Despite all of this I even tried to defend these “creator’s” train-wreck of a show they called Awesome Show Great Job. One night I was watching a particularly bad skit. I can’t remember it specifically, but it probably went something like this:

Yeah pretty sure this was the one.

As we watch the flogging of this poor, noble beast; Padawan turns towards me and says: “See what your fandom gets you?” And at that point, it occurred to me, the suck that fandom can bring.

Adult Swim started somewhere around 8 to 9 years ago. I remember sitting in my grandfather’s house amazed that something as funny as The Brak Show could be racing across the TV on a tiny little dot of light. Eight years on and now I am subjected to inanities like Assy McGee and Minoriteam.

I know I’m taking the long way around the barn here, but what I intend to say is that when creators in a media industry sit down and decide to really tap in to the needs of an untouched audience something brilliant happens. They make a TV show, sign an amazing band, or just make the best comic book you have ever read. And lighting even tends to strike multiple times. Then something awful happens. Lighting is distilled, they get a hold of your fandom, finds out what drives it, and then drive that right into the ground. The aforementioned creators get really good at what they do. So good at what they do, they can even tell you what you like. Somewhere along the line the genuine talent gets eaten up. Unfortunately, all that’s left are the people who are good at taking good, used ideas and making them new again. Like painting up an old hooker with pastels you bought at the dollar store. Your Jack Kirby leaves, but Stan Lee is still there, spitting in the face of an artist between swigs of fine liquor bought with the hard-earned money of comic fans saying: “Bigger tits jackhole.”

It’s sad to think about, in a way, but this trend seems to be inevitable. Of the two guys sitting in the garage building a computer, Steve Jobs will rise to the top. Whether or not he is in fact the cream is dubious, but he had the ambition, and now he’s the one slowly stirring the DRM shit storm in his own way.

Inevitable, yes, but made bearable by the fact that someone new will always rear his or her horn rimmed glasses face to say ‘no’ and to do things their own way. But when the malestrom of creating a new business settles down and all the blow runs out, the only people that will be left at your beloved independent publishing company will be the douche who laughs you out of his office as he okays another volume of Bomb Queen.

We will be discussing Wallace, Scott and the gang on tomorrow’s episode. So check us out. THe link’s right over there, and you’re all out of excuses.