🎨 Artcow Iconoclast / Jonathan Mack Sweet - The Chris-Chan of Arkansas

[WWWWolf]

He couldn't strangle a gnat.

He also wouldn't download a car. (Because Windows 98 doesn't support that.)

Go on right ahead Sweet. Lawyers worth a shit cost thousands to keep, and they always ask for more the longer the case drags on. I mean, you're only in complete debt right now and have no income, why not add that expense? I'm sure your money managing bro will love it.

Pff, he could go to the cheapest lawyers around and they'd still only bill him for 10 seconds looking at the page and saying he has absolutely no case here.

But since I don't have anything better to do, here's free tips for the Iconoclast - some random legal points that people usually level against Encyclopaedia Dramatica:
1) Defamation - usually involves false claims about criminal activity, and in any case he'd need some proof that this false information has caused him some damage. Shedding light on things that aren't socially acceptable is unfortunately quite legal. (I say unfortunately, because in many cases, we really don't want to know. /sneed)
2) Posting personal information - certainly unethical in most cases, possibly illegal if it's done specifically to promote criminal activity. ED generally doesn't post more information that the people in question are posting voluntarily, so this generally just falls under "a little bit iffy" category.
3) Copyright infringement - quotations and excerpts for purposes of commentary fall fairly solidly under fair-use provisions.
(Not a lawyer, just needed to study a lot of this stuff due to this being highly relevant in arts and information technology)

 

[24isthehighestnumber]

One of his biggest problems is how poorly his drawings are scanned. You can see from Absinthe's post that a lot of his linework goes missing from analog to digital. That, coupled with using MS Paint and what has to be a traditional mouse for doing color, makes for a sub amateur looking pile of shit.

Edit: I should specify that when I say the above is "one of his biggest problems", I mean it's one of his biggest problems with his comic. Obviously the guy has way bigger issues in his life than being a shitty artist.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

Remember that Sweetikins's idea of "a gorgeous, passionate upper-class lady" is "an average-looking woman who lives in a small, somewhat shabby house in a blue-collar neighborhood," if his characterizations of "Ashleigh Bainks" are any indication.

But hell, those women aren't any more likely to be attracted to him than Gwyneth Paltrow or whoever would be.

 

[Poor Choices]

Remember that Sweetikins's idea of "a gorgeous, passionate upper-class lady" is "an average-looking woman who lives in a small, somewhat shabby house in a blue-collar neighborhood," if his characterizations of "Ashleigh Bainks" are any indication.

But hell, those women aren't any more likely to be attracted to him than Gwyneth Paltrow or whoever would be.

I think it's kinda sad that that's what he sees as upper class. I knew he came from a dirt poor background but he seems to have linked "having a job and a house that isn't dilapidated" to filthy rich.

 

[Ruin]

I think it's kinda sad that that's what he sees as upper class. I knew he came from a dirt poor background but he seems to have linked "having a job and a house that isn't dilapidated" to filthy rich.

Sweets is white, male, and college educated. His current circumstances are a direct result of his sloth and arrogance, honestly your pity is better spent elsewhere.

 

[Poor Choices]

Sweets is white, male, and college educated. His current circumstances are a direct result of his sloth and arrogance, honestly your pity is better spent elsewhere.

Yeah my pity leaks out in places where it shouldn't. I think it's because Jon is so broken that he implicitly accepts his fate as a loser and fights back so feebly that it brings the feelings out in me. I mean goddamn, the man does not have a spine.

 

[Ruin]

Yeah my pity leaks out in places where it shouldn't. I think it's because Jon is so broken that he implicitly accepts his fate as a loser and fights back so feebly that it brings the feelings out in me. I mean goddamn, the man does not have a spine.

He seems oddly lucid in some of his posts where he admits his failures, but then shifts back into delusion. He probably suffers from depression on top of a number of other health issues.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

I think it's kinda sad that that's what he sees as upper class. I knew he came from a dirt poor background but he seems to have linked "having a job and a house that isn't dilapidated" to filthy rich.

I might agree if it weren't all about stereotyping and strawmanning for him. His narrative about "Ashleigh" being a spoiled rich bitch who cruelly defrauded him out of his rightful pussy allotment would be bad enough even if she was Paris Hilton; the fact that she was just a teenage girl from a family making ends meet on a modest income shows how unbelievably petty and bitter the world according to Sweetums can be.

Sweets is a living illustration of the old "crabs in a barrel" parable. Anyone who has a dollar more than he does needs to be attacked, and anyone who has a dollar less than he does needs to be shat upon.

The other thing about Sweet that is disgusting is his lack of initiative. He refuses to get a fucking job, despite having a college degree, while his 66-year-old mum supports him. His own hero-narrative of his spoiled career dreams revolves around times where his mum did, or was going to, invest in businesses that would employ him (the hardware store and a crafts store partnership that didn't come to pass). What about applying for a damn job at an existing business? Or doing online work through Elance or similar, or even Mechanical Turk?

 

[Shadow Fox]

The other thing about Sweet that is disgusting is his lack of initiative. He refuses to get a fucking job, despite having a college degree, while his 66-year-old mum supports him.

I find it interesting that he still relies on his mom to drive him everywhere. (You know, his mom who for some reason is blind in one eye.) Has he ever given a reason for his inability to drive? I assumed it was because of his self-admitted poor eyesight, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he'd just never bothered to learn or made a half-assed attempt and given up almost immediately.

 

[DrChristianTroy]

I find it interesting that he still relies on his mom to drive him everywhere. (You know, his mom who for some reason is blind in one eye.) Has he ever given a reason for his inability to drive? I assumed it was because of his self-admitted poor eyesight, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he'd just never bothered to learn or made a half-assed attempt and given up almost immediately.

Apparently since every body part him is fucked up he can't drive. Or Obama, one of the two.

 

[Le Bateleur]

I find it interesting that he still relies on his mom to drive him everywhere. (You know, his mom who for some reason is blind in one eye.) Has he ever given a reason for his inability to drive? I assumed it was because of his self-admitted poor eyesight, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he'd just never bothered to learn or made a half-assed attempt and given up almost immediately.

He seems to have low motivation for certain things. He's been complaining since about 2009 that he needs new glasses...

In other things, though, he shows a high degree of commitment. He's been making monthly issues of his comic for years, as well as updating his website with detailed plot summaries and references for pretty much all of his puns.

His love of detailed worldbuilding, unrelated to any monetary success (he seems to sell almost no copies of his work), combined with his tendency to imitate rather than originate, is another reason I reckon he's on the autistic spectrum.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

He seems to have low motivation for certain things. He's been complaining since about 2009 that he needs new glasses...

To be fair, glasses are expensive in the US and not covered (as far as I know) by any public medical benefits. Especially for people who need a high degree of correction: my husband's glasses are like $600 just for the lenses.

 

[Ti-99/4A]

To be fair, glasses are expensive in the US and not covered (as far as I know) by any public medical benefits. Especially for people who need a high degree of correction: my husband's glasses are like $600 just for the lenses.

Off-Topic: I got my glasses by volunteering with the local Lions Club. But Sweets is allergic to work.

 

[ToroidalBoat]

his tendency to imitate rather than originate

I haven't really read much of Iconoclast comics, but how are they derivative (aside from the kissing example above)? Is it like Sonichu?

 

[Ruin]

I haven't really read much of Iconoclast comics, but how are they derivative (aside from the kissing example above)? Is it like Sonichu?

Its honesty really difficult to describe. Think Calvin and Hobbes but with all the humor, originality, and charm stripped away and the main characters replaced by Iconoclast's 10 year old self insert and his equally boring friends. Then throw in the fake 1950's wholesome Family Circus style nonsense combined with bizarre and nonsensical rants about feminism and liberalism a la Billy The Heretic.

That's the Belch Dimension in a nutshell.

 

[Le Bateleur]

I haven't really read much of Iconoclast comics, but how are they derivative (aside from the kissing example above)? Is it like Sonichu?

For one thing, there's ORIGINAL CHARACTERS DO NOT STEAL like these:

Spoiler

It may look like ALF and another ALF cosplaying as Woody the Woodpecker, but it's actually a pair of original Sweet creations.

For further examples of this, look through Sweet's wiki pages, and read the "Inspiration" sections.

Spoiler: Example

Inspiration
Artist Jonathan M. Sweet first designed the villain characters when he was nine, basing them on characters from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Hiss Hole was heavily influenced by both the Snake People--particularly a character called Kobra Khan--and by Shadow Weaver, an evil sorceress from its sister series She-Ra, Princess of Power. Slobber Face, Jello Brain , and Gorilla Man were modeled after Leech, Mantenna, and Grizzlor, members of The Evil Horde, respectively. Noodle Nozzle was likely influenced by either author Carlos Collodi's drawings in the original Pinnochio, or a beak-nosed minor goon in a Batman coloring book called "Benny the Buzzard", who was one of The Penguin's goons. Prof. Fruitcake was modeled after the Batman foe Dr. Strange.

If you have the patience, look through Sweet's website - there's a section where he explains every story, and frequently mentions that he is paying homage to a plot or a joke from some other media.

Finally, I found the very first page of Belch Dimension Issue #1. To my eye, he's clearly copying Jason Kendrick Howell from Sonichu, and Jivin from Asperchu

Spoiler: Hand-drawn original

 

[ToroidalBoat]

Its honesty really difficult to describe.

So basically, the imitation comes from imitating Calvin and Hobbes and Family Circus, combined with the other stuff Absinthe mentions?

To my eye, he's clearly copying Jason Kendrick Howell from Sonichu

>copying from Sonichu

At least it seems like Iconoclast is avoiding plagiarism by citing sources and inspirations - at least sometimes.

 

[Le Bateleur]

So basically, the imitation Absinthe mentions comes from imitating Calvin and Hobbes and Family Circus?


>copying from Sonichu

The copying Sonichu thing is kind of a joke. IIRC, Sweet's comic is actually older.

Basically, his comic is him redrawing characters, jokes and pop culture references he likes. He doesn't really offer any commentary on them, he just draws stuff he thinks is cool. Very similar to Chris in that respect.

 

[Ruin]

Just fix your alcoholic drink of choice and read it man, it truly is something you have to experience firsthand to appreciate the depths of it's insanity.

 

[DrChristianTroy]

Its honesty really difficult to describe. Think Calvin and Hobbes but with all the humor, originality, and charm stripped away and the main characters replaced by Iconoclast's 10 year old self insert and his equally boring friends. Then throw in the fake 1950's wholesome Family Circus style nonsense combined with bizarre and nonsensical rants about feminism and liberalism a la Billy The Heretic.

That's the Belch Dimension in a nutshell.

Despite loving this thread I've read very little of his comic. This sounds like the wackest shit ever. Little T and One Track Mike levels of wack.