I dunno, but I have this feeling that being a female comic-book reader these days must kinda suck.
Not that I have any empirical evidence to that effect, but a recent announcement by Marvel EIC Joe Quesada has enraged fangirls across the interwebs: “This…seems like the perfect time to announce our Marvel Divas limited series, beginning in July, from Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Tonci Zonjic, featuring some of the Marvel Universe’s greatest female heroes in a way you haven’t seem them before. I’ll let Roberto explain: “The idea behind the series was to have some sudsy fun and lift the curtain a bit and take a peep at some of our most fabulous super heroines. In the series, they're an unlikely foursome of friends--Black Cat, Hell Cat, Firestar, and Photon--with TWO things in common: They're all leading double-lives and they're all having romantic trouble. The pitch started as "Sex and the City" in the Marvel Universe, and there's definitely that "naughty" element to it, but I also think the series is doing to a deeper place, asking question about what it means...truly means...to be a woman in an industry dominated by testosterone and guns. (And I mean both the super hero industry and the comic book industry.) But mostly it's just a lot of hot fun.” Sigh. Now, far be it from me to judge a book before I’ve had a chance to read it – OK, I guess I’m gonna – But is this the sort of title that’s gonna bring more female readers into the fold. Is this the kind of book that’s going to get women to look past the misogyny that is so prevalent in comics? What? You say there’s no such thing as misogyny in comics? Hold on, here’s a reminder: And for those of you with short memories… And I just don’t get it? I mean, it’s not like fanboys aren’t into strong female characters. Man, I remember the first strong female I fell for: Princess Leia Organna was a tough, no-nonsense gal who could think on her feet and didn’t take crap from anyone. She insults the Grand Moff Tarkin the moment she sees him and endures torture at the hands of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader without giving up the location of the hidden rebel base on Yavin-4. She could shoot stormtroopers and come up with a last second escape plan at the drop of a hat. Oh yeah, this was one tough Senator from Alderaan. But then things…changed. At the conclusion of the classic trilogy, Leia becomes a bit of a fetish piece, but not before fighting her way free from Jabba the Hutt. You remember that part right? Where she STRANGLES JABBA WITH HER SLAVE CHAIN!? Damn, that was cold. But it just went to prove what a tough cookie the gal was. And it just goes to show that fanboys will accept tough women heroes. So why don’t we have more of them, if not for women’s sake, so at least the next generation of fanboys don’t grow up thinking this is what a woman should be?: ‘Cuz if this is the image of what a women should be, it’s not only gonna suck to be a female comic reader – it’s gonna suck to be a female…period. Elliott Serrano is a writer/columnist/graphic artist who loves women and truly respects them. So why don’t they ever call him back? Is it because he lives with his Mom? He’s looking for his own place, he swears! Just that his Mom needs a little help around the house with her scoliosis and all. You can see him getting out of the house and spending his allowance when you visit his You Tube Channel or read his blog.
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