Alex Spencer

Not saying you're suggesting this, but: that closes off other valuable approaches, like crit-as-autobiography, momentism...

Agreed -- and this is all just my own feelings towards it (which are niche). I was referring more specifically to plot-focused reviews...

...which leave the art as it's own section/paragraph. To me one informs the other etc etc.

Fair. I'll cop to slightly fluffy thinking... Trying to weigh it all up while being aware that I've definitely been guilty of this at times.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, it comes down to angle: what makes this thing special? That might not be best served by close reading.

Oh absolutely. I agree. We're all coming at it from different points of view. My type of comic writing has it's niche, as do others...

I think the problem with this whole thing is we're all looking like we're speaking in definite-s. I guess I'm just saying aloud my pref.

Mmm! It's interesting stuff, definitely going to bubble away in the back of my head for a bit.