Letters

To contact Jake: jake@plightsite.com.......... To contact Tony: crimsonpug@comcast.net

May 30th, 2009

Jake,

I must disagree with your interpretation of “Puff the Magic Dragon” given many examples on the contrary to dismiss the urban legend.  Peter Yarrow frequently stated “Puff” is about the hardships of growing older and has no relationship to drug-taking be it Jackie Paper referring to rolling paper, dragon meant in the phonics sense of ‘dragging’, or the act of inhaling smoke (i.e. ‘puff’).  Furthermore, one need only listen closer to the lyrics to realize Jackie Paper outgrew visiting his friend in a far-away land to venture out as an adult.  As for the recent children’s novella, the ending was slightly changed with a little girl (presumed to be Jackie Paper’s daughter) seeking out Puff to become her new companion in hopes of giving the tale a happier ending.  I realize this legend is widely accepted in the public but nevertheless, it is false.
        
Kai Noveck

Thank you for the e-mail, Kai. I was unaware the ending to the children's book was changed so I've corrected that. However, I'm still not convinced the song is innocent with just a happy coincidence to drug usage. No offense but your 'many examples' you listed off only came from one source: Peter Yarrow. If I'm not mistaken (because I did a little research of my own), it turns out he wrote the song based on a poem written by Leonard Lipton when both of them were roomates at Cornell University. Are you seriously telling me two college students in the 60's were just sitting around their dorm room substance-free coming up with stories of little boys riding on dragons? With how big drugs were back then, are you telling me Yarrow had no idea his song could easily be misconstrued like that? Furthermore, what lyricist in their right mind would ever step forward and admit a song that has become a staple in children's music worldwide is really about smoking weed? And rather than persuade me, you brought up another example (dragon = dragging) that hadn't even occured to me.
Perhaps you're right and Yarrow only set out to write about the loss of childhood over time. I admit I could be wrong here, but to be honest, I don't see any solid facts that are causing me to go down that road. Please feel free to reply back because while I disagree, I have nothing but respect on your viewpoint and appreciate you taking the time to bring this to our attention. Thanks!

Did you hear 3D Realms shut down yesterday? I can't believe after working on one game for a decade they shut down. Years and years and years of anticipating one game and it'll never come out. Gee, if 3D Realms did comics, they'd be called Plightsite. - Poppin' Fresh Croe

That was a low blow, brotha. More fair than I'd care to admit, but still: Low. Blow.
For those who don't understand, 3D Realms is a videogame company that has been working on a title named "Duke Nukem Forever" for, well, forever. The problem is they kept working on the game for so long on one console (like the Sony Playstation) that eventually the next generation of consoles (like the Playstation 2) came out in the meantime that they decided to scrap their work and build it for the current generation of machines. Well, the next thing they know the technology they were using became outdated so they'd start over again. And then the next consoles of machines (like the Playstation 3) came out so they'd start over again. And so on and so forth until just last month they ran out of money and were forced to close their doors.
Croe, I realize we don't have any new pictures of debut right now but unlike 3D Realms, we're still here! So your analogy is flawed. Haw!
All joking aside though, I get your message loud and clear. It really does play as a cautionary tale for this website, doesn't it? Man... I've got to get my butt in gear.

Jake, Please make a picture of Plight in a M and M (blue one). Thanks! Plighsite rocks. - Kaitlin P.S. Don't e-mail back; just call for questions or concerns

Hey, Katie! Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I think I can handle that. Hopefully this is what you had in mind. Oh, and trust me; you rock more!

You don't update your page too much with viewer e-mails so I figure I'd send a hard hitting questions your way.  If Aayla Secura went to your high school, what would you put on her mix-tape?

Steven Moore

First of all, thanks for sending perhaps the weirdet question I've had sent to me, Steven. It's wrong on so many levels but to answer it seriously, I know Aayla's species dig the music from the Max Rebo band. I'd definately throw in the tune they're most famous for: "Lapti Nek". Other than that, I'd add some Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes (before they sold out), Jet Screamer's "Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah", the Super Mario Brothers theme song, and top it off with some Barry White, 'cause baby... love is universal when it's just between you. And me. And we've got it going on.
And that's the last time I answer a question about creating a mix tape for a fictional character. Thanks for the inquiry, Steven.

February 18th, 2009
You should have the Spandexic Four battle the Sinister Occult of Sweden. - George Earley

Short, sweet, and to the point. Thanks George! Unfortunately both groups are just jokes we used for the Summer Blockbuster Gallery. Neither one of them are actually part of Plight cannon. However in this day and age of "Freddie Vs. Jason", "Aliens Vs. Predator" and "Gator Vs. Mosquito", I wouldn't say it'd be impossible for a "Fantastic Four: The Wraith of ABBA" flick; just very unlikely. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Jake, With such emphasis on the female form in explotation (which I feel neither for nor against), I do take stock in your lack of defining and improving the male characters of your cast. They have very feminine characterists where it appears you've placed a male's head on an undeveloped young woman's body. Some of us wouldn't mind to see some decent male eye candy in your work. I for one would appreciate it. Continue to strive for improvement. - Barb Rennco

Thanks for your honest critism, Barb. That is something I can't disagree with you about. My males aren't as developed as I'd like when it comes to muscle and tone. I've tried to make a conscious effort to 'beef them up' and add differences such as giving them square jaws as opposed to the women I draw mostly having pointed ones. But it all comes down to me improving on my anatomy. Males don't have slender hips so I should stop drawing them like that. I'll keep working on it. Thanks!
And speaking of art critiques, I also received this jpeg from Cartelli7.

What can I say except I agree with every point you've made, Cartelli7. I'm happy to say when it comes to the lips, that is something I have gotten much better with. My arms are starting to be more defined too. But nevertheless, I see exactly where you're coming from and appreciate you taking the time to send me this. Honest critiques like this always help me out.
And for our last e-mail today, we have a comment based on a similar theme....

Forget bullets bouncing off Superman's eyes... Kari's breasts can withstand scorching hot coffee spilling on them! HAWT!! - Poppin' Fresh Croe
(P.S. Any chance we can see the whole picture?)

Thanks for pointing that out, Poppin. As funny as it looks, she's not spilling coffee on her; it's just the steam coming out of the mug. Looking back on it now, I probably should have drawn the mug more straight. But no, she's not having an accident and I'm afraid there isn't more to that picture than what's shown. If I did, and given how her robe is opened up, chances are the coffee mug would grab the least of your attention. But maybe I shouldn't encourage you like that!

October 31st, 2007

I've got some choice questions for your letter column that I'll await answers for:

1. If the last two Pirate pictures are supposed to recreate the first one why isn't the man with the beard not wearing the gold wristwatch Tony drew?

2. Why is every character in your 28 Weeks Later picture missing their left arms?

3. How can you play fantasy casting and not see Taylor Kitsch as Erik?

4. Knowing it’s only a joke, I still fail to see why Erik would be ecstatic learning he’s not the real father unless he was cheating on Kari with what’s her name or someone else.  Regardless, was it your intention to make your main character out to be a scuzbucket?

Thank you for your time. - Paul Glouner

Those are some really questions, Paul!
1. To be honest, that was a complete mistake on my part. I have no idea why I missed the wrist-watch and really, I can’t even come up with a logical excuse. Good catch!
2. Another good catch! Technically, the only one missing an arm is Zombie Erik. Kari’s just happens to be behind Erik and Michael Jackson’s is/was doing his famous one heel up pose. Of course if I was a real artist, I’d have gone with the more iconic “head tilt down while hand is touching the rim of his fedora” pose ala “Moonwalker”.
3. In my defense, I always said if there was ever a movie, Erik would be played by a relatively unknown young actor. Now I had no idea who Taylor Kitsh was before you brought him up (I’ve never watched an episode of “Friday Night Lights”) but based on the photos I found of him on-line, I got to say he’d be a pretty good choice visually. Do you have any other dream casting?
4. My take on the Summer Blockbuster Gallery is that it’s the equivalent of the “Simpsons Treehouse of Horror” – it has no grip on continuity whatsoever. Basically anything goes! One week Erik could be a decomposing zombie; the next he’d be mingling with the Generic Funkin’ Cartoons. Nothing is meant to be held as factual. Now, focusing specifically on the “Knocked Up” picture – I could have used Daryl or Crispie or any of the other male characters, but Erik seemed like the best fit for the circumstance, as was Eli. And my feeling is if I used any of the others instead, the joke wouldn’t have worked out as well. So no, it wasn’t my intention to cast Erik in a bad light and I don’t feel I did because as it was proven, he wasn’t the father. In continuity, Erik is completely devoted to Kari.
Thanks for your sharp observations and thoughtful questions. You really got me thinking hard a couple of times.

You were too kind and too pleasant with Stu Kweller. If someone cussed at me for the way I draw women I’d start looking for any lobotomy scars inflicted on him. What warm-blooded man is ever going to object about voluptuous women? What dope thinks starvation and war isn’t at all a pressing issue because 2/3rds of the world doesn’t look like Scarlet Johansson or Taye Diggs? Who in their right mind would think a comic site is the proper forum to address such hot topics and expect a satisfying response? The answer is apparently Stu Kweller; a man so narrow-minded and racist he’d rather belittle others than accept his own shortcomings. If I was a talented artist and someone felt my illustrations were as demeaning as blackface, I wouldn’t be as kind as you were. However I understand you needed to maintain a level of professionalism so as a courtesy, please allow me to submit the following photo in his honor. Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t let folks like Mr. Kweller ever get you down. - Douglas Schneider

Oh, that is awesome! Where did you find that photo?
I couldn't agree with you more that Mr. Kweller needs to find some perspective on what he thinks. I mean, was there any problems in the world he didn't blame on my drawings? Everyone has a right to their own opinion and I was being polite because I listened to Mr. Kweller's. I don't agree with it, and I certainly don't think I'm causing wars or children to starve. But it's obvious this is something he's very passionate about so I wish him well. Thanks for the letter, Douglas!

Jake, I didn't see anything wrong with your art. Whoever wrote saying you're a chauvinist doesn't see a lot of people draw women like that. I'm a woman and I'm not offended. Does that make me part of the problem? You could tone the size down and make the hips fatter if you want suggestions. But it's your way of drawing and no one should have a problem with that. - Raichel Cantino

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Raichel [for those of you who don't know, Raichel is an incredible artist herself]. I was seriously questioning whether I was doing something wrong with the way I draw women when I got Mr. Kweller's letter. But as you and a handful of other members of the fairer species assured me (when I came crying to you all), the only thing I need to keep an eye on is making sure my female characters don't come across as being more than just eye candy. I appreciate your honest opinion!

What happened to Crimsonpug.com? The page isn't displaying. Please fix it. Thanks. - Cabrall3

I'm sorry to say Cabrall3 but Crimsonpug.com's been closed down for about a year now. It was my fault in a way. Tony was doing all the work updating it and I kept slacking off that I don't think I wound up contributing anything to the revised version. Fortunately we have all the "Chronos and Blackley" chapters on this site as well as some of the "Generic Funkin Cartoons" material. But as far as movie reviews and the other stuff goes, they were taken down when Crimsonpug got closed up. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Thanks for the letter.

Hey Jake, I wager the masses are hounding you for more art [where IS the next movie picture?] so I let you off the hook and say the pictures been exceptional this year. No crappers. You're showing improvement and lest I'm wrong you're more confident skill-wise. Be well. - Ryan Lea

Thanks Ryan, but I don't think it's a matter of me getting more confident than it is being anal-retentive. I want to do a great job on my drawings every time. However I've been noticing I've been falling into the habit of focusing on the details too much. No joke - I practically have to force myself into stopping on a picture because I keep toying around with it in Photoshop.
I'm still set on finishing the last 4 movie pictures from this year before 2008 rolls around. Pathetic, I know. The next one will be based on "Transformers" so expect to see that very, very soon. Thanks for the nice letter and be well likewise.

Jake, I’m very sorry for your family’s loss. Sometimes death is so sudden there’s bound to be some regret left over; but that doesn’t mean it was your fault. She lived the way she wanted. I’m sure if you could have given her the help she needed you would have. You yourself wrote the experience growing up has made you want to become a better Uncle. That’s hardly selfish. Don’t punish yourself or dwell for wanting to be a good nephew to someone who had severe problems beyond your reach. Smile, remember the good memories, and keep them close to your heart. - Anthony Molino PS. Out of curiosity, what was the first comic book she bought you?

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who wrote in and expressed their condolences. Even though it's trivial, I apologize for using this website as a personal blog. As most of you might have caught on, the news of her death really hit me hard. It's been two months now and it still hurts thinking about it, but I'm starting to accept the truth. I don't think I'll ever completely forgive myself for the way I treated my aunt later on in life, but I do realize there was only so much I could have done. And you're right Mr. Molino, all I can do is focus on the good memories and stop punishing myself.
As for my first comic book, it was the Incredible Hulk Annual # 11: "The Day the Earth Turned Green". From what I remember, the story was about this gamma virus that accidently got released and infected the entire planet turning everyone into Hulks without the ability to revert back to their normal selves. I think Bruce Banner and Doc Samson were the only one unaffected and they had to try to find a cure before the effects became permanent. I could be wrong because it's been years since I last read it (no fooling, it was thrown out one day while my mother was cleaning my room!) but I do remember the world full of Hulks.
Thanks for the letter, Mr. Molino.

What kind of [CENSORED] are you feeding me saying it's Tony's fault when you keep dragging your ass. Instead of coming up with excuses, sit your ass down and do the work! And while you're at it why don't you continue one of the comic series you haven't finished either. I don't give a [CENSORED] which: pick one! I swear to holy [CENSORED] you come up with more [CENSORED] excuses! Kisses! - Poppin' Fresh Croe

(I have to let everyone in on the joke: he actually typed the [CENSORED] bars in his letter.)
I know you're giving me crap but just in case people thought otherwise, I wasn't using Tony as an excuse for the Blockbuster gallery not being updated on a weekly basis. My whole point was to show that without his input, things have been falling on the way-side. Half of the fun of the gallery was collaborating with him in the first place, so to do it this year without him is trying. It's not an attack on him or a whiney excuse to make him get better and come back; I was just giving credit were credit was due. I miss the creative back-and-forth and that's all. That's all.
But you do have a point. I took a glance at all the comic series I've started and haven't continued (Issue #1, Plight vs. Yin, Next Gen Necessities, Sofa Kingdom) and you're right - it's a load of [CENSORED]. Something needs to be done.
Thanks for the wake-up call, Croe.

June 21st, 2007
Even though we're into the middle of June now, this is actually the first letter column of 2007! Maybe now's the perfect time for new beginnings, new challenges, and a totally new atmosphere for this page. So why don't we just cut the small talk and get right to the massive back-up of letters I seem to have accumulated, shall we?

You boob! Frankie FOSTER! Who gives a s**t about Angelina and that movie! - Mark Jensen

Okay... so much for a new beginning. Mark, I'm sorry for getting the request mixed up. When you said you wanted to see me draw 'her' in flying gear, I just assumed you meant the character from "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (by the way, if we only agree on one thing it's that the movie is pretty crappy.) I had no idea you meant Frankie from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends; mostly because I didn't know there even WAS a Frankie on the show. Sure, because I hang around my niece and nephew a lot I've seen the show plenty of times. But other than Mac, Cheese, and Bloo - I don't know any of their names. So I apologize and I will add it to the list of winning entries just in case the polling would have turned out differently. We cool now?

Jake and Tony,

Checked out the website today.  3 Years Later, Wednesday, Leap of Faith and Modern Diva were a hoot.  The Chronos story is pretty good.  And your Eric with the X-box controller was true to life it hurts.  Keep it going.  Chat with you again. - Dr. Needles

Now that's more like it! We're glad you enjoyed some of our stuff. And I agree: "Chronos and Blackey" is a pretty fun read and I can't wait to see where it goes when Tony continues it. Really, thanks for the nice e-mail. Ones like that are too few and far between these days.

Jake I need help. My wife and I got into a discussion regarding superhero female role models in comics. She says that there aren't any really and I said there are some like Wonder Woman, Batgirl Barbara Gordon/Oracle, and Black Canary [funny enough, I couldn't think of one for marvel except for Jessica Jones but then thought that she is a great character, not so great a role model].
 
In any case, my wife would like to read some Wonder Woman stories to see for herself. This is where you come in. My knowledge of Wonder Woman aside the main points is limited outside of JLA. What stories/trades would you recommend?- Zack Halverson

Wow! Um, I think I'm not the most qualified person to answer this, buddy, because I've never picked up a Wonder Woman comic in my life. But I have read "Kingdom Come" in which her character is depicted as a strong Amazonian warrior. I've also been reading the "Justice" mini-series where the whole origin of her being created out of clay is coming around to literally become the death of her. Other than that, I really can't point you to anything else. Sorry, but hopefully those two picks will help.


Hey fanboy: GROW THE F**K UP.

Drawing your female characters with large breasts is a HUGE problem. It dehumanizes and objectifies women!  You saying “there are more important problems” is an immature, incomplete argument. Of COURSE there are more important problems.  But this isn’t “starvingchildrenindarfur.com” or “dyingsoldiersiniraq.org.” It’s a COMICS WEBSITE and a poor one at that.

When blacks were forced to the back of the bus and had to use different bathrooms and attend different schools, there was still starving, and death, and dying.
 
When women couldn’t even VOTE, there was still starving, and death, and dying.
It doesn’t diminish the wrongness of those issues.
 
Furthermore, I DON’T CARE if you know women who think this is okey-dokey. That doesn’t make it okay. That doesn’t make this right.

This is SEXIST. It’s CHAUVINISTIC. And anyone who thinks it’s just “harmless fun” is themselves both SEXIST and CHAUVINISTIC.

When are you going to wake up and realize that the comic artform and industry has a huge problem with the objectification, over-sexualization, and monthly degrading of women? It infects every corner of the mainstream comics market and beyond.

This s**t is NOT OKAY. I’m sick of everyone pretending it is and apologizing for it and rationalizing it.
 
Michael Turner’s ginormous breasts on Power Girl cover? NOT OKAY.

Women continually wearing skin-tight spandex? NOT OKAY.

It’s just NOT OKAY. It’s DISRESPECTFUL. It doesn’t matter if YOU are not offended by it–if others ARE, and others absolutely SHOULD BE, then we should show RESPECT for these people and eliminate these DISRESPECTFUL images.
 
G**damnit, why is this so hard to understand? To me, this is as bad as blackface. - Stu Kweller

*sigh* So much for peace, love and understanding.
Mr. Kweller, I want you to know that normally I'd take your comments into consideration. I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I'm sure you brought up some good points in your letter. But I don't think we've ever met or even spoken before for that matter. And as far as I can recall, I didn't force you to look at my pictures nor did I even charge you to look at them. So for you to use the barrage of language you used shows me what a conflicted individual you must be.
Did you honestly expect by calling me a chauvinist, I would see the errors of my ways? When the first line in your letter was ordering me to grow the f**k up, I'd take down my artwork featuring all female characters? What a stupid, stupid thing for you to think.
I'm not a chauvinist because I like women. A lot! I like everything about them and geez, I'm rooting for Hilary Clinton to become President next year (before you start playing the race card on me, I'd be just as happy if Barrack Obama won instead.) I admit some of my pictures has poked fun at the sexiness of the female form, but most often they've been depicted with tongue firmly planted in cheek. And while your letter was ill-spirited, I sought the advice of several people; all women in fact who I rarely ask for advice from; to gain their points of view just in case there was something one-sided about me. It turns out there really isn't.
So what it all comes down to isn't me defending my artwork. It's forcing me to comment on my view of you as a human being. And from what little you've shared with me, I got to say I'm not impressed.
Good luck with your cause, just press it somewhere else.

Are you going to continue including cartoons with your columns because the last couple haven't had any? - Aaron Williams

Hey Aaron! The cartoons on the index page are really made up of pieces of rejected artwork primarily about a picture debuting around that same time (although the picture of Kari as Leeloo was done specifically for it). They're just rough sketches of ideas I've decided not to use, but thought they were decent enough to still be shown (just with some slight modifications). I didn't post any the last few times because I was posting art that had done for a long time and I didn't think of saving the 'first drafts'. But because a lot of folks think it's a neat addition to the ramblings, there's definately going to be more coming up. As I write this, I have something from my 'Fantasic Four 2' homage that just today I've decided not to go with. Hope you'll enjoy them and thanks for for your e-mail.

Who won the request poll last year and have you started working on em? Are you going to draw Mary Jane Watson? Please write back. - Ryan King

I had a good start earlier in the year, Ryan and managed to finish winning entries #5 (Raven from "Teen Titans") and #4 (Kari as a Hooters waitress). But I've gotten side-tracked and have yet to finish the list up. Mary Jane happens to be the next one I'm scheduled to do, then Supergirl, and finally Power Girl (along with the above mentioned 'lost' entry: Frankie Foster). As soon as I'm caught up with doing the Summer Blockbuster pictures, I'll pick the list up again. I'm sorry for the long delay. There's really no excuse for my laziness. Thanks!

Well, that's it for now. But keep sending your letters to jake@plightsite.com and alarsen3@mn.rr.com