A handsome intelligence officer of the United States Army, Colonel Steve Trevor, crashes his plane on “Paradise Island” (an island full of Amazon women, what else would it be called, right?). Trevor is found by a beautiful Amazon Princess named Diana, who nurses him and subsequently falls in Love with him. When she learns about the war against the Nazis, she dons a costume of America’s red, white, and blue, and departs for the “Man’s World.” She is Wonder Woman — “beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, stronger than Hercules, and swifter than Mercury”. She can fly like Superman, she can hurl heavy objects like the Hulk, and if you really make her mad, she’ll crack out her golden lasso and tie you up (especially if you’re male).
At first glance, she may look like an empowered, kick-butt, feminist super-heroine amidst a realm dominated by male super-heros. But is Wonder Woman really empowered? Is she really the icon of feminism in graphic novels? Is her message really all about defending sisterhood, freedom, and democracy?
1. The Damsel in Distress
Originally, women played a very small role in comic books. In the late 1930′s, super powered heroes like Superman and Captain Marvel dominated the stage while women scarcely made any presence. Specifically, they were depicted as dependent and “damsels in distress” — victims that needed to be rescued by the male protagonist; a prize that needed to be won by either the male villain or hero. For example, in the first issue of Superman, news reporter and future love interest, Lois Lane, is kidnapped by criminals and eventually rescued by Superman. No relationship gets developed and nothing else is learned about who Lois is — Superman simply saves her, flies her to safety, and then flies away. Women were also portrayed as the “girl-Friday…seductive vamp, or perhaps, the long-suffering girlfriend” (Lavin, 1998). The stereotypical gender roles were quite obvious: men alone are capable of succeeding independently and being courageous, while women are subordinate figures in the background. These early attitudes towards women in comic books are implicative of common gender role stereotypes where women are thought to be less intelligent than men and only have a place in the house as a caretaker and/or source of emotional support. As New York cartoonist Jules Feiffer states, “the ideal of masculine strength, whether Gary Cooper’s, Lil Abner’s, or Superman’s, was for one to be so virile and handsome, to be in such a position of strength, that he need never go near girls. Except to help them.”
2. Women as Sex Objects
The role of women changed dramatically during World War II when patriotic characters emerged and surprisingly attracted the interest of new readers, who were both males and females. Arguably, the most noteworthy character was Wonder Woman. As mentioned above, she possesses enormous super-human strength, has the ability to fly, and can overcome any obstacle that comes in her way. . Even more interesting is how her love interest, Colonel Trevor, is constantly being rescued by her, as if he is the male version of the aforementioned Lois Lane. Rather than the male rescuing the female all the time, it is reversed in the Wonder Woman comics. In the following years, other strong and super heroine characters surfaced like Miss America — the female version of Captain America — Mary Marvel, Super Girl, She-Hulk, and many others. They carried the symbolic message that “girls could do anything boys could do, and often better, especially if they stuck together” (Robbins, 2002).
However, despite these new portrayals of strong and powerful female characters like Wonder Woman, something else was occurring: they were being depicted as sex objects. As stated by Michael Lavin, “powerful super-heroines like DC’s Wonder Woman or Marvel’s She-Hulk may easily overcome the most overwhelming threats and obstacles, but they are invariably depicted as alluring objects of desire, wearing the scantiest of costumes.” The images of women with large bust sizes, slim figure, bare legs, and half-naked appearance became enormously popular after the success of Wonder Woman. Believe it or not, comic books were filled with so many sexual images of women that they were known as “headlight comic books” — a crude and stereotypical reference to the female anatomy. Comic book historian Ron Goulart writes: “In the days before the advent of Playboy and Penthouse, comic books offered one way to girl watch” (1986). A prime example of “headlight comics” was in Bill Ward’s “Torchy,” a series that ran from 1946 to 1950. The comic books contained dull and uninteresting storylines where the scriptwriters were merely making an excuse to draw Torchy as a tall, bare legged blond, who walked around in her underwear.
The escalating amount of sex and violence in comic books eventually led to complaints, particularly by psychologist Fredric Wertham who held a symposium in 1948 on the “Psychopathology of Comic Books.” He also wrote a book, Seduction of the Innocent, which correlated a connection between “juvenile delinquency and comic book reading” (Lavin, 1998). As a result, the Comics Code Authority established a written code which set the guidelines for comic book publishing. During this time, the comic book industry took a remarkable new turn where the constant objectification of women was seized. But this period where comic books were geared more towards girls and teenagers wouldn’t last long. Superheroes reemerged in the late 1960′s, along with their scantily-clad super-heroines and damsels in distress. Women were drawn in the same stereotypical fashion, but this time, the artists took it one step further on the skimpy scale. Consider the White Queen, a female villain that appeared in the X-Men comics during the 1980′s. She was “the stuff of male sexual fantasy: a push-up bustier, panties, and high-heel boots, all in white” (Lavin, 1998). Observe the image below and judge for yourself:
Today, women are becoming more and more sexualized. As described by Jones and Jacobs (2005): “Females, perpetually bending over, arching their backs, and heaving their anti-gravity breasts into readers’ faces, defied all laws of physics… the Victoria’s Secret catalogue became the Bible of every super-hero artist, an endless source of stilted poses ripe for swiping by boys who wanted their fantasies of women far removed from any human reality.”
One study conducted by Jessica H. Zellers shows an examination of how women are depicted in eighteen graphic novels. She finds that “of the suggestively clad, partially clad, or naked individuals, about three times as many were women (296) than men (107).” From the graphic novel sample where there were 1,768 male characters and 786 female characters, only 6% of all males were suggestively clad, partially clad, or naked; while of all the females, 38% were suggestively clad, partially clad, or naked. Additionally, of all males, 2% were naked, while of all females, 24% were naked. Zellers writes: “It is incredible that almost one out of every four females was, at some point, depicted in the nude” (2005).
3. Exploitation and Sexism
While some comic book artists argue that drawing women voluptuously and provocatively is a symbol of their strength and power, there are other points that can be emphasized upon to argue that women are being exploited. Consider the creator of Wonder Woman: a psychologist named William Moulton Marston (pen name: “Charles Moulton”) who also invented the lie detector. Revealing Marston’s intentions and goals on the character of Wonder Woman sheds light upon new attitudes towards women in the world of graphic novels. The fact that Wonder Woman comes from a matriarchal “Paradise Island” is enough to indicate male fantasy, but Marston also states, “give [men] an alluring woman stronger than themselves to submit to, and they’ll be proud to become her willing slaves.” Though Wonder Woman is not subordinate or weaker than her surrounding male characters in terms of strength and powers, she is being exoticized and idolized by her male creator. Her weapon is a golden lasso, which critics have called an erotic symbol of sexual control since she uses it to make her adversaries obey her commands. Marston has been criticized for his bonding fixations — a recurring theme of Wonder Women tying up both men and women. It was so prevalent that the editor of DC comics, Sheldon Mayer, was so uncomfortable with it and tried to tone it down (but was unsuccessful). In one 1948 story of Wonder Woman, there are no fewer than 75 panels of Wonder Woman tying up men or women in ropes.
One may also find sexist undertones in how many other female characters have abilities and superpowers ranging from being skilled in mundane arts like gymnastics and mind control (Maher, 2005). Female characters like Madame Mirage, White Queen, and Malice have the ability to use mind control to manipulate their opponents, mostly men! White Queen specifically uses her powers of mind control to manipulate and deceive men in order to gain wealth and power (Lavin, 1998). Yes, typical woman! The voluptuous Catwoman uses her beauty to manipulate Batman, Poison Ivy uses her seductive and deadly love potions to gain what she wants, and Malice is able to control the emotional centers of the brain. Hmm, what’s next? A female character that marries a rich old man only to have him killed off just to inherit the wealth and property? Wait, they already have a character like that: White Rabbit from the Spider-man comics!
What significance does Elektra’s “Electra Complex” serve?
Ah, Frank Miller. The comic book writer/artist who is notoriously known for his racist (see “300″) and sexist undertones. The hatred for women in his comic books are too obvious to be missed. Elektra (pictured above), for example, is a troubled female Assassin and anti-heroine. Miller named her after the Greek mythological character of the same name. Like the myth, Elektra’s character develops a sexual attraction to her father (which is the symptom of the “Electra Complex” in psychology). Early in her life, her Elektra complex is strengthened when her father rapes her, but then she is told that it never really happened. “It was only a fantasy… and she wanted it to happen. Her belief in her desire for the father grows, but her father dies before she can resolve the Electra complex” (Baughman, 1990). Frank Miller has also subjected other female characters to subordinate positions, such as Ava Lord in his series “Sin City.” Ava Lord says to a male character: “You’re right about me! I’m nothing but a selfish slut who threw away the only man she ever loved . . . I’m such a fool. Such a selfish stupid slut” (Maher, 2005). Another character he sexualizes incredibly is Vicki Vale in his new Batman All-Stars graphic novels. She is drawn in her pink bras and panties while thinking about her upcoming date with Bruce Wayne (aka Batman). On one panel, she is sucking her finger while showing her entire figure, and on the bottom panel, there is a shameless close-up of her buttocks. Below is an image from the comic book; the caption is from Frank Miller’s script for artist Jim Lee. It speaks for itself:
As analyzed by a feminist comic book reader, Vicki Vale’s character is there to “reassure the readership of their hetereo-masculinity.” She is quintessentially “watched by male watchers: the writer/director (Frank), his artist, and the presumed male audience that buys the book” (Finally, A Feminism Blog, 2006, para 7).
4. The Male Gaze
One could argue that what is in work here is the concept of the “male gaze”. This feminist theory was first introduced in the essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema” by film theorist Laura Mulvey in 1975. Male gaze is described as “the concept of the gaze as a symptom of power asymmetry”. A defining characteristic of male gaze was how the heterosexual male lets the camera “linger on the curves of the female body”. The male gaze “denies women agency, relegating them to the status of objects.” When applied to comic books, what we see presented is through the gaze of the male. The women are presented as men would want to see them. These same images are presented to women as something they should aspire to be if they want to be with a man. In other words, the power and control that characters like Wonder Woman have may be perceived as a woman’s control or power over a man, but it is in fact fake control. The male writers can take it away at will. Consider the following “adjustments” made by male writers on the storylines of female characters: “Batwoman is killed, Batgirl is paralysed, Mirage is raped, while Black Canary is tortured, made infertile, and de-powered!” (Maher, 2005). In other words, femininity has no control at all, as long as male writers and artists persist with these depictions and attitudes.
I found countless images of female characters in extremely provocative poses; bending over, arching their heads back, tossing their hair, fighting in the rain, etc. Even the popular characters like Wonder Woman, Storm, Super-Girl, and Jean Grey were not spared. This image of Wonder Woman in her traditional Amazon attire, for example, is especially crude and repulsive:
Example of the “Male Gaze”
What is the Future for Women in Comic Books?
The comic book industry is by far a male dominated industry. Just go to a comic book convention where fans are “treated to the sight of several scantily clad professional models dressed in the costumes of popular comic book babes. These models are hired by the comics companies to promote the publisher’s wares. For a small fee, any fan can immortalize the fantasy by having his picture taken with one of the role-playing women” (Lavin, 1998).
This is not to say that there are no female comic book readers — there certainly are — but one may argue that as sexualization of women continues, the rate of female readers will decrease significantly. According to Trina Robbins, a female comic book artist, “Women just don’t go into comic-book stores… A woman gets as far as the door, and after the cardboard life-size cut-out of a babe with giant breasts in a little thong bikini and spike-heel boots, the next thing that hits her is the smell. It smells like unwashed teenage boys, and it has this real porn-store atmosphere.” Just by looking at the covers of comic books like Wonder Woman or Catwoman today, it seems like the artists and writers are more concerned with how the characters are depicted than with storyline.
Look at films like “Batman Begins,” “X-Men,” “Superman Returns,” and the “Spider-man” films. They are all not only successful, but critically acclaimed as well. Is there a Wonder Woman film? There have been two films in the past five years with a female protagonist: “Catwoman” and “Elektra”. But these films bombed in the box-office. They’re so bad that they’re laughable. They’re not taken seriously like the aforementioned comic book movies. They were just poor excuses to get Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner to dress in tight and skimpy costumes.
And even if there was a Wonder Woman movie, is she really a complex and three-dimensional character like Batman or Spider-Man? Spider-Man, for example, is filled with so much depth — in the first film, we see him as a nerdy high school student who gets picked on by bullies, in the second film, we see him conflicted with keeping a job, paying his rent on time, and most importantly: he is torn between his obligation of being Spider-Man and his love for Mary Jane Watson. Should he give up being a super-hero and live a normal life where he can be with Mary Jane? These kind of challenges, dilemmas, and choices are what make characters like Spider-Man so interesting and three-dimensional. How can young girls relate to Wonder Woman? She is an exotic beauty from the land of the Amazons. She is more of a mythological Greek goddess than a human being. Where are her character flaws? What are her dilemmas and inner struggles? Besides, do we really want young girls to have Wonder Woman shirts or backpacks after we’ve learned that she is a product of a male fantasy?
The X-Men include powerful female characters who can move things with their minds, control the weather, and run through walls, among other things, but the male characters are at the center of the stage. Also, let’s look at characters like Super Girl, Bat Girl, and Spider Girl. What do they all have in common? They would not have existed if it were not for the original male characters. Superman tells Super Girl that he will take care over her like a “big brother,” but if Super Girl is the cousin of Superman, then why in the world would she need to be looked after? This is an example of how male dependency is prevalent in comic books, both implicitly and explicitly.
As I said earlier, the sexist undertones and stereotypical images are getting worse and increasingly sleazier. Graphic novels have a unique blend of complex narratives and visual art which is what makes it a very popular and appealing form of art, but stereotypes about women are being reinforced — stereotypes about the “ideal” feminine body image: large breasts, thin waists, toned buttocks, long legs. These stereotypes are misleading because they are setting a standard for beauty in women, and now that superhero characters are being portrayed in Hollywood films, more readers are being attracted to graphic novels.
We need new interpretations of female comic book characters; just like how their wardrobes have been reinterpreted in the X-Men films directed by Bryan Singer. Instead of wearing tight leather or spandex, the characters are wearing less provocative clothing (see Anna Paquin’s Rogue). Elektra’s character and her Elektra complex was removed; Catwoman was once a prostitute, but that was changed — and for the better. More realistic, three dimensional, and complex female characters are desperately needed; characters that can we can relate to and we can learn from.
Some admirable efforts include comic book writer Chris Claremont, who introduced “a string of independent, strong-willed, and generally admirable heroines” in the mid 70′s (Lavin, 1998). 14-year old Kitty Pryde (or “Shadowcat”) of the X-Men was an excellent example of a realistic, complex, and 3-dimensional female character. She is a teenager who suffers from anxiety, peer pressure, loneliness, and she has a longing to be treated as an adult. Instead of being drawn as an exotic, large breasted, and bare legged Amazon like Wonder Woman, she is drawn “slim, coltish, and flat-chested.” Another positive female character is also from the X-Men: Jubilee.
More female writers and artists are needed to help make this medium a stronger and meaningful form of storytelling. At the same time, the male writers and artists need to stop objectifying women! Otherwise, if images of women in comic books persist in sexualization, then the great storylines will fade away, just like it did in the late 1940′s during the “headlight comic books.”
Thank you for so clearly explaining why people like me don’t read comix.
I used to read Batman and other superhero comix regularly. But as the female characters become more and more objectified, and less and less dressed, they no longer were of interest.
Yet, many comix lovers still insist that these comix are not sexist. Can anyone explain that? Because the defenses against sexism I’ve seen don’t make sense. The defense amounts to, “It’s not sexist, and anyway, so what? I like it like that. And stop being so serious.”
This does point the finger in the right direction. The comics industry is due to see the work of women creators who can add some balance and perspective. I dont think you will see the superhero world changing anytime soon though. This is one that was created by guys and they are writing for guys.
The only place you will see women and girls appearing in a more natural state will be in books created by the wider variety of graphic novel/indie presses.
Y’know, this nails the reason I quit American comic books. I was a geeky teenaged girl, who probably would’ve been perfect comic-book-fan material because I was hooked early on Amethyst, Black Orchid, Elfquest, Shanda the Panda, and some other great comics (which, now that I think of it, very much captured the female gaze. Maybe this is why I liked them so much? Interestingly, the first two books were primarily drawn by men). These turned into a gateway drug and I started reading some of the Marvel X-books. I might’ve gone on to read more eventually. But I can remember two things that turned me off: a) Rob Liefeld’s art, and the influence it eventually had on the whole X-line — every woman instantly developed wince-inducing G-cup breasts and scoliosis; and b) walking into some comic-book stores in search of my faves, and being hit with that smell. Every comic-book store had it: a mingling of old paper, mildew, and B.O. And beyond the smell was that look — the way the guys in the store would all instantly start staring at parts of me. Not me, just the parts. They would hold entire conversations with my chest — brief ones, because I usually got the hell away from them ASAP. And yeah, comic stores definitely felt like porn stores in other ways — the cheap dim lighting, the lurid covers, the utter absence of any effort to make the place look welcoming, comfortable, or aesthetically pleasing. They never felt like bookstores, just like peep shows. Or what I imagine peep shows look like, since I’ve never actually gone into one. (Have been in porn shops, though. For research. No, seriously.)
It was already hard enough to find my favorite works, but having to put up with that to do it? There came a point where I just got tired of it all, went manga, and never came back.
In the introduction to the collection of Fray comics, Joss Whedon voices similar complaints/concerns about the typical portrayal of women in comics. He mentions how glad he was when Kitty Pryde was introduced to the X-Men comics, because she seemed like a real girl. He goes on to say that he keeps the issue of sexual objectification in mind when working on his own comics.
I also feel like I should mention Hack/Slash, from DDP. The heroine, Cassie, dresses sexily but the character is a virgin and has expressed realistic confusion over her sexuality. So maybe there is hope for more complex and realistic female characters in the future of comics after all
.
PS – the comic shop I go to doesn’t smell
. It looks and feels just like any “regular” bookstore and the people who work there are respectful. My husband has told me stories about stores he went to when he was younger, though, and described them as creepy. A lot of them WERE also porn stores, so I don’t doubt that this is a legit complaint.
Three words, one title: Strangers in Paradise
While the points made in this article are certainly well-made and many of them valid, I have a few problems with it.
First of all, they’re comic books. Not graphic novels. Comics have a bad reputation in part because any somewhat-decent comics are called “graphic novels” in order to remove the stigma associated with “comics.”
Secondly, and far more importantly, this article completely fails to touch upon any comics that aren’t from the Big Two (Marvel and DC). Yes, there are many examples of women being exploited and objectified throughout superhero comics, but even one step removed such as DC’s Vertigo imprint finds a different story. Books such as DMZ, Ex Machina, Fables, or Y: The Last Man offer realistic, 3-dimensional female characters that are nothing like the big-breasted bimbos of superhero comics.
And even among the superheroes, female characters are being treated with more dignity. While there are still an embarrassing number of panty shots in any given comic involving Wonder Woman, her series is finally being written by a woman; further, there are some characters such as Renee Montoya who is both a strong female character and one of the best examples of a lesbian character one could find. Rather than having her character be defined by her sexual orientation, Renee Montoya is a layered character who just happens to be a lesbian, something that would not ordinarily be expected from superhero comics.
Oracle, the former Batgirl who was, as mentioned, paralyzed by the Joker, has also become one of the most influential characters in the DC Universe, serving as the central information center and coordinator for all of the superheroes.
Something that also needs to be addressed is the issue of audience. I do agree that superhero comics are sexist, though they are improving. However, that’s partly due to market forces. If adolescent males are the dominant demographic to whom the comic companies are selling, gratuitous female sexuality is understandable. While that’s no excuse, it is a factor that should be taken into consideration.
Finally, a few nitpicks about the article that seemed to me to demonstrate a distinct lack of connection with comics in general and therefore caused me to doubt the piece as a whole. Not all comic shops are creepy dens infested with perverts; that’s an ignorant and, frankly, insulting statement. Some certainly are, but that is a gross overgeneralization. The title is All-Star Batman and Robin, not Batman All-Stars. And most importantly, Chris Claremont is NOT a good choice when looking for writers who don’t objectify women. While he may have introduced Kitty Pryde (undeniably one of the best female characters in superhero comics today), he was also responsible for the White Queen who was derided earlier in the comic. Further, while he is best known as being one of the greatest X-Men writers of all time, he is also notorious for his obsession with lesbians and bondage, exhibited especially in his X-Treme X-Men series. One arc has Storm and several other female X-Men forced to be gladiators in chains.
Frank Miller is also a poor choice if one wants to view comics as a whole. All-Star Batman and Robin is considered by many comics aficionados to be one of the worst interpretations of the character and his world in history. Batman kidnaps a young traumatized Dick Grayson and calls Grayson “retarded” and himself “the Goddamn Batman,” actions that are not at all fitting with Batman’s character.
Again, I agree for the most part with the article; women are certainly treated poorly and usually serve as little more than sex objects. But comics are getting better, and it’s important not to overlook the progress that’s been made. From Gail Simone’s current run on Wonder Woman to the plethora of strong women found outside the DC and Marvel publishing schedule to the increasing number of realistic female superheroes, progress is being made. Comics have a ways to go, but not all of them are the problem and the ones that are do show improvement.
The one that bugs me the most is “Liberty Meadows” by Frank Cho. The way he combines cutesy talking animals with “wholesome” and “empowered” bimbos makes me want to hurl.
I’m glad Alex mentioned Vertigo, because their books really have the best of everything, including female characters. Fables is currently my favorite comic series, and I think the women are fantastic (though I would like to see Snow White getting back into a take charge role in addition to being a mom).
When I was a teenager one of the reasons I stopped reading comics was because of the potrayal of women. Not in a feminist way, but just because I realized my perception of beauty was being warped by literally impossible representations of women. Of course, now every magazine or billboard photo is touched up in a million little ways, so it’s hard to avoid the media’s assault on natural beauty.
Yes, because every male superhero looks just like me and most certainly is not portrayed as an unrealistically idealized physical specimen with a heroic pose in every panel.
They certainly don’t have any psychological issues and nothing bad ever happens to them that’s for sure.
Clint, the presence of icky stuff around men does not in any way negate the points Jehanzeb made. Please refrain from derailing a discussion about sexism by trying to shift the focus to a strawman.
Alex,
to your point that the focus here is on DC and Marvel, I don’t necessarily think that’s a problem. I mean, if we were going to encompass every comic ever made or every comic out there right now, this article would be a dissertation. Sure, there may be plenty of positive depictions of women in smaller press publishers. Why don’t you write about them?
And yes, there are, as you point out, some great tings happening in some comics now. That doesn’t mean the author doesn’t have a point.
Bringing up Batgirl/Oracle actually works against you. yes, yes, she’s very influential. however, the storyline around her being paralyzed was really cheap, IMO, and just there for the “ratings” as it were. Plus, after Batman’s spine was broken, he went to the Lazarus pit and got all fixed — why wasn’t this same choice extended to Barbara? Ugh.
And while the image of a comic book shop filled with stinky fanboys is objectionable to you, don’t forget that it was a comic book artist who made that statement, not the author. Of course not all comic book shops are like that. But you can’t say that this isn’t part of the problem.
Frank Miller and Chris Claremont may be poor choices when looking at comics as a whole, but they are both important and influential writers.You can’t just say “Oh don’t look at their stuff when judging the industry” because the industry allows them to do what they do If the industry was ashamed, they wouldn’t be published.
K., I think that one of our primary differences here is that I don’t see it as “icky stuff”. Our outward appearance is an important marker for our reproductive fitness and a hundred years of evolution have lead up to it. If I want to see an average, short, out of shape guy then all I have to do is lean back and look in the mirror down the hall. George Clooney and Will Smith are quite a bit more attractive than me and I don’t have any qualms that they are valued higher for that. They should be, they are physically better than me. In this area I am less than them and I won’t lie to myself about that or ask anyone else to pretend otherwise. Why would anyone want to pick up a comic book with a character that looks like me when they can get the same story with a guy who looks like one of those two?
And I think that women should be treated equally.
Admittedly, the physical aspects are emphasized while the intellectual aspects are woefully downplayed- for men and women. But there is so little consensus around what is intellectually ideal that getting more specific than “helping the helpless is good” and “hurting the helpless is bad” will fragment the market to the point where there won’t be enough people buying a series to make it profitable. A lot of those small press comics are small for that very reason. One person’s ideology is the next person’s belly laugh… or heartfelt curse.
I wish there were more intellectual superheroes of any gender or race. But would it sell? Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark get to be the smartest guys in the room- but far more often than not that intellect just allows them to create the technology to join the supernaturally gifted superheroes in winning through doing greater violence. Should I complain that Batman had to be healed and go back to beating people up while Barbara gets to be effective and valuable using her intellect alone?
I guess that can’t be helped when violence is such a decisive tool and is the underpinning of practically every solution to a problem that the human race has ever come up with. Plus, outsmarting someone isn’t very visual now is it?
As for the bad things happening to female (and male) characters- that is one of the basics of drama. When you have hundreds of stories to write, more than once you have to ask yourself “what is the worst thing that can happen to this character?” or “what is the most complicating issue that this character can face?”. I’m sure that as more female writers and artists enter the field there will be answers to these questions that you find more satisfactory.
So rather than take anything out of the comic books, least of all that physical idealization of the men and women or their sexy/heroic poses… I want them to add more depth to the story and more “character” to the characters. Although I suspect that my depth and “character” wants would differ from enough people that the comics would sell a small fraction of what they do now.
Clint,
Thanks for your feedback and thoughts. There is a difference between how men and women are sexualized in comic books. First of all, men’s muscles and “perfect” physique are drawn to demonstrate power and strength. For women, drawing them with large breasts and “ideal” bodies is more about sex than it is about super-powers. Many young women who I’ve spoken to said that there is NO WAY a woman can look like these images because they’re drawn so out of proportion. According to a couple of researchers: “…a young woman between the ages of 18-34 has a 7% chance of being as slim as a catwalk model and a 1% chance of being as thin as a supermodel.”
Even images of women in popular magazines, posters, and billboards, are altered in order to make her look more “sexy” or “beautiful.” Making these alterations says a lot about what certain body images and types that our society values. Psychological studies have also shown that women had lower self-evaluations when they were shown slides of thin models. People who were shown images of average and oversized models on the other hand had better self-evaluations. According to one source: 75% of “normal” weight women think they are overweight and 90% of women overestimate their body size. And we all know what kind of eating disorders poor body image may lead to.
So THIS is why we must question and challenge the typical images of women (and yes, men) that are presented in the media. The male gaze I mentioned above contributes to the patriarchal society and how women must DRESS or LOOK certain ways just to PLEASE men. If they don’t look a certain way, then they will have “no chance” in being with a man.
In order to fully grasp an understanding of my post, you need to take a lot of things into account, not just the way the women are drawn. Yes, they’re drawn in “sexy” poses, but they’re also drawn in PORNOGRAPHIC poses. Speak to many feminists and they will tell you that pornography is VIOLENCE. I was just reading a “Star Wars” comic book with Aayla Secura who gets thrown to the ground, and she’s in the same crawling position as Wonder Woman is in the picture above. As you know, comic books aren’t the only place where we see these poses of women — it’s degrading, it makes her look inferior, it reestablishes male dominance. There is a pattern of this in all forms of media and throughout our society.
You ask if more intellectual superheroes of any gender or race would sell. Why not? What is it about different gender and races that people are not comfortable with? This is the 21st century isn’t it? To me, that’s like asking if America is ready for an African-American president.
And even if it doesn’t sell, should that stop writers and artists from expressing themselves? Does that mean there can’t be any good and worthy stories to tell? Story is in decline and there is hardly any originality out there. By acknowledging these issues, such as how women are poorly depicted and sexualized in comic books, can produce NEW, interesting, and original stories. Like you said, we need more intellectual characters and stories with more depth. Part of my intentions with this piece was to inspire, so that hopefully, we can all reflect on this and come up with new stories and ideas of our own.
Clint,
Jehanzeb made some excellent points, but I’d like to harken back to something to said. The difference between you and George Clooney or Will Smith in terms of attractiveness and fitness is a difference that exists in reality. You obviously can’t look like Clooney without some plastic surgery, but you could probably have a body similar to his if you wanted. it’s a matter of being in the same shape he’s in. However, there is no earthly way I or any woman can look like many of the women depicted in comic books. It is anatomically impossible. The way they are drawn, as has been mentioned, is to emphasize to a gross degree those aspects that males tend to find important: breasts, ass, tiny, tiny waist, etc. You can’t compare your inability to be up to the standard of George Clooney to comics at all.
Idealization might be the right word to apply to the male characters, but certainly not to the female ones. Because none of the images above are any woman’s ideal. they might be false ideals as outlined by J above, but they are certainly not the pinnacle of the healthy and beautiful female form.
and need I point out that any time one is thinking about the reproductive aspects of comic book characters, one might need to take a break from looking at them… and seek counseling.
Additionally, bad things happen in dramas all the time, but writer laziness is what causes bad things to happen in gendered ways. I don’t recall any recent stories in comics about male superheroes being raped or their heads showing up in refrigerators. The “worst thing” many writers can come up with for women usually revolves around something sexual, and usually it ends up as a base kind of titillation for the male reader. That’s really gross, in addition to being bad writing and stupid choices. i don’t settle for that when I watch TV or movies, why in god’s name would I settle for it in a comic?
This is an interesting topic. I do agree that the traditional superhero art style is very male-oriented. It definitely is not the same kind of idealization that would happen from a female perspective (to generalize). The muscle-bound look I don’t think is quite so destructive since you can get a bit more muscular on your own, but can’t change breast size without surgery.
I have to say that the article feels kind of older than it really is, though. For instance, the comment of “If adolescent males are the dominant demographic” I don’t think has been true for a while. The “conventional wisdom” of the industry for a long time was that “women don’t read comics” and “kids don’t read comics”.
Who buys most superhero comics? Middle-aged people who first started reading when they were on news stands or maybe during the boom that happened when Image and Valiant were taking off (before the subsequent speculation crash). Why didn’t kids read comics? It must be the competing video games and internet and all of that.
Then manga hit and all the conventional wisdom got turned on its head. Suddenly actual kids were buying comics and not just that, but girls! Even more girls than boys as time went on. A lot of people assumed it was a fad and would quickly pass, but it didn’t. I think the meteoric growth has slowed down a bit lately, but it’s still a big deal.
Also, there’s been a lot of interest in graphic novels from bookstores, libraries, Scholastic, etc. Books like the Bone reprints and Persepolis are now selling very well, where they would have been very marginalized in the past.
Some bloggers like to talk about the “new mainstream” which is comics that the general public are actually interested in versus the more insular traditional market. The movies have helped superheros a bit lately, but I still think it’s going to be harder for them to hold on to what they have as time goes on. I think most kids who read comics these days want to create their own manga story (or maybe Scott Pilgrim), not draw Superman.
I’m pretty lucky in where I live (Western Mass.) in that there’s a great shop nearby (Modern Myths) which is basically a bookstore that caries almost exclusively graphic novels (just a small area of a wall for new “pamphlets” while the rest is bookcases). The local library also carries a big variety of titles.
To me, Marvel and DC seem kind of beside the point nowadays if one is going to talk about “graphic novels”…
You’re right you’re right you’re right you’re right.
You’re right!
And it SUCKS.
I’m a female comix reader. I love the medium. I REALLY love finding quality non-exploitative work, like Jeff Smith’s “Bone” and Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home,” for example, but the plain fact is that this is a medium dominated by men. Male illustrators. Male writers. Male editors. Male readers. Who knows if the chicken or the egg comes first? It’s a boys’ club no matter how you cut it.
Now here’s something I shouldn’t say on the Internet because it’s asking for a slew of crap. Please save it for Fark.com. I’m trying to make a serious point here.
I’m lesbian. I can’t help but enjoy some of the superficial (and undeniably offensive) depictions of women present in mainstream comix – even though I’m a woman myself! My brain is offended, but my glands aren’t ruled by my brain. (Yes, my life is complicated.)
Yes, I try to stick to non-sexist material. I adore smart women and have no desire to objectify any female, especially on the basis of something as superficial as body type. But just like a light comes on every time you hit the switch, sex will sell no matter how guilty the target demographic feels about buying it. Advertisements and cinema do exactly the same thing. The sex is not going to go away, but maybe we can “fix” the situation a little so it’s fairer.
Clearly the medium needs more female contributors, editors, writers, etc. End the boys’ club. It’s not going to stop pigs like Miller from vomiting their bile all over the medium, but at least it’d provide a counterpoint to his (and others’) relentless woman-bashing. As well as providing an alternative for female (and socially sensitive male) fans.
No matter who’s writing or illustrating, women in comix need to be provided with brains, complexity and character development in quality equal to or exceeding that of their appearances. I think the real problem is that women in comix are being presented first as sexy things and then as people.
More focus on writing would make sexploitation less important for sales. The mainstreamers already suffer from weak plots anyway, so this might do them some good. I think that they’d be surprised at how many readers would prefer a good plot over yet another pair of oversized, weirdly symmetrical breasts.
And finally, for freak’s sake, someone please write a comic book exploiting men.
Great article. Great discussion.
My only point is this: there’s no point in complaining. What sells sells. If you want something different and you think it will sell, then make it. There’s no point sitting back and waiting for the same people to give you something new.
The Comic / Graphic Novel industry is an industry just like any other. It is based on making a profit. As long as the products continue to sell, they are probably not going to change them. Would you if it were your business?
If there is a large enough potential consumer base for comics like you describe, then eventually that product will gain traction and will be seen more. But until then, it’s unrealistic to ask a business to take a risk like changing their entire product line.
It’s more likely however that new companies will form and create the types of products you are looking for. In a way they won’t even be competing with the older companies since their consumer base will be different.
To make an objective statement about sexism in comics, one would need to compare the images of men and women. While there are unquestionably differences, both males and females are sexually objectified in mainstream comics by the largest publishers (as they are in virtually every Hollywood movie and mainstream television show). It’s curious that feminists rarely object to all of the images of men tied up and beaten up (by both men and women), images of men fighting, images of men being dominated and tortured, images of men dressed in sexy outfits, images of men posed provocatively, fighting in the rain, etc., etc., etc.
The truth is that in comics, as in other media, there’s a premium on attractiveness in the characters portrayed. I’ve found that in talking to feminists, most object to this portrayal when it comes to women, but endorse and enjoy the sexual objectification of men.
Re: the suggestion that anything sexual is inherently pornographic and anything pornographic is inherently violent, those are tired old saws, and saying it don’t make it so. Some pornography is exploitative and violent; some is just a portrayal of a harmless sexual fantasy, and is not exploitative or violent or harmful in any way. Mainstream comics may be sexualized at times, but they are nowhere near pornographic. Old-school, antisexual feminists are fond of saying things like that sexualized or pornographic images harm women and increase violence against women and rape; but; studies have actually shown the opposite,i.e., the more sexually explicit material is freely available in a culture the fewer the reported rapes. Even when the definition is extended to include a woman deciding a week or two after having sex, that she didn’t want to have it, the amount of rape being reported is going steadily down. The more sexuality is suppressed in a culture, the more it begins to express itself in unhealthy ways, including rape.
To Mr Morrow above,
Your information is very speculative my friend. The stats that you have offered are, shall we say: wrong.
First, “pornographic” material need not be the cum guzzling orifice plugging crap that makes up 80% of the internet and a good chunk of your payperview options. I believe the term is being used here to convey the generalized over-sexualized material (comic, advertising etc) that is euphemistic to pornography and violence. We are saturated by this and it’s no secret comics or not.
This statement of yours, “Old-school, antisexual feminists” … Is totally off base. Since when did being feminist mean being anti-sexual? It never has. Feminists like sex as much as men, darling… The difference is that women have been called whores and sluts if they do openly enjoy sex. Somehow this takes away male entitlement to screwing just whoever they want because she might be looking elsewhere for a lay. This is age old business that has flooded down into current culture. Maybe you are misinterpreting women wanting equal rights with their own bodies sexual or not… as “anti-sexual feminists.” Read the book or blog “Yes Means Yes!” for more information.
And to your thoughts about how the objectification of women correlating with violence against women…
watch: http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=234
read: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2294/is_2000_Nov/ai_75959819
read: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2294/is_55/ai_n21130365
read: http://www.heardthelearned.com/pandorapanacea/2009/02/at-the-movies/
Have fun… Onward.
Well said
Someone here has the guts to go up against comic portraying womwn as sex desire.
I simply can’t understand the people here who constantly disagree.
Have they no shame ?
I guess they would even like to see their own Mothers, Sister and daughter in that same way !
Sick bastard !
Comics portray women as sexual objects? No say it isn’t so! Next you will try to tell me that beer commercials, sports, and American Idol do the same. As a slightly intelligent adult I know that ALL media tends to objectify female beauty AND the male physique. The reason? Sex sells. The only thing wrong with that is that feeding that gluttonous desire by the “masses” creates even more of a market for the sexually oriented media. Yes comic books 60-70 years ago protrayed Louis Lane as a object to be rescued. Some of the mass media comics today would have her rescued dressed in a corsett and thong. Look at the body of the original Superman compared to the overly muscled heroes of today.
One VERY big part of that is the improvement of printing technology. More detail is available for the artists at a cheaper reproduction cost than in previous decades.
But hey I am ranting…
Y’know the problem with the internet is depending on where you go to find links you could argue any point with pictures or text to back you up. There are so many philosophies posted online any debater has a treasure trove to work with. Because of that pardon me if this is a link free opinion.
Being an erotic artist I’ve seen men characters bent over and done by women with strap ons at sites I post at. Is that main comic book continuity? Of course not but there are alot of images like that out there all the same.
I’ve also seen yaoi (guy on guy gay romance graphic novels from Japan) and so many bishonen pretty boys and well muscled athletic types that it’s hard now days to say men are not objectified just as hardcore as women are.(Afterall many geek girls giggle and confess loving Yaoi yet when we want to see lesbians go at it we get our hands slapped with a metal ruler. Why the double standards??)
I admit there are ugly male characters whereas ALL female characters tend to be beautiful HOWEVER ugly guys in the realms of fiction are still much rarer than the attractive epic posing wind-blown-hair types.
Honestly I think we all want to be seen as sex objects sometimes. It re-affirms we are desirable.
I’m not saying objectification is healthy in extremes but “physical attraction” is apart of the human animal be we man or woman.
Yes, I would like to see more types of women in graphic novels. I hate how none of my how to draw books have instructions on drawing bigger more voloptous girls. Then again they don’t instruct me how to draw non muscular or non-Bishonen looking guys either.
As for the power ratio of women versus men characters all I have to comment on is if you let me put Scarlet Witch, Mrs Marvel, She Hulk, Wonder Woman, Super Girl, Jean Grey as the dark pheonix, and Raven from Teen Titans against all the other male heavy hitters in both the DC and Marvel universes those girls would “pwn” the men teams many times over.
The truth is the media objectifies both sexes and the fantasies of both men and women are equally sexist from a broader point of view.
All we can hope to do is meet in the middle. We should all strive to be “equalists” instead of “chauvanists” and “feminists”. That and we should stop getting hung up about sexaul fetishes and seeing eroticism as worse than murder and genocide.
A nation of prudes is an unhappy nation! Last time “prudes ruled” it spawned wonderful individuals such as Jack the Ripper and Mrs. Elisabeth Berkeley the blood countess.
(Pardon a few typos. I’m a man, not a Dictionary.)
Hey,
i think your article and its comments on the ‘one-track’ view of women in comic books is superb
This is a damn fine article with many good points. I was looking for one like this on the internet because I was wondering if this was still discussed. I’m a collector of comics but go back more to the gold and silver age (well reprints anyway) and more independent comics rather than super hero fair. I recently started really becoming the fan I was when I was a little kid and want to get back into buying monthly titles.
The comic shop I usually go to is not as bad as described since it has a younger “hipper” staff, it’s becoming more modern and inclusive. Yet a lot of the comics remain the same. I saw a ridiculous Batman comic where some double D titted stripper looking character is actually pushing her breasts into Batman while kissing him. So apparently things haven’t changed much since I was a kid.
I’m glad this article was published. And seriously, it’s about time Emma Frost/ White Queen dropped the stripper garb and put on something more respectable.
Oh, on the Frank Miller tip, a lot of his misogynistic depictions of women are also influenced by classic Hollywood film noir so that’s another thing to maybe consider.
One other thing I forgot. I do feel there’s nothing wrong with sexuality in comics such as with characters like Vampirella. I don’t know if you respond to this thread still but comparing the humorous and sexy Vampirella of the Warren comic magazine from the 70s, one would see a sexy and sexual woman who is also intelligent and strong. Sure she wears a skimpy costume but the audience is intended to be more adult with accompanying adult humor. The tragedy, of course, is how Vampirella was “reinvented” in the late 80s Harris comic as a double D, blood-drenched, stripper type.
The acid keeps deteriotating the fabric. ,
The one thing I always notice about arguments like this one is how one sided it always is. But then we do live in a world where double standards are accepted all over the place. In comics men and women are both objectified. They both dress and act in a way that is to attract the opposite sex. Or do they not see all the perfect muscles dressed in clothing so tight that they just might as well be nude since you see everything all the time. I think it is high time that people start to accept that both sexes are shown this way in just about everything. The same movie and comics and shows that have woman walking around topless have men walking around topless too.
Is this really sexism? There is no implied male supriority here. It’s just a bunch of women getting jealous over sexy drawings of women. What’s your response ladies? I’m an idiot right? What gets me is, they won’t just admit it,they have to come up with all these rationalisations.
I would also like to say that teenage boys, especially virgins, are not reading comics to look at scantily clad drawings of women. They are probably more interested in the action, for example, whether the Hulk can beat Thor in a fight.
Wahhh. Silly girls comics are for guys and its a mans world sorry Bout your bad luck .when u take up a majority of the market it will change, but that is very unlikely that will ever happen. Next thing I know I’m gonna end up reading about how there aren’t enough black super hero’s hmm why is that because not that many black people readin comics , if I owned a buisiness why would I cater to 20 percent of my clientel I wouldn’t that’s why if u want boring comics make them
As a writer I have to agree with you 100%.
A few of my readers have noted that my female fantasy anti-hero won’t “mother” her friends in grief–she responds with outrage at unnecessary deaths and errors. Why should she “comfort” them? In a harsh medieval world, males are not “comforting” her, death is a familiar and brutal fact of life.
Readers are conditioned unfortunately, to accepting even female anti-heroes and heroes as being emotional, compassionate and you’re right–male fantasies of bondage play a major role in the sexuality of strong female protagonists.
And yes, like James Bond or Conan, she takes on a lover in each adventure with no “true love” in sight.
She does not have big breasts, doe eyes. She’s muscled and scarred and been mutated.
Does she appeal to male readers? Funny it isn’t men who have written to tell me they don’t like her. Mostly, I think they just don’t quite know how to take a woman who will “take” a man at her leisure, has the mothering instinct of a medusa and who is a hero/anti-hero due to her loyalty to her friends no matter which gender.
She’s never tied *anyone* up, in any tale. She’d be more likely to kill them than take prisoners.
So yes, some of us *are* out there trying to write women as complex characters who like sex, who every male friend is NOT “in love” with them and who don’t “mother” other characters and love a good adventure as much as a macho male hero.
Now, whether a publisher or the general public will buy such tales, remains to be seen.
Overall, yes, superhero comics are written and drawn from the Male Gaze point of view, leading to outlandish figures and “supporting character” status that allows terrible things to happen to them but not to the heroes.
This is not a universal rule, though, especially when things are broken down by writer/artist instead of by character. For instance, Chris Claremont’s X-Men is more likely to have a woman as team leader, most powerful team member, most sympathetic character, least sexualized character, narrative focus, etc. than a man, and regularly emasculates his male heroes, while the franchise as a whole has a King Arthur “alpha male + romantic intrigue” structure thanks to Stan Lee and Grant Morrison, with improbable proportions courtesy of Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld.
Frank Miller has no such excuse, having total authorial control, and is justly excoriated.
Great article. I have to say that because of this I will not be watching Zack Snyder’s self-penned film Sucker Punch. It’s obvious that he’s a huge Frank Miller fanboy, and the trailer alone tells us there will likely be rape, ass-shots and scantily clad women in compromising positons, so why bother? 300 and Watchmen were enough for me.
As one male reader of comics and graphic novels, my own take is this. It isn’t that the objectification of women in comics for the sexual pleasure of young males is bad in and of itself. Rather, it is bad in that it is almost the only such depiction of women available. Thus it becomes a dominating stereotype that oppresses women and girls.
Were there a wide range of images of women available, there would be little motive for anyone to gainsay the young male heterosexual his fantasy pleasure. Boys like what they like and won’t stop liking it just because girls like something else. Similarly, nobody should expect heterosexual girls to be attracted to all the same things that appeal to heterosexual boys.
Just as many heterosexual boys like buxom, scantily-clad comic book heroines in erotic poses that mimic sexual arousal or ecstasy, many heterosexual girls enjoy the Twilight novel and movie series, which features buff, scantily-clad, but sensitive males who will love you forever. These too have been criticized for their superficiality. There are also romance novels that many women, young and old, enjoy. And these also offer stereotypical images of women and men and are dominated by sexuality.
Simply put, a market for sexual titillation will remain with us into the foreseeable future. And sexual titillation often flows along established, stereotypical lines. Moreover, tastes differ between the sexes, genders, and orientations as well as between individuals. A deep mix of biology and socialization plays out here. And once a particular type of image is imprinted in a person as arousing, it’s extremely difficult to render that image non-arousing and replace it with something else. Mere consciousness raising isn’t normally potent enough to bring about revolutionary changes in the sexual tastes of any given individualthough such tastes can be modified across generations.
So it isn’t necessary to conclude that the things boys like are inherently disgusting or socially harmful. It would be fairer to argue that, in the world of comic books and graphic novels today, those that appeal to the prurient interests of young heterosexual males overwhelmingly dominate. And that imbalance needs to be redressed with far more non-sexualized characters as well as heroines with deeper characterization who empower female readers, young and old.
Comic books take us from normal humdrum lives to the fantasy filled world of super heroes. No-one is really built like Superman, yet he epitomizes power, mental strength, compassion and an innate sexiness, as does Batman and many others. I don’t know about you, but I LOVE seeing a powerful and sexy woman in a hero or even a non hero capacity!
Power Girl, Wonder Woman and a whole slew of others are women we dream about. The “objectification” of women is in the eye of the beholder. Women are objectified; men are objectified; get over it. It’s the way the world works. Being sexy is one of the facets of the diamond that is our humanity and besides, cleavage and muscles sell. Who wants to see a wimpy Superman or a flat chested Power Girl?!
I am BLESSED, when my wife “objectifies” me, which she does often. Sadly, America is way behind Europe when it comes to sexual hangups, which is what this article is basically all about.
Peace,
Sonny Crockett
all these comics are from a particular genre (action/adventure/fantasy/superhero etc) and do not represent the medium as a whole.
they are made to fulfill a particular market, to entertain a certain kind of reader, one which i will refrain from describing.
if you watch a crappy van damme movie, do you declare film to be a crappy format?
try some alison bechdel or phoebe gloeckner.
check out gilberto hernandez’ ouvre.
and just, fer cryin out loud, avoid stuff with gun-totin’ and/or cape-wearing Heroes and all that bull, because it’s obviously rubbish, no matter how well it sells.
there’s plenty of really good stuff, it’s just that, as with any other medium, it’s not the stuff that’s being rammed down yr throat, promotion-wise.
make an effort.
just ’cause coca cola is toxic, doesn’t mean drinking is bad for you.
Wow. That is a whole shit-ton of mansplaining going down.
Apparently actually reading the article was just beneath you lot?
“Institutionalized sexism”
“Male privilege”
“Mansplaining”
Google is your friend, lads.
I agree w Alex Swindle some of vertigos and other indie comic lines have less vulgar shots. Also there are some women writers out there but for the most part im not offended. Y would any guy (majority of gamers and comic readers) want an ugly or hairy women as a hero?. To make it even better ill twist it around. Doesn’t batman and superman have spandex on? revealing there crotch and muscles? of course it is not as sexist but still in plain sight the men are strong and good looking and the women are good looking w coke bottle figures. I see your points but I don’t get bent out of shape as much as I used to and maybe it’s because I am a guy and therefpre have a diff perspective. I kno most actors that r guys r handsome and muscular or funny etc just like in the comics. Women are meant to be this sexual object of desire. Neither is a true accurate depiction of the majority of people or what we should always look for but it is for many what the masses want to consume and so what we pay for they’ll give. Alot of women I see also complain about these problems but then diet and shave there arms and still watch these movies and buy these comics/games. I like your solution the best which is if you dont like it then don’t buy it. I believe it hurts and also at the same time helps show comic writers and artists Hey. There is a wider demographic and that many women and young women look at wonder woman as a hero and a model or figure to follow in life and that they need to appeal to a wider audience then just the “typical male stereotype.” I didnt like some of the comment here tho associating stores and all comic fans as sexist Misogynist pig. I read comics work and pay taxes like n e one else. I am a bit sexist at times and rarely but sometimes perverted but I have many female friends whom i respect as well as a sister and mom that I love. I can talk to you and not oogle you every 5 seconds. Not only does that make for awkward conversation and is a bit creepy and perverted but it shows the guy is a pig and doesnt want to talk and know your feelings and get to know your true personality. Any whoot besides my long rant I just wanted to say not all comic fans r perverted introverted basement dwelling hermits. And as u stated as well as other comments more ppl will not onlt have to stop buying the comics but write to the artists or email which is way faster and let the creators kno y. And last time I checked the majority of comic readers were mail but the gap is closing in and I was never one for majority rules or mob democracy. I also am fervently against censorship. I like blood and sex and nude shots of women or men if need b in my comics. Good discussion and I hope they don’t continue ruining ur comic lines for u. I hope they will fix some of the problems many readers have with this sexist type of portrayals of women and I hope u start collecting agn soon…
billy bedbug hit the nail on the head!
Very nice article. I love female badasses in any form of literature and a gun and a skimpy outfit does not make a badass. The first comments are a little frustrating to me though. Not all comics objectify women (some of the best female characters can be found in comics). And most certainly not all comics are superhero comics (again, some of my favorite comics are of the superhero genre, but it annoys me that people think comic=superhero). If you take the time to expand your horizon, you will find that the comic world is not just DC and Marvel. I don’t mean to stereotype the two because there’s some great work coming from them, but I am referencing the more mainstream superhero publishers that treat women like objects. Billy Bedbug makes the point.