Hi Tom,

I’m the person you first answered about UA #5 here (the Indian guy). First off sorry for just submitting this, it’s too long to put into the ask portion.  Certainly there’s more to me than just being Indian, but I don’t think your answer really addressed my concern. Which is probably at least partially my fault, as it’s somewhat difficult to explain the problem in this forum with limited space and trying not to ramble on. I think the Newsarama interview hinted at the main problem, but Rick’s answer didn’t really address it either. The way Havok’s speech is worded it basically advocates for assimilation. It’s kind of reflective of the idea that being a person of color isn’t normal and being white is. I understand that the analogy isn’t perfect because mutants exist in fiction, but the main thrust of the book so far has been dealing with themes of mutants as a minority. Now that’s fine for him to have that POV if it’s going to be dealt, but that doesn’t seem like Rick’s intention was more than to have Havok deliver an inspiring speech based on what I’ve read since the issue was published.   Furthermore, I don’t question that Rick’s intentions were good at all, I think it’s simply a problem caused by wording. But I also am kind of disappointed that people having a gripe are all largely being deemed unreasonable. It’s unfair to say that fans with the complaint think those who don’t see the problem are “bad people.” There’s plenty of places on the internet where the issue was discussed reasonably (like the Bendis board) and people aren’t yelling, “WHAT A RACIST!” or anything of the sort. I know you guys are probably getting a headaches from dealing with jerk fans and I appreciate that you and Rick have been willing to talk about it. Do you guys feel like you understand why people were upset by it? 

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Sure, I think I understand why people have had such an extreme reaction to that scene, and I don’t think that it’s unreasonable per se. I don’t know that it was reasonable for a few readers to verbally attack Rick and call him a racist, which is what set off his own crazy response, but this is the Internet and I kind of expect that.

Beyond that, though, my original answer still stands. I don’t think you have to, or even can, agree absolutely with the point of view of every character in fiction–even the ones you enjoy reading about. To frame this differently, away from the hot-button aspect of it all, I’m about as far removed from the Punisher politically and philosophically as you can be, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy a Punisher story.

I think it’s a leap to say that Havok’s speech or his point of view advocates for assimilation–but as a reader, you take from the work what you take from it. I don’t really mind if there’s a lot of discussion about the story and the series as a result of that.

But the place where I draw the line, obviously, is where some people want me to disavow the scene, or apologize for it, or to have Havok shamed and kneecapped and drawn and quartered in the next issue because of it. None of that is going to happen. I believe that the scene as it appeared is a legitimate and valid portrayal of the views and opinions of an individual character. And I separate this entirely from the stuff Rick said online, which has given some folks the license to jump on the scene–the person and the fiction he writes are two different things. Rick having a bad moment on Twitter doesn’t change the legitimacy of that scene.