Mitch Cutler of St. Mark's Comics in New York, New York read Kendall Swafford's recent column commenting on the role of DC's Sales Rep Pat O’Connell (see "Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk--Random Thoughts") and takes issue with what he said.

I couldn't let Kendall Swafford's column of 8/23 go uncorrected.  Publicity is not, as I understand it, Pat's job.  His job (at least as it relates to St.Mark's Comics) is to call me each week.  To take the re-orders I'd otherwise never get in.  To remind of what I meant to ask for, but didn't.  To say, "Don't forget, volume 2 is coming out next week... do you have enough volume 1?"  Maybe sort out which Batman trade paperbacks I actually mean when I ask for "all the Dini trades."  Pass along my occasional bitching.  And maybe even pass along my even more rare insight.  In short, he's a sales rep and does an excellent job of it.  As do his colleagues, when I speak to them.

I'm sorry you don't appreciate his efforts, and that you find it necessary to throw a valuable program--and staffer--"under the bus."  Perhaps you are better off asking DC to remove you from their call list, if it doesn't suit your needs.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.