In Defense of Scott Kurtz

[Al-Azif]

Hey, folks. I just thought I'd stick my head in here and offer some relevant information regarding the recent Scott Kurtz (PvP) vs. Tauhid Bondia (Spells and Whistles) fiasco. I would have added to the original topic but that thread has been locked, and I still think this information is fairly relevant.

I rarely post here anymore and I only became aware of this subject because I happened to be visiting my girlfriend (Hi, Mer!) at the time when it was going down and playing out. I hope to not rile anyone up and keep this more level-headed than what I've seen in the locked thread.

I know it's easy to go after and villify Scott Kurtz since he's perceived as one of the "big dogs," but that's a simplistic knee-jerk reaction and it's definitely worth defending him in this case. Having read PvP extensively and having seen Spells and Whistles before the latest revisions, I'd have to say the character similarities are (were) unmistakably there. Of course, that's just my opinion; but that opinion is that the resemblance between certain characters was immediately notable and went a bit a few steps beyond "homage" or similarties in drawing style.

I don't wish to bash Mr. Bondia, either, but how many of you are aware that he also semi-recently got into copyright trouble with Squidi of A Modest Destiny? Squidi is another commonly reviled figure in the webcomics community and I don't need to rehash all the details of the incident; however, the result of that situation is that after another public and private spat, Mr. Bondia offered an apology and removed the offending material.

In my opinion (and I do seem to be offering my opinion an awful lot here), Mr. Bondia is a very talented artist. Anyone who visits his gallery can see that for himself. Unfortunately, he has had a couple of scrapes with copyright infringement, so I think that needs to be taken into account before everyone joins the dogpile on Mr. Kurtz, who has, in all fairness and even his harshest critic must agree, behaved like a perfect gentlemen throughout this entire affair.

Respectfully yours,
--Nick

[edit] Fixed a few typos and grammatical mistakes a couple of times. I was typing too quickly and didn't proofread.

[Van Douchebag]

...or that Squidi and Kurtz are both pricks with bad judgement skills in the eyes of most people in the webcomic world. Either or, y'know.

[josh l.]

For Christ's sake, shut up, Van.

[gwalla]

Hey, Nick! Long time no see!

Really, there's only a couple of people who keep attacking Kurtz here, doing their damnedest to stir up some enmity between the Keeners and Kurtz again. I can't imagine what they hope to accomplish by it.

[scrubbo]

Also, every time I see that icon I keep thinking it's a cat girl who has eyes on her boobs.

And I'm not even high!

[Syke]

If you'll notice... no Keenspot artist has attacked him, as far as I can see. I came around on my opinion of him from Carson saying good things about him a looong time ago. Saw him at a convention several months ago, he didn't have fangs or hair growing out of weird places, so no problems.

[-PDI-]

I think Dammie said the most important thing:

Both parties have stated that it is (now) an issue just bewteen the two of them.

It is therefore not doing Scott any favors to villify Tauhid, and it's not doing Tauhid any favors to villify Scott.

Let them be adults and work it out between them, in whatever manner seems fittest for them, and stop trying to judge in the couyrt of public opinion, especially as none of us has the whole story.

[carsonfire]

Glad to see some balance in here. I'm tempted to lock this thread, too, in order to keep *it* from becoming another flamefest, but let me just ask everybody to keep everything calm and reasoned. There's no reason why there can't be a sensible conversation about legal issues that any one of us could one day be involved in ourselves.

I will lock this thread, though, if there's any more name-calling/taunts/etc.

And btw, HI NICK! Hope everything's going well.

[Van Douchebag]

For Christ's sake, shut up, Van.

Why?

[David_McGuire]

For Christ's sake, shut up, Van.

Why?

Because YOU'RE acting like a prick now.

[Van Douchebag]

*blink*
Do you think I'd name myself Van Douchebag and not consider myself a prick?

I mean, the slur version of douchebag essentially means "asshole", "jerk", "dick" or "prick".

[Dave Kelly]

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UUUUUUP

[josh l.]

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT PUPPIES NOW.


AWWW...


AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

[Kiwi]

Sigh.



Thanks for trying at least, Nick. =(

[Syke]

AHHH!!! I love Daschunds!! I used to have one!

[carsonfire]

Don't feel bad, Kiwi.



I think it's encouraging to see the overwhelming majority of posters playing nice.

*has a Rodney King moment* I blame the internet... some of this half-anonymity makes it too easy to paint each other as heroes and villains. I've known a family that was stealing cable... while I believe that was wrong, I wouldn't curse at the parents and spit on the children and slash their tires just out of disapproval. But that's kind of what a lot of people do with these little web "controversies". Can't we *sniff* all just get along?

Or at least post some more puppies until the hurt is all gone.

[Van Douchebag]

Well, I just think it's dumb that people are more concerned about sueing others than working on their own comic, or winning awards, or getting Spotted.
When someone comes out with something like a lawsuit against another when it's really groundless I just feel the need to reach out and bitch slap someone.

[carsonfire]

Shh! Puppies, VD. Puppies.

No, seriously, Neil Gaiman recently had to sue Todd McFarlane over the character Angela and a few other matters. Surely your objection can't be that a cartoonist should never be involved in suing people just as a matter of form. Sometimes it happens.

I would never presume to judge the Gaiman/McFarlane case from just what little I've gleaned from the internet... I've heard enough to form a superficial opinion, though. I believe that McFarlane was in the wrong. But I don't have to call McFarlane a dick and act as if he's satan incarnate, even though his actions may have been far worse than Scott Kurtz's or that of the cartoonist that he's seeking action against. McFarlane may have screwed up, but he has a family, is responsible for comics that people enjoy, and has a fine line of toys (some of which I own)... and he probably would still be a good guy to meet just on a personal level and have lunch with.

Just keep some perspective on this. Oh, and don't get carried away with the persona thing. In fact, you might think about developing an alternative persona for situations like this. A more puppy friendly persona.

[Syke]

Getting spotted is part of my plan for world domin-... erm... wait.. already done... *Checks off box on list.* Ok, now for that award,.. . (Eeee.. I've actually got some nominations in one of awards things!)

Personally, I root for Gaiman on anything he does. I'm not a Mcfarlane fan AT all and I'm not technically a comic book fan to begin with. I'm married to one. *My closet is stacked two rows X two rows X two rows of those HUGE comic book boxes... grrrrrrrrrrr. and that's just ONE closet.*

Does anyone have a basset hound that likes to eat comic books they could lend me? My husband LOVES basset hounds, muwahahaha.

[Van Douchebag]

Actually, I'm with McFarlane on his case.

Gaimen was obviously out to screw over Todd because he took the characters he made for the Spawn exclusive universe, but did diddly squat about his own Miracleman.

It's retarded that you create integral characters so early on and then rip them off when you have a feud.
It's like playing as little children when you all bought pieces to a toyset that combined puts it together. It's unfair that one for his own reasons decides to walk and take his piece with him. That's what I think Image's biggest blunder is having total creator rights, and no rights to protect comic universes and continuity.

[Kiwi]

VD, I don't think Carson was trying to raise debate about who's right in the Gaiman/McFarlane case. Rather that opinion does not require inappropriate personal adjectives (like "dumb" and "retarded") to be stated. Especially when, as Scix said, none of us really know the full story.

I think something like this SHOULD be open to discussion, if only because the issue on copyrights is highly controversial and debateable. But name-calling should be kept on the school yard.

[scrubbo]

But name-calling should be kept on the school yard.

You talk like such a 'mo sometimes.

[Kiwi]

BURN!!!

[BoxJam]

If you'll notice... no Keenspot artist has attacked him, as far as I can see.

Oh, hell, I'll attack him. What is the webcomic community without infighting?

Kurtz is a bloodsucking misogynist spooge-covered unregistered animagus incontinent effluvious jagoff who must be stopped.

Plus, he's in league with Joey Manley, Keenspot's other sworn enemy, also a known jagoff who eats babies and is secretly planning on voting for Ralph Nader.

It's time to choose, people. There are evil comics and there are good comics. You can read Keenspot comics, or read other comics, but not both.

[Kurtz]

Kurtz is a bloodsucking misogynist spooge-covered unregistered animagus incontinent effluvious jagoff who must be stopped.

I am NOT misogynistic!