ROB LIEFELD IS NUKED FROM ORBIT

[00:00:03]
Introduction and Context

• The host, Puka (aka Pers), opens the discussion focusing on Rob Lifel, described as an indie manga artist, TikTok personality, comic book creator, and manga creator.
• The tone is informal and engaging, encouraging viewers to prepare for an insightful discussion involving comic book culture.
• The host references “Pizza Friday” and coffee to set a casual, relatable atmosphere.

[00:00:40]
Background on the Topic: Invincible and Power Levels Debate

• Rob Lifel reacts to a discussion about power level inconsistencies in the comic series “Invincible” by Robert Kirkman.
• Robert Kirkman recently appeared on a podcast acknowledging these inconsistencies.
• The host draws a parallel between Invincible and Dragon Ball Z, asserting that Invincible holds more relatable melodrama, which shapes their personal preference.
• Rob Lifel’s social media activity includes reacting to this debate but is described as being “completely obliterated” in the response, suggesting a strong rebuttal against him.

[00:02:05]
The Criticism of Rob Lifel and His Position

• Rob Lifel is challenged for his opinions, with emphasis on the critique of his social media stance.
• The host expresses interest in Rob Lifel’s actual work and desires to feature his comic book on the channel, showing some openness to his creative output despite the criticism.
• However, Rob Lifel is told bluntly: “Where is your multi-million selling comic book?” implying a lack of credibility or authority to critique Invincible without significant creative success himself.

[00:02:36]
Creator of Deadpool’s Argument Against Criticism

• The creator of Deadpool argues that one cannot criticize Invincible’s inconsistencies unless they have a multi-million selling comic book themselves.
• The host finds this a “ridiculous point” and an irrational standard, meriting a dedicated video response.
• The logic is questioned as it would disallow criticism from anyone without equivalent success, which is an unreasonable gatekeeping method.

[00:02:52]
Example of Robert Kirkman’s Own Criticism of Superman

• Robert Kirkman himself has publicly criticized Superman, calling him “absolute trash”, despite Superman’s unmatched popularity and iconic status.
• According to the Deadpool creator’s logic, Kirkman would not be allowed to criticize Superman because he hasn’t created a character as successful.
• This example exposes the inconsistency and absurdity of that argument.
• The host emphasizes that if Kirkman can critique Superman, others should have the right to criticize Invincible.

[00:03:22]
Broader Implications of the Gatekeeping Logic

• Extending the logic further, the host humorously questions if people could only criticize their favorite football teams if they personally created an NFL team, which would be nonsensical.
• The conclusion is that everyone has the right to critique, regardless of their own achievements.

[00:03:41]
Modern Comic Book Creation and Social Media Dynamics

• The host discusses the shift in the comic book world, emphasizing that modern creators are not just about producing art but also about personality, social media presence, and reactions.
• This reflects the changing landscape of comic book culture, where content and personality are vital components.
• The manga creator, ND, is credited with successfully harnessing this new model, showing strength in defending his opinions and engaging audiences.

[00:04:24]
Credit to ND Manga Creator and Criticism of Rob Lifel’s Online Presence

• ND is praised for standing up for himself and effectively voicing his perspective.
• Conversely, Rob Lifel is described as possibly “the worst comic book creator ever to touch the internet” in the host’s view—an intentionally harsh critique highlighting perceived shortcomings.
• The host challenges Rob Lifel to produce substantive work before offering opinions.
• Rob Lifel is said to have claimed ignorance about how certain aspects of the industry work, undermining his credibility.

[00:05:40]
Rob Lifel’s Expertise and Historical Context

• Rob Lifel is characterized not as a comic book historian but as someone reflecting on his personal experience growing up reading comics, mainly from the 1970s.
• His knowledge of the 1980s era and beyond is described as limited.
• His podcast discussions reveal an ongoing pattern of being overshadowed by contemporaries, especially Jim Lee, which the host finds notable and plans to explore further in a future video.

[00:06:54]
The New Era: Personality-Driven Creators on Platforms like TikTok

• ND Manga Creator exemplifies the modern comic creator archetype: charismatic, eloquent, and media-savvy, especially on platforms like TikTok.
• This contrasts with traditional notions of manga or comic creators who focus solely on their craft without engaging in reaction content or personality-driven media.
• The host suggests this is the “new comic book creator of today”, blending art creation with social media presence.

[00:07:33]
Two Major Takeaways

1. Rob Lifel lacks the credibility and professionalism to maintain a constructive online presence, as evidenced by his dismissive and defensive behavior.
2. ND represents the evolving face of comic creation, one that combines creative output with personality and social media engagement.

[00:08:09]
Rob Lifel’s Online Behavior and Community Management

• The host claims Rob Lifel is hostile to criticism, banning and blocking dissenters from his Facebook group and social media platforms.
• This behavior is seen as antithetical to constructive discourse and harms his reputation.
• The host admits to having once been a Rob Lifel advocate but has since become critical due to these issues.

[00:08:46]
Industry Impact and Ethical Concerns Regarding Rob Lifel

• Rob Lifel’s influence is described as potentially damaging to the comic book industry, with accusations of recycling artwork for projects such as Young Blood and infinite covers.
• This practice is termed “predatory” and “scammy”, especially in relation to how newer creators rally around him for selfish reasons rather than genuine respect.
• The host explicitly states that Rob Lifel’s legacy is not comparable to legendary creators like Jack Kirby.

[00:10:00]
The Future and New Generation of Creators

• The host predicts that the new generation of comic creators will critically challenge and dismantle Rob Lifel’s legacy rather than allowing him to fade quietly.
• This is framed as a positive development for the industry, suggesting a reckoning and renewal.

Summary Table: Key Figures and Roles

Key Insights

• Criticism of art and media should not be gated by commercial success or fame. Everyone, including smaller creators and fans, has the right to critique.
• Robert Kirkman’s public criticism of iconic characters disproves the argument that only top-tier creators can critique others.
• Modern comic book culture is increasingly personality-driven, with social media and reaction content playing a critical role in shaping creator identity and audience engagement.
• Rob Lifel’s online behavior and creative output are controversial and viewed negatively by some in the community, impacting his credibility and legacy.
• The industry is undergoing a generational shift, with newer creators like ND redefining what it means to be a comic or manga creator today.

Conclusion

The video provides a nuanced critique of Rob Lifel’s place in modern comic culture, contrasting him with both legendary creators and emerging new voices. It challenges gatekeeping arguments about who can validly criticize popular works like Invincible and highlights the evolving social media-driven nature of comic book creation. The host ultimately calls for accountability and embraces the new generation’s role in reshaping the industry’s future.

00:00:03
Oh boy. Welcome back to the channel. Puka here. Cheers my aka Pers. The aka Pad Army wants you in its ranks. And today we’re talking indie manga artist, Tik Tok personality, and comic book creator, manga creator, and the one and only Rob Lifel. You guys are in for a treat. So, cheers TGIF. Get yourself some hot coffee today. This morning, please. It’s just hot. Nothing in there. I just You want it smoldering hot and it’s pizza Friday. So I want to see some of that pizza today. So guys, let let’s

00:00:40
in brief I I’ll bring you up to speed and then we’ll we’ll we’ll play this and comic book artist. I keep wanting to call him code and manga artist. His link is here. It’s also in the description. He makes a video where it’s it’s a simple analysis basic questions actually on the power levels of invincible. Robert Kirkman was just on with that. Robert Kirkman was just making a podcast appearance where he addresses the inconsistency of power levels within Invincible. Invincible in my view, if you guys

00:01:24
really want to know, I’m sure you do. It’s America’s Dragon Ball Z. It Okay. And and I think it has more relatable melodrama, which is why I favor it so much more over Dragon Ball Z. Uh I was never much of a Dragon Ball Zer knowledge. So with with all of that, ND here just voices his opinion on the inconsistencies of this. Rob Lifel with that Rob Lifel with nothing better to do or no better direction for his social media reacts to this and then get gets completely obliterated. I mean it’s

00:02:05
liter I mean it’s it’s like it’s omnim like punching a melon. Is that a good enough scenario? So, ND manga artist and the manga creator and I’m going to do everything I can to get your book. I I want to bring your book to this channel to the aka pad army because I’m just deeply curious and I like what you’re doing. >> [ __ ] dude, where is your multi-million selling comic book? Get the heck out of here. >> Well, the creator of Deadpool says you cannot criticize the inverse

00:02:36
inconsistencies in Invincible unless you personally have a multi-million dollar selling comic book. I didn’t even bother addressing that in my initial video because it was such a ridiculous point and the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it becomes. So, I had to make a video about it. I know I’m dragging you at this point. But the reason why it was such a ridiculous point is because it is such an irrational standard that no one, including you, don’t actually believe because if we follow the logic,

00:02:52
I can’t criticize Invincible because I don’t personally have a comic book that is more successful than Invincible. What a weird point to make because the creator of Invincible has gone on record on multiple separate occasions saying how much he thinks Superman is absolute trash. It says it right here on screen. Kirkman said, “I think Superman is absolute trash.” Uh-oh. Last time I checked, Invincible is not the most popular, most iconic, most recognizable superhero of all time. But by your

00:03:08
standards and your logic, Kirkman, the guy who you are literally defending, is not allowed to criticize Superman because he has not created a character that is as successful as Superman. So, are you going to make a video next that has 90% of how commenting attacks telling Kirkman that he’s not allowed to criticize Superman because he hasn’t created anything as successful as Superman? Obviously, you’re not because that would be dumb and you don’t actually believe that. Though, just like

00:03:22
Robert Kirkman is well within his right to say Superman is trash despite not having read anything remotely close to being as successful as Superman, I am also well within my right to criticize the invincible inverse failing. I mean, even if we follow that logic applied to literally anything else, we can see just how ridiculous it is. Are we going to say from now on nobody’s ever allowed to criticize their favorite football team unless you personally create your own NFL team? No. because >> Okay. Well, AK Patterns, that was some

00:03:41
scary [ __ ] T. The modernday, and we talk about this, the modernday comic book creator, manga creator is not just going to be about them and the blank page and what they produce. That’s the old ways. That way is gone. Yes, it upsets me as well. What’s emerged through social media is personalities, its content, it’s reaction, and all of these low-level, lowhanging fruit thoughts. Now, ND, I will say, looks to have harnessed this. Now, I haven’t been through his entire feed. I can’t speak on everything that

00:04:24
he feels about this, but at the same time, I give this dude uh amazing credit for standing up for himself. I give himself amazing credit for I mean, he just nails the overall thought of why can’t I critique like you want and to give a little bit of levity to Mr. Rob Lyeld. Yeah, the worst comic book creator ever to touch the internet. I’m sorry. I know you have your favorites, but Rob Lifel might be trying to express that. Get some skin in the game, create some books, let’s see what you can do, and then

00:05:08
maybe like come back to my yard with your opinion. But it really doesn’t come off that way. If that’s what Rob Lyfeld meant, and you know, I’m playing devil’s advocate here, it, you know, it doesn’t matter because the way it lands and the way it comes off, Rob Lifeeld on his podcast claims he doesn’t know how any of these things work. So, whoever is managing his social media, that person gets fired. whoever is giving him these stupid ideas for some of his content like blindly ranking

00:05:40
five comic book covers or or Deadpool verse which is they’re only questions within the Rob Lifelm. In my view, Rob Lifeeld is not a comic book historian. Rob Lifeeld is an expert on his time growing up reading comics, which is why time and time again he references the 70s. uh he barely touches the 80s well enough. Rob Lifeld very poor with telling you about his own companies, the shortcomings, the failures. Rob Lifel even on his podcast uh has made himself to be uh a simply every time he brings Jim Jim Lee and

00:06:21
some of their work relationships up to to the you know from the early image days. Uh Jim Lee the just the way how Jim Lee one ups him every single level, every single opportunity, every single project. It’s comical. That’s the subject of a video that we have coming. If you guys want to see that video, leave a comment down below. I’ll jump on it. That’s what she said. And the manga creator is doing what no no one in my sphere is doing. By the way, guys, you know, if you guys come into YouTube and and do

00:06:54
some of the the live streams, that’s a little bit more my realm than Tik Tok. But what Andy Manga Creator is doing is he’s harnessing a personality, one that’s likable, one that, you know, it’s not saying I have a crush, but you know, this dude looks fantastic on camera. This dude has a personality. This dude is expressing himself and he’s eloquent about it and he’s exact about it and he’s also expressing himself in a method that is of today and of the time. He is not a manga creator. He’s if he solely

00:07:33
was, he wouldn’t be doing reaction reaction reaction content. But this is the new comic book creator of today. That’s the absolute takeaway. The other takeaway because we got to do two I guess let’s do two absolute takeaways is that Rob Lifeeld has no business being on the internet. Rob Lifeeld has no business talking down to anyone. Uh even if you play Devil’s Advocate, it’s it’s horrific. Rob Lifeeld in my view always a coward. deletes it. Never uh you know, for example, if you’re if you bring this

00:08:09
up in Rob Lifeeld’s Facebook group, you are immediately thrown out of the group and banned. If you bring this up to Rob Lifeeld in any of his social media comments or whatever, you’re immediately blocked. That’s how Rob Lifeeld rewards people like me who have given him time and effort because me at one time was a Rob Lifeeld advocate and apologist. Now that doesn’t say I wasn’t always ready and prepared to criticize the guy because Rob Lifeeld is the one creator that is never above criticism. Uh, I do

00:08:46
believe that the industry has suffered sins of Rob Lyeld and even to a slow effect right now with Rob Lifeeld’s in I mean he’s recycling pages for Young Blood uh infinite covers uh all of that to me it’s it’s just predatory. It’s very scammy when it the way how new creators some of his contemporaries do rally around him. It’s all all for their selfish reasons. It’s never it’s never for uh this good we owe a lot to this guy. This guy is a creative force. Uh in no way, for example, do we speak of Rob

00:09:24
Lifel the same way that we speak of Jack Kirby. But right now, the comic book industry there there’s a segment of it that’s lashing on to Rob Lyfeld just for the attention and that’s all. So Rob Lfeld gets fake agilation. and he gets he gets fake thank yous from some of the people he allows to do covers for like Young Blood so on and so forth. Uh Rob Lifel clearly more destructive to American comic books than he’s ever been helpful. This new generation, here we go. Maybe that was a takeaway. This new generation

00:10:00
where will tear Rob Lyfeld apart. They they they won’t let him. They they will not they will not let him walk quietly into the night and that is a good thing.

PETER A DELUCA AKAPD

AKAPAD is a versatile thinker known across Philadelphia, Europe, and even in the vast Multiverse as The Electic One. By day, he excels as an IT Mastermind, assisting individuals, both big and small, with a wide range of simple and complex solutions. In contrast, he is also a talented illustrator, a passionate comic book enthusiast, a creative content creator, and an active live streamer. Additionally, his podcast, “AKAPAD The Film Buff Podcast,” boasts an impressive catalog of over 500 episodes available on nearly every major platform.