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Well, Bliss has officially received its first negative feedback. And I mean ever, because this book has been out for two years and I've heard nothing but good things. I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, that's just how it's been.

What has basically happened is that my little brother took the Bliss one-shot and turned it into a .cbr file (the file format of choice for leeches who bootleg from the comic community) and put it up on some bit torrent sites. As I've heard it, hundreds of people have downloaded the file (only Demonoid members are privy to such information, and I am not a member), and this is the only feedback anyone has left.

I'd like to send the guy a polite message asking him to come here and perhaps share his views in a more dignified and literate manner, but since registration is closed, I am unable to do so. Is there anyone here who is a member of Demonoid who could do this? Granted, I don't expect someone like this to actually come to the posting board where he'll actually have to make intelligent critical comments and confront the author of the work and/or fans of it (guys who post messages like this generally enjoy hiding behind the anonymity that posting online provides), but I'd like to at least make the offer.

I'd also like to correct a few factual errors in his comments, such as the fact that, if he could count, he would see that I'm only credited 7 times in the credits he provided ("presenting" and "created by" credits don't count, and he invented one of the credits himself, which I'm sure he thinks is ever so clever). I'm also credited 13 more times on the inside front cover of the book, which Kellen sadly didn't include. I still doubt he'll ever get the joke (the guy doesn't seem to have much of a sense of humor), but it'd be nice to at least have that corrected information on the Demonoid site (not that I seem to necessarily need it, since as Kellen tells me, the download rate for Bliss shot up after this guy posted this "review"). It could also be pointed out that the "masturbatory summary" was indeed written by the author, because it wasn't the author who posted the comic on that site, it was someone else, and that someone else just copy and pasted the description from our online store (so it's really more of an advertisement blurb than a true "plot summary"), and the comments contained therein about the quality of the book are nothing but actual feedback I've gotten from readers.

Granted, not everyone has to love the book (and I fully realize there are people out there, like this guy and a number of others I've met at shows, who simply don't "get it"). But, this being the first harsh criticism I've ever received for Bliss, I'd at least like to make the above mentioned corrections on Demonoid and invite the writer here to perhaps offer some constructive feedback (as it says in the "rules" section of the the board, I'm all for critiques of my work, good and bad, but "you suck" is not a helpful piece of advice).

Plus, somebody posting this in the comments section on Demonoid would put our posting board and web addresses out there and maybe draw some people in.

Check this out: Dictionary.com's definition of ponce

If you go by the first definition, techincally, this guy called you a pimp. And you would be bordering twat because pimps are constantly surrounded by it. Hey-oh!!!

Well, given that the review actually had nothing to do with the book except for the last sentence that was the most generic and non-constructive criticism possible. Basically he was complaining that you put your name in the credits because you did actually do everything.

That's fine and I'm pretty sure that the guys ACTUALLY got plenty of :masturbatory aids: himself, namely that seatless bike he likes to ride down rough roads.

*shrug*

I did find it kind of odd that he had a penchant for frequent use of the word "masturbatory."

I wouldn't take the rantings of some kid on some torrent site too seriously. He's just another jackass using the anonymity of the internet to lash out at the world because his mother didn't hold him enough as a baby or some such nonsense.

True, it's his review (if you can really call that a review), and he has the right to his own opinion of things, but people tend to take a review more seriously if you, ya' know, actually review the whole book, not just the one page where the credits happen to be (I personally found it pretty funny that you credited yourself for everything, and thought it worked with the spirit of the story, but to each his own, I guess).

I do find it rather amusing, though, that the download rate went up after he posted that review. I guess it's true, any publicity is good publicity.

I think that dude is just a little bit jealous that he doesn't have his own comic book company. And besides did he get Greg Horn or Reggie Hansome to write/draw on any of his comic books...all signs point to NO. Ignore the ignorant, and keep on keeping on. (I heard that some where. I think it was the Simpsons or Stuck on you). I love the work you guys are doing and isn't really the fans opinions that matter?