"Gilda And Meek And The Un-Iverse" on BlogSpot Talkback Thread 37 3 / 9 / 2025 (Spoilers)

[matt_zimmer]

Talkback for Gilda And Meek And The Un-Iverse! Read an issue and discuss it here!

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FRUSTRATION OVER THE NEGATIVE REACTION TO GILDA AND MEEK "DESTINY'S PRISONER" (A DREAMWIDTH EXCLUSIVE)

I don't want to be That Creator. I don't.

I don't want to be the person telling people how to react to my work. Hell, if they hate it, that should be okay.

But what frustrates me, is that for a LOT of people, the Un-Iverse issue that crosses the line is Gilda And Meek "Destiny's Prisoner".

I will accept and understand somebody reading "Skeletons" and being like, "Not for me. Gross." I expect that reaction from many people, actually. But the fact that so many people are willing to accept a sick story like "Skeletons", but somehow "Destiny's Prisoner" crosses some huge moral line makes NO fucking sense.

The moral lines in that story are, in fact, very clear. Yes, a small girl (Bernadette) gets hit in the head with a brick in an upsetting (and bloody) scene. The reason it happens is SUPPOSED to upset you. It's wrong on every level. And yet, I can't help feeling like much of the bad feelings it engendered among its critics is that the moral stance it takes feels VERY political. And THAT specific political cautionary tales upsets people who are on the wrong side of the issue. Tough shit. Stochastic terrorism and fundamentalist demagoguery are BAD THINGS. How dare I suggest that? Don't I understand "economic anxiety" AT ALL?

You know, I confess, Gilda And Meek And The Un-Iverse is quite partisan. Basically I do several things in the story to piss off conservatives, because frankly, I don't want to share this with them. But plenty of that messaging occurs BEFORE "Destiny's Prisoner", so they could feel free to drop out MUCH earlier than they did. But "Destiny's Prisoner" is not just the best Gilda And Meek issue I had done up to that point. It's the most moral and emotionally resonant issue so far too.

And there's something else about it that really sticks in my craw when people talk shit about it. It's hilarious. Routinely, and over and over again. How ANYBODY could think badly of the very issue where the Piranha delivers his famous (and arguably best) line, "I'm not looking to spend hours on this..." strikes me as fucking crazy.

I don't get it. At all. It's not like the saga does not have its share of weak issues (Hello, UnComix One-Shots!). "Destiny's Prisoner" is most assuredly NOT one of them.

The Archive on BlogSpot

https://gildaandmeekandtheuniverse.blogspot.com/2020/02/welcome-to-gilda-and-meek-and-un-iverse.html

Latest Issue:

1. UnComix Tales: The Humans: The Epic Series Finale "All Loose Ends..." (Un-Iverse #68)

https://gildaandmeekandtheuniverse.blogspot.com/2024/12/1-uncomix-tales-humans-epic-series.html

Comments

[jasperhansen]

I think Destiny's Prisoner upsets people because the points you're making have real weight and aren't played for levity. Same reason Moral Orel was cancelled when it was after getting away with making fun of fundamentalists for two seasons. You're basically challenging people on their turf and telling them what you're doing isn't just a funny cartoon and that this issue is more important than their comfort. That's pretty respectable in my eyes.

[matt_zimmer]

I don't disagree, but I feel the way I was treated on Comic Fury for it was despicable. But my friend Candice had a good observation about the people it offended. "A hit dog hollers." She's right. The people who were offended were probably the exact people who SHOULD have been offended.

[jasperhansen]

Yeah, I guess that's kind of what I'm getting at

[matt_zimmer]

Wise man.

[jasperhansen]

I really vibe with the flow of diplomatic moments and endearing character moments in The Invisible Kingdom. It's a nice narrative dynamic and really helps to sell The Pontue Legacy to have all those little details feeling right and tidy. Adds to the cozy feel too.

[matt_zimmer]

I deliberately made everything flow and work out just to show how fucking TIRESOME other fiction makes shit like that. Do you think the characters Takin' Care Of Bidness is less interesting than them getting into an emo snit in the name of false and unearned drama? Because I totally don't.

[jasperhansen]

For the record, Krac is my favourite character we meet in Pontue Legacy. I've warmed up to Zyle on repeat reads but he's still not totally my cup of tea.

[matt_zimmer]

Krac is pretty cool in this iteration. I will say Zyle used to suck ass in earlier versions so that's why I'm happy with him. How are you enjoying these Linear Notes so far?

[jasperhansen]

It's good, cool to have another perspective on things

[matt_zimmer]

Excellent!

[matt_zimmer]

Do you know what's weird? Meek is the character most like me. And Krac is the character most like Meek. So while Krac isn't my surrogate the way Meek and the Piranha are, he's one of the closest characters to me in personality anyways. Kind of neat you dig him so much.

[jasperhansen]

I find vulnerability in men very compelling, kind of scratches the same itch as the female protagonist

[matt_zimmer]

That's me. I wear my heart on my sleeve and get hurt easily. That's both Meek and Krac.

[jasperhansen]

yeah it's very you haha. Double edged sword I guess.

[matt_zimmer]

Very much so.