Alterna Comics Comes Under Fire for Treating Customers with Respect!

John F. Trent |

Aug 29, 2018

Former Comics Alliance writer Jennifer De Guzman took a cue from her former colleague Kieran Shiach to attack Alterna Comics because they treat their customers with respect and appreciate their growing fan base.

De Guzman would target Alterna Comics because they retweet their fans who purchased their products.

Another publisher RTing mtn shit. pic.twitter.com/1ReCOWxTkP

— Jennifer de Guzman Strikes Again (@Jennifer_deG) August 27, 2018

There are other examples besides these, but I’ve blocked most of the people they qt. @ALTERNACOMICS, are you cool with comicsgate or what? pic.twitter.com/c5kM9Oj7cQ

— Jennifer de Guzman Strikes Again (@Jennifer_deG) August 27, 2018

However, she would later on reveal it’s because those fans are associated with the ComicsGate movement.

yup. Just trying to see if they’ll confirm or are just happy to let the bigot dollars roll in with a nod and a wink.

— Jennifer de Guzman Strikes Again (@Jennifer_deG) August 27, 2018

Peter Simeti, the founder and publisher of Alterna Comics, would respond after one of his published creators agreed with De Guzman. The creator, Christine Brunson, noted they had stepped away from the publisher because of their support for their fans.

People of all walks of life, LOVE Amazing Age and loved your work on it — I supported you guys and went to bat for you against Diamond and the FCBD committee and this is how you respond? Thanks. Really means a lot.

— peter simeti will see you at GraniteCon! (@petersimeti) August 27, 2018

Simeti and Brunson would go back and forth for a bit with Simeti explaining that many of the readers who purchased Amazing Age also support ComicsGate.

you realize that many of those people read and love Amazing Age? you even follow a few of them and they follow you. you’ve even thanked them as well. you do realize this right?

— peter simeti will see you at GraniteCon! (@petersimeti) August 27, 2018

Simeti would go on to comment about De Guzman’s attack on him and Alterna Comics. He explained that De Guzman’s attack shows in her mind that comics really aren’t for everyone.

It’s unreal. Comics are apparently for “everyone” as long as “everyone” is first approved of and vetted. I’m getting crucified for saying “thank you” to readers but I shouldn’t be upset by that… no no, it’s just my life’s work and character that’s being assassinated is all. https://t.co/4EQAnWSIOq

— peter simeti will see you at GraniteCon! (@petersimeti) August 27, 2018

While De Guzman would launch her attack against Simeti, it appears to have completely backfired much like other attacks from Kieran Shiach and Tim Doyle have backfired in the past.

Simeti noted that just yesterday he was working on packing and shipping over one thousand comics from just the day before!

Over one thousand comics ordered since yesterday from readers and retailers alike…!

This pic isn’t even showing a tenth of it. I am going to need a few days to pack and ship them all. ?

Thank you for once again proving that Alterna readers are the BEST readers in comics. ? pic.twitter.com/gsPUGnV8Ad

— peter simeti will see you at GraniteCon! (@petersimeti) August 28, 2018

He would also see a number of customers show their support for him and Alterna Comics publicly.

After getting my initial batch of your stuff and seeing how you interact with people, I’m always going to support Alterna and check out new titles as they come out. Love the YouTube streams too, btw.

— Talking Pulp (@TalkingPulp) August 28, 2018

@petersimeti I just want to say that I checked out Alterna’s books purely on the back of how pleasant you are towards the comics community. Thanks for treating comics fans like human beings.

— ShileleighODoom (@ShileleighODoom) August 27, 2018

same, in fact. I had never heard Peter’s name before, and now I’ve got a new reading list.

— GreyAreaGreyMatter (@area_matter_mk4) August 28, 2018

The bile being poured out on Twitter is growing worse by the day. I don’t have the patience to read all the garbage being tossed around, but I’ve followed you long enough to know you’ve been a solid champion for comics, creators, and fans. I don’t see any evidence to the contrary

— Kody Chamberlain (@KodyChamberlain) August 28, 2018

This is the current state of the comics industry. Former Comics Alliance writers like Jennifer De Guzman and Kieran Shiach have made it their goal to demean and attack anyone they find guilty of wrong think. But it’s not just Comics Alliance writers. We’ve seen this behavior spill over with creators like Bill Sienkiewicz telling ComicsGate and comic book fans to get lost. Vertigo Comics artist Robbi Rodriguez just recently sent disgusting, graphic photos of his butthole to Ethan Van Sciver.

And while all this nasty behavior continues, comic book sales overall continue to decline.

Something needs to change.