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Today's adventure: A heartfelt ode to the non-asshole

Can we all agree that being nice has never been cool? Niceness is largely seen as a quality for the weak. Losers are nice. Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall) in The Breakfast Club was nice. Not surprisingly, at the end of the movie, he’s the only guy without a girlfriend.

Nice guys try to commit suicide with a flare gun.

“If those popular kids are mean to you then maybe they don’t deserve to be your friend.” Ouch. If your parents ever told you this, I imagine your teenage years were a blast. Right? Umm… stay away from the flare gun.

Niceness has been unjustly associated with passive, compliant, and weak-willed individuals. There’s nothing heroic about that. Blame Hollywood. They’ve convinced an entire society that the abusive jerk is really a tender sweet individual underneath. John Wayne syndrome. And we’ve all bought into it. Haven’t we?

E-mail sent to a friend on February 21, 2006
“I like

Terry Moore

, because he’s my shining example that you don’t have to be an asshole to be successful—and without sacrificing your creative vision. Believe it or not, I had a mini-breakdown a few months ago. I was blubbering to Melissa that success seemed to carry with it a viciousness I didn’t possess and on and on and on. Melissa reminded me that Terry Moore was a good guy. I agreed, and my fragile existential neurosis was held at bay.”
Yep, I almost quit comics because I thought I’d have to be an asshole to achieve any sort of success. Does it sound absurd? Maybe so, but at the time, I was really frustrated.

So let’s forget about the assholes. They’re entirely predictable stereotypes who probably weren’t held enough as a child. Instead, there are some truly nice individuals working in comics—talented people with nothing to prove. No ego. Good people. I’m more impressed by them than those who wear their cynicism on their sleeve. In the end, we know that life is too short to be an asshole.

“

Sergio Aragones

has to be the nicest person in comics I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Even if there’s a big line, he’ll take time to talk to each person and give them a sketch, or talk to you about anything. He’s also got the nicest stache.” - Paul Maybury

“I’d say

Greg Thompson

(Hero Camp, CBLDF) is the nicest person in comics. He’s just a stand-up dude, who’d bite a Panzer tank in half if it threatened one of his friends. Plus, he did save me from the Dallas chapter of The Hell’s Angels, back in ‘04.” - Dave Crosland

“

Mike Oeming. Seriously, dude is just too kind to people. I’ve never EVER heard him say a bad thing about anyone, ever. David Mack

is up there too.” - Mike Hawthorne

“

Amanda Connor

. Why? Just talk to her and you’ll see.” - Terry Moore

“

Beau Smith

. He ain’t half the ornery sombitch he makes himself out to be. Until you tell him that The Wild Bunch should be remade with Colin Ferrell and Orando Bloom.” - Chris Ryall

“Oh there’s a million nice people, mainly all of my friends. The rest are pompus airbags. I think

Mike Wieringo

may be one of the nicest guys I’ve met in comics. He has zero ego. That’s crazy.” - Jamar Nicholas

THE CHESS MATCH CONTINUES—>
The French Defense. Winawer Variation.

Hopkins - McCloud
1. e4   e6
2. d4   d5
3. Nc3   Bb4
4. e5   c5
5. a3   Bxc3
6. bxc3

Update from Scott McCloud:
We’ve just posted tour dates for the Northeast Leg of The Making Comics 50 State Tour:
  http://www.scottmccloud.com/makingcomics/tour.html

The tour begins in Manhattan on September 5th as Making Comics hits the shelves. Stops on the first leg will include major universities such as Princeton, MIT and Carnegie-Mellon, store signings, comics events, and even side trips to London and Barcelona! We’ll continue updating the list as new events are confirmed for 2006 and 2007.

Fans can also follow the family’s adventures on the road starting with our pre-tour drive from California to Manhattan beginning August 27 on the official tour blog: http://community.livejournal.com/mccloudtour

The packing has begun. Wish us luck!

Good luck Scott.

This concludes my sixth week of “Beneath the Underdog” for Pop Syndicate. Feedback appreciated. Discussion encouraged.
Come back next Thursday when I start a five part series on my annual “It List”. Not to be missed!