#it makes a lot more comics tolerable and insufferable!! im going ‘he wouldn't say that’ more

[martyrbat]

head hurt so this may make very little sense but i think its just being exposed to comics that are wonderful in every way—a compelling story, a steady progression, delightful art, terrific characterization, etc etc... but also getting the flip side of that and dragging myself through comics that make me want to throw my phone at a wall. from horrible or disgusting writing and god awful creators to art that just isn't my taste to mischaracterization that's infuriating.

but those are just the two extremities and the majority of comics don't fit in either!! its unfair to act like they do!! so the more you read, the more mundane or average comics you come across. and those are so fun to sit and think about. what did i like? what did i dislike? why? what do i prioritize in a comic and did this deliver/disappoint? what potential did this comic have? what would i do different?

my taste and preference in comics has shifted so much the more i read. everyone likes a spectacular event but i also really adore the smaller, contained stories as well that's usually wrapped up in 1–4 issues and exist independently. i can appreciate some writers runs more after seeing others that i disliked more. art styles that i used to hate is more endearing or at least tolerable because it plays a factor in the visual storytelling and how a tone portrays and i find that really interesting

so my standards lowered in what i will deem as bad. ive seen worse writing and can recognize if something is just boring or something i disagree with but is ultimately harmless. its easier to take what you enjoy out of it or the concept's potential and find different things to appreciate or at least have some admiration/respect for. so it makes my tolerance for objectively bad comics higher than it should be.

but also!! my standards have lifted because i know what a comic is capable of. i seen it and experienced it. from the strong emotional response it brings to how the stories can stick with you for years to just delight i felt reading it. i appreciate and love the medium as a whole a lot more and i can recognize what comics i put on a pedestal and can dissect it to see what makes me love it so much (and then apply that to how i feel about other comics and how they didnt live up to that same level of quality)

by having more ehhh comic experience it makes it easier to form an appropriate opinion on the comic i read because i have more examples to pull from. its unfair to compare it to the best of the best or the worst of the worst. it had some things i liked and it had things i downright hated but overall? its fine. my tolerance for bad or mediocre comics may be higher but my pedestal amd standards for a GREAT! comic is also higher because i have a more firm understanding of what i do and dont want :3

ngl i think my standards are simultaneously raised and lowered with each comic i read