Full of Whoa!

When do you say, “enough”?

dcwomenkickingass:

“This is an initiative to build and reshape an industry we all love…” Dan DiDio, DC Nation June, 2011.

“This is a great opportunity for people to come in and start collecting comics .. We’re trying to get new fans, people who never even bought a comic before to get excited about the medium .. We’re here to grow the industry and we’re going to do everything we can to do that.” Jim Lee, New 52 video, June 2011

As part of a two-pronged strategy to try to revive its moribund business and draw newer, younger readers, the nation’s oldest and best-known comic-book publisher has also decided to start over from scratch. Los Angeles Times, August 22, 2001

“There is a generational opportunity to get new readers,” said artist Rob Liefeld, who is drawing DC’s new “Hawk and Dove” series. “The industry has been stagnant, and it’s the right time to hit the reset button.” Los Angeles Times, August 22, 2001

 “The launch of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 galvanized the traditional fan base for superhero comic books: male readers, who were already—or have at one time been—comic book fans.” DC Comics the Source, February 2011.

I said this morning on Twitter that I have never been more depressed about comics. The last few days it has become clear that despite the greatest make-over over at DC Comics in history,  a “generational opportunity”, there was really no change at all. There are few new readers and the demographics haven’t changed. Not that we didn’t know they wouldn’t. 

In the end I can’t even be mad. I am just sad, very sad. Sad that with the opportunity to revitalize an industry and put it on a path to a healthy, vital future it seems as there have been some some deck chair moving on a sinking ship.

An industry can’t grown if the audience does not grow and bring in fresh blood. Stealing share from your competitors can help your bottom line but doesn’t help the overall bottom line of the industry.

For years, there’s been lots written about how DC (and Marvel) need to expand beyond their traditional fan base. God knows, I’ve written plenty about it.

In the last few days with the results of this survey, there has been more written, not just by me but by other outlets. They point to the lack of young readers and the untapped potential of the female audience.

Over the last few days I have received notes telling me “STFU, see you don’t matter.” And “women DON”T read comics”.  It’s not unexpected and doesn’t bother me. It’s not as if most of these people need a reason to belittle women.

But I admit these results have bothered me and have left me asking myself, “Do I bother to try any more? Is the industry ever going to look outside their base? Do I try and recruit more readers to club where they are not really wanted except as a “nice to have?”

I honestly don’t know anymore. I really don’t. Earlier this week when DC announced the new digital comic Smallville, I was ready to write a post about how this was an excellent opportunity to bring female readers into comics.

But I’ve written that post so many times. And so many times, nothing happens. There’s no push, no marketing, no follow through.

I’ve written about the opportunities of marketing to women many times - the money sitting on the table.  I just interviewed a former DC editor about it two weeks ago. I’m not going to rehash it here.

So, yes, Smallville is an opportunity. But I doubt it will mean anything if things don’t change. And if they didn’t change in the biggest rebranding event in the history of the company, why would they now?

I hope I am wrong, but I suspect I am not.

When it comes to superhero comics and the opportunity of the female demographic it is like banging one’s head on a brick wall for all the change that comes.

I don’t know about others who share my view but my head is sore and the wall looks the same.

So, do you get a helmet? Or do blow a kiss for luck and walk away?

I think it’s time to think about that. 

Resurrecting a good thing; an industry call to action

dcwomenkickingass:

Last night on Twitter I mentioned that I was sad that due to the demise of Friends of Lulu, the organization devoted to female comic creators, that it meant the end of the Kim Yale Newcomer award.

For those of you unfamiliar with Friends of Lulu, it described itself as as organization:

whose main purpose is to promote and encourage female readership and participation in the comic book industry. Among the goals of the organization are:

1. To increase female readership of comics

2. To promote the work of women in comics

3. To offer networking opportunities and general support to women in comics

4. To facilitate communication among women and men who share the organization’s purpose

The organization was founded in 1994 and saw its official demise last year. I am not going to focus on why it died; the explanation given was tax issues.

What I want to talk about today is resurrecting one piece of it. Each year the organization would give awards to female creators in a variety of categories as well induct female creators into the Hall of Fame. The awards were a big deal at one time and would often hold their ceremony at a top comic convention. You can see a list of past winners here.

Each year one award was given to the most talented new or emerging creator and was named after Kim Yale. Yale was co-writer on Suicide Squad and was, with her husband John Ostrander, the creator who created the Oracle person for Barbara Gordon. Yale passed away from cancer in 1997. Among the creators who won the Kim Yale award are Kate Beaton, Kathryn Immonen, Devin Grayson and Carla Speed McNeil.

I hate to see an award that honors and remembers a vital creator like Kim Yale no longer exist. While one can debate whether there is still the need for an organization like Friends of Lulu, recognizing and encouraging new female creators - especially in light of the discourse that’s gone on in this market this past year - is, I believe, still very important.

For the award to exist it will also require the support and involvement of organizations far larger and influential than mine. It needs creator and publisher support, publicity and access to a database of industry participants. It could be hosted separately by one of the comics sites or it could be folded into an existing set of awards such as the Eisners. Or it could simply be open to voting by the comic community. As long as it is supported and treated with respect, I don’t think it matters.

The most expedient way is probably for one of the larger comics sites to step up and take it on. I am not going to recommend a “how” today. I just want to try and build some industry support. I am volunteering to help in any way needed.

Comics needs more Kate Beatons and Kathryn Immonens and Devin Graysons and Carla Speed McNeils. And it needs to remember Kim Yale. I hope the industry can make this happen.

Totally agree. I think the Kim Yale award is something that was really important and should be maintained.

Women Write About Comics

thewherefores:

Women Write About Comics

Thanks for all the likes and reblogs on my orignal post! Please do keep on reblogging, to help spread the word.

Since there’s interest in the carnival, I’ve set up a WordPress to serve as blogbase alpha. That’s where I’ll be posting all the administriva for the carnival, although I will be linking here and on Twitter.

I haven’t set posting dates for the carnival, because I’d first like to talk about topics. Think of a blog carnival as a dispersed webzine, with very open participation. What we need to do now, is figure out what the September Issue, as it were, is going to be about. In these early days, I’d love it if people who’ve expressed interest thus far, would share their own ideas for our guiding theme or topic. I’ll be holding a poll later in the week, to see which are most interesting, to most potential participants. In terms of topics, we’re looking for something pretty broad, that has the potential to generate a large number of posts of different kinds, and from different kinds of fans.

If Women Write About Comics goes well, I’d love to host future rounds, so don’t worry if your favourite topic isn’t chosen, because we may yet get to it.

You can use the tag “womenoncomics” to spread word about the carnival on Tumblr and Twitter. It’s the tag we’ll be using when posting starts.

Personally, I think a good “due date” would be maybe the first week in January? Give people some time to write their posts and to help spread the word as well. Holidays might get people distracted, but people also tend to be in the mood for reflection and whatnot.

As for topics, something I’d be interested in possibly writing about is maybe something like: “Conversations About Women in Comics: Are We Getting Anywhere?” (Because although I will forever probably be interested in reading about the topic of women in comics, lately I feel like I wanna stand back and take stock about what’s changed in those conversations or what hasn’t, and think about whether comics/the comics industry is changing with respect to women or if it isn’t, etc. Kinda metameta, though maybe.

Women Writing About (Writing About) Comics

thewherefores:

Another week, another round of retro-bizarre statements about the lack of women (and hipsters) interested in comics. Another round of That Laura, That Sue, That Kelly—don’t these ladies have anything better to do than complain?

Well. Would there be interest in a blog carnival-esque crossover event, where journalists, bloggers, and fans write en masse about what if feels like for a girl ladies, comics and fandom?

Here’s how it works:

1. We pick a topic.

*Actual and specific topic to be chosen by early bird participants, should there be interest, but some (off hand) suggestions:

• Girl Comics, The Next Generation: getting girls into comics, and keeping them here.
• Women in Comics: Creators, editors and journalists who’ve inspired.
• Girl-Centric Fandom in 2011 (and Beyond!): GeekGirkCon, The Mary Sue, Kyrax2, the much talked about lady-hordes at NYCC and SDCC… girls (and their big mouths) got a lot of attention in 2011.
• What It Feels Like For A Girl: Girls in comics, girls and comics—finding/making a place in the fandom, the industry and the books themselves.
• Writing/Drawing The Body: Race, gender, sexuality and women’s body’s in comics.
• Women In Refrigerators, 12 Years Later: What’s changed and what’s stayed the same.

There are so many awesome topics we could tackle, but I’ll stop there.

2. We pick a week to post all our tl;dr about said topic.

3. We spread the word.

4. We write.

5. I maintain a masterlist of participating posts, for all to enjoy.

Please reblog if this sounds like something you might want to participate in. I’m trying to gauge interest.

Not clear how a blog carnival works, but SOUNDS GOOD!

re: Wonder Woman’s new origin

odditycollector:

steenar:

odditycollector:

steenar:

fullofwhoa:

steenar:

odditycollector:

First of all, that’s exactly what you are doing. You’re accusing someone (who you do not know personally at all) of sexism based solely on the fact that they gave Wonder Woman a dad.

Second, I never said it was “missing” some Greek mythology. I said they wanted to more DIRECTLY tie it to the mythology. In the origin you sent me, Wonder Woman was a creation of the gods’. In this new origin she is a direct descendant of a god. She would in fact be PART god.   

“You’re accusing someone (who you do not know personally at all) of sexism based solely on the fact that they gave Wonder Woman a dad.”

I assume you are responding here to me, as the person responsible for the original post. However, I can’t offer the rebuttal I’m practically certain you deserve from me, as I remain unsure who it is you think I’m aiming such a [le gasp!] horrid and indelible accusation towards. Unless it is [double le gasp!] every person ever?

On reread, I find that I was merely implying a connection between the inevitable, irreparable insult that any respectable male ego must suffer on its encountering a woman who has, on every literal level, never needed a man, and the recent and most necessary “repair” of her origin (by some small but fearless clade of men at DC Comics) to correct that error.

But, hey! Nevermind any of that! If the new Wonder Woman canon makes you feel slightly less empty in those existentially dangerous morning hours, you may reassure yourself that no amount of ladies being hysterical on the internet may take from you your justifications of the change as narratively satisfying and objectively unproblematic.

And smile to yourself, secure once again of your indispensability to the world.

And drift yourself gently back to sleep.

1. Could you be any more full of yourself?
2. By connecting this supposed “fear of Wonder Woman” to the changes in her origin you are accusing Brian Azzarello of sexism.
3. This change, in the long run, is not as major as people are making it out to be. She isn’t any less of the awesome, strong, empowered Wonder Woman she was before. In fact, by going against her own father and in turn a GOD she is even more awesome.
4. What Azzarello is writing has made Wonder Woman more interesting to a wider audience. If you don’t like his changes, then don’t like them. But don’t try to turn them into some big conspiracy DC is putting in place to connect every character to a man because they’re intimidated by a woman who has never needed a man.

1. Oh, my. Yes.

2. So? Everyone’s a little bit sexist. You’re a little bit sexist; Well, I’m a little bit too. Admitting it is not an easy thing to do… But I guess it’s true.

And I wouldn’t single out Brian Azzarello. I don’t know how the rebooted DCU was stirred together, but I’m sure there are plenty of gatekeepers to share the blame. It’s the result that matters, and it’s the context of the result that matters.

I’m ALSO not claiming the original post is the end all of explanations. It’s only a conversation that I found, in retrospect, exceedingly interesting. You may draw your own conclusions from it.

3. This change is an insult. This change is a slap in the face. And if you don’t understand the outcry, it’s because you were not the one insulted.

4. Azzarello is good at what he does, no argument. In fact, I have enough faith in his skill that I think he’d have succeeded even if the “Zeus” thing was shot down as it should have been.

And please. No one is positing a conspiracy, except as a bleak joke. What DC’s more likely guilty of is groupthink, is putting together a crack team of creative minds who are working from a set of similar and unchallenged assumptions that… well.

Brought us to a point where bleak jokes about conspiracies are necessary, I guess.

If there are annoyingly loud cries of “sexism!” at the changes to Starfire and Harley Quinn, and at Supergirl’s bared and red-framed side-butt, and at an un-weighty Amanda Waller in a cleavage bearing shirt, and at Wonder Woman’s story shifting to be about her reaction to a Paternal Figure she never needed before…

At some point, there starts to emerge a pattern.

re: Wonder Woman’s new origin

steenar:

odditycollector:

The most amusing (read: “amusing”) thing is that a couple years ago, I was discussing Wonder Woman with someone who offered that “Wonder Woman makes guys uncomfortable.”

Me: What, cause she can beat them up?

Her: No, because no man was involved in her genesis. Simply by her existence, she’s a threat to the assumption of male necessity.*

But of course, I did not take this theory very seriously!

People the joke is on: ME.

*English major. I am paraphrasing, but I got the impression she’d just finished an essay on the topic.

Really? I don’t see this change as the writer or editors or fans feeling intimidated by Wonder Woman’s original origin. They simply wanted to tie her more directly to Greek mythology. 

But I guess if you want to make everything about sexism. That’s your choice. 

“But I guess if you want to make everything about sexism. That’s your choice.”

“But I guess if you want to make everything about sexism. That’s your choice.”

“But I guess if you want to make everything about sexism. That’s your choice.”

“But I guess if you want to make everything about sexism. That’s your choice.”

“But I guess if you want to make everything about sexism. That’s your choice.”

Also:

“They simply wanted to tie her more directly to Greek mythology.”

Yeah, clearly her origin was missing some Greek mythology.

The Question of Greatness in Comics

ladiesmakingcomics:

Every so often, someone decides to throw together a list, or sometimes even an exhibition of “great cartoonists/comics artists”, and it’s inevitably almost exclusively men.  This is followed up by a week or so of blogging about “why aren’t there any great women comics artists? Or who is going unrecognized?”  Inevitably, as these things go, it becomes just a cluster of wank where no one’s mind gets changed about any thing and we all walk away wanting to scream into our pillows.

Rarely do these discussions delve into the definition or rubric of “greatness”.  If they do, the criteria is almost always self-justifying, the subtext of which is “it’s the same guys ~everyone~ have always said were great.”

I’ve observed and even been party to a few of these discussion, it was a topic that arose at the SPX Secret History of Women in Comics panel, and it is a question that has been much on my mind lately, since the new Catwoman and Starfire depictions (and ensuing wank) had the odd fortune of coming out the same day as Craig Thompson’s Habibi—which left me wracked with weeping, heaving sobs of both agony and ecstasy after a four-hour marathon reading session, followed up by me hand-writing Thompson begging him to submit the book to the Pulitzer committee, because Spiegelman has had those exclusive bragging rights for far too long.  

Basically, I almost couldn’t bother to pay attention to the Catwoman and Starfire controversies because it all seemed so empty after reading Habibi.  Don’t get me wrong, sexist depiction of ladies are always a problem, and nor have I transformed into an indie snob who is ~so above~ “long underwear” (and transparent bikini) comics.  Just that in one remarkable moment of synchronicity, I couldn’t bring myself to care.  I have to some extent returned to the initial transcendent high that first got me reading comics, when Sandman blew my 16-year-old mind, soon followed by V for Vendetta, From Hell, and of course Watchmen. In short, I started thinking about what makes comics “great” again.

Read More

Go and read this, if you haven’t already. LadiesMakingComics has some fascinating thoughts and questions about how we evaluate “greatness” in comics and comics creators.

(Source: ladiesmakingcomics)

New 3 Chicks podcast is up

dcwomenkickingass:

A reminder that there’s another “3 Chicks Review Comics” this week. So soon, you ask? We actually skipped a week last episode so we could do our interview with Cliff Chiang. l

This week we review Kate Beaton’s “Hark a Vagrant”, Angel and Faith, and Voodoo. We liked two of those. Listen to find out which.

Hot Topic this week is whether we shouldn’t talk critically about comics and should instead just be promoting the good, as suggested in a post on The Beat this week. This week’s Chick of the Week is phenomenal artist Amy Reeder who everyone should know from her epic Madame Xanadu run, gorgeous cover work, and much anticipated Batwoman arc. So please give it a listen and if you like leave us a comment. As you’ll hear Kelly and I are little burnt out after the last few weeks and, well, go listen.

Also sadly this is Maddy’s last show for a while. Kelly and I will miss her for many reasons but mainly because she is awesome. Go read this post she did, “Tell me something I haven’t heard” on being a female comic fan.  This is just the graphic, the prose is equally as great.

Belatedly reblogging this.

Big thanks to Sue and Kelly for being such awesome people and friends. <3

TELL ME SOMETHING I HAVEN’T HEARD

(This is to accompany this. Since apparently text-cuts don’t work in photo posts! Uhg, tumblr, why?!)

For a larger version of this image, go here.

About halfway through drawing this, I realized what I had created was effectively a Bingo Card, but perhaps a slightly more emotive one. So I’ll explain a bit of what’s behind it.

I first got into comics through feminist criticism of comics. I’m a feminist. And I love comics. The two things for me are inseparable, and I make no apologies for it. Both are a part of who I am. I’m also a fan of superheroes and superhero comics.

When it comes to discussions about women in comics, sexism in superhero comics, and so forth, I’m always reading, sometimes linking, and commenting a bit here and there. If you pay attention for a while as a female (and possibly feminist) comics reader, and/or superhero fan, you start to hear the same things over and over again. It becomes predictable and repetitive pretty quickly.

Below I’ve expanded on what I’m talking about. It’s lengthy, so it’s behind a text cut.

Read More

thewherefores:

“If you’re just complaining about this stuff to hear yourself complain, with no intention of changing your reading or buying habits, because you somehow need the security blanket of the same ol’ superhero comics you’ve always read, knock yourself out. You will get more of the same, and you can make yourself feel important by denouncing these creepy, cringe-worthy comics whilst continuing to support them like the good little fangirl you are.”

—

http://it-sparkles.blogspot.com/2011/09/stop.html (via comixace)

Down for this, of course. Complaining is not enough—we need to take concrete action, individually and in numbers, against sexism in comics. Call to arms, kids etc. etc. 

But then there’s this:

Support the books that do it right. Stop calling attention to all the offensive material, because seriously? What you’re really doing is helping the very things you hate find a wider audience. So, stop.

#sideeye

like the good little fangirl you are.

#sideeye

Listen up ladies, boyfriend’s gonna show us how to do feminism, fandom and media activism right. Complaining about sexism in superhero comics is silly, because what else did you expect, right?

Except—ALL sexism is harmful, ALL sexism is worth calling out. The micro level matters, because by and large, that is where people live.

Except—superhero comics are not in fact simple soft core, id-porn. Heroic fiction is, culturally speaking, kind of a big deal. Superman means something to people. By dint of being on a massively popular cartoon, Starfire means something to people. Superhero comics can be better, and they should be better.

Except—new readers deserve the chance to weigh in on this issue, and they don’t deserve to be scolded for not being into cool comics. What I’m saying is that, a) not everyone is ~over this conversation, and b) “But why are you reading The Outsiders anyway?” isn’t helpful in this context. 

Except—“What you’re really doing is helping the very things you hate find a wider audience. So stop.” Nope! People are bringing attention to the comics and to the problem at same time, and in the process, finding new allies and enemies. They’re opening the conversation to new voices, and that’s a good thing.

Yeeah, well said.

That original quote just sounds like “shut up already!” And nope.