Interestingly, I have seen more calls for reviewers to do critical analysis lately. This, though, is mainly of interest to comic creators and less meaningful for general readers.

“Really, I’m not keen on critics – whose whole gig is about tearing creative works apart as opposed to reviewers who mainly tell you about them. ”

If there is any arena on the web more defensive about criticism than webcomics, I have not encountered it. I am surprised you would insulate them from comment that calls them on their claims and checks their honesty or subjects them to critical analysis. How else can they improve from their current state?

You have confused criticism with critical analysis, in which a work is subjected to scrutiny and comparisons to understand its merits and deficits. Most webcomics people are in serious denial of their medicority. Yes, I have seen tear-down blogs that simply attack for no reason too, but the average person can perceive them for what they are without tossing critical standards out the window, as if all of Western Civilization was simply a matter of opinion and popular taste. This is not choosing to disagree with you, this is about human history and our aspiration towards standards, morals and aesthetics.

Unfortunately, great comics criticism is even rarer than great comics.

Otherwise, keep up the great work. I always enjoy your blog.