Show some respect.

Right now I should be inking away to put the can on HQ#6 but I have got to get this off my chest. 

In the last couple of weeks I have seen two articles (one on a blog and one on CBR) by women critiquing art drawn by male artists. The backlash they are getting for simply expressing their opinion is disappointing to me. While both articles were awkwardly written, the theme of these pieces are basically: “I don't have the mentality of a 13 year old boy; this artwork does nothing for me”. For some odd reason males my age and profession feel like this warrants their immediate and overblown retaliation. Their outbursts on social media then trickle down to their fans/followers, and pretty soon it’s a full blown doggy pile, complete with anonymous internet trolls threatening rape. Enough. 

So here’s my plea to my fellow male artists: Please act like a professional. 50% of your potential readership/patronage is sending you a message: Use decorum. Women want something that represents them better. They aren’t asking you to re-invent the wheel, but maybe stop putting gigantic tits on characters that are supposed to be young girls, or put some armor on that female fantasy character that is more than a bra. It’s a valid critique, just as valid as any that we would get from from an editor. If you feel compelled to reply to such critiques, do so in a polite and intelligent manner. If you can’t manage that, be man enough to walk away without whipping sycophants into a hate mob. 

I know what you are thinking: “but Chad, you are an artist on a book that has a female character who is basically running around in her underwear,” That’s true, but I own it. I’m also known to tear into people online, usually after a day or so of acting the fool I come to my senses. When I cross the line I apologize.  I’m not excluding myself from this critique, but I try to listen, be respectful, and open to change. 

That is all. 

-Chad.