I know I'm the type who attracts a wide circle of friendships that often find themselves in contention with each other. My biggest childhood nightmares revolved around the fact that my friends would often be at each others' throats and ask me to take sides one against the other. As a child, I rarely dealt with the issues that divided between them. I chose instead to let each one know that they'll always have my support and friendship. It never helped the situation much, however, to keep everyone as a friend as they ripped each other apart. I've grown up a bit since and am willing to put a friendship on the line in order to help fix things between the people in my life.
I've known Barry Windsor-Smith since 1975 and have never been slighted by him myself. Sadly, I can't say the same for many of my friends in the industry. Barry and I have had very good times together in the comics community of the 1970's which I greatly cherish. I have the greatest admiration for his insight, love for the craft and for his fabulous talent. On a personal note, however, it's no secret to many in the comics that Barry Windsor-Smith has bolstered his own personal presentation of himself and put forth his image of semi-royal exclusivity at the expense of a sometimes demeaning treatment of many comic book community professionals and his own colleagues alike. I don't have to get into the stories here of people in the comics who would prefer to walk into a furnace rather than have to conduct a simple conversation with Barry Windsor-Smith.
Barry has every right to conduct his career and personal image in any way he sees fit. When it insults and hurts others around him, be they his colleagues or just simple ordinary people who expect and deserve minimal courtesy from him as a fellow human being, Barry Windsor-Smith should have foreseen that a time and a place would come when the piper would come knocking to collect his due.
Clifford Meth, whom I've also known since working in the comics in the 1970's, explained why he didn't include a piece contributed by Barry Windsor-Smith to the Dave Cockrum Tribute book he produced last year, in an article at his Past Masters column at Silver Bullet Comic Books which can be seen here.
Alan David Doane of Comic Book Galaxy, who recently also came into my circle of friendships, in his criticism of Meth from March 19th, 2004, which can be seen here, distorted the facts around the issue and unjustly maligned Clifford for his actions. Clifford has chosen not to respond publicly but has brought the issue to my attention as my name and art are prominent on the page which smears his good name. I'd like to direct a few words to Alan David Doane in response.
First off Alan, your childish criticisms of Clifford's spelling and use of metaphors only reflect badly on yourself and are not worthy of the good enterprise you stand behind. Most people understand the difference between the words "sighting" and "citing", as I'm sure you do. Most people also don't need an explanation for a statement like "...And at home, I had two in diapers." Most people understand the writer is speaking about children. The schoolyard tactics in this piece makes it smell like shit, right from the start.
I believe it's fair to expect minimal human decency from a comic book artist, Alan. Being Barry Windsor-Smith does not give one a right to trample someone's career and have them expelled from a place of work because they made the mistake of not knowing that Barry Smith had added Windsor to his name. Barry's allowing for this pompous arrogance to come from his staff and to shut the door on Clifford's attempt to apologize is the type of rudeness which dwarfs any claims they have of Clifford's in asking for the interview. In light of Barry's persistent manipulations to have his piece published in a book which Clifford produced and edited, by turning to industry professionals in order to pressure Clifford, while refusing to simply call him and open a dialogue between them - Barry brought upon himself, through his choice, being excluded from the book.
You, on the other hand, Alan, went on to wage a war against the project by asking the comics community to pull support from the Cockrum tribute. In your defense of Barry's right to have his work appear in the book, you were willing to minimize the benefit which Dave Cockrum could have from this project.
The project was produced for Dave Cockrum's benefit, Alan, not for Barry Windsor-Smith's.
The bottom line here, Alan, is that Clifford Meth is a human being who expects to be treated as such, as we all do. His passion for this simple issue is what drives him to help his fellow creators in the comics. Clifford Meth has done more to make this industry better for the creators, than the collective career of of many good people in the industry, who can't seem to extend themselves with the minimal basic concern for the family they belong to.
If Barry Windsor-Smith was so fucking concerned about helping Dave, he could've produced a book himself for Dave's benefit. It takes a little bit of true concern for someone to raise such a project, however. Sadly, Barry has not shown much concern other than for his own damn ego in this case.
You have unjustly maligned a good and innocent man, Alan, and I believe you need to fix it. It's the least you should consider if my name and art continue to appear on that page.
