SUPERGIRL #14
© DC
What Women Don’t Want
By: Kurt AmackerDate: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Greetings, Maniacs, and welcome to another serving of Comicscape calamity, where we rise above the fray and endorse insight over insults, and wisdom over whining. Once again, thanks to everyone for your praise and criticism in the comments section. I’m glad you guys like the column so much. Before I get into this week’s diatribe, I have an announcement to make: Al Brown, my co-writer on the Spinner Rack and the unpaid scourge of Mania.com will leave Comicscape in a few weeks. I can only imagine that the feds finally caught up to him. Anyway, I need a replacement to help me write the jokes every week. And, once in a great while, I can’t write a column for any number of reasons. Usually, those reasons involve hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico barreling towards New Orleans. So, I need someone to serve as my backup. If you’re interested, e-mail me a set of jokes about this week’s slate of Marvel titles. Copy and paste the Marvel section from the Spinner Rack below and make me laugh (delete our jokes first, please). Anyone demonstrating a total disregard for spelling and grammar automatically loses. E-mail your submissions by Tuesday, February 20th to comicscape@mania.com or kurtamacker@yahoo.com. I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday.
If your spouse or significant other hasn’t kicked you in the shins to remind you, I will: it’s Valentine’s Day. I hope you bought something besides comics today. And, since Valentine’s Day invariably makes me think about women (especially my lovely wife), this week’s Comicscape was inspired by the minor controversy that erupted a couple of weeks ago when DC editor Eddie Berganza implored female readers to check out Supergirl. Berganza assured comic-reading women that Supergirl would measure up to higher standards of both storytelling and realism on the part of the heroine with the introduction of writers Marc Sable and Joe Kelly. Many female bloggers jumped on Berganza’s case, accusing him of patronizing female readers. One even called him a “horrible douchebag.” While I doubt any of them found Berganza’s plea vindictive, most of them saw it as another example of the kind of clueless attitude towards women that pervades the comics industry.
In this week’s Comicscape, I will address the depiction of women in comics without once asserting that arousing illustrations demean women. There are a whole bunch of good arguments besides that tired line. In fact, let me state a couple of things before I dive in: I love beautiful women, I dislike feminism in its extreme forms, and in college, one self-appointed feminist leader accused me of hating women. My stance on a couple of issues didn’t sit well with her. I hope I’ve officially established my “illiberal” credibility with some of you. But, the comic industry needs to stand back and look at its attitude towards women, particularly if it expects them to read Supergirl and the like. Publish whatever you want, by all means. I believe in a marketplace of ideas – one that allows for things vapid, superficial, and over-the-top. But, expecting women to flock to any series drawn by Michael Turner sounds about as moronic as asking your kid sister to play Gauntlet “because she can be the barbarian chick.”
I know, I know – Witchblade is, like, a really strong woman, and she, like, uses her sexuality as a weapon. Spare me. Most women don’t like that Kara Zor-El looks like Paris Hilton. In fact, they don’t like illustrations that look like the artist used porn as a photo reference. A lot of women object to media telling them they need to further beautify themselves and that they lack something. It doesn’t matter if you disagree with their objection. Read that last sentence again. Your disagreement won’t open their wallets (or their hearts or anything else). If the comic industry wants more female readers, it needs to figure out what women want to read. But here’s the trick: I don’t object to pornography. If a comic company wants to publish porn, own up to it, draw some naked bodies, and sell it to adults. Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie did it in Lost Girls and it turned out very well. As for movies and pictures – if consenting adults want to engage in sex acts on camera for money, fine by me. I despise the way the adult film industry treats women, but I wouldn’t deny an adult the right to consensually participate in those excesses.
However, I get really damn tired of the comic industry pandering to an incredibly adolescent view of women and sexuality. Actually, I have an armchair sociological theory about the way video games and comic books depict women. I call it “Revenge of the Nerds.” Essentially, a class of geeks in high school suffers ostracism at the hands of jocks and cheerleaders. They spend their time watching anime, reading Witchblade, and playing Dead or Alive 2 – namely, not having a lot of sex or interaction with real women. They subsequently have a warped view of sexuality honed by years of looking at hot elf chicks and Marc Sylvestri covers – a view that doesn’t include many real women – pretty and otherwise – at least, not until college. Then, they get jobs in comics and game development and the cycle repeats itself.
Obviously, I mean the above as a joke, but with some pointed criticism therein. For a group of people regarded as intelligent, artistic, and creative, one would expect something more than ersatz Maxim. I don’t read comics for the cleavage and most women don’t, either. To bemoan the lack of female readership while promoting a stable of ultra-hot female characters that all look about the same makes very little sense. I realize that so many artists draw what they like. Show me someone that dislikes beautiful women. Even if someone says as much, they have an idea of beauty. But, it also seems creatively redundant to spend a career drawing hyper-stylized swimsuit models. Branch out. Draw something interesting. Incorporate a few other body types into your roster. That’s not a plea for morbidly obese characters crammed into spandex, either. There are attractive women of many different body types.
I also find it a tad insulting of certain publishers to assume that a partially-exposed superheroine rack will drive me to buy a title. I’m a guy and I love breasts. I hardly object to attractive characters in comic books. But, a significant number of female characters – particularly on covers – don’t seem to do much but thrust their assets towards the reader. It’s almost as if the publisher has said, “Hey, you’re a horny lummox! Buy this book! Hell, buy the variant cover, too!” Most comic readers finished adolescence years ago. If someone wants to spend an evening looking at porn, they don’t need an issue of Lady Death to get the job done. Most porn hardly qualifies as art, though there are a few exceptions. Usually, though, people don’t look at smut for insight. Similarly, I don’t read comics for the tits. In my mind, comics should embrace their unique role as visual storytelling apart from film and television. Quit trying to sell books because they have “hot chicks” on the cover and focus on storytelling. Quit assuming that my hormones hold that much sway over my wallet.
Sadly, this problem runs deeper than a few blowup dolls in spandex dominating the covers of so many comics. Via sources such as former DC editor Valerie D’Orazio’s blog, Occasional Superheroine, the drooling adolescent regard for women in the comic industry has come to light in the last couple of years. DC has effectively extended the olive branch with a line of comics aimed at women called “Minx,” scheduled for release next year. The name strikes me as rather questionable. Dictionary.com defines a minx as “a pert, impudent, or flirtatious girl.” Look for Marvel’s version, Skank, later that year. But, I don’t think that writing the comic equivalent of the Lifetime channel really accomplishes anything – though, I doubt many of the Minx comics will deal with “one woman’s struggle to do whatever.” Frankly, most entertainment that targets women insults anyone with an IQ above 75, regardless of their sex. Almost any media aimed at women preys on their fears or serves to give them superficial visions of empowerment – “you’ll get the guy of your dreams, instead of that slutty blonde that keeps flirting with him” or “you’re empowered, girl!” Women with taste and intelligence want the same thing men of the same caliber want – great, nuanced stories coupled with outstanding art. And, by the way, the media panders to men in the same way – light beer commercials, for instance.
The mainstream comics industry needs to reconsider the way it depicts women if it hopes to attract more readers of the fairer sex. It hardly matters if you think that women that object to Supergirl’s anorexic physique need to lighten up. If the comic industry wants women to buy its product, rather than calling them uptight, it needs to worry about what they think. I truly doubt that the industry would suffer a sales slump if it presented a more nuanced vision of women. Few men would abandon a title because the cover fails to show a girl getting out of the shower strategically covered by bubbles. As for Berganza, I think the feminist bloggers gave him more than an earful. I truly doubt he meant to patronize or upset anyone. I think he just doesn’t understand what women want in comics. Supergirl co-writer Mark Sable has commented on several of the blogs and reassured everyone that he intends to do right by the character in the next few issues. We’ll see.
Next week, we go to the movies when I review Ghost Rider. Get your chains ready for battle, Maniacs. It’s freakin’ on.
The Spinner Rack
By Al Brown and Kurt Amacker
Al: This week: This is your brain on hats; two big trade collections; and which of you killed Nextwave? I want to know.
Kurt: I think Warren Ellis actually killed Nextwave. He didn’t want to write it without Stuart Immonen on the art.
DARK HORSE COMICS
Blade Of The Immortal #122 (MR) $2.99
Little Lulu Vol 14 Queen Lulu TP $9.95
Man With The Screaming Brain Logo Cap Black $17.99
Al: If this hat doesn't scream "Let me out! Let me out! He's killing me with Glade and Q-Tips!" at passersby, a great marketing opportunity has been missed.
Kurt: Al, where do you come up with this crap?
Nexus Archives Vol 5 HC $49.95
Perhapanauts Second Chances #4 (of 4) $2.99
Playboy Interviews Mover And Shakers HC $22.95
Al: Ever wonder what it would be like if a soft-porn mag interviewed Steve Jobs? No? Then just move along and keep your trap shut, smarty pants.
Star Wars Legacy #8 $2.99
Star Wars Rebellion Vol 1 My Brother My Enemy TP $14.95
DC COMICS
52 Week #41 $2.50
Batman #663 $2.99
Al: Grant Morrison. Joker. Yay.
Kurt: I hope it’s better than the last arc Morrison wrote.
Batman Strikes #30 $2.25
Batman The Greatest Stories Ever Told Vol 2 TP $19.99
Al: I don't know which stories are reprinted in this 208-page trade, but it apparently spans his whole career from 1940 til now. That's kinda cool.
Cartoon Network Action Pack #10 $2.25
Friday The 13th #3 (MR) $2.99
Kurt: Unlike the similarly titled film, this is not in 3-D. It’s a shame, really.
Gen 13 #5 $2.99
Green Arrow #71 $2.99
Green Lantern Corps #9 $2.99
Al: Conclusion of "The Dark Side of Green." If you want me to save you some money, I'll just tell you what it is: Olive.
JLA Classified #34 $2.99
Justice Society Of America #3 $2.99
Justice Society Of America Var ED #3 $2.99
Mad Magazine #475 $3.99
Manhunter #28 $2.99
Al: Why hasn't she fought Martian Manhunter yet? She should fight him and if he wins he gets to call himself Manhunter and she has to change her name to Earthling Manhunter.
Kurt: Or, why haven’t they fallen in love and had an event marriage, like Storm and the Black Panther?
Martian Manhunter #7 (of 8) $2.99
Kurt: See? Missed opportunities abound.
Musashi #9 Vol 10 $9.99
Kurt: I think my wife ordered this when we ate at that sushi restaurant. I just went with the tempura and a bottle of Kieren.
Neil Gaimans Neverwhere TP (RES) (MR) $19.99
Omac #8 (of 8) $2.99
Sandman Mystery Theatre Sleep Of Reason #3 (of 5) (MR) $2.99
Shazam 13 Inch Deluxe Collector Figure $69.99
Showcase Presents Aquaman Vol 1 TP $16.99
Stormwatch Phd #4 $2.99
Stormwatch Phd Var Edition #4 $2.99
Superman Batman Vs Aliens Predators #2 (of 2) $5.99
Kurt: Next up, Superman/Batman Vs Muppet Babbies/Fraggle Rock.
Superman Camelot Falls HC $19.99
Al: Speaking of missed opportunities, this really should have been about Superman fighting King Arthur. King Arthur would totally pwn Superman.
Kurt: If you pitched that to DC, they would probably jump all over it.
Tales Of The Unexpected #5 (of 8) $3.99
Kurt: Booga-booga! I bet you didn’t expect that! Now, I’m going scream my ABC’s!
Tenjho Tenge Vol 12 $9.99
Trials Of Shazam #5 (of 12) $2.99
Y The Last Man #54 (MR) $2.99
IMAGE COMICS
Ant #10 $2.99
Casanova #7 (MR) $1.99
Drink & Draw Vol 1 HC $24.99
Al: Hey, guess what? I don't need a book to do this.
Kurt: I actually tried to write and drink once, because I kept hearing that all writers are alcoholics. Man, that didn’t end well.
Godland #16 (note Price) $0.60
Kurt: That’s a rather arbitrary price for a comic.
Hellshock Definitive ED Vol 1 TP $19.99
Kurt: This is really good. I didn’t read the first few issues when they first came out, so I can’t definitively say whether it was worth the wait. But, it’s definitely worth your money.
PVP #31 $2.99
Truth Justin & American Way #5 (of 5) $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
Amazing Spider-Girl #5 $2.99
Astonishing X-Men #20 $2.99
Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes II #6 (of 8) $3.99
Beyond HC $19.99
Blade #6 $2.99
Kurt: Blade meets his father. Boy, that’s going to be awkward.
Civil War Casualties Of War $6.99
Kurt: This collects three tie-in one-shots. I’ll actually pick this up, because it’s a hell of a lot easier than trying to keep track of all these damn tie-in books.
Excalibur Classic Vol 3 Crosstime Caper Book 1 TP $24.99
Exiles #91 $2.99
Al: Chris Claremont continues blathering about the same stuff he always blathers about. Who wants to bet that "Madame Hydra" turns out to be Storm under mind-control? Gee, I wonder if her indomitable spirit will free her.
Franklin Richards Lab Brat Digest TP $7.99
Ghost Rider #8 $2.99
Immortal Iron Fist Directors Cut #1 $3.99
Al: Fine, I get it. Some of you people are into Director's Cuts. Go ahead, throw your money away.
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #21 $2.99
Marvel Legacy 1990s Handbook $4.99
Al: Why would anyone want to remember this?
Kurt: Some people still think those variant covers will be worth money.
Marvel Select Flip Magazine #22 $4.99
Marvel Tales Flip Magazine #21 $4.99
New Excalibur #16 $2.99
Al: Claremont returns to this title as well.
New X-Men #35 $2.99
Nextwave Agents Of Hate #12 $2.99
Al: As one of my favorite titles crashes to a close, so do I. Kurt alluded to it this week, but here it is officially: I'm quitting the Spinner Rack in favor of...nothing really, I've just been doing it for like twenty years and it feels like time to move on. I'll be here for a few more weeks, and then I'm off into the sunset. I'll let Kurt talk about what his plans are for the future.
Nextwave Agents Of Hate Vol 1 This Is What They Want TP $14.99
Al: Well, apparently not. But it was what I wanted, certainly.
Orson Scott Cards Wyrms 2nd Ptg #1 (of 6) $2.99
Punisher Presents Barracuda Max #1 (of 5) (MR) $3.99
Al: I love Barracuda, and this is still written by Garth Ennis. Awesome, I'm in.
Kurt: Featuring the most loathsome character in all of fiction.
Sensational Spider-Man #35 $2.99
Spider-Man Death Of The Stacys Premiere HC $19.99
Al: While these are of course classic arcs (the deaths of Captain Stacy and, of course, Gwen), it's worth noting that you get 40 pages more if you buy the Batman collection.
Kurt: I really like the idea of collecting notable arcs from series. I’m serious – it’s a really good idea.
Spider-Man Death Of The Stacys Premiere HC Var ED $19.99
Thunderbolts #111 $2.99
Al: I didn't think Warren Ellis's first issue was a complete home run - maybe a solid double off the Green Monster - but I'm certainly interested in this book for the first time.
Thunderbolts 2nd Ptg Deodato Var #110 $2.99
Thunderbolts Olivetti Var #111 $2.99
Thunderbolts Presents Zemo Born Better #1 (of 4) $2.99
Al: Another of those famed Marvel miniseries that has no reason at all to exist. By Fabian Nicieza and Tom Grummett.
Kurt: I really liked Thunderbolts #110 and I can honestly say that I will ignore this book.
Ultimate X-Men #79 $2.99
Wolverine Origins #11 $2.99
Kurt: I don’t care if I’m the only one that likes it. It rules and that’s all I’m going to say.
