Before we continue....
Amelius on June 12, 2007
My deepest apologies to all, but this seems to be needed. I want this off my chest and if I type it in my notes, the people who need to read it, WON'T. That, is abundantly clear. I have the next page in progress, expect that very soon. This isn't really filler, just a badly needed announcement that happens to be interrupting the story I want to tell. If people listen this time, I promise it won't happen again. Now, on to my rant.
That's right, read my notes before you put your foot in your mouth my friends. I've said it…COUNTLESS times. I mean come on, have I not been honest with you all? Was I not baring my very soul, this same time last year, over my heartbreak? I have nothing to hide from you, and why would I lie to you anyway, especially about this?
Do I have to post that truly embarrassing collage I did before DD crashed just to show you that picture of Hex's hair on another character that belonged to me, that I drew when I was 11?
I'm really frustrated that I am having this issue STILL! I mean, it's truly, really obvious that some people refuse to read these notes! I know it seems that these aren't important most of the time, but if I didn't feel that communicating with you was important for our relationship, I wouldn't write anything there at all. You're missing all the links I put up to other great comics (not to mention the crossover links, I have seen a lot of befuddled “why is this arc so weird?” comments, It's because you're missing the other half completely!) Part of the reason I'm doing these cameos is to not only thank people who have been there for me, but to show you there are other fantastic comics on this site, and you shouldn't miss out on them.
And you're missing answers to questions that I'm sure you will undoubtedly ask, and have asked I have an FAQ for that in the forum now too though) and most important of all, you're missing every instance I have typed out that I don't take being accused of style-copying as a compliment. Yes, I realize to some of you, being compared to a popular, successful comic is a compliment. But I've said it before: I'm trying to make a name for myself, not Jhonen. And please realize there are OTHER styles of art out there, other dark humored stories, other curly grins that were there before JTHM, Squee, Zim or any of his other works came to be known. He is not the progenitor of all things slightly resembling “goth”, nor did he invent dark humor, revenge, gore, even random humor (CTV is NOT a “random humor” comic anyway)
And look at what I drew here…his style is a major pain to draw! I could hardly keep it up! Why would I want to copy that? I'm NOT dissing his style, so don't get defensive. I didn't put it down last time either. I like his works but golly geez people would you listen to me for once? I can draw as many vague comparisons to Star Trek to CTV as I could to JTHM. And need I post all 300 or more Beck the Ferret pages, in their tattered horror, all done in the ‘90s, to show you that I didn’t need Jhonen's help to draw something violent and twisted involving a cute character?
And I'll repeat what I said in a recent rant too: Show me more than 2 curly-grins in all of JV's work and I'll eat my hat. Find some bloody curly capes there whilst you're at it too!
Really, I'm not trying to yell at anyone here. I just feel very hurt that some people can't take my word for something. Even when I explain myself, I get this “Maybe you were subconsciously influenced” nonsense. I believe that can happen yes, when you actually have SEEN the thing to be influenced by. But I didn't.
And I am obsessively cognizant of my art, sorry to say. I let the things I want to influence me do just that, and I am rather selective, honestly. If you ask me who influences me, I will tell you. If you say “this reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes” or “Chuck Jones” or “Dr. Suess” or what have you, I'll take that as a compliment, and it attests to your keen observation.
But “This looks like JTHM” only comes off as “JTHM is the only gothy comic I've ever read, therefore all gothy comics look the same to me” or that you love that comic so much, you're projecting that onto mine to find connections where there aren't any.
Sorry to pop your balloon, but he is not one of my influences.
He's a unique artist and I'll give him credit for doing good work, but he is just not one of the people I've found to make an impact on the way I draw or write my comic. I know other people who're sick of getting this treatment too.
To give you an idea, I'd just rather hear you say you think the comic stinks than accuse me of taking ideas from other people. At least I can be original and fail, instead of succeed at being someone else.
Just a word of advice for the future, some artists may well bite your head off if you say the same thing to them. While this does top my list of pet peeves, I hope you can see I'm not blowing up at you and yelling in anger. I'm just frustrated.
(And it's giving me Freudian nightmares so cut it out!)
Xerosomes at 4:17PM, June 13, 2007
O.o *eye twitch* how can they mistake it? 5 3 |? 1 0 (_) 5 1 _\/ Pesky y's my ultimate 1337 enemy
Kioushan at 4:16PM, June 13, 2007
Well... I don't want to flame anyone... but even if you do think something is copied, it's really best to keep it to yourself. Unless you're absolutely certain it's copied. Like the script is word for word the same. Then you can go ahead and say it.
BluePhoenix at 3:54PM, June 13, 2007
I felt the need to make a just as stupid comparison...but someone beat me to it.
Wic at 3:39PM, June 13, 2007
I think we can file this stupid comparison between JTHM and CTV under John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory: Normal person + anonymity + audience = total fuckwad.
Zolah at 3:03PM, June 13, 2007
I know youre frustrated Amy, but I must say that i prefer your regular updates - I am too tored of the comparison but i dont know what did this to add anything to the story. I may sound a bit mean but it is what i think. - awaits the next update hopefully JTHM less -
kavonn at 3:01PM, June 13, 2007
I had no idea what JTHM was before this...
Jimeth at 2:51PM, June 13, 2007
...is it okay if I liked this page more than the storyline ones?
darkhamsterlord at 2:42PM, June 13, 2007
Comparing CTV to JTHM is like comparing the Mona Lisa to a stick man. Not even a good stick man, one with wiggly, crooked lines, and a lumpy head. CTV is awesome. JTHM is okay, but not really that great.. Also, I think Wolfer was joking..
emjee at 2:17PM, June 13, 2007
@ Elleestmort: THats because Jhonen created Invader Zim too.
emjee at 2:14PM, June 13, 2007
There is a HUGE difference in your art and his. And your characters all have extremely different personalities and traits than Jhonen's characters. In fact, many of his characters are morbid and on the extreme side. I like his stuff, but ....ya, thassit. But there is nothing in that rant that I disagree with.
Warlord at 2:13PM, June 13, 2007
that doesnt look anything like your style and please for the love of all that is wierd stay with your style
Warlord at 2:12PM, June 13, 2007
that doesnt look anything like your style and please for the love of all that is wierd stay with your style
angel of music at 1:55PM, June 13, 2007
I never heard of JTHM untill I started reading this and read the authors note. I don't know why people @$&#^$ think it's copied, it's totally different. Don't worry, soon enough someone's gonna say that I copied the whole alp idea from you. Yes I heard about them from you, and mentioned it, but I did the reserch all on my own and thought that one would be a great main character. Amaranthine was though up last summer. And also, pretty much everyone in all my classes think your drawings rock. I printed some out so I could draw fanart while I was at school. It's lotsa fun explaining that Kavonn is indeed NOT crying. I tell em you drew them, of course.
Sea_Cow at 1:52PM, June 13, 2007
Oh crap, I'm doomed. I didn't think it was COPIED, just possibly inspired. It's just that the old Hex looked sort of like a midget Johnny. No offense. Please don't kill me.
John the guard at 1:27PM, June 13, 2007
your work is totally different i have NEVER seen anything like it and if people are jealous saying your copying someone elses well they can F$c#k themselves and then keep talking because i am not listening i am reading and listening to YOU and YOUR comic
mylittleworldX3 at 1:16PM, June 13, 2007
i never thought it to be JTHM....i always thought it was a style i could never achieve.TT.TT i love your style.....why can't i draw as good as you?!?!?! anywho! if you WERE to draw JTHM you'd do pretty good! i guess i can just say this is funny!X3 i love your comic!
newgirlcomic at 1:00PM, June 13, 2007
i find your comic actually to be original myself. both your comic and speech speak the truth about how people can just be naive. I absolutely loved the transmogrifier sneak. very classy :P
Hijuda at 12:34PM, June 13, 2007
Damn you, Traidon.
Hijuda at 12:34PM, June 13, 2007
@Kisu- He's referring to the old saying 'The pot calling the kettle black'. It's basically used to call people out on hypocrisy (i.e. saying someone looks ridiculous when you look just as stupid). I don't really know what the statement itself means, though...
Traidon at 12:33PM, June 13, 2007
The pots and kettles thing is a refrenenc to the pot calling the kettle black. Cause both a Kettle and a Pot are black.
peron at 12:21PM, June 13, 2007
WOW! I finally Caught up! It took me About a month of steady reading. Your art it amazing! I Can't draw so I stand in awe of realy good artists! Anyway I never heard of this guy. Does he not use color????? I don't think I would like his style at all. It would drive my eyeballs insane. Who is critisising U? I don't see any in the comments. Maybee I'll check the Forum. How do I get the stupid Pofile pic to Upload??
kisugerpi at 12:17PM, June 13, 2007
I dont get one thing why is Hex saying pots and kettles, dude in the 14th pannel ?? O.O me no get ?! :S
Diamond Man at 12:11PM, June 13, 2007
For some reason I thought Sesame Street would be cooler if it had tons of blood,gore,guns, and Arnold Schwarzenegger!
Diamond Man at 12:04PM, June 13, 2007
Ok... A bunch of that stuff I couldn't understand! Stop confusing me!!!
Top Hat at 11:36AM, June 13, 2007
Your art looks like JTHM? Whoever thought that must have been squinting their eyes or was blind. IDIOTS!