"This!" moments for women in comics

[TheeGoatPig]

great comic, horrible movie

I never read the comic, but I wanted to like the movie when it came out. It had a lot of things going for it. A hot chick with a tank and kangaroo warriors fighting with her? I should have loved that. Unfortunately, I couldn't. It just wasn't well done.

Maybe they should try rebooting it?

Maybe it just can't be done properly in movie form?

Maybe it should get the adult cartoon treatment?

 

[BuckyDuckman]

It's interesting seeing how comics have changed through the years and apply a bit of a historical perspective. The super-est of all superhero's, Superman, first appeared in 1938, a mere 18 years after women in America finally earned the right to vote. Wonder Woman didn't appear until 1942 and it wasn't until the late 60's that a superhero was portrayed as something other than another white guy.

The roles for women in society have changed so drastically since 1938, along with what women were "allowed" to wear. The first modern bikini didn't appear until 1946 (in France, of course).

For a long time, when playing a MMO like World of Warcraft, I would frustrated my teenaged son by choosing a female character. While there's case to be made for confusing the online gaming community about MY gender, my reasoning was simple: If I'm going to spend hours staring at a character's butt, I'd rather stare at a woman's. If that makes me gay, so be it.

The relationship dynamics in comics are interesting to me. Would Peter Parker be able to attract model/actress Mary Jane if it wasn't for his increased confidence and buffer body from becoming Spiderman? What does a non-super man have to offer a super powered woman?

 

[Cruel2BKind]

It's interesting seeing how comics have changed through the years and apply a bit of a historical perspective. The super-est of all superhero's, Superman, first appeared in 1938, a mere 18 years after women in America finally earned the right to vote. Wonder Woman didn't appear until 1942 and it wasn't until the late 60's that a superhero was portrayed as something other than another white guy.

The roles for women in society have changed so drastically since 1938, along with what women were "allowed" to wear. The first modern bikini didn't appear until 1946 (in France, of course).

For a long time, when playing a MMO like World of Warcraft, I would frustrated my teenaged son by choosing a female character. While there's case to be made for confusing the online gaming community about MY gender, my reasoning was simple: If I'm going to spend hours staring at a character's butt, I'd rather stare at a woman's. If that makes me gay, so be it.

The relationship dynamics in comics are interesting to me. Would Peter Parker be able to attract model/actress Mary Jane if it wasn't for his increased confidence and buffer body from becoming Spiderman? What does a non-super man have to offer a super powered woman?

They can be stay-at-home dads.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The relationship dynamics in comics are interesting to me. Would Peter Parker be able to attract model/actress Mary Jane if it wasn't for his increased confidence and buffer body from becoming Spiderman?

Not if men write the story... Oh wait, they DO!

What does a non-super man have to offer a super powered woman?

Love, affection, companionship, comfort.

What you are really saying here is: "How can a man be in love with someone so far above him status-wise? How can I be happy not being the top dog? I'm used to looking down on the little woman, I can't imagine having to look up to her!"

But women don't have to play a lesser role to be happy in a relationship. .

 

[BuckyDuckman]

Not if men write the story... Oh wait, they DO!.

Of course men write the stories. Because men are better writers than women. (No, I do NOT believe that, but it sure was fun to write and imagine the expression on your face as you read it.)

What you are really saying here is: "How can a man be in love with someone so far above him status-wise? How can I be happy not being the top dog? I'm used to looking down on the little woman, I can't imagine having to look up to her!"

But women don't have to play a lesser role to be happy in a relationship. .

I guess I did say that. It's not what I believe nor is that idea reflected in my real life. To give a comics theme example: Marvel released a poorly titled spin-off of Spiderman - Spider-Girl, the daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. As dad to daughters (and a son), I immediately bought the first editions, wrapped them, and gave them the same treatment as any of other #1 collections. My daughters have grown up believing they're as likely to be superheros as anyone else.

All things being equal - we are.

 

[Stella_Omega]

My daughters have grown up believing they're as likely to be superheros as anyone else.

Congrats! You've done a good job as a dad.

If she's willing to put super-human effort into the attempt of going so strongly against the grain of this society we live in, one of your daughters might produce something-- content of some sort, fiction or entertainment, or a career-- that will prove the practicality of her belief.

I immediately bought the first editions, wrapped them, and gave them the same treatment as any of other #1 collections.

is there a set available for the girls to read?

 

[BuckyDuckman]

is there a set available for the girls to read?

Yep. It's actually why I protected them when I bought them, they were too young to appreciate (still chewing cardboard books). I love women being women - however they want to define themselves as individuals. Being a woman does not make one a lesser being.

My son got the worse of things whenever he said something sexist. I used to do magic and he made the mistake of telling his little sisters, "Only boys can be magicians." A week later, the whole fam sat in the audience of Melinda: the First Lady of Magic. Through her show, I kept leaning over to my son and asking, "Can YOU do that?"

As for super hero women wearing revealing costumes - as a bi-guy, I find plenty of eye candy to the male custumes, too.

 

[lovecraft68]

This thread upsets me. Not because of anything being discussed, but the fact that as someone who was raised on comics and have been involved in the industry for years now, I should be all over this discussion, but alas I could care less.

Once I saw Marvel/DC and company from the business end, it turned me bitter. Old or new comics I can't look at them in anyway but $'s. What they're worth, what should I pay, how many can I sell, should I invest etc...

On thing I will add and only because I think its sad is that most comics are no longer for children. Many comics now are nothing short of grim and are absolutely brutal. Check out Walking Dead these aren't "our" comics from back in the 70's and 80's.

I remember putting the recent comics out on the shelf back when I had the store and I finished early and decided to check out the 2nd issue of Vertigo comics "Loveless" as I enjoyed #1

I opened it up to a graphically portrayed gang rape scene. where a woman was lied out on the table getting fucked by soldier after soldier. There is n o need for that in a comic book, if I want realism the news is readily available.

I realized, as I put that book on the top shelf away from the easy reach of younger kids that I was out of room on the top shelf. That half of what was out there was not suitable to be looked at by the kids that came to play the card tournaments, the kids that comics used to be for.

Back in the early 60's Marvel took over the industry by portraying "realistic" heroes. Super heroes with problems. Peter Parker kicked ass as Spiderman then got dumped by his girlfriend and then failed his chemistry test.

But over the years they are now to real, they are no longer an escape from reality, but more depressing than reality itself. IT is a shame that there is now ratings on them and Marvel has launched a "kid friendly line" as has DC.

I know this is because statistically it is adults that buy these things so they feel they are appealing to people in their 30's+

shame is they have to because at 3.99-5.99 a whack who else can afford them.

For many of us, comics are nostalgia and something that makes us think back to innocence(maybe a bit strong, but not sure how else to say it) they are full of fun and good memories, now they read like CNN.

They are stale and stagnant with no new characters being introduced(amongst the big 2 anyway) and everything is a restart and rehash.

They used to make me happy, now when I see them I feel (when not bitter) kind of depressed, they are no longer a part of childhood, but a medium for adults that could use that little kid in them being inspired instead of feeding more of reality to us.

Just my two cents on the matter, feel free to toss it back for what it's worth.

 

[Stella_Omega]

LC, this is a thread about positive portrayals of women in comics. And we've been getting lots of examples.