Disliking Identity Crisis is a tricky business, so I thought I would outline some misconceptions common among the book’s detractors. We can work through this misguided thinking together.
1. You find the events of IC misogynist: Just because the book routinely features acts of brutality directed at women doesn’t mean that it’s misogynist. It just means that vulnerable supporting characters are predominantly female. And where’s the misogyny in that? Stop being so politically correct. This line of argument leads inexorably to the unfortunate conclusion that…
2. You find the writer of IC misogynist: You might have thought you were focusing on the events of the title in question, but, really, let’s be honest with ourselves. Can you really separate the events of one piece of work from their creator, even if you’ve never read any of his other writing? Especially if you’ve never read any of his other writing? How can you possibly draw that conclusion about the writer if you haven’t read everything he’s ever written? This takes us to the fact that…
3. Brad Meltzer is a real writer: He’s written real books, not just comics. You can’t possibly evaluate his work based on the standards of the comic book medium. To do so would be to suggest that there’s just as much artistic merit in comics as there is in prose, and the New York Times doesn’t keep track of best-selling comics, now does it? And, since we’ve established that Brad Meltzer is a real writer, how can you possibly think that…
4. There are holes in the narrative, and the storytelling is badly constructed: Point three should address this, but if it hasn’t, let’s just expand on it a bit. Not only is Brad Meltzer a real writer, he’s a real writer who sells a lot of books. This is proven by the fact that his books – not comics – have been included in the New York Times Best-Seller List. Surely there’s no room in a listing of financially successful works of fiction for flawed storytelling, just like there’s no room in a listing of numerically successful works of non-fiction for flawed ideology or scholarship. That you found holes and flaws in the storytelling at all suggests that…
5. You’re trying to judge the comic based on individual chapters: Obviously, this is madness. Sure, DC is publishing IC in a monthly format, but that doesn’t entitle you to evaluate it on a chapter-by-chapter basis. The release schedule might lend itself to that and suggest that each individual chapter should be artistically successful in its own right, but doesn’t fairness demand that you purchase each and every issue before you judge? Even if you find the individual chapters flawed and distasteful? Be reasonable. Spend $4 a month, just in case it might make sense later. It’s the least you can do. Then, after you’ve shelled out $30, you can say how much you hate it. You’ll still be wrong, but you won’t be hamstrung in this manner.
6. IC is tonally inconsistent with its characters and fictional universe: Whoa, my fanboy alarm just went off! Sure, IC may heavily reference Silver Age stories and characters, but you can’t actually judge it in that context. The context is only a launching point for the real writer to go where he pleases, despite decades of expectations established by writers who, it must be stated, only write comics.
7. But I’m not a fanboy! I’m just working with the rules DC has established over decades of storytelling: This is just like when John Kerry resists being designated a liberal. Your voting record is there for everyone to see, and your denials only weaken your case. Sorry. (Snicker.) Fanboy.
8. Sue Dibny was a unique character who deserved a better fate: Nobody cares about what happens to Elongated Man’s wife. But – Nobody cares. I – Nobody cares about Woozy Winks, either. Next you’ll be saying that…
9. You find it difficult to believe these characters would behave in the ways the writer is suggesting: Capital “FAN”… lower-case “boy.” It’s the only explanation why you wouldn’t abandon decades of established characterization to embrace Meltzer’s bold and challenging vision. Which leads to the final point…
10. IC is contradicting my expectations of the DC Universe: Is it “contradicting your expectations” or is it “challenging your preconceptions”? Isn’t IC really shaking you out of your safe little fanboy torpor, and leading you into dangerous new philosophical territory? Maybe you don’t like IC because you’re not brave enough to like it. And isn’t that just a little sad?
With that said, you can still put forward negative opinions about IC. Here, for your convenience, is a sample critique for those of you who just can’t help finding fault:
“Boy, those Michael Turner covers sure suck!”
Hope this has helped.