Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!faqserv

Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!faqserv
From: [email protected] (Kate the Short)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.info,rec.arts.comics.reviews,rec.answers,news.answers
Subject: Reviews FAQ - Technical Guide
Supersedes: <comics/reviews/[email protected]>
Followup-To: poster
Date: 24 Sep 1999 12:30:19 GMT
Organization: Keepers of Frequently Asked Questions, rac.reviews division
Lines: 408
Approved: [email protected]
Expires: 7 Nov 1999 12:12:39 GMT
Message-ID: <comics/reviews/[email protected]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu
Summary: A FAQ and style sheet for rec.arts.comics.reviews
X-Last-Updated: 1999/06/29
Originator: [email protected]
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.arts.comics.info:8570 rec.arts.comics.reviews:4041 rec.answers:52818 news.answers:167722

Archive-name: comics/reviews/technical
Posting-frequency: monthly
URL: http://www.enteract.com/~katew/faqs/

rec.arts.comics.reviews
-= TECHNICAL GUIDE =-

Copyright 1995-1999 by Katharine E. Hahn
http://www.enteract.com/~katew/

Version 99.03
Last updated June 1999

SEND ADDITIONS / CHANGES / DEAD LINKS / MOVED LINKS / UPDATES TO:
Kate the Short, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

------------------------------

Subject: Table of Contents

Purpose / Charter
Posting Problems
Keywords
Crossposting Criteria
Examples
Credits

------------------------------

Subject: Purpose / Charter

The purpose of this newsgroup is to review comic books, comic strips,
political cartoon compilations, comic-review publications, and the
like. It is not meant as a discussion forum, nor as a place to
advertise comics and related publications. Newly-issued single comics
are what you'll see most of, but that does not mean that those are the
*only* materials which may be posted here. Other products that are
considered reviewable include:

Comics books, strips, political cartoons, and their compilations
Movie/TV/prose adaptations of comic-book characters and stories
Biographies or histories of characters, pros, and the industry
rec.arts.comics.creative "issues" or "titles"
Industry-related publications and magazines
Subscription companies and services
Archival/collecting materials
Cataloguing software
Comics conventions

Things that are NOT reviews will be considered off-topic in this group.
Advertisements, large binaries, SPAM, general announcements, and
discussion and followup posts are not permitted and will be rejected.
If a post begins with "Re: " then it is treated as a followup and will
be returned. Additionally, reviews of things that aren't on-topic for
rec.arts.comics.reviews will be returned.

------------------------------

Subject: Posting Problems

Every once in a while, you'll have a review which seems to get lost in
the system. This happens for a variety of reasons.

First, rac.reviews is a moderated group. Your posts have to get past
the moderator or his software. Reviews have to be approved so we know
that they aren't spam or mega-crossposts. Second, every once in a while
your server may have problems sending out messages. Check DejaNews to
see if your other posts to other newsgroups have made it out.

If you have any questions about the moderation, please direct them to
the moderator, Jeremy Billones (mailto:[email protected]). If you
tried to post and cannot, either use a different account or post a
short, polite message to rec.arts.comics.misc asking if Jeremy's been
receiving any of your emails. For all we know, it could be his system
that's temporarily down...

Please note that as of February 1998, mail from Prodigy users has been
banned from rec.arts.comics.reviews and rec.arts.comics.info.

Please note that reviewers who want to CC their reviews to DC Comics
or its other imprints should send them to (mailto:[email protected]).

------------------------------

Subject: Keywords

Posts are most quickly posted if they follow a basic Subject Keyword
format. Right now there are three standard Keywords that the bot looks
for, as well as checking the newsgroups line: CAPSULES:, REVIEW:, and
PREVIEW. Other subject-line keywords may be arranged with the moderator.

For example, these are suggested Subject line formats:

CAPSULES: PUBLISHER NAME (any other information the author includes)

REVIEW: TITLE #nnn (any other information the author includes)
REVIEW: TITLE etcetera (other information)

PREVIEW: TITLE #nnn (any other information the author includes)
PREVIEW: COLUMN NAME (any other information the author includes)

Please note that it's best to give *some* hint of which titles you're
discussing in your review; don't just say "Mark's Reviews 11-2000".

When you follow up to these reviews, delete the stuff that you aren't
directly commenting on. Delete the other person's .sig, while you're
at it. Leave white space after each paragraph, and don't type your
responses next to the >> marks. That makes it easier to understand what
you're responding to, and make your posts and responses a lot easier to
read. Make sure that your followups are only going to the newsgroups
where the reviewed book or product would be discussed. Thanks.

------------------------------

Subject: Crossposting Criteria

If you will be crossposting your review to a non-rac.* newsgroup, like
rec.arts.books.reviews, rec.arts.movies.reviews, or rec.arts.sf.reviews,
*please* make sure that your review fits that newsgroup's review
criteria. Crossposting is fine, and is even encouraged, but please
make sure to read the FAQs of those groups so your reviews won't be
rejected.

Followups should be set to three or fewer discussion groups, either
within the r.a.c.* hierarchy or within other *appropriate* hierarchies,
not including the .reviews or .info newsgroups.

*** FAQ FOR REC.ARTS.BOOKS.REVIEWS

URL: ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/books/reviews-faq

An essential read for anyone interested in crossposting book reviews to
rec.arts.books.reviews (such as prose comics novels, coffee table
books, biographies, and the like). Those sending reviews to other
moderated groups should send a short note to the moderator of r.a.b.r.,
letting them know that they sent the review to more than one moderated
newsgroup. Brock is the moderator, and the submission address is
(mailto:[email protected]).

*** WELCOME TO REC.ARTS.SF.REVIEWS

URL: ftp://net.bio.net/pub/misc/sf-reviews/FAQ

While I am not sure if this document is currently updated, its
Guidelines still stand. Individual issues of continuing comic books
ARE NOT subject matter for r.a.sf.r. "Series-within-series," or full
runs of such comics, are. Limited series (in whatever "format") ARE
appropriate subject matter for r.a.sf.r. The Subject line of r.a.sf.r
postings MUST include the title of the work and the creator's name.
Submissions should be sent to (mailto:[email protected]);
comments should be sent to (mailto:[email protected]).

*** Other Information

The current practice for posting movie reviews is to list the subject
as REVIEW: TITLE (year); a quick glance at other reviews in the
newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews should provide all of the information
you need.

The current practice for startrek reviews is to use these keywords:
TOS for Original Series, TNG for Next Generation, DS9 for Deep Space
Nine, and VOY for Voyager. Comics would also have the keyword BOOK
added to them, as in REVIEW: [TOS BOOK] STAR TREK #6 or the like.
Reading the rec.arts.startrek.reviews newsgroup will give you more
examples.

The rec.arts.sf.reviews and rec.arts.books.reviews newsgroups prefer
that bibliographic information be included in the addbib format
(available in UNIX or just type it) so that it can be easily accessed
from the archives. It can be appended to the bottom of a review post
as follows (an asterisk [*] denotes a required datum):

%H Header commentary, printed before reference
* %A Author's name (use a separate %A line for each)
* %T Title of article or book
* %B Anthology/collection title for individual stories/articles
%E Editor (of book or series)
* %I Issuer (publisher's name and imprint)
%C City (place of publication)
* %D Date of publication
* %G Government order number (use this for ISBN)
%P Page number(s) (use for page count)
%S Series title
%V Volume number
%O Comments/etc. (use for format/price, ordering info)
%J Journal containing article
%K Keywords

------------------------------

Subject: Examples

Here are some suggestions, hints, and examples, following the most
often seen formats for the reviews in the main newsgroups of the review
type. Followups here are set only to the most appropriate rac.*
newsgroup; you can add other appropriate newsgroups as needed. The
Include: line is only a guide of what things you might want to mention
in your review; it is not a mandate that you mention everything!

ACTION FIGURES:
Subject: REVIEW: Spawn action figure series
Item: Spawn action figure line
Also to: rec.arts.comics.other-media, rec.toys.action-figures,
alt.comics.image
Follows: rec.arts.comics.other-media
Include: Names of figures, manufacturer. Size of figures, accessories
included. Packaging, cost, etc.

BIOGRAPHIES:
Subject: REVIEW: COMIC BOOK HEROES, by John Jones
Item: Comic Book Heroes quasi-biography
Also to: rec.arts.comics.misc, rec.arts.books.reviews (mod),
rec.arts.books
Follows: rec.arts.comics.misc
Include: TITLE by author. Publisher, publisher address. Online
publisher contact info (if any). Whether it has photos,
illustrations, index, maps, notes, etc. Number of pages,
$cost and binding. ISBN number. etc.

CARTOONS:
Subject: REVIEW: X:TAS Dark Phoenix Saga
Item: X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga (Cartoon Version)
Also to: rec.arts.comics.other-media, rec.arts.animation, rec.arts.tv
Follows: rec.arts.comics.other-media
Include: Title, network/studio, airing time, video cost, voices, etc.

COMICS (SINGLE-ISSUE):
Subject: PREVIEW: Marvel's Star Trek Comics
Item: Star Trek comic book
Also to: rec.arts.comics.misc, rec.arts.startrek.reviews (mod)
rec.arts.startrek.misc
Follows: rec.arts.comics.misc
Include: Title, issue number, publisher, writers, artists, colorists,
editors, cost, pages, etc.

COMICS (ARC/MINISERIES):
Subject: REVIEW: STAR WARS DARK FORCES #1-4, by Marcus et al
Item: Star Wars miniseries
Also to: rec.arts.comics.misc, rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc,
rec.arts.sf.reviews (mod)
Follows: rec.arts.comics.misc
Include: TITLE, number of issues, publisher, writers, artists, colorists,
editors, cost, pages, etc.

COMICS (STRIP):
Subject: REVIEW: Mr. Boffo
Item: Mr. Boffo daily strip
Also to: rec.arts.comics.strips
Follows: rec.arts.comics.strips
Include: Title, writers, artists. Publisher/syndicate, frequency of
publication (daily/Sunday), etc.

COMICS (WEB):
Subject: REVIEW: Pat's Web Cartoon
Item: Pat's Web Cartoon
Also to: rec.arts.comics.misc
Follows: rec.arts.comics.misc
Include: Title, writers, artists. Site location. Size of comic.
How often it changes, etc.

COMPILATIONS:
Subject: REVIEW: BLOOM COUNTY: BABYLON, by Berke Breathed
Item: Bloom County: Babylon trade paperback
Also to: rec.arts.comics.strips, rec.arts.books.reviews (mod),
rec.arts.books
Follows: rec.arts.comics.strips
Include: TITLE by author. Publisher, publisher address. Online
publisher contact info (if any). Whether it has photos,
illustrations, index, maps, notes, etc. Number of pages,
$cost and binding. ISBN number. etc.

CONVENTIONS:
Subject: REVIEW: Wizard World Chicago Comicon
Item: Chicago Comics Convention
Also to: rec.arts.comics.misc, alt.comics.fandom
Follows: rec.arts.comics.misc, alt.comics.fandom
Include: Convention name, contact addresses and phone numbers, place
time and dates of event, daily/weekend pass rates, events
usually included. Available lodging and cost, available
parking and cost, availability of food, usual attendence
figures, etc.

CREATIVES:
Subject: REVIEW: LNH #6: Creative Critiques
Item: LNH rac.creative issues
Also to: rec.arts.comics.creative
Follows: rec.arts.comics.creative
Include: Title, writer, frequency of net.issues, archive location,
etc.

FANFICS:
Subject: REVIEW: Heroes Re-Reborn
Item: alt.comics.fan-fiction stories
Also to: alt.comics.fan-fiction, rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe
Follows: alt.comics.fan-fiction
Include: Title, writer, frequency of net.issues, number of chapters.
Archive location, etc.

MAGAZINES:
Subject: REVIEW: WIZARD Magazine
Item: WIZARD: The Guide to Comics
Also to: rec.arts.comics.misc
Follows: rec.arts.comics.misc
Include: Title, publisher, editors, size, single/yearly issue costs,
subscription info, usual columns/features, reliability, etc.

MAILING LISTS:
Subject: REVIEW: STRIPE Mailing List
Item: Stripe Mailing list
Also to: rec.arts.comics.marvel.xbooks, news.groups.reviews
Follows: rec.arts.comics.marvel.xbooks
Include: Name of list, request address, submission address, listowner.
Average traffic daily, approximate number of subscribers.
Web address, etc.

MANGA:
Subject: REVIEW: Oh My Goddess! Special
Item: Oh My Goddess! manga comic
Also to: rec.arts.manga
Follows: rec.arts.manga
Include: Title, issue number, publisher, writers, artists, colorists,
editors, cost, pages, etc.

MOVIES:
Subject: REVIEW: BATMAN AND ROBIN (1997)
Item: Batman and Robin movie
Also to: rec.arts.comics.other-media, rec.arts.movies.reviews (mod),
rec.arts.movies.current-films
Follows: rec.arts.comics.other-media
Include: TITLE, (year), MPAA rating, studio, running time, actors,
directors, writers, video cost, etc.

NOVELS:
Subject: REVIEW: WHAT SAVAGE BEAST, by Peter A. David
Item: Hulk novel
Also to: rec.arts.comics.other-media, rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe,
rec.arts.books.reviews (mod), rec.arts.books,
rec.arts.sf.reviews (mod), alt.fan.peter-david
Follows: rec.arts.comics.other-media, alt.fan.peter-david
Include: TITLE by author. Publisher, publisher address. Online
publisher contact info (if any). Whether it has photos,
illustrations, index, maps, notes, etc. Number of pages,
$cost and binding. ISBN number. etc.

SOFTWARE:
Subject: REVIEW: WIZARD AbleSoft Collecting Software
Item: Collecting Software
Also to: rec.arts.comics.misc, rec.arts.comics.marketplace
Follows: rec.arts.comics.misc, rec.arts.comics.marketplace
Include: Title, publisher, cost. System type and requirements.
Disks, manuals, other included materials. Possibility for
additions or upgrades, etc.

------------------------------

Subject: Credits

The Welcome Keeper would like to thank:

* Jeremy Billones, for moderating rac.info and rac.reviews,
* Mike Chary, for contributing his Arrogant Guide to Reviewing,
* Aardy R. DeVarque for critiquing everything under the sun for me,
* and all the RAC'ers who made rac.* a welcome place to begin with.

--
Kate the Short * http://www.enteract.com/~katew/

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