Scott Edelman has posted the entire The Secret History of Women in Comics panel from this year’s Small Press Expo. For my second year, I still didn’t make it to panels, maybe next year… The panel featured Jessica Abel, Robyn Chapman, Alexa Dickman and Diane Noomin.
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Last night we had a pretty lively discussion in the latest episode of Graphic Policy Radio, the last 30 minutes especially. Lots covered this week as we first focused on non-DC comics then pivoted to chat about some big issues when it comes to gender and comics. On this week’s episode:
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You can also listen and download the episode here.
With so much going on in the comic book industry, we’re going weekly. So join Brett, Elana and Ken for the latest comic book news and reviews. Scheduled to be discussed this week:
1) DCnU – The second batch of books of DC comics big reboot/revamp.relaunch have been released. What stood out? What’s already headed for cancellation? Find out our opinions here.
2) It seems if you’re a part of the DCnU you’re young, skinny and a sexy vixen if you’re a woman. We’re talking changes made to some established characters and the depiction of women in comic books.
So join us Sunday and make sure to join the chat by calling in or on Twitter.
Graphic Policy Radio: Politics and Comics of the Multiverse this Sunday starting at 8pm.
Oh Amanda!
Suicide Squad #1 had a few good points (mostly involving King Shark) but one major problem is on EVERYONE’s lips: Where Is Amanda Waller?!
The REAL Amanda Waller.
She is the only middle-aged, African-American, woman of size in comics. Actually she is one of the few characters who is any one of those things. What is gained by representing even fewer types of people in comics? What is gained by diluting her iconic presence?
Waller is one of those characters who you can’t help but remember and be impressed by. Sure, in the real world as someone who believes in the Constitution and human rights, I would be disgusted by her politics– she makes even Cheney, Kissinger and their war criminal cronies look moral. But no-one can doubt her power as a character and all she has overcome to get where she is.
DC mentioned one of the reasons for the relaunch was to impart some realism to comics (not sure if that’s what they need but let’s follow that path).
Realistically, women working in male dominated government agencies don’t wear their shirts unbuttoned so low their bra hangs out (heck, even I don’t do that and I work in a liberal workplace). As the daughter of two federal employees growing up in the DC suburbs I was surrounded by powerful women (like my Mom) who worked for the federal government. They don’t dress like fake Amanda Waller. They dressed like real Amanda Waller (and in the 80s they even wore those awkward floppy ties). They are also a range of ages and sizes. Amanda was one of the most realistic-looking characters in comics (don’t get me started on hobby horse about grown women characters wearing crop-tops out and about during the daytime like they’re going to a 80s dance party).
One of the other reasons for the relaunch is to appeal to more readers. Well, DC just told middle aged women and women of size that they don’t exist. They don’t wield power. Does that move comics?
And if all it takes to move comics is t&a they’d be selling a lot more books than they are today. So lack of t&a isn’t whats’ hurting the industry.
Bring back Amanda Waller.
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Sign the petition and Tweet a message to DC to bring The Wall back!
And with that, the first episode is done! Thanks all who came out for our first of Graphic Policy Radio: Comics and Politics of the Multiverses. In this episode we cover:
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Join us for our next episode on August 13th.
Comic books have traditionally had issues with diversity, primarily having he-men white males as their protagonists. Some work has been done in attempts to diversify, but absolutely more can be done. This sore subject and the debate about diversity has ignited again over a coloring mistake. DC Comics is the focus now due to their Free Comic Book Day Green Lantern give-away which also featured a preview of Flashpoint. In the Free Comic Book Day version of the comic the below panel appeared.
Notice the white blond woman to the far right. Below is the corrected version that appeared in the USA Today.
Notice anything different? (Que “One of these things is not like the other”)
The character in question is supposed to be Jenni Ognats, the mixed-race character known as XS, granddaughter of Barry Allen. According to Newsarama the colorist merely believed it was Jesse Quick, another DC character in the Flash family.
This has rankled some including the blog DC Women Kicking Ass which has covered in depth the issue of diversity in comics. They’ve run two articles you can read here and here and hint at greater conspiracy.
Mistakes are made, often. Sometimes in coloring, lettering and often continuity. Sometimes a mistake is a mistake, nothing more. I agree there’s not enough diversity in comics, but aren’t there times you just point out the goof and chalk it up to a mistake? Mistakes happen, but to pile on and claim conspiracy/racism/whatever is a bit overboard in my mind.
In the Philippines the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched comic books to raise awareness about violence towards women. The comics point out not all violence is physical, but can include psychological and economic abuse. The comics or in coordination and compliment programs by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Health (DoH), and the Philippine Commission on Women in hopes to decrease discrimination and violence towards women.
DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said comic books are a great tool to disseminate information to people from all classes and level of education. The hopes is to educate about violence against women and battered woman syndrome. Violence against women programs are also launching in regions going so far as to help bring about charges or restraining orders if needed.
C2e2 is over and Sunday brought some news from Marvel. We got a look of some of the new creative teams and some new series. Below is a wrap up of the latest news as well as our special C2e2 section.
Around the Blogs:
Kotaku – Sunday Comics – Waste some of your Monday morning checking out some web comics.
Rabble – Women at the forefront of the graphic novel revolution! – You go girl.
Bleeding Cool – Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Dark Knight Rises Role Revealed – Well this is interesting.
Comicvine – WWTCC: More cosplay photos! – These get me want to head to Toronto Fan Expo even more.
C2e2 Coverage:
Newsrama – Rucka Returns to Marvel with ‘Back to Basics’ PUNISHER
Bleeding Cool – “I’ll Have A Hawkman Turkey Panini” – That Was C2E2 That Was
Bleeding Cool – Greg Baldino Wraps Up C2E2
Bleeding Cool – Garth Ennis To Write Nick Fury MAX Series With Goran Parlov
Comicvine – C2E2 2011: Nick Spencer
Comicvine – C2E2 2011: Dennis Calero
Comicvine – C2E2 2011: Scott Snyder Part 1 (American Vampire)
Comicvine – C2E2 2011: Gail Simone
Around the Tubes Reviews:
Blogomatic 3000 – Greek Street Vol.2 – Cassandra Complex
Bookin Las Vegas – Andrew’s Graphic Novel Picks
It’s the weekend, which just means it’s quiet and slow enough I can read this week’s comics and hopefully catch up on the back log that’s built up to read and write reviews. Here’s the news that kept us entertained in the last 24 hours.
Around the Tubes:
ICv2 – Dynamite Lands ‘Voltron’ Comics License – Having just discussed Voltron with a friend the day before the timing is weird. I can only conclude I was the reason this deal went through. I accept thank you checks made out to “cash.”
Arts Beat – Graphic Books Best Sellers: Life on the Reservation – We could do a best sellers list for this blog, but I only know what I purchased. And that’s only ever one copy of each book. So there’d be a massive tie for first and the list would be worthless. Here’s hoping the methodology behind this one is better.
The Gamers Hub – Bethesda and Dark Horse Announce RAGE Comic Books – Think if I metroed over to Bethesda, MD they’d chat with me about the comic?
The Beat – Jeff Smith’s RASL in development with Wigram – Another day, another comic book series getting the big screen treatment. Which Jeff Smith property makes it to the big screen first, Bone or RASL?
Newsarama – TV Creator Makes His Comic Book Debut with INSURRECTION V3.6 – Blake Masters has written for some decent television series. We’ll see how that translates to comics.
Hurriyet Daily News – ‘Bayan Yani’ puts a female face on Turkish humor magazines – Women are breaking into the Turkish comic book industry.
Around the Tubes Reviews:
Karissa’s Reading Review – The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch
Big Shiny Robot – Ultimate Spider-Man #155
Around the Photos:
In what seems like perfect timing with International Women’s Day a new blog dedicated to women in the comic book industry has launched. Tired of the lack of acknowledging women’s contributions in the comic book industry a blogger has decided to launch Graphic Ladies (no relation to this site). Spurred by The Los Angeles Times debuting a new book award for graphic literature and only nominating one woman and The Comics Journal featuring only one woman as well, the site hopes to:
…help shift the overwhelmingly dude-ified narrative of the comics industry and spotlight the work of rad lady creators.
You can check out the website at Graphic Ladies.
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