Here it is: my favourite letter ever! This was printed in the Navigator with regard to the BEST FRIENDS FOREVER strip. It isn't so much the complaint letter that I dig, but the Navigator's Art Director's retort is rad. I also love how they reprinted my comic - something that would never happen today due to the recent controvery about those stupid muslim-bashing cartoons. Enjoy!
Bawdy Comic Offends { Guy S
I am writing in complaint of a comic that appeared in the Volume 36, Issue 13 of the Navigator, the comic by Shaun that is at the top of the comic page. I find it appalling that a publication such as the Navigator would allow the use of such derogatory language as the word 'fag'. I found the comic offensive, and although I understand the idea was to present a derogatory word like 'fag' in an amusing manner, I doubt very much you would publish a comic with the word 'nigger' appearing in any context. Offensive language is just that: offensive. Being gay myself I find it hard enough dealing with hatred and bigotry without the school newspaper encouraging it. I find it infuriating that I have no choice but to help sponsor a newspaper (through tuition fees) that allows such hate language within its publications. Needless to say, that will be the last copy of the Navigator I pick up.
Art Director's note: In case you missed last issue, here is the comic in question again. (here, they reprinted the strip.)
The reader should notice that the use of the word 'fag' is used,comically, to paint the strange, unpleassant bunny-creature's character in a bad light. That is, the comic makes clear that it is individuals of poor moral fibre who used terms such as 'fag' in a derogatory manner. This comic makes fun of homophodia, not homosexuality. I would gladly print a comic which uses the word 'nigger' in a similar manner.
The letter I've pasted below offers general criticism of the "offensive" comics in the Gateway, but makes specific reference to Mich Mich. Keep in mind that the guy thinks zombies are funny, so it's hard to take his comments seriously.
Gateway comics offensive, not funny
This year I have been reading the Gateway pretty regularly. And so far I have usually enjoyed the articles in it (your feature for Halloween was a very well-done piece. You would be surprised how many people don't know how to defend themselves from zombies. Out of most of my friends I think I'm the only one ready for a zombie attack. They were too blinded by the conspiracy to actually prepare, so I'll have to watch out for them, but kudos to the authors of the article!)
Anyways, up until the last pages of the Gateway I think that it's a very decent newspaper. The problem comes when I reach the so-called comics section. Every single time there is at least one comic that is either gross or in very bad taste. I can provide so many examples but so far the main culprits are Mich Mich and the Blowie Show.
I haven't seen one of these comics that isn't gross or in bad taste (actually a combination of the two). A recent Blowie Show (29 November, which was in French for some odd reason) was badly translated (or used slang I have never heard of) and incredibly disturbing on very many levels. Yes, I know I'm conservative here, but this had crossed the line.
I can't see how this comic would appeal to anyone. It wouldn't be as bad if these comics hadn't consistently been this way, but every time they're printed they're disgusting. I don't mind if the comics aren't funny - the authors are students, I understand that they do not have all day to find a punchline-but if they're consistently bad would uoi please not print them. A blank spot would be better than those "comics".
Chris S Engineering II
Here's the follow-up, which also trashes Mich Mich:
You have to take the good comics with the bad for belly laughs
I feel compelled to respond to the recent criticism of the Gateway comics section (Re: "Gateway comics offensive, not funny," 10 January). Sure, even I find the occasional comic falls on the wrong side of the fine line dividing bad taste and laught-out-loud humour. I think, though, that the best Gateway comics have always walked this line (think Space Moose or Bob the Angry Flower.
It's my opinion that the occasional cringe-inducing Mich Mich is the price we have to pay for a Mike Winters gem - a fantastic bargain if you ask me. Maybe everyone could be happy if we just had more Mike Winters comics?
Matt L Medical Physics Grad Studies III
From: Glemm
Mich-Mich is teh greetest! Tuesdays and thursdays are the only good days of the week since i get new mich-mich's then. And that guys letter to the gateway was bullshit, that rape-related comic was the funniest shit ever. Anyways, theres this guy on my soccer team who looks exactly like toby, u should draw a picture of toby playing goalie. Keep the hilarity coming.
From: Mandy C
Ok, so maybe I'm sick and twisted for loving your comic strip, if so, lock me up and throw away the key, just give me a copy of Toby and Geen, keep up the good work, don't listen to any of the shit people have to say, your comics are genius! Mandy C
The following letter was sent to the Gateway's Editor in Chief by a female fan. She's talking about the CHIVALRY strip:
Hey, I’m not sure where to start, so here goes: I was wondering when sexual violence was going to stop being funny? I mean, if this was the first time that rape was the punch line of a Gateway comic, I wouldn’t be writing, as evidenced by the fact that I never have before. But, for serious, it’s not even like it’s part of the comic and then there’s a joke that’s actually funny – it’s the RAPE that is actually THE PUNCHLINE! I don’t get it. Do I need to pull in the statistics (25% of college women are raped by the time they graduate, the majority of women experience sexual violence in their lifetimes, nearly all women report curtailing their behavior because of a fear of rape). I guess in a sense, that’s not your problem. And it was just a comic and I didn’t have to read it, but if the punch line of the joke was equally racist, I doubt you would have run it. In conclusion, please stop running comics that think rape is a joke. It’s misogynist, ignorant, and lame.
m.
From: Adam WH
Hey man, I appreciate your strip. We've actually been published together a few times. I write Dildo Coffee Talk, and I find that I also have very little public support for my subversive humour. Anyways, you can always view my shiz at SITE NO LONGER EXISTS. cheers -adam
From: Mark K
Michmich is the fuckin shit. All my friends at the U of A love it. Keep it up... don't worry about all that shit people been writing to the Gateway about it being tasteless or whatever. You should do a picture of Miichmich and Een smoking a bong together. Later
From: Jordan F (He's talking about the SHOWER comic.)
the latest comic you made was fucking incredible. I haven't laughed that hard in probably a year. Where the hell did you find the inspiration to draw something that beautiful?
I frigging love getting letters. Please keep them coming!