There Goes The Neighborhood
If you're a regular reader 'round these parts you've no doubt heard me proclaim the greatness that is Comic Foundry magazine. it's a well rounded magazine that is as much about superheros and tights as it is about Manga and indie books. The new issue will be out in June and while I'm still excited about it, the cover story is definitely NOT the reason I am.
Why an interview with G4's Blair Butler is a good thing is beyond me. She is the most boring and awkward personality on the network and it pains me to see her get all the comic related presentations. She's as wooden as Johnny is a homicidal maniac and she just sucks the life out of every interview she conducts.
While I'll be gladly waiting for the issue to arrive in my mailbox this June, i will most definitely be skipping that particular article.
Goblin
Posted to Other on 9 May 2008
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: Comic Foundry, G4
Frater Mine by Sean McGrath and Juan Romera
you forgot "and she doesn't know a damn thing about comic books"
/vomir
That was incredibly bitter for some reason. I, for one, have always enjoyed Blair Butler. Admittedly, she isn't a perfect reviewer, but no one is, and she still gets the job done better than a bucketful of other reviewers. Heck, she is what helped me find some decent comic books about a year and a half ago when I became excited with comics after reading Watchmen for the first time (cliche, I know >.>). Why all the hatin'?
why all the hatin'?
http://www.pinkkryptonite.com/2008/04/bendiss_g4_invasion.html
For just one example.
So she isn't the best interviewer? I don't see how that's relevant. The vast majority of her work has nothing to do with interviews. Aside from this (where she wasn't really completely herself anyway, for whatever reason) I find her engaging. She actually reminds me of a friend I go out to lunch with often. If she's not your favorite chocolate in the box, that's fine, but I don't really think she deserves such a bitchy article being written about her. She serves her purpose of being a decent, qualified reviewer on a popular television network, and heck, at least it's not some people on the network (*cough* Kristin *cough* Holt) who obviously haven't picked up a controller, comic book, or sci-fi dvd their entire life.
Well, the main defense I have is that anyone who willingly puts themselves on national television opens themselves up for criticism, be it positive or otherwise.
Secondly, I'm not impugning her four color knowledge. I'm all for G4 having a comics-specific personality (both because I enjoy the medium (duh) and also because it fits in with their demographic), but my problem is with Blair's delivery. She's very wooden and stodgy in front of the camera. If this was a high school production, then fine. But she's a professional working on a nationally televised network. I'm sorry expect more from television.
It's not like I was insulting her on a personal level. I was not saying she's unattractive or unintelligent or anything of the sort. I simply said that I don't feel she has the on-camera chops to be doing what she's doing. I don't know if she's like that in real life or it's the camera that brings it out in her, but the fact remains that as an interviewer/correspondent for a semi-major network she is not what I think they should be using.
I also fail to see how the article was being bitchy. Believe me, I've been known to let loose with the venomous words at people who may not have been the most deserving, but I don't see this as such. I spoke of only one aspect of her - the one that pertains both to this article in particular and to Pink Kryptonite as a whole. If I wanted to be bitchy I would start saying things like she's ugly, has bad hair, is a slut, etc. I don't believe any of those things which is why they were not included in the article, merely her presentation skills as seen on camera.
Ah, well, it's fine that you don't like her presentation then (I personally don't mind at all, though I personally listen to the Fresh Ink podcast more than I watch the show), but then you have to recognize the fact that the magazine isn't focusing on her because she is a great journalist, but because a lot of people enjoy and trust her opinion on comics. In that context, I don't see a reason why they wouldn't interview her. As far as magazines go, it's a smart move. Many Blair Butler fans will probably pick up the magazine for the first time because she is on the cover.
Also, as for her speaking, that only started after an extensive career in writing (she did X-Play, back in the days when it was still able to make me laugh) directing, and producing. Considering all this, I think her skills as a speaker (which I personally have no problem with) should be forgivable. You can't be perfect at everything.