its goal of being a guide "to pick out THE essential books to own."  In the end all the reader finds out is that Deeley doesn’t like shounen-ai and a little about the plot of Eroica. It’s an inappropriate review for a site with Manga Life’s mission statement.

Johanna also notes Bryan Hibbs‘ contemplation of negative reviews. Hibbs reminds me why Comix Experience is one of the Bay Area’s great stores when he writes:

First, and foremost, I usually hear it from people who say some variant of “You’re a retailer, your job is to sell.” But, here’s the thing: I don’t see my job as being that specifically limited – my job is to sell, sure, but I see that over the long run, not the short run.

It is like with Variant Covers: some retailers adore the things because “It is like getting a free $100 bill!” Which, of course, it is. But I believe that in the long run taking that $100 can cost you THOUSANDS of dollars in sales as we drive people away from the entire hobby.

In exactly the same way, my job isn’t “just to sell” – it’s to sell QUALITY MATERIAL. If I can discourage someone from buying a shitty-ass comic, then it is at least marginally more likely they’ll buy something good; something that puts the burning need to buy MORE comics within their heart.

I’ve said it before, when I read Hibbs’ write it becomes clear to me that he’s a retailer who "gets it". I find the question of if one writes mostly positive or negative reviews an interesting personality indicator. I know people who are far more likely to talk about what they hate while there are those who are far more likely to talk about what they’ve really liked. (And I find both potentially insightful.) I find myself falling into the latter category. I’m far more inclined to want to praise a book and I think my negative reviews have more about figuring out why it didn’t work for me.  Generally, though, I get a much bigger thrill from singing a good title’s praises than dwelling on another title’s failures, but that’s just a reflection on my personality type. Also, there’s a major difference between me and a retailer who writes reviews like Hibbs — I don’t have as much access to comics I don’t enjoy — if I stop liking a title I stop buying it. Meanwhile, Hibbs will continue to buy comics he doesn’t like because it’s his job to sell those titles to customers that are enjoying it.

Ah, but it’s almost the weekend, so I’ll let Don Asmussen finish this post on a light note that expresses a sentiment I’ve felt many times.