What's funny is that so often we find the most things to criticize of the things we do ourselves. But when it's someone else's work that we really enjoy and respect, the same criticism isn't there.
I've had a lot of people praise my writing, yet most of the things I write, later on I start to poke at them with a mental stick and say, "Hmm, this is so trite." or "Why didn't I write a cheerful story?" or "When am I going to stop (if ever) feeling like everything is a compilation of copies of things other people have already done?"
I read webcomics. I really enjoy many of them and try to keep up with them regularly, as I have for 10 or 12 years now. The main distinction with webcomics is that they are typically posted by the artist, who often leaves commentary regarding the comic. And the self-critic in the artist often finds a way to express itself. Cartoonists will complain about a line being too thick or thin, the shading not being quite right, the dialog never meeting the high standards the cartoonist would like, etc.
And today, I saw this one:
Tatsuya Ishida is a phenomenally talented comic artist. I've been reading Sinfest, from which the above comic was culled, for 10 years now. Is every comic equally marvelous to one another? No. But the vast majority are funny, lighthearted, perceptive, and humorously critical of all walks of life.
I have no intention in writing this other than to say what I did above, so before I ruin it...I publish now.
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