I love "PVP." I need to get that out of the way now because I KNOW I'm going to be getting some nasty e-mails from "PVP" fans about this editorial! Now where was I? Oh yes, I love "PVP." I visit Scott Kurtz's website everyday without fail, always looking forward to reading the newest adventures of the PVP gang, and usually Scott always rewards me with a good laugh each day. Being able to buy "PVP" comic books from the comic book store is also something I look forward to doing each month, because I have to admit that I just enjoy reading comics in an actual book ten times more then I enjoy reading them on a website. Something I also love doing with the monthly "PVP" series is checking out what new cover Scott has made for each issue. The main reason I love seeing the new covers is because I love to hang comic books on my wall. No joking. I put the comics in the protective sleeves (which are pinned to the wall) and I put the comic books in the sleeve and let them hang on the wall so that the covers can act like posters. I have no problem doing this since I re-read old comics in book compilations now anyway, so as far as I'm concerned this is just making my room more "comic book shop" like then anything. Looking at previous "PVP" covers it's easy to understand why I would want them on my wall:

See? Isn't that a cool cover? I love the facial expressions, I love the colors (purple is my favorite color), I love the poses, and I love the lighting. In the end, a very cool cover.

I love this cover because it represents what "PVP" is about: Geeks getting to live out their dreams by having their own created characters stand next to their favorite superhero's. In this case that superhero (if he can be called that) is played by the Savage Dragon. Okay, so "PVP" is not JUST about that, but it certainly is a cool idea that geeks dream about!

For those of you who have ever had a gamer for a girlfriend (or even just a girl friend who was a gamer) then this cover will make you grin like a five year old who is getting treated to some ice cream by his dad, as this picture just gets it (if you are a gamer you know what it is). So yes, I do have a special love for the "PVP" covers (my other favorite covers being the "Batman" and "Sonic The Hedgehog" covers). To date I had every single "PVP" cover hanging on my wall. I say "had" because that record has been broken by a truly unneeded cover. Now I am fully aware that "PVP" is Scott's creation and his alone. Image Comics may be making some coin off of Scott's little book, but Scott own's the copyrights to his own characters, so as far as he's concerned he can do whatever the heck he wants to do with his property. However I was truly disappointed (appalled really) with the cover for "PVP #13:"

Now look at this cover and ask yourself this question: Was this really necessary or called for? This cover is not artistic, it's not funny, it in no way gives you any idea of what is REALLY inside the cover...in fact, this cover is nothing but horny. Now to some credit I'm not saying that this Santa outfit doesn't appear in this book because it does. In fact the strips in question can be found here and here. However aside from those two strips the comics contained within THIS book involve everyone trying to cheer Brent up for Christmas, Skull getting attached to a stray kitten, and Brent accidently burning down Jades apartment in an attempt to be romantic (funny storyline, make sure you read it)! However you wouldn't know this from THAT cover! In fact, I want to know exactly WHAT Scott was thinking when he drew that cover! Did he feel that this cover would attract the attention of some horny teenagers in hopes that they would buy the book in hopes of seeing some serious skin (if he is, then he's wasting his time, as horny teenagers normally browse through a book to make sure they're getting what they want before they actually pay for the book)? Did he draw this because this is what he really feels about Christmas? What was the motive here? I would like to think Scott has more respect for his characters then THIS, but now I'm not so sure! If Scott ever returns my calls for an interview, then you can bet your bottoms I'll be bringing up this cover in the interview. Ironically enough, if Scott wanted a REAL Christmas cover, then all he had to do was TAKE THE FRICKEN PICTURE ON THE BACK AND PUT IT ON THE FRONT!!!!!!!

In fact I would have rather seen the back cover on the front instead of this, as that is a MUCH better representation of "PVP" and it makes a darn nice cover to boot! Heck, I have to wonder what Scott's WIFE thinks of this cover! Just to set the record straight it's not the sex that bothers me here. No, I have comics that have FAR more risque covers than this cover is, and I've seen far worse too! No, this is about respect. I don't know about Scott, but I feel as though he has seriously violated his characters with this cover. The characters may make a sexual joke here and there, but they only make sexual jokes when the timing calls for it. THIS cover on the other hand is uncalled for, and it makes "PVP" look like something it's not! THIS cover represents something that "PVP" should never, EVER, be! Why? Because that would mean that Scott was lowering his standards to appeal to the lowest common denominator and that just wouldn't be cool. Finally I think Scott owe's us (his fans) an apology for springing this cover on us. I mean, how do you think this cover makes ME feel?! I am not a horny teenager and I certainly don't think about sex all the time, yet I felt dirty and embarrassed to be reading this book in public. Heck, I feel dirty and embarrassed HAVING this cover laying around the house! When one of my non-comic book reading female friends see's this lying around, does Scott realize how cheap it makes me feel to have to explain to my girl friend (and I do mean friend) that what's on the cover isn't a representation of what's inside the cover.

One of my friends even said it best when he said "I may not mind a peep shot every now and then, but I look at this cover and it doesn't feel right. In fact, the cover feels about as out of place being a cover for 'PVP' as a stripper is out of place being at a 5 year olds birthday party." Again, this is not about me feeling offended about a little skin, this is about me being offended about being thought so little of. What I would hope Scott does is to first off never makes another cover like this again. And the second thing I would hope for is that Scott would write an apology to his fans for thinking so little of them that he felt he had to draw this cover. As for the issue I have, it's going into storage with my collection of 50's comics, not to be seen again until I decide to sell them one day.

- -Kevin T. Rodriguez- -

All images are © Scott Kurtz and Image Comics