Not always the case! Look at Alan Moore. To be fair, he hasn't gotten unbiased coverage, but still. Everybody thinks he's a frothing loony. Doesn't really do anything to his sales because he's a genius writer, but I have seen more than a few neckbeards at comic shops laughing at him.
[Mel:] Well yeah, I mean we are-wait. You don't know, do you? Ahaha, wow, zero-to-awkward in under three seconds. Yeah, Athena and I are dating now.